Pagans much more vexed at the hardinesse of these incomparable Warriors which were able to represse their fury then at the losse of three and thirty thousand men slaughtered in their Camp were at the supremest degree of rage but desiring some way of revenge they assembled in Falanzars tent who demanding their advise upon the consequence of another Battail with a proposition to send for Artogant and his Army but Bravorant King of Morimont the most redoubted Pagan of the earth rising up with Gorgophon that bit his fingers for spight to have met with enemies able to resist him he said unto him with a carriage that testified his rage Great Monarch when I consider that our troops are lesse by halfe than they were at our arrivall here I cannot choose but marvell either at our misfortune or at our enemies well managing of their wars their cunning is more than their courage their men are better than ours and it is too evident that numbers have stood us in little stead in our enterprises wherefore I hold it not fit nor will I counsell you to hazard the honour of Paganisme and the greatnesse of our hopes any more on the weaknesse of the armes of such a multitude of souldiers as we have which ordinarily faile us in our occasions and are the means to make their Captains lose the glory which otherwise they might obtain knew they but how to obey and fight You have here two hundred Knights as valiant as any the earth doth bear the meanest of which would make the most valorous of our enemies to faint embrace this as the best course propound a combat of an hundred to an hundred and in that manner decide our differences The Grecians are rash enough to undertake it trusting in the force of thirty or forty amongst them whom they not a little valew but I am confident that you will this way obtaine the victory whereof we are else like to fayl if by past successe we may probably conjecture of that which is to come Your advice is such and so good answered Falanzar that I resolve to follow it if the rest of these Princes here are of our opinion Mighty Emperour said Gorgophon then proceed on boldly for I will undertake that not one of this assembly but is desirous to spare the blood of so many men as infallibly would be spilt if we should be so wilful as to meet the enemy once more in open field wherefore cause a challenge to be drawn as soon as you please and let the conditions of the combat be that you shall be Lord of this Empire if the victory be ours or that we will dislodge with all our troops and leave it still in their possession if fortune shall favour them This said all the Princes rising up as it were to authorise Gorgophons speech Falanzar sent this which followeth to be presented to the Grecian Princes by Gedereon King of Arginaria The great Emperour and Caliph of Siconiaes challenge to the Princes of Greece THE pitty which we have of our people and the horrour of so many dead bodies that we have seen lying in these fields inducing us to prefer their welfare before our own fafety doth oblige us to conserve it with the hazard of our lives In which regard we have sent to present you with a combat of an hundred Knights against alike number of ours so to determine all our differences with the victory of the one or the other party consult with your courages and forces and let us know whether the world doth commend you with reason The King of Arginaria our Embassadour having absolute power from us to dispose of the conditions of this fight you may take his ingagement for all our combattants and send us a like assurance of your parts The excellent King of great Britain unto whom all the rest of the Princes referred themselves having read this challenge turned him to Gedereon and said King of Arginaria you may behold the answer that is to be returned you in the countenances of these Warriors which are here assembled there is no need of further advising with them about it they testifie sufficiently that their desire and yours is one and the same wherefore not to hold you longer in suspence we say that we are contented with the number you have chosen and with the conditions you propound for the possession of this Empire though you have no right at all unto it but if our ill fortune takes it from us we have three or four others to recompence our Son Prigmaleon withall whereupon the Emperour of Aethiopia having protested to performe whatsoever Amadis had agreed unto the Secretary was called to write this The King of great Brittaines answer to Falanzar Emperour and Caliph of Siconia WEE are no lesse tender of our people than you and your resentment that way seems so just unto us that never sticking at the right you have to claim the Crown of the Empire wee are very well contented to set it upon the end of a Launce before the Judges of the Combat which you demand and wherunto We agree to be performed betwixt our two Camps five dayes hence with the same assurance as you have given us And because the election of the Arms is in Us We choose those which are usuall with Knights Errant and in the mean time Wee will make a truce for foure dayes The King of Arginaria returning with this answer all the Pagans were marvellously astonished at the name of Amadis of Gaule whom they thought had been dead long before and understanding that he was the chief of them that had made way thorow their Camp with so great a slaughter they beleeved that so many Princes were resussitated to torment them eternally neverthelesse their own pride perswading them that the earth could not contain men that could resist them Falanzar caused a List to be drawn up of those that were to Combat and never going about to give them reasons for to render them the more courageous he sent them away to their Tents there to take order that their Horses and Armes might be well fitted for this furious fight Let us give them time to make their preparations and recount the brave actions performed by the Martarians You may remember that the Emperour of Martaria being made a Christian departed from Corolandaya with Persides of Greece Floridan of Persia Lucibel of France his Sons-in-law and gentle Sestilian of Spain servant to the fairest Agiliana Princesse of Arbales to carry succours to the Princes of Greece This great Monarch desiring to manifest his zeale to the glory of the new God which he adored and the esteem that he made of the Princes of Constantinoples allyance being fortunately arrived in his own Empire made forth Commissions caused an hundred thousand Horse and threescore thousand Foot to be levyed bestowed most part of the Infantrie in five or six Frontier Towns and levying twenty thousand Horse and thirtie thousand Foot under
find your self before you were either lost or fought for You beleeve that you are Daughter to Armedor a Shepherd of Bellombre behold your discent in these three Roses so presenting the Crown which she held in her hand to all the company they discerned these words written about it Miralinda the the Daughter of the Marquis of Monteclare O! Is it possible said Alcidamant that I should meet with a Sister here of such valew Come and let us embrace my dearest Miralinda for I am Alcidamant your brother and son to the Marquis of Monteclare Hereat Miralinda being very much amazed was not able to speak a word but at length better recollecting her selfe she fell on her knees before Alcidamant and with tears of joy said unto him My Lord this is a lucky day for me and how much doe I owe to my good fortune which hath made me known to be the sister of so great a Knight Ah Madam continues she addressing her speech to Vrganda how wonderfull is yourskill and what can you wish from me hereafter which I will not most willingly give to your service you have drawn me from out the lees of the people to raise me in this manner but I will abase my selfe whensoever you shall please for to testifie that I will never forget so powerfull an obligation It was not I alone said Vrganda that knew the secret of your birth though no body now could discover it but I this wicked woman whose body you see here divided in two peices had foretold it in this Pillar which is standing yet before the Palace gate for this is her Prophesie The Prophesie WHen the excellent Turtle and the redoubted Lyon comming forth of one prison shall 〈◊〉 in the flames the strayed blood shall be known beauty shall re-assume her former luster and the punishment of a vielated Law shall be converted into joy The intelligence of these words is it not now clear are not you that excellent Turtle and this famous Knight is not he that redoubted Lyon both come from one womb which the Inchantresse figured by a prison and out of your own knowledge do not you see the strayed blood recovered But let us passe farther Beauty shall re-assume her former luster Is not that true by the deliverance of this brave Knight and of the soveraign Lady of this Kingdom who are now as much in their luster as ever they were and the torment they have suffered is it not changed into delight Certainly you now know the verity of these obscure words and no man can doubt but you are descended of that illustrious race which produceth such worthy and generous persons Embrace then again this valiant brother of yours and further call to mind how when he was knighted by Don Clarisel a Damosel advertised you from the learned Merea that you should not make difficulty to girt on his sword for you should one day more esteem of the knowledge of him then of the possession of an Empire Hereat Alcidamant and Miralinda well remembring all that Vrganda had spoken and embracing afresh their caresses were renewed Adelazia Trasiclea Palmirenna Armazia 〈◊〉 Archedidella Brandimanda and Agriclea gave Miralinda a thousand kisses with such content to Don Clarisel that he was even ravished with joy to see his Shepherdesse so exceedingly honoured Night then being come Adelazia having caused her Palace to be adorned with her choysest furniture assigned to those excellent Princes the chiefest part of it and remayned with those beauteous Ladies in her own ordinary lodgings CHAP. XXXIII The brave Turnament that is held at the marriage of Rozalmond Alcidamant and those other Princes of Greece VRganda having closed up Rozalmonds wounds in a night all those Princes which infinitly desired the accomplishment of their happinesse assembled together and resolved to take one and the same day for the consummation of their content but having no lesse care of their Ladies salvation then of their own satisfaction they concluded in representing their pains unto them to set before their eyes the vanity of their Idols in the greatness of that Almighty God who vouchsafed to shed his most precious blood for to restore us unto the way of grace from which we were strayed by the revolt of our first parents Entring then all with this design into the room wher the Princesses were they perswaded them to go and walk into the Gardens and there separating themselves into severall walks and each one taking his Mistris by the arm spake so passionately and effectually for himselfe as he easily prevayled with her to resolve upon the third day following for the celebration of their Nuptials This first point being determined according to their desires they began to talke unto them of the excellency of the Christian Religion of the mysterie of the Trinity of the Incarnation Death and Resurrection of the Sonne of God of the mission of the Holy Ghost of the Institution of the Sacraments and shewing them the Heavens and the Sunne they drew them insensibly to the knowledge of the Creator of them which could not be but farre more perfect and excellent in so much that being assisted with the love they bore them they were soon induced to be baptized and accordingly the same day Adelazia sent for three Christian Hermits which she had suffered to live in her Kingdom by whom being yet better instructed in the chiefest Articles of the faith the Temple of those Idols she had formerly adored was cleansed of a number of several Images whereof three or four being beaten to peices by our Knights confirmed them further in the beleefe that they were of no power Time and desire then pressing our Lovers and making them hasten every thing These Princes received the first Character of Christians Armazia conducted by Alcidamant who was her Godfather Trasiclea by Rozalmond Palmirenna by Florisbel Adelazia by Amaais Amplamira by Clarismond Brandimanda by Floridan Archesidella by Sestilian and the fair Agriclea by Griolanis which being performed they returned to the Palace leaving those good fathers in the Church for to instruct the principal persons of Corolandaya who after the example of their Soveraign cheerfully embraced this new Law beleeving by what was shewed them that it was much better than that which they had so long a time professed Mean while our Lovers thinking of nothing but the day which was to place them in the supreme degree of their glory prepared most magnificent apparell and especially the Ladies who desiring to make a demonstration of all their beauties omitted nought that could add any thing to grace themselves withall Nothing was heard but Violms Haubois consorts of Instruments and voyces all the shops of the Citie were shut up the people made bonfires and preparations for Masques Playes and Feasting from all parts of the Kingdom arrived Knights and Ladies that came to celebrate the deliverance and nuptials of their Queen Briefly all things were disposed to delight and the third day seemed no
