from his shoulders This is quoth hee the rewarde of thy treacheries done to Anthebon and payment for thy treason in the action of his death The daughter of Anthebon being present at this deede hauing heard Galaor often name her father fell on her knees before him with these words Alas my Lord you haue bouÌ„d me in such duty to you as neuer shall I be able to requite your paines my selfe being of such simple and slender ability but the good will I haue to recompence this benefit hath imprinted daily prayers in my heart to God for you hauing so iustly reuenged the death of my father and the wrongfull forcing of this traytour Galaor curteously taking her vp embracing her in his armes thus answered On my faith faire friend hee were a man of little sence that would offer displeasure to such a one as you are seeing you much bettet deserue to be loued and serued then with griefe or fauour to bee offended but tell mee haue you any more enemies in this Castle No Sir replyed the Damosell those which remaine are to doe you honour and obeysance Let vs goe then quoth hee to let in two Damosels who were my guides hither from your Lady mother So taking him by the hand shee commanded the gate to bee opened the two Damosels entered leading Galaors horse but when they sawe their yong Mistresse they humbly made her reuerence demanding if her fathers death were reuenged to her desire Yea verily quoth shee I thanke God and this knight who hath done that many other could not doe It was now the vehement hot time of the day wherefore Galaor tooke off his helmet to refresh himselfe when the Lady seeing him so young and beautifull as also so valiant in deedes of armes began to bee touched with loue and setting aside both feare and bashfulnesse shee began to imbrace and kisse him saying My honorable Lord friend more cause haue I to loue you then any other creature liuing In good faith quoth he and I loue you likewise as well in respect of your beauty and good grace as also for your deceased fathers sake he and I being borne in one Countrie May if it please ye Sir sayde shee to tell mee your name Such as are acquainted with mee answered the Prince tearme mee Galaor In sooth my Lord quoth shee often haue I heard my father speake of Sir Amadis your brother and of you likewise saying you were the sons to the King of Gaul his liege Lord and Soueraigne As thus they deuised they entered alone into a chamber while the Damosels with the rest were pouiding viands wherefore Galaor seeing time and place so commodious to request the loue of her that vsed him so kindly shee being a Lady young fresh and faire named Brandueta himselfe likewise actiue and desirous of such sweete baytes thus spake Madame if Palingues loued you as I haue heard hee had great reason for it knowing you to bee such a one as I see you are for my selfe who haue so little acquaintance with you am already so deepe in deuotion to your gracious nature as I would repute my selfe happy if you granted me the fauour I desire accepting mee as your friend and seruant The Lady not one iot behinde him in amorous affection shaped him this answere I haue tolde yee my Lord that I loue you more then any other liuing creature therefore you 〈…〉 sured how mâ—… you in all things whatsoeuer â—…ring these speeches Galaor still held his loue in his armes kissing and toying with her so pleasantly as Diana soone after lost her interest in the maiden whereto Brandueta yeelded with greater contentment then all her former resistances to Palingues from whom shee kept her virginity so long that shee was now content to bestow it on the French Prince and hee hauing a good stomacke to such dainty dyet made her loue him the better for it while she liued But see an vnhappy inconuenience after many mabracings and amorous conferences as they would once more haue besieged the Footresse of loue the Damosels came to tell them that dinner was ready wherefore though loath they were forced to leane off accompanying the Damosels to the place where the tables were couered which was vnder a Gallery inuironed with trees As they sate at the table and discoursed of many matters among other things Brandueta declared to him how Palingues standing in feare of him and his brother Amadis caused this Castle to be kept so strongly considering that her Father Anthebon was of Gaule and king Perions subiect the sooner would they assay to worke reuenge for his death For this reason quoth she hee allowed no other entrance then by the basket into this Castle where I haue liued in maruailous griefe and sorrowe as neuer shall I desire to tarry here longer therefore right gentle Lord and friend might it so like you without any longer stay I would gladly see my mother who will not bee a little glad of my returne and yours likewise Galaor was very well contented and thoughâ—… were late yet got they to horse-backe departing from the Castle 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 family ioyfully receiuing them with all honourable meanes could bee deuised beside the comforted widow cast herselfe at his feete vsing these speeches Worthy Lord both I and mine are bound to you for euer referring to your disposition whatsoeuer wee enioy because you are the restorer confirmer of all I thank you Madame answered Galaor for your friendly offers but where no desert is the requitall must of force be farre more easie Now the greater part of the night beeing spent they brake off talke and bequeathed themselues to rest and Galaor being alone in his chamber remembred his louely breakefast before dinner with his new friend who likewise was so deepe in consideration thereof that shee could wish such another ere supper and whether she did or no iudge you For no sooner knew she euery one to bee in bedde but secretly shee came to Galaors chamber where shee had no churlish speeches to driue her away but most dainty sweete and gracious entertainement what else they did I know not but shee tarryed there till morning and then returned vnseene of any CHAP. XXVII How Amadis pursuing the Knight that misused the Damosel met another Knight with whom he combated and what happened to him afterward YOu haue heard what haste Amadis made after the Damosell whom the knight led away perforce bearing and misusing her very cruelly but hee happened to meet with another Knight who demanded of him why he rid so fast What haue you to do answered Amadis whether it be my pleasure to ride fast or soft In good faith said the knight Ispeake it as one willing to helpe you if you be offered wrong by any that you may goe in better asurance if you bee affraid
perceiuing you should assuredly die if her mistresse knew the names of you both disguised the matter so wiâ—h her as she said she forgot to aske your names onely 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 do it not worse will come to you then you suspect But Amadis loued the Princesse Oriana so doâ—â—ely as he rather desired death then to hazard himselfe in such a composition whereupon he thus replyed I thanke you Sir hartily for your great kindnesse but I haue no such authoritie ouer my selfe as will permit me to proceede so far though your Lady her selfe intreated neuer so deepely yet liberty nor life can perswade me Alas Sir answered the Knight I wonder you will not consider how neere your death is It is all one to me quoth Amadis but if you will deale herein with my brother he is a knight more braue and beautifull then I am happely hee wil 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 friend my companion and I were for euer at your command Referre the matter to me quoth the Knight immediatly will I goe to her and hope to strike it dead on her behalfe So departing from Galaor hee went to Madasima who rode formost and thus began to breake with her Madame you carry two prisoners with you but you doe not know what they are Why aske you me such a question answered Madasima Because the one of them quoth the knight is esteemed the 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 against you but onely through the hatred you beare to another all which you may yet redresse in much better sort then you began considering if he conceiued liking of you you may thereby easily induce him to loue and vnder that ceremony draw him to do what your selfe shall desire In sooth plyed Madasima I will assay to know if he be such a one as you report him to be Do Madame quoth he and you shall finde him one of the fairest Knights that euer you beheld Here you must note that the Knight no sooner left Galaor when he went to the Ladie but he tooke occasion thus to talke with his brother You see my Lord the estate wherein we are which requireth some notable dissimulation at our hands I beseech ye therefore moderate their anger because alreadie it endangereth our liues and for a while follow my direction By Heauen brother answered Amadis death had beene very welcome to mee but since you wish me to be gouerned by you I am content desiring the conseruation of our honours which being lost we are vnworthie to line Further they could not proceede because Madasima came and interrupted them when calling him aside and faire day was displayed on the earth his beautie and good grace so especially contented her as she became surprized with his loue which she shaddowed vnder demanding how he fared Madame said Galaor I fare worse then you should were you in my power as I am in yours for I would do you what seruice and pleasure possible I could and you vse the contrarie to me I hauing giuen no occasion of offence reason willeth I should rather be your knight to loue and honour you then your prisoner thus vnkindelie bound as I am And surelie I cannot but meruaile hereat considering the simple conquest you haue thereby vse then such rigor to vs as women so diuinelie adorned are wont to do Madasima hearing his gentle language was more and more enflamed with his loue yet striuing to dissemble it she merrilie said Tell me faire Sir if I chuse you as my friend and deliuer you from prison will you for my sake leaue the seruice of King Lisuart and afterward tell him how you did it by my meanes With all my heart Lady answered Galaor and to performe it you shall haue what oath you please both of mee and my companion for he will doe no more then I request him Credit me quoth Madasima if before this company you wil promise to obey me presentlie you shall enioy your libertie Behold me ready replied Galaor Yet is not this enough answered Madasima for you shall sweare it in the presence of a Ladie where I am intended to lodge this night In meane while you must assure me not to depart my company We will not on my faith Madame quoth Galaor and calling Amadis caused him to affirme as much whereupon they were vnbound and set at libertie their â—quires likewise as friendlie vsed and mounting on their owne horses rode at their ease as they did before But Madasima and Galaor still continued their amorous discourses till they arriued at a Castle named Albies the Lady where-of receiued them very honourably in respect of great friendshippe betweene Madasima and her Needelesse were it to tell you of their good cheere it could not but be answerable to the time and company but after supper Madasima demanded of Galaor if he meant to keepe his promise he made her by the way What else Madame quoth he prouided you be so good as your worde to me Make no doubt thereof replyed Madasima then framing her speeches to the Lady of the Castle and also to two knights that were her Sonnes she proceeded in this manner My good friends I pray you heare a couenant betweene me and these two Gentlemen because hereafter you may be my witnesses They are my prisoners and vnder these conditions I haue released them that one of them shall continue my friend and both of them forsake the seruice of King Lisuart telling him how for my sake and in despight of him they haue done it Hereupon I intreate this fauour at your hands as to meete me at the Court of that wretched King on the day they must declare this message to see how contentedly he will take it But if they fullfill not their promise hence-forth you shall publish in all places the heynous offence by them committed and ten dayes I giue them to execute this charge I am well pleased said the Lady of the Castle to doe a greater matter for you then this if they as willingly consent thereto We pray you quoth Galaor not to faile herein for we haue promised
am her seruant It is true quoth the King but for this present haue a little patience and when time serueth you shal be honorably knighted in meane while he gaue charg that all his needfull accouâ—rements for the cause should be prouided Now did the king aduertise Gandales heereof who was so contented therewith as he soone dispatched a Damosell toward the yong Prince by whome he sent the Sword the Ring and the letter couered with waxe which he found in the chest he tooke out of the sea Such speede made the Damosell as she came to the Prince at what time he was sporting with Oriana and the other Ladies while the Queene slept At that instant was he in such a sollemne thought of Oriana as not daring to lift vp His eyes to behold her said within himselfe Ah God why hast thou endued this Lady with such exellent beauty that vnhappy I should suffer so extreame passions by louing her Ah mine eyes too high did ye looke when ye beheld her of whome you are not worthy but if the worst happen death shall satisfie this timeritie whereto my hart for her is humbled In this thought he was like to fall downe so had he forgotten and ouergone himselfe when a page came to him saying Gentleman there is a strange Damosell attending without who hath brought you certaine presents and would speake with ye When she who loued him heard this message her hart began to tremble in such sorte as being not able to endure this new flame she called to the Prince saying I pray ye stay heere and let the Damosel come in that we may haue the sight of what shee hath brought which he did the Damosell being entred thus spake to him My Lord your good friend Gandales saluteth you as the man whom he onely loueth and hath sent ye this Ring this waxe this Sword which he desireth ye for his sake to keepe while you liue The Prince hauing receiued the presents laid the Ring and waxe aside to behold the Sword which being without a sheath was wrapped in a fine linnen cloth whereat he greatly meruailed and while he was musing thereon Oriana tooke the waxe thinking it to be some other thing and said Beleeue me Gentleman for my part I would haue this waxe You may haue it if you please Madame quoth he but me thinkes this faire Ring were better for ye I will haue nothing but this waxe said Oriana and so tooke it During these discourses the King came who said to the Prince What thinke ye of that Sword My Lord quoth he I find it a very faire one but I maruaile wherefore it hath no scabbard It is said the King very neer fifteene yeeres since it had one hauing so said he laid it aside proceeding thus You would be a Knight and know not whether you ought to be one or no therefore it is necessary that you vnderstand what you are and I to tell you so much as I know Heereupon he declared how he was found in a chest on the sea with the Sword the Ring as you haue already heard I beleeue my Lord quoth the Prince that for your pleasure you vse this inuention because the Damosell when she entred said that my good friend Gandales sent me these presents but I think she fayled in her words and would haue said my father Gandales Notwithstanding my Lord if it be so as you haue rehersed I am not displeased thereat except in not knowing of whence I am nor they me yet do I thinke my selfe a Gentleman for my hart perswades me of no lesse Now therefore 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 seeing I haue no parents by whom I may be named not knowing what I am When the King heard him speake so vertuously he esteemed much better of him then before thinking him-selfe that he could not but be a man of calling and hardy 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 thereof departed to receiue his brother embracing him thus spake I see my good brother you meant to take me vnprouided for little did I thinke of your so sudden arriual in this country Noble brother answered King Perion I come to request the ayd of my friends because I haue more neede of them at this time then euer I had for Abies King of Ireland threatneth me with strong warre and is with great puissance entred my Kingdome so that he and Dagauel his Cozin haue laid very seuere siedge to me And which is worst of all Fortune hath so hardly dealt with me that certaine whome I trusted haue forsaken me and the greatest part of my other friends are ouerthrown in the skirmishes we haue had together so that now I come to request your succour in this extreame needeâ— Truely brother answered Languines you may be sure thereof and your mis-fortune grieueth me not a little but I wil prouide therefore so well as I can Agraies who was newly knighted being hot and ready to Armes hauing heard the reâ—uest of his Vnckle and the grant the King his father had made him of assistance came and fell on his knee before him saying I beseech ye father let me obtaine one boone at your hands The King who loued him as himselfe answered Demand what thou wilt for it shall not be denied thee I desire your sufferance quoth Agraies that I may go to Gaule to aid the Queene my Aunte In good faith said the King well content am I 〈◊〉 in good equipage shalt thou goe and strongly 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 onely for the good reporte he had heard of him for he thought not then of any affinitie or parentage but would rather be Knighted by his hand then any other in respect of his high hautghy deedes of Armes And to attaine his purpose he thought best to entreat the Queene hoping that if she would doe so much for him as to moue the King her brother therein she shold not be gainlaid and for he saw her so sad that he durst not speake to her he boldly went to Ortana and setting his knee to the ground said I pray ye Madame tell me what causeth the Queene 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 whith such vehemency of loue as she could hardly tell how to dissemble it yet thus she answered Gentleman of the sea and my friend I will take paine to know then shall I tell ye with all my hart seeing it is the first request that euer ye
