liking howbeit I make no doubt but that they will serue you in all loyalty You haue said well answered the King but wee are not now to stand vpon these tearmes I doe not craue your counsell whether I should determine peace or warre but only would know of you by what means I may be best reuenged Sir quoth hee by my former speeches you may easily knowe that Assemble your forces send to your friends for assistance especially to the Emperour of Rome because this case concerneth him as nearely as you Afterward your Army beeing ready march on without any dallying towardes them whom you meane to assault But before you doe this it were good in mine oppinion to practice some meanes whereby you may call home some that are farre off from your seruice partly through discontentment partly by wrongs offered I vrge this motion because if they be not willing to ayde you they should not resolue to offend you For being forth of your Land it would fal out dangerous if they should conspire and bend themselues against you if Fortune doe lowre that day vpon you For many times it comes to passe that distastes and dissents led by length of time doe soonest make their outward appearance when his power against whom the conspiracy is meant growes weake decayed Wherefore Sir this is one of the chiefest points whereof you are maturely to consider Truly said the King I know that you haue spoken to the purpose will do therein what I can Sir said Grumedan Amadis hath bin here-tofore so well accepted in your Court as no man posibly could be more and I could heartily wish that those villaines which caused this so long separation had neuer been borne into the world And although I am his friend intirely so shall I bee no enemy to you if you desist from beeing his Wherefore according to the aduice giuen you by King Arban it were good that aboue all other things you reconcile them to you that pertake with him winning their hearts and willes by little and little as easily you may doe giuing them good lookes and gracious language Then hauing the help of Rome and other your allies as the Kings of Ireland Suetia I make no question but you may with little ease attaine to your intention euen according to your owne minde But my good Lord said Guillan before any matter at all be attempted it were good to know if those men may bee resolued on whom you haue named Are you sure that the Emperour will meddle in the cause He is a man of very slender faith and as ill affected of his owne people as can be Are you certaine also that the King of Suctia will doe as you say If his Maiestie were so pleased Ambassadours should be sent to them speedily to entreate their fauour in this case shewing them apparantly that if reuenge for such a wrong were iustly inflicted it would with-draw any from attempting the like In good sadnesse saide the King you haue very well aduised and because you Lord Guillan doe sufficiently vnderstand the businesse I pray you take the charge vpon you to the Emperor for I know no Knight more able to preuaile with him then you are Sir saide Guillan I was not borne but for your seruice when and where you shall please to commande mee Make ready then quoth the King to morrow you shall haue Letters of credence only and the rest remaine to your owne report So they arose from Councell and each man returned to his lodging till the next morning when the King sending for Guillan saide vnto him Lord Guillan according to our conclusion yester-day you must depart towards the Emperor and with as much expedition as may be To him make knowne how matters haue come to passe that hauing deliuered my daughter to his Ambassadours shee was afterwards surprised from them and forcibly carried to the Enclosed Isle his men all slaine or taken prisoners whereof hee ought to haue respect this iniury redounding as much to him as me If he offer aid and will leuy an Army to be reuenged say that on my part shall be no defailance in any thing my power can stretch vnto If you find him willing to proceed effectually returne againe with all possible diligence that our enemies may haue no leasure to fortifie themselues as I am certaine they intend to doe Sir answered Guillan God giue me grace to accomplish your will in this and any thing else you shall please to employ mee in Worthy friend said the King there are your Letters of credence and if it bee possible set away to morrow morning early for one of my best Ships is made ready for you and waites your comming in the hauen Sir replied Guillan there shall bee no want of duty in me And so taking his leaue and giuing order for his further affaires he went aboard and set away The very same day Brandoynas also was dispatched for Galuanes in the Isle of Mongaza and from thence into Ireland to King Cildadan to make ready so many men as he could Philipinell was sent to Gasquilan King of Suetia who sometime came into Great Brittaine to approue his manhood against Amadis King Lasuart sent him word that if his spleene as yet continued hee should now haue better meanes then euer because the warre was intended against him So farre did these newes fly abroad that they came to the vnderstanding of Archalaus the Enchanter to his no little ioy and comfort intending by this occasion the vtter ruine of King Lisuart and likewise of Amadis And for his speedier attaining thereto he went presently to King Aramyne who hearing of his ariuall gaue him most royall entertainement presuming peremptorily that hee would not come into his countrie but vpon some very vrgent occasion Beeing priuately seated together Archalaus thus began Sir some few dayes since I receiued credible information that King Lisuart and Amadis de Gaule two of the deadliest enemies you haue are fallen vpon such a quarrell as without any hope of peace euer to come betweene them they muster men for a maine battell out of which they cannot escape but with the finall destruction of the one or other perhaps of them both together And because occasion doth expressely call you as wel to reuenge your former losses in times past as also to extend your limits by peaceable making your selfe King of Great Brittaine me thinkes you should not delay the mustering of your men and summoning all your friends together that while they cauill maintaine their quarrell so farre off you may take so apt an aduantage and make an easie entrance into Brittaine If they chance to meet and fight the field then without giuing the least leasure to the conqueror to breath or refresh his followers you may set vpon him so opportunately and bid him so hot an vnexpected battaile as none of them can escape with life Now Sir to acquaint you with the cause of
any counsell that comes from you because if I should doe otherwise it will be the ending of my dayes Well vnderstood Melicia to what effect this answere tended yet would â—hee not seeme to yeeld any apparant note thereof but hauing concluded his first dressing sayd my Lord Brunco for my sake I pray yee receiue a little sustenance and afterward take some rest if you can Then calling for such foode as shee knew meerest for him and with a hand more white then Alablaster making it ready for his eating she quickened such delicate apprehensions in his soule that his eye went farre beyond his appetite So commanding euery one to depart the Chamber that the least noyse might nor offend him she said You haue promised mee that you will essay some repose let me see how obedient you will be herein till such time as I come to visite you againe Then her selfe departing she called Lasinde Bruncos Esquire and said vnto him Friend you know better then any other your Maisters conditions make demaund therefore of such things as you thinke fittest for him The Squire was not now to learne what entercourse of affection had passed betweene them and therefore presuming more boldly in his owne wit then one lesse skilfull hee returned her this answere Madame I wish no worse to my worthy Maister then that good fortune would conduct him to some such place where he might make acknowledgement of the fauours you affoord him But it appeares to me that such as are desirous to recouer a wounded body first of all they should apply helpe to the place principally offended Which kinde of Physick instructeth me to entreate your pittie to my poore Maister who endureth not so much paine by the hurt so lately receiued as by a disease of greater antiquity and you that are the onely cause can best minister the mittigation Friend quoth shee I can tell how to helpe an infirmity wherewith I am acquainted but secret soares are quite out of my curing Trust me Madame replied the Squire if the one seeme plaine to you the other is no lesse apparrant for you are not ignorant that the extremitie of his affection to you was the maine motiue why he went to behold the Images of Apolidon and Grimanese in the Enclosed Island Lasinde quoth shee they that become sicke by such a strange meanes had neede haue much time to compasse their amendment without vrging any other remedy then that which experience shall repute most necessarie And so she left the Squire who went forthwith and acquainted his Lord with all the conference that had past betweene him and the Infanta Melicia wherewith hee was not any way displeased perswading himselfe that she had thus discreetly answered reposing as yet but slender confidence in the Squire And like as true louers often vse to doe he conuerted all to his owne best aduantage being much better contented then euer heretofore and thanking God that Andadones hurting him had fauoured him with such an extraordinary felicity For vnder the happie fortune of this wound he oftentimes enioyed her gracious companie without whom life was most tedious to him Some few dayes after Amadis Galaor and King Cildadan walking together Galaor perceiuing the nere approch of King Perion hee went vnto him with these words Sir I most humbly entreate your Princely aduise in a matter something questionable with mine owne iudgement You know my Lord quoth hee to his Brother Amadis that you gaue me to King Lisuart commanding me to serue him and that I should be wholy his whereof I made him faithfull promise and you likewise Now beholding how great a differeÌ„ce hath happened betweene you two during the time of my absence I finde my selfe very strangely perplexed considering what errour I may commit by taking part with him against you as also how iustly I may be blamed by him forsaking him in a time of such vrgent necessity Wherefore most Royall father I humbly craue your opinion in this case to preuent my dishonour on either side and that reason may bee preferred before mine owne will Sonne answered King Perion you may not fayle to follow your Brother against a King so head-strong and vngratefull for if you gaue your selfe to his seruice against all men yet your brothers cause caâ—ies an exception herein in which respect you may well forgoe your attendance on him not onely because hee declares himselfe to Amadis in his owne person a deadly enemy but also to all his kinred and friends amongst whom you ought to hold the prime place Sir replied Galaor it appeares to me vnder correction that I shall greatly forget my selfe and runne into no meane blamefull imputation by withdrawing my seruice from him before his owne permission to that purpose for seeing in the times of peace hee gaue mee honour and good entertainment what will be noysed abroade of mee to forsake him when affaires of importance be fall him Well knew Amadis whereto the speeches of Galaor aimed and that hee had no will to keepe him company wherefore formalizing him-selfe answerable to his Brothers fantasie hee thus answered him Brother although we both stand highly obliged to obey the councell and commaund of the King our father yet I will humbly desire his pardon in telling my minde concerning your intention Seeing you are so earnestly addicted to returne into Great Brittan and to continue in the seruice of King Lisuart it likes mee well that you should doe so For in the case that concerneth our difference I doubt not but â—â—w many good Knights soeuer shall come to attend him God who is a iust Iudge will in the end make him know what wrong he hath done vs and his ouer-great ingratitude especially to mee that haue honoured him with so many well deseruing seruices Therefore may it so please our Kingly father hee may licence your departure for I am contented with it Why then quoth the King God be your guide and I will rest in this hope that you may one day be the meanes of compounding peace in so vnhappy a warre Thus Galaor obtayned his desire for departure and because King Cildadan would shape some honest excuse to goe along with him hee began in this manner My Lords it is sufficiently knowen to you all to what issue the battaile came which I had against King Lisuart who only by your meanes got the glorie of the day to my no little disaduantange for such honor as in Iustice appertained to mee conuerted to my great confusion in regard that by the couenants on either side concluded before I was constrained for a limitted time to acknowledge him as my Commander and to serue him 〈…〉 with all my knights which was no meane griefe in me to accomplish But valuing mine honor much dearer then life I yeelded to controule and checke mine owne will and according to my promise to bring him a number of my subiects in his assistance whereof already he hath giuen mee summons and no
Emperour as I am enformed three dayes more to keepe him company Faire Knight let me entreate ye to afford me two dayes beside his during which time you shall be dayly if you please with me and my Gentlewomen because without any impeachement wee may the better gouerne you Therefore aduise your selfe with a good heart we hauing you heere among vs will compell you thereto perâ—â—â—ce As shee thus spake shee made a signe to her Gentlewomen to lay hold on him Seeing himselfe thus engirt by them all what amiable graces and milde forces they seazed him with by a voluntary importunity he promised to obey them in this or what else they would command him and smyling hee thus speke vnto the Princesse Leonorina Why Madame being vnable to escape so sharpe an imprisonment as is heere presented to my face doe you imagine that I dare any way contradict you or yours In good faith Sir answered one of the Gentlewomen you doe the wiser for if you did the contrary you would be in greater daunger then when you fought with the Monster Endriagus Truely Ladies quoth he I beleeue ye assuredly considering it is certaine that a man shall haue more labour in offending such Angels then if he contended against twenty worse Deuils then he was Wherefore I had much rather attempt againe such another like warre as that then fall into the perill of your displeasure Remember then Sir answered Leonorina what you haue promised and looke that you bee carefull in keeping it Thus our knight continued in Constantinople fiue dayes longer then he purposed during all which time he was a good companion among the Ladies and Gentlewomen who neuer ceased to enquire of him concerning the singularities of the Firme Island the Defended Chamber the Arche of lorall Louers and also the Portraitures of Apolidoâ— and Grimenesa Likewise concerning the Ladies of King Lisuarts Court the fashion of their garments their manner of behauiour and a thousand other things such as ouer curious women most commonly couet to know And as hee made answere stil to his best power in cases of this nature he considered with himselfe that if his Oriana could haue made one in this faire company he should haue thought that all the bright beauties in the world were there congregated together At last he grew so distracted in his soule that words began to faile him and he stood as falne into a traunce Which the Queene Menoressa Lady of the Isle Gabasta perceiuing shee held him so strongly by the arme that immediatly hee came to himselfe againe Then he well perceiued that hee had fayled in some one kinde or other wherefore in excuse of him-selfe he said vnto them I beseech ye Ladies thinke it not strange that hauing before mine eyes so many admirable beauties wherewith both God and Nature hath bounteously enriched you all I should finde my sences quite transported from their vsuall course by remembring one of whom I did sometimes receiue so many gracious fauours that finding my selfe now to bee farre off from her I endure a torment worse then death my spirit being rapt out of my body and liuing in her to serue and obey her as I ought to do Wherefore Loue being to blame for the fault wherein I haue offended before you should deseruedly receiue the punishment and not I whom hee tormenteth with too much rigour Great compassion tooke all the Ladies and Gentlewomen on the affliction which they beheld our Knight continually to suffer and euery one stroue to comfort him so well as she could But the day being come when he must needes take leaue for imbarquing himselfe the Queene Menoressa who bare him an intire secret affection said vnto him Sir Knight by something that I know your long absence hence will scarcely be well taken but seeing wee must needes endure your losse I pray yee to accept a gift of me which I am very desirous to bestow vpon you Then shee called for sixe Swords the very fairest and best tempered that euer were seene desiring him to furnish his friends with them and not to be vnmindfull of her Madame quoth the Knight your gift is such that for your sake they shall come to the hands of sixe knights the best in mine opinion this day liuing and of whom you may and shall dispose at all times and in all affaires you will please to command them That is the matter said the Princesse Leonorina which wee all together moue vnto you By my faith Madame quoth he all my life-time I shall be yours ready in obeisance when you please to imploy me I thanke you Sir replyed the Princesse and doe more-ouer entreate you that you would please so much to honour vs as to send hither someone of your linage to remaine particularly ours and to serue vs all as need shall require Madame quoth hee I make no doubt but before any long time to send you a neere kinfeman of mine who being in your seruice you may well vaunt that you haue one of the best knights in the world This he spake as thinking of his Brother Galaor whom he intended to cause to come and serue the 〈◊〉 perour both for the augmentation of his renowne and the bigher honour of the Princesse But it fel out otherwise for in steed of Galaor Esplandian arriued there some while after who for the loue of the I'rin cesse Leonorina fought many a braue fight as you shall vnderstand when we come to speake thereof Let it suffise vs now that the knight of the greene Sword was shipt as that day and setting sayle with Master Elisabet launched forth into the maine bound with prosperous gales for his returne to Remania Wherefore we will be a while silent of him to tel ye that much about this season the Prince Saluste Quide the Queene Sardamira with their traine arriued in Great Brittaine to conclude with King Lisuart the marriage of the Emperour and Oriana And perswading themselues that the voyage should answere their owne intention they published in all places as they passed along that they should shortly returne backe with the Empresse But GOD in whose hand all things are declared heerein that hee doth oftentimes dispose matters quite contrary to the opinion of men who neither loue or repose any confidence in him but thinke to command both times and the starres according as it commeth into their owne braine Wherein they finde themselues both mockt and deceiued â—euen as these Ambassadours did who were entertained with the greatest triumphes and honour that the King could possibly make them CHAP. XII How the Knight of the greene Sword departed from Constantinople to satisfie the promise which hee formerly had made to the faire Grasinda And of that which afterward happened to him OVr knight of the green Sword being on Shipboord and set foorth from the Port of Constantinople as already hath beene related to yee the windes were so fauourable to him that in lesse then twenty dayes
the fight be ended either without his death or some other of his dearest friends or it might be of both together But these doubts being somewhat asswaged he thought the time ouer long till hee was at the combate whereupon hee said to Grasinda Madame if you bee so pleased to morrow morning wee will earely heare Masse in our Pauilions and then take our way towardes King Lisuart with such attendants as you shall appoint and I make no question but by the helpe of heauen you shall obtaine your long-wished desire Whereto she readily condiscended CHAP. XVI How the Greeke Knight and his confederates conducted the faire Grasinda to the place where the Combates were to be perfourmed And of that which ensued thereon LIttle rest tooke Grasinda all this night and much lesse the Greeke Knight in regard of eithers earnest longing to haue this enterprise successiuely accomplished Wherefore by breake of day the next morning they were conueyed ashoare with the company appointed to attend vpon them and after they had deuoutly heard Masse they all mounted on horsebacke shaping their course to the Towne of Tagades where King Lisuart with his Lords exspected their arriuall Now you need not make any doubt but that Grasinda was most rich and sumptuous in her attire and habit as hoping by the helpe of her Knight to winne the like honour from the Maydes and Virgins of Great Brittaine as shee had done from the fairest women of Romania And perswade your selues beside that if she were so respectiue of her owne adornements she failed not in the like care for her followers especially her Ladies and Gentlewomen which gaue good testimony to all such as saw them that their Mâ—stâ—is was a most rich and worthy Lady And yet the more to embellish her beautie she woare a coastly rich Crowne on her head which had biâ— long before conquered for her in the manifestation of her beauty Close by her side rode the Greeke Knight in very honourable equipage hauing on a rich Armour couered with a coate of Armes of his owne colours Next to him followed Brunco bearing a Shield of Sinople in the midst whereof was figured a faire Damosell with a Knight on his knees before her as seeming to require mercy and fauor of her his Armour being all ouerwauie with gold By him rode Angriose mounted on a gallant Courser armed likewise with a costly Armour all thicke seamed ouer with flowres of gold and he guided the Damosell that had bin Messenger to king Lisuart the day before In this manner came Grasinda to the place appointed by the King for this busines in the midst wherof was raised a square base of black marble containing the height of a man wherupon he that intended to enter the Combat was to fixe either his Helmet Shield Gauntlet or else some greene branch The Greeke knight looking on all sides about him beheld the King and many knights of Great Brittaine but most he obserued the Prince Salust Quide in an Armor thick seamed with Serpents which made him seeme so great of stature and being mounted also on a Horse of huge aduantage that he appeared to be a Giant TheÌ„ listing vp his eies he saw the Queen a faire troup of Ladies about her each one wearing a rich Crowne on her head But he could not see there his Oriana which beganne to touch him somewhat in soule wherefore he turned head to Grasinda who hauing her eye fixed on the Prince Saluste Quide he could easily gather thereby that she was in great doubt of her successe when smiling to him selfe he thus spake to her It appeareth to me Madame that the huge forme of this Knight makes you fearefull of my fortune notwithstanding before he and I part hence I shall let you plainly perceiue that although hee is higher mounted then I am I haue a heart as intire and able as his and right consisting on our side the victory must needs be ours Heauen stand so fauourable for you answered Grasinda Then the Knight took the Crown which she woare on her head and ryding gently toward the square base placed it thereon afterward returning to his Squire who had three mighty strong Launces each hauing a little Penon at the point enriched with faire flottes of fine gold and taking which of them he best liked rode afterward to the King speaking thus to him in the Greeke tongue Most excellent King I salute you as the onely absolute Prince on the earth Know that I am a knight of a strange Nation as my outward appearance makes manifest to you and I by commaund of the Lady who onely hath power ouer me am come into this Country to approue my fortune against the knights of your Court so great is their fame and renowne in all places But for ought I can perceiue my intent is wholly frustrated and you haue graunted that to Romanes which I desired of your owne But seeing it is so and that it may bee none otherwise may it stand with your Highnes liking without any further waste of time to commaund him that first intends the combat to take the Ladies Crown whose cause hee meaneth to maintaine and to place it on the Pâ—rrou according as alreadie I haue done mine Hauing spoken these words hee gaue the spurre to his Courser and made him bound curuet and carriere so dexteriously before them and with such a commendable pleasing performance as euery eye took delight to behold him with no meane praises aâ—d commendations Afterward hauing attained the length of the field hee turned with an extraordinary gallant grace exspecting who durst first present himselfe Now the King knew not what all this while had beene spoken to him because he vnderstood not the Greeke language wherfore Count Argamont who stood neerâ—st to him interpreted all that had beene said with this addition of his owne In good faith Sir quoth he it would highly please me to see the ouer-daring pride of the Romanes a little qualified by this Grecian knight Before God answered the king wee shall annon behold one of the stearnest encounters that euer was seene in this land for I perceiue the Prince Saluste Quide already is entred into the Lists And to speake truely he aduanced himselfe very proudly enuious and much displeased to heare what praises were generally giuen of the Greeke knight which made him rate and reuile the people crying out against them saying Fye on ye foolish sottes I diots and beetle headed Brittaines what mooues you to this sencelesse admiration of a blockish paltrie companion that shewes all the wit and courage he hath in tormenting a poore horse vpon no occasion Before God if he were a man of any wisdom he would make more spare of him for the better defending him selfe against me or else for his speedier flight before he be therto compelled Alas poore ignorant people you expresse your great want of knowledge concerning the name of a Romaine who is so dreaded throughout all
reputation they ought to be held who by ouer-strange persumpsion haue delight in all immodest behauiour when all is duely weighed they beget the peoples disfauour a secret contempt among all good mindes yea and distaste of many of their owne appearing wel-willers that particularly desire their ruine to abate the ouer-weening pride they take in such wickednesse Gracious language apprehensiue grauitie and humble modestie are so proper and peculiar to Princes and great persons that whensoeuer they but speake it begetteth their subiects cordiall loue absolute obedience with a generall foare of offending And the contrary is so deadly daungerous as nothing can be more harmfull to them Let vs conceiue then how well it agrees with a knot of such base minded companions to put on a boasting spirit of brauerie as thinking by their outward glorious appearance to make them-selues respected and feared Before God mee thinkes they should consider both what they are and what they shall bee then they may easily know of them-selues that they are full of shame and all disgrace and for such I am content to leaue them returning againe to our former purpose Vnderstand now that after Oriana had a long while conuersed with Brian shee called for the Queene Sardamira and said vnto her See Madame here is the sonne to the King of Spaine I am sure you know him yet Then the Queene going neerer to him after she had very graciously saluted Brian entred into so serious a discourse with him that Oriana found the meanes of leauing them together So with drawing her selfe aside she called Agrates and Florestan to her entreating them earnestly to acquaint her with the cause of their comming Agraies wholly related to her whatsoeuer had passed among them in councell what true and honorable affection all the Knights did beare her and lastly what resolution they had agreed on concerning her cause desiring her withall to send backe her minde whether she liked their intention or no. Alas Sir quoth she they are all so wise and vertuous as no bad thought can preuaile among them One thing I would most humbly request of them that euen for Gods sake to seeke some meanes if possibly they may and agreeing with their honour to worke my peace with the displeased King my father Then pretending to whisper some thing in the eare of Agraies Florestan as one not to learne ciuility retired thence leauing them both together When Oriana perceiued she might speake at libertie she began her womed â—…onings to him in this manner Deare Cousine although I haue great hope in the prouidence of your kinsman Amadis and in the loyall affection which all these Knights doe beare me yet mee thinkes reason requireth that I should most of all relie on your fidelity in regard of my bounden dutie to the King your father and the Queene your mother affording me such princely entertainment in Scotland as also for gracing me with the companie of your sister Mabila of whom onely next vnto God I hold my life For without the comforts which she hath many times giuen me 〈◊〉 the very strongest 〈…〉 tunes a long time since I had beene buried and depriued of any ioy in this world And albeit I haue now no meanes or power to acknowledge either towards them or you so many obligations of due debt yet my hope is that time hereafter will better 〈◊〉 In the 〈…〉 thinke it not amisâ—e that familiarlie I let you vnderstand what heauie burdens of griefe I beare And for my first beginning sparing to speake what wrongs the King my father hath done me let mee entreate you to procure euen to your vttermost power an honorable peace betweene him and your Cousine Amadis For I make no doubt considering the ancient comitie betweene them and the iust occasion you all haue of scarse wishing him well that hardly will these matters begun grow to any other end then most heauie misfortune nay 〈◊〉 ruine on both sides except such 〈◊〉 as you shall make be well qualified with good counâ—… prouidence which I know is 〈…〉 abounding in you Wherfore once more I desire you as well to anoyde such a maine inconuenience as also to protect mee from suspition of forraine nations who may hereafter make doubt of my innocence and maculate my good reputation which is more precious to me then life that you would all consider what I haue said to you Madame answered Agraies as concerning the good entertainement you receiued in Scotland the King my father and the Queene did no more therein then they ought to doe and such I am sure was their affection towards you that in all things which their vnderstanding could reach vnto there wanted no loue or kindnesse in them to you as their best respected allie and kâ—â—fewomen Now as concerning my sister and my selfe our actions shall daylie make knowne to you in what vnfeigned respect we hold you desyring you to beleeue thet you may command vs as they that couet nothing more then your good and honour preferring them before our owne liues And whereas you wish me to forget the iniurie which the King your father hath done not only to mee but to all my kinred and friends assure your selfe Madame the wound was made so wide and deepe as it will neuer be healed while I liue It was no little ingratitude to vs denying my Lord Amadis my selfe and many other good Knights the humble request we made vnto him to giue the Isle of Mongaza to mine vnckle Galuanes who dearely deserued it and much more considering that it was conquered by his â—aâ—our and vertue that became an humble suter for it Neuerthelesse for your loue and honou I am content to dissemble my distaste and deferre for some time my iust occasion of wishing him ill especially for banishing vs from his Court so strangely euen as if we had beene his deadly enemies and neuer minding or respecting how many great seruices we had done for him And to let you know that I will wholly imploy my selfe to please you I promise you Madame I will essay to my vttermost to doe as you haue desired me But it would hardly agree with reason that it should be ouer-rashly vndertaken because if I should bee coole in speech now matters being altogether disposed for warre in stead of edging the courages of so many worthy Knights as are now met together in this Isle I should intimidate the greater part of them by hearing mee preach of peace and raise in them an apprehension that I vse such language as being the man first affrighted Wherein I must fall into two euills together which hereafter will redound to the great dammage of vs all but especially mine vnrecouerable shame But some being sent to the King your father and hauing heard his answere I will entreate my worthy friends to doe according as you haue aduised In the meane while mee thinkes you should greeue so little as possibly you may supporting both Time and
