of comfort bâ—â— the other as much cause to rest If then it bee so as it is mâ—â—â—rue that we are all subiect to thâ— Tyrant he that hath past the flower of his youth not tasting of hâ—â— fury may not thinke himselfe in any thing more happy séeing it is his manner to constraine yoong men to loue and â—â—â—entimes old fooles to dote In that sort the Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 â—ennance for the euill shee conceiued against the blacke knight and had continued longer there had it not been for feare to bee discouered Wherefore with the sword in her hand she returned backe again towards the castle without being once perceiued entered at a posterne dore whereof she had the key and so went vp into her chamber departing from the hermitage not long before her father and the dumbe man returned from the barke and found the knight sléeping who presently awaked and missing his sword asked them if they had taken it away No truly saied the Hermite for we came but now from the sea side Wherewith Esplandian estéeming it lost made account that as he had conque◠〈◊〉 after a strange maner so hée had lost it by a stranger meanes but the Hermite and the dumbe man sought it about the house and could not find it CHAP. X. How King Luisart being aduertised by Carmelle where the blacke knight was departed with her alone to find him out CArmelle returned to the castle as it is said before went to the king who at the same time was talking with master Elizabeth touching the wrong hee thought the blacke knight did him in departing thence without being knowne séeking by that meanes if it were possible to draw from him what hee knew as touching the knight but all in vain for the king was not so subtil to vndermine him but master Elizabeth was as crafty to preueÌ„t him not intending to falsifie the trust reposed in him and although the Gentlewoman had determined to shewe the king what shee had learned of the knight hoping thereby to obtaine her purpose Neuerthelesse séeing maister Elizabeth in presence shée held her peace till he went away and perceiuing the king alone said vnto him My lord if it pleaseth your grace to shew mee so much fauour as to assist mee in a thing that importeth as much as my life in behalfe of the knight that you so much desire to sée before to morrow at night I will shew him vnto you if you think good in such a place where you may easily speake with him and to the end you shall not suspect me of vntruth I wil shew you a certaine token that when you sée it I am assured you will easily beléeue me Gentlewoman said the king if you doe so I wil not faile if it be possible to satisfie your request I beséech your grace saied she when you are both togither it would please you to be a mean vnto him in my behalfe to graunt me a gift that I shall ask him By the faith of a Prince saied hée I will not faile to doe it nor a greater matter then that if it lieth in my power Then follow me saied the Gentlewoman bringing him where shee had laied the sword and shewing it vnto him asked if he had neuer séene it That I haue said the king and I would to God the knight that knoweth so well how to handle it were as néere vnto mee as it is You shall sée him in the morning saied she if it pleaseth you to follow me That will I doe saied the king armed or vnarmed I estéeme not whether so I may sée him Then be you ready saied she when I shall call and let no man go with you Content said the king wherewith hee went out of the chamber and passing through the court he met Libee and others to whome hee saied that in the morning he meant to walke along the rocke because maister Elizabeth had certefied him it was so goodly a countrey and that none but Carmelle should beare him company and falling into other spéeches they passed the time till they went to rest but the king could not sléepe for the great desire he had to sée the knight whereby he was hardly fallen asléep when Carmelle came to awake him saying My lord may it please your grace to remember your promise Let vs goe saied hée and there with making himselfe ready commanded two horses to bée sadled one for himselfe the other for Carmelle and issuing out of the castle rode towards the Hermitage And they had not trauelled farre but they perceiued a man comming towards them in great hast and as hee came néereâ— the Gentlewoman knew him asking what he meant to make such hast and whether hée rode I ride to the castle said hee to fetch Matroco and his brother Frerian with all spéed to helpe their vncle Lindoraque who comming to sée theÌ„ hath met with two knights armed all in white that haue slaine his men and as I thinke I left him in as great danger as possible may bee When the king heard him hee thought them to bee of the blacke knights company and said vnto the GentlewomaÌ„ I pray you stay here with this man and I will ride to sée them and with that hee set spurres to his horse and taking the same way the other came