Sister O my dearest friend I said he addressing his speach to Cassandra how much am I joyed with the sight of you but how comes it that you are thus accompanyed with my sister My Lord answered she I doe not bring her without good cause she comes to congratulate with you for your good fortune and to go along with you about a seven-night hence in an adventure of very great importance Both you and she are most heartily welcome replyed Rozalmond and I am very glad that she is here to keep my Armazia company Hereupon the Princes alighting from their horses went and saluted the young Princesse who ravished them all with the wonder of her beautie which no lesse amazed the Ladyes that came presently down to her than she was carried with admiration at the sight of so many graces as were assembled in them A good while being spent then in complements these Lords and Ladyes were ready to ascend the Palace leaving the ending of the turnament to another time when as they descryed two hundred Knights richly armed following a triumphant Chariot wherin sate an old man on a golden Throne with an Imperiall Crown on his head and a young Lady at his feet This so stately an equipage drawing every one narrowly to observe them Palmirenna perceived that it was the Emperour her Father and her cousin Agiliana the King of Arbales Daughter wherat both she with Amplamira and the French Princes wife were so troubled that they were ready to sink down in the place wheras contrarily Rozalmond who knew his mind well went straight-way with Griolanis unto him and bid him very welcome to that Court The Emperour presently knowing that valiant Prince and understanding that Griolanis was King of Corolandaya instantly descended from his Charioâ— and exceedingly caressing them demanded whether these Tryumphs were not for the celebration of the Nuptials of Palmirenna and her Sisters Great Monarch answered Rozalmond they are indeed this day married and so is also the Daughter of the mighty Emperour of Gardaciâ— whom it hath pleased heaven to bestow on me as likewise that of the Sovereign Lord of Tramazond to this invincible Warriour shewing Alcidamant unto him together with the Queen of this Countrey the Princesse of Clariana and the fair Brandimanda Lady of the Amazons Now verely said the Emperour I praise my good fortune for conducting me hither so opportunly for to have a share in this your joy and solemnitie But where are my Children that they doe not appeare before me Sir answered Rozâ—lmond the fear of your displeasure for the fault they have committed against the authoritie of a Father and a Soveraign no doubt keeps them away but assuring my self that you have freely pardoned them I will present them straight-way unto your Majestie wherupon Amadis holding Palmirenna by the hand Floridan Amplamira and Lucibel Archesidella they fell on their knees before the Emperour so ashamed as they durst not look him in the face but he having very much caressed them and testified that these Princes alliance did infinitely content him they rose up for to entertain Agiliana whilst the Emperour admiring the excellent beauty of the Ladyes went and saluted them with all the courtesie that might be These compliments done they returned all to the Palace where the Emperour being very honourably lodged left his Neipce Agiliana in the hands of Palmirenna or to say better of Don Sestilian of Spain who having never made tryall of the power of love subjected his freedome to the merits of this beautifull Infanta remaining her Knight by the consent of Palmirenna Supper time come and the Tables sumptuously covered all the Lovers were set as at dinner where they began to discourse with the Emperour of all that had past the day before who taking great delight in the sight of this brave company beheld them one after another and fixing on Amadis he could not choose but tell what passion he had been in for him when he thought him a Wench which made them all to laugh especially Palmirenna that then called to mind the pleasure she enjoyed at that time under the disguise of Amadis his sex but Supper lasting too long for these Lovers they rose and went to Dauncing the better to entertain the Emperour who knowing the impatience of their desires caused them to be lighted severally to their chambers where we will leave them gathering the fruit of their amorous pains with such delight as may be better imagined than exprest CHAP. XXXIIII The marvellous adventure that happened in the Court of Corolandaya and the strange end therof THe night having been too short for the desires of these Lovers especially of Rozalmond Alcidamant and Clarisel who till then had never tasted the pleasure of their Ladyes chast embraces they all met together in the Hall and for divers dayes together continued their joy with such contentment as Fortune seemed unable to crosse them but that inconstant Goddesse which alwayes mixes bitter with the sweet changed the face of all their delight and so overthrew the hope of this Court that without the particular providence of heaven all the glory of it had been lost in a moment One day as all this princely company were discoursing together there entred into the Hall a young Gentlewoman with her eyes full of tears and of so sad a countenance as moved all that were present to pitty in one hand she had a very rich sword and her left arm sustained one of the goodliest Shields that ever was seen Assoon as she was advanced to the midst of the Hall she for a good while observed all those Lords and Princesses ravished as it were with the sight of so rare an object and finding that there was a generall silence over all in expectation of that which she would say she demanded for Griolanis and the beautious Queen his Wife Here we are said they making towards her Gentlewoman will you have anything with us Great King answered she falling on her knees before him it is not without reason that every one talks of you as of the prime Knight of the world and that the beauty of this incomparable Queen whom the gods have given to your merit is preferred before all other on the earth for now I see more than heretofore I could beleeve I am come hither to obtain one boon of you and of this fair Princesse refuse me not I beseech you nor let me be the only afflicted woman living that failes of succour from you Gentlewoman answered Griolanis if I am able to doe any thing for you you may speak freely for I will most willingly grant whatsoever you shall desire of me and so I think will the queen my Wife Yes verely said Adelazia I will promise her any thing she will aske I could expect no lesse replyd she wherfore Sir be pleased to Arm your self presently but you shall use no other Sword nor shield then these most excellent ones which I have brought of
would comfort you in your losses and specially for that which hath this day befallen you But knowing you to be every way invincible and that you make little account of fortunes worst attempts against you I will not present you with reasons to mitigate your just resentments though I should be glad that you could reach unto the meaning of these obscure words The Prophecie When the strange Lion shall amaze the World with his roaring and shall meet with him of the Grecian Forrests the fourth of that name shall see the day for to render you presently after the lost Treasure If you did understand these words without doubt you would brave Princes perceive that the counsels of heaven are wonderfull and living with quieter minds give me means to continue my doing you service with more affection then ever See sayd Florisel how the Sunne shines againe after cloudy weather These good Magicians are still living and as far as I can perceive by this scroul though I do not fully understand it we shall not suffer so much as we imagined Let God that governs our actions be pleased to direct them to his Glory for I will neither murmur at his corrections nor grow insolent with his favors This said he went down the stairs mounted on horsback and better cheered then he had been in a long time before went to the forrest where he had not been long but he heard one that lamented not far from him which made him to gallop that way the voice directed him so that within a little while he arrived at a place where under a tree he found a good handsome woman which held in herlap a dead Knight over whom she made exceeding strange moan Gentlewoman said he being moved with pity if your sorrow be capable of comfort I would intreat you to consider that you afflict your self to no purpose that it were fit you should demonstrate your love to this Knight some other way rather then by your tears wherof he is now insensible That which he now is to expect from your hands is a grave Let us I beseech you bestow it upon him and that done we will think of what remains If he be slain by the treachery of any I will if it be in my power work your revenge otherwise it may be a comfort to you that you have seen him die like a good Knight which is the most honourable departure out of this life And if I shall not be troublesome to you I will beseech you to let me know his name and who it is that hath brought him into this estate For being ingaged by my word to revenge it I should be glad to understand if with reason I may do it This afflicted woman then lifting up her eies all drownd in tears beheld him a while without speaking a word but judging by his countenance that he was not a Knight of any mean quality at length she very modestly replied to him in this maner Do not beleeve noble Knight that my complaint is excessive for the valour and fidelity of him whose death I now lament deserves that my tears should be perpetuall and might justly perswade me to lend no ear to any comfort whatsoever But since with so much curtesie you make a tender to me of your assistance I will not be so ingratefull as to refuse you the satisfaction you desire Know then my Lord that this Knight whose head you see divided in two pieces was called Balard of Catabatmon grandchild to the good King Manely who in the time of the Emperour Esplandian was held in the esteem of a brave Knight he some moneths since left his fathers house to be at that great battell where the rest of all Christendome was set up but falling very sick in a Town of Macedon he could not bring his purpose to passe his malady still increasing there was little hope of his life when as his Squire the faithfullest that ever served in that kind remembring that there needed no more to cheer him up but only to speak of me assured him that I was upon the way to visit him having had advertisement of his sicknes as soon as he heard my name his love which yet in the extremity of his disease was still the same made him instantly rayse himself up imagining that I had been come But not seeing me he gently laid his head down again upon his pillow and began to take a little rest In the mean time his Squire not intending to lose the benefit of his invention instantly dispatched a post to me knowing full well that my love was powerfull enough to make me undertake more then a voyage of fowre daies journey And having gives me notice of the estate his master was in he put me in a strange perplexity for loving him to infinity I almost died at the first news of his sicknes but fortifying my self with a couragious resolution I wiped my eies and taking a good pacing nag I made such haste that three daies after I was by his bed side though wonderfully troubled to see him brought so low yet did my presence so work with him that his bloud returning to all the parts of his body he began to shew some signes of amendment To what end should I entertain you with longer discourse of his malady Time restored him to his health and when he found himself able to bear Armes he departed from thence with me who would by no means quit him For I lesse valued the opinion of the world then the obligation wherein I was tied to my affection Having travelled then twelve daies without meeting any adventure his courage coupled with his love made him undertake to guard this passage for my sake and to force all Knights that should passe this way to confesse that I was the fairest maiden in the world This his enterprise though full of danger passed with him very happily and divers were vanquished by him but alas Fortune forsook him this morning For a great Knight in flaming coloured armes arrived heer who not satisfied with the conditions of the combat proposed by him said unto him Knight there are two strong reasons that oblige me to sight with you One is the faith that I ow to my mistrisse much more beautifull then yours and the other an oath which I have taken never to spare any that are enemies to my Religion The device which I see painted in your shield is an infallible argument that you are a Christian and I know you have an unjust cause to maintain in affirming your Mistrisse to be the fairest living seeing then that you are in case to combat I am ready to follow your example Balard who wanted no courage not enduring the arrogance of this Knight presently set hand to his sword and a long time made his party good but alas not having a cask of proof sufficient to bear the furious and weighty blows of his adversary he was in the end brought
