light vpon Vnderstand then sir that hee is Sonne to the fierce Giant Mandaffabull the same man that Amadis when hee tearmed himselfe the Bright Obscure slew and on the very day when the king my Master and he of Great Brittaine fought a hundred against a hundred wherein perished many other Giants all neighbours to this countrie and kinsemen to Balan whom you now enquire for By the death of his father he became and yet remayneth Lord of the Red Island where hee maketh his aboade at this instant it being one of the most fertill Islands in all the Easterne Sea and of the greatest reuenues by meanes of the frequent resort of strange Marchants that land there at all times of whom hee exacts an infinite tribute Now sir you are to obserue beside that if his father was valiant and not meanely experienced in Armes His sonne exceedeth him in all things only crueltie excepted For looke how much the one was a Tyrant and most inhumane the other is so much the more mild peaceable and gracious so that it appeareth almost a miracle in nature to see men issued of one the same linage to be so different in their qualities In this point I must tell you a generall opinion that this faire demeanour became hereditarie to him only by vertue of his mother who was one of the most modest benigne and affable Ladies then to be seene farre differing herein from the other Giantesse wife to Famongomad and her owne sister shee beeing the most foule deformed sluttish and vnhansome creature that euer was seen of her kind Whereby may bee collected that two such contrarie complexions seldome haue power to agree together being deriued from such discordant nature Notwithstanding the reason hereof in my poore opinion may be thus rendred that vertue most commonly is a companion with beauty and comely feature but is a meer stranger to vgly deformity and base disposition Now Sir I am further to tell you that it is more then twenty yeares since I was appointed Gouernour of the Isle where you found me therefore I can speake to you the more vnderstandingly as a man most frequent in knowledge of any thing you can demand of me For since the yongest years of the King my maister I neuer went out of this Climate by reason of the faithfull trust reposed in me especially in those daies when the rich golden Sunne shone not so aboundantly on him as in later times it hath done For by his prowesse and other high deseruings he married the daughter to King Abies of Ireland who was slaine by Amadis when hee entitled himselfe by the name of the gentleman of the Sea or the like kinde of appellation Beleeue mee Sir saide Amadis you haue done me a great pleasure so well to acquaint mee with the conditions of Balan whom I could wish for mine owne benefit to be of another kinde of Character then you haue now described him to me For if hee had beene indued with such plenty of vices as you haue giuen him to mee in vertues hee cannot expect when time shall serue for our meeting any hope in his owne ability of strength And let mee tell you till this instant I neuer stood in feare of his vtter-most power albeit I cannot now well resolue what to thinke of my selfe in a case of such strange contrariety Neuerthelesse come what can more precious to mee is mine honour then my life And let mee further entreate you to tell mee if hee be married and whence he had his wife In good faith quoth the Knight neuer man had better fortune in marriage then he enioying one of the most virtuous Ladies that can be she being daughter to Gandalack Lord of the Rocke of Galtares by whom he hath a sonne aged as I imagine about fifteen yeares Very sorrie was Amadis when he vnderstoode for a certaintie what alliance was between Balan Gandalack whom he loued dearely for the nourishing which his brother Galaor had of him in the time of his infancie and he could wel haue wished that this combate might haue been against some other person although it should fall out more doubtfull and dangerous to him But if it were against his owne brother hee could not now denie it in regarde of his promise passed to Darioletta And so long they held on discourse that darke night ouer-tooke them yet they sayled on merrily still till somewhat â—arely the next morning they discouered the Island with the red Tower whereby the whole countrey had her name because in the midst thereof was a goodly Castle builded enuironed with great Towers and such walles as were of no meane maruell to be seen Then the Knight seeing Amadis take some delight in beholding theÌ„ said Sir this Castle which you see yonder was not built as this day noâ— more then an hundred since but as you now see it so doe ancient Histories speake of it that he who first founded it was named Ioseph sonne to that Ioseph of Aramathia who brought the Sangreal into Great Brittaine at such time as the whole land consisted of Paganes But by his meanes the most part of the people conuerted to the faith of Iesus Christ not without suffering many incursions of hostile enemies that dayly came in vpon them grieuously molested them from time to time To preuent this annoyance this Tower was thus erected in manner as you now beholde it but after-wards as all things haue their changes with the alteration of times if fell into the hands of Giants who tooke great paines to re-people the Isle with worshippers of Idols excluded all them that honoured the true God Neuerthelesse our Lord prouided so wel for them that in despite of their enemies they still continued heere though not in so great a number or enioying such libertie as formerly they had yet partly by paying great taxations and tributes and other of lesse ability by continuall seruitudes to the Giants vntill such time as Balan came to bee Lord thereof who as I haue alreadie tolde you is debonnaire vertuous and of Catholique religion whereby hee is very naturally beloued of all his subiects Now although the Knight declared all these good qualities and many more in the Giant to Amadis yet all were but as fuell to fire enflaming him so forwardly that hee entreated him to goe before and to let the Giant vnderstand that a Knight of the Enclosed Isle was come thither with a Ladie whose sonne he had slaine and kept her husband daughter seruants prisoners And if by combating with him and vanquishing him they might be deliuered hee reque sted security against all men but himselfe otherwise let him not aduenture to come neare the Port because the challenger held it as his refuge The Knight forthwith entred into a small Skiffe leauing Amadis and his company at the hauen in expectation of his returne So soon as he came near the Giant he knew him as one whoÌ„ he had many times seene