he perceiued a far off the two knights fighting with the Giant that defended himselfe most valiantly with his mare forcing them oftentimes to recule but the two knights as bold and nimble handled him in such sort that hee knew not how to defend himselfe and if hee had not slaine one of their horses it had gone worse with him Neuerthelesse the knight on horsebacke seeking to reuenge his companion was nothing abashed but when the other rose vp set fiercelier vpon the Giant then before in such manner that they closed and striuing together sought by all meanes to vnhorse each other Mean time the knight on foot went vnto the Giant and taking him by the left leg pulled him by such force that both hee and the other knight fell off their horses and holding each other fast the Giant fell vnder with his face vpwards wherewith the knight that threw him downe thrust him into the face that hee was constrained to let goe his hold neuerthelesse rising vp againe with great force and laying hold vpon the knight that had so wounded him hee threw him on the ground meane time the other gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the head that hée began to réele and therewith stretching out his legs yéelded vp the ghost With that the king rode somewhat néerer and perceiued the two knights to beare black crosses that shewed theÌ„ to be Christians wherefore riding boldly vnto them hee went so néere that they knew him wherevpon they went to doe him honour much abashed to sée him But the king perceiuing the honour they did him was no lesse abashed and saied vnto them My good friendes I know you not I pray
within them Thou speakest said the blacke knight as thy nature yéeldeth and I as vertue bindeth me for the rest let God worke his will Come in then said Frerion and defend thy selfe from mee if thou canst With that the black knight entred into a faire court paâ—â—d with white marble all galleried about and supported with pillers of Purphire in the middest whereof stoode the portall that entered into the house where an old lady accompanied of diuers yong gentlewomen stoode looking forth to whom the Giant went and knéeling on his knée said vnto her Madame I most humbly beséech you that neither for good nor euill which may happen vnto me in fighting with this knight not one of your house bée so bold to help or fauour me in any sort for I my selfe wil put him to death with this my trenchant blade and rising vp againe holding his shield before him with his cimiterre in his hand he marched towards his enemy who hauing God on his side to whom he recommended himselfe stood ready to receiue him Then there began such a combate betwéen them that their blowes séemed two smiths forging vpon their anuiles séeming like fire that the wind kindleth in the aire and surely the blacke knight had sped but hardly at that time had it not béene for the armour Vrganda gaue him that could not bée cut by any weapon for the good sword hee conquered in the rocke of the Enchantresse whâ—â—ewith hee strooke not one blow but he drew blood on the Giant â—rerion who neuerthelesse did meruellously both defend himselfe and assaile his enemy but by euil fortune as he thought to strike the knight on the right arme hee started backe and stepping forwards againe gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the helmet that hee cut away a great péece thereof together with the buckle that made it fast but although the blow was maruellous great and in a manner incredible yet was not the Giant any thing therewith abashed but still shewed himselfe as fresh as if hee had not fought all the day long Neuerthelesse the blood in such aboundance issued out of his body that the white pauement of the court was chaunged into red and therewith he grew so weake that it might easily be iudged he had the worst whereby he stil began to reuile séeking only to defend himselfe from his enemies blowes whereat the old lady that beheld them considering her sonnes extremity cried out and said alas my child is it possible I should sée thée murthered before my face and therewith in great hast shee ran thether thinking to part them but it was too late for as she began to goe towards them the Giant felde aâ— on the ground with two blows that the black knight gaue him one vpon the head where he was vnarmed the other right in the middle of his leg where with hee cut it from his body whereat the old lady was so gréeued that she swouned in the place being by her Gentle women carried from thence into hir chamber where they laied her on a bed cursing him that was the cause thereof neuerthelesse hee followed them to the chamber dore where the old woman being reuiued perceiuing him to enter began againe to lament and mourne and shedding great abundance of teares she said vnto him Alas thou cruel knight the only bereauer of all my ioy and felicitie art thou not satisfied yet But wilt thou like wise haue my life and my sonnes both Then