prevent their landing fortified the shore with fifty thousand Horse under the command of Prigmaleon Fulgoran the two Cenophales Perion Quadragant Florestan Cilindor Florian and Tristor which being perceived by the Pagans who made thitherwards with full sayles they presently ranged their Ships in the best order they could for the dis-imbarquing themselves without confusion and advanced till they were neere enough to begin the charge with Bowes and Pikes Roussardan the terrible King of Grifalara Gorgophon the Graund Salvage Furiander and fifteen Gyants which had the command of the formost Vessels arriving with an incredible furie there was heard even in a moment a confusion of cryes mixed with the hideous noyse of the waves and the shrill and loude sounds of Drums and Trumpets the ayre being clouded as it were with a multitude of Arrows which flew both from Sea and Land a man could hardly discerne neither the sands that were covered with dead bodyes nor the waters all dyed red with the bloud of those that fell therin The Pagans being confident aswell in their numbers as their valour and advancing courageously without any feare at all of the Christians shot began to place their Bridges and scaling Ladders to the end that they might win the bank with lesse difficulty But Fulgoran Prigmaleon the Cenophales and the other young Princes that assisted them did so stoutly repulse them that as many as adventured to quit their Ships they tumbled into the Sea so that in a short time the waves were covered with such a multitude of dead bodyes as those foure proud Pagan Knights not enduring to behold so miserable a massacre of their people on the sudden with their Gyants and a hundred thousand men leapt on shore in spight of the Christians resistance and fell to it pell mell with such incredible violence that a man might perceive more men fall than blows all those those that stood in 〈◊〉 way he cleft down to the wast Gorgophon cut them in peeces Fâ—riâ—nder and his Father made such havok and their Fanchions were so terrible that every one shund them like so many furies on the other side Fulgoran Prigmaleon the Cenophales Perion and their companions made so great a slaughter that the most part of the Pagans cast themselves into the water to avoyd the furious execution of their swords In this manner the battell waxing hot so many fell dead on every side as was most dreadfull to behold Fulgoran and Prigmalâ—on being incensed marvellously at the sight of so great a slaughter which proceeded not so much from the multitude of their enemies as from the force and valour of their Leaders being accompanied with the Cenophales and making themselves way with the death of all that opposed them they in an instant charged them with such fury that the fierce stroke Roâ—ssardan received from Prigmaleons sword made him knock his chin against his brest Gorgophon bowed his knee underthe violence of Fulgorans blow the Grand Salvage with Fâ—riander his son were staggered by the weighty blades of the two Geâ—ophales and of the Gyants two were slain by Cilindâ—r and Pâ—rion But into what a rage were these proud Pagans driven at the resentment hereof they rowsed up their spirits again and became more furious than Tygers and raysing their weapons into the ayr they let them fall with such a tempest upon the Christian Knights that Prigmaleons shield was cleft in two peices with a hurt on his arm Fulgoran wounded on the shoulder and the two Cenophales were forced to stoop with their hands to the ground to save themselves from falling These fearfull blows would have utterly astonished men of lesse valour and courage but having begotten more fury than fear in the spirits of these invincible knights they began again to lay about them so fiercely that these four arrogant Gyants who thought the earth could not produce men of sufficient power to resist them plainly perceived that the overthrow of their enemies would prove a matter of more difficulty than they expected In the mean time whilst this tempestuous fight lasted between these eight Combatants Quadragant Tristor Florian Florestan Perion and Cilindor rallied their troops but so farre had the Gyants and their assistants gayned the field that notwithstanding the valour of those Knights who made heads and arms fly about and cut down and killed all that came in their way the Christians began to retire when in the instant there arrived the valiant Esquilass of Polonia Grandimore the unknown Kninght Agrian Flâ—â—isaâ—t 〈◊〉 Frisel Abies Armond and Melfort in the head of thirty thousand Horse who suddenly pressing into the midst of their enemies troops then confused and in disorder slew above twenty thousand upon the place and doubtlesse all the Pagans at that time on the shore had been put to the sword if the haughty Antomedon accompanied with Marisgelf thirty Gyants and threese ore thousand men had not speedily encountred the Christians amongst whom with the very first blow he cleft Florizartus of Trapobana down to the wast on the other side his Gyants made such a Massacre that the first ranks being all broken the other betook themselves to flight to avoyd the fury of their devouring swords which so much incensed the valiant Esqâ—itâ—â— of Polonia that hee with Grandimore the unknown Knight and the rest of the young Princes that accompanied him being all well appoynted with good Launces at one charge ran nine of the Gyants quite through and through and after that behaved