wherein they lay was fixed on a screw or giuing vise which easily and without the least noyse conueyed them aboue twenty fathome in depth they being in a sound sleepe dreading no harme at all Full well knew Gandalin and the other that these knights were their Maisters thus betrayed notwithstanding they made no outward apparance thereof but as if they had neuer seene or knowne them Gandalin thus answered For ought I can perceiue most vnhappily came we hither where such worthy men are so cruelly handled of whom we haue heard much fame and faire report But is there no way or means whereby to succourand helpe them I am vndoubtedly perswaded that if they were deliuered our abiding heere would not be long Let mee tel ye answered the ancient knight the maine butte or end of the vice which supporteth the bed wherein they lye is vnder the plancher of this Chamber and heere you may behold it If all our strength labor will serue to turne it about and remount the bed vp againe to his former place they may easily get forth because the doore is neuer shut and moreouer the Guardes or Keepers of the Castell are now all in their deadest sleepe Let vs try quoth Gandalin what we can do so euery one set to their hand Such was their painfull labour endeauour that the screw of the vice turning by little and little the bed beganne to rise and King Perion being then not able to sleepe felt how it mooued wherefore awaking Amadis and Florestan hee said vnto them Doe not you feele that we are remounting vp aloft Assure your selues the villaine Archalaus will keepe promise with vs for doubtlesse wee are discouered to him I know not said Amadis what may be his meaning but hee that first layes hold on me to do me out-rage shall pay the reckoning for all the rest While thus they conferred by little and little the bedde drew vp neere to the plancher and attained to fixing in his first place Then our knights leaping lightly on their feete drew forth their Swords looking all about them to see who had thus raised them again But they could not see any body to their no little maruaile and they found their Armes in the same place where they had lefte them before they went to rest wherewith they armed themselues immediatly Afterward they issued forth so secretly that seazing the Guards they hewed and sliced them in pieces before any ey could take notice thereof vntill such time as by the great noise they made in breaking the bolts and barres of the gates and sharpe assayling such as they met withall Archalaus awaked and heard Amadis cry with a loude voyce For Gaule for Gaule this Castell is ours In great affrightment he rose and hauing no leysure to arme himselfe he ran into a strong Tower mounting to the top thereof and drawing vp the Ladder after him where seeing himselfe in safety putting his head out ata window he called to his people so loud as he could In the meane while our three knights had made way to Gandalin and the rest freeing them from the slauery of Archalaus whom they espied bawling aloft on the Tower with some other for their better safety And because they could by no possible meanes come at them they made a great fire and smoakt them in such sort as they were glad to descend into-he lowest vaults where they were likewise almost smothred with smoke At length the knights seeing the Castell all engirt with fire commanded their horses to bee led forth where mounting on them they coÌ„mended Archalaus to all his deuils and the Dwarfe cryed out Archalaus Archalaus remember how kindly thou didst vse me when thou tiedst me fast by the feete in the Castel of Valderin where I was as well perfum'd as thou art now The dwarfe deliuered these words so angerly with such a strange gesture as made them all to laugh hartily And when they were somewhat further off they looked behind them and beheld the Castell flaming gallantly perswading themselues that they were sufficiently reuenged on Archalaus and that he could no way escape with life By this time bright day appeared and they arriued at the place where they left their Ship there the Gentlewoman that had bin deliuered with the rest remembring the words of Amadis in the Castell when he cryed For Gaule for Gaule desired to know of Gandalin which of them was the man Gandalin pointing her to Amadis shee went and fell at his feete desiring pardon of him For quoth shee I am Darioletta that committed your life to the mercy of the Sea euen the very same day that you were borne But beleeue me my Lord I did it to saue the honour of the Qaeen your Mother who otherwise had bin put to death for no one did know but my selfe onely that the King your Father who is heere present with yee was as then married to her Amadis was much amazed heereat for he had neuer heard the cause wherefore he was left in such sorsaken manner so taking Darioletta by the hand he said vnto her Faire Friend I pardon ye perceiuing it was done vpon so iust an occasion and heretofore Galuanes hath often told me that he found me floating on the Sea but till this instant I was vtterly ignorant how it came to passe Then she related all from point to point without omitting any thing euen from the beginning of King Perions loue to his Queene Elisena and the successe of euery accident wherein the king tooke no little delight and often entreated Darioletta to repeat the sweet pleasures of his youth But while this company were thus in quiet and contentment the case of Archaiaus carried no correspondencie therewith for hee and hir remained inthe deep vault vnder his sower where he was as well fauouredly smoakt and perfumed as euer Rainard the Foxe was in his vnderground kennel And if his Niece Dinarda and some others had not succoured him hee had there miserably ended his dayes But they came to him so soone as the knights were gone finding him so suffocated and ouercome as he was not able to stirre either hand or foote Taking him forth of that smothering vault they threw vineger and cold water in his face so that soon after he began to breathe and opening his eyes beheld his Castell all on a sâ—â—me Then heauily sighing euen as if his heart would haue split in sunder he said Vile traytour Aâ—… how many iniuries hast thou 〈…〉 since thy birth Be well asâ—… therefore that if I can catch thâ—â— I wil be reuenged to mine own hearts contentment In the despight of thee I will neuer keep any knight falling into my power aboue one night but he shall dye the death to make him sure for scaping from me as â—ow much against my minde thouhâ—st done So calling for his Litter he wold presently bee thence conuayed to Mount Aldan For quoth he it vexetl my very soul to behold
awake your silent cogitation and tell me truely what you think Sir quoth he I beseech you to hold me excused for I finde my capacitie ouer feeble to yeeld you any faithfull counsell in a case so important Moreouer you are minded to congregate the chiefest Lords of your Land to commune with them in so serious a businesse and they no doubt like loyall subjects will direct you as becomes a King But yet quoth the King I would gladly first haue your aduice else you will giue mee cause to misconceite you God shield me Sir said Galaor from so doing rather I will liberally lay my heart open to you according to mine owne poore iudgment and the true integrity of my minde Sir said he whereas you say that in marrying your Daughter Oriana with the Emperour there remaines no possibility of a fairer fortune surely I am of a quite contrary opinion for she being your principall Heire and sent into so remote a Country to lose a kingdome already prouided for her you shall leaue her poore without meanes and subiect to a people but slenderly agreeing with the manners and conditions of this Nation And whereas you conceite that in being wife to an Emperour and dignified with the name of an Empresse her authoritie and renowne is the surer afterward before God Sir let mee plainely tell you that you wrong both your iudgement and reason therein Fore-thinke what may ensue and say shee haue heires male by her husband which is the sole comfort of any kingdome she becomming a widdow the first fauour her owne childe shall doe for her is to vrge her retreate to hold possession of the Empire by himselfe If he take a wife then it falles out far worse for her because the new Empresse will be second to none and then it is most certaine that your Princely Daughter lyes open to a