I pray thée with spéed either execute thy wil or else depart from hence and take what thou thinkest good permitting mee to liue the rest of my miseraale daies in sorrow and care with these poor women but all her intent was to make him enter into the chamber which was so inchaunted that no man could passe the threshold of the dore but presently hee lost all his sences and fell downe vâ—on the ground as if hee were dead but little did the inchauntment â—â—aile her against the blacke knight because the shining sword had such a propertie in it that no enchantment whatsoeuer could hurt the bearer thereof Therefore the knight hearing the sorrow the old lady made hee went into the chamber speaking courteously vnto her said Madame me thinkes you should take the offence I haue committed on your behalfe in much better part considering such hazards are common vnto knights desiring to win honour and therefore I pray you appease your sorrow and shew mee the knight you brought hether out of great Brittaine When the old lady perceiued him so farre within the chamber without let and that he desired to sée the king she being as it were out of her wits cried as lowd as she could and saied alas vnhappy wretch that I am what haue I done for thinking to reuenge another mans death I haue procured the destruction of mine owne children and therewith shee sighed in such manner as if her heart would burst within her body and lamenting that absence of her other son said Alas Matroco where art thou now What vnhappy fortune hath thus seperated thée from thy brother and mee Surely when thou hearest of his death and at thy returne shalt find another lord of this castle I am in doubt thou wilt not haue the patience to put vp so great an iniury but thinking to reuenge thy selfe I feare this deuill will handle thée in the like sort he hath done the rest for sure he is no mortall man for if hee were hee had found more resistance in this place then he hath done Then speaking vnto the knight she asked him if he knew the man she held in prison I truly saied he it is king Lisuart whereof I am right sorry being well assured that kings elected of God as hee is for the gouernement of his people ought not to be vsed in that manner Wherefore I would haue you shew me where he is otherwise I will doe worse then I haue hetherto done I know not said she who thou art nor by what meanes thou hast so great power but I am well assured and I would neuer haue thought that twenty such knights as once this day I did estéeme thée could euer haue attained to the achieuing of so great an enterprice and much lesse to haue withstood my art as thou hast done so that considering thereof I suppose that this thy power procéedeth from him in whoÌ„ in my yong yeares I did once beléeue and since that haue forsaken him to follow the workes of the common enemie of all mankinde who according to his naturall instinction hath iustly rewarded me to my desert therefore it were but folly to denie thée any thing that art so surely defended by him to whome all thinges are obedient Follow me then said she and I will shew thée the king but as I thinke it is not he thou séekest And with that shee rose vp went into a darke chamber the knight following her then she opened an yron gate and said vnto
rather then threatnings would become him better Haue you already forgotten the prison wherein you are and in the handes of those that haue so small occasion to wish you well My lord vertue is neuer better knowne to bee in man but then when hee is in most distresse Wherefore if vntill this time you haue not knowne what constancy doth meane learne hereafter to discerne the same vsing words worthy your estate and not such nor so iniurious as you haue vttered vnto my lord Gastilles who in this place representeth the person of an emperor a greater lord then you in whose mercy your life or death consisteth for we are all his souldiours ready to doe him seruice The king perceiuing well that hee had done them wrong and fearing to bee hardlier vsed then hee was accustomed to bee saied vnto Esplandian Sir Knight I pray you pardon my impatience considring with your selfe the great gréef and melancholy humour wherein I am when I that was wont to be feared and redoubted of al the princes in Asia am now constrained to obay the will and pleasure of my greatest enemies which vnto me is so extreame gréefe that I die each day a hundred times because I cannot die But Esplandian answered not one word but leauing him with his gard taking Gastilles by the hand led him into one of his best chambers where they supped The next day they assembled all together and after many matters propounded it was agréed among them according to Frandalos aduise that they should enter into Turkie being as then in great perplexity as well for the taking of king Armato as for the ouerthrow of his army as it shall bee shewed vnto you hereafter for at this time wee will cease to speake