aduenture and on the third about mid-day he arriued at a very goodly Fortresse that appertained to a Gentleman named Galpan This Galpan was then the most valiant Knight in all that Country and therefore was greatly feared of all his Neighbours yet did he there maintaine an abhominable and wicked custome forgetting God who was cheefely to be honored bequeathed his endeuours to the seruice of the Diuell For he constrained all Ladies and Damosells that passed by his Castell to enter in where vilainously he tooke his pleasure of them and not contented therewith enforced them to sweare that while they liued they should beare affection to none but him if any denied he caused them cruelly to be put to death Likewise he compelled such Knights as trauailed that way to combate one alone against his two bretheren but if they were vanquished he would force the conquerour to deale with himselfe he being the most hardy knight in al those parts If it happened that he brought thē 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 hee would depriue them of life But God displeased with the cruelty 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 guerdō to their deserts 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 himselfe BY this time the Gentlemam of the sea is come nere the castle where he saw a Lady comming towards him greatly afflicted hauing no other company then a Squire and a Page This sorrowfull woman breathed forth many griueous sighes shewing a violent kind of warre betweene her hands and the golden tresses of her haire which she discheueled and rent very pitifully Hereat was the Prince not a little amazed and willing to know what moued her to these extreames he came to her with these speeches Faire Gentlewomā I pray ye tel me the cause of your sorrow Ah my Lord qd shee death would be now right welcome to me being the onely friend to beare me company for such is my misfortune as teares are more conueniēt for me then rememberance of the cause In sooth Lady saide the Prince if in any respect I can do ye good you shall find me ready withall my hart Being sent Sir quoth the Damosell by my mistresses commandement to a yong Knight a man of some account in these parts and passing along this way foure cruell villaines set vpon me and whether I would or no brought me into this Castel where a traiterous Knight dishonorably forced me compelling me afterward to sweare that I should neuer loue any friend but him This complaint moued the Prince to great admiration and thus he answered Follow me Lady for your iniury shal be reuenged if God give me leaue Heereupon the Damosell immediatly went with him and by the way he desired her to tell him what the man was to whom 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 sory when he hears of my misusage Great reason said the Prince hath he so to do and as thus they communed together they came to the place where shee shewed him the foure Gardants to whom he presently said Disloyall varlets wherefore haue ye abused this Lady as she trauailed on her iournie Because quoth they wee stood in no feare of you but if you get ye not the sooner your entertainment shal be worse then hers was Without any more talking he drew his Sword and comming to one that heaued his hatchet against him quite cut away the right arme from his body then turning to another cleft him ouer the face to the very eares When the rest saw their companions thus mained they fled away so fast as they could running through a by way along a Riuer side but the Prince making no shew of pursuing them wiped his Sword and put it vp againe then comming to the Damosell bad her go forward My Lord quoth she hard by is a gate where I found two armed Knigthts attending Well said he and I shall find them when I come thether So rode they on as the Prince entred the base court he saw the Dungeon dore open and an armed Knight on Horse back come forth after whom they within let downe a Port-cullis and shut the dore againe then the Knight of the Castell aduancing himselfe very boldly thus spake to the Prince Poore wretch too soone art thou come hether to receiue shame and dishonor Dishonor quoth Prince tush these are but words leaue what shall happen to the presence of God who only is skilfull therein and tell 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 Go to said the Knight I shall see then what kinde of reuendge you vse So giuing the Spurrs to his Horse ran as fiercely as he could against the Prince yet he failed in the attaint but the Prince meeting him with full carire gaue him such a greeting with his Launce through the Sheeld as the armour being vnable to resist it let passe the yron through both his shoulders whereby he fell downe dead in the place Hauing with-drawne his Launce prepared him-selfe for another that came to succor the first who pearcing quite through the Princes Sheeld left the head of his Launce in his armour which was of sufficiēt profe but in the encounter he met his enimie so derectly as he rent his Helmet from his head casting him so violently off his Saddie as hee was able to sit no more on Horse-backe The Knight seeing himselfe thus vnarmed cried for some other to come helpe him whereupon three Halberders issued forth to whom he said Looke well my friendes that this man escape vs not At these words they ranne all three violently on the Prince and buckled so neere him as they slew his Horse betweene his leggs whereby he was constrained to fight on foote and so offended was he thereat that hauing recouered himselfe he smote 〈◊〉 Launce through the Knights head which made him presently yeeld the ghost And now he bestirres himselfe against the other three who cowardly stealing behinde him woūded him on the shoulder whereby he lost a great quantity of his bloud but full well he recompensed the villaine that did it letting forth the deerest bloud he had in his body by cleauing him with his Sword as it bad beene an Axe The other two terrified heer-with ranne vp into a long Gallery crying Come my Lord come quickly for we are all vanquished
but the Damosell of Denmarke noting this change spake out aloud In an vnhappy houre 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 cowardize 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 trampled in such sort on him with his feet as he fell downe like one depriued of his sences Afterward taking him by the locks of his haire he beate him on the face with the pummell of his Sword saying Thou dyest Dardan if thou confesse not the Lady free When Dardan saw himselfe in such estate he replied Ah gentle Knight for Gods sake mercy kill me not I will acquit her Now approached the King and the other Lords to heare what hee said and while they stood conferring with him Amadis as yet ashamed of his fault committed drew backe through the throng and seeing hee had gotten behinde them all so couertly as he could he ran toward the Forrest leaning them al musing at Dardan who filled the empty arie with his complaints In meane while his beautifull friend came to him who insted of giuing comfort for the foile he sustained through her began to detest and despise him saying Dardan hereafter seeke thee some other friend then me for while I liue will I neither loue thee or any other then the good Knight who valiantly ouercame thee How now Lady quoth he is this the reward of my honor life aduentured for you you then are not the friend to Dardan but to fortune who is no sooner contrary to me but presently you are mine enemy Haue I then escaped death by the mercy of my foe to endure worsse then death by the cruelty of my friend Heauen suffereth me to liue and yet you repine at my infortunate life now shal I make knowne to all women by your example that ingratitude is no lesse hurtfull to such as exercise it then to any one offended there with Hereupon he tooke his sword and before it could bee imagined what he meant to do he smote her head quite from her shoulders then as a man transported with madnes staring euery where round about him declared by his angry countenance that high and not vulgare was the enterprise he imbraced in such an extreamity The King sent his archers to conuay him thence but ere they came to him he stroke himselfe so violently to the heart as the bloud spouted in the archeis faces and then he cryed out saying Now friend art thou reuenged by my vengeance and thine enemy satisfied with the despised life thou lestst me So falling downe he deliuered the last figne of his death where at each one was confounded with maruaile as well for the nouelty of the case as pitting the very last words he breathed but whethey remembred his passed life wholly addicted to ouer-weening folly they reputed this vnfortunate end happened to him not so much by accident as the deuine ordenance which made them sorrow no more but couerted their thoughts to commend the conquerour CHAP. XV. How King Lisuart caused a Sepulchre to be made for Dardan and his friends with an Epitaph in rememberance of their death and the honor he did 〈◊〉 Amadis after he was found and kcowne AFter the vnfortunate end of these ill aduised Louers the King in memory of this strange accident coÌ„manded that in the fielde where they lay dead should be erected a sumptious Sepulchre of blacke Marble stone fashioned like a Romaine Obelisque and thereon was engrauen in the Brittaine language an Epitaph declaring the whole matter as it happened And when he had knowledge of the conquerour as hereafter the manner how is declared his name was placed thereon and foure great Lyons at the foure corners of the sepulchre importing the de uise which Amadis bare in his Shield But now the rumour being appeased and they teturned to the Pallace he called for the stranger that won the honor of the day but after long enquiry no one could certainly tell what was become of him albeit certaine comming froÌ„ the wood reported how they saw a Knight returne from the field thither-ward being alone and making great hast He that is worthy saide the King to beare him company may imagine himselfe happy enough for seeing he hath shewed himselfe so braue a combatant it is impossible but he should be a wise and vertuous Knight And for no lesse each one reputed him who vnderstood the iâ—uries of Dardan vsed to him and saw how he requited them with gentlenes and courtesie albeit I make no doubt but he knew right well that if Dardan had got the 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 seeing the incomparible valour of him that fought against Dardan began to suspect that it was he for quoth she to the Damosell of Denmarke I am sure hee would not send me a fabulous message and this is the iust time he assured you of his coÌ„ming In good sooth Madame answered the Damosell you say very true which maks 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 horse But did you quoth Oriana take no regard of his Armes Yea mary did I replied 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 field and the like I told ye he bare in Gaule with two azured Lions rampant portrayed therein which being battered all in pieces he presently made him such another assuring me to weare no other when hee came into this country and therefore I will doubt no further but it is he Sweete friend said Oriana if it be he either he will shortly come or send into the Towne therefore you must be watchfull diligent to heare thereof Madame quoth the Damosell referre these matters to my charge This conference caused Oriana to remainâ— very pensiue and breathing forth many bitter sighs she saide Ah gratious 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 Damosels Tent yet was it somewhat late ere he came thither finding them ready to sit downe to supper After he had vnarmed himselfe they told him the misfortune of Dardan and his friend as also the whole
euer was heard of then sound not your speeches to any likely-hood for this Gyant surpasseth all other in strength cruelty Gentleman answered the Damosell the Knight I speake of hath done no lesse then I told ye wherewith she 〈◊〉 the whole manner thereof they reputing it strange and almost incredible which caused Agraies to aske her if she knew the Knights name His name quoth she is Galaor son to King Perion of Gaule Ah Lady said Agraies you declare the only newes of the world to content me withal naming my Cosin who more commonly was reputed dead then liuing Hereupon he reported to Galuanes what he had heard concerning Galaor how he was taken away by the Gyant 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 ayde on the behalfe of a Damosell who is imprisoned by the accusation of a Dwarffe the most villainous creature that euer was born hereto she added the whole discourse of Galaor and the Dwarffe as hath beene already declared to you yet she cōcealed the louely pranck of Aldena And because Sir sayde 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 griefe to the other Ladyes doubting least shee through feare of death will accuse some of them and tell withall to what end Galaor came into the Dukes Castle more-ouer of the ten dayes foure are already expired Seeing it falleth out so answered Agraies you neede trauaile no further for we will performe what Galaor should doe if not in strength yet in good will and therefore be you our guide to the place The Damosel turned her haqueney and led them with such speede to the Dukes Castle that they arriued there the day before the execution should be Now was the Duke set down to dinner when the two Knights entring the great hall humbly saluted him when he saw them he requested they would sit downe to dinner with him but they answered that hee should presently know the cause of their comming where-upon Galuanes thus began My Lord you detaine a Damosell prisoner by the false and disloyall accusation of a traiterous Dwarffe we desire that she may be deliuered seeing she hath no way mis-done and if it be needfull to proue her innocency by battaile let come two other to maintaine the quarrell for we are ready as her defēders Wel haue you sayd replyed the Duke and calling for the Dwarffe thus spake to him What answerest thou to these Knights challenge who say that falsely thou hast caused me to imprison the Damosell and will proue it against thee in open battaile it behoueth thee to find some defence for thy selfe For that I am not to seek my Lord quoth the Dwarffe I haue such on my behalfe who shall make known the truth of what I haue said Here-with he called a frollick Knight his Nephew so like him in pitch and proportion as one would haue thought he had no other father to him he sayd I pray ye Nephew maintain my quarrell against these two Knights Scarse had he thus spoken but his Nephew returned this answer to Galuanes and his companion Well Gentlemen what will you say against this loyal Dwarffe who was so iniured by the Knight the false Damosell brought hither 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 the Damosell ought to dy because she brought him into my Lord the Dukes Chamber Agraies who found himselfe most touched in his owne conceite stepped forth with this answer In sooth neither of vs is the man albeit we desire to imitate his vertues but wee auouch he hath done no wrong if the Duke please this difference shall be soone decided for on his behalfe will I maintaine that the damosel ought to be deliuered the Dwarfe in her stead burned as a traiterous villaine I iustifie the cōtrary replied the Dwarffes Champion then calling for his armour full soone was he mounted on a gentle Courser and turning to Agraies who presented him the Cōbare thus spake Would God Knight thou wert the man by whō this quarrell begā too high a price should I set on thy folly We shall quickly see quoth Agraies what thou canst doe but I am 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 reasō then do I leaue thee to iudge how notably he would handle thee in this consisting on truth and equitie While these menaces thus passed on either side the Duke stirred not from the table till dinner was done when seeing the Knights prepared to execute their speeches he conducted them with a braue company of Gentlemen to the place apointed to end such controuersies where all accustomed ceremonies being obserued the Duke thus spake to Agraies Performe the vttermost of your habilitie yet shall not the Damosel be deliuered for to the Dwarffe hath not been 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 wherefore if my fortune make mee Conquerour you ought by good reason to deliuer her I haue tolde you what I meane to doe said the Duke and otherwise it shall not be Agraies tarrying for no more wordes turned his horse running a braue carrire against the Dwarfes Knight and in the encounter brake their staues gallantly meeting likewise so furiously with their bodies as they were both laide along on the ground yet quickly they recouered themselues and vnsheathing their weapons deliuered fierce and cruell strokes to each other their Swordes being verie sharpe the Knights valiant and hautily disposed by means where-of their Armour Helmets and sheeldes were in short time made of slender resistance yet Galuanes well saw how his Nephew had stil the better of his enemy if then he had before esteemed him a good Knight farre greater reason had he so to doe notwithstanding hee was so hot and vigorous as often-times he seemed out of breath which made euery one imagine regarding his violence that hee could not long endure But in him it proued farre otherwise for the longer the Combate endured his courage and strength the more increased by reason whereof he became the Conquerour as shall hereafter be declared The Nephew to the Dwarffe found him-selfe so hardly handled as he drew back a little thus speaking to Agraies Me-thinkes Sir Knight wee haue made proofe enough of what we are able to performe
the Queenes Chamber who falling on her knees before the Queene said Madame is not a Knight heere that beareth azured Lyons in his Armes The Queene 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 deeds of Armes so rarely as euer did any You speake very much answered the Queene but you perhaps being acquainted with none but him thinke therefore he is beyond all other It may be so replied the Damosell yet when you vnderstand what he hath accomplished I thinke your selfe will agree to my saying I pray ye then quoth the Queene tell vs what he is When I see the good Knight answered the Damosell hee who carryeth such estimation from all other I will tell him in your presence and other newâ— which I am charged to acquaint him withall The Queene was now more desirous to know him then before wherefore shewing her Amadis she sayd See here Damosell the man you aske for Madame quoth she in respect you speake it I beleeue it for a Queene of such state as you are is free from beguiling then comming to Amadis she thus proceeded My Lord the young Gentle-man whom not long since you Knighted before the castle of Bradoid when you vanquished the two Knights on the bridge and the other on the cawsey where you took the Maister thereof prisoner and deliuered by force of armes the friend to Vrganda most humbly saluteth you by me being the man whom he reputeth as his Lord giueth you to know how he endeuoureth to reach the height of honor which he will attaine or dye in the attempt likewise when he shall performe some-what worthy the name of Chiualrie he will acquaint you with more then yet you know vntill which time hee shrowds it in silence Amadis soon remembered she spake of his brother wherefore with ioy the teares dewed his cheekes and the Ladies well noting this alteration maruailed thereat especially Oriana who as you haue heard heereto-fore was grounded in such affection toward him as she was well neer depriued of power to dissemble it In meane while the Queene desirous to heare what deedes of prowesse the new Knight had performed sayd to the Damosell I pray ye continue your message tell vs the braue beginning of chiâ—alrie you speake of Madame quoth she the first place where he made proofe of himselfe was at the Rock of Galteres where hee combated with the great and terrible Gyant Albâ—… whome in open field hand to hand he euercame and slew hereto 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 Queene who demanded of the Damosell if shee knew whither 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 seeke him because she was desirous to know him at which time he went with her since I neuer saw him What thinke you heere of Sir Amadis sayd the Queene do not you know of whence he is Yes truely Madame answered Amadis although I can say but little herein I thinke he be mine owne brother for so Vrganda not long since assured me Doubtlesse quoth the Queene the fortune of you both is admirable I maruaile how you could come to the knowledge of your Parents or they of you yet would I be glad to see that Knight in the Kings seruice While theft speeches endured Oriana who sate farre from the Queene and heard none of these newes was in such greefe to see Amadis shed teares as being vnable to conceale the same she sayd to Mabila I pray ye faire friend call your cosin Amadis that we may know 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 griened thus began Sir Amadis it may full well be sayd that by some Lady you are now moued to pittie I pray ye tell vs what she is and from whence this Damosell brought you these tydings Amadis quickely perceiued his Mistresses disease wherefore hee declared all that the Damosell told the Queene which appeased the iealousie of her hote Louer and made this shew more amiable conntenance thus speaking to Amadis Alas my Lord I must intreat you to pardon the fault raised onely by false 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 goe seeke 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 Beleeue mee answered Oriana I would gladly wish so good a knight in his company and therfore you shal doe well to goe seeke him yet before you depart acquaint the Queene herewith that she may imagine how by her commandement onely you enterprise this iourney Humbly did Amadis regratiate his Mistresse and according to her counsell hee went to the Queene to whom 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 shee I would it might be so if it were possible If you will grant me leaue said Amadis to goe finde him I haue no doubt of bringing him hither otherwise I know you shall hardly see him till hee haue made himselfe knowne in many other places You doe very much for the king quoth she if hee doe come neuerthelesse I referre it to your owne discretion Thus Amadis obtained licence to depart which hee did very early the next Morning hauing no other company then Gandalin and spending most part of the day ryding through the Forrest he saw a Lady come toward him accompanyed with two Damosels and foure Squires who weeping very grieuously 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 Ladie the onely cause of my care and pensiuenesse my Lord and Husband who is wounded in such sort as I feare his death Amadis aduanced him-selfe to behold the man and lifting vp the couerture of the Litter saw a Knight lye there of goodly personage but of his face hee could make no iudgement by reason it was cruelly cut and mangled whereupon hee called to him saying My friend who hath thus wronged thee yet did the Knight make no answere which made him goe to the Lady againe and aske her the question Gentle Sir quoth shee a knight that keepeth a Bridge not farre hence did it who as we passed by sayd to my Lord how hee must sweare whether he were of king Lisuarts court or no which made my husband demand