themselves so bravely against their enemies that they were wonderfully amazed thereat Neverthelesse the valour of the other Gyants being no whit abated and the number of the Pagans being excessively great questionlesse the Christians had been discomfited if fourscore Vessels passing without suspicion through the midst of the enemies fleet had not very opportunely disembarqued forty thousand men who falling suddenly on the Pagans which were deceived with an opinion that they were part of their own forces they put them marvellously to rout under the conduct of two excellent Knights which at the same instant encountring with Brandafidel King of Brutaxia a mighty Gyant and Brandimart King of Parmonda they past their Launces quite through their bodies so astonishing the rest of that party as the Christians had leisure to rally their troops and to make a handsome treatie and yet not without very much difficulty Prigmalcon and Fulgoran who were no lesse discreet than valiant seeing the honour of the Christians recovered by the unexpected arrivall of this Army would have retired with their troops but Roussardan Gorgophon the Grand Salvage and Furiander were so inraged that they met with such a forceable resistance as they began to redouble their blows with more strength then at the first which put our Greeks into so much fury that Prigmaleon uniting the whole strength of his body into one stroak which he layd on Roussardans Helmet he gave him a dangerous hurt on the head wherewith he was so
the favour of their Archers threw out bridges and ladders to get to the strand But the Christian Princes and those brave Knights received them upon their lances made them tumble into the sea as fast as they left their ships and not fearing their Archers who but very seldome pierced their Arms put themselves into the water the better to make use of the swords The fight then begun to be very cruell for the Giants and the Kings in a rage to see the water died red with the bloud of their men leaped all at once on land in spight of all their enemies resistance and with them above fourty or fifty thousand men Then was the encounter very bloudy for as many Pagans as the swords of our Christian Princes did light upon found their graves in the sands and the catholiques had not a much better bargain under the scymiters of the Giants whereof two were at this first meeting slain and with them the Kings of Zambar Carthageâ—â— and Nabagazâ— Prigâ—â—leon and Fulgorâ—â— who desired to signalize their valour at their enemies cost cut in pieces all that they met with and followed by a multitude of people which were gotten to land they had fallen upon Alastraxerea's Squadron if Spheramond had not arrested the fury of Prigâ—â—leon and Silvan that of the King of Canabea These four Knights being thus incountred began a most furious combat during the which Alastraxerea the fair Savagesse Florian Dorigel Quedragant Altaria and Dardanio were on the one side gotten together to take the Giants in hand while their Knights made a strange massacre of the Pagans and on the other side Florizel Lucendus Esquilan Florestan Florizart Leonidas Melfort Sclarimond and some oâ— the most remarkable in the Army rendred themselves dreadfull even to those proud Knights who thought that all the men in the world assembled together were not able to resist their forces so that nothing was seen but dead bodies and horses on the ground The fight having thus continued above two hours with horrible slaughter Florisel perceiving a battallion of three or fourscore thousand horse which had landed below the place where they fought ready to charge him caused presently a retreat to be sounded being unwilling to engage himselfe amongst such a multitude of enemies And falling into the rear of his Army with all those brave Knights he bare off the fury of the Giants and the Kings who not enduring the losse they had suffered charged themselves like desperate men but seeing twenty thousand foot advance which Don Siâ—aldâ— and Garmant had drawn out to favour the retreat of the Christian Princes they made a stand and rallying themselves together went in good order to plant their Army before the towne Florizel having put the greatest part of his men into the fortifications which he had caused to be made and the rest into the town desired to know what this battell had cost him and by the report of the Captains he found that seven thousand Christianâ— were dead on the place but he was advertised by the spies which he had in the â—nemies camp that the Pagans had lost two and twenty thousand men fifteen Giants and thirteen Kings at which they were so enraged that if it had not been so neer night they would not have tarried till the next day for giving the assault to the town yet necessity enforcing it they were glad to set a good face on the matter for fear of disanimating their Souldiers promising themselves to do wonders upon the first occasion since their Army was now out of feate of the sea and that they might fight at large upon firme ground But they were beguiled in their hopes for the Greeke Princes who well knew how to follow their fortune and to vanquish as well by industry as courage gave them a new occasion of despight as I will presently deliver CHAP. XXXI The wonderfull deeds of Armes that were done both in a sally and in the assault given to Constantinople with the great losse that the Pagans suffered by an Army newly arrived in favour of the