thereof returning to shew you of king Luisart that during this time for the most part held his court in the citty of London CHAP. XXVIII How the greatest part of the knights that vsed to be at king Luisarts court returned vnto their owne houses and of the coronation of Amadis and Oriane at London YOu haue heard before of the combat betwéene Esplandian and Amadis his father and how after long time of their abode at Mirefleur staying the healing of their wounds Esplandian desiring to returne vnto the castle La montaigne defendu tooke his leaue of king Luisart the like did diuers of the knights that as then were at the Court as Galaor king of Sobradise Agraies Gransador Balan Galuanes and Angriotte d'estrauaulx some to sée their wiues others to tast the ease and pleasant rest of their mansion houses whereby it happened the court was lesse replenished with knights then it had beene in long time before especially by reason of the newes they heard from the castle La montaigne defendu whether diuers yong knights trauailed to aide Esplandian King Luisart therefore so meanely accompanied as I said before being very old and decrepit began to bée melancholy and to haue the palsie setting aside all Hunting Hawking Armes and Chiualry or any other pleasure whatsoeuer And with a remēbrance of death so much abhorred all things past present and to come that he estéemed them vaine and altogether transitory whereby he determined to depose himselfe of all kingly estate and gouernment of his realme to passe the rest of his time in a solitary and religious manner specially when he called to mind the great perils from whence he had escaped and aboue all his last most dangerous and cruell imprisonment Neuerthelesse for a time hee kept it secret vntill one night hee being a bed with the Quéene where they lay talking of the sicklenesse of this world hee discouered his whole mind vnto her and how hée determined to make Amadis his sonne king and gouernour of his country to the end he might fréely and without any interruption withdraw himself to his castle of Mirefleur where by Gods helpe he meant to liue a solitary life The Quéene that was one of the wisest and deuoutest ladies in her time confirmed him so well in his opinion that they agréed to returne to London there to accomplish their pretence And the next day they departed from Mirefleur accompanied of Amadis Gransador and others and comming to London after they had remained there a certaine time the Quéene sent for all the nobilitie who being arriued at the court caused a scaffold to bee made in the principall place of all the citty where the people might repaire And as he and the Quéene both apparrelled in their roiall robes each set in a chaire of estate Amadis sitting somwhat lower on his right hand and Oriane on the left were come thether a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéepe silence ◠the king with a stately countenaunce and Princely magnanimitie turning to the people saied vnto them My good friends and loial subiects before I begin to shew you the cause why I haue made you to repaire vnto this place I wil put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I haue often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris whē it pleased God to call me vnto the gouernment of this land and as I thinke there are yet many of you liuing that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the meanes and subtletie of Arcalaus the inchanter I was deliuered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my sonne Amadis deliuered mee Yet not long after by euill counsell I made warre against him which ended as all men know fortune enuious of my felicitie afterward prepared mee such a banket that without his helpe I had beene prisoner with king Arauigne and vtterly ouerthrowne And that which hath yet more astonished mee was that when I thought my selfe sure and out of danger of all mishaps a worse then all the former suddainely chanced vnto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verely to haue ben the end and consumation of my daies Neuerthelesse the Lord God regarding me in pitty sent my yong sonne Esplandian to my sorrowfull prison from whence hée hath deliuered mee as no doubt you haue heard Now my good subiects you all sée mée to bee very old and white haired hauing already attained to the thréescore and tenth yeare of mine age which maketh me think it time now to forget all wordly pleasures and to serue God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I haue determined from henceforth to forsake all royall dignity and leaue you my son Amadis for your king to whome at this time I yéeld both my Crowne Scepter and all the right I haue vnto the gouernement of this land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will bee faithfull and true subiects vnto him as you haue alwaies ben to me And although hée bée but my sonne in law if I knew him vnworthy of the place beléeue