thousand inconueniences and vnauoydable grieuous extreamities For first shee hath lost this Country which was certaine to her as being her naturall place of birth and breeding to liue in a strange land farre from parents subiects and seruants which is no common kind of affliction And whereas you alleage that by his alliance and fauour you are sure to be succoured and much feared Surely Sir I must tell you that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it you haue so many true friends and trusty Knights at your command as without any helpe of the Romaines you may easily extend your limites when you please And I am perswaded that in exspectation of support from them they will rather seeke to ruinate and destroy you then furnish you with any such assistance as you may imagine scorning all equality or any to bee greater then themselues Moreouer it is most certaine that they can couet no better meanes then by compassing some apt occasion to register you downe in their Chronicles to your shame and their glory vnder the shadow of some sleight fauour irregularly affoorded then which no greater mischiefe can happen to you and yours And alas Sir what reason haue you to send the Princesse Oriana so farre from you being your Daughter and chiefest Heire onely to aduance the Princesse Leonora who is her yonger Sister By my soule of a most vpright and vnpartiall King renowned through the wide world for the Authour of Iustice you will procure the greatest scandall to your reputation and wound your vntainted honour so deepely as neuer powerfull Prince or King did the like But I hope that Heauen will better direct your iudgement and settle more surer cogitations in your soule which I as the very meanest Knight in your Court doe hartily desire And beleeue it Sir that I durst neuer haue beene so bold to tell you the free censure of my soul but that you pleased so expressely to command me and I as a loyall seruant could doe no lesse And let this be your perswasion of me that during my life time I will keepe my promise faith and fidelity to you as one that stands much obliged to you for infinite good turnes and fauors done me Well declared King Lisuart by his countenance that he was scarsely pleased with Galaors remonstrance and he likewise as quickely apprehended it wherefore continuing on his speech he said Sir King Perion my Father hath commaunded mine attendance on him in Gaule so soone as possibly I can and because I meane to set hence to morow morning to the end you may not conceiue but that I haue counselled you faithfully if you bee so pleased whatsoeuer I haue spoken I will set downe in writing that you may acquaint them with it whom you intend to assemble together I pray you doe so answered the King And at these wordes they were come neere vnto the City which made them alter their discourse Being alighted the King betook himselfe to his Chamber where he sate downe very sad and pensiue and would not all that day be seene in any company The next morning Galaor tooke shipping according to his former determination for hâ—…ould not bee present at the resolution of this mariage as knowing certainly that the King would not bee altered from his purpose notwithstanding all aduice and councell to the contrary More-ouer he knew some part of the priuacies betweene Amadis and Oriana who all this while remooued not from Mirefleure whither the Queen Sardamira came to see her as you haue heard already finding her to be the onely fairest Princesse in the world What would shee then haue thought if she had seene her in her former condition before this continuall melancholy seized her for the absence of her Amadis and this new purpose for marriage which grieuously oppressed her Being now somewhat meagre pale and pensiue yet she appeared as if Nature had studied all her life-time to make her the mirrour of choicest perfection The Queene finding the day no way fauourable to acquaint Oriana with the cause of her comming deferred it till the next morning when resorting againe to see her and hauing first heard Masse together they walked along the allies of the Garden and proceeded so farre into the businesse that she told her how dearely the Emperour affected her what pursuite he made to enioy her as his wife and what supreme felicity attended her onely by this mariage But the answere of Oriana was so vntuneable as the Queene durst proceede no further with her but in the interim Florestan came to them who purposing to take his leaue that he might returne to the Enclosed Isle she tooke him aside declaring what infinite afflictions hourely encompassed her how shamefully the King her father dealt with her by compelling her to marry into a straunge Country and to the onely man of the world whom she least respected But beleeue it Sir quoth she if he continue in this humour the first newes he shall heare of me after my departure hence will be my death For come what may if he sunder me from this Country Death and the
I should be his wife But if you compell me thereto you shall commit a most haynous sinne for it must bee done in despight of my selfe and I am certaine that I shall sooner consent to mine owne death Deare Daughter answered the King think you that I respect not your good honor as I ought to doe Father quoth she I know not how you vnderstand my good honor but this I can assure you that if you separate me from you you will be an homicide to your owne blood Then she fell into such sighes and teares as the King was enforced to forsake the Chamber and leaue her shee moned so much pity in him Then Arban King of Northwales stept to her and hoping to comfort her said Madame you haue alwayes hitherto bin esteemed wise it appeares that now you will wander from that good reputation Do not you know that there is due remedie for all things It may be the King wâ—ll better aduise himselfe if you knew which way he might be won thereto Ah my royall Cousin answered she seeing Fortune is so aduerse to me determines to worke her vttermost malice on me depriuing you many more of al means of succouring me by force of arms wherein you haue past through infinit dangers to deliuer afflicted Ladies Damosels from tribulations let me then at least entreate you to helpe me with your good word in counselling the King from doing me such shame except he intends to tempt God and constraine that happinesse which alwayes to this instant hath attended on him vtterly to forsake and abandon him leauing in steed thereof all mischiefe and misery For Gods sake therefore returne againe to him and find some meanes to bring him hither once more with mine olde noble Vncle Count Argamont and Don Grumedan to the end that you three together may the better preuaile with him In vttering these words the wofull Princesse was so grieuously afflicted that she seemed rather dead then aliue for she fell downe on the ground in a swoune which King Arban seeing he departed out of the Chamber while Mabila and other Ladies who were then about her might minister some helpe to her in this extremity He went to the King and told him all that Oriana had said to him which moued him to such compassion as his inward distraction might be very easily discerned Notwithstanding for all the perswasions he could vrge vnto him he would not goe to her vntill Count Argamont and olde Grumedan were so earnest with him that at last he yeelded And as they entred into her Chamber they be held her former traunce as yet to continue wherefore he went neerer to her and taking her in his armes said Deare Daughter