heard them but turned againe then doubting they inded some harme to him he clasped on his Helmet and his Shield yet had he no Lance nor they likewise Alas my Lord quoth the Dwarffe what will ye doe 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 speeches they came to him in this manner Sir knight we would demaund one thing of you which we desire ye not to denie otherwise you may not so easily escape vs. The sooner shall I grant it quoth Amadis if it bee reasonable Tell vs then as you are a loyall Gentleman where you imagine we may find him that slew Dardan Hee who could doe no lesse then speake the trueth thus replyed I am hee albeit I would haue you thinke that I doe not so soone fulfill 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 see him-selfe thus assailed by them whom ere-while he had so friendly pacified resisted them with such resolute courage as at the first stroke he smote one of their armes from the body the griefe whereof made him fall beside his horse the secōd also felt his sword so peizantly that hee cleft his head to the very teeth and sent to keepe his fellow company When the third beheld their bad successe hee put the spurres to his horse and got him away but Amadis being not so well mounted let him escape returning to Gandalin and the Dwarffe who thus spake Credite me my Lord hence-foorth will I trust better to your wordes then I did let vs therefore make haste hence if you please So riding along at length the Dwarffe shewed him in a pleasant valley two high Pine-trees neere which was a Knight mounted on a lustie Courser and two other whom not long before hee had vanquished they running to catch their horses there strayed about the field And looking againe hee espied another knight lay leaning on his helmet hauing his shield by him and twentie Launces reared against the Pines with two spare horses likewise ready furnished My Lord quoth the dwarffe doe you see the Gentleman that leaneth on his Helmet What then sayd Amadis He is replyed the Dwarffe the good Knight I promised to shew you Knowest thou his name quoth Amadis He nameth himselfe answered the Dwarffe Angriote distranans and is the best knight that I haue heard report of Tell mee then said Amadis why he keepeth there so many Launces I can therein answered the Dwraffe full well resolue ye listen then a while He loueth a Ladie 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 happiest man in the world but shee tolde him he should wade into no such fond opinion because hee tooke a yong Ladie against her will And albeit quoth shee perforce you haue enioyed me yet while I liue neuer shall I loue ye if you do not performe one thing for me What Lady answered Angriote is it within compasse of my puissance That is it said she Cōmand then sweete 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 enemies 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 shold 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 beautifull thē the Ladyes they loued And if it so fell out that the brother to Angriote whome you see on horse-back were vanquished and could endure the combate no further then Angriote should keepe this passage alone during the space of one whole yeere 〈◊〉 this cause they depart not hence all the day time and at night returne to a Castle on the mountaine you see at hand hauing already maintained their enterprise three moneths in all which time Angriote neuer set hand to Sword against any Knight because his brother hath stil 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 friend and me thought he called her name Grouonesa Very true quoth the Dwarffe but now seeing you are resolued remember your promise to me and bare mee company as you sayd you would With right good will answered Amadis which is the way Euen ouer this vale replied the Dwarffe but because of this hinderance as yet I thinke wee shall very hardly passe Care not thou for that sayd Amadis so giuing his horse the spurres he rode on and soone after he met a Squire who thus spake to him Go no further Gentleman if you will not grant the Lady vnder the Pine to be more beautifull then your Mistresse Neuer will I yeelde to such a slander replied Amadis without force or extreame constraint Returne then sayd the Squire otherwise you must combate with the 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 combated against Angriote and his brother who guarded the passage of the valley against such as would not confesse that their Ladyes were inferiour in beauty to Angriotes choyce WHen Angriots brother saw him comming he tooke vp his weapons and met him saying Beleeue me Knight you haue committed folly in not graunting what our Squires gaue you warning of you must therfore enter combate with me As for the combate answered Amadis I like it much better then to confesse the greatest lye in the world I know well sayd the Knight you must do it with disaduantage in an other place And trust me quoth Amadis I thinke not so Stand on your owne defence then replied the Knight wherewith they gaue the carrire against each other meeting together so furiously as the knight was vnhorssed yet held he fast the raines of his bridle till they brake in his hand which caused him to fall on his necke to the ground where hee lay without remembrance of himselfe or any other Heereupon Amadis alighted and pulling the Helmet from his head perceiuing that he was in a sound wherefore he buffetted him in such sorte as he came to himselfe againe Thou art but dead sayd Amadis if thou yeeld not thy selfe my prisoner When the Knight saw the naked sword ouer his head fearing his death he yeelded Then
Amadis mounted againe perceiuing Angriote already on horse-backe ready to reuenge his brothers iniurie and a Squire came to the Prince bringing him a Launce which he presented him withall from Angriote Soone after they encoūtered so galantly as their Launces flew in pieces without any further harme and ending their carrire Amadis quickly drew his sword turning to Angriote who thus spake Make not such hast Knight to combate with the sword because thou shalt haue time enough for that anon this he sayd in respect he reputed him-selfe the best at the sword that might be found But I pray thee quoth he let vs iust till our Launces faile or one of vs be sent to the earth Knight answered Amadis I haue weighty busines else-where and may not trifle time with tarrying heere What said Angriote thinkest thou to escape me so light ly I promise thee it is the least part of my thought yet I pray thee let vs try one course more Amadis was content and taking such Launces as each of them liked finished the Iust with such violence as Angriote was cast downe and his horse 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 deserned on his side fighting for the honor and beauty of his Goddesse Oriana snatching forth the trunchion and marched with his sword drawne against Angriote who seeing him come sayd I see Sir Knight thou art very young and me thinkes before it be worse with thee thou wert better to confesse my Lady fairrer then thine Then should I lye very fowlly answered Amadis and by my will I shall not dissent so farre from the truth These speeches enkindled collor on either side which made them charge ech other with such vigour as not onely they that beheld them but euen themselues 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 hee could rather chuse a thousand deathes then she should loose one iot of her excellence and this opinion still whetted on his courage that Angriote was compelled to diuers simple shifts to auoyde the fierce assaults of his valiant enemy who had wounded him in twenty seuerall places and he perceiuing his death at hand stepped aside thus speaking to Amadis Beleeue mee Sir Knight there is more valour in thee then I imagined Yeelde thy selfe sayd Amadis so shalt thou do wisely seeing 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 esteeme of thee better then thou weenest These words he vsed as well for the braue Chiualrie he noted in Angriote as also the great honestie he shewed to the Lady in his possession whereupon Angriote returned this answer It is reason I should yeeld my selfe to the best Knight in the world and the like all other to doe that beare armes Beleeue me then gentle Knight I not so much sorrow for my foyle as the wrackfull chance threatned to me by loosing this day the onely 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 honorable 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 imploy my vttermost hability in causing her consent thereto so soone as I shall returne from a search I haue now in hand My Lord sayd Angriote in what place may I hereafter finde you In the Court of King Lisuart answered Amadis where hy Gods helpe I meane shortly to be So tooke he leaue of Angriote who gladly would haue had him in his Castle but he might not be hindered of his iourney Thus doth Amadis followe the Dwarfe who guided him fiue daies without any aduenture shewing him at length a meruailous strong and pleasant Castle saying Sir within yonder hold you must performe the promise you made me And I will doe it for thee answered Amadis if it confist in my power I am in good hope thereof quoth the Dwarffe in respect I haue seene some proofe of your fortune but know ye Sir how the place is named No verily sayd Amadis for till now I was neuer in this Country It is called Valderin replied the Dwarffe and thus deuising they came neere the Castle when the Dwarffe willed him to take his Armes Why saide Amadis shall we haue any such neede Yea mary quoth the Dwarffe for they suffer none to come forth 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 sayd Amadis is not inhabited where is the request thou saidst I should do for thee Credit me Sir sayd the Dwarffe I haue some-time seene heere a most braue Knight and the strongest in Chiualrie that euer I saw who in that porch killed two Knights one of them being my maister him hee put to death very cruelly without regard of fauour or mercy In reuenge whereof I would desire that traytors head which I haue long failed in obtaining because all such as I brought hither haue lost their liues or remaine here in captiuity Thou doest the part of a loyall seruant answered Amadis yet oughtest thou to bring no Knight hither before thou tell him against whom he shall fight My Lord quoth the Dwarffe the man is knowne well enough and reputed for one of the best Knights in the world therefore when I haue named him I could not meet with any so hardy as to reuenge my cause Belike then thou knowest his name said Amadis Yea my Lord replied the Dwarffe he calleth himselfe Arcalaus the enchanter Amadis hereupon went further in looking round about if hee might see any body but all was in vaine wherefore to rest his horse he staied there till euening saying to the Dwarffe What wilt thou I shall doe now it is so late Alas my Lord quoth he the night being so neere at hand me thinkes it were good wee departed hence Nay trust me answered Amadis I wil not budge hence till the knight come or some other that can tell me tidings of him But I dare not tarry sayd the Dwarffe least Arcalaus chance to know me and imagine I practise the meanes of his death Yet shalt thou beare me cōpany replied Amadis as I will not excuse my selfe from the promise I haue made thee As thus they cōmuned Amadis espied a Court somewhat more backward where-into he entred and found no body but he saw a darke place vnderneath and certaine steps leading into the earth Gandalin got holde on the Dwarffe who would haue run away and Amadis tooke great pleasure to beholde his trembling speaking thus merily to him Feare
and bequeatheth thy body to so innumerable mischiefes as a present perishing of soule and altogether But seeing thou wouldest so gladly know my name I am commonly called Amadis of Gaule Knight to the Queene Brisana let vs now then chat no longer but fall to the combate for on my parte I promise no more resting A calaus aduancing his Shield came with foming fury against Amadis who knew full well how to welcome him and such eager strokes past on either side as their shields were scattered in pieces about them likewise many plates of their Armour Now was it about the third houre wheÌ„ Arcalaus hauing sustained great losse of his bloud was forced to send vp and down before his enemy and seeing the imminent death before his eyes fled to that part of the Castle where he came out yet Amadis by close pursuit still continued his feare whereupon he stept into a chamber at the dore whereof stood a Lady beholding the combate and he was no sooner encred the roome but be caught vp another sword turning his face â—o Amadis saying Enter this chaÌ„ber 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 saide Amadis thinkest thou so slily to escape so placing his shield before he entred the chamber but as hee lifted vp his sword to strike he was depriued of strength and the vse of his members so that hee fell to the ground as he had beene dead Yea mary said Arcalaus this is the way to make thee dye as I desired sleepe then till I wake thee How say you Lady quoth he to her that stood by am I not in your opinion well reuenged on him Indeed saide she he is now altogether at your commandement Presently he vnarmed him Amadis not feeling any thing was done to him afterward Arcalaus put on himselfe the Princes Armour thus speaking to the Lady Madame looke on perill of your life that no one remoue him hence vntill his soule haue forsaken his body then hee intended to iourney to the court where each one seeing him in the Armour of Amadis might thinke he had slaine him But now the sorrowfull Lady so lately deliuered from prisoÌ„ made such mone as would haue melted a heart of Adamant and what Gandalins countenance was you may easily iudge when Arcalaus sawe the Lady lament he sayde Dame seeke some other to deliuer you from prison for I haue dispatched your hardy Chamhion These wordes made Gandalin in such despare 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 boldely combate with me When he had shewed him to her he demaÌ„ded if he were not now quiet enough The comfortlesse Lady seeing him in such estate wanted no teares to expresse the aboundance of her griefe and withall Ah God quoth she how yiksome will the reporte of his death be to many then Arcaldus calling his wife sayde So soone as this wretch is dead imprison this Lady where she was before for I will go to the Court of King Lisuart and there declare how I combated with Amadis by couenant that the conquerour should cut off the head of the vanquished and within fifteene daies following to publish his victory openly in great Brittaine By these meanes none shal quarrel with me about his death and I shall obtain the greatest glory in the world hauing ouercome him that conquered everyone TheÌ„ went he where he left Gandalin and the Dwarffe commanding them to be locked vp in a prison but Gandalin who wished death thinking his maister was dead indeede would not goe with him desiring some one to kil him and to enforce Arcalaus doe him so much fauour reuiled him with names of traitour villaine hauing slaine the most loyall knight in the world Arcalaus made no account of his words but beecause he would not goe willingly he dragged him by the eares and thrust him into the dungeon saying If I presently kill thee thou shouldest endure no more paine but heere thou shalt suffer worse then death So mounted Arcalaus on the horse of Amadis and accoÌ„panied with three Squires rode toward the Court 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 escaped the enchantments by the ayde of Vrganda GRindaloya the Lady deliuered by Amadis from prison made such excessiue lamenrations for him as euery one pittied her shee thus speaking to the wife of Arcalaus and the rest in the company Ah faire Ladies beholde yee not the beauty of this braue Gentle-man who in so young yeeres was the onely Knight in the world mis-hap attend on such who by enchantment iniurie men of vertue O 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 beholde his dealings and continually praied for his amendmeÌ„t comforting the wofull Lady so well as she could As thus they were deuising together they saw two other Ladyes enter the chamber each one bringing in her hand 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 stirre him Then one of the Ladyes so lately there arriued tooke out of a little casket she carried a Booke whereon she began to reade and diuers times another voyse answered her As thus she continued her lecture many other voyces were heard as they imagined them more then an hundred then came another book flying into the chamber seeming as if the winde caryed it and fell downe at her feete that reade 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 said Lord Amadis arise you haue slept too long vneasily Immediately Amadis awaked and rising vp thus spake Alas where am I I maruaile that I am aliue Beleeue me Sir answered the Lady such a one as you are must not dye in this sorte rather wil the heauens permit that they who haue deserued it shall dy by your hand Herewith the two strange Ladyes not saying any more returned the same way they came leauing Amadis much amazed at this aduenture and looking about for Arcalaus but he was aduertised by Grindaloya how he was gone to the court of King Lisuart clad in his Armour and mounted on his horse to reporte that he had slaine him in combate Indeede I felt quoth Amadis when he vnarmed me but on my faith methought I dreamed and seeing he is gone with my armour I will make his to serue me at