importunity he was content wherewith hee tooke his leaue of all the court and vpon a monday in the morning taking horse accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil his squire hee tooke his way towards the Ferme Isle hoping to finde the great Serpent there wherein they might imbarke themselues CHAP. XV. How Esplandian riding towards the Ferme Isle was assailed by a strange knight that watched him in the forrest ESplandian departed from the king and hauing taken his leaue of all the court as you heard before tooke the crookeddest way hee could through woods and forrests towards the Ferme Isie thinking not to bee perceiued of any that might hinder his enterprise And hauing ridden thrée miles he entered into a forrest which hauing almost passed hée came vnto a great riuer wherevpon the king had built a house called Bellerose where oftentimes being on hunting hee vsed to resort And as he thought to passe the bridge he perceiued on the other side a knight armed at all points ready to fight that cried vnto him with a loud voice and said Sir knight you must aske me leaue if you wil come ouer for according to my promise I haue taken vpon mee to kéepe this bridge for the space of one whole yeare wherefore if you thinke good you may take some other way With that Esplandian was much gréeued perceiuing that either of force he must fight or séeke another passage wherfore he would willingly haue excused himselfe said Sir knight I pray you then shew mee which way I were best to goe for by me you shall haue no cause at this time to trouble your selfe You must returne again to London said he for other passage is there none vnlesse you will loose your horse and goe on foot Rather the I would doe so said Esplandian I will proue if I can win yours and therewith lacing his helmet tooke his launce and road vnto the knight who no sooner perceiued him comming but setting spurres to his horse ranne towards him whereby they met so fiercely together that both the knights fell off their horses in such manner that maister Elizabeth and Sergil thought verily they had slaine each other but they staied not long before they rose againe and laying hand on their swordes there began betwéene them the cruellest and most daungerous battell that euer was séene whereat maister Elizabeth much abashed said vnto himselfe Good God what may this meane I beléeue for certain that some diuell of hell hath transformed himselfe into humane shape to destroy vs all Meane time the two knights continued in most cruell fight still increasing their mights cleauing shields and armours in such sort that all the field was couered with péeces of the harneis and died with blood that issued from their bodies till at the last the knight of the bridge stept backe said vnto Esplandian Sir knight take another way and I am content to quite you of the combate for you are the valiantest knight that euer I dealt withall and it should displease mee much if by your wilfulnesse you would be cause of your owne death In good faith saied he I had done it at the first had it not beene the feare I had that you would estéeme me a coward but knowing very wel that the honour of this combate cannot bee had but onely by the death of one of vs or both together I will trie my fortune till I bee no longer able to weld a sword Is that true said the knight Then let vs sée to whom fortune will be fauourable And therewith couering themselues with that little of their shields that rested in their hands they began the combate crueller then before as though all the day they had not giuen a stroke so that after many cruel blowes with their swords they closed together and wrastling long time they sought to cast each other to the ground But séeing the little aduantage gotten thereby they began againe to lay on with their swords with such fury that Sergil looked for no other but when they should fall dead vpon the ground not béeing able to iudge who would haue the victory Whereat maister Elizabeth was so much displeased that hee could not abstaine from wéeping saying vnto himselfe Alas what fortune is this must the best knight liuing in the world and in the flower of his age lose his life at that time by so hard a chaunce Cursed be the day that euer he met with him that is the cause of so great losse And to say truth if God had not prouided for them the father had slain the sonne and the sonne the father for the knight of the bridge was Amadis de Gaule who being ouer curious of his sonnes glory would proue his force and the better to doe it the day before Esplandian tooke his leaue hee departed secretly from the court and staied for him at the bridge bearing an vnknowne armour where after many attempts on either part giuen Amadis perceiuing both their dangers said vnto Esplandian Knight you sée well you cannot ouercome mee and I assure you I neuer had to doe with any knight that euer put mee to so great extreamity wherefore I