speake to me but she moued neither hand nor foote but lay as if she had bin dead At length by the helpe of Vineger and cold water her spirits came to her again she breathing forth a vehement sigh able to breake a strong heart in sunder seeing her Father so nere said vnto him An my deare father take pity on me Sweet child quoth he what wouldst thou haue me do Sir said she before you send me away from you I beseech you consider what harmes will ensue For neuer will I see Rome rather shall the Sea deliuer me from that hell and so shall you be the cause of two euils together First of my disobedience to you onely by your selfe enforced Next of the dismall homicide which your daughter must and will acte vpon her selfe By which meanes in thinking to combine alliance and loue with the Emperour he knowing my destruction wrought in the meere despight of him she shall receiue iust occasion of eternal hatred to you and not he alone but all such as shall heare of so lamentable a disaster So that looke how much you haue been renowned through the world for a benigne mercifull and vpright Prince so much the more will you then bee condemned for the most cruell pâ—…lesse and yron hearted man that euer â—…ed Pardon me deare Sir the extremity of my aâ—â—â—ction makes me speake what I doe which if you conceite to be vttered too vnreuerently take such due vengeance on my indiscretion as best shall like your selfe for you can inflict no paine or torment on mee so grieuous as that which already you haue prepared for me in depriuing me of your fatherly presence Daughter quoth he I vnderstand you very well your mother shall tell you what I am determined to do therfore do not thus discomfort your self but be of good cheare and perhaps you shall haue your own desire The King made her this promise because his heart was oppressâ—d with sorrow as he could not speak any longer And indeed the Queene then came in who beholding her Daughter in such wofull condition was much amazed thereat for Oriana no sooner saw her Mother but she fell into a swoun againe In which time the King left the Chamber committing her to the care of women who were not a little busie about her After the was somewhat recouered as the Queene demaunded how she fared the wofull Oriana opening her eies which in a manner were quite drown'd in teares beganne to looke vpon her very ruefully and with a voyce meerely forced said Alas deare Mother my present estate is much better then it should be or I in heart could wish it for Death now is my onely desire and thereto my spirit soly inclineth seeing my selfe vtterly forsaken of the King you Your intent is to send me to Rome but the voyage I shall make will not be halfe so far because I will leaue you my body whereof you haue disposed against all reason render my spirit to God who wholly hath souerainge power ouer it The Queene being moued with much compassion replyed thus Sweet Daughter the King loues you so dearely as he thinkes on nothing else but what may be for your good and best aduantage wherefore should you then thus torment your selfe Why Madame Mother answered Oriana doe you think this banishment of mine so aduantageous for me Why doe you say that the King my Father loues me shewing himselfe more mercilâ—… to me then euerany father did to his child Here you must vnderstand that during this woefull conference betweene the Queene and her Daughter the King was walking in his Garden accompanied with very few Count Argomâ—nt seeing him very pensiue and melancholy considering on what the Princesse had said vnto him conceited with himselfe that now he was become better aduised whereupon he went to him saying My Lord I think my selfe a most happy man that I can compasse any occasion to tell you that which duty bindeth me to doe knowing you a wise and vertuous Prince easie to vnderstand what good is got by euill meanes Neuerthelesse my late commiseration of your Princely Daughters present estate constrayneth me now to remember you of that which I heeretofore haue said concerning her And I humbly
saying to her I pray you go to your daughter for notwithstanding all the meanes I can vse to her she will not be sent to the Emperour and I cannot reuoke my promise to the Ambassadours Now you must obserue that the Queene had practised all possible wayes to breake off this intended mariage till such time as at her last mouing the matter the King grew so offended that he charged her to motion it no more except shee meant to endure his heauy displeasure Wherefore as not daring to incense him any further without returning him any answer she went to Oriana whom she found so full of sorrow as none could be more Oriana leaned on her left arme beating her other hand against her brest when the Queen said to her Daughter the king is wonderfully offended with you I pray you be obedient to him seeing all that he doth is for your good and honor Ah Mother quoth she I see now that I am lost for euer for I feel death so nere approching as it is impossible for me to liue any longer Speaking these words she fell down in a swoun and the Queene likewise hard by her which made the Ladies cry out so loud that the King heard it came thither imagining that Oriana was dead indeed But finding it no otherwise then a traunce he would needs haue her caried so aboard the Ship notwithstanding all the Ladies teares mourneful entreaties Being thus brought into the Cabine appointed for her the Ladies were likewise ledde thither that should go with her among whom was Olinda strugling and striuing with all her might crying to the King that she might not be so violently forced and abused Notwithstanding he would not lend her any attention but suffered her so to be hurried thence so great was his distraction of spirit Before they weighed ankers he called to the Prince Saluste Quide and other the choisest of the Ambassadours to whom he recommended his daughter praying them to entreate her in all honourable manner Which they promised to doe and taking a solemne farewell each of other the King returned to his Court and the Romanes launching forth into the Maine soone lost the Coaste of Tagades Oriana not knowing or perceiuing any thing such was her rapture quite from her selfe The Ambassadours to the Emperor had bequeathed Mabila onely to keepe company with her in her Cabine and the Queene Sardamira with the rest of the women were bestowed in another Shippe and so in no litle ioy sayle on the Romanes till at length they descryed on the Sea a great Fleete of Shippes making directly towards them But at the first sight taking them to be either Merchants or some such other peaceable people they made no further reckoning of them By and by they beheld them to diuide into three seuerall bands and make fast on them by the helpe of oares which gaue them good cause to prepare for defence if they should assaile them But I am sure you perceiue that this was the succour for Oriana led by noble Amadis and a great number of worthy Knights as well of the Enclosed Isle as diuers other of his friends thus met together all determining to dye rather then to permit the Ladies to be thus forcibly carried away When they perceiued so many sailes together and in such martiall manner prepared especially for so great a conuoy there grew a iealous doubt among some of them which Amadis perceiuing and fearing lest their suspition might disharten the rest he spake to them in this manner My honorable friends and companions were I not fully assured of the vertue and magnanimity remaining in you I should