departure I shall pray Sir Knight that God may send peace between my husband and you Beleeue 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 after-ward these words tooke effect and highly profited the good Lady as in some part of this history you shall heare recited Now are they departed from the Castle of Arcalaus riding till the night ouer-tooke them lodging at a Ladyes place fiue leagues thence where they were entertained with very gracious welcome and on the morrow after they had thanked their friendly host as they rode together Amadis thus communed with Brandoyuas Courteous Sir I trauaile in search of a Knight as here-tofore I told ye 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 court notwithstanding if you thinke it good I will keepe ye company Little neede shall I haue thereof answered Amadis I thanke ye because I must be cōstrained to wander alone so soone as I haue brought this Lady into such safety as she thinkes meete My Lord quoth she I will accompany this Gentleman if you please seeing he trauaileth to the Court of King Lisuart and there I hope to finde him for whom I was prisoner who I am assured will be glad of my deliuerance Now trust me answered Amadis very well sayde goe then together and God be your guid Thus are they seperated now remaining none with Amadis but Gandalin the Dwarffe of whom the Prince likewise demanded what he meant to do Mary be your trusty seruant sayde the Dwarffe if you like so well as I. I am well pleased replied Amadis and thou shalt doe what thou wilt thy selfe In sooth my Lord quoth the Dwarffe seeing you released me I would gladly remaine in your seruice for I know not where I may be halfe so well the man and the maister being both agreed they tooke their way as fortune liked to conduct them Not farre had they trauailed but they met one of the Ladyes that rescued him from enchantment at Arcalaus Castle shee weeping and mourning very grieuously which mouing Amadis to pitty her complaints made him demand the cause thereof A Knight who rideth not farre before quoth she hath taken from me a little casket wherein is matter of great cōsequence yet no way able to pleasure him for such things are therein as within these three dayes one in my company and my selfe restored from death the best Knight in the world and shee likewise of whom I tell ye is violently caryed away by another Knight who is ridden before intending to force her Heere 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 hee neuer left gallopping till he ouer-tooke him to whom hee thus spake Knight you deale not courteously giuing this Lady cause thus to complaine of you and me-thinkes you should do a great deale better to deliuer the casket againe you tooke from her but when the Knight heard him hee fell in a great laughter Why do ye thus laugh Sir sayd Amadis I laugh at you answered the Knight whom I thinke scant wise in giuing councell to him that demands it not the lesse hope may you haue in speeding in your suite 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 thē sayde the Knight Not you Sir answered Amadis but your ouer-much boldnes in vsing force where it ought not to be Is it true quoth the Knight with these words hee set the casket aside in a tree and returning to Amadis sayd If your brauery be such in deedes as it seemeth in words come teach mee know it and receiue the law So giuing the spurres to their horses they encountred together in such sorte as the Knight being dismoūted his horse fel 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 sayd Take your owne faire Lady tarry here till I bring your companion Presently he posted after the other Knight ouer-taking him at a thicket of trees where he had tyed both his horse and the Ladies trayling her by the haire of the head into the wood there to commit his villainous desire but Amadis cryed to him aloude in this manner Of an euill death maist thou dye traytor that wrongest a Lady in this sorte without offending thee As the Knight strougled with her to get her into the wood hee looked vp and saw Amadis whereupon he left her making speede to his weapons and mounted on horseback then approching neere the Prince hee sayd By my hand Knight in haplesse time for thee 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 replied Amadis of one addicted to such villainy that seeks to force Ladies who ought in all liberty and honor to be defended and so they bee by all loyall Knights With a braue course they met together when though the knight brake his lance yet was hee hurled against the ground so violently as the weight of his armour and strength of his fall made him lye trembling in a trance Which Amadis perceiuing to rid him out of his paine altogether he trampled on his belly with his horse feete saying Thus shalt thou loose thy desire of forcing Ladyes And as for you faire soule I hope heereafter you are rid from any danger of him The more am I to thank you my Lord quoth she would God my companion 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 succored her so well as shee hath recouered what was taken from her and beeholde where my Squire conducteth her hither-ward Now because the heat was some-what violent Amadis put off his helmet to take the ayre when the Damosell immediately knew him for it was shee that at his returne from Gaule conducted him to Vrganda the vnknowne when by Chiualry he deliuered her friend at the Castle of Bradoy◠which made her remember him and so did Amadis her when alighting they embraced each other the like courtesie he shewed to the other Damosell Alas quoth they had we but dreamed on such a defender no villain could haue wronged vs halfe so much On my faith said Amadis the help you gaue me within these three daies may not be compared with this matter of no validitie for I was in greater extreamity thē you but how could you possibly vnderstand
thereof My Lord quoth she that tooke him by the hand when hee was enchanted mine Aunt Vrganda sent me to the Castle of Arcalaus by whose meanes we came thither and you were recouered Heauen shielde from euill that good Lady answered Amadis who hath so many waies bound me her obedient seruant and you faire Damosels the messengers of this fauour haue you any thing else wherein to cōmand me No my Lord said they take you the way you left and wee wil returne from whence we came Fare well sweet Virgins replied Amadis remember my humble duty to the health of your Mistresse telling her she knowes right well I am her Knight In this manner rode the Damozels one way and Amadis another wherefore wee must now tell what happened to Arcalaus since his departure from the Castle of Valderin CHAP. XXI How Arcalaus brought newes to the Court of King Lisuart that Amadis was dead which caused his friends to make manifold lamentations and regreets especially the Princesse Oriana SVch speede made Arcalaus after his departure from Valderin where he left Amadis enchanted hee being as I haue saide clad in his armor and mounted on his horse that the tenth day following hee arriued neer the court of king Lisuart who was riding abroade in the fields to take the aire accōpanied with his Lords along the forrest side They seeing Arcalaus come a far off hauing on the armor of Amadis imagining it was hee indeede diuers rode before to welcome him but when they came more neere they found thēselues deceiued by reasō Arcalaus had his head and hands vnarmed wherefore without saluting the Gentlemen he stepped to the King with these words Sir I come to acquite a promise wherein I stand bound namely to let you vnderstand how I haue slaine a Knight in battaile that some-time bare these armes And albeit I must be content to declare mine owne prayse which were more honorable for me being reported by another in mine absence yet am I constrained to do no lesse seeing the couenant was betweene me him whom I haue slaine viz. that the conquerour should dispoyle the vanquished of his head and present it before you as this day Full loth was I to be so cruell because hee tolde mee hee was your Queenes Knight commonly called Amadis of Gaule and so hee named himselfe whom I vanquished As for me Sir I tolde him in truth that I was Arcalaus whom fortune hath graced with such singuler fauour for I haue slaine the man some-time owner of this armour and horse which as a testimony of my victory I brought with mee Ah God sayde the King is then the most vertuous and accomplished Knight in the world dead you lowring heauens why began ye so braue to course in him and now on such a sudden to cut it off These sorrowfull newes prouoked sighes and teares both in the King and his royall company which Arcalaus perceiuing not speaking any thing else returned the same way he came feigning himselfe likewise very sad and grieued but you must thinke he went not without great store of curses euery one instantly desiring God to send him an euill and speedy death which with their Swordes they could gladly haue bestowed on him themselues but that they heard howe Amadis was slaine by an accorded battaile The King being ouercome with pensiuenesse and sorrow returned to the Towne where these newes were so opened to euery one that at length the Queene and her Ladyes heard thereof which presently conuerted their former pleasures in to mourning At this time was the Princesse Oriana in her chamber with the Damosell of Denmarke where hearing the sudden clamour and noyse she commanded her to goe vnderstand the cause thereof Alas good Lady 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 weeping into her chamber saying Ah Madame what tongue can deliuer this wonderfull mishap yet durst she not good Lady bee 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 sayde Alas he is dead it can not be otherwise It is true madame answered the Damosell but what remedy you must not likewise dy for company These words made Oriana fall into a swoune which the Damosell of Denmarke beholding thought shee had too indiscreetly brought her these bad tidings whereupon she called the Princesse Mabila saying Helpe Madame my mistresse dyeth She being come saw that shee neither moued or breathed doubted least life had taken leaue indeed wherefore she commanded the Damosell to shut the dore to the end her loue all this while so well concealed might not breake foorth into open suspition Then vnlacing her garments to giue her more libertie as also bathing her temples and pulses with vineger cold water she recouered againe when deliring a faint figh with a feeble voise she thus spake Ah sweete friends hinder me not in the way of death if you desire my rest and would haue God find 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 world who is replete with griefe 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 maruailous afflictions for thou hast left such honor in the world behinde thee conquering so incomparable reputation in this short time of thy life that rekoning thy merites thou diedst possessed with many yeeres Thus liuest thou in place immortall I remaining heere alone after thee can giue but wounding and vnthankfull speeches Ah cruell death sufficed it not that mighty loue murdered him with his feathered steele but thou must kill him out-right with thy curelesse stroke well in respect it is so offend not thy selfe my loue for thou shalt soone see reason proceede frō her that did thee wrong who beeing the cause will beare thee company in death And I may iustly challenge him of wrong seeing equall loue had vnited our willes to seperate our persons in this sorte where hauing affoorded our ending together wee likewise might haue inioyed one sepulchre After these words she swounded againe in Mabilaes armes and in such manner altered her countenance as they reputed her verily dead her faire and golden lockes being discheueled her armes and legges depriued of vitall motion euen as when the soule hath taken his flight from the body Mabila desparing of any life left in her was so surprised with griefe that shee was constrained to leaue the Damosell alone with the Princesse walking some-what aside by
be Lady you can tell me who hath caryed 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 griefe to many I will resolue you therein I will not stick for that answered Galaor for it seemeth by your words it is an act of iustice to do it Very true said the Damosell mount vp before me on my Palfary and I shall direct ye to your desire WheÌ„ they had ridden about two miles shee shewed him a maruailous faire castle and alighting at the gate she bad him enter But remember quoth she what you haue promised And because I haue solicited you heereto I pray yee let me vnderstand your name I am called Galaor quoth hee and thinke you shall heereafter finde mee in king Lisuarts Court then any where else I am satisfied said the Damosell to God I commend yee then thee turned bridle and rode away but Galaor entred tâ—…stle where he found the dead laid in the middest of the Court by him stood many making great lamentation Neuerthelesse Galaor approching neere and stepping to an anciant knight demanded of him what the dead knight was Sir answered the olde man while hee liued hee was such a one as all the world may bemone his mis-fortune Do you know his name saide Galaor He is called Anthebon replied the other one of the most vertuous Gentlemen that euer liued in Gaul When Galaor heard he was a subiect to king Perion his father his heart began to storme and as hee pittied him the more so his desire encreased to reuenge his death whereupon hee entreated the knight to acquaint him with the truth of this tragicall accident Sir quoth he this infortunate Gentleman which you see was in respect of his bounty and vertue maryed to a wife who now lamenteth for him she being the Lady of this Castle In time they had a very faire daughter and she growing in yeeres was beloued by a knight our too neere neighbour but the young Damosell euer hated him and aboue all other could not abide him Where-of he getting intelligence determined by some meane or other to steale her hence and being so resolued forgetting God as also his owne honour watched when this goodknight as customely he vsed should goe to the cornered street there to sucour such as often were distressed because it is the most dangerous place in this countrey Knowing him thus to bee from home the disloyall wretch entred this Castle and finding the maiden in comâ—…y of her mother with diuerse Gentlewomen heere disporting mauger them all forcibly hee tooke her away before wee could fall the bridge to succâ—r her Hereupon as wee afterward vnderstood shee did nothing day and dight but grieuously mourne despising all the inticing blandishments the knight vsed to her which in the end displeased him so much as hee began in this sort to reprooue her Lady you know that I loue yee with all my heart desiring onely to haue the like of you meaning no otherwise then honorably to make you my wife but you scornefully disdaine me albeit I am discended of a more noble house then your father is which maketh mee maruell very much what should moue you thus to bee mine enemy In good faith I will tell yee quoth shee I heretofore made promise to my mother and such is still my deliberation that I would neuer match with any husband if hee were not so good a knight and comparable with my father in chiualry for which shee made choyce of him among all otâ—er knights to which wordes he thus answered By heauen I see you loue me now for â—re it bee long I will make sufficient proofe that I am a better man at armes then he Within a while after hee left his Castle beeing well mounted and armed placing himselfe vnder the tree where you sawe this knight dead to what intent I cannot tell but vnhappily the Lord of this Castle came that way hauing left his horse and Armour because hee onely intended to take the ayre The cowardly wretch seeing what aduantage hee had of him and remembring the promise hee 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 word to him stealing behinde him smote his Launce thorough his necke as you heere beholde Thus vnprouided of defence likewise suddenly and most villainously was this good knight slain and yet the blody traytour not satisfied alighting from his horse gaue him many needlesse cruell woundes with his sworde and so despitefully left him there In good faith answered Galaor the deede is monstrous vnable to passe without common reprehension but seeing you haue vouchsafed mee this fauour I pray ye tell me why was he afterwarde laide on such a costly bed vnder the tree Because it being a continuall passage for knights errant said the olde man to try if any would be so honourably prouoked as to reuenge an act of such sâ—ame and contempt after wee had acquainted them with this sad discouse I found him alone at the tree replyed Galaor what was the cause then you left him so Your demaund is not amisse â—quoth the olde man for foure Squires were euer wont to guarde him but because the knight who did the murther came and threatened to kill them we were coÌ„strained to bring away the body hither I maruell sayde Galaor that I heard not the noyse it may well bee sayd I slept soundly Are you he replyed the old man whom we found leaning asleep on your helmet The very same man answered Galaor Why did you rest so homely there quoth the old man To reuenge his death sayd Galaor if by reason I might doe so much Ah worthy Sir answered the old man heauen grant the finishing thereof to your honour then taking him by the hand he brought him to the bed whereon 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 keepe you in that good minde for I can finde no kinred or friend in this countrey who will doe so much for me because my Lord was a stranger yet whlie he liuid euery one shewed great friendship in lookes but now their kindnes is cold enough Lady answered Galaor in respect both he and I were borne in one countrie my desire is the greater to reuenge his death Are you said the Lady the sonne to King Perion of Gaule whom my deceased Lord often told me was in king Lisuarts Court 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 may find him Gentle Lord quoth she you shall be conducted thither if you please neuerthelesse I stand in doubt considering the perill you will mislike the enterprise as