so and believe it that I shall ever hold my self honoured in your acquaintance Heerupon with open arms they embraced one another to the infinit satisfaction of the Queen who seeing this businesse ended according to her wish and contrary to the fear she was in about the issue therof knew not well how to look See said she to her Knight who came to kisse her hands after his victory and to present the Giant to her See my Lord how I am doubly engaged to you for my liâ—â— But you shall not find me ungratefull and your services shall be so wel recompenced as you shall have cause to command my acknowledgement of them I do willingly receive this great Knight although he hath strangely perplexed me but the happinesse to see you by me and my self at liberty which I was so lately in despair of doth not suffer me to think of any passed misfortune Let us go on since we are so neer to Celibana but first it were good to see if among so many Knights as lie heer in the dust there be any one yet living for it were not well done to leave any neglected that have so faithfully discharged their duties Fulgoran then lighting from his horse viewed them all over but found none to breath saving the Count of Clina who shewed some signs of life assoon as he had air given him wherat the Queen very much rejoiced though I believe she would have helped to make an end of him her self if she could have foreseen the mischiefs which by his occasion did afterwards befall her The Count being thorowly recovered for he had no wound upon him they began to set on towards Celibana where they quickly arrived with much contentment The news of the Queens misfortune being carried to Dardanor the Courtiers were all up in arms and every one was ready to get to horse for to succor her when word was brought to the King that she was freed by the valour of the Knight ardant who entertaining himself in his melancholy fancies not far from the way which the Queen went had heard the noise of arms and came in just as the combat of the three Giants was in the highest fury two of the which passed by the edge of his sword the third becomming his friend for the assistance he had given him This second advertisement much more welcome then the former having quieted Dardanors mind he sent his Physitians and Chyrurgians to Celibana to look to those which were wounded In the mean time our Lovers began to caresse one another for Clairangia no longer able to hinder the felicity of the Knight ardant whom she thoght worthy of her love assoon as he was unarmed thus amorously said unto him I should be ungratefull indeed if I should not answer your affection or now refuse you a recompense for those good services you have rendred me your valour doth inforce me aswell as it doth Knights that incounter you and I am constrained to confesse that you deserve my favours I will therefore confer them on you so as you do manage them with discretion and will delay your delight no longer then the evening You shall follow Silesia when time serves but take heed you lose not your self in the excesse of your joy nor let your actions testifie the content of your heart O ye Gods said Fulgoran rapt into a heaven of blisse how pleasing is this promise to me and what cause have I to esteem my self the happiest man on the earth Not all the gods Madam shal be able to attain to this glory of mine and I may well say that all my travels are fully rewarded with these words alone you assure me unexpressable felicities and such as questionles might easily transport me from my self for no mortall man can receive them without passion But Madam I will carry my self sincâ— you command me to do so with such prudence as you shall never repent your so infinitely obliging of me But alas I fear that the time may change and pardon me If I say that I doubt that I am not fortunate enough to merit so much grace This is answered she to afflict your self without cause Doubt not my Knight that I will fail of my word since I am to have a share in the pleasure you hope for but that we may begin our love with discretion I would not have you tarry heer any longer for fear of giving suspition to any There is the Earl of Clina hold good correspondence with him if it be possible for he is a man of whom I stand in doubt and that questionlesse observes our actions These words making Fulgoran to withdraw he went into the garden not now any more to passe his time among the trees with ruminating upon the cause of his discontent but to meditate with the lesse diversion upon the good fortune that was promised him Having spent some hours in this entertainment the night approached which he with so much impatience had expected to render him contented For Silesia whom the Queen had fully informed of her intentions came to him and having lead him to certain trees that made a delicate arbour willed him not to stir from thence till she returned to him His impatience making him think the time long he accused his Mistris of sloth and would willingly have gone to hasten her but fearing to offend with much ado he refrained and staid till at last he saw the Queen appear having nothing but a loose white sattin garment on and so gentle a night dressing on her head as would have forced the dullest soul in the world to have loved her Ravished then with delight he went and fell on his knees before hir kissing her hands a thousand times But she that could not endure to see him in that posture joined her lips to his with such ardency as did well testifie that she was no lesse pressed with her desires then he These first caresses serving only to waken their appetites they sate down upon the grasse where Fulgoran immediatly took possession of his desired blisse with so much sweet dalliance as the Reader must not wonder if I do not take upon me to describe the pleasure thereof since all the words in the world are not sufficient to expresse it Having thus past the greater part of the night with all the content that may be wished for in this world they withdrew themselves with a promise to meet there every night which accordingly they performed with much secrecie and certainly their delights had been of longer continuance if Fulgoran had well observed the advice his Mistris gave him But with this good fortune his humour changed he was no longer melancholy he was not to be found in the woods he frequented not the fields he was more curious in his apparell then he was wont to be If he spake it was alwaies in the defense of the beauty of Ladies briefly in his eies was to be read the tranquility of his
touched answered him modestly Vertuous Knight I should be very sorry to lift my sword against a person to whom I am so exceedingly obliged but if for the quiet of your conscience you desire the combat I will not refuse you These words would without question have embarked them further if they had not at that instant spied a maid come riding towards them as fast as she could drive who without other ceremony said to Fulgoran Knight Ardant take this way presently with the Prince of Canabea your Cousin and by the command of the Lady of the inchanted rock follow three damsels that are in the hands of an horrible Giant and you gentle Silvan prepare your self for an affair no lesse dangerous then that and let the fair Savagesse accompany you for she will be of much use to you therin These Ladies shall in the mean time withdraw to this house which you see heer by and my self will watch for the safety of all The earnestnes of this woman having quickly put them in readines each one took the way that was shewed him and so they seperated themselves Being gone a little way Silvan heard a noise behind him which made him turn suddenly about thinking he had been among his enemies but seeing no body save that one woman whom he had lately left he staid and said unto her Gentlewoman you follow us I perceive wheras I thought you had been otherwhere imploied is it your pleasure that I take any other way No replied she I only come to salute you from the wise Vrganda who sends you word that you should not be troubled that you are not in combatting with the Knight Ardant for that could not have been done without an irreparable losse Keep on your way till you arrive in the Parthian Empire with this beautuous Queen your presence will shortly be necessary there In the mean time I will advise the other Knight to travell no further in vain for the adventure which I told him of proceeded wholly from my own invention Saying so she turned about her horse without tarrying for any answer and went to the Knight Ardant to whom she made the like discourse informing him that her Mistris would not for some reasons which she would one day let him know suffer him to fight with Silvan and giving him no time to speak a word she left him with such speed as Fulgoran presently lost sight of her infinitly grieved for that he had not asked her his fathers name But hoping to meet her again some other time he passed on with Florimond whilest the fair Savagesse and Silvan followed their way intertaining themselves with an infinity of pleasing discourses CHAP. XIV The adventures that befell Fulgoran and Florimond of Canabea after their departure from Silvan LOve is bred by occasions and a familiar conversation doth oftentimes force our inclinations Silvan did not believe he could possibly be enthralled again by the power of any beauty whatsoever after the losse of his dearest moiety and had taken a resolution to passe the rest of his daies in the exercise of arms but he was soon taught that our designs are ineffectuall when that proud deity will not authorise them and that the will of men doth alwaies depend on his power for being ordinarily in company with the fair Savagesse who had charms sufficient to make her be beloved he could not preserve his liberty but was constrained to revive the same flames wherwith he had been so sweetly consumed before in the love of his Licina evermore sighing then and becomming much sadder then he used to be he made this Lady wonder at it it who not thinking her self to be the cause of this change one day she spake thus to him My Lord I am much amazed to see you in this humour and cannot conceive how you should be transported with your passions in so weak a maner What are these sighs good for and to what end is this silence Do you still think of the losse you have endured Hath not time as yet wrought its due effect in you And have you not obeied the advice of your reason which ought to represent unto you that tears do no good at all in any misfortune and that we are not to make use of them but only to ease nature a little cast your eie upon me I pray you and you shall see that I have more courage you have lost a lovely and beloved wife it is true neither shall I any more behold a worthy Husband such as my Lord the King of Lidia was I have then as great cause to complain as you and in me it would be more pardonable to afflict my self in regard such strong resolutions are not expected from my sex as from yours yet I restrain my tears I smother my sighs and do cary the same countenance which I did in my prosperity Imitate then this patience and give me not occasion to say that my company displeaseth you I speak both for your content and mine own for seeing you lesse disquieted then before I shall be much the merrier Alas said he casting an amorous eie upon her now I perceive you have noâ— the gift of Prophecy or that you rightly understand my grief fair Queen I do not sigh for the dead althogh my losse be ever present before me for I know well how we ought to bear an affliction and that heaven forbids an excesse in our mourning but feeling a new grief I cannot forbear venting some part of my sorrow in sighs since my discretion forbids me to do it in words howbeit I might with reason condemn my self as long as I lived and ascribe all my misery to my own cowardise if the way to my preservation be opened I should not passe on for fear of meeting with thorns in it Madam I must unlock my bosom to you since your self hath given me the occasion to do it I have not been able to refuse that to your beauty which all the men in the world do render it and my grief proceeds from my not daring to hope that you will receive me in to your service for knowing that such an ambition becomes none but the prime Knights of the earth I have alwaies feared to beg that grace of you My ill humour doth not please you it is in your power to change it my sighs and tears are troublesome to you you may quickly stop the currant of them and if you have no lesse pity then you have attracting charms you will presently command me to live at more quiet heerafter by telling me that I shall not love ungratefully This fair Amazon that was not infensible of Loves power considering the merits the perfections and the birth of this Knight who had made no difficulty to expose himself to danger for her succour that she could hardly passe the rest of her daies in widowhood and that she knew not where to find a man more agreeable to her humour or better suited