Christians THis mighty Fleet of enemies having landed as hath been told you passed the night without any rest being imployed in setting up of tents and making retrenchments for their security so that about the break of day the fortifications being finished the Souldiers tired with the sea as well as with their precedent labour and besides pressed with an extream desire of sleep laid themselves downe to take a little rest but they were quickly rowsed for the Princes of Greece being infatigable and ever casting for the victory and how to weaken their enemies having withdrawn to the town for to cheer up those timerous Princesses after they had supped went to counsell where the couragious Florisel remonstrating in few words what benefit would result from a surprisall of drowsie enemies determined to get to horse before Sun rising and meaning to play his game with as much losse and hazard of the enemy as he could he gave order that Spheramond should â—ally forth at the east port with ten thousand choyce horse the two Cenophales the brave Esquilan of Poland Perion of Turkie Florian and Tristor of Sopradisa that the Prince Lucendus with the like number should fall out of the south port followed by Silvan the fair Savagesse Quedragant Florestan Agrian Alteria and Dardaniâ— and that at the same time he would be in the fild with twelve thousand horse in the head of which should be the valiant Dorigel Florizart Frizel Abies Melfort Armond and Leonidas appointing the Queen Alastraxerea to be ready with two thousand horse to favour his retreat as also Parmenian of Cyprus with the like number to support Spheramond and Ladazan of Numidia to do as much for the Prince of France if the enemies approched to the walls Things being in this sort disposed and direction given to such as were to be of the party every one withdrew till the houre appointed when as they sallied out with a designe to make a strange havock among the Pagans The first that began to stirre was the invincible Emperour of the Parthians who findâ—ng the enemy sleeping and almost disarmed did such execution on them as the fild was all strewed over with dead bodies Prigmaleon Fulgoran who were asleep in their arms but a great way asunder hearing this fearfull alarm presently took each of them ten thousand horse which they held ready about them for all occasions and joyning together went to oppose the violence of these indomptable Greekes who bare all down before them when as a fresh noyse on the south side made them make a stand as uncertain which way to bend themselves but being met just at that instant Prigmaleon with fifteen Giants and twelve Kings who had put themselves into his troop whilst the others took care of drawing the rest of the forces to Arms turned to that side where Spheramond acted wonders desiring Fulgoran to encounter the enemy which
Cassandra you can do no lesse neither can you choose but rejoyce at the happy event of these things But Sir it is most necessary that I should a little disturb the quiet and content you now enjoy and impart unto you a secret which I fear will find but a bad welcome All the Pagans are up in Arms at the instance of Idalcan Emperour of Melly who not long since received an overthrow in this place and so great is the number of the forces they have assembled now ready to fall upon Ethiopia because of the alliance the Emperour Prigmaleon hath lately made with you that unlesst it be assisted by some peculiar providence from heaven who never suffers his to perish for want of succour you cannot easily prevent their ruine I know very well the greatnesse of your courage will contemn this danger but take heed what you do for all other Armies that you have seen assembled heretofore are nothing in comparison of this where so many brave Knights will be ready to encounter you that the force of your unconquered Armies and of your friends were never more usefull and necessary than now Let them come when they will said Florisel we will be prepared for them and I hope to give them such entertainment as shall well abate the fury of their pride and the rather I make no doubt if you will assist us a little with some effect of your skill Sir answered she you must expect succour from heaven and your own valour the assistance of my skill can afford you none unlesse I should raise the dead and bring them to fight for your safetie but I perceive you do not understand these words nor can I speak in plainer tearms till the Destinies give way unto it think only upon those things which a good Captain ought to put in practise for the annoying of his enemyes and being seconded by Fortune who is alwayes your friend make them know that you are still invisible You have advised so well answered Florisel that if you please to go and try what entertainment our Ladyes will give you I will in the mean time deliberate therupon so leaving her with Sidonia and the other Princesses that accompanied her to whom she was forced to make a particular relation of the loves and adventures of Amadis and Clarisel and to describe the beautiee of Armazia Mirglinda Palmirenna and her Sisters He caused aâ—l the Princes then present at Constantinople to assemble in the Councell chamber where he spake to them in this manner Sirs I did not call you hither to resolve whither we ought to make a War or no since necessitie enforceth us therunto but to consult with you what means we had best use to oppose the violence of so mighty an enemie as is