doubtlesse be slow enough in hazarding the fight against the enemie that comes so strongly prepared for vs. Neuertheles knowing you to be such as you are and alwayes haue beene especially the iust occasion that hath called vs all hether it appeareth to me that we should not insist on the least delay but setting aside all seruile feare goe couragiously to the busines The captiuity of so many desolate Ladies stand as inciting obiects to our eyes and honour calles vs to their rescue by our solemne oathes taken for their freedome Wherefore I earnestly entreate you that we may brauely boord their Ships and make such expression of our duty that setting the Ladies at libertie the conductors of them may carry no tydings to the Emperour No sooner were these wordes thus spoken but Drummes and Trumpets sounded chearefully for the two Fleetes were so neere each to other as there could be no shrinking backe from fight Now Darts Slings Arrowes wilde fire balles and other offensiue engines flew liberally â—â—â—oad and the fight in the beginnâ—… was so fierce as no iudgment could be giuen which side had the better or worse Notwithstanding they of the Enclosed Isle by the meanes of that exquisite Pilot Master Elisabet got before the winde and sunke two or three of the Shippes of the enemie At the very same instant the Ship wherein Agrates and Quedragant were by the meanes of grapling yrons caught hold on that of the Prince Saluste Quide and the men entred into her But if Agraies and Quedragant made ample proofe of their manhood Florestan and Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale did no lesse hauing boarded another Ship hard by For they assailed the Marquesse of Ancona and the Archbishop of Tarente while Amadis fought with the Ship wherein Brandaiell was whereto hee had most minde because it seemed the best disposed and had a goodly Lanterne with great store of Flags and Streamers bearing the armes of the Emperour euen as Admirall of the whole Fleet which made him imagine that the Princesse was there Great and stout resistance was a long while made but Amadis and his followers plyed them so hotly that they cut so many in pieces as they met withall crying out aloud Amadis Amadis Gaule Gaule As he pursued on in this good successe he met with Brandaiell to whom hee gaue such a stroke on the helmet as he ouerthrew him and tearing it from his head made shew as if he would smite it off Alas Sir cryed out Brandaiel take such ransome of me as you please and saue my life Tell me then said Amadis what hast thou done with Oriana You shall finde her quoth 〈◊〉 in this Cabine accompanied â—…ly with Mabila As he was going thither Angriote stept in to whom he gaue the charge of his prisoner and going neere the doore he found it strongly barde with an iron chaine but running with his foot against it he made it violently flye open Mabila being in the Cabine with the Princesse had formerly heard the voyce of Amadis and Gaule and said to Oriana being laide much trobled in mind vpon a rich Couch and had heard nothing al this while of the fight Madame beleeue that heauen hath sent vs helpe for me thinkes I heare your Amadis enquiring for you therefore raise vp your spirits and reioyce At the
Asse ryding directly towards King Lisuart His aged trauaile was not so speedy but that the two Armies had fought twice together according as you haue already heard and hee came thither on the day before the second truce was finished As hee passed by the Campe he saw on euery side the interment of many slaughtered bodies whereat hee was so grieued that falling into teares and lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen hee said O my Lord God for the honour of thine owne great name I humbly beseech thee to take pittie on this people and grant mee grace that I may pacifie this great disorder Passing on further hee came neare to the Tent of King Lisuart who quickly espied him and immediately knew him whereupon hee went to welcome him for he held this man of holy life in high esteem and well considered that but vpon some great occasion he would not haue left his Hermitage take so great iourney to him whereupon as hee embraced him hee said Good father you are welcome then taking him by the hand he led him into his pauillion and seating him by himselfe in a chaire of veluet hee commanded all to depart and leaue them two alone together and afterwardes fell into this discourse Holy father I know you haue not vndertaken so tedious a trauaile and ill agreeing with your age but vpon some vrgent necessity wherein I humbly desire you to resolue me You haue great reason Sir answered Nascian to conceiue so of me for vndoubtedly extreamity of yeares and the condition whereunto it hath pleased our Lord to call mee may well excuse me from beeing seene among men of blood Neuerthelesse considering the harme that may ensue I haue not feared the danger of my person as hoping to performe a seruice acceptable to God and wholesome to your soule Let me then tell you Sir that being some few daies since in the Hermitage whereunto happy chance was your guide when you and I conferred together concerning the most strange nourishing of Esplandian I vnderstood the occasion of this warre attempted by you against Amadis and his friends Yet am I well assured that you cannot accomplish what you would doe namely marrie my Ladie your daughter to the Emperour of Rome by which enterprise many grieuous mischances haue already happened not onely because it is not agreeable to the greatest and meanest of your kingdome as many times already hath beene told you but for some other reason Sir beside concealed from you yet manifest to mee and against which by Gods lawe you cannot contrarie Knowe then Sir that Madame Oriana your daughter is already vnited in marriage to another as heauen hath appointed and stands well pleased to haue it so The King beeing much amazed to heare the olde man speake in this manner coniectured immediately that weakenesse of braine begot this kinde of language that hee was troubled in his vnderstanding or else had beene misinformed of that which he spake where-upon hee said vnto him How father my daughter was neuer married to my knowledge neither did I euer purpose to giue her to any other then to the Romane Emperour to whome I promised her accounting it for her honour and benefit And God is my witnesse that I neuer intended to dis-inherit her as many haue inconsiderately immagined but only to combine alliance with so great a Lord by meanes whereof he and I so vnited together Christian faith might be the more augmented And therfore my intention beeing iust mee thinkes I should not be therin blamed Sir answered the Hermite that which I haue tolde you concerning some matters hidden from you yet to mee apparant I will presently declare vnto you for from none other then my selfe can you know them Vnderstand then my Lord that the selfe same day when by your command I came to the Forrest where for more delight of the Ladies then present with you your Tents were erected for view of the sporte I knowe not whether you remember it or no I brought you young Esplandian who presented you the Lionesse that gaue him suck at the first The same day the Princsse Oriana your daughter was confessed by me tolde mee in her confession that she had promised mariage to Amadis de Gaule at such time as he deliuered her from the Enchanter Archalaus to whom you had giuen her a little before that the Damosell by whom you were enchanted had brought your state and person into