astonied him and throwing himself among the Parthians he recovered again what his men by their default had lost whereupon Spharamond carried with a strange rage to see the massacre of his people discharged a bow upon his helmet with such fury as laid him upon his horses crupper so farre besides himself that he had no judgement or memory left him This blow so affrighted the enemy that they had certainly retired to their trenches if the Cariffe of Affrica attended by his Giants had not presently come into their second his presence diminished their fear and terrified the Christians but Florizel and the valiant Amanio d' Astre advancing to their succour so revived their courages that the fight was renewed more sharply then before Whilst thus they disputed the honour of the landing the other were not at quiet for the Kings of Coriza and Calican made the assault to be maintained with so much obstinacie as it seemed they resolved not to live or be victorious the dead which fell in the ditches feared them not and their losse augmenting their courage made them so adventurous as Alastraxerea avowed afterwards that she never had seen a wall better assailed howbeit their labour was in vain and the Christians resistance such as they were constrained to fall off just at the time that their fellows who fought upon the shore retired into their trenches Florizell seeing their retreat and considering that his souldiers were as yet not recovered of their travail by sea would not presse them any further but encamping hard by them commanded necessary instruments to be made caused the hurt men to be looked unto took order for the guard of his camp and desirous to see the Princesse Alastraxerea his sister mounted upon his horse with Spheramond to go to the Citie but but they met her in the mid way accompanied with the new Knights you may well imagine how kindly they entertained one another and withall the content that Spheramond took in seeing these young Princes on whom he had lately conferred the order of Knighthood discharge themselves so bravely for the honour of the Christian name I will not therefore dwell any longer hereupon but following my discourse will tell you what the Pagan Princes resolved to do being grieved with the losse of eighteen thousand men and three Giants which died in this encounter wherein also there fell of the Christians no lesse then eight thousand and five hundred Knights Fulgoran performing the duty of a right commander that will not be frighted for one misfortune seeing the courage of his men grow cold and that the names of the Greek Princes was become redoubted in his Army caused the principall Knights of his troops to be called together and when they were assembled with a confident countenance thus spake unto them As it is no little griefe to me to see your lookes so pale and that so slight a losse should any whit amaze you as yet we have had no cause to complain and so many of our enemies slaughtered before these walls should me thinks oblige us not to fear the encountring of them Have they any advantage of us Do their swords cut better then ours Have they better courages or Arms of better proofe Verily we no way yield to them in reâ—olution of doing bravely their curtelaxes carry no keener edge then our scymeters and the greatnesse of our blowes doe testifie that our armes are as of much weight as theirs you will say that they have never beene assailed wiâ—hout danger and that so many armies as have beene routed in these fields doe witnesse their valor and may justly make us apprehend a like successe of our enterprize It is true that they have ever hitherto shewed themselves invincible and that few kings have affronted them without their owne extreame damage but shall we from thence infallibly conclude that fortune must therfore perpetually favour them nothing lesse she delights in inconstancy and makes her selfe sport in abasing those whom she hath for a time raised to the highest pitch of eminency the glory which they have acquired in the proceeding battailes should make us rather strive with obstinacy for victory over them then daunt our courages for triumphing over them that stoope under the weight of so many law â—ells shall render our names so glorious in the world that all the sorraine nations will shrinke when they but heaâ—e us named Throw off therefore I pray you this fear which I see in your faces re-kindle that generous fire which made you slight your ease to bring your selves into businesse of honour and giving the enemy no leisure to strengthen himself by the comming in of any fresh supplies go pull him out of his trenches and make it appear to them that you were never afraid to meet them in the plain field For my own part I am of opinion to present them battell with our whole army and by a triall of all the forces on both sides see what we may hope for from our enterprise This answered the Cariffe of Affrica this brave Prince is the best advice that now can be given for a long siege or a tedious war cannot be but very dangerous and if we spend our time in beating of walls in stead of turning our swords upon our enemies we shall never avoid the misfortune of those which have come hither with the same designe that brought us hither who left all their honour behinde them in our enemies hands the Princes of Greece are full of courage and will never shun the fight since the Emperours of Partâ—ia and Greece are arrived to their succour but if we be good men we cannot fail of the honour of the day The number of our souldiers doth far exceed theirs our hearts are good we have Giants and Knights to be redoubted Why then should we not be conquerours Either the victory Excellent Prince must be ours or we must all die in seeking to atchieve it As for me I prize my life at lesse then nought in this occasion and do beleeve that all these Lords heeâ— assembled will be as resolute as my self you may therefore when you please send to offer them battell with this assurance that we will dispute the honour of it with a great deal of courage This opinion being approved by them all they dispatched presently a Herauld to Don Florizell of Niquea who received him very courteously and a little after returned him with assurance of a generall battell the fourth day following for the preparations whereof a truce was in the mean time concluded on either side CHAP. XX. The joy of the Greek Princes for the arrivall of the Excellent Emperour of Persia and the successe of the battell THe two armies disposing themselves equally for victory prepared all things necessary for the fight the Pagans with a certain assurance of triumphing through the multitude of their men and the Christians of defeating their enemies more by the assistance of heaven then by the
menaces No doubtles nor shall I ever be in quiet till I have put my self in case to serve you if by chance any thing should arrive unto you beyond expectation But what can you do heerin said Miralinda a little troubled Keep my self ready upon all occasions answered he and have my horse and my arms in my lodging for I never told you yet my fairest shepherdesse that I am a Knight and son to the great Emperour of Greece Florisel of Niquea a thousand times more satisfied in being yours then in the possession of all the Kingdoms of the World O God! said Miralinda what tears will these words one day cost me and what sorrow will this great inequality make me endure I would your condition my Clarisel were lower or mine more eminent I might then expect that which my judgement doth now prohibit me to hope for No no said he do not imagin my excellent shepherdesse that ever this difference shall alter my resolution or that it shall one day cause me to despise that which you see me so adore at this present I do not love you for the consideration of any means that you may have but for the sole merit of your beauty by which I swear in the sight of heaven whom I call to witnes that I will alwaies hold you as dear as mine own life and that I will never have other wife then your self if so be you wil be contented with my fortune Relie upon these assurances I beseech you and do not kill me with greeving at your doubt of my faith I will give said she with a cheerfuller countenance my Lord I will give more to your oath then to my fear for you would not take pleasure to beguile the simplicity of a maid that loves you with passion howsoever you shall permit me if you please to carry my self with much more respect to you then formerly I have done to the end that my humility may render me worthy of your affection It would be the utter undoing of all our pleasures answered he if you take away the liberty of our actions wherefore we will live if you please as hitherto we have done But my shepherdesse shall we not seal these promises of marriage with some kisses It is reason said she that I should grant you this little since you have reserved nothing but to give me all And my Lord added she after she had amorously joined her lips to his I would I might give you sweeter and greater contentments verily you should then perceive that I am most sensible of your passions but mine honour doth forbid me the granting of any thing more and wills me humbly to intreat you to be contented with this untill such time as the destinies have resolved to make us happy You shall never see me swerve from the respect which you require in my actions said Clarisel but my shepherdesse seeing this article is concluded according to our desire let us return to our former talk Have you not observed the absence of Cesander He hath not appeared these three daies and I am confident he hath some dangerous plot upon you induced thereunto by the favourable intertainment you have given me and by the neglect of the services which he hath so often tendered unto you Assure you Sir said Miralinda that loving none but you I never thought of others and not to lie to you Cesander was quite out of my head but now I call to mind that I have not seen him a good while which makes me approve of your suspition wherefore we shall do well to stand upon our guard For my self said Clarisel I resolve to go presently to Alcidas house where all my furniture is ready but in regard I may not absent my self without your leave I desire you to grant it me Go said she weeping and all the Protectors of our woods be propitious to your designs as for me I will passe away the rest of this day by entertaining my thoughts with the favors which the heavens have conferred on me in your affection Clarisel then departing arrived within a few howrs after at Alcidas Castle who by chance was gone the very same day upon a certain enterprise and conferring a long time with Orizenna recounted unto her the pleasantnes of his life the contentment which he had in the continuall beholding of so lovely a shepherdesse and commending her disposition that was far from all kind of rudenes he swore that he had never seen any thing so worthy the affection of the greatest Prince insomuch that he made Orizenna in love with Miralinda and extreamly desirous to see her This discourse having continued till the evening he caused his horse and arms to be brought him and taking leave of Orizenna unto whom he had declared his dream he returned to Bellombre wherein desiring to enter in by dark because he would not be discovered in that equipage he got him to bed hoping to sleep better then he had done the night before howbeit the exceeding desire he had to see his shepherdesse again not suffering him to take much rest made him rise by break of day to wait for her at the Elms but she that had no lesse unquietnes was there first so that incountring in this maner they renewed their salutes a thousand times and sitting down on the grasse gave account of their thoughts in such amorous words that they were able no doubt to make them live contented in the midst of infinit crosses having sat then a long time thus sweetly entertaining one another they rose up for to gather their sheep together which were scattered but they were eased of that labour and remained somewhat amazed to behold two yong unknown shepherds do them that office and that advancing themselves both at one instant fell upon their knees before Miralinda and said unto her Fair shepherdesse the fame of you which filleth our hamlets with wonder and astonishment having stricken this shepherds heart and mine both at a time we revealed our passions one to the other at one instant but with so much ill fortune that a marvellous great friendship which tied us together like brothers was suddenly converted into hatred jealousie not suffering either of us to indure a rivall so that in brief after we had reciprocally and in vain intreated each other to yeeld up his pretensions we came three or fowr times to blows alwaies giving over with a like advantage and questionles we had seen the end of one another if our parents grieved with this enmity had not laboured to accord us but the prize of our quarrell being great each one stood firm in his purpose so as the assistance of our friends had been without effect had they not had recourse to the oracle which told them that our remedy lay in your hands we are come therfore fair shepherdesse that you may pronounce in favour of the one or the other of us Our conditions are alike our states equall there