vs â—…th especially by the means of my Cosen Now trust me Sir said Oriana I am not a little amazed that you hauing such assurance of the vnfained loue I beare you should now seeme doubtfull thereof doe you imagine that I desire not your ease as much as mine owne Before God I speake it I haue no pleasure but by you neither any ease but to see you satisfied But consider the tumultuous estate wherein we are and that if we were neuer so little discouered it would bee to the vtter ruine of vs both So many eyes obserue our behauiour here as neuer did the like when wee were in company with the Queen my mother And here our actions are so narrowly pursued as without exterme danger no such aduenture may be made as you speake of Excuse me therefore I entreat you let this remain for your settled contentment that I am so faithfully yours as both my oath and promise haue strictly bound me Madame answered Amadis I will practise how I may best please you and to bring my thoughts to your obedience albeit I much misdoubt that this compulsion will hardly holde out if it be not the better backt by your fauour from which it appeareth you seek to exclude me without offending either in worde or thought and that I dare maintaine on the perill of my soule With these wordes the teares gushed out of his eyes where at Oriana grieuing said Exclude my best comfort Sooner let me die ten thousand deaths I know the truth of your loyaltie and can desire no better testimony thereof then the iust apprehension of mine owne conscience And take not in ill part what I haue said to you for the feare of your so long absence from me as in these lauer yeares you haue beene was the onely motiue of this language What more advantage then can you require of me Let the King my father make peace or warre with you he can make me neither lesse nor more yours then resolvedly I am As shee would haue continued on these speeches Mabila who served to theÌ„ but as a shadow perceiving many eyes fixed vpon them spake thus closely Enough for this time every eye notes you Sweet friend quoth Oriana dry vp your teares and sit by your Cousin who will tell you some things that yet you never heard of and wherein I thinke you will take a little delight So she left them together returning againe to the Queene Sardamira and Brian In which time Mabila told him at large how Esplandian was borne and by what mishap he was lost in the Forrest as Durin and the Damsoll of Denmarke carried him to Nurse And last â—…ll adventures happening to him till hee came into his mothers protection againe as you haue heard more at large declared in the third Book Amadis heere at was to ioyfull as no man could be more and answered Mibila thus Beleeue me Cosin I was continually full of doubt for at my returne from Constantinople by chance I met with Angriote d'Estreâ—â—aus who reported all that to me which you haue told me concerning 〈◊〉 but he knew not whose sonne he was neverthelesse my heart was suddenly inspired with a perswasion that Madame Oriana and I together had some right in him And so much the father 〈…〉 bring the letter I received from you by 〈◊〉 being as then in the 〈…〉 whereby you gaue me to vnderstand that my lynage was encreased yet durst I not presume in what manner But now heaven be praised we are both well assured and better satisfied then ever before especially my selfe more contented then if I had conquered the greater part of the world not only for being father to Esplandian but because I begot him on her whom fortune hath preferred before all other both in vertue beauty and all other good graces Yet haue I suffered so much for her sake as if I were able to express but only a half part of those cares that kept mee company during her absenc your selfe would complaine much more then I haue done Here fetching a deepe sigh hee breathed a while and afterward thus went on But fortune made me a most honorable recompence sending mee in such a convenient season to deliver her from her enemies hand for if it had falne out otherwise questionlesse it had beene the death of vs both But that which now doth most offend me onely is feare of her sicknesse by her contiâ—…all griefe and melancholy shee being not in the company of the Queene her mother and in the King her fathers disgrace Wherefore I beseech you good Cosin comfort her so much as possibly you can by cherishing her hopes that heaven will giue furtherance to these affaires beside so 〈◊〉 good Knights are heere assembled together who will all be 〈◊〉 in the smallest peeces rather then she shall suffer any shame or 〈◊〉 And for this cause we haue â—…ded before any warre shall bee attâ—…d to send to King 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 to appeâ—… his 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 againe his gratious favour for her provided that all alliance with the Emperour be quite broken off otherwise we are resolved never to deliver her Meane while we haue dispatched Ambassadours to all parts to procure aid and succour among our friends to the end that if he refuse our honest offer and will needs enter the field against vs wee may bee able like good men to make him answer Cosin answered Mabila I will do all that I can for you and never credite me but Madame Oriana doth highly applaud this her good fortune assuring you that we all endured such greivance by her in your absence but especially when she heard of her intended marriage to the Emperour as you would haue stood amazed to behold the sorrowes which I haue seene her suffer But because you vnderstand sufficiently both the reason of the cause and what iust right you haue in her I will loose no more time to remember you of that which needs not Let it suffice you that you haue brought her so farre into loues extremitie as possibly more cannot be Now in regard that the houre was come for Quedragant and the rest to depart thence and had-already taken leaue of Oriana Amadis and Mabila gaue over talking So the Knights went forth of the chamber giuing the goodnight to the Ladies returned to their owne lodgings Where now for a while we meane to leaue them to the end that wee may tell you how King Lisuart came acquainted with the death of the Prince Saluste Quide and ouerhrowe of the Emperours men CHAP. VI. How newes was brought to King Lisuart of the Romans foyle and ouer-throwe and how his daughter Oriana was taken from them where at he grieued greatly THE end of the third Booke related to you how King Lisuart deliuered his daughter to the Romans against the opinion of all his Councel And she being on Shipboard well appointed with Ships for the conuoy set on to Sea Afterward beeing
their enmity you must vnderstand that King Lisuart sending his eldest daughter for Rome hauing giuen her as wife to the Emperour Amadis de Gaule one of them who in your last lost battaile termed himselfe Knight of the Serpent and then wore as you well remember a golden helmet with a great many more met the Romans on the Sea set vpon them and ouercomming them slew the Prince Saluste Quide a near kinsman to the Emperour The rest were taken prisoners with the Ladies Gentlewomen whom they conueyed to the Enclosed Isle where as yet they keepe them Now indeede I cannot certainely resolue you what matter mooued them to begin this warre but I am well assured that King Lisuart in reuenge of this iniury gathers as great an Army together as hee can And Amadis hath sent into all parts for succour purposing to stand vpon his owne defence if he shall be assailed During these busie troubles Sir you haue an excellent occasion if you please to shew them as subtill a sleight as euer was done setting vpon them as I haue directed you And because at the very first sight you may discerne your victory to be certaine I will worke so much that Barsinan Lord of Sansuegna sonne to him whom the King burned at London and likewise all they of the linage of Dardan the Proude whom Amadis foyled at Vindolisore shall come to your aide with the King of the Profound Isle Wherfore perswade your selfe that being assisted with so great a number of good Knights there is no doubt to be made but you shall reach the height of your desire My worthy good friend Archalaus answered the King Aranigne you tell mee great matters and although I was fully determined neuer more to tempt fortune she hauing shewen me such slender fauor in times past yet me thinks it were a great folly to foreslowe such occasions as freely come to offer themselues for the augmentation of my honour and profit For if in such cases attempts managed by reason haue as happy issue as men can wish the fruit of such a labour is well gathered when desert holds vp the lappe to receiue it But if it should fall out otherwise yet at least that must be performed wherto all men stand bound by vertue for maintenance of their authority which is not to be valued by passed misfortunes as when a happy houre presents it selfe they should refuse to embrace it as declaring themselues to be dastardly minded and voide of all courage and magnanimitie Seeing then wee are so forward in tearms let it suffice that I faithfully credit you and desire you while I am prouiding mine Army to take order for the rest sending to Barsinan and our other friends for their effectuall ioyning with vs. Archalans hauing heard this resolution made no long stay with King Aranigne but taking leaue of him iournied so diligently that hee ariued in the countrie of Sansuegna where hee found Barsinan To him he tolde all the passed conference setting before his iudgement what an execrable iniurie King Lisuart had done to his father suffering to bee burned aliue by a tower from the toppe where-of afterward hee caused his brother Gandandell to bee throwne downe whom Guillan le Pensif had taken prisoner And doe you think quoth he that had it not been for this Amadis de Gaule but Barsinan your father had peaceably beene King of Great Brittaine But that villaine came and after hee had rescued Oriana from mee caused all the rest of my enterprise to bee vtterly voide But now you haue time conuenient to bee reuenged therfore except you will shew your selfe dull base minded delay no longer considering that King Aranigne is ready to assist you Easily did Barsinan beleeue all that hee had said and promised to appeare in field so soone as any need required So Archalaus departed thence to the King of the Profound Isle and gaue to him the very same instructions Hauing obtained what he desired he returned homeward and crossing the countrie aduised all the kindred of Dardan the Proude to be in a readiness to depart away when they should be commanded But at this instant our History speakes no more there-of but returnes to the fortunes of Quedragant and Brian being vnder saile for the Enclosed Isle CHAP. XI How Quedragant and Brian sayling on the Sea by a sudden and vnexpected tempest were cast so farre out of their course that hauing lost all knowledge of land they met accidentally with Queen Briolania And what happened to them QVedragant and Brian beeing on the maine Seas shaped their cōpasse for the Enclosed Isle but vpon a sudden the windes began to blow so stearnely and such a violent tempest arose as the best man of courage among them made little account of escaping seeing their saile yardes and tacklings broken in peeces and with such impetuous gusts of contrarie windes as trusting neither to stearne or any hope else but the mercy of God only and the waues they expected sinking euery minute So long they ran this disasterous fortune that the dead darke night ouer-tooke them with extreame thunders and flashes of lightning which was their best meanes for seeing one another till day-breake appeared the windes grew appeased and the Sea by little and little indifferently calmed Now they could plainely perceiue that they were cast farre enough out of their course for they discouered the coast of Sobradisa and as they were preparing thither they espied a goodly great Shippe sayling towardes them which they determined to call to to knowe who was aboard her Comming more neare they beheld vpon the decke diuerse Ladies and Gentle-women and some Knights among them discoursing together where-upon before they would presume any further they put forth a Frigate commanding one of their Squires to goe know of whence what they were The Squire performed his charge and going aboard the Ship humbly saluted such as he saw there saying Lords and Ladies there are Gentlemen in yonder ship who in curtesie desire to vnderstand what you are and whither you are bound Honest friend answered one of them say that the Queene of Sobradisa is here and longs to be at the Enclosed Isle These newes Sir answered the Squire will be very welcome to two Knights that sent mee to you who are also bound for the selfe same place Honest Squire sayde the Queene tell vs then their names if you may do it Indeed Madame quoth hee I stand charged to the contrary But thus much I dare tell you that they tooke shipping in Great Brittaine to returne to the Pallace of Apolidon where they had been before now if fortune had not hindred their voyage But I am very certaine that their ioy for meeting with you will make them forget all their passed danger wherefore I will returne againe to them and tell them what I haue heard of you So saying he went back to the Ship from whence hee came and declared to Quedragant Brian his answere
rauishing beauties Now did Amadis steppe into the Emperours place so soone as hee was gone from Oriana feigning to doe him a great fauour in helping him to conferre with Queene Briolania But he had a quite contrary meaning and did it to no other end but that the rest of his friends should talke with their Ladies while hee might be alone with her whom hee most desired For hee had not conuersed familiarly with the Princesse since her ariuall in the Enclosed Isle wherefore finding time and place sufficiently commodious he beganne with her in this manner Madame I haue thought all my life time hitherto that no possibility remained in mee for acknowledgement of those great and gracious fauours which so long a while I haue receiued by your meanes only And last of all in being the cause that aged Nascian reuealed to the King your father what right wee had each in other whereby your sonne and mine became knowen to him and peace confirmed between them of Great Brittaine and vs. As for my selfe I shall stand much more obliged to you now then euer heretofore And therefore aduisedly consider what else remaineth for me to doe for I assure you I shall take no little delight in doing whatsoeuer you commande me When Oriana heard him deliuer such speeches hauing before her eyes what dutie euery woman of honour and discretion oweth to her husband shee thus answered My Lord in my poore opinion you doe both your selfe and me wrong and therefore I pray you speake to me henceforward as to your huÌ„ble wife seruant and not after those kind of phrases wheÌ„ I was no other then your friend Furthermore let mee humbly entreat you to tell me in what condition you left the King my father and how I am now esteemed of him Madame said Amadis if outward lookes may be true euidences I neuer saw man declare more contentment then he deliuered when we were together Albeit I coniecture considering his ineuitable danger in our last encounter when he hoped to recouer you from vs by meer force his thoughts are otherwise quite different Yet hee dissembles it so wisely as possibly can bee euen to hurle shame vpon himselfe and excusing what hath past betweene you and mee fully resolued as hee saith to bee more cheerefully disposed then euer hitherto he hath been Where-upon hee is returned backe to Vindilisore to fetch the Queene and your sister Leonora whom he hath promised in marriage to the Emperour Oriana was not a little glad of these newes saying My Lord these are matters of no meane comfort especially that I haue recouered my fathers grace againe for next to you I loue him aboue any man liuing notwithstanding all the hard sufferings as well you know hee hath put me to But further I pray you tell mee what is your opinion of Esplandian By my faath Madame quoth hee by his carriage and behauiour he plainely declares himselfe to bee yours And if good Nascian could haue preuailed hee had brought him hither to you But the King would needs haue him goe with him to please the Queene because shee knowes him not yet to bee her Grand-childe So breaking off this discourse King Perion who had all this while entertained Grasinda with talke tooke leaue of her and the company because it drew neare supper time Wherefore withdrawing thence into his owne lodging Amadis followed him there looking forth at a windowe till the tables were furnished hee thus spake Seeing sonne it hath pleased God that you haue ended all troubles with so great honour let the whole glory be ascribed to him and while you liue acknowledge thankfulnesse to your friends who to help you in so serious a business haue made no spare of their liues and goods which bindes you the more to loue and honour them recoÌ„pencing their kindnesse so much as in you lieth Considering that without their assistance it is most certaine you had beene in great danger not only of your liues losse but also of your honour which I account a thousand times dearer And because it is no more then reason that like as they haue beene pertakers of all paines and perils so they ought to be of pleasure and contentment which you haue receiued by their meanes let it therfore be no meane part of your care to respect them in especial manner by distributing such booty among them as is in your hands the Kings Aranigne Barsinan others being your prisoners Moreouer such as you knowe affected to those Ladies which keepe companie with the Princesse Oriana let them haue equal coÌ„tentment with your selfe by espousing them to whom their fancies are enclined For which cause I deliuer into your power your sister Melitia to giue her to him whom you thinke worthiest of her You haue likewise your Cosen Mabila and the Queen Briâ—lania to whom you stand highly obliged Grasinda also and the Queen Sardamira who haue suffered a great parte of Orianaes sorrowes me thinks they should participate in her fairest fortune and be aduanced as you think meetest Assuring you that the greatest comfort I can haue in mine aged yeares is to see your brethren Galaor and Florestan married that before I depart this life I may reioyce in issue from you all Consider hereof I pray you aduisedly further what I haue said to your vttermost power My Lord answered Amadis I will doe all that lies in me to please both you them It is enough quoth the King And so all things beeing aptly ordered they sate downe to supper In the morning a sudden summons was sent to all the chiefe Knights for an immediate meeting and when they were assembled Amadis entred into these speeches Honourable Gentlemen friends the great and labourious trauaile which you haue endured in these late warres doth very well deserue that now you should giue ease and respite to your spirits and in regarde of the deare debt wherein I stand engaged to you to essay my vttermost meanes to let you enioy those beatitudes which I know are pleasing to euery man among you For as by your most gracious assistance afforded in my very neerest extreamity I haue attained to that which I esteemed aboue all things else in the world namely the peaceable enioying of my long loued Oriana Euen so I beseech you with all my heart that each man would instantly declare if hee stand affected to any Ladie or Gentlewoman heere for I assure you on the faith of a Knight to preuaile so farre as I can with them that they shall not easily deny what I entreat on their friends behalfe Moreouer you know that king Aranigne Barsidan and many other beside are our prisoners defying those gracefull vertues whereto the order of knighthood truely tyed them and exercising so much as in them lay all cruelties and tyranny In regarde whereof they are not worthie of any ransome but iustly punishable for the grieuousnesse of their treasons and therefore I thinke it fit that
extraordinarily ioyfull as triumphing in the very highest happinesse the world could yeeld her And the Princes her sonnes with the three Knights came neare vnto her to kisse her hand which shee would not suffer but embraced them very graciously declaring no meane thankfulnesse for her happy fortune Afterwarde they conuayed her into a rich Litter purposely brought for her iourney and so coÌ„ducted her to the Pallace in most royall manner where shee was no sooner alighted but she commanded the Duke to be brought before her as accordingly it was performed And albeit shee had resolued with her thoughts not to execute any reuenge vpon him but euen in meere pittie to forget and forgiue all yet considering what shamefull wrongs she had suffered and the murder of the King her husband so fresh in her soule shee commanded him presently to the â—ibbet But the Knights of the Enclosed Isle were not therewith contented and therefore in most gracious and modest manner tolde her that they neuer tooke any prisoner to mercy to whom after-warde they vsed any molestation Wherefore they desired her to containe her purpose till their departure and then to doe what shee thought fitte and as her Councell should best aduise her requiring also fauour for their departure Shee fearefull to offend such honorable high deseruing friends returned this answere Nay my Lords thinke not but I will doe whatsoeuer you commande mee yet notwithstanding you must needes grant me to stay heere with mee eight or tenne daies more In which time I hope to compasse the Coronation of my sonne and then to send him along with you to Lord Amadis if you will but honour me so much as to bee his conuoy thither Madame quoth they wee are all herewith heartily contented Hereupon she sent presently to one of the Masters of the houshold giuing him charge to see all things fitting in readinesse as were belonging to such a solemnitie and in him there wanted not any dilligence The day of triumph being come the young King accompanied with the Princes of his blood the Knights of the Enclosed Isle multitudes of noble Personages more rode maiestically to the Cathedrall Church where they heard solemne and diuine seruice Afterward he was conducted to a goodly Theater most magnificently adorned and there by sound of Trumpets and voyce of the Heralds he was openly proclaimed King he throwing much golde and siluer among the people crying three seuerall times Largesse Largesse Largesse giuen by the most mighty and magnanimous Prince Garinter king of Dacia As foure of the chiefest Dukes in the kingdome conducted him to the place where the royall feast was prepared the Trumpets and Clarions sounded on all sides so that for the space of three whole daies and nights together the people ceased not from making Bonfires and other signes of ioyfull triumphing As also the Nobility of the Court had Maskes Tourneies Dances and such like pastimes which had continued much longer if Angriote and his companions would haue stayed there But they earnestly importuned the Queene to licence their departure which much against her minde she was enforced to grant and before their embarquing thus she spake to theÌ„ Noble Gentlemen although it is impossible for me in any dutie to requite what you haue done for mee without any merite at all on mine owne behalfe yet is so falles out at this season that running into a farther debt I am to solicite you with a second request and wherein I desire you not to deny mee You know very well that I neuer sawe Lord Amadis de Gaule for whose sake you did partly as I imagine vndertake this long voyage which hath fallen out most fortunate to mee and to your endlesse honour for euer Now I haue not any thing more deare in esteeme then the new created King my son who as I haue already tolde you I desire to send to the Enclosed Isle to liue among so many good knights as are there vntill he come to yeares fit for knighthood hoping that a nouell kind of breeding there will highly aduantage him and that then Lord Amadis will deale so honourably with him as to bestow knighthood on him with his owne hand Wherefore once more I entreate you to take him with you and deliuer him to Lord Amadis as a present from me Madame answered Bruneo I faithfully promise you that with all my heart I will performe it and further I dare assure that hee will be very welcome thither Take order then for his equipage because wee would aboard to morrow the winde now sitting so prosperously for vs. Heereupon the Queene hauing fitted all things necessary for her sonne with a very honourable traine conducted him to the Shippe and there committing him to God and the Knights louing care away they sayled discouering in fewe dayes the coaste of the Enclosed Isle But before they landed they sent to Amadis to let him vnderstand that the king of Dacia was in their companie beeing purposely sent thither to him and to remaine vnder his gouernement Which caused Amadis immediately to take horse and accompanied with many of the knights conducted him to the lodging of king Perion CHAP. XXVIII How King Lisuart his Queene Brisena and their Daughter Leonora departed from Vindilisore to goe for the Enclosed Isle according as it was concluded on at their setting from Lubania NOt long since it was told you that the same day as King Lisuart came to his Queene hee acquainted her with his promise made to Amadis and some others beside entreating her likewise most earnestly to take order for all things fitting her owne preparation and her daughter Leonora â—whom hee had affianced by his worde to the Emperour and that they might set away the next weeke following In the meane while he sent to Galuanes and Madâ—sima to come to beare him company in this vaoyage as accordingly they did Soone after they set on forward and at the end of eight dayes came within lesse then foure leagues of the Pallace of Apolidon Whereof when king Perion and the rest were aduertised they mounted on horse backe with the Ladies and Gentlewomen ryding not farre before they mette them Many embracings past on either side but Amadis and Galaor alighted so soone as they came to King Lisuart only to kisse his hand which hee would not suffer but embracing them in his armes desired themto mount themselues againe King Perion who came one of hindemost gaue the spurre to his horse and gallopped to meete king Lasuart who came in the like manner towards him and they both embraced very louingly together In the meane space Oriana went to the Queene her mother and doing her very humble reuerence she entertayned her so graciously as no woman liuing could doe more As the Queene Elisena Briolanta Sardamira and all the other Ladies saluted each other the Emperour Arquesill came and alighted from his horse to kisse and welcome them Then the knights of great Brittaine went among