the greatest danger that could bee possible from which Galaor freed you And beleeue it to be very likely that our Lord himselfe gaue consent to the mariage for Esplandian is the issue thereof and of him Vrganda the Vnknowen foretolde many maruailes as you your selfe doe very well know Now in my poore iudgement you should not be displeased there-with considering that Amadis is the sonne of a King and accounted in all places to be one of the best and most gracious Knights in all the world I would aduise you Sir that in shewing your selfe to be such as you euer haue beene you should defend the honour and conscience of your daughter and making an end of this warre call her home again to you vse her hereafter as reason requireth In so doing our Lord will be well pleased with you who else will doubtlesse bee offended with you for the effusion of so much blood which you haue caused to be shedde vpon no occasion When the King had all this while listned to this discourse he shewed himselfe to be very pensiue and at last saide Good father is it possible that my daughter should bee married to Amadis Yes truely replied Nascian hee is her husband and Esplandian is your grandchilde O God quoth the King how ill hath it been for mee that I could not know this matter till now vpon my faith many good Knights had yet beene liuing which now to my no little griefe are dead Alas father why could not you sooner haue reuealed this I might not doe it answered the Hermite for it was tolde mee in confession and if now I haue made it knowne to you thinke it is done by such permission as I receiued from the Princesse your daughter for otherwise you had neuer heard it from mee But she is therewith well contented as well for the clearing of her soule as also to take away all occasion from you of further sinning herein through ignorance At that very instant meere conceit in the King presented before the eyes of his soule the seuerall seruices hee had receiued by Amadis and his kâ—â—â—ed and such they were as hee had not then beene liuing but only by them hauing so many times â—olpen him in very serious affaires Desert in Amadis pleaded iustly for his daughter and a greater gift if hee could bestow it on him and so much the rather because the Emperor to whom he had promised her was dead and beside Vrganda had tolde him many wonders concerning Esplandiâ—â— but aboue all the rest
consideration should be vsed for diuiding their estates goods amongyou As for my selfe I deny any part or portion belonging to mee holding my selfe sufficiently satisfied if I can compasse any means of doing you any perticular pleasure or seruice When they that were not meanly affected to their Ladies heard him vse these wordes and knewe what power he had to forward them that way you may well imagine that they did not lende any deaffe â—are to such a pleasing motion especially Agraies who earnestly entreated him to giue his honourable furtherance for his marriage with the faire Olinda Bruneo with Melicia Grasandor with Mabila and Quedragant who neuer loued till then declared his affection to Grasinda saying I now sufficiently vnderstand that youth and time haue heretofore been contrary to my quiet hauing then no other care but for the managing of my Horse and Armes but at this instant yeares and reason constraines mee to another kinde of condition so that if it like Madame Grasinda to accept me as her husband I shal account my happinesse equall to any mans of what condition soeuer he be Before God said Florestan I was once determined to returne into Aliemaine so soon as the businesse concerning my Lord Amadis was ended as well to see my mother as many other mine endeared friends Neuerthelesse I know not with what eie I obserued the Queen Sardamira but this I am well assured that if I could compasse the meanes to marrie her I should easily forget mine intended voyage and all things else whatsoeuer But others more free from loues imperious subiection hauing their mindes wholly addicted to follow Armes spake in a quite contrary language desiring Amadis to imploy them in the conquest of Arauignes kingdome the countries belonging to Barsinan or any where else And we request quoth they no other part of booty but the means of winning renowne honour and Chiualrie Hereupon Amadis returned theÌ„ answere Seeing you are of this disposition with the good liking of the company I will make a present diuision On Quedragant I bestowe the countrie of Sansuega for his larger portion in marrying with Grasinda To you Bruneo I giue the kingdom of Arauigne with my sister Melicia And as for my brother Florestan I will worke so with the Emperour that hee shall giue him the countrie of Calabria with the Queen Sardamira whom hee so dearely affecteth As for my Lord Agraies and Grasandor they are thankes bee to God rich and mighty enough by means of their fathers will content themselues as I thinke to enioy those beauties that affect them What else remaineth shall be distributed particularly according to the merit of euery man so soon as King Lisuart shall be heere ariued Which they all liked well and so we leaue them returning to their lodgings attending the time when they should goe and conuerse with their Ladies according to their wonted custome CHAP. XXVI How Bruneo de bonno Mer and Branfill were appointed to iourney into Gaule to fetch the Queene Elysena and Galaor and of those aduentures that happened to them in their returning back againe SOme fewe dayes after that K. Perion and the other Knights were come to the enclosed Isle Agraies Brunco and they that had hope of speedie marriage fearing least the absence of the Queene Elysena and Galaor might cause a further deferring of that long desired day Came and humbly requested King Perion that he would send for them whereto he presently yeelded Whereupon Bruneo made first tender of his seruice saying Sir I humbly intreate you that none other then my brother and I may haue this charge for otherwise you shall doe vs wrong Well then answered the King smyling to himselfe if I should graunt your owne request I am perswaded you would more gladly keepe company with Melicia then vndertake so long a iourney from her In good faith Sir replied Bruneo to be alwayes neere her is the only happinesse I can desire notwithstanding I am willing to goe for the Queene and Galaor only in my earnest affection to doe them seruice By my faith said Angriote you must not performe this voyage without my companie Why then quoth the King goe you all three and heauen grant that you may finde my sonne in better estate then when I left him Sir answered Ysanio some few daies since certaine Merchants comming from Gaule gaue mee credible assurance that hee was well recouered because they had seene him complayning only that his countenance was as yet pale and Wan by reason of his long sicknesse These newes were highly pleasing to the King and all the companie in regard whereof Bruneo and his two other friends tooke shipping the next morning and sayled with such prosperous Windes that in few dayes after they landed where the Queene then lay of whom they were most gratiously entertayned especially by Galaor because hee longed to heare tidings from his brother and other friends And as hee embraced them with the tears trickling downe his cheekes hee said By my faith my good Lords misfortune hath so long kept mee companie that considering what iniurie she hath done mee in with-holding me all this while from you and the exercise of Armes it hath beene well neere a Thousand deaths