to so great a busines The honour of combats said Alcidamant depends on the grace of heaven rather then on the vanity of men which is the reason why I will not rashly promise thee the victory but I wil confidently assure thee to undertake this quarrell with courage and not to be diverted from it by the commendation thou hast given this inchanter Let us away then if you please said the Squire for to morow is the last day of the term prefixed but my comfort is we may get thither to night if we use a little speed whereupon setting spurs to their horses they rode discoursing of the many mischiefs occasioned in the world by the treachery of men when they met a yong damsell who saluting Alcidamant said unto him Brave warrior I am commanded to present you with this Ring it is a mean to discover the innocence of Melania you may put it on her finger and then make her speak to the Iudges before you combat for her howbeit leave it not with her but conserve it carefully for it will stand you in stead other where She that sends me so rare a present very much obliges me said Alcidamant and assure her that she shall dispose of me whensoever or howsoever she pleaseth and so shall you for your pains in bringing it to me Saying thus he past on as it were fearing that the least stay might interrupt his enterprise but his Squire seeing him post away so suddenly said unto him Do you not know this damsell that spake to you but now No said Alcidamant for I never saw her to my remembrance before That is very strange said Armidas for it is even she which gave you these arms and me thinks you gave her but cold intertainment for such powerfull obligations By my hopes said Alcidamant I am very sorry for it I would she were heer again thou shouldst see then I would soon repair this fault but since it is now too late I must expect some other opportunity to shew my self more acknowledging unto her Talking thus in this maner sometimes of one thing somtimes of another they arrived at a house where Melania's friends were assembled with a purpose to chuse out some one amongst themselves for to hazard the combat with Narsander but the Squire alighting and telling them of the incounter he had made of Alcidamant they all came forth to receive him wondring very much to behold one so yong to follow arms and they could not be perswaded that he was of force sufficient to resist the fury of a man who had made himself redoubted every where howbeit observing him very exâ—ctly and seeing him to be of so goodly a stature well made and of a confident look they hoped for something extraordinary from him so as they honoured him exceedingly and having given him marvellous noble entertainment they conducted him to a chamber for to repose himself but so great was his desire to combat that he slept not long Rising then very early in the morning he disposed of himself as a good Christian ought to do that means to hazard his life and afterwards being armed at all points he went straight to the field which the Iudges had caused to be prepared in whose presence he approached to Melania who was set upon a scaffold and said unto her Madam assure me of your innocence that so I may have the assistance of heaven fighting for your preservation Why do you speak of my innocency answered she have not I said a thousand times at least that I have murthered my child what would you of me more that were too much replied Alcidamant if what you say were true But my Lords said he addressing his speech to the Iudges I will let you see what cunning this wicked man to whom you have granted the honour of the field hath used to undo this maid whereupon taking the Ring which Nerea had sent him he put it upon Melania's finger and then said unto her Madam Is it true that you have murdered a childe That I have murdered a childe answered she with a setled judgement O God never suffer me I beseech thee to be charged with such a crime but Sir what childe is this that you speak to me of Of one that you brought into the world and murdered instantly answered the Iudges Alas said she lifting up her eies may heaven that never suffers such a crime to go unpunished strike me dead with thunder if this whereof I am accused be true Are all this people then assembled for that and must this ax do vengeance on me for a sin which I have not committed My Lords do not precipitate my daies in this manner at leastwise let me know the authour of so great a wickednesse Narsander said Alcidamant is he that would ruine you that charges you with this fact that by the power of his charms hath made you say that you are culpable of it and that labours to have you put to death but we will chastice him if you will remit your right unto my arms I would never permit you to fight upon this occasion answered she if I were not confident of his assistance that never forsakes the innocent but assuring my self both of his justice and your valour you may proceed to the combat when you please Whereupon Alcidamant taking the Ring from her as he was advised by Nerea Melania required afresh to be put to death as she that was guilty wherby the assistants plainly perceived how Narsander had bewitched her in such sort that all the people were so incensed against him as they had torn him in peeces had it not been for Alcidamant who desiring a little silence advanced towards him and finding him full of rage and despite to see his secrets discovered said unto him I have laid open thy villany not to exempt my self from the combat with thee for I will oblige the world by thy death and free all honest persons heerafter from thy deceits but to clear Melania from all imputation whereunto she might be subject in the opinion of those that neither could discover nor beleeve thy wickednes wherefore defend thy self from me Therewithall taking the field he charged his lance and setting spurs to his horse he met him so strongly in the midst of the course that he cast him out of his saddle though not without some staggering by the incounter he had received Narsander finding himself on the ground suddenly rose up and drawing out his sword he let fall a blow with such fury on his enemies shield that thorowly made him to feel the force of his arm but not to fail in the first combat that ever he had undertaken he began to charge Narsander so fiercely that every one admired to see him fight with such grace and courage against a man so redoubted and that was scarcely to be matched again in France if his enemy struck at him he either warded it with his sword or opposed with his
Whilst he crossed the woods following the cry of the hounds Cistenia the secretary of Merodiana's affections left as you have heard with a letter in the Island of Silvana arrived at Tarsipolis and going to the palace by ill fortune met with Cesarina and enquired of her for the valiant Knight of the Palms Gentlewoman said Cesarina unto her is it for the execution of any enterprize that you seek him No answered this unadvised maid but onely to deliver him a letter which I beleeve will be accptable unto him comming from one of the fairest Ladies of the world and that loves him infinitely Marry and he is worthy of it replied Cesarina but he is not now in town wherefore if you please to rest you in my chamber till his return which will be in the evening you may then speak with him at leasure I shall gladly accept of your fair courtesie said Cistenia since you are pleased so far to olige me Whereupon going into Cesarina's chamber she set some to attend her whilst she went unto Trasiclea whom she acquainted with all that she had learned of Cistenia Gods me said Trasiclea if we could come by this letter peradventure we might discover some extraordinary secret There must be some Art used to get it said Cesarina but seeing you so desire it it shall go hard but I will give it you in your hand ere be long So leaving her Mistresse she went and put a little of the juice of Poppy into some broth which was prepared for Cistenia who had no sooner taken it but that she found her selfe so sleepy as she threw her self presently upon a bed where Cesarina perceiving her to be fast enough for waking in haste searched her Pockets and finding Merodiana's letter carried it with all speed to Trasiclea who having opened it read thus Merodiana's Letter to the valiant Knight of the Palms IF I had as little affection as you have sense of the favours you have found in my imbrâ—ces I should not only say that you were ingratefull but I should seek to be revengedof your neglect howbeit considering that you received them upon promise of rendering them one day legitimate I will proceed no further then to complain of you and to put you in minde of them for to oblige you unto a return and indeed it is more then time at leastwise if you mean to be loial neitherwil my patience suffer you to run thus any longer about the world depriving me of the fruits of my love which if either you have forgotten or that your weaknesse hath carried you to other affections let me at leastwise know so much to the end that I may in my death finde that onely comfort which is left to a woman betrayed O ye Gods said Trasiclea how am I this day bound to you for the discovery of a secret of such importance you shew by this your care of me that you are mindfull of our alliance Alas I was going to commit an irreparable fault and giving my self to the most disloyall Knight that lives had made my self a grief for all my future dayes Art thou a deceiver Alcidamant Ah! how is that valour ill bestowed and how unjust are the Gods in the partition of their treasures Thou thoughtest to beguile me upon such a promise as thou madest to that unfortunate Lady but thou art far from thy reckoning and the happinesse which I was preparing for thee shall be for ever withheld Thou wilt finde out some reasons to cover thy cunning but I le not permit thee nor do thee the favour to hear so much as one poor excuse but banishing thee for ever from my sight I will preserve my self from faulting a second time Come then and take me away all these preparations which I have made for this wicked man and thou Cesarina give me some paper a Letter is the cause of my good and a Letter shall be the occasion of his pain Whereupon walking a great pace up and down her chamber she remained a good while pensive but not caring how she wrote so as she might expresse her minde she framed a Letter and sealing it up commanded Cesarina to deliver it unto the Knight assoon as ever he returned but not to receive any answer Which being done she fell to walking again and every minute finding new cause of displeasure she rendered her passion and hatred greater insomuch that she was more in rage then ever she had been in love Whilst fortune was thus putting all in disorder Alcidamant returned most contented thinking of nothing lesse then the mischief which was to fall upon him and declining the Emperours table that he might not fail his Lady he betook him to his chamber where within a little after Cesarina presented her self to him Beholding her he was troubled with extream joy and thought that she was come to lead him to the paradise of his delights but she entering with a sad countenance said unto him My Lord my Mistris hath commanded me to deliver you this Letter Alcidamant taking it with a great change of colour and kissing it though it were with a strange suspition which Cesarina's countenance had begot in him he opened it wherein he read these words To the most disloyall Knight in the world I Do not write to thee in way of complaint for thereby I should still shew my love and weaknesse but it is to tell thee that thy wickednesse renders thee unworthy of the favours which thou hadst thought to have found in my pitty I will conserve my self for another it may be lesse valiant and brave but far more faithfull then thy self and leaving thee in the liberty to keep thy word with Merodiana I will take the power to love some otherwhere Get thee out of the limits of this Empire which thou hast lost as unworthy to possesse it and never present thy self more before me that thy sight may not renew the vexation which I am in to have been deceived by thee This Letter so cruell and that deprived the Knight of all hope having seased him with too sensible a sorrow made him sink to the ground with such apparance of death that Cesarina leaving him in his Squires arms returned to her Mistris infinitely discontented for that she had been the occasion of this misfortune and telling her what effect her Letter had wrought she retired betaking her to strange unquietnesse CHAP. L. Alsidamants despair the effects of his rage by the defeat of certain Giants and Knights he turns Hermit WHilst Cesarina recounted unto Trasiclea the successe of her message Alcidamant being come to himself by the diligence of 〈◊〉 his Squire made such strange lamentation that the most inhumane soul in the world would have been sensible of his complaint Ah why said he unjust heavens why have you made me hope for a happinesse with such expectation to deny it me now upon so little reason Ah beautious Trasiclea with what weaknesse are you carried you draw my