many others haue done who were heretofore accompanied thither Herein Madame said Galaor is the difference between good and bad yet if you will allow mee so much as you did them that made refusal happily I may speede better then they did The Lady noting his honourable disposition called two of her Damosels commanding them to conduct Galaor to the knight that held her daughter perforce In footh Madame sayd the Prince little credite shall you haue by sending me on foote my owne horse I lost not long since in the woode by hard fortune I pray ye then let mee haue another on this condition that if I reuenge not your cause I may sland bound to deliuer him againe You shall haue one Sir answered the Lady for I hope by your prowesse not onely our possessions shall remaine at your disposing but our selues likewise your obedient seruants CHAP. XXVI How Galaor reuenged the death of the Knight whom he found slaine on the bed vnder the tree THus departed Galaor 〈◊〉 conduct of the two Damosels who leading him the neerest way through a Forrest at the further side therof shewed him a Castle beeing the place whither they were commanded to bring him whereupon they thus spake to the Prince Beholde my Lord at this Fortresse you may reuenge the murdered Knights death Tell me his name replyed Galaor Hee is called Palingues answered the Damosels Being now come hard by the Castle they saw the gate was fast which made Galaor call out aloud whereat an armed Knight came on the battlements demanding what he sought for I would enter the Castle answered Galaor This gate quoth hee is appointed to no other end but for the comming forth of such as remaine heere within Which way shall I enter then said Galaor I will shew you quoth the Knight But I doubt I shall trauell in vaine and that you dare not come to vs. Now trust mee replied Galaor I would faine haue beene within long since Wee shall quickly see that sayd the Knight if your hardinesse be such as you make shew of alight from your horse and come neer the Castle wall Which Iaor did giuing his horse to the Damosels went to the place where hee was appointed Then came the Knight againe 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 cord saying to the Prince If you will enter here the passage by the basket is this high way But if I put my selfe therein answered Galaor will yee promise to draw me vp in safety Yea truely quoth they albeit afterwarde wee will not warrant yee Crediting their wordes hee entered the basket saying Drawe mee vp for on your honest promise I aduenture Herewith they beganne to winde vp the basket which the Damosels seeing marueling not a little at Galaors hardinesse sayde Ah good Knight God shield thee from treason for doubtlesse thou shewest a gentle and valiant heart By this time the Knights had drawen him vp taking him and the basket in at the top afterwards the knights thus began with him Gentleman it is necessary you sweare to aide the Lord of this Castle against such as would quarrell with him for the death of Anthebon otherwise you neuer shall depart hence What sayd Galaor Did one of you twaine kill him Why demand you replyed the other Because quoth hee I am come to let the murderer knowe how hee hath committed a deed of horrible treason Come yee for that intent sayd they now surely you might haue beene a great deale better aduised Darest thou threaten vs and art in our custody alas wee must haue another manner of account at thy hands we must chastice the folly wherewith thy braine is troubled then drawing their swordes they layde vpon him very furiously When Galaor sawe himselfe thus wronged both in words and deeds hee entred into such choller as quickely hee made them feele the edge of his sword so that the Damosels might easily heare the clanching of the stroakes on the Armour for the two knights were strong and vigorous and Galaor well mooued with hot displeasure Ah God quoth one of the Damosels harke how the worthy knight dealeth with the traytors let vs not depart hence till wee see some end thereof All this while Galaor so laboured his enemies with such sharpe charges as their hearts began somewhat to despaire for to one of them hee gaue such a blow on the helmet as his sword entred three fingers deepe into his headafterard hee buffeted him with the hilts of his sword that hee made him fall on his knees 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 backe running downe the staires faster then euer hee came vp but Galaor followed so nimbly that laying holde on him hee made him sure for euer letting downe the basket againe to drawe vp any more knights on the wals Now because the Prince knewe not Palingues and doubting one of these twaine to be he he threw them ouer the battlements to the Ladies bidding them to looke on them 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 twaine Whereupon Galaor went downe into the Castle and as hee looked euery where about him he espied a faire young Lady who cryed aloud Palingues Palingues is this the great chiualry for which thou wouldest be renowned now thou flyest like a cowardly and faint hearted knight yet sayest thou wert a better man at armes then my murdered father whom thou killedst as thou vauntest in combate hand to hand In sooth what euer I doubted is now come to passe why dost thou not attend this Knight who looketh for thee if there be any manly heart or spirit in thee shew it now in need when thy life depends thereon At these words Galaor looked more aside and espied Palingues well armed who was opening the doore of a Tower to saue himselfe wherefore he stepped to him saying Beleeue mee Knight this flying wil little aduantage thee and lesse the strong holde thou wouldest enter into for thou must answer the life of good Anthebon whose death thou diddest compasse by monstrous villany Palingues seeing there was no other remedy turned and fiercely smote at Galaor his sworde entring so farre into the Princes shield as he was not able to pull it out againe by meanes whereof Galaor reached him such a blowe that therewith his right arme was cut quite from his body the griefe whereof so pained him as hee ran into the chamber where the Ladie was thinking by this poore shift to defend his life But Galaor getting hold on his legges dragged him along on his backe out againe and with his sworde smote his head
but by renowne of his famous Chiualry Beside ech one reioyced to see Amadis who by the 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 vilanous inuention of Arcalaus and the Damosell that caused their Combat 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 Queene 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 iudgment remembring that when long absent louers meete lookes sighs and teares are familiarly entercoursed being the only meanes to content ech others heart Yet Amadis thought it not best to stand still thus musing left euerie eye should grow cunning in coniecturing the cause which to auoide he fell on his knee before the Queen saying Madam according to your charge at my departure from the Court I haue brought this Knight whom I present as onelie yours I thanke ye Sir Amadis quoth the Queene both he and you are welcome to our presence In good faith Maddam said the King you doe me wrong if you take them both Amadis alreadie is yours me thinks you should be content with him and leaue Lord Galaor for mee You aske no small matter answered the Queene but if he be so pleased I am not against it albeit such a present was neuer giuen in great Brittaine Notwithstanding seeing you are the best King that euer raigned here so good a Knight is well bestowed on you But what say you Lord Galaor the King is desirous to haue you will ve then be his Madame quoth Galaor me thinks that any thing so great a prince demandeth should be granted if it were possible here am I to obey you in euery respect so please my Lord and brother to like thereof because he hath greatest authority ouer me It contents me very well said the Queene that you should doe as your brother commandeth for through him shall I haue title in you by reason he is mine I am yours indeede Madame answered Amadis and brother you must be my fellow seruant to the Queene With all my heart replyed Galaor I am content and seeing you haue giuen mee to her seruice for euer I shall remaine at her disposition I thanke you sir quoth the Queene now may I boldly giue you to the King for I see he would be glad of so good a friend 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 intreate him according to his deserts which may not be valued at any meane rate Beleeue me Madam answered the King I take this gift most kindely at your hand assuring you he shall soone perceiue how I loue and esteeme him nor can I be so affectionate to him as he hath noble vertues whereby to induce me which none can value or compare withall But if Amadis durst haue spoken he gladlie would haue maintained the contrary for he perswaded him-selfe that he loued his Oriana beyond his brothers desert or any other whatsoeuer So remained Galaor in the Kings seruice from which he could not be separated for any quarrell concerning Amadis as wee shall haue occasion to declare hereafter All this while Oriana Mabila Oliuia had withdrawne themselues from the other Ladies likewise Agraies and Amadis were talking together when Galaor was thus gratiously entertained by the King and Queene wherefore Mabila called her brother saying I pray ye cause the knight to come hither that standeth with you conferring because we are desirous to see him Agraies returned where he left Amadis who dissembled as if hee thought not on the Ladies till the Prince thus spake My Lord these Gentlewomen would faine speake with you and desire you to come a little more neere them which he presentlie did But Mabila being wise and discreete no ◅gnorant what medicines should be applied to passionate mindes after they all three had saluted them Mabila took Amadis by the hand desiring him to sit between Oriana and her leauing Agraies to court his Oliuia they being set she merily thus began Although I am now among those foure friends whom I haue most cause to loue and regard yet haue I such present businesse else-where as I must of necessity leaue you a while Thus deuised she bring the louers together and by a pretty wile gaue them oportunitie to content their thoughts with secret communication Now beginneth Amadis to confer with his Ladie and thinking to declare the great affection which vnder good hope gaue him life and essence extreme loue took him frō the facultie of speech yet his eyes not vnmindfull of their office supplied 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 and wringing him by the fingers sighing thus spake My lord and friend what dolour and griefe did the traytor procure in me who brought hither tidings of your death neuer was poore maiden in greater perill and not without cause for neuer did woman sustain such a losse as I should haue done in loosing you And as I am better loued then any other so hath my fortune graciously fauoured mee that it should be by him who is of higher desert then any other Here-with Amadis cast downe his lookes as bashfull to heare himself so praised by her to whom all commendation was due and feeling his spirits altered stroue to make answere but the words died in his mouth which caused Oriana thus to proceede How can it be otherwise my Lord but I must needes loue you aboue all other when they that neuer saw you do highly loue honor and esteeme you and I being shee whom you affect most deerely haue I not great reason to loue you better then my selfe On my faith Madam answered Amadis your sweete and gentle words are sufficient to make mee die a thousand deaths as many times to reuiue me againe but how I pray you at this time onely to excuse my extremity with pitty enduring worse then death by louing you too vehemently for if I had died as Arcalaus reported euen then had begun my rest and quiet if I had not known you before And albeit the houre of your acquaintance is my intire felicity yet am I assaulted with such violent passions as my heart would altogether consume in griefe without the pleasure it receiueth in doing you seruice and the good it sustaineth by your remembrance of me But necessity constraineth me to craue the mercy as yet vndeserued by such intreatance as no desert may value onely to increase my hability in seruing you which if
owne blood then the bruite Beasts are to their contraries Notwithstanding all their brutish qualities yet be they neuer so vnnatural to shew any violence to their young ones May it then be thought reasonable vnder shaddow of an accorded promise without knowledg there-of to commit so great wrong not onely against your selfe impitious father or mee a woefull 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 agrieued and that which most troubled him was the acclamations of the Ladies wherefore the King commanded them to their chambers The Queene seeing the might not preuaile fell in a swoune but by her Ladies she was conueighed thence the King giuing charge on paine of death that no one should seeke to alter his promise My daughter quoth hee I commit to the pleasure of God but my promise shall not be broken if I can help it By this time the newes came to O◅a how her Father had consented to her departure whereat shee fell downe in such a traunce as they neuer expected life in her againe when Mabila and the Ladies reputing her dead indeede thought best to acquaint the King therewith yet by forced remedies shee reuiued againe breathing forth many dolorous sighes Now the most of the women seueted themselues some neare and some further from her because shee should not heare their complaining and such compassion tooke they on her as would haue conuerted a stony heart into teares especially when the Princesse recouered the power of speech and faintly vttered these regreets Full wel quoth shee doe I well beholde mine owne ruine Ah sweete friend wert thou heere easily wouldst thou deliuer me from this paine but thus much my heart foretolde mee euen at the very houre of thy departure Ah cursed bee that houre because I consented to it When thou shalt heare of these rydings I feare being vnable to endure them thou wilt die immediately yet this is the best hope we shall not be long one after another Ah death the onely refuge to the vnfortunate seest thou not me foremost in this ranke why stayest thou Fortune will triumph ouer thee in dealing so extreamely as shee can with me albeit I knowe thou art able to reuenge thy selfe make haste therefore and let her not get such preeminence on mee in despight as it were of thy authority Adiew then sweete friend for neuer shall wee see each other more in this life at these wordes shee fell in a swoune againe When the King saw shee tarryed so long hee sent to cōmand her make more speed but the messenger found her in the deadly agony and staying till she was recouered againe as shee began to renew her moanes he thus spake to her Madame the King is offended because you come not to him When shee heard this message shee arose hauing her heart so sealed vp with griefe as it seemed to enable her vitall forces and being followed by none of her women but the Damosell of Denmarke shee came before the King and casting her selfe at his feete sayde My Lord and Father what is your pleasure with mee Faire Daughter quoth hee I must accomplish my promise These speeches prouoked her former paines when the King grieuing to behold the sight therof turned his head aside saying to the knight See my friend here is the gift you demand and the onely thing in the world I most loue but intend you to carry her hence alone My Lord sayd the knight she shall be accompanied with two Gentlemen and their Squires which were in my company when you made mee this promise at Windsore more may I not allowe vntill hee haue her vnto whom I am constrained to deliuer her Yet let her haue the company of this Damosell saide the King for it were vnseemely she should bee alone among so many men Well quoth the knight for one woman it matters not So taking the Princesse in his armes shee being scant reuiued from her swoune he set her vp on horse-backe caused a Squire to sit behind her on the horse who might hold her fast lest she should fall and a very sad countenance shewed the knight saying there was none in the Court more sorrowfull then himselfe After the Damosell of Denmarke was mounted the King intreated her not to leaue his daughter whatsoeuer happened And while they were thus preparing the Princesse looking woefully about her a tall knight well armed came among them who not taking off his helmet or saluting the company tooke Orianaes horse by the bridle This was Arcalaus the enchanter and came in this sort lest he should bee knowen soone after he commanded the Squire to ride away with her which the Princesse perceiuing and seeing there was no other remedy deliuering a sigh as if her heart would haue split shee sayde Ah my deere friend in a happlesse houre for you was the boone granted because it will bee both your death and mine Herein shee meant Amadis whom shee gaue leaue to depart with the Damosell yet the standers by vnderstood it of her father and her selfe Thus departed Oriana with them that conducted her who rode apace till they were entred the Forrest neere at hand and the King himselfe was mounted on horse-backe to conduct his daughter somewhat on the way as also to forbid any rescue from following according to his former promise But the Princesse Mabila standing at a windowe to see this sad and pensiue separation could come no nearer to Oriana her heart was so surprised with griefe yet by hap shee espyed Dardan the Dwarffe that serued Amadis making speed after the Princesse on horse-backe when calling him to her she saide Dardan if thou loue thy Master stay not any where till thou acquaint him with this mishappe if now thou faile him it may returne to thine owne daunger for this is the time of greatest necessity By God Madame answered the Dwarffe I will with all diligence performe my duty So giuing the spurres to his horse hee galloped the same way his Master rode with the Damosell But leaue wee him posting and tell what now happened to King Lisuart who accompanied his Daughter to the entrance of the Forrest causing all such to returne as followed him Euen in the houre of his trouble a Damosell came to him mounted on a swift Palfray with a sworde hanging about her neck and a Launce richly painted hauing the point gilded ouer after shee had saluted him she thus spake My Lord God increase your ioy and make you willing to performe what you haue promised me at Windsore in the presence of all your worthy knights At these wordes the King knew her remembring it was she that sayde
and Galaor vnderstood that King Lisuart and his Daughter were carried away prisoners wherefore 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 shee had knowne their names likewise how they tooke their way toward London as men right ioyful of their good successe But by the way they met Dardan the Dwarffe so fast as horse could gallop whereupon Amadis thus spake to Galaor Brother me thinks my seruant Dardan commeth toward vs and doubtlesse about some matter of importance for do you not see what speed he maketh By this time Dardan brake off their talke rehearsing euery thing that happened since their departure but when hee tolde how the Princesse Oriana was carried from the Court against her will and what sorowfull lamentations she made Amadis entered into a despairing fury demanding which way they went that had her in charge In sooth my Lord answered Dardan they rode thorough the Forrest which lieth on the otherside of the City Without more words Amadis gaue the spurres to his horse galloping amaine toward London so confounded with the terrour of these newes as he could not speake to his brother Galaor who left him not but followed at hand Thorow the City they ride not making any stay enquiring which way they took that led away the Princesse euery one shewed it him very readily As Gandalin came posting after his Lord it was his hap to passe by the Queenes lodging where shee standing at a window ouer-come with griefe espied Gandalin whom she called to her and asked where he left his Master Madame quoth he he is gone after thē that haue away the Princesse Stay a little I pray thee said the Queen thē sent she for the Kings sword which was accounted one of the best in the world saying I desire thee carrie this sword to Amadis and tell him the King forsooke it this morning he being gone with a Damosell to combate for her she hath giuen him another sword as yet we heare no tydings of him either when he wil returne or whither he is gone Gandalin hauing receiued the sword set away with speed after his maister whose impatience vrging him to more hast then care of his iourney made him ride so farre into a foule slough as he was faine to alight ere hee could get foorth againe And leading his horse by the bridle to escape the mire Galaor Gandalin ouer-took him acquainting him with the Queenes message and deliuering the sword she sent him When hee heard how the King was likewise gone his desire of speede encreased to giue him succour but his horse was so wearied with striuing in the bogge as hee was constrained to take Gandalins which trauailed much worse then his owne yet with the helpe of his spurres he made him goe At length they found the tracke of horses 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 wee met certaine men leading a knight and two Ladyes albeit wee durst not shew our selues but kept vs hidden in the thickest of the wood for doubtlesse they besome bad people hereto they added such a description of the prisoners as they easily gathered them to be the King and Oriana betraied But tell me good friends saide Amadis know you none of the other for the prisoners are the King and his daughter In sooth replied the poore man wee are altogether ignorant what they are yet we heard one that led the horse of the fairer Lady often-times name Arcalaus Now trust mee quoth Amadis to his brother it is the villaine that enchanted me Oh that it might be my hap to finde him Gentle-men said 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 Ladyes Brother quoth Amadis to Galaor I beseech ye to follow the King least worse befall him then we can remedy and I will after the Princesse Oriana So shaking hands in equall resolution they parted the seuerall waies but Amadis found his horse so ouer labored as he was able tohold out no longer Being thus hindered by chance he looked aside and sawe where a Knight lay slaine with a Squire standing by holding his horse whereupon Amadis stepped to him demanding who committed that murther A traitour hath done it answered the Squire who is not yet gone very farre and leadeth with him the fairest Lady in the world no other reason had he for my maisters death but because he asked what the Lady was What wilt thou do sayd Amadis tarrying heere I stay Sir quoth he till some one come who may helpe me with my maisters body to some buriall and afterward I intend to seeke my fortune If thou answered Amadis wilt giue me the horse thou holdest I wil leaue thee mine and my Squire to helpe thee and one day will I giue thee two better beside The squire was cōtent whē Amadis mounting on the horse commanded Gandalin to help him bury his maisters body and after-ward to follow him the same way he rode Thus Amadis hies so fast as horse can run and espying an hermitage went to see if any body were within at his call the hermit came foorth of whom he asked if he saw not fiue Knights passe by leading two Ladyes No verily answered the olde father but do you not enquire for a Castle which is not far from this place Why aske yee such a question quoth Amadis Because a Nephew of mine tolde mee saide the Hermit how Arcalaus the enchanter is going thither and two Ladies with him whom hee carryeth perforce Ah Father replyed Amadis you name the traytour I looke for Trust me Sir quoth the Hermit hee hath done many mischieues in this countrey would God wee were either rid of him or else his life amended but haue you no bodie to helpe you No body but God and my selfe answered Amadis Why Sir sayd the Hermit you tell mee they bee fiue in company and you but one beside Arcalaus is counted one of the best knights in the world and with whom few or none dare meddle Whatsoeuer hee bee quoth Amadis I am certaine hee is a disloyall traytour and they no lesse that keep him company what lesse cause then haue I to feare him for God is iust in whom is onely my confidence I pray you Sir replyed the Hermite knowe 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 Hermite further your intent that so good a Princesse may not be long in such a wretches custody If you haue any prouender Father quoth Amadis I desire you giue my horse a little The Hermit brought forth such as