to me My Lord quoth Bruneo wee haue brought you such newes as will make a sufficient satisfaction for all the anguish you haue endured So hee declared before the Queene the encounter and battailes betweene the Kings Perion and Lisuart what great dangers and perils they were in by the sudden onset of King Arauigne and Archalaus And last of all the league of loue and amity combined on both sides and the seuerall marriages consulted and agreed vpon hereat Galaor was somewhat amazed hauing neuer heard any thing of such attempts and answered Bruneo thus Is it possible that my noble Lord king Lisuart should be in such extreamity and I not neare him Vpon my soule I must now confesse that Fortune loued mee much better then euer she did For had I not beene sicke whatsoeuer dutie I owe to the King my father I should haue made no spare of my life to succor the other Yet it had fallen out worse for mee if in the time of my sicknesse I had receiued any certaine tydings of this matter vndoubtedly it had beene my death to faile him in a necessity so vrgent It is much better saide Bruneo that all things are past in so good order Then taking him by the hand thus he proceeded I receiued charge from my Lord Amadis to doe his re-commendations to you and to desire you that you would cheere vp and recreate your spirits in the best manner you can deuise for he is minded if you thinke it so conuenient to haue you ioyned in marriage with Queen Briolania so soone as you shall be ariued there And wee were expressely sent from king Perion to conduct the Queen to the Enclosed Isle where he attendeth her comming with a goodly traine of
equall to your daughter And therefore by her meanes wee may all enter this day into Apolidons Chamber and there finish the solemnitie of this festiuall Sonne answered King Lisuart these are matters not appertaining to me and it is to bee doubted that such an enterprise as this is may induce some trouble or molestation in so worthy an assembly as heere are met together For we see many times desire to compasse a case of importance may dimme both the eyes and vnderstanding of the attempter and that in such sort as he may mistake one thing for another and so runne riot from all course of reason whereby he seemed at first to make his entrance My Lord said Amadis I still containe my former opinion and that the successe will be answerable to my desire free from all harme or offence but rather to the content of all this companie Well quoth the King your will shall be fulfilled So hee called Oriana whom the kings Perion and Cildadan Bride-like guyded by eyther hand and thus hee spake to her Daughter your husband hath requested a boone of mee which I haue granted although I greatly doubt that very hardly in my opinion it will bee accomplished according to his hope neuerthelesse you know that I haue alwayes kept my word and therefore aduise your selfe in doing that you shall bee enioyned Oriana being not a little ioyfull to heare the King her father speake so familliarly performing very great reuerence to him thus replyed My gracious Lord and father commande what you please I amready to obey you Then daughter quoth the King before you sit downe as a Bride at the table you must essay the aduenture of the Arch of loyall louers and likewise that of the Defended Chamber this is the boone I haue granted to Amadis When these wordes wher heard by the other Ladies a secret murmur ran suddenly among them some for the loue they bare to Oriana fearing least shee should not finish so high an enterprise and to her honour others more addicted to selfe conceit made promise to them of going beyond her Notwithstanding this striuing had but a small continuance because the King had a hand in the businesse and he well knowing that Olinda and Melicia were desirous to accompanie his daughter in her fortune entreated them thereto very earnestly But theire choyce friends and new married husbands were of a quite contrarie minde and laboured to alter them from this humor fearing their falling into danger of loosing that which they were not able to winne themselues and therefore they desired no such triall but were satisfied with enioying their long expectation By the faith I beare to God said the King you can no way mislike their forwardnesse but rather should highly allowe thereof because for ought I can perceiue they couet to make testimonie of their loyalty by better meanes then you your selues are able to iudge of and it is my minde that they shall make their proofe before my daughter Oriana do attempt it This pleased Amadis extraordinarily knowing wel that they could not enter into the Defended Chamber before her and this disfauour to them would be the higher augmentation of her honour So Melicia and Olinda went on towardes the Arch of loyall louers vnder which they passed without any impeachment Then the Brazen Statue began to sound so melodiously as euery one tooke great delight to heare it but especially Agraies and Bruneo aboue all the rest Going on further the two ladies entred into the Garden where they beheld the Statues of Apolidon and Grimanesa As they were busily looking on them they espied Orania almost vnder the Arch looking behinde her if Amadis followed her and instantly such an amiable blush mounted vppe into her face that with her owne naturall pale complexion made her appeare most sweetly beautifull No sooner was she iust vnder the vault of the Arch but the Image soūded much more harmonious pleasing then euer before had been heard by any casting forth of his Trumpet Gilliflowers Pinkes Daisies Colonbines Pauuces and a thousand other kinde of flowers the most oderiferous that euer were smelt Then entring into the Garden Melicia and Olinda called her to shew her the figures of Apolidon and Grimanesa but she was alreadie come to the Iasper piller where shee found all their names newly engrauen but could not ghesse how or by what meanes Herupon she called them to see what shee had done and thence they returned to the Images which they found to be so ingeniously framed as nothing wanted but life it selfe and speech especially that of Grimanesa which seemed so exceeding faire as Oriana grew distrustfull of her entrance into the Defended Chamber But this doubt had no long lasting for shee going neare to the Venus made of Agate only to take water of the fountaine the Statua put forth her right hand presenting her the Apple while snatching away the most excellent pearle hanging in her eare she made the like tender of it with the other hand Now albeit her two companions loued her very singularly yet could they not preuaile ouer their owne passions but beholding this extraordinary fauour some secret sparks of enuy took fire against her yet she beeing willing to leaue nothing vnperfected went to the Dedalus in the midst where-of as I haue alreadie tolde you was the Colossus of Brasse holding the Lanterne where the diuine fire was kept by the Serpents who looking on Oriana beganne fawningly to moue their tailes and bow downe their heads in signe of humiliation By this meanes without any other hinderance shee passed on to the midst of the Labirinth there beheld at her owne pleasure the theft of Prometheas which in the presence of the three Ladies vanished away and neuer was after-warde seene by any one nor the Serpents neither Wherefore the Ladies returned backe againe to the place where the Knights and other of the company attended for them If now their amorous friends were in the maine height of contentment iudge you faire Ladies that haue made proofe of loues sweetest fauours For mine owne parte I would gladly make you beleeue that they all felt such a heauen of happinesse as I could hertily wish to my selfe Now listen what followeth and perhaps you shall heare matters no lesse pleasing and delightfull The Ladies hauing ended these aduentures ás you haue lately heard Grasinda beeing much offended that shee had not followed on with them concluded in her selfe to approue that of the Defended Chamber before any of the other and thereupon comming to Amadis spake thus My Lord although my beauty cannot satisfie mine owne desire yet it is not so distrustfull of it selfe but it dare essay the aduenture of the staires or ascending to the Defended Chamber For if that be likewise ended without some of my paines imploiment all my life time afterward will be but irkesome and tedious to mee Therefore let come what can or may if I obtaine entrance my minde will bee satisfied