am content to let you passe But not I you saied he vnlesse you tell me your name I will not deny you that saied Amadis wherefore cause maister Elizabeth to come hether for I thinke we haue both néed of his helpe Then Esplandian called him vnto them meane time Amadis put off his helmet so faint and weary that hée was constrained to leane vnto a trée But when Esplandian knew him and perceiuing the fault he had committed he cast forth a grea◠crie and saied Alas wicked wretch that I am and therewith he fell vpon the ground whereat maister Elizabeth and Amadis thinking him to bee in a sound ranne to lift him vp but it was not so onely that it gréeued him hée had dealt in such manner with his father who said vnto him sonne although I am as sore wounded as possible may bee without death yet haue I not receiued so much hurt as conceiued pleasure perceiuing the valour I find to be in you wherefore bee not discomforted Notwithstanding he could not content himselfe but cursed his owne life being as he said the most vnhappy man that euer was borne of woman And continuing in that gréefe the blood in diuers places ranne out of his body whereby he waxed faint which maister Elizabeth perceiuing and knowing assuredly if remedy were not spéedily had they were both in danger of their liues hee saied vnto them I pray you for this time leaue off your sorrow and let vs presently go to Mirefleur not far from hence for you both haue greater néede of rest then of longer staying in this place wherewith he and Sergil set them on their horses and with great pain brought them to the castle where their wounds were dressed Such was the combate betwéene the two knights as you haue heard yet some write that
wraths wil not be so much increased against me as that you will not giue me leaue to be reuenged on him And as hee vttered those words beeing couered with his shield hee went vnto Esplandian and holding his sword in hand stroke him flatlâ—ng with the same vpon the arme in such maner that he was astonished and with the force of the blow the sword sliding downe vpon a stone brake in thrée péeces wherewith Esplandian stepped to him and with great dexterity strooke him so fiercely on the face that the blood in great abundance ran out of his forehead Whereat the Giant was in such a rage that casting downe his shield tooke the péece of his sword in both his hands and with all his force strooke at Esplandian that stept aside and perceiuing the Giants arme comming towards him with one blow cut off his hand whereby his sword fell downe Neuerthelesse he séemed not abashed but imbracing Esplandian with his left arme thought to crush the breath out of his body but it happened otherwise for as hee held him Esplandian hauing his right arme at libertie thrust his sword into the Giants body wherewith he died TheÌ„ calling Bramatos thrée squires that he brought thether to shew him the prisoners hee asked where they were My lord said one of them on that side the vaut is the two Giants lodgings that you haue slaine and vnder it are the prisoners that you séeke in a most darke prison aboue a hundred paces long and but two paces broad whereby the prisoners in great number haue no meanes to rest themselues beeing constrained to stand vpright for the narrownesse of the place Goe before said Esplandian with that the squire went forward and Esplandian followed after and they had not gone long but they entred into a goodly pallace and going lower hee heard the lamentable voices of the poore prisoners dying for want of food whereat he tooke such compassion that the teares ran downe his eies asking the squire for the keies there they hang said he vpon a naile Open the dore said Esplandian which he presently did wherein they entred and Esplandian calling the poore wretches that lamented saied vnto them My good friends come all forth and thanke God for your liberties You may well iudge if they were glad to heare those newes for that some of them had remained therein aboue thirtie yeares together being in all twenty Gentlewomen thirtie squires and fiftie knights among the which Esplandian knewe Gandalin and Lazinde who by euill fortune after the conquest of Sansuegue trauailing the country were met by the Giants and kept in prison with the rest where they indured great miserie CHAP. XXV How Esplandian commanded the prisoners he had deliuered to goe vnto Constantinople there to thank the Princesse Leonorine the Emperours doughter keeping only Gandalin and Lazinde with him THe Giants slaine and the prisoners set at liberty Esplandian that as yet had not taken off his helmet not long after made himselfe knowne to Gandalin and Lazinde that were no lesse abashed to sée him in so straunge a place then wondered at the great Prowesse he had shewed for their deliuery It was then about sunnesetting and Esplandian had neither eat nor dronke of all that day wherefore hée determined not to depart thence till the next day in