now ready to fall upon us It is a matter of no small consequence our eternall glory or absolute ruine depending therupon Wherfore I am of opinion our states having so long a time enjoyed peace and being now furnished with a multitude of brave souldiers who desire nothing more than opportunity to shew themselves so that it will be the best way to employ our Subjects our Allies all our friends and to raise as many men as possibly we can without taking from such garrisons as shal be necessary in important places so to prevent the insolencies of our enemies and cause that desolation which continually waits upon War to fall rather upon their own than our Territories They aym at Ethiopia wherfore said he addressing himself to Prigmaleon my advise shall be since that Empire receives your Lawes and acknowledgeth your Soveraignty that you depart suddenly with such forces as I will send along with you that you employ all the friends you can make in these parts that you cause your Ports and Frontier Towns to be fortified with all diligence and that you manage your affairs with such discretion that you may be able for a while to withstand the assault of so furâ—ous an Armie In the mean time we will hasten your succour and cut out so much work for these Insolents that perhaps it may prove the last designe they shall ever undertake against us This oppinion meeting with no opposition was equally received of all as the most profitable so every one retyred to consider of his charge Florisel gave out Commissions for the speedy levying of fiftie thousand Horse in Greece sent certain Gentlemen to Don Rogel to Spheramond to the Queen of Alaxtraxerea to Lucondus King of France dispatched his Courriers to Rome to Germanie to Sardinia to great Brittain to Guindaya to the Kings of Dardania of Comogena of the greater Indies of Samothracia of Lydia of Cataya of Poland of Hungary of Moldavia of Ireland of Scotland of Turkey in briefe to all the Princes of his acquaintance intreating them to meet him with their forces at Constantinople as soon as they possibly could He having made all these dispatches and being taught by experience that the wisdome and foresight of men do oftentimes exempt them from eminent dangers he caused Prigmaleon and Fulgoran to depart in a small Fly-boat which cost the fair Polixena his Wife many a tear who was forced to stay behind him and four dayes after he sent the valiant Esquilan of Poland in whose vertue he was most confident with him the two Cenophales Rosanel of Astrea who was then in the Court with the fair English Lady his Wife â—lorian Tristor Perionaf Turkie Quadragant Agrian of Scotland Abies of Ireland Dordanio Florisartus Leonidas of Mesopotamia Armond of Bohemia â—nd Melford in the head of fiftie thousand Horse commanding them to repaire with all expedition to Saba the chief Citie of Ethiopia and to acknowledge Prigmaleon for their Generall untill such time as he should be there himself in person In the mean space whilest these troups were advancing Prigmaleon and Fulgoran at the Sea had the benefit of afair wind but we seldome arrive at our desires without some crosses for on a sudden the Sea begins to swell and waxeth so rough that the Marriners foreseeing a violent tempest were forced to cast Anchor at the edge of a rock which made the point of a little Island where these two Knights dis-imbarquing themselves to decline the trouble of the Seas advanced into the Land commanding the Pilot to wait their returne The Iland seemed to be very delightfull by reason of the abundance of Trees planted in a handsome order upon the sides of little pleasant hills and shadowing the crystall Rivolets which environed the fruitfull Meadows As they were discoursing of the wonders of God the Creatour of all those things that presented themselves to their view they espyed a beautifull young Lady comming towards them who ever and anon tearing her hair uttered these sad and strange complaints Alas said she must the fire consume so sweet a face and can a womans rage be the cause of so great a disaster O ye gods let this day produce some
by four strange creatures Into one of them hee made all the Princesses to enter with Cassandra who carried them to the I le of Corolandaya and bestowing himselfe in the other with all these Princes and Amazons to made towards Ethiopia where they arrived within three dayes after he perform the wonders which shall be related unto you in the Chapters following CHAP. L. Amadis of Gaule and his companions arrive in Ethiopia their resolution to passe through the Enemies Camp Rozalmond and his friends being separated from them surprise the strong Fort of Zeilan ALcanders Chariot having made way through the clouds for two dayes together the great Fowls that drew it abated their flight and lighted on the ground at the entrance into a Forrest where the reverend old man causing them to descond said unto them Brave Princes you are now arrived in Ethiopia where you are to employ your valour and awaken those forces which have been so long time asleep here you shall meet with the valiant Florisel of Niquea accompanied with all the young Princes of Greece their Allies and three hundred thousand men although he hath in the precedent battails lost two hundred thousand and above but the number of the Pagans is so great that notwithstanding the slaughter of foure hundred thousand men cut in peeces by the Christians they have yet above five hundred thousand remayning