the World with him from his mothers wombe and surely in mine opinion they are the very same Notwithstanding if you had not quickned my memorie I should neuer haue thought on it And therefore make no complaint of your Fortune if you faile in this enterprise because for ought I can perceiue you haue begot him that must carrie this honor from you Amadis musing to himselfe while suddenly starting said I am of your minde for so haue I gathered by the Table on the Image of Brasse Return we then back againe quoth Grasandor and leaue the rest to bee ended by him to whom the destenies haue made their promise So we must bee inforced to doe saide Amadis albeit I am somewhat offended that I may not carrie away his sword with mee By my faith replied Grasandor if you should offer to get it your hinderance may be more then you imagine and yet it may fal out not to proue so good a sword as your owne Moreouer when I consider how you obtained it neuer could any Knight attaine to a fairer fortune nor more beseeming a man than yours was then This hee spake in regard that Amadis wonne it by approouing himselfe to bee the most loyall and perfect louer that euer loued according as in the Second booke of this Historie hath been oftentimes declared vnto yee Hereupon they returned backe by the same way they came and passing againe among the Antiquities Amadis stayed there a while better to beholde them The more hee looked on them the more hee commended their rare perfections both in moldings friezes chapters lying among the ruines of those famous buildings And no way could hee turne his eye but he beheld many fractures of singular carued parsonages the very muscles obserued to the life and such perspectiue where occasion required it that in his opinion it relished more of some diuinitie then to be performed by the skill of man in workemanship As hee continued in these meditations a knight armed with a white Armour and holding his sworde ready drawen came to them courteously saluting them as they did the like to him Then he demanded of theÌ„ whether they were of the Enclosed Isle or no We are answered Grasandor but why doe you moue that question Because quoth the other I found a Batque beneath and men therein who tolde mee that two Knights belonging to the Pallace of Apolidon were ascended vp this Rocke but they concealed their names from mee as I did mine from them Nor desire I any thing else but peace and friend-shippe with them beeing casually come hither in pursuite of a knight who by trompery is escaped from mee with a Damosell forcibly carried away by him Friend said Grasandor in courtesie let me entreate you to take off your Helmet or to tell vs your name If you will swear to me replied the Knight whether you know my Lord Amadis or no and that you will doe the like to mee I am well contented otherwise you speake but in vaine By my faith quoth Grasandor we are two of the best friends hee hath and therefore you may well be knowen to vs. So the Knight disarmed his head saying You may now knowe mee well enough if you be such as you haue sworne your selues to mee Hardly had hee concluded his wordes but Amadis ran and caught him in his armes saying Brother Gandalin is it possible that fortune should cause vs to meet in this maner Much amazed was Gandalin to see himselfe thus embraced and by a man vnknowne to him and vnable to coniecture who he should be wherefore Grasandor suddenly said Why how now Gandalin Haue you forgotten your Lord Amadis Amadis answered Gandalin may it bee possible Then falling on his knee whether he would or no hee kissed his hand before Amadis could any way preuent him but then demanded of him how and by what meanes he came thither Beleeue me my Lords replied Gandalin your equalls in loyalty of affection would gladly know as much concerning you as you now demand of me you being as farre from them as this place is from their abyding Neuerthelesse to giue you content I will declare the whole truth vnto you Know then that being with Bruneo and others who are yet in conquering the countries of Arauigne Sansuegua returning from a cruell battayle which the Kings Nephew gaue vs at our entrance and wherein many worthy men lost their liues one day among other a Damosell belonging to the kingdom of Norway attired all in black came into the Tent of Agraies desiring him on her knees in no mean plenty of teares to giue her rescue in a wrong done vnto her Agraies causing her to rise and sit downe by him demanded the cause of her sad complaint and hee would redresse it so much as lay in him to doe Alas Sir quoth she you haue good reason to helpe mee because I am both a subiect and seruant to the King who is father to Madame Olinda your wife for whose sake and honour I desire you to assist mee with one of your Knights for recouery backe of my daughter whom the Lorde of the great Tower on the Sea shoare hath forcibly taken from mee being thereto onely emboldened because I would not giue him her in mariage And my reason is in regarde hee is neither so noble nor descended of so good a house as my husband was but rather is of base and seruile condition vsurping the place he possesseth vpon his neighbours whom he hath since expelled The father to my daughter was brother to Don 〈…〉 honour 〈…〉 of Great Brittaine 〈…〉 I at any meanes for the recoâ—… of her without you because notwithstanding all the earnest entreaties I haue vâ—ed to him the wicked man is so cruelly minded as hee doth dayly deny mee so that my dayes can haue no long continuance except by Armes he be compelled to restore her Damosell answered Agraies why doth not your King do you iustice as in right to him belongeth My Lord quoth she he is so ouerspent in yeares and decayed in bodie as hee is not able to gouerne himself or any other neither doth hee euer come forth of his bedde only through his extreamitie of age and sicknesse The man then you speaks of replyed Agraies is his abyding farre from hence No Sir quoth shee in lesse space then a day and a halfe the winde sitting conueniently wee may by Sea easily sayle thither Then I made tender of my seruice as willing to goe along with the Lady But my Lord Agraies would not consent thereto except I made him faithfull promise of returning backe againe to him after I should haue combated the Knight without attempting any further if with honour I might safely doe it My promise made to that effect and I sufficiently furnished I went aboard with the Damosell in a Barque which shee had purposely brought with her and the Sea was so calme and fauourable to vs that on the morrow about mid-day we