your Kingdome for you doe very well know that Amadis and they of his line are good and valiant Knights admired for their power and not neglected by their friends Moreouer there is no man ignorant how falsely they haue beene accused to your Maiestie as the victorie which Angriote and Sarquiles enioyed so lately against the acâ—… hath deliuered sufficient testimony for had not right and truth supported their cause although they are good and approued Knights indeed yet could they not so easily haue gone cleere from the soones of Gandandell nor of Damas whereby sufficiently appeareth that the hand of heauen was powerfull in maintayning their iustification And therefore Sir were you so pleased as to forget your concerned displeasure gone out against them and make a repeale of them to your seruice in my poore opinion it would be for the best considering it hath neuer past with any honourable allowance that a King should warre with them whom hee may easily and with his no meane dignitie commaund to yeeld him both loue and seruice whereas in doing otherwise oft times it prooueth to the losse of his people extreame expences and weakening his authoritie a matter so daungerous as vpon such aduantage inciteth neighbouring Commanders to thirst in desire o nouell attempts to hurle off awe and subiection and to winne more libertie then they could formerly aime at And therefore a wise Prince if possible it may be should neuer giue occasion to his subiects to runne from that feare and reuerence which in duty they owe vnto him but rather ought to essay by all meanes that his gouernment may rellish of temperate discretion winning their hearts and willes rather by cordiall louc then the least sauour of vigour and tyrannie as a faithfull Shâ—â—pheard respecteth his flocke Wherefore Sir it is requisite to quench the fire already â—ndled before it get head to a full â—…ne of deuouring for often times â—fter an errour is perfectly knowen the remedy falls out to be too farre off Amadis is so humble minded and so much yours as if you but send to recall him you may quickly haue him and all they that follow him of whom you may dispose to be much better serued then euer you haue beene I know well replled the King that your aduise is verie good but they vrged mee with such a demaunde as lay not in my power to grant them hauing made promise thereof before to my daughter Leonora And I know withall that their strength is no way equall to mine wherefore forbeare to proceed herein with me any further but prepare you and the rest to keepe mee company for to morrow Cendill de Ganote shall goe to defie them all in the Enclosed Island You may doe as seemeth best to your Maiestie answered King Arban who perceiuing the Kings anger to be highly prouoked would contest with him no longer but without any shew of discontentment retired into his owne lodging But you must vnderstand that Gandandell and Brocadan perceiuing their Treason to be so apparrantly published by the death of their sonnes and waxing weary of liuing any longer among people of vertue and honestie caused the dead bodies to be had thence and afterward they and their adherents embarked themselues in a Shippe and sayling away arriued in a small Island where they finished the remainder of their wretched lines wherefore our History will make no more mention of them Let vs now returne to King Lisuart who after hee had a long while considered on the message sent him by Angriote and what speeches had beene vrged to him by King Arban summoned a great companie of his Knights together and began a heauie complaint vnto them concerning Amadis and his followers declaring the bold speeches and insolent tearmes which Angriote had sent him by Grumedan Wherefore my louing friends quoth he I pray yee to counsell me how I shall gouerne myselfe in this case For if I endure this iniurie it will redound no lesse to your dishonour then mine owne disaduantage considering that a Prince cannot bee wronged without great blame to the Subiects if they suffer it and vse no defence against it Hereupon warre was concluded against Amadis and his allies and instantly he called Condill de Ganote saying thus vnto him Goe to the Enclosed Island where you shall finde Amadis and tell him that hence forward neither he nor any of his frieÌ„ds may attempt the boldnesse vpon any occasion whatsoeuer to enter my Countries for if any of them may be taken there I shall in such sort bestow them as they will hardly escape agine with ease Furthermore make this addition that I doe defie them and let them rest assuredly perswaded that I will be their vtter destruction both in body and goods wheresoeuer I can meete with them And because they make vaunt of ayding Galuanes against me I am determined to goe in person and will take possession of the Isle Mongaza whether if they dare persume to come I will cause them to be surprized and hanged In this manner departed Cendill de Ganote and the same day the King dislodged to soiourne in the Citie of Gracedonia and there also to assemble his Army whereof Oriana was most ioyfull knowing the time of her de speake whatsoeuer them pleased Sir replyed Gandales here is Sadamon who hath charge from all the Knights now abiding in the Enclosed Island to acquaint you with their ioynt deliberation As concerning my selfe I am sent particularly to you as I shall make knowen to you from my Lord Amadis if it may please you to let me haue a sight of your Queene as one that desireth to doe her most humble seruice and to your selfe mine honor reserued Beleeue me Gandales my good frâ—end answered the King I am not offended that you should take part with Amadis for I am perswaded that you account him as your owne sonne And whereas you desire to see the Queen I am well pleased therewith onely for your loues sake hauing so kindly entreated her daughter Oriana during the time shee â—oâ—ourned in Scotland In the meane while seeing Sadamon is the principall Ambassador in the businesse for which you are both sent hither he hath permission to speake his pleasure Then Sadamon aduanced himselfe and with a manly countenance began his speech declaring first to the King the wrong that he had done to Gaâ—â—anes and Madasima and generally to the kinred and friends of Amadis From whom quoth he King Lisuâ—rt I bring thee defiance and here pronounce that they are and will be thy deadly enemies so long as thou pretendest any â—…ght to the Islâ—… Mongaza which with shame constrâ—iâ—â—dly you enâ—oy Afterward particularly he deliuered all the rest not omitting the â—â—ast particle of his charge What replyed the King doâ— they thinke to feare mee with 〈◊〉 No no they shall not enâ—oy a â—â—te of their demaund much 〈◊〉 any peace with me And the better to manifest their folly I am well contâ—â—ted not to weare
dismounted from their horses to doe him reuerence whereupon he embraced them with so cheerefull a countenance that it might easily be noted by the whole company how pleasing their arriuall was to him His next demaund was concerthe auncient Damosell that came thither with them Sir answered Galaor we found her a while since in an Hermitage neere adioyning accompanied with twelue Kâ—…s and a young Gentleman the goodliest person that hath beene seene who as is giuen me to vnderstand hath trauailed from a far off Countrie expressely to receiue his Knight-hood so it stood with your liking to bestow it on him for hee will not haue it of any other as he saith himselfe Wherefore King Cildadan and I doe entreate yee most humbly that you would grant it him in regard that his lookes and behauiour doe speake no lesse but that he is well and worthily descended The King neuer vsed to affoord such an honour but where he knew it to bee especially deserued wherefore hearing this request made by Galaor leaning vpon King Cildadans shoulder he stood pensiuely a long while without any answere because that by denying them he imagined they would take it offensiuely and in yeelding to their motion it appeared vncouth vnto him and irregulare to his wonted custome Neuerthelesse hee demaunded of the Damosell whose sonne hee was Sir quoth she you may not know that as yet but I dare sweare vpon my soule that he is extracted of Royall seede by both sides What thinke you then my deare friend quoth the King to Galaor may wee make him Knight You may very well doe it Sir answered he without standing longer on any excuse for I presume he wil prooue of no meane merit On Gods name then be it so replied the King yet I would haue the Queene and her Ladies witnesses thereof and therefore goe you before to them and cause them to meete vs at the place where hee remaineth for bee well assured they all will be right ioyfull to see yee So the King tooke â—he way towards the Hermitage and Galaor with King Cildadan went to finde the Queeneâ— where you may well perswade your selues that neuer did men meete with more gracious welcome especially by the Princesses Oriana and Mabila for their hope was by them to heare some newes of Amadis and that they would worke his meanes for recouering the Kings fauour againe Hauing finished their best salutations on all sides Galaor told them that the King had sent for them and vpon what occasion to their no little ioy and contentment for euery one was desirous to see the yong gallant of whom Galaor had giuen such high commendations The Queene and her Ladies being all mounted made such speed to the Hermitage that they alighted there euen as the King was entring into the Chappell where beholding the twelue Shields placed about that which was altogether white and the young Gentleman very deuoutly at his prayers he appeared so pleasing in their eyes that the former report came far short of their present opinion of him for in their best of iudgement they had neuer beheld a more comely creature nor of a more setled and assured countenance He seeing such a goodly company of Ladies and Knights arose and gaue them most humble reuerence Then the King tooke him by the hand and demanded if he would bee a Knight Sir quoth he for nothing else haue I iourneyed from so farre a Country but to craue it at your hand so pleased it you so much to honour mee Trust me said the King you shall not be denied and he falling on his knees the King gaue him the Accolade according to the ceremonie then vsed in Knight-hood saying vnto him Be a Knight in the name of God and so tooke him vp Now quoth he for receiuing your Sword you may make choise of any in this company that stands fayrest in your owne liking Sir replied our new made knight I desire then that Madame Oriana may doe it for if she performe it I haue the thing that my soule most longeth after Is it euen so said the King I will solicite her on your behalfe and stepping to the Princes thus proceeded You heare how desirous the knight is that you would bestow such an honour on him let mee entreate yee not to denie him Now the faire young Princesse to whom neuer till then any such request had beene made neither knew what might be his reason that made the motion had so little power ouer her present condition that a most amiable blush mounted vp in to her cheekes Yet taking the Sword presented to her shee guided it to the knight after the vsuall maner Then spake the ancient Damosell to the King so low as none but himselfe could heare her Sir quoth shee seeing you haue done such honour to our knight he shall remaine if you be so pleased in your seruice with these twelue other knighâ—s that hitherto haue kept him company And because dutie commandeth so much in me as to returne againe to her that sent mee hither I must entreate your fauour for my departure first letting you know that he is named Norandell and is more yours then you imagine as you shal further vnderstand by this Letter which hauing verie closely conueied into his hand she tooke her leaue and rode on her iourney leauing him pensiuely perplexed at her words And because he doubted that the Letter might containe some more important matter hee feigned as if hee would returne to his huntsmen the better to reade the Letter where himselfe pleased desiring Galaor and king Cildadan to reconduct the Ladies backe to their Tents awayting there the houre of dinner while he in meane time would kill a Hart. But if I faile quoth he in comming to dinner expect me not till supper time So setting onward to the chase and finding himselfe accompanied but with few hee opened the Letter which contained as hereafter followeth The Letter from the Infanta Celinda to King Lisuart MOst mighty and excellent Prince by reading this Letter it may be you will remember that when you trauersed strange Countries and a Knight errant giuing end to many great aduentures Fortune directed your course into the kingdome of my Father who was lately before deceassed and you found me retired to one of my Castels called the Great Rosier where Antiâ—on le braue kept me besieged because I disdained to ioyne with him in marriage he being no way equall to me in nobility and a much lesse friend to vertue As he made good proofe thereof â—…r by force and tyrannie he vsurped ouer me a poore young Ladie the greater part of all my Countries when at â—…ur arriuall you offered him the Cemâ—…te in defence of my right which he accepting as trusting more to the strength of his owne arme then any iustice in his quarrell And therein heauen declared iust iudgment for you being farre inferiour to him in composition of body but much exceeding him in 〈◊〉 of courage
preuailed against him By meanes whereof I was 〈◊〉 after â—restored to my rights all which I must and doe confesse to hold of you for euer as being wholly yours and my selfe also And you pleased then to honour mee so much with your presence that you came into my Great Rosier where wee conferring together in the delightfull Arbours you gathered the floure of my virginity as wee were sporting in cropping sweet Roses whereas the place was and yet is most plentifully abounding Neither am I able to say whether loue would haue it so or my beauty prooued the maine occasion but wel I wot your command was so potent ouer me and I so feeble in resistance that before you departed hence you left me conceiued of this young Gentleman endued with such faire forme and feature as it appeared that Nature was well pleased to compleate him perfect in all excellence thereby to deface all remembrance of our sinne committed Wherefore Sir receiue him as your owne being of Royall seede both by you and my selfe which verily perswadeth me that he will prooue a valiant man as retayning in him part of your famous prowesse and part of the exceeding loue wherein he was conceiued at such time as you gaue me this Ring which I send ye heere enclosed likewise in the testimony of the faithfull promise you then made to your humble seruant Celinda Daughter to King Hegide who kisseth the hand of your Royall Maiestie When King Lisuart had read and re-read ouer this Letter word by word he perfectly called to minde all that the Princesse had there set downe albeit it was long time before his soiourning in the kingdome of Denmarke where as a wandring Knight he performed such actions of Armes as he wonne the loue of the Infanta Brisenna whom after-ward he married according as formerly hath beene declared Notwithstanding hee determined to make no account at all of Norandell though he knew him to be his naturall Sonne vntill hee perceiued how he would beare himselfe and deserued by his deedes to prooue such a one as he desired As he continued in these priuate considerations a goodly Hart pursued by a ful cry of Hounds passed hard by him and the Huntsmen followed on so closely that there the Deere lost his life In regard whereof the King was willing to giue ouer further sporting and commaunded the Huntsmen to beare the Hart to the Queenes Tent. Afterward being set at the Table Galaor and King Cildadan keeping him company all dinner while hee had but little conference with them for thinking still on Celinda and her Letter sent him Dinner being ended he tooke Galaor aside and as they walked thus discoursed with him My worthy friend so much doe I relye vpon your fidelitie and loue as I hold you to bee the onely man in the world to whom I dare make knowne my very intimate secrets And setting aside those matters of no meane importance which during the time of your absence haue happened to me I will onely acquaint yee with an especiall accident this day befalne me So deliuering him the Letter which Celinda had sent hee willed him to peruse what it contained Galaor reading it ouer aduisedly perceiued therby that Norandell was Sonne to the King whereat conceiuing no little ioy he returned this answere Assuredly Sir if you tooke such paines for your faire friend in mine opinion she is no way behinde ye in honorable recompence hauing broght ye such a goodly Son as will proue a worthy man and a valiant knight in Armes Nor let the concealment heereof be irkesome to ye because when you shall please to make it knowen it will redound to your great ioy and honour And if it agreed with your good liking to let me enioy him as my companion what seruices heereaster I shall doe for you I will account to bee most worthily imployed What quoth the King would you trouble your selfe with a Boy affoording him at the first so great an honour not knowing his temper or how he will carry himselfe It is well knowne that there is not any knight in Great Brittaine but he will repute himself much happy to haue such grace as you offer him Sir quoth Galaor it is the first request that euer I made to yee and I humbly desire that I may not be denied On my faith quoth the King if you honor him so much you shal highly oblige him to you and doe me also an especiall fauour And no mean glory to my selfe replyed Galaor for he being Son to so famous a 〈◊〉 cannot faile to bee one of the best knights in the world Doe then quoth the King as shall 〈◊〉 best And as they held on this discourse the Queene came in wâ—… made them breake off and shee being accompanied with King Cildadan Norandell and many other knights continued familiar conference together till Galaor entred into thes speeches Sir you know that by the custome heere vsed in this kingdome of Great Brittaine no new made knight ought to refuse any knight Lady or Damosell the first demand they shall make vnto him You say very true Sir answered the King ther wherefore doe you moue tâ—…stion Because Sir replyed 〈◊〉 am a knight and I would 〈◊〉 Norandell to graunt what I shall require of him to wit that for one whole yeare he and I may be fellowes and companions not any way to be sundered or deuided except death or imprisonment shall enforce it When Norandell heard this hee was no lesse amazed then well pleased for he very well knew that Galaor was esteemed one of the best knights in that Court and that the king affoorded much more honour to him then any other that kept him company and thereupon he thus replied My Lord Galaor it may easily bee discerned by your demaund in how many obligations of dutie you would haue mee bound vnto you in wishing that grace to mee which I much rather ought to haue begged of you And this I dare assure yee that not onely doe I graunt what you haue desired namely my company but also I giue my selfe wholly yours and require that in that nature you would receiue and accept me Beleeue me quoth king Cildadan you haue both reason in these seuerall requests you Lord Galaor in vrging such a fauour and you likewise yong Norandell in granting it for if heauen bee pleased therewith as we need not vse any doubt it will redound to the honour and benefit of either At this very instant the King receiued intelligence that his Army was to depart very speedily wherefore the next morning hee rode to the City and riding alone by him-selfe he called Galaor to him telling him He was well contented that his daughter Oriana should know Norandell to be his sonne and her Brother 〈◊〉 shee should the better loue and respect him but yet hee wâ—… haue it reuealed to her very secretly Sir answered Galaor I am perswaded that it will not a little please her and therefore
if possibly I may I will acquaint her therewith before wee come to Court Doe so quoth the king Galaor riding backward came to the Princesse and to him after some other conference had together she spake in this manner Sir Galaor I am perswaded that the Gentleman who was yesterday made knight hath beene a long while knowne to you in regarde you made choise of him as your associate and companion for I know not any knight in this Court but would thinke himselfe highly honored to be so graced by you yea though it were your brother Amadis Madame replied Galaor your comparison of mee with my Brother is so vnequall as the like speeches may be spoken of heauen and earth considering that in respect of me he may bee tearmed heauen and I compared to him farre inferiour to the lower element And therefore I repute it great presumption in any knight whatsoeuer to thinke himselfe his second for it plainly appeareth that fortune fauoured his election to hold the primarie place in valour feature and all other gracious gifts required in a Gentleman Full gladly did Oriana listen to these praises of her Amadis while inwardly shee thus spake to her selfe Alas poore Lady thy misfortune were vnmatchable if in being thus seuered from the presence of thy friend thou shouldst bee as farre distant from his intire affection in good sadnesse death would be a thousand times more welcome to mee then such a deepe discomfort But Galaor purposing a longer continuance of his discourse thus proceeded Let it be no matter of maruaile in you faire Princesse that I accepted Norandell into my company for you may bee well assured that I did it not but vpon great and good occasion and perhaps it will no more dislike you then it doth me when the cause is more familiar to yee I pray yee Sir quoth she if it bee a matter that your honour may dispence withall not to conceale it from me Madame said Galaor the secret were very important that I would not impart to you and vpon faithfull promise of your priuacie I will discouer it Rest boldly assured thereof replied the Princesse Vnderstand then Madame quoth Galaor that Norandell is sonne to the King your father and your Brother And so declared how hee had read the Letter from the Infanta Celinda and the king likewise which she had sent to the king with all the other speeches passed betweene them In good faith answered the Princesse I am highly pleased to know this new affinity betweene Norandell and me and now I giue you thankes withall my heart for the worthy honour you haue done him in accepting him to be your companion For in being with you hee cannot faile of proouing to bee a good man and a famous knight whereas should hee be otherwise addicted yet such a bad nature would be quite altered only by keeping your company as hee hath faithfully promised Madame quoth Galaor you haue power to say of me whatsoeuer you please as of him that is a most humble seruant both to the king and your self when and how it shall like you to imploy me So breaking off this enterparlance they rode to the Queenes lodging where Galaor dismounting the Princesse and hauing conducted her to her Chamber hee departed thence with his new companion vntill the next morning their going to the king who told them that hee purposed that night to sleepe aboord his Ships and the day following to set saile away giuing order for euery mans being in readinesse The Drummes and Trumpets summoning all souldiours to their collours they weighed Ankors on the morrow and had the winde so auspicious for them as quickly they loue the sight of Great Brittan but soone after arose a shrewde Tempest which made them very doubtfull of perishing Notwithstanding it calmed so fauorably in the end that on the fift day following they discouered the Isle of Mongaza where they landed neere to the place where king Arban lay encamped and fort fled awayting for their succour and supply 〈◊〉 long before they of the 〈◊〉 Lake had made a 〈◊〉 foorth vpon them and pursued them so violently as if king Arban men had not wonne the toppe of the mountaine they could not haue auoided discomfiture There did Florestan make good acknowledgement of his man-hood for meeting with Gasquilan king of Swetia hee wounded him so daungerously as euery one reputed him for dead Neuerthelesse Briande Moniaste aduenturing ouer forwardly into the throng with full intent to charge King Arban was taken prisoner being no way able to helpe himselfe so that on other side many good knights were wounded and layde along on the ground All which king Lisuart heard at his arriuall whereat hee was so displeased as no man could be more concluding to bee reuenged on them Which the better to performe hee gaue commandement thorow his Campe that no one should presume into the field without licence thereto first obtayned hoping that the enemie would come againe to assaile King Arban as formerly he was wont to doe before his comming thither But the other side had intelligence of this fresh succour in regard whereof they had retired themselues attending further fortune By this time the houre drewe neere when the Princesse Oriana should bee deliuered of her childe and her Fathers departure fitted it very well for within a day or two after his shipping thence the paines and throwes of child-birth grew so extreamely on her that about mid-night shee expected death euery minute Therefore she caused Mabila to rise as also the Damosell of Denmarke who had long before prouided all things in readinesse to bee required in such a necessitie They being come to her found her so ouercome with paine and anguish not daring to crye or vse any complaint that shee was vnable to hold out any longer But Heauen pittying her oppressions before the breake of day requited her sorrowes with the birth of a goodly Boy which the Damosel of Denmarke receiued while Mabila gaue further attendance on the Mother As shee was making it ready in the swadling clothes she discerned seauen Caracters vnder either little teate some as red as blood and the other as white as snow whereat being not a little abashed shee called Mabila and shewed them to her But neither of them had the skill to reade them for they were all Greeke Letters composed in Latin words in which report they forbare as then to acquaint the Mother therewith wrapping it vp in the clothes and laying it by the Mother till shee gaue order for conueighing it thence according as formerly hath beene determined which being done the Damosell of Denmarke departed to call her brother Durin In the meane while the Princesse holding the Infant in her armes and bestowing many sweete kisses vpon it spake in this manner Alas little Creature Heauen enlarge such blessings on thee that thou mayst proue to be as good and vertuous a knight as thy Father and make the beginning of
she intirely entreateth you that you would grieue so little as possible may be in this Country and not to depart hence vntill you shall heare further tydings from her And she also certifies you by me that your linage is encreased by the birth of a gallant sweet Sonne which my Sister and I haue conueyed to safe nursing but he w̄as wary enough in discouering the maner of his losse Great was the ioy and comfort of Amadis to vnderstand such pleasing newes from Oriana howbeit her command that he should not part thence was somewhat irksome to him because it might bee presumed by sinister iudgments that either neglect or lack of courage had driuen him to this retired kinde of life Neuerthelesse happen whatsoeuer might to him hee concluded not to transgresse a iote of her charge and command As Enill had ended his discourse Gandalin returned who had slaine the Giantesse and brought her head hanging at his saddle bow Amadis was very glad to behold it and desired to know in what manner he had done it My Lord quoth Gandalin I pursuing her very closely and shee gallopping on the horse which she had stollen from you as hoping to shippe her selfe before I should ouertake her the poore horse was so weake in the backe being ouercharged with the loade of so huge a deuill as I imagined hee had broken his neck with falling downe vnder her At which apt opportunity I instantly arriued and before she had power to recouer her selfe I was her deaths-man as this testimony there-of may well witnesse to ye By my troth said Amadis this will bee a goodly present for Bruneo therfore wee will returne to the Court and there shalt thou haue the honour of deliuering it As for thee my deare friend Enill without being seene any where else I would haue thee returne to my gracious Princesse and giue her to know that I most humbly thanke her for her Letter as also for thy further message from her But yet I entreate her to take some pitty and respect on mine honor in compelling me to leade an idle life here Neuerthelesse I will be obedient to her in any thing and all my dayes are dedicated solely to her seruice And yet I very well know that no man can by vertue winne himselfe such renowne and reputation but time and mens malice will disgrace him on the very least occasion offered Goe then in Gods Name to whose safe protection I commend thee and doe my humble duty to my sacred Goddesse So returned Enill to his Shippe and Amadis to the Court to his friend Bruneo who was much better healed of his late receiued hurt then of his old loue-sicke languishing the fire whereof still more and more encreased the flame of his torment Which he well perceiuing and that he could not as yet reach the height of his intent without much losse of time and hard endeauour as a purgation to such slothful negligence and the better to enlarge his knighthoods reputation he resolued to visite strange Countries in search of aduentures and to accomplish such actions of Armes that his fame might speake it selfe in all places Hereupon so soone as the Giantesse head had bin shewen him Amadis and he walking aside together he thus spake Trust me my Lord the youth of my yeares and the slender esteem whereinto I haue hitherto liued especially among knights of fame and merit doth instantly incite me to forsake this loytring life of ease and pleasure and vndergoe another more painful yet profitable to ranke my selfe with men of so high estimatiō And therfore I humbly besech you that if you haue any disposition to seeke after aduentures you would be pleased to accept of my company or else to licence my departure alone for I must bee gone to morrow morning very earely When Amadis heard these words and remembred the iniunction so strictly imposed on him by the Letter from Oriana which Enill formerly had brought him he grew extreamely offended yet both dissembling his distemper and excusing himselfe to Bruneo he thus answered Beleeue me deare Friend I haue all my life-life-time beene desirous of such company as yours being well assured that nothing but honour and happines could then happen to me But the conference I haue had so lately with the King and his strict imposition for my not leauing his Country as yet abridgeth me of your association then which nothing can be more displeasing to me Wherefore I desire you to hold me excused not doubting but that the hand of Heauen will euery where defend ye Bruneo seeing himselfe thus dispatched by Amadis went to visite Melicia whom he acquainted with the reason of his sudden departing entreating her to continue gracious vnto him because hee preferred her fauour before all things else whatsoeuer Melicia discreetly answered him that shee must wholly encline her will according as pleased the King and Queene to dispose of her assuring him neuerthelesse that he was the Gentleman whom before all other shee could willingly accept as her husband if so be it stood as well with their liking As he and shee continued this conference taking gracious and amiable farewells of each other the king entred to whom Bruneo addressing himselfe he declared the occasion of his departure Which the King allowed to bee both good and reasonable and because it grew some-what late and a seasonable houre for rest and repose all was referred till the next morning for more ample parting discourse Bright day no sooner beganne to appeare but Bruneo armed himselfe at all points afterward going to heare Masse deuoutely And as hee was ready to mounte on horsebacke the King and Amadis came to him conducting him forth of the Citie where they committed him to God and all good fortune wherein it seemed he prooued so prosperous that in short time hee finished so many rare aduentures as would require larger scope then heere is limited beside it is not materiall to the purpose which wee labour to continue Returne we therefore to Amadis who hauing already soiourned in Gaule three moneths and an halfe while King Lisuart made his warre in the Isle of Mongaza and his reputation being much diminished by his discontinuance from Armes so that euery tongue babled to his disaduantage especially Ladies and Damosels who came from all parts in quest of him and not finding him returned so highly discontented that they laide on him many blamefull imputations which came continually to his eare Neuerthelesse for any respect in the world whatsoeuer he would not disobey the command of the Princesse Oriana but rather chose to vndergo those taxations of disgrace till King Lisuart returned into Great Brittaine again Who receiued tydings at his arriuall that his enemies were already passed into the Isle of Lionine and euen vpon entrance into his Country Now albeit he appeared to make small reckoning thereof before his own people as being fearefull to distaste them yet afterward his minde was farre otherwise busied But especially