Lord quoth Galaor your courtesie to vs is so great that albeit we were determined to passe further on our way yet for your sake we are content to stay with you this night Then the knight conducted Galaor into a faire Chamber leauing the Damosell among the other Ladies and after the Prince was vnarmed the knight spake to him in this manner Here Sir may you rest and take your ease calling for any thing you stand in neede of for God knows I haue vsed such entertainement not onely to you but to all knights errant that passed this way because some time I haue beene as now you are Yet hath nature giuen mee two Sonnes whose onely delight is in search of aduentures but now they lie sicke in their beds beeing cruelly wounded by a Knight who with one Launce cast them both from their Saddles But they were so ashamed at this foyle as they mounted againe and pursued the knight ouertaking him as hee entred a Barque to passe the water where my Sonnes said to him that in respect he had iousted so well they would trie his fortune in combat with the Sword but the knight made answere he could not now intend it yet would they needes presse him so farre as to hinder his entrance into the Barque Where upon a Lady being in his company said they wronged her ouer much to stay her Knight but they were not to depart til he had combated with them at the Sword Seeing it will be no otherwise replied the Lady he shall enter sight with the better of you both on condition that if he be conqueror the other do forbeare the Combat They answered if the one were vanquished the other would reuenge his foyle which when the Knight heard he was so angry as he bad them both come together in respect they were importunate and would not rest contented In the triall one of my sons sustained the worst wherefore his brother seeing him in such perill stroue to reskue him from death yet all was in vaine for the knight handled them so roughly as he left them like dead men in the field and afterward passed away in the Barque No sooner heard I of this mishap but I sent for my Sonnes home were they brought in this daungerous plight but that you may giue credit to my words behold here their Armour cut and mangled as I thinke the like stroakes neuer came from any mans hand Galaor maruailing at this discourse demanded what Armes the conquering knight bare when he was answered his Shield to be of vermilion colour with two black Lions figured therein By these tokens Galaor knew him that it was the same man he trauailed to finde which made him demand of his friendly host if he had no further knowledge of the Knight No verily Sir quoth the auncient Gentleman For this night answered Galaor let vs take our rest and to morrow I intend to seeke the man you talke of For already I haue trauiled foure daies in his search but if I meete with him I hope to reuenge the iniuries of your Sonnes and other likewise whom he hath offended or else it will cost the price of my life I could rather wish said the Knight that leauing this perillous enterprise you would take some other course seeing my two Sonnes haue beene so hardly intreated their own wilfull folly being cause thereof So breaking off talke Galaor took his rest till the next morning when taking leaue of the ancient 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 Castle whither the Damosel rode before aduising the Prince to stay her returne She taryed not long but comming back againe brought another Damosel with her of excellent beauty and ten men beside all on horse-back after the faire Gentlewoman had saluted Galaor she said Sir this Damosell that came in your company telleth me how you seeke a knight who beareth two black Lyons in a vermillion shield and are desirous to know his name this is very certaine that you nor any other can finde him for three yeeres space but onely 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 will I not giue ouer his search although hee conceale him selfe in this sort and if I meete with him it shall like mee better to combate with him then to know my demand by any other way Seeing then answered the Damosell your desire is such I will shew you him within three dayes ensuing for this Gentlewomans sake being my cosin who according to her promise hath earnestly entreated 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 Island and certaine mariners in it who made them all sweare if they had any more then one knight in their cōpany No credit me replied the Damosell hereupon they set sayle and away Then Galaor demanded of the Damosell the reason why they tooke such an oath Because quoth she the Lady of the Isle whither we goe hath so ordained it that they shall 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 hee saide Galaor that vanquisheth or killeth them The selfe same knight you seeke answered the Damosell whom the Lady hath kept with her more then halfe a yeere intirely louing him and the cause of this affection proceedeth from a Tourney which not long since hee maintained in this countrey for the loue of her and another faire Lady whom the knight being a stanger here conquered defending her cause with whome he now is and euer since shee bare him such affection as without grant of his loue she wold haue dyed Sometime hee is desirous to seeke after strange aduentures but then the Lady to detaine him still in this place causeth such knights as come hither to passe one after another against whom he combateth and not one hath yet returned vnuanquished such as die in fight are there interred and the foyled sent back againe despoyled of their horse and armes which the knight presenteth to his Lady shee being one of the fairest creatures in the world named Corisanda and the Isle Brauisande Know you not the cause said Galaor wherefore 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 trauailed that way Yes mary quoth the Damosel he promised a boone to a Lady before he came hither wherfore she intreated him to keep the Forrest for the space of fifteene dayes yet hardly hee got licence of his faire Mistresse who allowed him but a moneth to stay and returne
returne to Amadis and Agraies who staied with faire Briolania fiue daies together preparing their armour and euery thing in order which being done they set forward on their way accompanied with Briolania her Aunt certaine waiting Gentlewomen and squires to doe them seruice by the way When they drew neere the Realme of Sobradisa they came to the Castle of an ancient Lady named Galumba who sometime liued in Briolanias fathers Court and there they were welcomed very honouarbly yet whether Briolania trauailed thus accompanied the olde Lady Galumba could not chuse but maruaile which made her request to be satisfied therein Briolanias Aunt tolde her how Amadis was one of the best knights in the world and had promised to reuenge the murthered kings death likewise how hee discomfited them that guarded the Chariot and after-ward ouercame the rest in the Castle at what time the Lions escaped as you haue heard Galumba wondering at such singuler prowesse answered If he be such a one as you make report his companion must needes be of some estimation and well may they bring your enterprise to end considering the truth and iustice of the cause but take heede least the traiterous king worke some treason against them That is the chcefest pointe of my fear ianswered Briolania wherfore wee came to craue your aduise herein Heereupon shee wrote a letter and sealed it with the Princesses seale at Armes then caling a Damosell after shee had giuen her instructions she bad her make hast in deliuering the letter Presently went the Damosell to horse-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 and his Sonnes Darison and Dramis and these three must the Combat be waged withall for Abiseos slew the Father of Briolania by couetous desire he had to the Crowne which he euer since vsurped and held more by tyranny then any consent in the Subiects The Damosell entred the Palace on hors-back when diuerse knights came to her requesting her to alight but she made answere she would not til she saw the king and that hee commanded her to leaue her Palfrey Soone after came the king accompanied with his two Sonnes and many great Lords and after shee had saluted him hee boldly bad her say what she would My Lord quoth she I shall fulfill your command on condition I may abide in your protection and receiue no iniurie for any thing I say By my Crowne said the king I warrant your safety whereupon the Damosell thus began Sir my Lady and Mistresse Briolania disinherited by you greetes you with this letter which may openly bee read before this royall company and I afterward receiue answere for my discharge whē the king heard openly the nāe of Briolania remorse of conscience touched him with the wrong hee did her yet was the letter openly read which was to giue credit to the Damosells words The most of the Lords there present who sometime were subiects to the slaughtered king seeing the messenger of their lawfull Queene indeede pittyed she was so vniustly disinherited and in their hearts desired of God to plague the treason done to her Father Proceede Damosell quoth the king and let vs heare your message My Lord said she by treason you murdred my Ladies Father and vniustly keepe her from her inheritance wherefore according to your former promise which you haue not once but often times made that you with your two Sons would maintaine by Armes the right you pretend to haue in this Realme shee sends you word by me if still you stand vpon such triall shee will bring two knights hither who shal in combat maintaine her cause making you know your disloyalty and treason committed Darison eldest Sonne to the king hearing his Father menaced in this sort grew into great choller and as one moued with despight he arose when without the kings consent hee thus spake Damosell if your Mistresse Briolania haue two knights with her men resolued to sight on her behalfe here do I accept the combat for my father and Brother and if I faile I promise in the presence of all these Lords to send her my head in requitall of her fathers whose death was not accomplished without great reason In sooth Sir Darison answered the Damosell you speake as a knight of haughtie mind yet may I doubt these words to proceed from choller because I discerne an alteration in your countenance but if you will request the king to confirme your speeches I shall thinke your proffer came from a heart of courage This answere Damosell quoth he may you boldly make her that sent you hither Cause then his Maiesty said the Damosell to giue my Ladies knights assurance that for any mishap you may receiue in the Combat they shall sustaine no iniurie nor be medled withall but by you three And if you purchase them such a safe conduct they shall bee here within three dayes at the vttermost Darison falling on his knee before the King said You heare my Lord the Damosells demaund and the promise I haue made before your Maiesty in the presence of all these great Princes and Lords humbly therefore I beseech you seeing my honor is yours that both you and all the rest will confirme her request otherwise to our great disaduantage the presuming knights who dare aduenture in the cause of foolish Briolania will imagine themselues conquerors and vs dismaide faint-hearted Cowards hauing openly published that if any one will touch your illustrious renowne for matters past by the combat of vs three you intend to be purged And albe it you would make them no such promise yet ought not we to refuse them for as I vnderstand they be some foolish knights of King Lisuarts Court who by their ouer-weening and aspiring thoughts make high acompt of their owne deedes in the contempt of others The King who loued Darison as himselfe though the death of his brother condemned him culpable and thereby made him feare the combat granted them safe conduit according as the Damosell requested for the two knights and such as came in their company Here is to be considered that the period of this traitours Fortune was now limited and the iust auenger of all wrongs pointed out rewarde for the treason of him acd his Sonnes as in this discourse may bee euidently seene The Damosel seeing her message had taken such effect as shee desired said vnto them Make your selues ready for to morrow without fayle shall this difference bee desided So mounting on her Palfrey she returned to the Castle of Galumba where being arriued before the knights and Ladies she reported her answere but when she told them that Darison reputed them foolish knights of king Lisuarts Court they were so offended as Amadis entred into these speeches By God there are such in company of that good king as can easily abate the pride of Darison and humble his head so low as they list but I
cut and mangled them very pittifully Many times was Florestan enforced to staggering by the mighty blowes of his monstrous enemy yet at length the Prince smote at him so furiously as he was faine to lie along vpon his horse neck when redoubling his stroake betweene the helmet and the brigandine he parted his head from his shoulders Being thus cōqueror of all the Damosells and they not a little meruailing at this strange victory the Knight who had beene their host the night before spake to Florestan My Lord this Damosell haue I long time loued and she me with like affection but for the space of this yeare more the great knight whom last you slue hath forcibly detained her yet beeing now recouered by your worthy prowesse I beseech ye Sir I may enioy her againe If it be so as you say answered Florestan my pains haue stood you in some steede at this time but against her will neither you or any other can get her from me Alas my Lord quoth the Damosell no one but he hath right to my loue then sunder not them that should liue together Nor will I said Florestan you are Lady at your owne liberty and may depart with your friend when you please They both requited him with manifold thanks then taking leaue of Galaor Florestan the knight rides home ioyfully with his new conquered Lady The other two Damosells desired the Princes to accompany thē to their Ants house which was not far off Galaor questioning with thē by the way why they were kept in such sort at the Fountaine where-to one of the Damosells thus replied Vnderstand my Lord that the great Knight who was slaine in the combat loued the Lady which your host carried away with him but she despised him aboue all other fancying no other then him who now enioys her But in respect this knight was so puissant as none in this country durst contend with him he kept her violently whether she would or no yet offering her no iniury because he loued her deerely and one day among other he thus spake to her faire Mistresse to the end I may compasse your gentle affection and be esteemed of you the only knight in the world listen what I will do for your sake There is a Knight named Amadis of Gaule accounted the onely man for valour this day liuing who slew a Cozin of mine in the Court of king Lisuart a knight of great fame called Dardan the proud him for your sake will I seeke and by cutting off his head conuert all his glory to mine owne commendation But till I compasse what I haue said these two Ladies meaning vs and these two knights of my linage shall attend on you and each day conduct you to the fountaine of Oliues which is the only passage for knights errant through this Countrey if any dare be so bold to cary you thence there shall you see many braue combats what the honor of your loue can make me do to cause the like opinion in you towards me as your diuine prfections haue wrought in me to you Thus were wee taken and giuen to the two Knights who were first dismounted and with them we haue abode the space of one whole yere in which time many combats they fought for vs yet neuer conquered till this present In sooth Lady answered Galaor the knights 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 she and had not ouer-weening pride too much ruled him he was a most gentle courteous Knight By this time were they come to their Aunts Castle where Galaor and Florestan found gracious entertainement the old Lady being very glad to see her Neeces as also to vnderstand the death of Alimias After they had taken leaue of the friendly Ladies they iourney toward the Realme of Sobradisa where they heard before they entred the Citty how Amadis and Agraies had slaine Abiseos and his Sonnes by meanes whereof Briolania ruled as a peaceable Queene which news highly contented them made them reioyce for their happy fortune To the palace they come vnknown of any till they were brought to Amadis Agraies whose wounds were already indifferently recured and they deuising with the Queene at her arriuall Here you must note how the Damosell that conducted Galaor to finde Florestan left them after the combat and comming before to her Mistresse told her and Amadis how Galaor and Florestan knew each other and what issue their combat had which made Amadis very kindely to embrace them both and Florestan offered on his knee to kisse his hand which Amadis would not permit but causing him to arise sate downe communed of their aduentures past But one day among other the new enstalled Queen Briolania after many honorable feastings she had made thē seeing these foure knights determined to depart considering the good she had receiued by Amadis and Agraies that she being before a disinherited Princesse was by their meanes restored to her Kingdome beholding likewise the wheele of fortune turned and how such personages were not alone to aide and defend her Countrey but puissant enough of themselues to be Kings and mighty Lords falling on her knees before them first rendring thankes to God who had done her such grace as to regard her in pitty continuing her discourse she said Thinke my Lords these mutations are the meruailes of the Almighty which are admirable to vs held of great accoūt but to him they are in manner nothing Let vs see if it be good then to shun Signories riches which to obtaine we take such paine and trauaile and to keepe endure innumerable anguishes and distresse as superfluous therefore vtterly to deiect them because they are torments of body soule vncertaine and haue no permanence As for my selfe I say no but affirme that they being lawfully begotten modestly vsed according to Gods appointment they are in this world rest pleasure and ioy and the way to bring vs to eternall glory The end of the first Booke A Table for the ready finding of the Chapters Contayned in this Booke directing by the Number to euery seuerall Leafe CHAPTER 1. OF whence the Kings Garinter and Perion were the Combat betweene Perion and two Knights as also how hee fought with a Lion that deuoured a Hart in their presence with the successe following thereon Fol. 1. Chap. 2. How the Princesse Elisena and her Damosell Darioletta went to the chamber where King Perion was lodged Fol. 6. Chap. 3. How King Perion parting from little Brittaine trauailed on his iourney hauing his heart filled with griefe and melancholy Fol. 12. Chap. 4. How King Languines carried away with him the Gentle-man of the Sea and Gandalin the Sonne of Gandales Fol. 19. Chap. 5. How King Lisuart sayling by the Sea landed in Scotland where he was greatly honoured