Emperour of Greece to make him this day my husband wherof I desire you should be participant as well to testifie the trust I repose in you as to intreat you to be a witnesse for me that I do not receive him into my bed before he hath taken a solemn oath to espouse me publikely in his Empire or here in our fathers dominions if we can dispose him therunto do that then continued she speaking to Amadis which is to be done on your part to the end that the caresses which you shall receive from me may be without blame Madam said Amadis then I protest before heaven before this excellent Princesse and before these faithfull Ladies never to have other Wife then you and to espouse you solemnly whensoever you please as now I do espouse you Saying this he took a rich Diamond from off his finger and put it on his fair Mistresses who giving him an amorous kiss called him her husband and Knight O yee gods what have I seen said Amplamira almost lost in the wonder of these things and what may not one beleeve concerning the power of a divinity that works such strange miracles A woman changes her sex a slave becomes in an instant Lord of Martaria and I have for my brother and Soveraign the Prince of Greece whom but even now I beheld to be a vagabond Girle Verely I am lost and must needs beleeve that these things are done by inchantment Is not all this an illusion sister or do you not tell it me to make sport with me No indeed said Palmirenna I have spoken nothing but the truth and therefore you must be assured that this Prince here whose name is Amadis is my Lord and Husband It is fit then replyed Amplamira that approving of your choyce I acknowledge him for Sovereign of Martaria and that I kiss his hands in token of the homage which he is to expect from his Subjects Madam said Amadis it wil be more glory for me to be your Brother then your Lord wherfore you shal do me a favour to let me have yours to kiss by way of humble thanks for the consent you are pleased to give unto my good fortune for a beginning wherof I intreat you not to refuse me one boon I shal demand of you My Lord answered she I have no other will but yours and therfore you may easily obtain whatsoever you shall desire of me Confer then replyed Amadis stepping suddenly to Palmirenna's Cabinet and presenting Floridan unto her confer then Madam the same grace on this Knight who is my Nephew as I have received from your Sister the Empire of Persia attends him and the merit of his person deserves it from you O ye Gods cryed Amplamira againe and moreamazed then before what second wonder is this must I be of the partie too That you must Sister answered Palmirenna straight if you desire your own good for this Knight being one of the handsomest greatest and most accomplished Princes of the world you cannot fall into a better hand I receive him then with all my heart said she but I would have the consummation of this Mariage deferred for a while Ah Madam said Floridan be not less kind then your sister nor give her the glory of loving better then you how miserable should I be to sigh whilst others live happily amidst their delights Behold me with an eye of pittie said he kneeling down before her and consider that time may make an end of me with grieving Arise said she joyning her lips to his my love and your merit have overcom me Herewith Floridan having sworn the same to her which Amadis had done unto his Lady she took a Ring of him and accepted him for her Husband That done they departed one from another after they had concluded to keep this affair very secret and to leave unto Amadis his habit and name under colour wherof he lay with Palmirenna without suspition and so getting to bed they appeased the violence of their desires wherin let us leave them for to see what resolution Brustafard took being wonderfull passionate for the love of the faire slave CHAP. IX Bustrafard maintaining the jâ—â—sts for the love of Palmirenna's faire Slave is vanquished by Floridan WHilst our Lovers sought for delights in their kisses for sweetest satisfaction in their embraces and whilst they met with unexpressable raptures in the height of their pleasures Tarsander sighed out his sufferings and Bustrafâ—rd was lost in the excess of his passion This Gyant who presumed so far as to be perswaded that Palmirenna's fair Slave would adore him assoon as she knew that he loved her was much abashed at not finding her not sensible of his flame but seeking to flatter himself in some sort he laid the fault on the modestie which Maidens do always retain in their actions and said that it was discretion in her to conceale her thoughts howbeit perceiving that time and patience did but increase his desires he resolved to board her and so know wherunto he should trust yet considering with himself that it would be fit for him to oblige her first by some remarkable service to the end the might have no excuse if she would not affect him he presented himself before the Emperour one day when as Palmirenna her Sister the fair Slave and the most of the Lords were in the great Hall and kneeling down he said unto him with a voyce that might have dismaid the most confident Mightie Monarch of Martaria I have often heard it said that Love was the authour of all Gentillesses and thereof you may now see an example in me that loth to let your Court bee in idleness am resolved to put it in exercise so as your Majestie wil be pleased therwith all for I wil maintain for three dayes together against all commers both with my Launce and Sword that next unto these three excellent Princesses who admit no comparison Gâ—razinda is the fairest Maid that lives and that of all the Knights of the earth I am most worthy of her favour This speech which drew laughter from all the Assistants made our fair Slave to blush who answered him with a smile Knight be wel advised upon that which now you propound the performance wherof carries more difficultie with it then you thinke for and the injustice of your cause may deny you the victory which otherwise were most assured to the force you have I never fear that answered he for on so just a quarrel I would undertake to vanquish the gods But what do you hope from this enterprize of yours said she unto him Much honour in having served you answered he and more contentment in enjoying of you being most assured that my valour wil induce you to love me if my affection cannot But what if you happen to have the worst replyed she You may then answered he recompence my Vanquisher with the favours I have desired from you Your enterprise doth so much oblige me said
alienate her affection by the view of his defects Having therefore considered all his Subjects and finding none fitter for that employment he sent Messengers to Gorgâ—phon Colonel of the Gyants who lived in the redoubted Iland not far from his Kingdom desiring him to râ—paiâ— unto him about a busines of great importance which he was to impart unto him This Gyant the greatest then living the strongest of all Pagans the most terrible and furious amongst men being an intimate friend of the Soldans went straight to Circassia where being arrived and nobly entertayned after a world of Ceremonies and Caresses Moranteon thus spake unto him I am perswaded you cannot be ignorant of the power of that little god which challenges a right over all men living and since your selfe have felt the power of his Scepter you will not find it strange to see me from military exployts and the love of my people to settle my affection on a woman I shall therefore tell you freely that the Princesse of Gardacia is she that captivates my soul and that without the fruition of that blessednesse which he only can expect that shal enjoy her I cannot possibly subsist I have a strong confidence in your love it is in your power exceedingly to oblige me by undertaking a voyage to the Emperour her Father to demand her in mariage declaring unto him that the Crown of Circassia is a purchase sufficient to satisfie his Daughters vastest desire and ambition Your presence together with the feare of disobliging us will make him seriously to consider the demand ere he give a denial But in case he should prove so averse as to returne an answer not suitable to our desires spare not to let him know our resentment and that his indiscretion wil cost him no lesse then the losse of his Empire Well said Gorgophâ—n I intend not to amuze my self with giving you other testimonies of my love and friendship then by the carefull managing of the charge committed to my trust Armazia is yours and though her Father should prove so proudly insolent as to reject the honour you doe him you shall not be put to the trouble of raysing an Army I le cut him into a thousand peeces and bring away his Daughter in despight of all his subjects Let nothing therefore disturbe you but prepare your selfe to receive us as if we were already comming And so causing a ship to be made ready he imbarqued himself with a young Gyant that attended him and with a favourable wind in few days arrived in Gardacia where getting a shore he went towards Parmonda the place of the Princes ordinary residence but understanding that the Emperour and his Daughter were gone to hunt in a Forrest there by hee caused a countrey fellow to guid him thither and came just as they were uncoupling the Hounds The Emperours Knights seeing these two dreadfull Gyants appear on the sudden were extreamly dismayed and imagining that they had a purpose to assault them they prepared themselves for defence though they were mightily terrified with their furious countenances neverthelesse chusing rather to dye a thousand times then leave their Pâ—ince and his Daughter in extremity who trembled in the midst of them they began to advance when as Gorgophâ—n testifying in his cariage that he had no intent to doe them any harm said unto them Forbear foolish Pigmies for I could soon make an end of you if I meant to fight but being come hither for another end you shall not at this time feel the thunder of my Curtelas Which of you is the Emperour I am he answered Aliander all pale and wan with fear would you have any thing with me 〈◊〉 Mighty Monarch said he the gods resolve to augment your glory and gâ—eathesse so as you will make use of the good they intend you You behold â—â—â—gâ—phon Colonel of the Gyants Lord of the redoubted Ilands and â—ervant to the great Soldan of Circassia who hath sent me to let you know that he very much desires to be your Son in law and that it lyes in you to make Armazia the happiest Lady in the world by joyning the Crown of Circassia to that which she hopes from you this offer if you wil not imbrace then prepare your selfe for war Now let me hear what answer you will return Valiant Warriour replyed the Emperour who did not look forsuch gentle words the Prince of Circassia honours me very much in seeking my alliance and no lesse am I obliged unto you for the pains you have taken in comming hither to let us understand his desire whereunto I should presently consent if I could without blame passe by theregard which I owe unto a people that render me great by the obedience they yeeld me but I am first to consult with them about it since there is question of giving them a new Prince in expectation whereof if you please to repose your self a little with us we will doe you all the honour we may This answer having marvellously contented the Gyant who could not sufficiently admire the beauty of Armazia which already triumphed over his liberty they went on hunting wherein with much delight they spent above two hours during which time Gâ—rgophon entertayned himselfe in the corner of a Wood in this manner What said he can I affect Armazia after I have once demanded her for the content of another or rather should I leave her to the hope of any whomsoever seeing she may serve for mine She is too fair I have too much love and without treason to my passion it is not fit for me to speak otherways but for mine own content yet what will the Emperour her Father say if he should hear me speak in this sort and what cause would the Soldan have to complain of me for depriving him of a beauty that was done to his merit They would both wonder at this change and questionlesse they would exclaim of me but what is that to me I am to love my selfe more then others and if the Father of Armazia doe not satisfie my desire I carry that by my side which shall procure it me And if Moranteon will not be contented with another Princesse whereof I will make him Master ere it be long I shall not much care for neither am I his subject nor doe I fear his power if he assayl me I will defend my selfe and were he mightier then he is I will soon make him quiet The Emperour then must be frighted with menaces if fair means will not prevayl Whereupon getting to horse he went to seek out Aliander when as he heard the Forrest resound with cryes complaints and a very dreadfull noyse so that advancing forwards he met with nine or ten Knights flying away as fast as they could drive of whom not being able to learn the cause of their fear he went on til he came where a great and furious Serpent was devouring one of Armazia's women and promising no better entertainment to that