a forbearance should now haue found a full discharge for all his trecheries but that his subtilty outwent my honest simplicity which will be quickly footed when time shal serue Broad day breaking off these priuate conferences they mounted on horsebacke with the Damosels who tooke no great pleasure in their company though they bare it out with notable dissembling But that which most offended Dinarda was the report of Galaor that he had left the Court of King Lisuart onely to finde his Brother Amadis de Gaule whom she hated more then any man liuing So long they iourneyed together that on the third day following they came to a Fortresse the gates whereof stood wide open In they rode not meeting with any body whom they might speake to but soone after came the Lord of the place named Ambades attended with some of his seruants on whom beholding this new come company he looked angerly because they had not drawen the Bridge before their arriuall Neuerthelesse considering that now it could not bee holpen he made a shew of courteous entertainment much against his minde For he was neere kins-man to Archalaus and euery way as wicked as he quickly taking knowledge of his Niece Dinarda by whō hee vnderstood the fortunes of his Cousin and Dinarda also perswaded him that she and the other Damosell had bin violently deflowred by Galaor and Norandel Hereat he grew so incensed with fury that instantly he would haue assayled them but Dinarda willed him to be better aduised because they two onely had foyled fiue knights that had the conduct of her Vncle and might prooue as powerfull ouer him and his Therefore Sir quoth she as yet it is hest to conceale your discontentment till their departing hence to morrow morning when I and this Damosell will guide thē forth then letting down the Port-cullies of the gate we shall be sure to tarry with yee in the securer safety Ambades did not mislike this counsell but went to Supper with the Knights and Ladies betaking themselues afterward to rest in their appointed lodgings and the next morning being risen their hoste came to them saying Gentle-men when it shall please you to depart I will bee your guide thus armed as I am for so am I vsed to doe with any that accept of entertertainment heere and before my returne backe againe I take delight in the search of aduentures according as other knights errant do My kinde Hoste answered Galaor wee heartily thanke yee for your great curtesie So their horses being brought first they holpe to mounte the Damosels and themselues but they gaue way to Galaor and Norandel to ride out foremost the women comming slowly after with Ambades No sooner were the knights beyond the gate but downe fell the Port-cullies and he with the Damosels were now out of their power Forthwith they mounted on the wall ouer the gate and seeing the knights looke backe for the Damosels comming after he cryed out to them Villaines hell be your confusion before you get them againe in your possession Goe dwell among all the deuils and let them vse you as ye haue done these poore Ladies who dare venter no further with such base-minded men but chuse rather willingly to abide here with me Is it possible mine hoste answered Galaor that after such honour and honest entertainment affoorded by your selfe to vs in your Castell you should expresse such lacke of manhood as to robbe vs of our faire friends so treacherously If euer they were yours replied Ambades or gaue themselues to ye without constraint it likes mee the better thus to take them from yee as thinking it may the more vexe and molest yee But I am assured that lustfully and meerely against their mindes you haue pursued and enioyed them and therefore at their earnest request made to me I vse ye as I doe shame then to quarrell any further in this maner considering how much they detest ye Let them but say so much themselus quoth Galaor to vs and we shall quickly get vs gone Dinarda who all this while had hid her selfe began to appeare vpon the wall whereupon Galaor spake thus vnto her Faire Mistresse this Knight wold gladly make vs beleeue that willingly you remaine with him and that our company is offensiue to ye We can hardly credit any trueth in his speeches remembring some occasions that haue past betweene vs. Then I perceiue answered Dinarda that foolish credulity betrayed your best iudgement in me for my affectiō was neuer so earnest towards ye but I had rather behold your head parted from your shoulders then to enioy one minute of your company Fond and ydle-headed knight didst not thou know that I am Daughter to Ardan Canile and that thy Brother Amadis is the man whom aboue all other I haue most cause to detest and hate How then couldst thou dreame that any good inclination remained in me towardes thee considering that thy greatest fauour to mee since our late begun familiarity hath aimed at no other end but for conueying me to Gaule there to behold him whom I least desire to see You may therefore depart hence at your pleasure and forget not to assure your selfe that in being perswaded I most faithfully affected you you doe and shall find me the most deadliest enemy you haue If I had giuen ye any such occasion answered Galaor yet I am well assured the sweete satisfaction you receiued so latel from me and to you no meane contentment as I imagined did well deserue more louely language But I can easily aime at your intention you would gladly borrow as much friendship of another man as fearing that I was not able to pleasure ye any further wherein truely now vpon better consideration with my selfe you haue reason so to doe and I none at all to mislike it For ouer and beside that generall disease incident to all women of your witty disposition to affect change and nouelty I ought to haue remembred how difficult a thing it is from so badde a stocke as is worth iust nothing that any good fruit can bee expected For thou art Niece to the onely vyle wretch in the world and thou must needs resemble him in all kind of villainy But Madame said Norandel I hope my amorous Mistresie hath no such cause to complaine of me for neuer woman was better entertayned by her friend then for so long time together shee was by mee and that I dare referre to her owne report As he spake these wordes he espied her peeping ouer the others shoulder whereupon hee called to her saying How say you sweet heart is it not true It is so true quoth shee that if I could compasse the like power ouer thee as when time was thou hadst ouer me I should easily make knowne with what affection I endured whatsoeuer thou didst to me which pleased me so well that I referre thee to the deuils recompence The deuill said Norandel cares not for my company hee likes yours so
by breake of day But as hee had a purpose to repose himself a while the remembrance of his Princesse Oriana ouertook him in his priuate meditations pressing him with extraordinary passions as he had no power to refraine from teares speaking thus to himselfe Alas sweet friend when shall I see the time that I may once more be so happy as to embrace you in mine armes Loue thou hast lifted mee to the highest felicity that euer loyall hart could attaine vnto But how looke how much my glory is vnmatchable in fauour the like height it carrieth in tribulation and torment for the more desirous I am to see ye the further of still my cruell starres doe send me And that which is my greatest hell of all is a grounded feare that my absence shall either betray me to forgetfulnesse or bring you to the entertainment of a new loue Then suddenly he beganne to reprehend himselfe saying Whence should this idle opinion proceede in me Deare sweete I haue found you so firme and constant that I doe commit a sinne in thinking amisse of you And such is the assured proofe of your fidelitie that the smallest sinister doubt is but mine owne shame For well I know that as my whole life is dedicated to your obedience so you can neuer haue iust occasion to wish me ill or couet any vnkinde reuenge on me except you take your selfe to be offended in being more intirely and constantly affected by me then any man else in the world can doe And yet I cannot tell whether Loue be desirous to punish me because in disdaining all other I made my selfe so wholly yours as many haue been by me neglected and discourteously refused But well I wot that my thoughts are so familiar in your heart and your matchlesse beauty so diuinely caractred and engrauen in mysoule as I may assuredly resolue that time will set a period to all oppressions either by my end or your accustomed loyaltie Spending thus the night in sighs and teares euen vntill the morning appeared he commaunded Gandalin to rise and being armed hee went to Church where he found the King at his deuotions Hauing heard Masse the King tooke him by the hand and leading him somwhat aside said My dearest friend seeing you stand resolued to part from me let me first tell yee that ye haue a King and a kingdome wholly at your command and heereof take knowledge wheresoeuer you shall come Me thinkes you should deferre no longer to let me know of whence and what you are promising you vpon the faith and word of a King that by me you shall not any way be discouered except it may bee done with your consent Sir answered the knight let me entreate yee heerein not to wrong me for I am minded neuer to disclose my selfe to any one except by force I shall be thereto compelled Then you doe me a great displeasure quoth the King God shield me replyed the knight from offending so good and gracious a Prince I will rather dispense with my vow and tell ye Sir I am that Amadis of Gaule Sonne to King Perion whose name you remembred when you agreed to the Combate of twelue knights to twelue By the faith I beare to God said the King my heart did alwayes perswade me so and rest your selfe assured that this knowledge of you is more acceptable to me then any thing else whatsoeuer in the world can bee Blessed be the Father and Mother that haue yeelded the world so worthy a man by whom so many people haue receiued both profite and pleasure Now was the King much more desirous of his longer stay but that Amadis most instantly vrged the contrary whereto he durst not make refusall Wherefore mounting on horsebacke by a goodly company he was conducted forth of the Citty and there being commended to all good successe hee tooke his way towards Romania seeking after strange aduentures as Fortune pleased to direct him CHAP. VIII How King Lisuart hunting in the Forrest where hee had left the Ladies accidentally met with a young Damosell who shewed him the way to the Hermitage where the good Hermite Nascian made his abyding And how the infant long time after was knowne to bee the Sonne of Amadis and Oriana IN the gay season of Mayes flourishing moneth King Lisuart hauing long soiourned in one place was entreated by the Ladies that hee would guide them forth on hunting wherto he very willingly condiscended and presently commaunded his huntsmen to prepare their toyles in the next adioyning Forrest and to erect their Tents by the Fountaine of the seauen Beech trees which was the most pleasing place in all the wood and best agreeing with the time Not farre off thence was the Hermitage where Nascian the holy man nourished Esplandian as already hath beene declared to yee It happened on the same day when the King had left the Ladies in their Pauilions hee so long pursued a Hart sore hunted and escaped from the toyles that he was enforced to take vp into the highest of the Forrest all along the side of a great hill very well couered with brakes and bushes So soone as he had attayned to the toppe there-of on the other side he espied a young Gentleman descending hastily aged as it might bee about fiue or sixe yeeres leading a Lyonnesse in a leashe who seeing the Hart so hotly chased hee let her loose after him and shee pursued with such speed that she tooke him downe before the King The young youth glad of so good successe ran a pace to the fall of the Deere and another childe that was his companion where seazing on the veneson hee tooke out a knife to cut his throate Then winding a horne very loud two little Bratches which ordinarily vsed to follow him came presently to him and both they and the Lyonnesse had their fees of the game This done hee tooke and coupled them in a leashe and hauing done the like to the Lyonnesse crossed again ouerthwart the wood The King seeing them make haste away from him was very desirous to know what they were and comming forth of the place where he had hid himselfe to note the behauiour of these children called to the young Gentleman who instantly stayed vntill such time as the King came to him vsing these words Prettie childe I pray thee tell me what thou art and where is thy dwelling Sir knight answered the youth Nascian the Hermite hath hitherto nursed me and as I thinke is father both to me and this my companion This answere made the King very pensiue for he could not comprehend in his thoughts that Nascian being aged and decrepit as also reputed for a man of most sanctified life should or could haue a childe so young and goodly wherefore as one couetous of further information hee demaunded where the Hermitage stood It stands quoth the youth on the top of this Rocke and shewing him a littly path lest him saying If it shall please yee to follow
put off his purpose till the morning his company being minded not to leaue the Ship because their feare stil continued beholding the sea tempest nothing appeased but rather encrease more and more by the Monsters houering ouer the Island and especially by the place where the Ship ancred Night being ouerpast the bright morning appearing he called for his Armes and afterward heard Masse deuoutly then summoning them of the Ship about him he thus spake Louing friends I will go directly to the Castel to seek the Monster where if it so please God I may haue the victory ouer him And because it appeares to me that in two or three dayes we shal hardly put to Sea againe I intend if I finde the Castel as yet habitable to come again hither for ye that you may remain in safe security vntill the weather be more calme So mounting on horseback and taking none but Gandalin in his company they asceÌ„ded vp the Rock where presently they espied the Fortresse and ryding thither to it found neither man or beast liuing in it Heereupon after they had thorowly visited it and found it to bee strong wel-defenced they returned to them in the ship and causing them to bring victuals thither for three dayes commending them all to God he said Stand vpon your guard so well as you can for I must goe to effect mine enterprise thus aduising you that if I haue good successe Gandalin shal winde his Horne to ye giue you assurance thereby that Endriagus is dead and I liuing But if the contrary happen to me there shall be no need of any signall to ye because you will know it soon enough In the meane while pray to GOD both for mee and your selues So setting on his way hee left them sad and mourning for the small hope they had of his returning But their griefe could not be compared to that of Ardan the Dwarfe who being compelled to leaue his knight by a seueare command imposed on him made such ruefull moane as euery man tooke compassion on him Alas quoth Ardan am not I the most miserable wretch in the world that when I haue most occasion to follow my Master neuer hauing forsaken him before in all my life he should now forbid and prohibite mee as if I were a meere stranger to him Then Maister Elisabet called them all to prayer while our knight and Gandalin were thwarting the Isle among brakes and bushes and finding nothing But Gandalin was so pensiue as his Maister perceiuing him to weepe said vnto him Ah Gandalin it appeareth by thy countenance that being with me thou art afraid to dye I pray thee kinde Squire returne backe to the rest there expect what shall become of me If these teares proceede from any doubt in thee that I cannot preuaile against the Monster assure thy selfe that the hope I haue in the mercy of God the remembrance of my Lady who now euen at this very instant presents her selfe before mine eyes doth arme me with such strength as I am able to fight with the deuill himselfe if I could finde him For my minde perswades me that I see her in the daunger of Endriagus and that I am come hither to defend her Ah Gandalin canst thou imagine that I would suffer her to bee offended or outraged considering that on her my life best happines doth only depend So pausing awhile he then began againe thus Doest not thou know my louing Squire that shee hath caused all the teares which haue bin shed by mee and greater perils already past then this can be Beleeue me Gandalin I feele my forces newly redoubled and my hopes a thousand times more encreased in but thinking of her as I haue told thee Then set aside all feare and cry and call as loude as thou canst that Endriagus may heare thee and come hither to vs quickly if hee be in those parts And one thing I doe most earnestly entreate thee to wit that if I dye in this attempt thou wouldst compasse some meanes to carry my heart to my Lady which is intirely hers and tell her I sent it that we appearing before God hee may iudge that I present her nothing but what is her owne as well as mine When Gandalin heard these words his heart was shut vp in sorrow as hee was ready to fall in a swouâ—e desirous rather of his own death then with paine to accomplish what his Master had commanded him And as they insisted vpon these tearmes they saw Endriagus come forth of a hollow Rocke casting from his eyes throte flames smoke so noysome as all the ayre thereabout was infected therewith So soon as he had espied them hee came towardes them hissing snoring in most admirable maner notwithstanding it could not daunt our knight a iote but he boldly marched to meete him while Gandalin ran to hide himselfe fully perswaded that his Maister could neuer scape from such a furious beast Our knight perceiuing that hee could by no means cause his horse to come nere him quickly dismounted on foot and taking his Launce in both his hands aymed therewith so couragiously at Endriagus that by great good fortune he gaue him a thrust in the left eye and put it quite out Then Endriagus gaue a horrible dreadfull crye and arising vp on his hindmost pawes caught hold on the Launce so strongly as intending to breake it between his teeth he tooke it so farre into his mouth that our knight espying so apt an aduantage by aduancing it forward as occasion serued hee wounded him both in the tongue and throat and left a part or tronchion thereof sticking fast betweene his teeth Neuerthelesse hee gaue a great leape purposing thereby to surprize the knight but hee auoyded it by stepping aside and drawing forth his Sword gaue him a manfull stroke therewith on the right shoulder which proued to no purpose for he might as well strike on a rocke or anuile Endriagus got hold of the Sword with his teeth but by reason of the sharpe steele and part of the Launce troubling his throate hee could not keepe it as hee intended And that which hindred him most of all was his great effusion of blood which ranne in such abounding measure downe his throate as he was scarcely able to draw any breath At length he rent our knights Shield from about his neck so rudely as his hands were his best helpes to keepe him from the ground and as he stroue to breake it in pieces our Knight hauing recouered him-selfe taking his Sword fast in both his hands smote on the top of his head but it entred no more then into a mount of Adamant Then he perswaded himself that except Heauen gaue him assistance he meerely laboured in vaine for he saw no place else where to hurt him but in the other eye which with great care he kept and defended Heereupon our knight made all his aime at that side and proued so happy in
his blow that lighting on his snout it entred into one of his nostrils which were great and wide staring so farre that it pierced the braine extreamely This made Endriagus so mad that hee got our knight fast about the body and with his sharpe-pointed clawes tore his coate of maile yea and entred through the flesh to the bone when questionlesse he had quite kild him but that his owne blood so ouerstifled his stomacke that letting loose his hold he fell downe back-ward And as he rendred his spirit the deuill came out of his body causing such a clap of thunder as all the whole Island shooke with the sound thereof This noyse being heard by them in the Castell they perswaded themselues thereby that their knight was then at the Combate and albeit they were in a safe and well-defenced Fort yet the best and boldest man of them all was ouercome with extraordinary feare Endriagus being thus vanquished our knight rose very faintly and purposing to goe finde Gandalin who was then comming towards him hee fell downe againe in a swoune by a little perling brooke that descended from the mountaine Then Gandalin imagining his Maister to bee dead fell into most dolefull lamentations but comming neere him he beheld him to breath wherupon he vnarmed him Then recouering his spirits called to Gandalin saying My deare Friend Gandalin now thou shalt see the ending of my dayes let me entreate thee by the kinde nourishing which I receiued from thy father and mother that as thou hast been loyall to me in my life thou wilt continue so in death and so soone as my vitall spirits haue forsaken me to take out my heart and beare it to my dearest Mistresse Tell her Gandalin that as it veelded it selfe hers the same day I first saw her and euer since hath continued better and better in her seruice while it was lockt vp in this brest or sad habitation neuer wearied in any obedience to her that shee would be pleased so to receiue it now in remembrance of him that kept it for her and in so doing I beleeue that my soule shall haue the happier rest in another world As hee meant to speake more words fayled him and againe hee swonded Then Gandalin without staying to answere him mounted on the top of the Rocke and winded the horne which he caryed to giue signall of the death of Endriagus so loude that Ardan the dwraff who was then on the highest of one of the Castle Towers easily heard it Wherevpon hee ranne downe presently to acquaint Maister Elisabet therwith desiring him to make haste to his Maister who perhaps stood in great neede of his helpe Maister Elisabet hauing all things in a readinesse mounted on horse-backe directing his course as fast as hee could ride towards the place where hee still heard the sound of the Horne Not long had he iourneyed but he espyed Gandalin who comming to meete him cryed out afarre off Alas Maister Elisabet Endriagus is dead but if you prouide not the sooner for my Lord hee is gon likewise How man quoth he Alas said Gandalin he hath already lost so much blood as hee is not a ble to speake a word Very sadde and sorrowfull was Maister Elisabet at these newes and ran quickly to the place where the Knight lay so weake and ouer spent as hee had no motion of his pulse yet his eyes were wide open wherefore to comfort him Maister Elisabet sayd How Sir Kinght will you declare such debilitie of courage hauing brought to end so great and glorious an interprise doe yee not know that I am heare to make you sound and well againe so soone as pleaseth God When the Knight heard him hee stroue to make answere but could not Then they layd him softly vpon a cloake and hauing wholly vnarmed him Maister Elisabet viewed his wounds which he found to be so many and dangerous as hee stood in great doubt of his recouery Neuerthelesse hee resolued to performe so much as possibly he could and instantly applyed so soueraigne vnguents as both stanched his bleeding and so assawaged all vigour of paine that his speech came to him againe when with a very feeble and low voyce he thus spake Oh my Lord God who to redeeme mee tooke humaine flesh in the blessed Virgins wombe and afterward didst suffer a most dolorous and painefull Passion take pitie on my soule for I well knowe that my bodie is no better then earth Truely Sir answered Maister Elisabet you haue good reason to recōmend yourself to him considering that by his assistance you shall receiue the speedier helpe As he ended these words there arriued diuers of the Marriners who taking him vp gently in their armes conuayed him thence to the Castle where laying him in his bed he was so voyd of allhis sences as hee felt not any thing was done to him Thus he continued all night complayning continually as one that endured much yet without vttering any one worde till about breake of day he fell asleepe Hereupon Maister Elisabet commanded all to auoyd the chamber to preuent any noise for offending him and sate downe close by him till hee heard him wake and cry Gandalin Gandalin shield thy selfe from this deuill so cruell and daungerous In good faith Sir replyed Maister Elisabet if you had been as safely shielded as hee your health were the surer and your recouerie the lesser At these words our Knight opened his eyes and knowing Maister Elisabet said vnto him Oh Maister where are we Where quoth hee in such a place where you shall doe well enough by the grace of God And perceiuing his Feauer to haue left him hee brought him food to eate was so diligent in care ouer him that before night hee recouered his memorie perfectly and beganne to know and speake to euery one Maister Elisabet seeing all danger to be well quallified both hee and all the rest gaue thanks to God for it and continued still so respectiue of him as hee grewe hourely better and better notwithstanding for twentie dayes hee kept his bed without any habilitie of rising At length Maister Elisabet perceiuing that without any great perill to the his person hee might endure the Sea especially his Feauers beginning to forsake him one day as they sate deuising together he sayd My Lord thankes be to God you are soundly recouered and in mine opinion when best shall please you you may goe aboard your shippe whereto I so much the rather counsell you because our victuals growe so short that if wee dislodge not hence the sooner we shall be quite emptied My louing friend answered our Knight I may iustly say that next vnto God you are the man to whom I am most beholding deliuering mee from the great daunger wherein I was And let mee assure yee that so long as my soule liueth as a guest in this bodie you haue a Knight ready to bee employed for you without reseruation of hazard or perill whatsoeuer for you haue
done so much for me I being none other then a silly knight destitute of all meanes my best meanes consisting in a poore broken and battered armour that while I shall enioy a day of life you may worthily acknowledge it to be yours My Lord answered Maister Elisabet you say what pleaseth you of your selfe but howsoeuer I account my selfe the happiest of all other professing my Art that vnder Gods assistaunce I haue saued the life of the best Knight that euer backt a Courser which I dare publiquely auouch you hauing attempted and finished matters incredible to common iudgements So that I am well assured from this time foreward many that haue endured shames and iniuries must expect helpe by our means whereas otherwise they shall remaine miserably without any hope Therefore Ibeing borne to be the poore occasion of so great a blessing doe accompt my trauell more liberally recompenced then if I had all the wealthy treasures of the world together Worthy Friend quoth our Knight leaue these commendations to some other on whom happily they may be more deseruedly bestowed and councell me I desire ye in the busines I haue vndertaken as I shall make it further knowen to ye you are not ignorant that in no meane griefe and heauinesse we parted from the Isle of Romania and by importunity of the Mariners only wee set sayle for further passage as purposely bound for Constantinople but that windes and tempests haue quite altered our course All which notwithstanding for any perill I finde in my selfe my minde varies not a iote from my first determination so that if you can alleage no contradiction I am more ready then euer to aduenture the Sea for Greece where I would gladly see the Emperour and some singularities of the Countrie which are no common matters to our knights of Gaule Therefore if you be as well contented let vs away for that part our returne to Grasinda alwayes remembred at all times when you please and according to promise at our parting CHAP. XI How the Knight of the greene Sword made knowen to the Emperour of Constantinople to whom the Island appertained where he slew the Andriagus the great fortune and victory he there obtained And of matters happening to him afterward WHen Maister Elosabet heard the minde of our knight of the greene Sword which euermore was bent towardes Constantinople he said Trust me my Lord I thinke it expedient then that you should first write a Letter to giue aduertisement that by your meanes but more especially the grace of our Lord assisting you haue deliuered this Country from the deuils slauery and subiection Deare Friend quoth the knight I vnderstand that you haue beene knowen to him a long time but me he hath neuer seene therefore doe you write such a Letter and according as your selfe shall best deuise it Whereto Maister Elisabet willingly consented and instantly wrote at large to the Emperour all the aduentures happening to our knight since they departed from Grasinda especially how miraculously he had fought with and conquered Endriagus a Monster more diabolicall then humane Desiring him in the knights name to send people to replant so desart a place and to let it be called thence-forward Saint Mary Island So giuing the Letter to a Squire his kinseman hee commaunded him to goe to the Emperour and to returne againe so soone as possibly hee could with prouision to revictuall their Ship Being imbarked the winde sate so prosperously for him that on the third day following he arriued at Constantinople where the Emperour then being after such reuerence done as best beseemed hee presented him the Letter from Maister Elisabet saying Sir Master Elisabet your most hūble and affectionate seruant hath sent you this Letter whereby I hope you will receiue no meane contentment Then the Emperour tooke and read it being mightily amazed to vnderstand that Endriagus was vanquished which caused him to speake thus out aloud Before GOD here are very strange tydings In the presence then among many others were two Princes his most familiars the one named Gastilles sonne to the Dutchesse of Garastra his sister a Knight esteemed among the best and Count Salender Brother to the faire Grasinda taking them aside hee shewed them the Letter from Maister Elisabet After much admiration among them all the Emperour sayd The Knight of the Greene Sword of whom so many high prayses are reported hath slaine the monster Endriagus in single fight and because this messengers owne eyes are witnesses thereof I pray you let him make relation of what he knoweth Vpon my faith answered Gastilles verily it is a matter hardly to be credited that a mortall man should combate a Deuill with a Sworde I thinke it was neuer read nor heard of before Wherefore if it be so as Maister Elisabet hath written to ye that such a man hath so much honoured yee by comming into your Countrey you ought to giue him the best entertainment can bee deuised Let me tell ye quoth the Emperour what I haue determined I thinke it not much amisse that you and Count Salender should first goe to him euen to the Island where as yet hee remaineth sickly and conduct him in the best maner you can imagine taking along with you such victuals and other necessaries as is conuenient for such a purpose But aboue all the rest forget not to take some excellent Painter with you to draw in naturall figure that horrible beast because there is no possibilitie of bringing him hither yet we would haue his proportion so neere to the life as may be For it is my purpose where he hath been conquered to erect a high Pillar of brasse on the top whereof shall be aduanced the Knights Figure that fought with him and the Monsters also in liuely shape with so ample a discription in golden Charracters engrauen thereon that all succeeding times may know this famous Action In which respect I pray ye to vse your speediest diligence for I shall neuer rest in quiet vntill herein I am fully satisfied The two Princes knowing the Emperours will tooke so good order for their shipping as very early the next morning they were embarked when hoysing Saile with apt and prosperous windes in few dayes they landed in the Isle Saint Marie so newly called at the request of the Knight of the Greene Sword Hee being aduertised of their arriuall went to meete them doing them all the honour that the time and place could permit especially to Count Salender knowing him to be brother to the beautifull Grasinda And although he looked somewhat wanne and meagre by reason of his long sicknes yet our Grecians reputed him to be one of the most compleat Cheualiers that euer they had seene Wherevpon after ceremonious welcoms ended on all sides Gastilles taking him by the hand sayd Sir Knight Mine Vncle the Emperour hath sent vs expresly to you to thanke you in his behalfe for the great good you haue done to this whole Countrey