besides so many excellent Warriours as your presence is more then necessary at this time to arrest the fury of their Enterprises I refer all to your wisedoms take this way which will leade you directly to the enemies camp and managing your fortune wisely give her occasion to favour you These six Warriours the Authours of your deliverance shall follow you ere it be long but they are first to performe an enterprise of great conse quence to which end they must take this path of the left hand Having spoken this he mounted into his Chariot and was instantly carried out of sight whereupon these Princes dividing themselves to the great griefe of Alcidamant that was faine to part from his Trasiclea they began to march severall wayes Rozalmond and his companions having traversed the Forrest which was not very long met with a Peasant that discovering them would have fled away but Clarisel having staid him asked him why he was afraid Alas answered he I have more cause then would I had for I doubt you are some of our Princes enemies who lye in wait here for some surprise but surely you will loose your labour for your troops have so ravaged all about Zeidan that every body is fled into the woods and mountains here about for fear of falling into your hands I only am the unfortunate man who going to give advice unto our Emperour of taking in of that Town could not decline your encounter Honest friend said Clarisel unto him thou art much mistaken for we are Christians and such as would willingly serve thy Master who is a friend to the Princes of Greece I would advise you then said he to advance no farther forward the fields are all covered over with an hundred thousand men which after the surprise of Zeidan have layd siege to Goraxa one of the strongest Towns of this Empire and all the riches of the world could not ransome you out of their hands should they once lay hold on you which were great pitty for by your countenances you appear more than ordinary men God a mercy friend said Clarisel laughing for thy good opinion of us howsoever we doe purpose not to follow thy counsell so letting him goe they consulted together about the course they should hold and resolved to goe straight into Zeidan faining themselves to be Pagans cut the Garrisons in peeces and so restore that strong Town into Prigmaleons possession Riding on then after an hours travelling they presented themselves before the Gates which were presently opened unto them the Pagans never imagining that six Knights being enemies durst hazard themselves amongst eight thousand men that kept the place Neverthelesse Rozalmond which marched formost seeing himselfe within drew out his sword cleft the first to the teeth and flying among the rest left his companions to follow his example who desiring to shew as much force and courage began to make such a slaughter that threescore lay dead at their feet before the Town took the alarum but the hurt men running up and down with fearfull 〈◊〉 two thousand came suddenly in which falling furiously upon them thought to make an end of them in a trice but these incomparable Warriours that would not have been afraid of all the world together went and met them with such confidence as made the most couragious amongst them to tremble they ran up and down like lightning and keeping close one to another they slew so many that it was a most dreadfull sight to behold all the streets were covered with dead bodies The noyse increased the number of the enemies augmented and from every part came souldiers hurrying in which rendred the confusion more horrible An hour being spent in the fury of the first fight during the which sixteen hundred men had been massacred all the rest began to fly when as six Gyants appeared with three thousand men who seeing so much blood and murther could not beleeve it was done by the hands of six Knights alone howbeit perceiving their people to fall at their feet as often as the swords of these Knights descended they advanced all with such an excesse of rage as the fire flew out of their eyes Our Princes who perceiving rightly that the victory consisted in the death of those six Colossus beholding them arrive with fury incountred them with the like order and desiring to display the uttermost of their force in regard it so concerned them discharged upon their helmets with such a tempest that Rozalmond and Alcidamants opposites were cleft down to the girdle and the rest to the teeth which put such a terrour into their followers as they laboured to save themselves by flight but the Inhabitants of the Town rallying themselves and finding them in disorder charged them so rudely on the other side that their fear increasing they were all cut in peeces foure hundred onely excepted who betaking them to their heeles fled to the grosse of their Army and there so published the wonders which these Knights had done that they beleeved them to be Divels Whilst these six Princes were cryed up to heaven in the Town by the people who promised to maintain themselves for the time to come by the favour of their Walls and Fortifications Amadis of Gaule and his Companions having marched two dayes together and one evening discovered the enemies Camp were marvellously astonished to behold so many Pavillions and Tents that at first they wished for Alcanders Chariot to carrie them into the Citie but being courageous enough to make their passage thither with the sword they resolved to attend the break of day so