was come to seek Amadis but shee tolde him that now two whole dayes were passed since hee and his fellowes were departed towards Great Brittaine since which time she heard that they had taken their way vnto the Firme-Island Whereupon Durin without any longer stay tooke leaue of her and rode so long that he arriued in the Island the same houre that Amadis entred vnder the arch of Loyall louers where hee beheld how the Image had done more for him then for any other knight that euer entered the same before as it was tolde him Now as Amadis together with Agraies returned to the succour of his brethren Durin thought to haue spoken with him but Gandalin entreated him to stay vntill he had tred the perill of the forbiden chamber beeing assured that he brought Letters to him froÌ„ Oriana the which perchance might haue been a meane as he thought to cause him either to forslow or to faile in the achieuing of so great an enterprise for Amadis was so subiect to the Princesse as hee would not only haue left off the conquest of the Firme-Island but also of the whole world beside if she had coÌ„manded Wherefore after hee had finished al the strange aduentures and the inhabitants of the Isle had receiued him for their Lord Durin came before him Then Amadis demanded of him what newes was in the Court of King Lisuart My Lord answered Durin I left it euen in the same estate that it was in at your departure And as he would haue proceeded in his speech Amadis tooke him by the hand and went with him alone into a very pleasant Orchard where they walked together then he demanded how he came to the Firme-Island My Lord said he my Lady Oriana sent me vnto you for such affaires as in this letter you shal vnderstaÌ„d the which he gaue vnto him Amadis tooke it and without changing his cheere he turned his face from Durin because hee should not beholde his colour alter for his heart began to leap with great ioy so as he knew not wel how to set his coutenance But this sudden mutation was as soone changed into a great despare because that reading these rigorous lines which pronounced his banishment it stroke so great sorrow to his heart as hee was no longer able to dissemble his griefe but burst out into such vehement weeping that hee was all drowned in teares Then Durin repented that euer hee was the bringer of such heauie letters for although the conteÌ„ts thereof were vnknown vnto him yet because he knew not how to remedy it hee durst not come neere Amadis who was so confounded as hee fell prostrate on the ground and in falling the letters which hee helde did fall foorth of his hand Notwithstanding he presently tooke them vp and began to reade them againe for the beginning had sogreatly troubled him that he had not yet seene the end But casting his eye vpon the superscritioÌ„ which contained these words She who forreth not to die but onely because then art her murtherer Hee then fetched so deepe a sigh as if his soule had parted from his body and therewithall fell downe back-ward Where-with Durin was greatly amazed ran speedily to helpe him but hee found him to moue no more then a dead man Wherefore fearing some greate inconuenience hee thought to haue called Galaor or some other yet fearing that thereby he might be blamed he staed comming vnto Amadis lifted him vp who cryed Oh heauens why do you thus suffer mee to die and haue not deserued it Alas Loyaltie what recompence doost thou offer those that neuer offended thee now I see my selfe forsaken of her for whose sake I would rather suffer a thousand deathes then one of her commandements by mee should be disobeied Then pittifully looking vpon the letter which he had in his hand he sayde Ah happy letter because thou wert written by the excellentest personage this day liuing and yet most vnhappy in that thou procurest the cruell death of the truest louer that euer serued Lady which death that it may bee the sooner I will neuer forsake thee but will place thee in the neerest deerest place that I haue So hee put it in his bosome and asked Durin if hee had ought else to say No answered he Well then saide Amadis thou shalt presently returne with my answere In good sooth my Lord answered Durin shee hath expresly forbidden me to receiue any And what did not Mabila nor thy sister wil thee to say any thing to me No my Lord answered he for they knew not of my departure because my Lady strictly charged mee to acquaint no body therewith Ah God sayd Amadis I see well now that my misery is voyd of remedy Then he rose vp and went to a riuer which passed along by the garden where hee washed his eyes which done he willed Durin to call Gandalin and that hee should come back againe with him alone which hee did but at their returne they found him in a swound againe yet recouering incontinent and seeing Gandalin he said Friend I am vndone therefore go seeke out Isania the Gouernour of this Isle bring him hither alone Then Gandalin ran for him and staied not long vn till they returned together who being come Amadis said vnto him Isania you know the oath you haue sworne vnto me the duty wherein you are vnto mee bound notwithstanding I pray you yet to promise me as you are true knight to keep secret whatsoeuer you shal see me doe vntill to morrow morning after my brethren haue heard diuine seruice and then secretly goe thou and cause the gate of this Castle to be opened which being done let GaÌ„dalin bring thither my horse armour but take heed that none perceiue it and I will follow straight after thee they were no sooner departed from him but he began to remeÌ„ber a dream which he had the night before wherein he thought that being armed and set vpon his horse hee was on the highest part of a peece of land enuironed with diuerse sorts of trees and that round about him were many persons maâ—ing the greatest ioy in the world then one of them presented him with a box saying Sir taste of that which is herein which he did and hee thought hee did eate of a most bitter meat And as hee cast it from him the raines of his horse did breake whereupon the horse ran vp and downe so that he was not in any sort able for to stay him When he saw he was so farre from this merry company he looked backe and hee thought that hee beheld their great mirth changed into such exceeding mone as it greatly pitttied him willingly would he haue returned backe to assawage their sorrow if hee could haue mastered his horse who at that instant entred into a tuft of trees where hee found a rocke enuironed with water against the which the horse stayed Then hee alighted for the great desire he had
mariage making account that it would be easily granted considering his birth and high estate Hereupon he tooke leaue of the Ladies and returned towards the King who was ready to sit downe to dinner the which being ended hee went aside towards a window and calling Patin vnto him they talked long together Afterwards falling from one matter to another Patin said vnto him It may please your maiesty yester-day I promised to tel you so soone as I had seene my Lady Oriana your daughter what moued me to come from Rome into Great-Brittaine I beseech you not to bee offended if I haue taken so far a iourney to come in person to require her of you in mariage I haue chosen her as wel to haue your alliance as also for the beauty and good grace which remaineth in her I am sure you are not ignorant considering the place from whence I am descended the great meanes which cannot faile me as one day to be Emperor of Rome that if I would else where set my liking there is no Prince this day liuing which would not be very glad to receiue mee for his sonne in law Good cosin answered the king I thanke you for the kindnesse and honour you do offer me but the Queene hath alwaies promised Oriana that she shal neuer be maried against her will wherefore before wee grant you any thing we must know of her how she will bee content therewith this the King sayd because he would not discontent Patin for he was not minded to bestowe his daughter vpon any Prince or Lord that should carry her forth of the land Patin was satisfied with these wordes and expecting some other answere of the King hee stayed fiue dayes at the Court yet the king neuer spake to Oriana thereof although he assured him that hee had done as much as he could to cause her consent thereto but he could in no sort preuaile with her Therefore win her your selfe if you can said he and pray her to doe that which I shall command her Then Patin came vnto her and said Madame I am to desire a request of you that shall be both honorable and profitable for you the which I pray you not to deny me My Lord answered the princesse there is no reason to refuse the grant being such a reasonable request as you assure me it is therefore if it please you defer not to declare it vnto me I beseech you said Patin to obey whatsoeuer the king your Father shall command you Oriana who vnderstood not his meaning answered him You may bee assured Sir that I should be very sorry to do otherwise This answere wonderfully contented Patin for he now assuredly thought Oriana to be his and said vnto her Madam I haue determined to go thorough this countrie to seeke strange aduentures and I hope to performe so high deeds of Arms as you shall shortly heare news of my prowes so much to mine aduantage as very easily you will coÌ„discend vnto that which the king will command you for the loue of me Herewithall he tooke leaue of her manifesting at this time his intention vnto her no farther and returned vnto the king vnto whom he declared the answer of Oriana together with the desire he had to proue himselfe against al wandring Knights Do as it please you answered the king notwithstanding I would aduise you to desist from such an enterprise for you shall finde many strange and very dangerous aduentures with a great number of knights well exercised in armes who may happily in some sort displease you If they be valiant and hardy said he I hope they shall not finde any faintnes or cowardlines in me as my deedes hereafter may witnes Wel answered the king Do what you shall thinke best Thus Patin departed in the hope which he had to enioy Oriana for the loue of whom he had framed this song which he sung when fortune brought him neere the place where Amadis made his mone who vsed him as you haue heard But now we will leaue him and recount vnto you what hapned to Durin who hauing left Amadis returned the next way passing by the place where Patin lay wounded who had taken off his Helmet for the grief of his wouÌ„d hauing already lost such store of blood that his face and armour was all stained and couered therewith He beholding Durin said to him Gentle-man my friend tell me where I may finde a place to cure my wounds Truly answered hee I know no place but one and those whom you shall finde there are so sorrowfull that I beleeue they cannot looke vnto you Wherefore said Patin For a Knight quoth Durin who newly hath wonne the place that I tell you of and seen the images of Apolidon and his Lady which till then no other might behold since when he is departed thence secretly in such melancholy as his death is greatly feared Belike said Patin you speake of the Firme-Island True quoth Durin What said Patin is it conquered already certes I am heartily sorry for I was going thither with intention to proue my selfe hoping to haue won the same Durin smiled and answered him Truely knight if there be no more prowesse hidden within you then that which you haue now manifested I thinke in stead of honour you might there haue gotten shame and infamy Patin thinking himselfe iniuried rose vp and thought to haue taken hold of the raâ—…es of Durins horse but Durin turned from him herefore Patin seeing hee was farre enough from him hee called him againe and said I pray you faire sir tell what he is that hath gotten this famous conquest Then tell me first what you are answered Durin I will not stick for that said Patin I am sir Patin brother to the Emperour of Rome God bee praised answered Durin Yet so farre as I see you are of higher birth then bounty and your courage is as slender as your Courtesie is small Witnesse the speech which of late you had with the Knight that you enquire after who 〈◊〉 the very same that euen now went from you whom I beleeue considering how hee hath handled you you will grant that he is worthy of such a victory and not Patin whom he hath vanquished This said he set spurres to his horse taking the right way vnto London in full purpose to recite vnto the Princesse Oriana all that hee had seene and heard of Amadis CHAP. VI. How Don Galaor Florestan and Agraies vndertooke the search of Amadis who hauing left his Armour changed his name and withdrew himselfe to an hermitage in the company of a very old hermit there to liue solitarily I Haue of late told you that when Amadis departed from the firme Island it was so secretly that Galaor Florestan Agraies and others neuer perceiued any thing thereof you haue also heard the oath which he had taken of Isania the gouernour that he should not declare any thing which he had seene vntill the next morning when masse was
the habit and estate whereunto I am called such speeches as these become me not at all neuerthelesse knowing that it is for your good I am sure that I doe not amisse in this counselling a person so comfortlesse as you are Here-with all the Faire Forlorne fell vpon the ground to kisse his feete reioysing that he had happened into the company of a person so holy that knew how to comfort him so well in his aduersity desiring very heartily that whatsoeuer the holy man had told him might so come to passe and he said vnto the Hermit my Father seeing it hath pleased you to do me so much good as to expound this dreame I pray you likewise to tell me the meaning of one other which I dreamed the night before I came from the firm-Island Then did hee recite it word by word vnto him Whereupon the aged man answered him My son by this you may plainely see that which already is happened vnto you for I assure you that the place ouer shaddowed with trees where you thought that you were the great nūber of people which at the first made such great ioy about you signifieth the firm Island which you haue conquered to the great pleasure of al the inhabitants thereof But the man which came vnto you with a boxe full of bitternes is the messenger of the Lady that gaue you the letter and your selfe doth know better then any other whether he brought you bitternesse or no by the discourse which he had with you The sorrow which afterwards you did behold in the persons which before were so ioyfull are they of the Isle who at this present are very heauy for your absence The apparell which you threw off are the teares which you haue shed The stony place wherin you entred inuironed with water this rock witnesseth to you what it is The religious mā that did speake vnto you in an vnknown lāguage is my selfe who do instruct you in holy writ which you neither vnderstand nor can comprehend Father answered the Fair-Forlorn I know verily that you say the truth which giueth me great hope of that which you haue declared of the other but the continuall griefe and melancholie wherein I liue hath already ouer-mastered mee that I beleeue if the good which you promise vnto me do not the sooner case my care death will first seize vpon my sorrowfull corps Notwithstanding the Hermit knew how to perswade him so wel that from thenceforth he shewed a little merrier countenance then before he had done and began to turne his sorrow to some solace vsing to angle for fish with two Nephwes of the olde man that kept him company Neuerthelesse the most part of the time he with-drew himselfe into a secret place hard by the sea side which was ouer-shadowed with diuerse sorts of trees and there oftentimes he cast his sight vnto the Firme-Island which put him in remembrance of those fauours whereunto fortune had called him the wrong that Oriana did vnto him hee hauing neuer offended Alas saide he haue I deserued this entertainment to be banished without hauing offended so much as in thought Truely deere friend if my death were agrieable vnto you you haue meane enough to giue it me more speedily without making mee thus to liue in languishing The onely deniall of your good grace the very first day that you accepted me for your knight had beene sufficient at that time to haue made me die a thousand deathes Many other lamentations did the Faire Forlorne euery day make in this solitary place wherein he tooke so great pleasure that oftentimes hee there passed away both the day and the night so as one time finding himselfe more frollick in his minde then of a long time he had beene hee made this song following Sith that the victory of right deserued 〈◊〉 they do withhold for which I serued Now 〈◊〉 my glory thus hath had a fall 〈◊〉 it is to end my life withall By 〈…〉 is my death likewise my woes release My 〈…〉 loue doth cease But euer 〈…〉 my during paine For 〈…〉 my glory and my gaine My selfe haue 〈◊〉 and my glory slaine Thus the Faire Forlorne passed away the time waiting vntill fate or better fortune should bring him forth of this miserie But it happened that one night lying vnder the trees as hee was accustomed about the breake of day hee heard very nigh him the sound of a most sweete instrument wherein he tooke so great pleasure that he gaue attentiue eare thereunto a good while amazed notwithstanding from whence it might proceede Knowing the place to bee solitary that no other there remained but the hermit his two Nephewes and himselfe wherefore he rose vp without making any noyse at all and approched more neere to see what it might be Then he beheld two young Gentlewomen sitting by a fountaine who tuning their voyses to the sound of a lute did sing a most pleasant song neuerthelesse fearing to trouble their mirth hee stood still a great while without being by them perceiued Afterwards he came forth and disclosed himselfe saying vnto them Truely Gentlewomen your musicke hath made me this day to loose Matins for the which I am very sorry When these women heard him speake hauing not seen him at all vntill that time they were much afraide Norwithstanding one of them more bold then her fellow answered him My friend we did not thinke to offend you with this our mirth but seeing we haue so luckily found you tell vs if it please you who you are and how this desert place is called In truth faire Gentlewomen saide the Faire Forlorne this place is called the poore Rock wherein there liueth an Hermit vpon the top thereof in his little hermitage As for me I am a poore man that keep him company doing great and hard penance for the sin and wickednesse which I haue committed Gentle friend answered they may we finde in this place for two or three dayes onely any house wherein we may place at ease a Lady both rich mighty so tormented with loue that she is euen at deaths dore therewith Trust me said he there is no other lodging in this Rock but the little cabinet wherein the Hermit doth lie and one other that I do sleepe in some-time but if the Hermit will lend you mine I am content to do you a pleasure to lie in the meane time abroad in the fields as I commonly vse to do The Gentlewoman gaue him hearty thankes and bidding him good morrow they departed towards a Pauilion within the which the Faire Forlorne beheld a most beautifull Lady vpon a bed Wherupon he knew that the same was shee of whom they told him But looking farder off he did see foure armed men walking by the Sea side who scouted abroad whilest fiue others did take their rest and he also perceiued a shippe at Anchor well appointed The Sun was already vp when he heard the Hermitage bell to ring which