the morning for hee found great store of victuals in the place Commanding Sergil with one of the squires to go séeke the Bay horse he left at the house where hee slew Bramato for his owne was slaine which they presently brought vnto him passing the night in the Giants house with the best victuals they could finde The next day in the morning Esplandian called the prisoners that he had deliuered asking them what they meant to doe Sir Knight saied they wee are wholly bent to doe as pleaseth you Then my friends said he you shal go to Constantinople and there giue thankes vnto the Princesse Leonorine for the grace it hath pleased Gâ—d to giue you by means of a knight that belongeth vnto her Anâ— if shee asketh you my name tell her only what manner of armes I beare shewing her that I willed you to submit your selfe vnto her mercy In faith saied Gandalin my companion and I were determined not to leaue your company so soone but séeing it is your pleasure wee are content to doe it You and he said Esplandian shall kéepe mee company till you meane to trauaile further the rest shall doe as I required them Sir Knight saied hee that shewed him the prison they shall finde within the house all the furnitures and other things that were taken from them shew them where they be said Esplandian Wherevnto he willingly obayed which done they all left the Giants house the prisoners taking the way towards Constantinople and Esplandian with Gandalin and Lazinde armed at all points went towards maister Elizabeth that stayed for them in the great Serpent and as they were about halfe a mile from the Giants house they met a knight all armed with two squires attending on him who in courteous manner saluting Esplandian and his company asked them what countrey men they were Sir knight said Esplandian wee are all of great Brittaigne Alas said he can you tell me any newes touching a thing that hath gréeued me full sore What is that saied Esplandian can you tell mee saied hee what is become of king Luisart For I haue ben certefied of a truth that hee is lost not knowing where how nor for what cause And for my part I sweare vnto you I haue already sought for him in diuers countries and can heare no newes at all and I am determined neuer to leaue trauailing before he be found againe if it be possible for mortal man to doe it You are bound therevnto said Esplandian séeing hee deserueth it as you knowe right well Neuerthelesse if it pleaseth you to put off your helmet and make you knowne vnto vs that haue ben bred and nourished in his house I assure you wee will satisfie your mind so wel as touching him that you cannot chuse but like it My lords saied hee putting off his helmet I am Norandel his sonne When Esplandian and the rest perceiued that they made themselues knowne vnto him imbracing each other most curteously Ha mâ— lord said Norandel I pray you for Gods cause if you know any thing touching the king hide it not from me Vncle saied Esplandian about a moneth hence I left him at Mirefleur in good health God bee thanked making good cheare shewing him in what maner hée had deliuered him out of prison wiih all that passed touching the same I maruaile then said Norandel what aduenture brought you hether By my soule saied Esplandian that can I not well tell only that I was brought hether by the great Serpent which I left at the sea side wherein maister Elizabeth staieth for me Then hee shewed him how hee departed from the court his arriuall in the Ferme Isle his
more charge they put them to to kéep them prisoners saied he or in longer seruitude God may possible be offended with vs. Wherfore if you wil beléeue me vsing rather mercy then rigour towards them I am of opinion that we send them al to Tesifant to the Princesse Heliaxe who wil thank vs for it so shal we be ri◠of so much charge To this al the knights agréed Carmelle was appointed to execute the message he that had séen the great number of people that were about her especially women wéeping most bitterly to behold themselues banished driuen from their own houses surely he could not chuse vnlesse he were hard harted but haue pittied their estate But let them goe let vs heare what danger fell vnto Vrganda the next day after who being welcome to the knights took great pleasure to hear them shew of the aduentures they had found in the Turkish countrey since the taking of Alfarin And each man after the other discoursing what they knewe Esplandian remembred the old woman they had séene among the rocks where she continued wherat he could not chuse but smile which Vrganda espying asked him the cause Madame said hée I thought vpon the beauty of a yoong maid that I some of our company chanced to sée not far hence being the best furnished of all things for to beautifie her that might be found the better to describe her vnto you I can assure you vpon Belleris word that it is at the least eight or nine score years since she first could go speake