to vse his Sword and stand as defence for all such as are in need no doubt but Heauen will be his helpe in defending him from all harme and encreasing his great renowne Then came Leonorina the onely daughter to the Emperor with the two daughters to Barandel King of Hungarie 〈◊〉 who was so rich in beauty and all choyce perfections that she seemed a rare pearle among the very fairest Princesses of the world And that which most of all did illustrate her rarities was her extraordinary wisedome and delicate carriage in regard whereof euery one tooke delight to behold her but much more to keepe her company Hauing done a gracious reuerence to the Emperour and afterward to her Mother shee sate down at her feet Then our Knight looking on her remembred when Oriana was left by King Lisuart in SCOTLAND being then about her age at which time Loue depriued him of his liberty and gaue him wholly as her seruant Immediatly all the fauours of amitie gracious entertainments since their first acquaintance presented themselues to the eyes of his soule and his affection being no way weakened or impaired either by length of time or distance of place but rather much more encreased threw such a sudden amorous affliction vpon him that he was wonderfully pensiue in this melancholy fit he thus spake to himselfe silently Oh happy prison which by good reason tooke my spirit captiue for more admittance into greater libertie Oh sweet death occasion of a double life Oh quick remeÌ„brance that canst keepe such an affectionat â—oue so couert Poore Amadis farre off from thy louely felicity what canst thou hope for heereafter wouldst thou hinder the issue of thy life whereby thou mayst be rid of so many miseries Ah Oriana the true exemplary of all vertue thy absence is so grieuous to me as I can neuer hope to recouer ioy With the conclusion of this priuate imparlance he breathed forth a loud-speaking sigh which the Emperour perceiuing became full of maruaile thinking some strange accident had befalne him But instantly they noted a chearefull reuiuing of his spirits and his lookes to bee as fresh and faire as before yet as ashamed of his soules sudden rapture in this kinde to lay his passions so open to euery eye the new tincture in his countenance gaue euident testimony This raised a more earnest desire in the Emperor then before to know whence such a sudden vnexspected mutation should proceed vrging the opinion of Gastilles therein Trust me Sir quoth he I am not able to iudge in this case but ratherstand as one confounded to see that such a man as he is should declare so little discretion in such an assembly Assure your selfe replyed the Emperour this passion proceeded from some intimat affectioÌ„ to her that hath the highest command ouer him It may be so answered Gastilles but to clear all doubt let M. Elisabet be questioned in this case Then was he called the Emperor said to him Elisabet my long-loued friend I am desirous to know one thing of you which I charge ye by the faith you beare to God to resolue mee in if you can And I sweare to you vpon my soule that by mee it shall neuer bee discouered Sir answered Maister Elisabet you may well perswade your selfe that I will not lye to a personage of your greatnesse but will tell you freely any thing I know Can you quoth the Emperour yeeld a reason why our new-come knight both sighed and wept so lately I desire you not to conceale it from me for if hee stand in need of any thing whatsoeuer assure your selfe hee shall be supplied in such good sort as he shall haue iust cause to shake off all melancholy Sir replyed Elisabet heerein I can say nothing to you for he is such a man the very closest in such maters as he will not haue manifested as I neuer saw the like No man can better dissemble his priuate fantasies yet I haue often seene him in such extremities that if a man might gather iudgment by sighing I haue imagined that his heart must needs split in sunder yet neuer was it possible for me to know the cause But thus much I verily conceiue that it must needs be the controulling power of loue which torments him in such tyrannicall maner being perhaps far off from her whoÌ„ he affecteth I iumpe with you in opinion said the Emperour and I could well wish that his loue were to some Lady of this country for I would be so liberall in bountie to him as there is neither King Prince or Lord so potent but might repute himselfe happy to match his daughter in marriage with him that thereby we might be the more certaine of his company And if you Maister Elisabet my hearts true friend can worke this mater out of him by your wit rest thus resolued that you shall well vnderstand my acceptation of the seruice which you may doe in this kinde and therefore let me perswade you to pursue it Sir quoth he you shall perceiue that I wil do my vttermost heerein So the Emperor rising went to the Empresse taking her aside said Madame you haue lately seen as wel as my selfe what sadnes our knight of the greene Sword suddenly fell into we cannot gatherwhat should moue him thereto therfore I entreat you to deuise some meanes wherby we may know it likewise if hee will consent to stay here still with me I wil not be sparing to him in any demaund whatsoeuer My Lord said she it were best in my iudgement that to morrow we should attempt this enterprise for I will take him at such apt oportunitie as he shal haue work enough to deny me In the meane while I will allow such gracious fauours towards him as both you and I will preuaile in that wee would haue So they spent out the whole day entertaining the knight beyond all compas and on the morrow after Dinner the Emperour caused the Ladies to meet there againe where at the first encounter hee was charged by the Empresse who the better to gaine her intent smyling as it were by way of deuising said Sir Knight since you came into this Court I wel remember that a mightie melancholy fitte seazed on you suddenly and it is no longer since then yesterday let me entreate ye fair Sir to tel me whence it should proceede for if it were occasioned by any iniurie either done heere or any-where else within the Emperors commaund bee well assured that you shall bee righted And if it might stand with your good liking to abide heere with my Lord the Emperor no knight in all his house can find better welcome I would perswade you thereto if I might Madam quoth he if I had so much power as to commaund my selfe I should thinke it a happines for me to haue so gracious an offer but being compelde to obey mine owne hearts affections which no way may permit
dinner our Knight accompanied with many Lords and Gentlmen rode into the Forrest There they met with great store of wilde beasts who being well nere spent with running made backe againe vpon the pursuing Houndes But as our Knight earnestly followed a Hart which had escaped from the toyles both hee and Gandalin were strayed so far into the woods as they were enforced to spend the whole night there by not knowing how to recouer againe their way of entrance And as they traced from one side to another at length they came neere to a very beautifull Fountaine enuironed round about with trees of such heighth as it was impossible almost to meet with taller There they resolued to abide till the next morning wherefore alighting from their horses they first watered them and after tooke off their bridles to let them graze And because our Knight could not so soone betake himselfe to rest hee walked along vnder the faire-spreading trees and discerned somewhat neere him a white horse lye dead all couered with fresh-bleeding woundes which hee had lâ—tely receiued Moreouer he heard the voyce of a man complayning very lamentably as one that felt intollerable paine and anguish but being vnable to discerne from whence it proceeded by reason that the night was so darke and cloudie he drew as neere to the clamour as he could to listen the cause why he thus complayned Then the voyce seemed louder to his attention then before and he could easily vnderstand the deliuery of these speeches Ab miserable man vnfortunate Bruneo de bonne Me now thou dost too plainly perceiue that thou art enforced to finish thy dayes and all thy affectionate desires wherewith thy loyall heart hath beene so long time afflicted Ah Amadis de Gaule my worthy Lord neuer more shalt thou see thy faithfull companion Bruneo for in the quest of thee according as thy well-beloued Sister Melicia commanded me I fell into the hands of Traytours who haue wrought my death without the ayd or succour of any friend to helpe me O vnkinde Fortune vtter enemy to my felicity thou hast throwen me so farre off from all remedy as I haue not so much as the meanes whereby I might make knowen my disaster to any one that should reuenge my wrongs which were no meane comfort to mee in this wofull case and the more contentedly would my poore soule part out of this wretched world Ah Melicia floure and mirrour of all vertuous perfections this night thou losest the most loyall seruant that euer Lady or Gentle-man had for my whole life-time was deuoutly dedicated onely to obey and please you in all faithfull seruices And vpon my soule if you well consider it perhaps you will finde this lesse extreame for you being assured that you shall neuer meete with any other so constant to you as your Bruneo Now doth the lampe of my life beginne to burne dimbe and my afflicted heart loseth all his forces wherewith by your remembrance onely I haue heeretofore performed many manly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie Now therefore I must needes recommend it to you entreating you so to fauour and respect it as neuer sinning against you in loyaltie Death that hath seazed on me thou shewest thy selfe too sharp and rigorous to me in robbing me of all my happines all my ioy and pleasure in one instant Nor doe I expressely blame thee for depriuing me of my life but because thou couldst not permit mee before my death to accomplish the charge imposed by Melicia on me which was to find out her brother Amadis Heere he paused awhile but presently proceeded on againe thus Alas this commaund was the very first that euer she did put me in trust withall and now as I too plainly perceiue must bee the last also Whereby I feele a double torment for if I could haue had the meanes to satisfie her heerein my trauaile though ending in death I should haue esteemed happy And that deare Mistresse is my chiefest affliction that my dayes are cut off before I had the power to acknowledge the infinitie of gracious fauours by you bestowed on me but rest you well assured and on my soul I protest it that I neuer stood in feare of death in whose face I haue oftentimes hazarded my fortunes but grieue to finishe my life thus in louing you too affectionately Then a heart-breaking sigh interrupted his speech which yet againe he quickly recouered saying Ah my deare friend Angriote Estrauaux where art thou now how hast thou forsaken me Thou hast maintained this quest with mee a long time together and now in need hast left me not affording mee any comfort or succour And yet I haue little reason to blame thee because my selfe was the meanes of our separation this day to both our great misfortunes that sundered vs from euer meeting any more Then began he to sigh extremely and the coldnesse of his stomack breaking foorth many hickoâ—… among innumerable sighes made a strange confusion of his words â—ollowly vttered In regard whereof our Knight who had well vnderstood all these wofull complaints could not refrain from teares neuerthelesse going at last to the place where he lay he thus spake to him My kind friend Bruneo what dismall mishap hath thus befalne thee I pray thee be of good cheare and put thy trust in our Lord God who hath done so much both for thee and me as to conduct mee to this place where I will compasse some meanes to helpe thee Bruneo conceipted in himselfe that these wordes came from his Squire Lasinde whom he had sent to seeke some Religious man by whom hee might be confest before his death wherefore he thus answered Alas my deare Lasinde thou hast tarâ—…d too long for I feele my fainting in such forwardnesse that I cannot accomplish now what I purposed Therefore let me entreate thee that so soone as my soule hath forsaken this her sad habitation thou wouldst returne into Gaule to faire Melicia whom when thou hast acquainted with my mischance present her the rightsleeue of my shirt thus tincturde in my true heart-blood and seauen letters foulded vp therein which I haue alwayes hitherto kept as carefully as mine own life And because strength fayleth me doe thou supply out the rest that should be said assuring her that the griefe she will conceiue for my misfortune by thinking her selfe to be the cause thereof sending me in search of her Brother Amadis did more torment me then any torture else could doe Why how now deare friend answered our knight doest thou thinke me to be Lasinde thy Squire why man I am thy companion Amadis for whose sake thou art falne into this great danger Therefore take heart man be of good comfort and I will bring thee to so worthy a man as shall restore thee to health againe very speedily Now albeit Bruneo was so weake by the great aboundance of blood which he had lost as hee was no longer able to speake yet knowing Amadis by his voyce
first to bee done before I present my selfe to the Ladies of this Country Then Master Elisabet called for a Skiffe which instantly was broght whereinto they entred and as they made towards the Shoare they esspied a Ship lying at Anker Herevpon our Greeke Knight being desirous to know who was in it commaunded the Mariners to get neere it which being done Angriote called to them in the Shippe demaunding whence they were whether they were bound and who was aboord Surely Sir replyed our Patrone our Shippe is come from the Enclosed Isle and heere are two Knights aboord who will gladly tell ye what you desire to know When our Greeke Knight heard speech of the place whereto he was so much affected and that two of his companions were there his heart leapt with ioy and Angriote continuing his questions desired the Patrone to cause the two Knights to come vp on the Deck and in the meane while to tell him how they were named That may not I doe answered the Patrone lest they should grow discontented with me but I will call them vp to you and performed his word accordingly Then they came vp on the Orelop and Angriote saluting them demanded if they knew where King Lisuart lay Trust me Sir answered one of them wee will gladly instruct you in any thing we can but first we would entreate you to resolue vs in one matter if it consist in your power for which wee haue vndertaken this voyage and purpose not to soiourne in any place vntill wee can be therein satisfied If wee know it said Angriote you may be well assured that we will not conceale it from you Sir Knights quoth the other haue you heard any newes of a Knight named Amadis de Gaule in search of whom many of his friends haue endured much paines and trauaile and haue left few places without enquirie These wordes did so touch our Greeke Knight with ioy and compassion that hee could not refraine from teares considering what affection so many worthy men did beare him and what sorrowes they suffered for his sake First tell me said Angriote what and who you are and afterward you shall vnderstand so much as I know Then the other who all this while had bin silent stepping forward said Such as know me call me Dragonis and this my companion is named Enill both resolued to ore-run the whole Ocean and question Port by Port vntill we finde the men wee speake of Gentlemen quoth Angriote God be your speed and for your sakes I will gladly enquire of our Shippes wherein are straungers of many Nations what they can say to this demand of yours Our Greeke knight vrged him to this answer because hee would not be knowen so soone Angriote then began again saying I pray you Sir where may we finde King Lisuart and what newes is in his Court Sir answered Dragonis he is now in a certain City of his called Tagades an excellent Port of the Sea confronting Normandie And there is a great assembly of his knights sitting in coūsell about a motion made by the Emperour of Rome to enioy his Daughter Oriana in mariage wherto no one will giue consent Already there are arriued many Romanes to conuey her thence with them among whom is the Prince Salusta Quide Duke of Calabria other the greatest Lords of the Empire beside a worthy traine of Ladies and Gentlewomen and shee is already called Empresse of Rome But she mournes incessantly for it is much against her mind that this marriage should be so much as talked of We may well imagine that this was more then Greek to our Greek Knight for neuer was man strooken into such an astonishment especially vnderstanding the great regrates and grieuances of the Princesse Notwithstanding his spirits recouering chearefull vigour and being resolued withall that it was quite against her consent and contrary to the liking of the Lords of Great Brittaine hee might the more easily helpe her by Sea or Land wherein hee would not faile the very meanest Gentle-woman in the world Much greater duty then he owed to her without whose grace and fauour hee could not liue one houre as he was verily perswaded in his soule And highly thanked God for vouchsafing his arriuall in a time so opportune that hee might doe her any seruice As not doubting but to compasse the height of his attempt getting her into his power and without any blame by her and to ouercome all his misfortunes together And here in his soule he read a lecture to his Ladie discoursing his bitter sufferings and languishments the paines and perils by him endured since the time he saw her last and now the catastrophe of all contentment after a more then Herculean labour Now said Angriote to Dragonts you are sure that the Romaines are already come about this businesse On my faith quoth he it is yet but foure dayes since wee parted from the Enclosed Isle on the very same day there arriued Quedragant Landin his Nephew Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale Mandacian of the Siluer Bridge and Helye the Deliberate who came to know of Florestan Agraies when they should begin the quest of Amadis de Gaule And because Quedragant purposed to send to the Court of King Lisuart to vnderstand there some tidings by strangers Florestan made him answere that it wold be but lost labor in regard that himselfe had made the like question could know nothing But wee heard by one of his Squires that there happened some difference between them which he corrected in such sort as he is much commended in all places for it I pray you Sir quoth Angriote tel vs what is that Florestan He is answered Dragonis one of the sons of king Perion of Gaule who sufficiently resembleth the goodnes and worth of his two other brethren Hereupon at large he recited the contention between him the Romanes in presence of the Queene Sardamira how his Squire after-ward came to the Enclosed Isle with their Shields wheron in bloody caracters was written each mans name And because they were so shreudly handled by Florestan the Queene sent after to entreate him to be her conduct to Mirefleure whether shee went to see the Princesse Oriana These newes were highly pleasing to the Greeke Knight his associates neuerthelesse when he heard him name Mirefleure his hart began to tremble remēbring what delight and pleasure hee had there somtime receiued Wherfore with-drawing himself aside he called Gandalin to him saying My friend Gandalin thou hearest as wel as I these tidings concerning Oriana doest know withal that if they should take effect I could not liue one houre after therefore let me preuaile with thee to doe one thing which I will aduise thee and this it is Goe thou with Ardan to Grasinda and tell her that you two with these other Knights heere present will trauaile to finde out Amadis de Gaule Being come to the Knights secretly tell them that I am heere
good a King and you for once I will saue the life of this presumptuous Romane Neuerthelesse if any of his companions fall into the like danger let them be well assured that they must make amends for him For I neuer heard of any vaine-glory like to theirs wherein they haue gotten an habite and custome to condemne any Knight errant in respect of their owne worthinesse Moreouer Sir I pray you tell the King that for the much good I haue heard of him I shall neuer bee willing to yeeld him any discontent or enter into any seruice hurtfull to him But withall I humbly entreate him to fauour me in the prosecution of my victory if others shall present themselues for the Combat to the end that hereafter they may not bee forward in despising other men after the manner of the Emperor Patin who hath great delight in threatning others and yet beares away the blowes shamefully himselfe like to these Bragadochiaes of his band So mounting on horsebacke he rode to the square Perrou whence he tooke the two Crownes and carried them to Grasinda who you must needes presume was extraordinarily pleased and thanking the Knight heartily prayed him to proceede on since he had begunne so well Then calling for a new Launce which speedily was brought him he returned to the end of the Lists attending when another should come offer himselfe And seeing no man stirre being wearie of so long wayting he called for the Damosell Messenger that brought the Letter to Court saying thus to her Faire friend I pray you goe to the King and tell him that I most humbly desire him if the Romanes will combate no more that he suffer not any of his Court to supply their defect for ouer and beside the smal honour they shall gaine by vanquishing so silly a Knight as I am yet at this time I am not willing to meddle with them But if any of the other will reuenge their companions disgrace I am heere ready to receiue them all one after another yea or two of the very best of them both together The Damosell rode presently to the King and deliuered all that the Greeke Knight had committed to her trust where-to he answered That hee was well pleased with his motion considering the great imposition layde vppon him by his Lady And if hee liked to loue him and be one of his followers he would honour him as highly as any Knight of his Court. Moreouer quoth the King assure him from me that he shall suffer iniury by Combate against none other then the Romaines who earnestly craued it at my hands And he had great reason for this answer because he had then no Knight able to contend with the Grecian For all were absent from the Court in regard of the tempestuous troubles except Guillan le Pensif who was then sicke and Cendile de Ganote who the day before by an vnluckie accident was shot through both his legges with an arrow as the King came to the fall of a Hart. This answere being vnderstood by the Damosel like a wise discreet Gentlewoman humbly thanked the King saying further thus Sir if the Greeke knight could so easily haue beene entreated the Emperour of Constantinople had not so soone lost him but hee will neuer subiect himselfe to any as hauing more affected liberty then all the goods and treasures of the world And thus assure yourselfe that his onely desire and felicity is to defend the right of Ladies and Gentlewomen in preseruing them from wrong or abuse offered to them in which honourable imployment he hath wonne such immortall fame and renowne in manifold difficult and dangerous attempts as the seuerall reports would seeme incredible So with your answere I will returne to him or any seruice else you please to commaund me giuing you further to vnderstand that till it be midday he will attend them that dare aduenture the Combate but afterward he shall hardly stay or admit any such leysure Then she returned to the Greeke knight who hauing heard the Kings answere went to Grasinda saying For ought I can perceiue Madame the Crowne is your owne franke and free and I clear'd from all further danger of the Romanes neuerthelesse in expression of my dutie to you I will tarry yet a litle longer to see if any of them haue the heart to aduenture his fortune Hauing thus spoken he called one of his Squires and said to him Carry my Shield and set it on the Perrou then proclaime aloude that if there be any other Romaine who is willing to enter the Combate let him come and aduance his Shield by mine The Squire did as hee was commanded yet for all this not a man of them would stirre but stood looking one vpon another especially Maganill who among the Romanes was reputed for one of the best Knights in the world yet being very fearefull of the Greeke and willing to excuse himselfe he thus spake to his other companions You know my friends that yesterday the Prince Saluste Quide vndertooke the Combate against Grumedan and I made him promise that if he were vanquished by him that I and my two brethren would reuenge his cause therefore of necessitie I may not now aduenture But I am much amazed at you all to see you so voide of heart and courage as to stand like men confounded in soule at one onely encounter of the Launce perfourmed by the Greeke Then he called to Gradamor and Lazanor two young Romaine Knights of spirit enough and said to them Me thinkes you are too slow in aduenturing your fortunes You see the Greeke make proffer of combatting with any two among vs and I am very certaine that if you two will accept his challenge hee shall finde it no easie matter to deale with you let mee therefore perswade you to vndertake him These words did so puffe them vp with a vaine conceit of themselues as they called immediatly for their Armes and entring into the Lists very boldly depending more vpon presumption then any mannerly education passed by before the king without any offer of salutation or seeming so much as to see him Then ryding to the Perrou Gradamor in very despightfull manner hauing his Sword drawen in his hand smote with all his force at the Greeke knights Shield aduaunced thereon and brake it in pieces crying so loud as he could Ill may be thriue that suffers any longer this saucie mates Armes to stand heere so proudly When the Greeke Knight both heard and saw this iniurie he grew so highly offended that without staying to call for another Shield he tooke a new Launce and giuing the spuries to his horse met the two Romaine Knights so couragiously that one of them was throwne to the ground so amazedly as he knew not whether it was day or night and euery man thought that his necke was broken hee lay so quietly Now because our Greekes Launce was shiuered in many pieces he drew his Sword and turning his
face to Lazanor loaded him with such mighty strokes as if hee had not caught fast hold on the maine of his horse hee had falne to the earth But as he lay thus bowing the Greeke seized on his body and by meere strength of arme tearing the Shield from about his necke hee threw him against the ground Neuerthelesse quickly he receiued footing and went to helpe vp his brother In this time the Greeke was dismounted from his horse which he feared to loose because he ran about the fielde but minding more his present busines hee ranne pell mell vpon his enemies laying so stearnely about him on euery side as they were no way able to endure him Now gaue he good testimony of his valour and that hee was no learner in such extremities but as one of the Romanes was running about the Perrou and the other following speedily after him onely to auoide the Greekes keene edged Sword hee gaue Lazanor such a stroake on the right leg as it was well neere cut in twaine so that meere paine and anguish made him fall downe and piteously he craued mercy But the Greeke Knight pretending that either he heard or vnderstood him not he set his foot on his brest and so left him stretcht out along on the ground returning to Gradamor who fled to the king for warrantie of his life All which would not serue his turne for with his Sword he did beat him backe againe to the Perrou where being quite out of breath he fell downe all along where the Greeke setting foote on him smote so many blowes on his Helmet that it fell off from his head which hauing now at so apt aduantage he purposed to smite from his shoulders but that the other cryed out to him Ah gentle knight for Gods sake mercy I am ready to doe whatsoeuer you shall command me Remoouing his foote from off him he suddenly looked back and espied Lazanor creeping on his knees to steale away but he quickly caught hold on his arme and dragd him along to the Perrou laying him close by his brother Gradamor which made euery one imagine that there he would smite off their heads together Whereupon Don Grumedan who hated them to the death spake out so loud as euery man might easily heare him Mee thinkes the Greeke hath so well reuenged the wrong done to his Shield as Gradamor hath good cause to remember it while heâ— liues As he spake these words Esplandian came to him and the Greeke demaunded what hee would haue Sir answered Esplandian I beseech you for my sake spare the liues of these two Knights seeing they yeeld themselues as vanquished But he feigned as if hee vnderstood him not wherfore Esplandian prayed Count Argamont to interprete for him which he did Truely Sir quoth the Greeke I will gladly bestow their liues on this sweet youth prouided that you will tell mee of whence and what he is Beleeue me Sir replyed the Count I know not any man in this Court that heerein can resolue you for he was brought hither almost by miracle Then briefly he reported how and in what manner the aged Hermite found him I haue often heard of him said the Greeke in Romania and that he is named Esplandian by reason of certaine naturall letters or carracters vnder his brests You say true answered the Count and you shall see them presently if you please So he commanded Esplandian to shew his brests as accordingly he did whereat the Knight not a little meruayling said Faire youth I pray God to blesse thee and send thee good fortune in the highest degree So mounting on horse-backe againe he left the Romaines with young Esplandian and returned to Grasinda saying Beleeue me Madame I haue beene ouer-troublesome to you but I was compelled thereto as your selfe hath seene and could make no speedier dispatch Vpon my faith answered she you can neuer doe any thing but I shall very thankfully accept it let vs now then goe on-ward if you please So getting forth of the crowd they tooke the way to their Shippes in so high content on all sides as possibly could be Being come aboord they commanded the Mariners to set saile for the Enclosed Isle But because the Greeke Knight had some suspition that Don Grumedan would stand in need of Knights helpe to maintaine the Combat which he had vndertaken if so be it should go forward he desired Angriote and Bruneo to stay behind succor him in the meane while to vnderstand some tydings of Oriana if any way they could attaine thereto CHAP. XVII How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter Oriana to the Court that he might deliuer her to the Romanes And of that which happened to a Knight of the Enclosed Isle But more especially of the Combat which Don Grumedan had against them that defied him ALready hath beene declared to you that the Princesse Oriana being at Mirefleure the Queene Sardamira by the consent of King Lisuart went thither to see her and to acquaint her with the Emperours affection towards her as also with what magnificence she should be wel-comed to Rome Now in the prosecution of our History you must vnderstand that after full conclusion was past with the Romanes concerning her the King would haue her come to the Court commanding his Nephew Giontes to take two Knights more with him bring her thence away with all conuenient speed But he gaue him charge vpon perill of his life that none but they of her owne company should haue any conference with her For execution of the Kings command Giontes tooke Sadoce and Lazanor with him who being come to Mirefleure after they had acquainted her with her fathers purpose they made ready a Litter for her because otherwise shee was vnable to trauaile she was so weake and sickly by reason of her continual mourning yet on she needes must accompanied with the Queene Sardamira and other Ladies Betweene Mirefleure and Tagades where the King soiourned approaching nere to a goodly Fountaine enuironed with diuers young spreading trees they espyed in a little groue a Knight ready prepared for Combate bearing a Shield of Sinople and a Launce with a Banderole or Pennon of the same colour who calling to one of his Squires said Goe and tell them that guard Madame Oriana that in courtesie I entreate them to let me speake a word with her else I will striue to doe it whether they will or no. The Squire going to Giontes told him as his Master had commanded him whereat he beganne to laugh hartily that he being alone should send them such a threatning braue wherefore hee gaue them this answere Friend returne to the Knight and tell him that he cannot at this time speake with Madame Oriana moreouer that if hee contend violently to doe it he will not find it easie for him When Oriana heard these words she tooke them very vnkindly and said to Giontes Fair Sir why should you be offended at any mans speaking with