doe your best to reforme the Monestary which I haue caused to be builded in the Firme-Island as heere tofore I haue tolde you the which the holy man promised to accomplish and with the teares in his eyes blessed the Faire Forlorne who without longer stay went aboord with the Damosell of Denmarke The sailes were no sooner horsed and the ship lanched out into the main but they had so stiffe a gale in their poupe that within a fewe daies after they arriued in a port of great Brittaine he not being as yet knowne by any other but the Damosell Then came they on shoare and tooke their ready way towardes Mirefleur where Oriana stayed their comming being well aduised to amend the fault that she had made And the Damosell in riding together with the Faire Forâ—â—rne sayd What ioy will my Ladie receiue when she shall beholde you belecue mee that neuer woman was in a more desperate case then she when she â—…stood by 〈◊〉 the â—…t at you had in 〈◊〉 her Lettâ—r 〈◊〉 assure you that shee was 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 I doe greatly wonder how â—â—ee hath beene abâ—… vntill this time to suppâ—… the 〈◊〉 which â—he yet possesseth And you neede not to doubt but that Mabila and I were greatly troubled for none of vs did know that my hrother was sent vnto you and my Lady had expresly charged him that in no sort hee should tell vs thereof which had like vâ—to haue beene the cause of 〈◊〉 â—â—ischiefe then is yet happened Beleeue me said the Faire Forâ—â—â—ne I was neuer in greater danger 〈◊〉 death and I doe maruell whereâ—… 〈◊〉 framed this imagination that shee hath conceiued against me seeing that I neuer thought to doe any thing which might displease her and although I should haue so faâ—…e forgotten my selfe yet did I not deserue such a cruell Letter as shee did write vnto mee For although I make not those bragges hipocrisies that a number can doe yet doe not I forget to measure the fauours and graces which I haue receiued at her â—â—nd and were not this thought 〈◊〉 in bad ground I am sure she would not be suspicious of the fruit thereof seeing that both the one and the other are wholly dedicated to serue and obey her Alas when Corisanda arriued in our Hermitage I did then verily think that my ende was come the good Lady bewailed her passion which she indured in louing my brother Plo restan too vehemently and I died with displeasure to bee so wrongfully banished by Oriana Hâ—â— many paâ—â—es what 〈◊〉 what intollerable torments haue I suffered in the poore Rocke without receiuing consolation from any liuing creature but the good Hermit who perswaded mee to patiâ—… Alas what hâ—…d pâ—…â—â—ne I indured for her whâ—…m I neuer offended beleeue me Damo 〈◊〉 I was so exceeâ—… troubled that euery houre I dâ—…red death and as often did I feare to lose my life But I pray you imagine the despaire wheren I remayned when I shewed vnto the Gentlewomen of Corisanda the song that I made in my greatest tribulation And as hee would haue proceeded in discoursing his dolours the Damosell of Denmarke sayd vnto him in good faith so farre as I perceiue you haue both indured much sorrow one for another and therefore you must forget what is past and amend what is to come With these and such like discourses thy arriued neere vnto a Nunnery which was in the midst of the forrest foure dayes iourney from London Doe 〈◊〉 know sayd the Damosell what I have thought vpon I thinke it for the best you doe tarry heere to rest your selfe and I will go vnto my Lady to tell her of your arriuall which done I will send Durin backe againe to let you know what you are to do Not withstanding I thinke it best that Enil should not yet know who you are no more then he now doth that hee should tarry heere with you to serue you but Durin already vnderstandeth somewhat of the affaires betwixt Oriana you wherefore you neede not feare to disclose your selfe vnto him Here-upon they called him and the Damosell of Denmarke sayd vnto him Brother you were partly cause of the losse of Amadis by the Letter which you carried to him and yet so farre as I perceiue you haue not hither to knowne him but doe you thinke it possible that this Hermite may be my Lord Amadis and neuerthelesse it is he without doubt but take heede vpon your life that he be not disclosed by you neither to Enil nor any other when Durin knew that his sister sayde true neuer was man more amazed then hee in the meane while they entered into the Nunnery where the Damosell called Enil and sayd vnto him Enil I pray thee tarry with this knight vntill hee haue a little recouered his strength and in the meane season my brother and I will depart about certaine busines that wee haue to doe By Saint Mary answered Enil I will obey whatsoeuer you shall commaund mee Then they departed and the Faire Forlorne remayned in the Nunnerie for the occasion aboue rehearsed CHAP. XI How Galaor Florestan and Agraies departed from the Firme-Island to goe seeke Amadis of whome they could heare no tydings at all where-upon they all returned vnto the Court of King Lisuart IT hath beene heretofore tolde you that Golaor Florestan and Agraies departed froÌ„ the Firme-Iland to begin the search of Amadis who was secretly departed from them You must now vnderstand that after they had trauayled thorough many strange countries wherein they performed many worthy deedes of armes and perillous aduentures without hearing any newes of Amadis seeing that their time approached wherein they promised one another to meete in the Court of King Lisuart they determined to returne thither and they all did meete euen vpon Saint Iohns day earely in the morning at an Hermitage hard by London according as they had appointed And the first that came thither was Galaor Agraies next and shortly after Florestan accompanied with Gandalin Glad were they all to see each other in health but so sorrowfull for the little good that they had done in this enterprise as the teares fell from their eyes Where-upon Gandalin shewing the dutie of a good and faithfull seruant said vnto them Beleeue me Lords all your teares cannot bring him whoÌ„ you desire to finde except it be by another diligent search which you may a fresh vndertake And allthough that you haue already done your best endeauour yet ought you not to thinke much of your labour but seeke him better then euer you did seeing that you are assured thoroughly what hee would haue done for euery one of you particularly if fortune had offered any occasion Now then if behooueth you to doe the like for him for if you doe lose him in this sort it shall not onely bee the losse of the most gentle knight in the world but of the neerest kinsman that you haue and ouer and besides it will be vnto you
the horse of Quedragant instead of his owne that was dead deliuered his shield vnto Enil and followed on his way vpon the which hee behelde foure young Gentlewomen that were flying with a Marlin who had both seene the Combate and heard all the talke of the two Knights and for the same cause they spake vnto the Faire Forlorne earnestly entreating to come and lodge in their Castle where hee should bee entertained with all the honor that might bee deuised for King Lisuart his sake vnto whose seruice hee had shewed himselfe so affectionate The which offer of theirs hee refused not for hee was weary with the great trauail he had sustained al the day And as soon as he was come into his lodging they themselues vnarmed him to see if hee were in any sort dangerously wounded but hee had no other hurt then that vpon his brest which was a matter of nothing Three whole daies together did the Faire Forlorne tarry there and then departed riding all day long without finding any aduenture and the night following he lodged in a little Inne that stood on the way from whence he departed the next morning very early and about mid-day hee came vnto the top of a small hill from whence he might behold the citty of London and the castle of Mirefleur where his Lady Oriana remained Heere withall he was surprised with exceeding ioy neuerthelesse hee fained as though he knew not the Countrey where hee remained and demanded of Enil if he did know it Yea very well my Lord answered Enil beholde yonder is the citie of London where King Lisuart at this present remaineth In faith saide the Faire Forlorne I would be very sorry that either he or any other should know mee vntill my deedes deserue it and that by my deedes of Armes I might be thought worthy to be in such an assembly Therefore goe thou to see the Esquire Gandalin from whom Durin did of late bring the commendations and see that thou doest wisely enquire what euery one saith of me as lso when the battaile of King Cildadan shall be performed What answered Enil shall I leaue you all alone Care not thou for that sayd he I haue beene many times accustomed to go in that sort yet before that thou doest depart let vs espy together a fit place where thou maist find meat thy returne Then they rode on a little further when vpon a sudden they beheld close by the side of a riuer two pauillions armed in the midst of them a most faire tent Before the which were many knights Ladies sporting and ten other knights armed for their guard and there was neuer a pauillion that had not fiue shields hanged vp and as many Lances standing before it Here-withall the Faire Forlorne fearing to bee disturbed of his enterprise would auoid the combate took his way vpon the left hand The which the knights perceiuing called vnto him saying that he must needes giue one stroke with the Launce for the loue of the Ladies But he answered them that at that instant hee had no desire thereunto For sayd he you are fresh and many and I alone and very wearie Beleeue me sayd one of them I thinke rather that you feare to lose your horse And why should I lose him sayd the Faire Forlorne Because sayd the knight hee must haue him that doth throwe you downe I am sure that your losse were more certaine then the gaine that you should get vpon vs. Seeing it is so answered hee I had rather depart then come into any such danger which said he passed on Truly sayd the knights in our iudgements your armes are defended more with faire wordes then valiant deeds so that they may euer bee sound enough to place ouer your Tombe when you are dead yea although you should liue one hundred yeares and more You may thinke of mee what you please answered the Faire Forlorne yet cannot that in any sort deminish my reputation I would it were your pleasure sayd one that stepped somewhat before his fellowes that you would breake onely one staffe with mee I would be accounted a traytor or not in one whole yeare to mount vpon a horse if you departed not by and by to seeke your lodging without yours Sir answered hee it is that which I doe feare and which caused mee to turue out of the high way At this they all began to laugh and to scoffe him saying behold the valiant champion that spareth himselfe against a battaile yet for all this the Faire Forlorne made no account but followed on his way vntill he came vnto a riuer side but as hee would haue passed ouer he heard a voyce that cryed stay knight stay Then he turned his head and looked backe to 〈◊〉 who it was and perceiued aâ—…tlewoman in very goodâ—… mouÌ„ted vpon a Palfrey coâ—… towardes him who at her arriâ—… said vnto him Leonor daughter to King Lisuart together with her Gentlewómen doe all desire you to maintain the Iousts against these knights and to shew that you will doe something for the loue of Ladies How answered hee the daughter of the King is she there I truely answered the Gentlewoman Beleeue me sayde the Faire Forlorne I should be very sory to haue a quarrell with any of her knights for sooner would I doe them seruice for the honour of so faire a Lady Notwithstanding seeing that it is her pleasure that I should otherwise do I am coÌ„tent vpon this condition that they require no more then the Ioust only Hereupon he tooke his shield and Lance and rode straight vnto the should finde him at his returne from London And as they were in this sorte discoursing together they perceiued vpon the same way a cart which was drawne with twelue horses and guided by two Dwarffes within the which were many armed knights inchained their shields were hanged all along the sides thereof and amongst them were Ladies Gentlewomen that cryed out wept most pitifully before whom marched a Gyant armed with plates of fine steele hauing vpon his head a marueilous bright shining helme But hee seemed to bee so great that it would haue feared any man to behold him he rode vpoÌ„ a mighty black horse holding in his right hand a Bore-speare the head whereof was more then a cubit in length and there followed behinde the cart another Gyant farre more monstrous then the first of whom the Damosels of the fountaine were so much afraid as they fled to hide them amongst the bushes At the same instant the Gyant which marched before seeing how the Ladies that were in the cart did teare the hairs from their heads for it seemed by their furious behauiours that they very willingly would haue procured their owne death sayde vnto the Dwarffes If you cause not these girles to hold their peace by loue you villaines I will make a thousand peeces of your entrails for I would haue them charily kept to sacrifice them vnto the God that
and wealthy full of faire women store of forrests and many riuers fit for hauking furthermore diuers as well of our acquaintance as of strangers wil come and visit vs besides in our neede if we shall want any aide and that king Lisuart will attempt any enterprise against vs we shall bee supported by my father from the Countrey of little Brittaine and from Scotland especially from the Realm of Sobradisa the which the Queene Briolania will wholly yeelde into our hands at all times when wee shall please Seeing that you are in these tearmes answered Quedragant now may you know those which do loue your coÌ„pany from those which doe not By my faith said Amadis I am of the opinion if any loue his owne particular profit that hee should not forsake so good a Master yet those which will follow mee shall neither fare better nor worse then mine owne selfe And as they thus consulted in the meddow the king happened to come by them accompanied with Gandandell and many other knights and seeing them together he did passe on making as though he saw them not Then caused he a cast of Iackes or Hobbies to be let flie at a Larke and after hee had a while solaced himselfe with this pastime hee returned backe vnto the Citty without speaking eyther to Amedis or any other in his companie CHAP. XXI How Amadis with many others his confederats for sooke the seruice of King Lisuart and went as well to proue the aduentures of the Arch of loyall Louers as also of the forbidden chamber WHen Amadis did see that the king perseuered still in the euill opinion which he had conceiued against him and his according to his former determination at his coming forth of the meddow he went vnto the court and he found the king ready to sit downe to dinner Then approching vnto him he said may it please your Maiesty if in any thing I haue offended your grace God and your selfe can witnesse assuring you that although the seruices which I haue done vnto you haue beene very small yet the will which I haue had to acknowledge the benefits and honour which it hath pleased you to bestow vpon mee hath beene exceeding great You tell me that I should seeke abroad for one that would better requite me then you giuing me therby to vnderstand the small desire you haue that I should obey you not that I will depart from you as my liege Lord and Soueraign for I was neuer subiect to you nor any other Prince God only excepted but I take leaue of you as of him who hath done me great good and honour and vnto whom I doe be are affectionate loue and desire of seruice Scant had hee spoke this word when suddenly these in like sort did take their leaues viz. Galuanes Agraies Dragonis Palomir Bruneo de Bon'Mer Branfill his brother Angriotta d'Estrauaux Grindonan his brother Pinores his Cosin and Don Quedragant who stepped before all the rest saying vnto the King Your Maiesty knoweth that I neuer had come nor remayned in your Court but at the instance and request of Amadis willing and desirous to bee his friend for euer and seeing that by his occasion I became yours by the like reason will I now leaue your seruice and hereafter forsake you for what hope may I haue that my small seruices shall bee regarded when his being so many and great are so badly requited without remembrance how greately you are indebted vnto him in deliuering you from the handes of Mandafabull and for the victory also which you haue obtained of king Cildadan with the price of his blood and other of his kindred I could well remember you of the good turne which he did vnto you when hee deliuered you and your daughter Oriana as I haue many times heard it said from the hands of Arcalaâ—s and now of late my Lady Leonor whom Famangomad and Basigant his sonne the crullest giants in the world had taken prisoner with intent to put her to death for which cause the ingratitude which now you shew vnto him is so great that it quite depriueth you from all knowledge of the truth And therefore he ought to make no lesse account of this his short farewell then of the slow reward hee hath receiued for the seruices past As for me I am determined to follow him and to forsake your court togither with him Whereunto the king replied Don Quedragant your tongue doth well declare the little loue you beare vnto me yet notwithstanding mee thinks you are not so tied nor alied vnto Amadis as in accusing me you should excuse him as you do but your thought is otherwise you say more then you thinke Your Maiesty may speake what you please said Quedragant like a mighty Lord as you are neuerthelesse you much mistake mee in thinking me to be a dissembler or a counterfeiter of leasings as a number of others about you are by whom I am sure that in the end you shall finde your selfe but badly serued Moreouer before many dayes be past you shall perceiue who are the friends of Amadis Which said hee retired and Landin stepped forth saying to the king may it please your Maiestie I haue not found one in all your court that was able to giue any ayde or comfort to my wrongs but onely my Lord Amadis whom I now do see ready to depart from your seruice for the wrong that you haue done vnto him for which cause not desiring to forsake him nor my Vncle Don Quedragant also I do take my leaue of you Truly Landin answered the king so far as I perceiue wee are assured that henceforth you haue no desire to remaine with vs. Beleeue mee if it like your Maiesty said he looke what they are so will I bee for during my life will I obey them At that instant there stood in a corner of the hall whispering together Don Brian of Moniasta a most renowned knight sonne to King Ladasan and to one of the sisters to king Perion of Gaule Vrlandin son to the Earle of Orlanda Grandores and Madansill of Pont d'argent Listoran of the white Tower Ledaâ— of Fryarqua Tantilies the haughty and Don Grauat de Val Craintif All these came vnto the king and said Your Maiesty may be pleased to vnderstand that the occasion of our comming hither was to see Amadis and his brethren and to be their friends if it were possible And euen as they were cause of the seruice that you haue receiued of vs they also shall bee the meanes that we will forsake you and we do take leaue of your grace to keepe them company When the king perceiued that hee was so suddenely forsaken of such a great number of good knights hee was highly displeas'd for very spight he would not permit Amadis to goe take his leaue of the Queene who as much as in her lay did wholy oppose her selfe against the counsell of Gandandell and his companion And therefore Amadis intreated