yet hath she so fresh gallant a colour that to behold her well I cannot compare her better then vnto the bark of those great Elmes wée commonly find along the high wayes as wée ride in great Brittaigne her hair is as white as snow and for want of combing all knotted together which setteth her out so wel that to behold it spred abroad vpon a beares skin which she weareth for a gown there is not any man liuing that would not bée surprised with a sodain and vehement loue in the beholding of her Vrganda that had heard of her before aboue all things was much desirous to sée her because of her great skill saied vnto Esplandian In good faith I knowe her better then you think I do am wel assured that in her yong years she hath ben one of the goodliest ladies that euer you saw For shée is both doughter sister aunt vnto a king is called Melie who for to learn the perfect art science of Nigromancy hath so much contemned the world that for her inheritance shée hath chosen a rocke wherein she hath caused a caue to bee digged where shée now remaineth liueth in great misery I swear vnto you of my faith that it is aboue twenty yeares more since I determined to come sée her but other affaires that touched me néerer haue still hindered my desire Madame saied Esplandian séeing you are so néere you may do it now all we wil be your guides I pray you let it be so said she let vs go as soon as we haue dined which done and the tables vncouered euery man made preparation to goe with Vrganda to behold that sight but Esplandian would haue but thréescore with him who being wel horsed armed at al poinis issued out of Galatia Vrganda on her palfrey riding among thē Belleris was their guide when they came néer vnto the caue where they had found Melie they espied her set crosse-legged vpon the point of a rock with that Vrganda praied them to stay that she alone might speake secretly vnto her which the knights agréed vnto Wherwith she rode forward being néere vnto her she said Madame I pray you bee not offended that I come to sée you and offer you my seruice Who are you said shee I am saied shée Vrganda la discogneue that haue alwayes had a great desire to sée you Ha Vrganda the wisest lady among all others said Melie your cōming hether pleaseth mée right well light downe I pray you that you and I may talke of such thinges as wée haue taken great paines to learne and vnderstand for although you haue béene the onely occasion of the Christians arriuall here whereby our poor country indureth so much woe yet I cannot but excuse you knowing the faith duty you are bound to shew to your religion Wherefore I pray you come néer and sit downe by mée Vrganda perceiuing her to bée so old féeble did as shee required hoping by force to stay her there whether she would or no till her company were come thether minding to giue her vnto them to bring her to Galatia but shee met with as crafty a mate as her selfe for the olde woman perceauing Vrganda to bée néere her went to the mouth of her caue and said vnto her Vrganda It would gréeue me that these Knights should heare our talke wherefore let vs goe in Whereat Vrganda made no difficulty thinking verily that if she might once lay hands on her shee would vse her at her pleasure wherewith shée followed her but shee was no sooner entered but Melie stepped to hir and held hir so straight by the throat that shée had no means to cal Esplandian or any of the rest to help her But they fearing the worst ran in all hast vnto the caue and the first that entred was Talanque after him Manely and they had no sooner stepped in but they fell down as if they had béene dead their fall was so great that Esplandian that followed them heard it but hée had a remedye about him against all such aduentures and that was his good sword against the which no inchauntment whatsoeuer could ought auaile which he first found to bée true when hée entred into Arcabonnes chamber he perceauing his two companions in such case being much gréeued thereat willingly would haue reléeued thē but that he spied Melie holding Vrganda vnder hir knée séeking by all means to strangle her which caused him first to succour hir threatning Melie if that she did hir hurt she shold déerly buy it but for all his threatnings shee ceased not to vse all the meanes shée could for to destroy her vntill Esplandian went neare vnto her and with his sworde thought to cleaue her head wherwith she began to flie thinking to be safe within the chamber where she wrought her charmes but as she stepped vpon the threshold of the dore Esplandian caught her by the Beares skin and whether she would or not held her so fast that shee could goe no further And as hee lifted vp his arme to kill her hee remembred that hee should doe wrong thinking it not conuenient for a Knight to defile his hands in the blood of a simple woman not able to resist and surely that thought of his moderated his colour in such sort that he purposed not to