me Perhaps he brings me such good newes as may be very pleasing to me Madame quoth he the King hath commaunded vs on our liues that no one may come neere your person much lesse speak with you vntill you come to him The Squire returned his answere to his Master in the meane while Giontes misdoubting that hee must needes try the Combate made him ready for it As readily came the Knight who stiled himselfe the Greene Knight into the fielde and both giuing the spurre to their horses met together so furiously that their Launces flew in pieces and Giontes his horse being shouldered fell to the ground with his Maister vnder him so that he could not readily recouer himselfe Whereupon the Greene Knight trotting to him desired him once more that hee would permit him to speake with Oriana By my faith Sir answered Giontes if you do it is much against my will and by this mis-fortune of my horse Hardly had he concluded these words but the Greene knight heard Sadoce crying that hee should stand vpon his guard Wherefore leauing Giontes he ranne against the other and failed in the attaint which Sadoce did not but met him so manfully that his Launce flew in infinit pieces The Greene knight angry at his misse took another Lance and giuing his horse the spurre met Sadoce so powerfully that hee cast him quite out of his saddle Which Lazanor seeing and hoping to bee reuenged for his two companions couched his Launce against the Greene Knight with full perswasion to vnhorse him but they encountred so furiously with their bodies that Lazanors arme was broken and hee sate so amazedly on his horse as hee had not the power to stay him till hee had runne out his whole race because the Greene Knight in his passage by him had pluckt the bridle off his head and seeing him runne in that confused manner he fell a laughing at him Then came he to Oriana and humbly saluting her shee imagined him to be Amadis wherefore raysing her selfe in the Litter she welcomde him very graciously Then the Knight gaue her a Letter speaking thus to her Madame Agrais and Florestan doe duteously commend themselues to your acceptance and haue expresly sent me to you to bring you their mindes contained in that writ Wherefore consider with your selfe if you will command me any seruice to them for I must returne to them with all possible speed being well assured that although I am a man of slender valour yet they may stand in neede of my helpe before their enterprise will be ended Now trust me Sir quoth she they may well faile of meeting with a better Knight then you are witnes the paines you haue taken to speake with me But good Sir seeing you haue done so much for mee vouchsafe to let me know who you are to the end that I the more thankefully remember you heere-after when better I may performe it Madame they that know mee said he doe tearme me Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale whose griefe is not a little for your fathers vnkindnes and cruelty to you Notwithstanding hardly will he bring his purpose to passe it will first cost the liues of many good Knights who for your sake will defend you to their vttermost power Ah my deare friend Garnate quoth she I pray GOD giue mee the meanes whereby I may acknowledge this wonderfull loyaltie Madame said he I haue all my life-life-time desired to doe you some seruice as one that is your most humble seruant and now I must needes take my leaue of you For he saw the Queene Sardamira comming neere who beholding Oriana aduisedly imagined her lookes to be more chearefull and her present disposition much altered from the former whereupon she said Madame I doe not know the Knight that spake with you but he hath handled your guards as roughly as Florestan did them that had the charge of me so that now they need not mocke one another I know not whether it be the misfortune of the way or through their owne want of courage but well I wot that I neuer saw two worthier knights then this and Florestan Oriana faintly smyling answered I saw not how yours were dealt withall but as for these heere it seemes that they met with one who knew well enough how to chastise their harshnesse As they held on this merry mocking Giontes and the two other came towards them so much ashamed of themselues as they durst not hold vp their heads to looke them in the faces But setting on toward Tagades Oriana called Mabila into the Litter to her as desirous to haue her company So being together they closely read the Letter whereby Florestan aduertised the Princesse that Gandalin and Ardan the Dwarfe to Amadis were both arriued at the Enclosed Isle where they exspected their Master within eight dayes following according as hee had sent word thither and Galuanes Agraies beside many more good Knights were all purposely there met together onely to lend her succour so soone as they should haue intelligence of her shipping away to bee sent for Rome wherefore in the meane time she should comfort her selfe and be of good courage as now she had no other cause These newes were so welcome to both the Ladies as nothing else possibly could be more and they imagined that either they were newly reuiued from death to life or deliuered out of a darke dungeon into an incompatable glorious light And all the way as they rode along they could finde no other argument of talke neither so much as thinke on any thing else but only to reade and re-reade the Letter ouer and ouer which questionlesse they did an hundred times But being come to the Court new sorrow ouer mastered this iocund solace fearing lest the Knights of the Enclosed Isle should not be able to execute their enterprise Now so soone as Oriana was alighted she went to her own lodgings neuer going to the Queenes her Mother according as she was wont to doe making an excuse that she was not wel Whereof the King receiuing knowledge hee went to see her accompanied onely with Arban King of North wales No sooner was he entred the chamber but shee thrâ—w her selfe at â—is feet and euen as it were â—…wning her selfe in teares with a trembling voyce thus she spake Alas my King and Father for Gods sake remember your defolate daughter in compassion and bee not lesse fauourable to her then al your life-time you haue beene to meane Ladies Gentlewomen in requiring your ayde and assistance Ah my worthy Lord and Father when Archalaus led you away prisoner it was for the fame of your great goodnes in helping her that thereto vrged you And can it be possible that now you should forget so rare a vertue that euermore was most familiar with you will you deale worse with me then euer you did with any liuing body I haue heard that you will send me to the Emperor of Rome with intent that
beseech you so much as a man may doe that before you send her so farre hence you would maturely consider it and iudge thereof without any partiall affection For as we commonly see that a wise man seldome fals into any errour when he is guided and led by reason euen so we discerne the contrary when he pâ—esumeth so much vpon himselfe that he will allow of no counsell but out of his owne braine then he falles into greater dangers then all his after-wit can recouer as by wofull experience hath bin obserued in many Princes You see my Lord what extremitie your Daughter Oriana is in and if you well consider thereon you may easilie iudge what inconuenience may happen to her person by an inward violent-conceiued despaire which afterward all your life-time you may at leysure repent Beyond all this you will runne into an vnauoydable blame not only of strangers but euen of your owne subiects and thereby grow hatefull to them whereon must needes ensue many mis-fortunes Therefore beleeue the counsell of them that solie desire the good benefit and honour of you and your kingdome whereby no perill what-soeuer can happen to you in so doing but if it should fall out otherwise yet you stand clearely excused and they bound to prepare all possible remedies These considerations my royall Maister do importune my soule with endlesse imprecations that you would vse a fatherly pitty and please these Ambassadors by some other means then the precious price of your daughters blood Vncle quoth the King these words haue moued too much therefore if you meane to please me vse no more of them So turning from him he espied the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell enter the Garden who being come neerer called them to him saying Lords my daughter is now come to court and she is somewhat sickly but I trust she will be better amended to morrow Sir answered Brandatell we gladly would haue her deliuered to vs so soone as may stand with your liking because the Emperour our Master exspects her day by day according as he hath written to you You know replyed the King that I haue conseâ—ted to his request against the whole opinion of the knights of my Court yea and contrary to her will too Notwithstanding I haue done it in regard of the Emperors vertues and the hope I haue of her honorable respect and entertainment In the meane while forbeare a little that she may forget what shee must forsake and prouide your shipping in a readines for this next weeke ensuing I will deliuer her to you fully furnished My Lord answered the Prince Saluste Quide it is not to bee wondred at if at the first she mouâ—ne for parting from you but I am well assured that so soone as she shall be arriued at Rome beholding so many great Lords to giue her obeysance the triumphes prepared to welcome her and aboue all the choyce loue and respect of the Emperour to her her ancient breeding will easily bee forgotten Moreouer if you please to grace Olinda with her company I meane to make her my wife so soone as she comes there because I finde her to be a wise and vertuous Lady Beleeue me quoth the King I wishe it might bee so And then he entred into a large discourse of such especiall vertues remaining in her as more could not be found in any Lady By this time the Tables were couered for dinner in the midst wherof they that intended to combate with Grumedan came and presented themselues speaking thus to King Lisuart Sir you know what words were vsed some few dayes past by Lord Grumedan to the great disgrace of the Romanes so that Prince Saluste and we with him do come to challenge him the combate Because hee shall well know that it ill becomes such an old dotard as he is to make comparison with knights of Rome therefore if you be so pleased it shall be performed tomorrow for it grieues vs that he should remaine so long vnpunished Don Grumedan hearing himselfe thus abused beganne to change colour and as hee was about to make answere the king seeing him in choler arose and said to him Grumedan you haue euermore hitherto beene wise and temperate especially in speech let mee then request you to conceale your displeasure and onely answere to the combat which these Knights doe vrge you to Sir said Grumedan seeing it is your will it shall be so and to morrow I will not faile to meete them in the field according to my promise where I hope to reuenge the wrong they haue done mee in your presence So the King rose from the Table and went into his Chamber with Grumedan demaunding there of him where were they whom he had chosen to take his part Sir said he first I know the right on my side and if Galaor come to morrow as I think he will I am well assured that hee will beare me companie but if hee come not then will I fight with them all three one after another That may not be answered the king for you haue consented to three against three and so the oath remaines before me recorded which makes me stand in great doubt of you because they are young and strong you aged and weake and without any to helpe you Sir said Grumedan God who hateth pride and presumption wherewith they are too much enflated can prouide helpe when it is least looked for But if the worst should happen I know two of mine owne kinsemen that wil not deny to ayde me against them were they farâ—e better knights then they are The King pausing a while suddenly said I haue considered otherwise for you I will disguise my selfe and second you in the cause for assure your selfe you and I shall well hold out against them all three God forbid Sir answered Grumedan that you should so endanger your royall person for me Why said the King in better place I can neuer doe it and neuer else can I iustly acknowledge the manifold seruices you haue done for me hazarding your life in so many seuerall dangers onely for the defence of me and my Realme Sir quoth he the present demonstration of your gracious goodnes towardes me hath so farre enlarged the obligation of my duty to you that if I could dye a thousand deathes in your seruice I should yet confesse my selfe more indebted to you â—ut neuer feare man replyed the king my heart hath yet courage enough and this arme is endued with sufficient strength to maintaine a quarrell of greater moment Pardon me Sir said Grumedan neuer will I giue consent thereto considering what wrong you shall doe to your selfe you being a king of vpright iustice should deale as truely with a stranger as him that is your familiar friend Well quoth the King seeing you are so earnest I will vrge it no further although it goes much against my minde goe then and prouide for your busines for you haue no time now of trifâ—ing delaying
long time in my house not like a great Prince and Lord as you are but rather in the nature of a meane Knight errant And you had reason to conceale your selfe from me for if I had so well knowen you then as now I do I should haue strouen with my best endeauour to doe such honour as you iustly deserue Sweete Madame said he neuer vse such words in regard you haue done so much for me as I remaine obliged vnto you while I liue Walking on in this conference they entred into the Palace of Apolidon where they found the Tables couered for dinner and the meate already serued in Scarcely were they set downe but Angriote Bruneo and the Damosell came in before them where we need make no doubt of their hearty welcome And as Amadis had questioned them what issue Grumedans Combate had against the Romanes they related to him that the King was fully minded to deliuer his Daughter to the Emper ours Ambassadours and that within three or foure dayes at the vttermost Heereat Amadis was so moued that his colour presently chaunged as being doubtfull that either they should not haue time enough for her rescue or that they of the Enclosed Isle would not partake with him in such an enterprise against King Lisuart Therefore to feele how they stood affected to his purpose so soone as the dinner was ended falling into much variety of discourse and growing into some reportarie of his long voyage at last thus he beganne with them My worthy and honourable friendes for ought I can perceiue matters are much altred in Great Brittaine since we haue bin out of it and the King hath got him another kinde of humour then he was wont to haue in precedent times For I haue seene and knowen that he would readily more regard the affaires of poore distressed Ladies then matters of most moment concerning himselfe Notwithstanding to my no little amazement he is bent to the destruction of his own naturall daughter that peerelesse Princesse Madame Oriana then whom neuer was childe more diligent and respectiue of her parents then from time to time she hath alwayes declared her selfe And yet as Angriote and Bruneo doe plainly tell me without regard of all this duty and obedience euen in the meere despight of her and contrary to the iudgement of all the Lords of Great Brittaine he hath relegated and confined her to the onely man in the world whom she most hateth which moueth me so much to commiserate her case as if you would both beleeue me and lend me your assistance we would free her from this thraldome and set her at libertie Sighing and pausing a while hee began againe in this maner What-soeuer I haue said my deare-esteemed kinsmen and friends assure your selues that I will not vndertake any thing without your counsell and furtherance And yet wee should all remember the solemne oath we made to the Queene Brisena at the very last Court held in the City of London where wee then sware neuer to suffer wrong to be done to any Lady or Damosell if she required helpe of vs. Shall we now then endure that she shall be captined and vyllie entreated of whom heeretofore we haue receiued so many honorable fauours Shall the Ladies and Virgins of her company be carried away perforce and for euer banished from their owne country Before God I speake it if we doe suffer this haynous indignity we are well worthy of eternall blame without any excuse or pretence to shield vs nay we shall fall into the base reputation of recreant and vnworthy knights regardlesse both of honour and Armes Let vs then aduise here together what you think meetest to be done For as concerning my selfe I determine to deferre a voyage long since by me intended as not many dayes since I made knowen to my Cousin Agraies Florestan and others by Gandalin and now with such Ships as I should finde heere labour so much as lies in me to breake the purpose of King Lisuart and rescue so many wronged Ladies Among whom next to the most wofull Princesse Oriana is vertuous Olinda whom the King in this new-deuised tyranny will compell to marry Saluste Quide albeit vtterly against his owne liking And now Lords let me mooue one matter to you I would gladly know by what autority he can warrant this crueltie to them that are none of his subiects neither borne within any of his Dominions There is my Cousin Mabila sent by the King her father into Great Brittaine not to be confined for Rome but to remaine with the Queene and keep the Princesse Oriana company to whom her loue hath alwayes bin such as neuer could bed greater betweene two Princesses And I much maruall that his whole kingdome doth not reuolt against him or at least some bold and hardy Knight vnder-take the cause to counter check his folly honorably by Armes We see deare friends that no one as yet steppes forth in the action and therefore I would entreate you that according to the ancient commendable custome diligently obserued among alknights errant you would be carefull that such a shamefull and dishonourable deed may not be done In so doing we shall winne more fame and true renowne then euer hitherto we haue done without any euill imputation or sinister misconstruction Tell me then what you thinke here-of to the end that according to some resolued conclusion we may take order for the most expedient execution Then Agraies whom it neerest concerned as well for his Sister as for the honorable affection he bare to Olinda as hath bin declared to you in the first booke answered before them all in this manner I know not where the man is that would be dull or slow in so acceptable an enterprise considering that before you my Lord and Cousin arriued here we were all assembled in this place to make prouision for this in conuenience And now that you finde vs so conformable to your will I am certaine that no man among vs is of any other minde but that Fortune meerely calles vs to vndertake the businesse and promises vs an vndoubted victory For she seemeth weary that she hath fauoured King Lisuart so long a time and he makes no acknowledgment thereof any manner of way Why should hee send my Sister against her wil into a strange countrie Did my Father giue her him to dispose of at his pleasure You all know that soone after our departure from Great Brittaine I demanded her of the Queene but she denyed me sending me word by Gandales that she would keepe and respect her as her owne person Is this then kindship or courtesie to keepe her in such sort as to ouer-throw all her fortunes in the end Mabila hath she no other place of retirement but to the Court of the Emperour Is not the kingdome of SCOTLAND of sufficient opulencie for her breeding and education Striking his hand on his brest with a very small pause he brake forth againe thus I
very word Amadis the Princesse seemed to rise as with a sudden start demaunding where is Amadis Madame quoth she I heard him I am certaine euen now both speake and fight in the same Shippe where we now are Doe not you yet heare the noyse among the other Shippes Vndoubtedly the fight is hot and fierce Come come deare Mabila answered Oriana questionlesse you are in a dreame No vpon my soule replyed Mabila I heard the slashes of Swordes and the noyse of a very potent Fleete At this very word Amadis entred and seeing Oriana he fell on his knee before her But she ouer-come with extremitie of ioy held him by the arme and glewed her lippes so fast to his as if she meant they should neuer be parted and thus she stood a long while robde of all power for speech till at length she said Ah my dearest Loue seeing I am now in your custody I feare not them that would take me from you or going any further with them for Death it selfe shall now neuer more diuide vs. Madame said he one of the greatest fauours that euer heauen affoorded me is this in giuing me so good an occasion of returne into this country onely to doe such needfull seruice As they meant to continue longer this kinde of discourse Mabila said vnto them Why stand you musing in this manner Doe you not see Sir what need there is of your helpe in yonder other Ships where the fight is fiercer and fiercer Good Cousin goe and succour your deare friendes you may afterward conuerse at more leysure with the Princesse Goe then deare hart said Oriana and returne againe so soone as you can to me Then he departed out of the Cabin leauing Oriana and Mabila to the charge of Angriote and entring his owne Ship beheld Landin de Faiarque and his associats assayled by a Romane Vessell that pressed very furiously vpon them But hee made in with such a strength as they were soone sunke And now remained no more to bee fought withall but that Ship wherein the Prince Saluste Quide was which resisted stoutly against Agraies and Quedragant Neuerthelesse at the arriuall of Amadis the Prince by no meanes could auoyde but that he was smitten downe vpon the Orelope Agraies who hated him to the death because he caried away his beloued Olinda forcibly caught the Helmet from off his head and at one blow parted it from his body Now the Knights of the Enclosed Isle seeing Fortune had bin so fauourable to them placed guardes vpon the conquered Ships while Amadis went to enquire for the Queene Sardamira and the other Ladies whom he found in the Ship where the Prince Salust Quide lay slaine quaking like leaues vpon a tree When Olinda espied Agraies she more ioyfull then euer ranne and embraced him before he had a sight of her but afterward ouercome with the same extremity of delight making a low reuerence to her he said Madame I pray you pardon what I haue done to the Prince Saluste Quide who in seeking to make you his wife and mistresse hath receiued the reward of his presumption by my Sword Sir quoth she I know not what might mooue him to affect me so much considering I neuer shewed lesse loue to any man liuing therefore what he sought to compasse by extremity hath returned vpon him condigne punishment and now I neede mourne the lesse for a whole yeare But I pray you tell me how you happened to succour vs in such a need Madame said he that must be related at more leysure when all this tumult is blowen ouer While Agraies and Olinda were thus in talke together Amadis conferred with the Queene Sardamira who knew not him and comforted her desiring her not to be grieued for the disaster happening to her company but shee wept so extreamely as that it would haue moued any heart to pitty which made him leaue her and goe to the Damosell of Denmarke Then the Queene demaunded of Florestan what he was that had spoken to her Madame quoth he it is Lord Amadis that worthy Knight Nay then said she I am of better comfort then euer and cannot faile of good entertainment in his company for all my life time I haue heard that all Ladies and Damosels receiued from him nothing but honor Amadis ouer-hearing her left the Damosell of Denmarke and returning to her againe said Madame you may thinke your selfe as safe and welcome into this company as when you were with the Prince Saluste Quide and therefore bee no longer disconsolate Lord Amadis answered shee I haue heard euery where reported what honorable fauours you haue extended to women which giueth mee some perswasion that you will deale with me no worsse but better if you can And reason good Madame said he for you being a Queene deserue to haue the very best entertainement And as for my selfe I promise you on my faith that I will endeuour what I can for you and to begin my word with you if you be so pleased I will conduct you to Madame Oriana to the end that you being both together may enioy consolation one with another equall to your owne contentments and liking Then Amadis commanding the two Ships to be vnited together and entring into that where the Princesse was leading the Queene Sardamira by the hand he presented her to Oriana saying Madam here is the Queene Sardamira and all the Ladies and Gentlewomen that should attend you who desire that you would accept of their company Amadis quoth she I am your prisoner and therefore you may and must command me well knew Amadis that she spake these words onely to palliate their close affections wherefore hee would not answere her one word but Oriana shaping her course to the Queene spake thus For ought I can perceiue Madam we must take another way now then going to Rome and endure our fortunes patiently because there is no other remedy Further on shee would haue thus proceeded but that Agraies entred the Cabine leading Olinda by the hand which Oriana perceiuing she left the Queene Sardamira and came and imbraced them as one that had not in a longtime seene them The like she did to Florestan Quedragant and many more thanking them perticularly for their seuerall fauours done vnto her especially Garnate to whom shee said My worthy friend Garnate but for you I had beene dead but the letter you brought me from Florestan did presently reuiue me Madame said he I did but my duty as very glady I would doe in all occasions else you please to command me After these courtesies to all that came and presented themselues before her she called Amadis aside and said vnto him Beleeue mee sweet friend if I had gone on but a little further all your right had beene lost with mee but our Lord hath prouided better for vs both and now I am where willingly I would be Madam quoth hee I haue not done any thing for you equall to the infinite of