be without his company especially Palmirenna who was to succeed unto my Crown had not her bad life given me just cause to dis-inherit her To tell you all that passed between them I am notable but so it was that mistrusting no practice amongst them I left themto so great a libertie as Amplamira the middlemost of the three that you behold being made acquainted with the secrets of her eldest Sister and her Slave yeelded to the affection of that strange Knight unto whom I had given his life and the third which would shew no more obedience than the rest became passionately in love with the Knight whom you see there in the upper part of the Tower with her Nature that obligeth us to the care of our childrens well-doing having perswaded mee to bestow them richly in mariage I made choyce of the heir of the mightie King of Cabilla the valorous Soldan of Aralafia and the King of Filzandria to support my Crown with their greatness but being upon the point of leading them to Church this Slave with the first Knight comming armed at all parts under colour of succouring two infortunate Lovers which they said were at the Court-gate in a Coach they caused my Daughters to goe thither who being intelligent with them got suddenly into the Coach and galloped away with that speed as they were instantly out of sight wherof being exceeding sensible I commanded them to be pursued when as this Slave lifting up the Visier of his Helmet told me that he was not a woman as I had beleeved untill then but a Knight named Amadis Prince of Greece and Trebisond At these words some of my Knights advanced for to stay him howbeit he layd him that first presented himself dead at my feet with a blow of his fist and discharging his Sword on the Helmet of a very valiant Gentleman called Meander who arrived but that morning he cleft him down to the shoulders and so departed like lightning for to follow the Coach To what end should I relate all things in particular unto you briefly they got to the Sea-side after they had slain above six hundred Knights and with the assistance of three or four Knights errant that came thither by chance they imbarqued themselves in despite of a thousand Knights which endeavoured to arrest them Away they sayled them as they hoped with a prosperous wind but the gods who never suffer so foule a crime to rest unpunished drove them the very same day into this Iland where having invested them with four thousand Knights I had taken them in their beds and executed some horrible vengeance on them if I had not been prevented by the arrivall of an old Sorceresse who unexpectedly appeared with a flaming Torch in her hand made certain circles and muttered divers obscure words which were no sooner uttered but there fell so cruel a storm of huge Hayl-stones as above five hundred of my Knights were knocked down therwith and my selfe constrayned to fly for shelter to these houses you see from whence after the sky was cleared again I beheld this Tower erected in the place of the house wherein they were Now judge Sir whether this be not a strange affliction unto me and whether I have not reason to wish them in my power for to wash away the affront they have done me with their blood Mighty Prince said Rozalmond who had been much delighted with this discourse the Heavens doe sufficiently testifie by the care they have taken of these Knights that they doe not approve of the revenge you desire I could give you better counsell if your Majesty could be pleased to accept of it These Knights of whom you speak are all Lords of a quality nothing inferiour to yours of whom the first according to report is sonne to the mighty Amadis of Greece the second whom I know very well is Heir to the Soveraign Monarch of the Persians and the third is Nephew to the great King of France seek not their ruin then for an offence they have done you compelled thereunto by love but receive them like a gentle and mercifull Father and if you wish for their deliverance let it be to rejoyce with them in their alliance which shall so secure you as all the Princes of Paganism shall not dare to look on you but for your service If therefore you can carry a mind inclined to pardon then I am ready to undertake the restoring of them unto the world if not I wil never be the instrument of their destruction by putting them in your power You amaze me said the Emperor in telling me that these three Knights are such great Princes in which regard I blame not my daughters so much as I have done but my resentment will not permit me so lightly to passe by such enormous an offence O but you must Sir replyed Rozalmond at least wise if you will appear as generous as I know you are and in the assurance thereof I will no longer defer this Enterprise Whereupon drawing out his rich sword he advanced towards the Lyons which rose with fury and at the first onset discharged so mighty a blow on the leg of him that was next him that having cut thorow all the hair he gave him a great gash in the flank whilst the other fastning his claws on his Shield laboured to tear it from his arm neverthelesse he bravely resisted him and desiring to lose no time he struck him so strongly on the paw that he sent it divided from his body to the ground which made him roar most dreadfully at the noyse whereof Armelina Orestia and Melia which seemed to be asleep at the foot of the Tower presently start up and transforming themselves into horrible Centaurs flew all at one instant on Rozalmond who was therewith marvellously troubled not knowing well where to bestow his sword the Lyons prest him with their claws the Centaurs showred blows on him with their heavie clubs and thinking to avoyd the fury of the one he fell into the rage of the others howbeit nothing dismayed he layd with such violence at the body of one of those Lyons as he cut him in two peeces and turning withall towards a Centaur he struck him so dangerously on the head that though his Sword lighted flatling he overthrew him to the earth where instantly changing her shape she reassumed that of Almerina who began to slumber as before which made him resolve not to strike the Centaurs any more with the edge of his Sword turning all his fury then against the remayning Lyon that had plucked his Shield from his arm he ran him so lustily into the belly as he layd him dead by the other Being very glad at the defeat of these enemies and the recovery of his Shield he made head afresh against the Centaurs which so layd upon him that he felt himselfe bruised all over with their heavy stroaks neverthelesse he avoyded them as well as he could and at the length
in two his sword fell with that tempest on his head that it cleft him down to the wast O heaven said Rozalmond what a dreadfull blow was this and who can be able to resist the thunder of such a mighty arm Questionless this Warriour is the nonparil of the earth unto whom all the world hath reason to give place This speach which Alcidamant heard having rendred him infinitely couragious he let fall an horrible stroak on the Serpent that came leaping towards him and watering the floore with the bloud that issued from the wound in his belly never thelese having not so much as made any print on his scales he was enforced to step suddenly aside for to give him way and was ready with his sword aloft to have smitten him on the tayl when as he perceived a Knight all on fire come out of the Hall who presently gave him so mightie a blow that it made him stagger and in that manner amazed as he knew not in what world he was howbeit instantly recovering his spirits he became so inraged that beholding the Serpent raysed on his two hinder feet for in fall upon him with all the weight of his body he ran him with so mortall a thrust into the flank that he overturned him on his back where leaving him amidst the pangs of death and making such horrible cryes as all the place shaked therwith he turned to the inchanted Knight and began to charge him with so much force and agilitie as though he had not fought all the day before neverthelesse he indured strange paine for the fire which covered the inchanted Knight so heated him that he thought he was consumed in his arms but what will not a valiant man suffer that would dye a thousand times rather then forgoe the honour of a difficult enterprize He employed all his force and delivering his blowes with no lesse strength then when as he divided the body of a Gyant he charged the inchanted Knight so terribly that he forced him to mount up the stayrs again which exceedingly incouraging our Warriour he followed him redoubling his horrible blowes till he came up to the top of the stayres where his enemy returned him such a stroak on his Helmet as made him fall on his knees ready to tumble down all the steps but staying himself on his hands he arose full of fury and discharged his sword with such violence on the Knight as it extended him on the earth where Alcidamant going to unlace his Helmet for to take off his head in satisfaction of his anger he perceived that they were empty Arms without a body in them at which he would have very much marvelled had he not been well acquainted with the power of Magicians wherfore being very much moved with the lamentable complaints of Griolanis and Adelazia he made no further stay but burst open the dore with the pummell of his sword and no whit regarding those horrible flames which appeared all over the room he went directly to the two Lovers hoping to carry them easily from thence neverthelesse he was fain to undertake a new combat the Serpents which devoured them flew upon him and winding themselves about his legs they laboured to overthrow him to the ground This new difficultie far more troublesome than dangerous having held him a good while without knowing how to free himself from these creatures he let go his sword and closing his hand hee knocked them down with his fist that done a phantosme presented it self before him which borrowing a thousand figures one after another laboured to affright him but he that could not be moved with any danger whatsoever having cut the ayâ—e in vain with his sword discharged it at length on the shoulder of a furious Bear that was catching him by the throat which being divided in the middle it appeared to be the body of the sorceresse Maxiana separated in two parts that no sooner touched the floore but a most horrible Earthquake arose accompanied with thunder and lightning and so dreadfull a noyse as it seemed the very Palace would have sunk into the center of the earth This noyse earthquake and confusion having continued a long time there entred into the Court a middle-aged woman followed by a gâ—llant Knight and a most beautifull Shepherdesse who with the grace of her habit which was of white Taffâ—â—a fastened together in sundry places with sparkling Rubies was thought to be one of those Nimphs so adored in the Forrests wherupon every one giving way to these three persons that Woman took a Viall out of her pocket and presenting it to the Shepherdesse said aloude It is you Miralinda that must lend the last assistance to this inchantment you have heretofore contemned the fire that burned Lindâ—renna fear not then the flame that torments Griolanis but enter into this room where you will discover a secret very much importing you and breaking this Viall on the Armour of the Knight who hath performed such incredible wonders for to come unto these infortunate Lovers you shall find your self before you are either lost or sought for This Shepherdesse then who was no other then Miralinda that was come thither with Clarisel and Urganda the unknown without whose help this inchantment would never have been ended ascending the stayrs entred couragiously into the room and finding Alcidamant extended fast by Griolanis and Adelazia who seemed to be dead she brake the Viall upon his Armour which was no sooner done but the ayr began to clear the fire to be clean extinct and the two Lovers as sound and fair as ever they had been rose up with the same judgement they had befor their torment and assuring themselvs that their deliverance was effected by the valour of Alcidamant and confidence of Miralinda who had upon her head the crown of Roses which Adelazia had gotten in the adventure of the triumph of love they kneeled down to thank them for their assistance but they not induring such submission presently lifted them up just as Urganda that was not yet known came in with Clarisel Rozalmond Armazia Trasiclea Griâ—â— Amadis Palmirenna and the rest whom Griolanis and the fair Queen of Corolandaya caressed in that manner as is not wel able to be delivered wherfore I will passe it over in silence to tell you that an hour being spent in these compliments during the which Urganda being known and very much honoured by all those Lords she desired them to give her audience whereupon she said unto them Incomparable Princesses and you most excellent Knights ye have indeed great reason to rejoyce at the presence of one another because the whole world hath nothing so rare and precious as you howbeit I will adde some-what yet to the glory of your contentment Fair Shepherdesse said she to Miralinda who rendred all those Princesses amazed at her marvellous beauty give me that Crown of Roses and remember the speech I used to you at your ascending hither that you should