Brian said Madame if you please to coÌ„mand any thing to the King your father or to your mother the Queen wee are appointed from this companie to depart for Great Brittaine about your businesse Now was Amadis withdrawn aside with Mabila while Agraies coÌ„ferred with Olinda and Florestan and Angriote with Grasinda And well we may conceiue that Amadis was in a strange perplexity seeing her so neare him whom hee loued aboue all creatures in the world and yet hee durst not so much as speake to her but regarded her with a stedfast eye whereto her eye also seemed to make answere euen as if an imparlance had passed between them which made his words to Mabila to sauour of idle and fond imperfection But shee well knowing the Saint of his deuotion to cure him of his ouer-awing fit bethought herselfe of the most honest meanes that could be both to quicken him and recouer some spirit likewise in Oriana saying soddenly Madame you promised Gandalin yester day that you would write to Queene Elisena and to Melicia and for ought I heare to the contrary he is presently to depart and you haue forgot your letters Oriana who vnderstood well enough at what marke shee aymed answered Let him come hither and by word of mouth I will as well satisfie him as if I had troubled him with my Letters Then one of the Damosels arose and going foorth of the Chamber called for Gandalin who presently entred with her Well had hee beene instructed by Amadis concerning what hee was to doe if the Princesse would speake with him before this company wherefore beeing come where she was hee made her an humble reuerence and then to his Master who talked all this while as I formerly told you with Mabila It was not long before Oriana who sate between Quedragant and Brian arose and taking Brian by the hand said to him I pray you Cosen to witnesse with mee what message I shall send by Gandalin to the Queene of Gaule and her daughter Melicia to the end that you may report it to the King my father if hee inquire any such matter of you In the meane while Lord Quedragant if so hee be pleased shall abide with the Queene Sardimira who knowes well enough how to entertaine him But Brian who was one of the most gentle and courteous Knights liuing would not follow her but with an amiable smile thus answered Madame you must pardon me for beeing appointed as I haue told you to goe to the King about your businesse my friends heere may grow suspitious of me and stand in doubt that I may be so subborned by your gracious speech as I shall shew my selfe more milde and tractable to him then consists in my commission and the charge I haue receiued from them Nay Sir replied Oriana heare but the reason why I would haue you acquainted with this message It is to no other end but by hearing mine owne tongue to relate my hearts tribulations wich I desire should bee knowen not onely in Great Brittaine but likewise in all countries of the world you would bee the more indulgent to mediate my peace and to deliuer al these Ladies from imprisonment And if you were affected to any one amongst them her vertue might preuaile against any sterne deliberation Oriana deliuered these wordes with such a gracious demeanour as they all tooke delight to heare and behold her Especially Brian who although he was young faire and of goodly forme yet was hee more addicted to follow Armes then loue and fewe Knights were more actiue then hee to handle his launce and sword for the defence of iniured Ladies whensoeuer they stood in need of his help Whereby hee became a friend to all in generall and did them infinite particular seruices which being desirous that Oriana should take knowledge of thus hee answered By my faith Madame you may esteeme of mee as you please but if I should long tarrie in so good company I greatly feare I should soone lose that which I haue alwaies held as mine owne since first I had knowledge of my selfe Therefore I had need to get me further off and leaue my roome to Lord Amadis your Cosen they may serue you for witnesses if they be so plâ—â—â—sed At these wordes euery one 〈◊〉 led for he retired with such a grace as declared some bashfulnesse of what hee had spoken leauing Oriana close by Amadis who neuer had any priuate conference with her since his departure from King Lisuarts seruice But now seeing opportunity so graciously fauour him as he might freely speake what hee vvould hee was so vtterly lost in ioy that â—â—e stood trembling as one vnable to vtter a vvord But Oriana laying her right hand vpon his arme caught holde vvith her other vpon his hand locking it fast in hers to testifie the vigour of her affection said Deer friend though no greater happinesse in this vvorld can befall mee then continually to enioy your â—…ed presence yet it hath been no mean discomfort to mee that beeing so neare one to another â—â—e houe bin barred from such a blessing Neuerthelesse I accoumpt my selfe highly beholding to fortune for deliuering me into your power as all my life time I haue desired and wherewith I hope also neuer to part so long as my soule shall liue in this body for it had as I thinke neuer beene created but only to be dedicated in seruice and obedience vnto you yet I knowe very well that we frequenting one with another as sometimes we did in Great Brittaine mine honour may receiue endamagement for the newes of my surprizall is alreadie so diâ—ulged that if wee dissemble not our priuate passions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereby may ensue vnto vs. Therefore I hold it better to gouerne our selues rather by discretion then the lauish power of fond affection which if wee doe we may may alwaies presume that the charitable deed you haue done is no more than the commendable custome among all good Knights that make no spare of their liues to succour afflicted persons especially women so badly vsed as I haue beene And beleeue mee sweete friend if herein you will not follow my counsell by weening to borrow some stolne delight and contentment we shall but formalize an imagâ—…e happinesse lose that vtterly which the wise attending for time will vndoubtedly bring vs. Madame answered Amadis I neuer had any other thought but how I might best bee obedient to yâ—â— neither shall haue any other so 〈◊〉 as I liue because I haue no other maintainance for this poore life of 〈◊〉 But let mee be regarded in your pittie for if you thus 〈◊〉 â—p your sâ—lfe and suffer me to see you no oftner then I doe it is impossible but that the melancholie which ouer-masters mee will hasten my death very suddenly I doe not vrge those priuâ—… which your gracious fauours affordâ—â— me in Great Brittaine or that euery eye sâ—â—uld discern then but 〈◊〉 â—…ght may sometime befrend
is so vrgently required by very strong reason then ought they to afforde it your daughter whom they haue knowne and well thought on so long a time Beleeue it my Lord they can receiue no shame by the deed and your selfe will confesse in the end that their attempt shold not bee displeasing to you they presuming it may be that you haue beene greatly importuned to this marriage and yeelded thereto against your liking I well perceiue quoth the King that you are not much offended with the matter but rather you can both like and allow thereof but I sweare by God I will make them dearely repent it So rising in a great rage hee flung out of the chamber entring into his owne sound there King Arban Grumedan and Guillan le Pensif who went not from him till hee had tolde them all the conference betweene him and the Queene and what an answere she made him Now because they saw him much incensed they thought good to conceale what the meant to say and mildely by little little brake off these speeches But it chanced on the morrowe following that as the Queene came from hearing Masse Durin brother to the damosell of Denmarke fell on his knee before her and presented her a Letter which Oriana had written to her as followeth CHAP. VII A Letter sent by the Princes Oriana beeing in the Enclosed Isle to the Queene her Mother MAdame although you cannot but be alreadie aduertised of my misfortune such as it is yet I thought it â—…ient to let you knowe part of my mournings And as a beginning to this Letâ—er I beseech you most humbly to consider how mishap hath continually followed mee since my banishment from your Countrie from the King my father and you also than which nothing could be more â—â—â—some to me Neuerthelesse not so satisfied I was burried by such a tempest that the Romans which conducted mee beeing ouercome wee were brought to the Enclosed Isle by them who knowing the wrong done vnto vs hazarded their liues to stay our passage any further And because I stand in doubt that such a matter will not be pacified betweene my father and them without great effusion of blood except you Madame haue some respect thereto I thought fit to send this bearer to you entreating you for the honor of God to take compassion on your poore desolate daughter and worke so much with the King that I may returne againe to him and reobtaine his â—…ed fauour hauing no way offended him except hee be displeased that I haue beene too obedient to him for therein onely I confesse my selfe culpable and not otherwise For the rest to tell you how they in whose power I am and the Ladies with me are minded they haue sent Ambassadours to my father as well to knowe how hee likes their succour giuen mee as also to mediate his pittie towards mee Herein Madame according as I haue giuen charge to Durin hee will further instruct you at his arriuall and lend a helping hand to plant peace if you can to such a dangerous warre begun by misfortune for her sake who remaineth Your most humble and obedient Daughter Oriana After the Queene had aduisedly read and re-read ouer this Letter but not without teares shee said to Durin that shee would speake with the King and afterwards giue him an answere And as shee was enquiring of him what entertainement Oriana and her company had in the Enclosed Isle the King came whom shee withdrawing into her Cabinet casting her selfe downe at his feet weeping bitterly shee thus spake to him Alas Sir for the honour of God take compassion on your daughter and read if you please this Letter which she hath sent me The King seeing the Queen so drowned in teares tooke her vp from the ground and receiuing the Letter from her read the contents thereof then to appease the extreamitie of her passions hee thus answered Madame the Ambassadours will soone be here that are sent from thence haue patience till I haue heard them speake They may perhaps giue me such satisfaction as the iniurie which I haue receiued will bee forgotten And they may bring such a message as I will rather consent to mine owne ruine and desolation of all mine estates than to peace Much better doe I affect to die with honour poore and disinherited than to liue amighty King miserably wretched faint-hearted clowded with the teares of you and your daughter Wherefore speake no more hereof to me except you purpose to offend me And so leauing her hee departed out of the chamber Afterward she called for Durin and said vnto him Friend Durin returne to my daughter Oriana and tell her that I can send her no answere vntill the Ambassadors shal be arriued here for the King till then knowes not how to determine on his businesse But assure her I will essay all possible meanes to do what she hath desired me And say I entreate her alwaies to fixe her owne honour before her eyes without which I shall desire her death Bid her remember that a wise and discreet soule is best discerned in aduersitie and not in the flattering times of prosperity And seeing our Lord hath suffered her to bee borne a Princesse and the daughter of so great a King reason doth require that vertue should bee more familier with her than with a body of baser condition in all aduersities whatsoeuer that can happen to her Alwaies committing the managing of her chiefest affaires to God whom I hartily pray to blesse her preserue her in his â—ase protection vntill such time as we shall meet againe together Durin being thus dispatched by the Queene tooke his way towards the Enclosed Isle and some few daies after his departure as the King was sitting downe to dinner in the great Hall an Esquire suddenly entred who gaue him a Letter of credence which when hee had read hee demanded of the Squire of whence and what hee was Sir answered the Squire I am seruant to Quedragant of Ireland who hath sent me to you about such a businesse as I will relate if you please to heare mee Honest friend said the King speak your pleasure Sâ—… quoth the Squire my Master Brian de Moniaste being sent from the Enclosed Isle are landed in your countrie to acquaint you with some especiall matters from Lord Amadis de Gaul and other Knights that are in his company But before they passe any further or come neare your Court they send you word by mee vnder your gracious fauor that they require safe conduct for their comming Otherwise they are determined to publish their message in all parts of your Land and in other kingdomes beside before they make returne to them that sent theÌ„ Wherefore Sir aduise your selfe and send them your intention Well knewe the King whereat the message aymed and therefore he thought it not conuenient that they should proclaime their cause thorough his kingdome a matter not to be done but
in the Enclosed Isle because we heard newes that hee was vtterly lost foure yeares agoe and now it amazeth mee not a little that he should be so suddenly found again and giue such succour to Madame Oriana Lord Grumedan answered Brian the King it may be will know in time both what we are and what seruices we haue done him And if he attempt any thing against vs hee will finde the issue to be more sharp and sower than the entrance was pleasing or delightsome As for Lord Amadis you sawe him not long since in this Court when hee conquered the Crowne from the Romans that maintained the beauty of the maides of Great Brittaine to bee more excellent than the Ladies that came with him Saint Mary said Grumedan what doe you tell me Is it possible that Amadis was the Greek Knight Beleeue it answered Brian it was he and none other By my soule said Grumedan I now well perceiue that I am a man of very poore iudgment seeing I might then haue wel assured my selfe that it was hard for any man to doe what he did I may doubt whether I haue eyes vnderstanding But faire Sir seeing you haue already done so much for me let mee further entreate you to tell mee who they were that lent assistance on my day of Combat Who answered Brian smiling why two of your very dearest friends Angriote d' Estrauaus and Brunco de bonne Mer. In good sadnesse quoth Grumedan if I had knowne them I should haue warranted my victorie more certaine than I did and am well content to confesse now that the honour of the day is more iustly due to them than to me and all my life time I am a friend and seruant to Amadis and to you likewise mine honour reserued As thus they rode on deuising together they met with Esplandian newly returned from hawking with Ambor sonne to Angriote d' Estra uaus carrying a Spar-hawke on his fist and comming somewhat neare them Brian de Moniaste demanded what he was This is answered Grumedan the young Gentleman Esplandian of whom the wise Vrganda hath spoken so many maruailes I haue heard of him sayd Brian heretofore I pray you cause him to stay a while that wee may the better beholde him Which Grumedan did for as hee was passing by them hee called to him saying Come hither Sir see heere the friends of the Greeke Knight who at your request pardoned the Emperours Knights at least wise send him some commendations from your selfe My Lord answered Esplandian I humbly entreate them to pardon me I knew them not but for my loue to that good Knight I would gladly haue the meanes to doe him any seruice and if they please to kisse his hand on my behalfe they shall binde me to them all my life time Faire Sir saide Brian that office shall be mine and I will doe it with a glad soule albeit hee hath changed his name since you last saw him for now hee is called Amadis de Gaule Amadis de Gaule answered Esplandian surely I cannot think it because I heard that he was dead whereat I conceiued no little grief for the renowned prowesse reported to be in him It is he doubtlesse said Quedragant Then Sir I dare assure you replied Esplandian I am not so forie for the losse of my hawke this day though I loued her dearely as I am ioyfull to heare what you haue tolde me because if I may liue to grow great I will begge so earnestly of the Queene that she shall not deny mee to goe see him and to receiue my Knight-hood from his hand if hee shall please so much to honor me Sweet youth said Brian God blesse and prosper you And so they tooke leaue each of other Brian and Quedragant following their way to the Enclosed Isle and Grumedan and Esplandian returning to the Court. CHAP. VIII How King Lisuart called a Councell concerning what hee intended to do against the Knights of the Enclosed Isle And what resolution was agreed vpon After that Quedragant Brian were departed from the Court King Lisuart found himselfe wonderfully discōtented seeing such weightie occasions to grow more and more vpon him he intended on the morrow to call a Councell only of Arban King of Norwales Grum den and Guillan le Pensit who being mette together the King beganne in this manner Honourable friends you know what iniurie I haue receiued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle and what shame I should do to my selfe in suffering them to passe vnpunished Neuerthelesse not to shunne the way which all Princes should take doing nothing without counsell and deliberation I would first bee aduised by you in what manner I should shape my reuenge that hereafter they may remain an example to such as dare enter into the like attempts against mee Full well you knowe how dangerous it is to vse delay in such actions and of what consequence my occasion is therefore I pray you let vs consider together on some redresse and euery man freely speake his minde Arban King of Norwales was the first that answered speaking thus Sir seeing you are resolued to make warre against Amadis and those of his league accounting it vnmeete to accept the offer made you by them it is expedient to consider that the managing of the matter may bee so ordered as the glory must remaine to you For although we holde it vndoubtedly that victorie consisteth in the hand of heauen onely God giuing it when where and how hee pleaseth and commonly agreeing with the iustice of the cause yet diligent prouidence is not to bee neglected in all such cases as are required before any enterprise be attempted or any contempt made of the enemie It is good to imagine that he may prooue able enough to finde you play sufficient if fortune looke fauourably on his cause considering that when men are too confident either of their owne right or trusting to their owne strength it procureth their ruine and totall destruction through ouer-bolde presumption albeit the victorie were their due Fauour me Sir to tell you that if you well consider with whom you haue to deale mee thinkes an aduantageable peace were more honourable for you than a hazardous and doubtfull warre falling out more strangely then can bee imagined You know Amadis and the rest by whom hee is backt and supported to bee all good Knights men of great spirit and all of them nearely alyed to Kings and potent Princes who will not faile them for any disaster or death it selfe You know also on the other side that the most part of your subjects neuer liked or thought well of the deliberation meerly made by your selfe for marrying your daughter to the Emperour the onely motiue and occasion of this warre And therefore you may be well assured that how soeuer they beare it with a smooth brow and rankerous spleen inwardly they can be easily contented that all should goe but badly on your side by not following their
Asse ryding directly towards King Lisuart His aged trauaile was not so speedy but that the two Armies had fought twice together according as you haue already heard and hee came thither on the day before the second truce was finished As hee passed by the Campe he saw on euery side the interment of many slaughtered bodies whereat hee was so grieued that falling into teares and lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen hee said O my Lord God for the honour of thine owne great name I humbly beseech thee to take pittie on this people and grant mee grace that I may pacifie this great disorder Passing on further hee came neare to the Tent of King Lisuart who quickly espied him and immediately knew him whereupon hee went to welcome him for he held this man of holy life in high esteem and well considered that but vpon some great occasion he would not haue left his Hermitage take so great iourney to him whereupon as hee embraced him hee said Good father you are welcome then taking him by the hand he led him into his pauillion and seating him by himselfe in a chaire of veluet hee commanded all to depart and leaue them two alone together and afterwardes fell into this discourse Holy father I know you haue not vndertaken so tedious a trauaile and ill agreeing with your age but vpon some vrgent necessity wherein I humbly desire you to resolue me You haue great reason Sir answered Nascian to conceiue so of me for vndoubtedly extreamity of yeares and the condition whereunto it hath pleased our Lord to call mee may well excuse me from beeing seene among men of blood Neuerthelesse considering the harme that may ensue I haue not feared the danger of my person as hoping to performe a seruice acceptable to God and wholesome to your soule Let me then tell you Sir that being some few daies since in the Hermitage whereunto happy chance was your guide when you and I conferred together concerning the most strange nourishing of Esplandian I vnderstood the occasion of this warre attempted by you against Amadis and his friends Yet am I well assured that you cannot accomplish what you would doe namely marrie my Ladie your daughter to the Emperour of Rome by which enterprise many grieuous mischances haue already happened not onely because it is not agreeable to the greatest and meanest of your kingdome as many times already hath beene told you but for some other reason Sir beside concealed from you yet manifest to mee and against which by Gods lawe you cannot contrarie Knowe then Sir that Madame Oriana your daughter is already vnited in marriage to another as heauen hath appointed and stands well pleased to haue it so The King beeing much amazed to heare the olde man speake in this manner coniectured immediately that weakenesse of braine begot this kinde of language that hee was troubled in his vnderstanding or else had beene misinformed of that which he spake where-upon hee said vnto him How father my daughter was neuer married to my knowledge neither did I euer purpose to giue her to any other then to the Romane Emperour to whome I promised her accounting it for her honour and benefit And God is my witnesse that I neuer intended to dis-inherit her as many haue inconsiderately immagined but only to combine alliance with so great a Lord by meanes whereof he and I so vnited together Christian faith might be the more augmented And therfore my intention beeing iust mee thinkes I should not be therin blamed Sir answered the Hermite that which I haue tolde you concerning some matters hidden from you yet to mee apparant I will presently declare vnto you for from none other then my selfe can you know them Vnderstand then my Lord that the selfe same day when by your command I came to the Forrest where for more delight of the Ladies then present with you your Tents were erected for view of the sporte I knowe not whether you remember it or no I brought you young Esplandian who presented you the Lionesse that gaue him suck at the first The same day the Princsse Oriana your daughter was confessed by me tolde mee in her confession that she had promised mariage to Amadis de Gaule at such time as he deliuered her from the Enchanter Archalaus to whom you had giuen her a little before that the Damosell by whom you were enchanted had brought your state and person into the greatest danger that could bee possible from which Galaor freed you And beleeue it to be very likely that our Lord himselfe gaue consent to the mariage for Esplandian is the issue thereof and of him Vrganda the Vnknowen foretolde many maruailes as you your selfe doe very well know Now in my poore iudgement you should not be displeased there-with considering that Amadis is the sonne of a King and accounted in all places to be one of the best and most gracious Knights in all the world I would aduise you Sir that in shewing your selfe to be such as you euer haue beene you should defend the honour and conscience of your daughter and making an end of this warre call her home again to you vse her hereafter as reason requireth In so doing our Lord will be well pleased with you who else will doubtlesse bee offended with you for the effusion of so much blood which you haue caused to be shedde vpon no occasion When the King had all this while listned to this discourse he shewed himselfe to be very pensiue and at last saide Good father is it possible that my daughter should bee married to Amadis Yes truely replied Nascian hee is her husband and Esplandian is your grandchilde O God quoth the King how ill hath it been for mee that I could not know this matter till now vpon my faith many good Knights had yet beene liuing which now to my no little griefe are dead Alas father why could not you sooner haue reuealed this I might not doe it answered the Hermite for it was tolde mee in confession and if now I haue made it knowne to you thinke it is done by such permission as I receiued from the Princesse your daughter for otherwise you had neuer heard it from mee But she is therewith well contented as well for the clearing of her soule as also to take away all occasion from you of further sinning herein through ignorance At that very instant meere conceit in the King presented before the eyes of his soule the seuerall seruices hee had receiued by Amadis and his kâ—â—â—ed and such they were as hee had not then beene liuing but only by them hauing so many times â—olpen him in very serious affaires Desert in Amadis pleaded iustly for his daughter and a greater gift if hee could bestow it on him and so much the rather because the Emperor to whom he had promised her was dead and beside Vrganda had tolde him many wonders concerning Esplandiâ—â— but aboue all the rest
the ancient Adage Grumedan answered king Lisuart smiling I know very wel that whosoeuer contests with you in matters concerning the honour of Amadis shall finde worke enough to doe but much more to defende himselfe if extreamity should question the case by weapons Sir said Amadis Lord Grumedan hath reason to wish mee well for he hath neither friend or kinsman that oweth him more dutie and obedient seruice then I doe and for such a one I am certaine he will acknowledge and esteeme me By this time king Perion drew nearer and nearer and thereupon king Lisuart made forth to meete him whereof Amadis aduertised him by Durin wherefore he commanded his men to march a slowe pace and taking Gastiles Grassandor Brian de Moniaste and Tiron with him left Agraies to conduct the troupes because king Perion wel knew the ill-will he bare to king Lisuart and feared least discourteous language might passe between them at their meeting whereby the purposed peace should bee quite made frustrate So the two Kings went to meete each other giuing the spurre to their horses and embraced together very louingly king Perion speaking thus to king Lisuart My Lord and brother me thinkes your Armour is much impaired since you departed from the camp albeit I am well assured it lay not rusting in your Armourie while the fight lasted betweene your men and mine And for ought I haue heard they that brought it thus out of fashion haue receiued a payment beyond their expectation and little to their liking So they haue answered king Lisuart thankes be giuen therefore to God and the good helpe that you Amadis and these other Knights brought mee in so vrgent a necessitie as I am sure you haue heard already In good faith said king Perion I haue all my lifetime desired that my children might bee yours in peace and true amity I hope replied king Lisuart that so they shall be before wee parte and our kindnesse neuer to faile especially on my behalfe But seeing Prince Agraies not to be one among them hee enquired expresly for him hauing vnderstood his hatred towards him and desirous to reconcile him and make him his friend if possible it might be Whereupon king Perion made answere that hee stayed behinde as a conduct to the rest of the Armie which followed I pray you Sir said king Lisuart that hee may bee sent for because I purpose not to parte from this place before I haue both seene and embraced him My Lord answered Amadis then I my selfe will goe for him It is well aduised quoth king Lisuart because hee will doe more for you then any other whatsoeuer So Amadis rode directly to Agraies whom hee met not farre off and tolde him what you haue heard already earnestly entreating him that forgetting all discontentment hee would goe with him and giue king Lisuart so good lookes as could be My Lord and Cosen said Agraies you know that my liking or disliking lasteth vpon your pleasure and I heartily desire that the succour which you haue giuen him of whom you speake may be better acknowledged then all the better acknowledged then all the former haue been And further I assure you I am content to requit all the wrongs done to you mee and many more meerely offered in despite of you and without any occasion at all Then they rode on together to King Lisuart who so soone as he saw Agraies left all the rest going to embrace him saying Cosen doe you thinke this embracing as dangerous to me as that was which you gaue mee on the day of our last being together Before God Sir replied Agraies I hope to find this much better then the other for I was neuer to my knowledge in the like danger We will talke therof said the King at better leasure But now you see the king my brother tarries for vs let vs goe conduct him to Lubania where I will make you all the best entertainement I can So they returnd to king Perion and tooke the way towards the Citie King Lisuart had receiued diuers wounds in his bodie but the Chirurgions hauing seene them gaue him hope of speedy recouery yet hee kept his bed ten daies together beeing often visited by the Princes and Lords of his owne country as also the other who to delight him had almost no other talke but of the tricks and stratagems of Archalauâ— by meanes whereof hee compassed his purposes especially when hee carried the Princesse Oriana away prisoner and after-warde King Perion Amadis and Florestan by the subtiltie of Dinarda also in what sorte hee escaped from Galaor and Norandell faining himselfe to bee Branfiles Cosen-germaine to Grumedan But most of all his proiect plotted by the helpe of Arauigne against them all which surely had preuailed but that Amadis was the onely hinderance Such accidents answered king Lisuart doe often come to passe by such wicked wretches as hee is who dare endanger themselues in doing euill and therein make their most delight finding the entrance sweete and easie onely by the instigation of the Diuell who depriues them of all apprehension concerning what dishonour may happen to them beside misery of life which makes death much more welcome to them then life can be As Arauigue himselfe hath now some cause to confesse being in the power of his chiefest enemies and may well serue as an example to all other that are to be taxed with the like vice As hee ended these wordes the good olde Hermite Nascian came to them who had softly followed after king Perion and finding the Princes in such peaceable quietnesse praised God for it and the good aduice of young Esplandian causing Amadis to depart so speedily when hee came to the rescue of king Lisuart as king Perion made knowen before them all In troth saide king Lisuart I would gladly know who gaue the youth so good counsell Sir replied Esplandian my father Nascian sent mee to you to tell you what hee had concluded with king Perion but I could not finde you in the Campe wherfore Sergill I passing on further discouered the Armie of king Arauigne as they descended downe the mountaine Then I called to mind what I heard the Queene my Mistresse say at my parting from her that hee was your enemy and fearing what afterwards happened to you I made haste to aduertise Lord Amadis to the end hee might giue you succour as he did Before God sweet youth saide king Lisuart I shall not while I liue forgette so great a blessing happening to mee And folding Esplandian in his arms sweetly kissed him on the cheeke At that time king Gasquilan was brought thither in a Litter hauing softly followed as beeing vnable to sit on horsebacke by reason of the shrewd fall hee had when he would needes trie his manhood against Amadis on the first day when the two battailes met Into a reserued chamber hee was conducted by some of the chiefe in the companie especially Amadis who came saluted him saying