all the company fell to caressing of Bastinel and had much increased the mirth if the sage Urganda had not urged the departure of these Knights who addressed themselves to the Emperour for to receive his commandments He having embraced them left them to take their farewell of the rest which was not done without many tears shed by these Princesses that were to accompany them howbeit considering that this separation was but for a further good they went and seated themselves in a magnificent Chariot which with eight excellent Horses Adelazia had prepared and attended by these Princes mounted upon their Steeds took their journey towards the great Kingdome of Martan Two hours after the Emperour imbarqued himself with his two Sons-in-law Persides and Lucibel for to return into Martaria Let us leave them traversing the Land and Seas to speak a little of the Pagans resolution who assembled with a designe to abate the greatnesse of the Christians and range tham to the adoration of their Idols CHAP. XXXVII The Emperour Falanzar Caliph of Siconia solicited by Idalcan Emperour of Melly assembles all Paganisme the resolution they take to make warre upon the Princes of Greace with the generall muster of their Army MEn that are generous have nothing so tender as their honour which they cannot endure should be any way touched without some great resentment therof Idalcan Emperour of Melly calling to mind the slaughter of the Kings and of a flourishing Army which he had conducted to Constantinople for the succour of Prigmaleon and being no lesse grieved for having been vanquished in his own particular by Silvan the son of Don Silves de la Silva as hath been related in the five and thirtieth Chapter of our first part he resolved once more to employ all his Friends and to Arm all the world rather than want the revenge of so outragious an affront To this effect he dispatched away Courriers to divers parts as soon as he was arrived in his Empire desiring all the Kings and Princes adjoyning to his Countrey to repair unto Falanzar great Emperour and Caliph of Siconia his neere kinsman for to deliberate of certain affairs much importing the glory of Paganism These dispatches made he commanded all his Captaines to come before him unto whom he delivered commissions for the raysing and arming of threescore thousand men and departing instantly therupon he went into Siconia where his rage furnishing him with reasons able to perswade very much he so incensed Falanzar against the Christians that he resolved to set up his rest on this quarrell and to revenge his Kinsman at the cost of all the Pagans Bethinking him then of those which might best serve his enterprize he sent away messengers to the furious King of Grifalara to Brufaldar King of Gedrosia and to the valourous Artogant Soldan of Francapa to Marmaran Sophy of Bultera to Brizardan Soldan of Aratifia to the grand Salvage to the King of Russia to Gronfalin of Moreda King of Facea to Gorgophon the redoubted Colonell of the Gyants to Marcelian Emperour of Medra to the proud Caliph of Francapia Antomedon to Fierastron King of Balivan to Asturion the strong Soldan of Brutacon to Furcamond King of Martan to Moranteon Soldan of Circassia whom afterwards he reconciled to Gorgophon about the carrying away of Armazia to the King of Cabilla to Palamedes King of Cassandria and briefly to all the Princes from whom he could hope for any assistance in such sort that at the end of two moneths there were in person at his Court together with the Kings of Mauritania of Tremizen of Zamphara of Zambar of Cartagena of Aganezes of Angali of Numidia of Bisaura of Thunes of Teneri of Miramolin of the Isle of Till of the Tragonites of Zanfara of Calizan of Morlavia of Nazamor of Siziphala of Tingafort of Barnagas of Monomatapan of Arginare and of Cornata all which came at the request of the Emperour of Melly an hundred and thirteen Kings Emperours Caliphs Soldans and Soveraigne Princes from whose valours great wonders were to be expected All these great Lords being by Falanzar assembled in a stately and spations Hall where he had caused so many Thrones to be erected and perceiving a silence over all he spake in this manner The Oration of Falanzar Emperour of Siconia to the Pagan Potentates MIghty Princes I have troubled you so far as to assemble you here for to represent two things unto you which are of great consequence for us The glory of our Altars much abated by the insolence of certain petty Princes of Greece and the little resentment of the outrages we have a thousand times received therupon It is more then time me thinks for us to rouze up our selves to appeare more zealous in the service of the gods more sensible and lesse daunted for some passed losses which have fallen upon us by the indiscreet managing of our designes and by our neglect of taking hold of occasion when it hath been fairly presented unto us Wee have suffered them to grow great for which they mock us nay that is worse are so vain as to threaten to come and share our Crowns with us at their pleasure to put us all to the sword to force our people to acknowledge their Dominion and to render all the earth subject to their command Is not this a vanity too insupportable to beare and shall we endure to have them come and seek us in our houses for to deprive us of our Wives our Lands and our liberties Verely it amazes me that all Paganisme being replenished with mighty Emperours Callphs Soldans Princes and excellent Knights no man would never yet speak of over-running these insolents and not leaving them so much as a foot of ground upon which they might tread as Masters For mine own part I am resolved to exhaust all my treasures put all my subjects into Arms and not to leave a souldier in all the Empire of my Cousin of Melly who hath far more cause to complain and speak as I doe for to march into the Empire of Ethiopia whose Prince hath of late played Bankerupt without gods for to allie himself with their enemies and utterly to subvert it to the end that in some sort discharging the duty I owe unto their providence which have made me Lord of a great people I may not draw their displeasure upon me so that if your zeale be like unto mine as by your countenances I am perswaded to hope you will not stick at the consideration of the pains you are to suffer but will chearfully go to the Empires which are destined to your valoâ—rs and appropriating the Crowns therof unto your selves you may in such sort receive some kind of satisfaction for your labours Now if you apprehend the dangers which are oftentimes incident to these troublesome undertakings remember that you shall do no more than my self I will alwayes â—arch with you in Armes I will encounter the enemy couragiously and ever being the first at
that they might surprize the Enemie asleep and accordingly they entred into a little thicket where having taken a little rest they arose and advancing towards their Enemies they entred pell-mell amongst them with such fury that above five hundred men lost their lives in lesse than halfe an houre the Tents went to ground Pavillions were overturned and the massacre continued with such horrour as the Sun seemed loth to appeare because it would not be spectatour of so cruell a butchery The famous Amadis of Gaule pressed thorow them like lightening Amadis of Greece thundered every where the invincible Knight of the Sun over-run all like a torrent Belianis of Greece carried himself like a fury the foure excellent Ladyes Trasiclea Claridiana Pentasilea and Hermiliana did wonders Belstoran Rosicler Claramant Poliphebo Don Silves Fortiman of Greece Amadis d' Astre and â—he rest cut off arms cleft men in two hewed Knights in peeces and nothing appeared before them but went to the ground the uprore increased the whole Camp put themselves in Arms the Christians were amazed and could not imagine from whence so great a disorder should proceed were it not from the Army of Martaria that was every day expected briefly all was in confusion and the Commanders not able to be informed by those that fled of the cause of this tumult knew not what to resolve upon neverthelesse Falanzar a prudent and couragious Prince advancing with Brufaldor King of Gedrosia Roussardan the furious Bravorant King of Morimont Marisgolf the grand Salvage and Furiander his son encountred these fifty redoubted Warriours and seconded by twenty thousand Horse thought to vanquish them very easily but Amadis of Greece the Knight of the Sun Amadis of Gaule Rosiclere Poliphebo Belianis and Belfloran having arrested the furie of these seven proud Pagans that were perswaded they could carry all the world before them the rest flew in amongst their troops so couragiously that after they had past two and thirty Gyants by the edge of the Sword they put them to flight with an incredible slaughter In the mean time the Combat between these fourteen Knights became most horrible and cruell howbeit our Pinces not meaning to stay till the whole Campe were in arms to invest them having valiantly dif-ingaged themselves out of their hands drew towards the Citie but encountring the proud Knight Arastron who came accompanied with Marmoran Sophy of Bultara Brizardan Soldan of Aralafia Gorgophon 〈◊〉 the great Caliph of Francapia Moranteon Soldan of Circassia Fierâ—sâ—on the redoubted King of Balivan Barcandor and Bucarguant their pastage thither grew more difficult than they expected neverthelesse Trasiclea Don Silves Amadis d' Astre Claridiana Claridian her son Claramant Fortiâ—â—â— and the gentle Doliftor of Nubia opposing themselves to these nine Warriours there began a most cruell and furious fight between them whilst the rest had much adoe to save them from an hundred thousand men that came in from all parts and questionlesse they had been in great danger if Florisel of Niquea who imagined that they were some valiant Knights that laboured to passe unto his Camp had not suddenly issued forth with thirty Princes of Greece and fifty thousand Horse which falling furiously on these disordered troups overthrew so many to the ground as it was almost covered with them Then it was that those brave Champions hearing Grecia cryed on all sides took new courage and flying amongst the Pagans made so great a slaughter that if Falanzar had not caused his Forces to retyre his Army had been in danger to have been cut in peeces although he was assisted with two hundred Gyants but this prudent Monarch and his followers after his example having quit the combat which they had with Amadis of Gaule and his friends the Christians had liberty to return to the Citie where that great Amadis of Gaule with Amadis of Greece and Don Silves being discovered Florisel Don Rogel and the other Princes of Greece were so confounded as they remained a good space without speaking a word beleeving that this succour proceeded from the art of Alquif or Urganda and that those personages were no other than Fantosmes but being cleered from that by the speech of these great Princes who declared unto them how they had been preserved in the Castle of Treasure and delivered by Rozalmond Alcidamant and their Companions together with Belianis and the Knight of the Sun whom they made known unto them Florisel Don Rogel and Spheramond were ready to swoun for joy they fell on their knees before their Grandfathers embraced Don Silves Pentasilea Amadis d' Astre Agesilan Fortumian and the rest and with much honour caressed the Knight of the Sun Don Belianis of Greece and their companions My Lord said Florisel of Niquea embracing the knees of Amadis of Greece am I so happy as to behold you again I never thought it possible and when I saw you enter into the crystall Chamber of Cenotaph where you were inchanted I verely beleeved that the clap of thunder which brake forth at that instant was the signe of your death But how true O great Alcander was your prediction then and now I understand the meaning of those secret words you wrote unto me as also the Prophecie you left at Constantinople for the Crowes which were to assemble to possesse the sleeping Eagles neast are with out doubt these enemies that lye about our Walls and now I see that Prophecie fulfilled which said The Earth shall open to render forth the treasure it concealed and the tears shed for a losse not suffered shall be changed into gladness The truth hereof is unquestionable and the excess of my content past all expression Florisel having said thus Prigmaleon Fulgoran and Russian made themselves known to the new commers and Silvan having with a thousand embraces received Don Silves and the faire Pentasilea his mother some hours were spent with incredible rejoycing at the end whereof and just as they were sitting down at a table a souldier entred who as a most prodigious matter delivered that Zeiden had been recovered by the valour of six Knights alone who in one day had slain six Gyants and seven thousand five hundred Knights that guarded it looke said Amadis of Gaule here is new occasion of joy which doubtlesse arrives unto us by Rozalmond Alcidamant and their companions who are said he speaking to Florisel the best Knights of the world my Lord answered Florisel I have seen them in fight and must thereupon conclude as you have done Herewith sitting down to dinner they were served in great state with all the exquisite meats that possibly could be had where we will leave them and return unto the Pagans CHAP. LI. The Pagan Princes present the Combat of an hundred to an hundred unto the Christians they accept of it the forces of Martaria with the assistance of Rozalmond and his friends defeats Artogants Army that besieged Goraxa WHilst the Christian Princes were drowned in pleasure and gladnesse the