Queenes chamber where being alone by themselues hee began in this maner Madame if you found your selfe much amazed when you heard the matters concerning your daughter and Amadis beleeue no lesse of me when I heard the first newes thereof And by that which I knew afterwarde both you and I were farre off from our reckonning For perswade your selfe it is no little disturbance to my minde that I could not know these things before the scandall was discouered and nothing euer touched mee so nearely especially the losse of so many worthie Knights who had now beene liuing and perished in these vnhappy wars which breeds in me such remorse of conscience as you or any other will hardly credit but matters already past are ouer-late to bee remedied Wherefore I purpose now that what yet remaineth to be done shall bee performed with our very vttermost honour Forgetting the offence of our daughter who made choyce of a husband at her owne pleasure yet one that well deserues her a better For I neuer saw any Knight errant that could winne himselfe so many friends or haue such a multitude of Kings Princes and potent Lords at his comande whereby it plainely appeareth that Fortune is diposed to preferre him before any other And because at my parting from Lubania I promised to bring you with mee to the Enclosed Isle there to consummate the mariage betweene her and him I pray you giue order for all things which you thinke requisite in such cases Also for the conduct thither of your daughter Leonora whom vpon his owne request I haue giuen as wife to the new Emperour Very ioyfull was the Queene to see the King so well disposed especially towardes her daughter Oriana which was the thing shee most desired In regard whereof and to maintaine him in this good minde she saide Sir it seemeth to mee that heauen hath beene very gracious to you and me bestowing such alliance on vs in fauour of whom their friends shall for euer hereafter be ours What else remaineth to bee done referre all to mee for all shall bee ordered to your contentment Hereupon earely the next morning shee sent for Arban King of Norwales Great maister of the Kings housholde to whom she gaue the charge of all CHAP. XXV How King Perion and his companie tooke their way towardes the Enclosed Isle And of that which they did before King Lisuart came thither to them AFter that they of Great Brittaine were gone from Lubania King Perion and his Armie marched backe to the Enclosed Isle where Oriana expected their comming newly aduertised by Gandalin what conclusion was made with king Lisuart So soone as they were there ariued they went to see her and Amadis presented the Emperour Arquisill to her whom she had neuer seene before saying Madame as yet you know not this Knight but he is in good hope to be nearer in kinred to you then you imagine By these words she plainely vnderstood that he was the Emperour wherefore raising her selfe shee went and did him reuerence as hee did the like to her with a very Princely grace said Madame I am so much beholding to Lord Amadis that both you and hee may dispose of me and whatsoeuer is in my power at your pleasure My Lord answered the Princesse I know what who you are wherefore I most humbly beseech you that hence forward you would reckon mee as one of your best sisters and kinde friends During this time Agraies Florestan Quedragant Brian gaue curteous salutaions to Queene Sardamira Grasinda and Olinda and Bruneo de bone Mer to his most dearely affected Melicia But Amadis obseruing Grasandor sonne to the King of Bohemia standing by the Infanta Mabila so rauished in soule with loue to her that accustomed feare in such affaires closed vp his mouth not daring to deliuer so much as on ewoâ—d caused him to call his Cosen and thus he rounded her in the eare Madame you know that Grasandor loues you more theÌ„ himself yet you appear ouermuch to neglect him I pray you speake to him for well I knowe that you beeing sicke of the same disease and many times in the like extreamity would euen gladly as hee finde ease in the like tormenting affliction therefore to your mercy I recommend him Shee knowing that Amadis was shot in the same place where this loue-sicke paine oppressed her euen as violently to another as shee to Grasandor began to blush in such strange manner as all present did apparantly perceiue it and ghest at the cause of her alteration Yet to couer it so well as shee could she made answere to Amadis that shee would obey his commande And he taking her by the hand weÌ„t with her to Grasandor presently saying See Sir heere is a Lady that findes fault with seeing you so melanchollie Let me intreate you my Lord to yeeld her some reason how and from whence your affliction ensueth and so hee left them together Grasandor finding opportunity to fauour him and that now he might freely vtter his minde to her between hope and feare kindnesse and constraint thus hee began Madame it seemes to mee that Lord Amadis findes the same passions in mee as him selfe suffered when loue allured him at the first to like Madame Oriana And to speake no more then truth when I thinke to impart my oppressions to you the three principall organes of my life are in most strange and vnusuall distemper namely mine eyes my heart and my tongue For so soone as mine eyes can but gaâ—…e a sight of you they incite speech onely to tell you the cause of my griefe but all in vaine Then my tongue hoping to supply that defect openeth my mouth but feare preuailing quickly closeth it vp againe If then my heart be in heauy martyrdome I leaue to your owne iudgement speaking as it doth by continuall fighing And finding it selfe vn-furnished of all helping meanes checks mine eyes for bringing home the first tydings of your bright beauty Then they in excusing their errour promise to performe the tongues office because it is dumbe in your presence and by outward appearance shewing it selfe pitifull would begge of you mercy and remedy While Grasandor continued these complaints Amadis not knowing how he should raise the siege the Emperor still talking with Oriana saw Queene Briolania enter the chamber whom hee going to kisse called the Emperour saying My Lord you haue not yet seen all the beauties in this goodly beauty as here Queene Briolania may testifie to you Before God quoth hee you say very true So leauing Oriana to salute the Queene she seemed so faire in his eye and her behauiour so gracious that hee vsed these wordes to her I am perswaded Madame that Apolidon in creating the singularities of this place left them in such rich perfection only for the honour of excelling Ladies For I can repute them no other then immortall and make men tractable to abide heere all their life time among such
Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen Son quoth she to Galaor we will part hence this next ensuing weeke in the meane while take order for shipping and all things needefull for our voyage And therefore presently sent for sailers who hauing vnderstood his pleasure made immediate prouision of the very best Ship the King had and went aboarde the sixt day following Not farre had they sailed from the coast of Gaule but they descried a vessell on the Sea well fitted with the winde and making nimble speed the Pilot or Master striking saile so soone as hee espyed the Queenes shippe Whereupon the Knights of the Enclosed Isle thinking them to be Coursaires or Pirates forthwith armed themselues and to vnderstand the truth sent one of their Squires in a Squiffe towardes them to demand of whence they were and whither they intended The Squire drawing neare vnto them called out aloude vnto them saying Hoe aboard there they in the Shippe here not farre off from you in kindnesse sent to knowe what you are and whither you are bound My friend quoth a knight standing on the Decke there is a Ladie of honour in this vessell whose voyage tendeth to the Enclosed Isle Beleeue mee Sir replied the Squire then shee hath met with company if she be so pleased for they that sent mee to you are sayling thither and you may safely come aboard them Which words being ended he returned to them he came from In the meane space that knight that was aboue went downe to the Ladie and acquainted her with the Squires message by meanes wherof shee sent one in a Frigate presently away to vnderstand the truth and whether vpon the Squires words shee might safely come to them or no and so went nearer to the Queenes Ship where Angriote being first of all seene the other Knight spake thus vnto him Sir a Squire of yours not long since came to vs to know what wee were and whither our trauaile intended Wee gaue him answere that wee were bound directly for the Enclosed Isle and thither hee said was likewise your intention now Sir because wee haue in charge a Princeste of great esteeme we pray you giue vs some assurance of your companie Knight answered Angriote if you please to come aboord of vs the Ladie you talke of shall finde a Queene heere who wil gladly welcome her into her company and giue her as gracious entertainment as shee can desire to haue Sir said the knight I heartily thanke you for her and this I dare assure you that hauing heard her cause and the reason of her trauailing thus on the Sea you will so much compassionate her case as not to deny her your helpe if shee require it of you So taking leaue hee returned to the other vessell which presently came and ioyned with the Queens Then came vp a Ladie in a garment of black cloath shewing both she and all her companie very sad and disconsolate lookes whereat Angriote who well obserued them was much abashed reputing her by her countenance to bee a Lady of good discent and reputation And courteously saluting her demanded if shee pleased to ascend and visit the Queene Sir Knight quoth shee I will doe what shall please you neuerthelesse I pray you name her to me and them that are in her companie Madam said Angriote she is the Queene of Gaule my Lord Galaor her sonne is with her and three other knights of the Enclosed Isle whither we are sayling Then will I attend vpon her and you thither replied the Lady So Angriote supporting her by the hand brought her into the Queenes Cabin and shee hauing vnderstood all that you haue heard already welcommed her most gratiously but the Lady â—…ing much oppressed with griefe fell downe at her feete intending to kisse them which the Queene would not permit put raysed her gently desiting to know the cause of her sorrow Madam quoth shee though now I am left quite naked of all fortunes blessings and fauours hauing no other comfort or repose but only the recytall of my misfortunes yet you may beleeue mee that I was not long time since a â—…dy of great qualitie and married to the disceaâ—ed King of Dacia by whom I had two Sonnes and one only infortunate daughter and so much the more infortunate in hir Birth by being the death of the King hiâ— Father and the totall ruine of mee and her brethren for you must vnderstand Madam that after shee was married to the Duke of â—…tia one of the greatest neighbouring Princes to my Countrie by how much the day of her Bridall was pleasing by so much the more was this mariage wretched and miserable For very soone after the solemnitie the Duke my new sonne in Law beeing yong and ambitious of rule conspired the death of my husband and of my two other children the eldest of them hauing not as then attained to the age of fourteene yeares According to his proiect so did he performe it vpon my Lord appointing a day pretending an honest visitation of vs accompanied with a great number of his people which as hee said were brought with him for our greater honour the King my husband no way misdoubting the premeditated treason rode foorth to meete him and as hee embraced him tâ—… villaine drewe a pocket-dagger and cruely murdered him Both my sonnes in a faire fortunate hoâ—â—e for them came riding a good distance behinde their father and heairng of this bloody tumult returned in a maine gallop backe to the Citie where the traytor holds them as yet sharply besieged Then was I absent in a pilgrimage to our Ladie at a very ancient Church builded on the top of a high Promoâ—â—oâ—â—e and there I was aduertised of my mis-hap If then I was in woefull extreamâ—…y or no be you my iudge good Madame considering I in a moment found my selfe vtterly destitute of all remâ—â—â—e and forsaken of any hope so that but for the comfort and aduise giuen mee by these two Knights which keepe me company I had not liued one only houre They called to remeÌ„brance one nan ed Amadis de Gaule who is said to be the refuge and support of all afflicted Ladies neuer denying them his assistance Whereupon I haue attempted this long voyage to finde him at the Enclosed Isle where hee is affirmed certainely to be with a great number of other good Knights his companions in Armes When the wrong done me by this wicked sonne in lawe shall be knowne to that noble Lord and his other friends how extreamly hee maintaines the siege against mine owne naturall sonnes I hope hee and they will take compassion on me and giue mee such succour as by meanes thereof I shall expell the enemy out of my countrie for my subiects attend nothing else but to vndertake Armes against him they want but only a comamnder to leade them Greatly was the Queen mooued to pittie hearing the misfortunes which besell the Queene of Dacia and the three Knights were so nearly
answered Darioletta you haue but one only meanes whereby to relieue mee in this vrgent extremitie and that is instantly to goe with mee whether I shall conduct you Amadis pausing hereon a while suddenly replied how Lady I haue no armes to fight withall but my Sword only and this bugle about my neck this hound in my leash I hope you will allow me some better fournishing then they are As for Armes replied Darioletta deferre no further dallying but vnâ—ase this dead Knight and put them on for if you stand on any trifling it redounds not only to my death but also such another as you loue as well if not more deerely then you doe me Speaking these words she drowned her faire cheekes in teares and held Amadis fast about the legs not suffering him to stirre from her whereby hee became so moued to pitty that he yeelded to her request Foreseeing very well that if hee returned back to Oriana hardly hee should gaine leaue to goe along with the Lady and as their necessity vrgently required Whereupon arming himselfe with the Armes of the dead knight and taking vp his Shield he entred into the barke As they were puting off from the shoare one of the huntsemen came to whom Amadis called saying friend goe seeke Lord Grasandor and tell him that I am constrained in meere pittie to goe with this Lady whom I met on the Sea-sands but ere while euen in such mournefull manner as thou beholdest her Pray him to pardon me and to intreate as much for me of Oriana not to be offended with my suddaine departure but rather to allow thereof because I could no way excuse it but to my great reproach and dishonour For thy selfe I pray thee giue buriall to that dead knights body in recompence of his Armes which I haue taken from him Scarcely had he ended these words but a lustie gale of winde filled the Sailes and in a moment they were so farre off from Land as Amadis could not heare the huntsmans answere As they sayled on Amadis seeing the Ladie to take no truce with her teares earnestly entreated her to relate whither she intended to conduct him and also the occasion of her mourning whereto gladly she yeelded beginning in this manner Vnderstand Lord Amadis that at such time as the Queen your mother departed from Gaule trauailing towardes the Enclosed Isle according as the King your father had sent for her she sent a Lackey to my husband in little Brittaine where hee was gouernour of your lands willing him that both he and I should meete her at the Pallace of Apolidon where the marriages of you my Lords your brethren were to be solemnised My husband ioying not a little hereat and my selfe much more suddenly prouided a good Ship wherein wee imbarqued our selues with my sonne whom you sawe dead on the sands and also my daughter hoping to bestowe her on Madame Melicia your sister But night comming on vs the waues and windes were suddenly tempestuously mooued so that by their extreame violence the sailes rudder and tacklings of our Shippe were all split in sunder Our Pilot also was so distracted in minde as all knowledge of his Compasse or Quadrant vtterly forsook him wherby it came to passe that our Ship remayning at mercie of the waues and weather we were driuen vpon the Red Island vtterly vnknowne to any of vs where the Giant Balan abydeth of whom you haue heretofore heard there we landed At that very instant we were enclosed seazed on by the Guards of the Port and forcibly brought before the Giant who presently demanded of vs if wee had euer a Knight in our companie My husband made answere that both hee and his sonne had long since vndergone that order It behooueth then saide the Giant that according to the custome of this countrie you fight with mee one after an other and if you can holde out but an houre only you and yours shall goe free but otherwise you must remaine my prisoners and therfore make choyce of which you thinke fittest for you And one thing I will acquaint you withall before hand that performing your manhoode as true Knights ought to doe you shall finde so much the more loue courtesie in me but if through faintnesse of courage you faile in any the least point whereto the honour of Chiualrie bindeth you I will vse yee like villaines and cowards and lay you where neither Sunne or Moone can be seene and so you shall remaine ten yeares together My husband hearing these threatnings and obseruing the high stature of the Giant could warrant no assurance of himselfe Neuerthelesse knowing what it was to faile any way forgetting all feare hee replied Basely are they bred quoth he and ill is Armes bestowed on them that through dread of danger shall refuse to fight for their owne liberty Nowitstanding what assurance shall we haue of your promise if wee maintaine an houres fight against you according as you haue proposed Nothing else said the Giant but my worde onely which neuer was or euer shall bee broken for any good or ill that can befall mee For rather will I consent not onely to mine owne death but likewise to my sonnes and kinred and seruants beside as alreadie I haue made them to swear and promise Before God answered my husband cause our horses to bee restored vs and the Armes belonging to my sonne and mee and then begin the combate when thou pleasest The Giant commanded them to be deliuered But my sonne too rash and ill aduised desired of his father that he might begin the first fight which being granted him he was so ill intreated by the Giant that euen in the first encounter he ouerthrew him so mainely and his horse vpon him that both their neckes were broken in the fall Whereat my husband beeing offended thinking to reuenge the losse of his sonne ran against Balan and brake his Lance manfully on his Shield yet the Giant stirred no more at the shock then if his bodie had beene a huge and strong Tower But as my husband perfected his carrire hee tooke him by the arme and in despight of all hee could doe to the contrarie lifted him out of his saddle and carried him into his Castle without any more harme done to him but shutting him vp in a chamber and I and my daughter with him Pondering there on our great misfortune hauing lost the life of my sonne my husband daughter and my selfe imprisoned and our seruants no way able now to sted vs I fell into sad complaints and spake so loude as it seemed that the Giant heard me All good king Perion said I if thou or any of thy sonnes were heere I am sure our wrongs would bee quickly reuenged but I knowe you are all too farre hence When the Giant had heard my wordes and the Kings name hee demanded of me what knowledge I had of him and whether he was the father to one named Amadis de
aduised found her selfe ouer-reached by one merely ignorant in such skill not thorow any ingenuity or subtiltie of spirit remayning in him but plainely as I shall discourse vnto you It came to passe that among the number of Knights there by her detained the man whom my instant report concerneth borne in the Iâ—le of Creete a comely person well disposed actiue in Armes and aged about fiue and twenty yeares was made choyce of by her to bee her amorous friend albeit the had at all times fully resolued neuer to come vnder any mans subiection either by marriage or otherwise Yet now in one poore momeâ—â— she became so conquered by loue and so farre strayed from her former liberty only by the outward behauiour of this Knight aâ— to conclude hee had the full conquest of her and could commande more ouer her then she her selfe had power to doe Herein shee conceiued such extraordinarie liking as 〈◊〉 minute almost was omitted from their new familiar exercise But he beeing discreete and well aduised considered with himselfe that time would betray him in his amorous warfare and the edge of her discontentment might cut off all those sweet embraces Obseruing well this sudden learned lesson hee contended with his owne humours to shew her better satisfaction then euer bee had done to the end that she conceiuing his loue addicted more to her then any other respect hee had of himselfe might so increase her credulity as to hit the marke hee most aimed at Perceiuing her flame to wexe fiercer and fiercer and all in a settled perswasion of his fidelity he earnestly importuned her that as his loue was no way alterable to heâ— he might receiue the selfe same reason from her of no deceit onÌ„ her side but that they both ballanced an equall and true affection as by many solemne vowes and protestations she had often swore vnto him And as a testimony of of her loyall meaning in this case he desired no more of her but his entire freedom and to enioy the like libertie of estate as when he was constrainedly brought into that Isle whereto at length she yeelded and hence ensued her vtter ouerthrow For heere Sir I must tell you that this proiect in the Knight was to no other end but only to be vtterly quitted of her as well foreseeing the mutabilitie and inconstancy of women Being on a day deuising with her on the highest peece of all the Rock embracing and kissing hir as he was wont to doe perceiuing place and oportunitie fit for his intention hee thrust her suddainlie backward from off the Rock so that in falling downeward vpon the seuerall crags and clifts her body was quite torne in peeces before it could get buriall in the Waues which at the length swallowed them vp all This being done and the Knight nothing sorie for it he compassed the meanes to conuaie into his Shippe whatsoeuer hee could carrie away from the Isle and with so many people as were therein set away from thence home to hi owne countrie Here I may not omit to tell you that he was constrayned to leaue an enchanted treasure behinde him remaining yet as is affirmed fathfully in one of the chambers of the great Pallace no way able to bee ceazd on by such as since then haue landed there not only to winne it by conquest but also are debarred from entring the place where it is enclosed And as yet Serpents repaire thither in winter which continue there likewise all summer and hide themselus there in very strange manner Moreouer as I haue credibly heard the doores belonging to this Chamber are continually fast closed and a sharpe Sword to forbid entrance thwarting the way hauing on the one side certaine letters as red as blood and those on the other side as white as Snowe These strange charracters are saide to signifie and declare the name of him by whom vndoubtedly this aduenture is to be ended And hee must draw out the Sword there thrust in vp to the hilts and barring the passage between both the doors For then they will open of them-selues as by common rumor it is reported in many places Very pensiue was Amadis all the time as Nolfon had declared these newes one while concluding with his thoughtes whatsoeuer might ensue thereon to trauaile thither and essay the finishing of the enchantment wherein so many worthy Knights had fayled Suddenly againe his opinion altered being pressed with an earnest desire of returning backe to the Enclosed Isle Notwithstanding he resolued in the end seeing hee was now so forward on the way to passe on somewhat farther yet hee made no noted or instant appearance thereof but seeming carelesse and negligent of that which had been said falling into another kinde of conferrence demanded of Nolfon what way Galaor and his Army tooke afterward My Lord quoth hee after hee had stayed some few dayes in the harbour very neere vnto the Rock he set sayle directly for the Profound Isle as hoping to enter it by way of suprizall But they of the country hauing some suspition before wee could come thither had betaken themselues to Armes and awayted for vs vpon the shoare where they found vs worke enough to doe before we could compasse any means of landing For one of the â—osens to the late King conducted the people and had so animated them against vs as you neuer sawe men fight more courageously nor with better iudgement But the valour of the Lords Galaor Galuanes and Dragonis they hauing leapt into the water vp to the chinne and fighting with vndantable resolution did so hearten and embolden on our men in following them that our enemies were enforced to retire and in despight of all they could doe wee entred in vpon them but not without great slaughter of our men a wonderfull butchery of the contrarie side wee pursuing them still into the Citie where their chiefe and principall Captaine was soon numbred among the dead Then did we beleauger them on all sides which droue them to such astonishment as seeing themselues destitute of a guide and leader soone after they required a parlee which accordingly was granted them For the effecting of this busines foure were delegated among them who came to Prince Galaor and our other Captaines with whom they so capitulated that they yeelded themselues Prouided that their libertie and goods might remaine intire vnto them which was afforded them willingly And the very same day we entred into the Citie where before the weeke was fully expired Dragonis was crowned King Afterwarde hauing receiued their homage and oath of loyall alleageance as wel of the Lords Knights and Gentlemen as of the Commons in generall Prince Galaor and Galuanes my Masteer perceiuing that their departure thence would not be so soone as they had intended dispatched me towardes the Queen Briolania as also to Madasima to acquaint them with all the good newes which I haue told you But heard you nothing quoth Amadas of Quedragant and
Brunco My Lord replied Nolfon before I dislodged from the Campe some escaping from the Isles of Landes and from the Citie of Araâ—igne hoping for safety in the kingdome of the Profound Isle came thither and by them we vnderstood that one of the kinred to Arauigne backt by the people of the countrie had giuen a great battaile to our friends that purposely came to assaile theÌ„ But ours had the better and droue them to flight since when we heard no further how matters haue happened Wee shall heare that no doubt saide Grasander at better leasure and in more ample manner So continuing on their conference they entred into Balans Castle and Amadis went to visit him lying still on his bedde being as yet not able to walke about And they two beeing alone Amadis tolde him that he had receiued certaine intelligences whereby he was constrained to departe thence the next morning earnestly desiring him that according as hee had promised he would restore to Darioletta her husband daughter seruants and the Barque which they had brought thither with them whatsoeuer else he had taken from them To the end that they might fayle away to the Enclosed Isle at their pleasure Moreouer that â—râ—uor and his wife should beare them company to see Ortana and the other Ladies there that came thither with her There may â—ee remaine quoth Amadis till 〈◊〉 bee of yeares fit for Knight hood and I am well assured that the best entertainment can be made to a man will there be done vnto him and only for your sake Lord Amadis answered the Gyant though heretofore my full intent and purpose was to doe you what harme I could possibly deuise yet now I am turned quite contrary and loue you as dearely as I can doe my selfe accounting it as my only felicitie to be your seruant as indeede I am wherefore presently I will take order to fullfill those things which you haue enioyned me and assure you also vpon my Faith that so soone as I haue recouered my health I will visit the Palace of Apolidon only to see you and will keepe you companie when and whether you shall please to command me I pray you doe so said Amadis and if you would haue any thing else with me commaund it and therein trust me you shall be obeyed Most kindly did the Giant return him thankes and louingly embracing one another tooke their finall farewell for the next morning But Batan came not so soone to the Enclosed Isle as he intended and Amadis expected because after his departure he receiued aduertisement that Quedragant and Bruneo thorow want of men were held in the Cittie of Arauigne still besiged Whereupon he beate his dromms througout all his marches and assembled together a worthy band of Souldiers which hee led thither in person whence ensued quickly not only the reduction of the place besiged but likewise the whole countries both of Arauigne and Sansuegâ—â— as elsewhere you shall heare more at large Let it suffice then that after the two knights of the Enclosed Isle were aboard their Shippe and ready to weigh Anchors Amadis desired Nolson to furnish him with a guide that could conduct him to the Island of the Damosell Enchantresse because he had a minde to see it With all my heart answered Nolfon and I my selfe will beare you companie thither if so you please to permit me And one thing I can assure yee that now is the best season of all the yeare for seeing the singularities of the place the stearn frosts and colds being already with-drawne whereby horrible and venemous creatures retire themselues into their hoales dennes and cauerns in the Earth It shall suffice me replied Amadis to haue but one of your skillfull Mariners and not to hinder you in an employment so serious Nolson herein fulfilled his mind deliuering him a Pilate of expert iudgement and so commending him to God sayled on to the Island of Mongaza and Amadis with Grasandor directly to the Rock of the Damosell Enchauntresse So aptlie did the winds fit their purpose that within six dayes they did discerne it and saw it so high that it seemed to them to be aboue the Cloudes comming into the Port there they found a Barque lying at Anchor all alone and no one to haue care of it whereby they immagined that they to whom it belonged were asscended vp the Rock and feared no disaster of the vessell Then Amadis being desirous to attemp the aduenture by himselfe spake thus to Grasandor My deare friend and companion let me in treate you to attend mee heere till to morrow morning by which time I may bee returned or perhaps sooner And if my fortune stand faire from aloft I will giue you some signe whereby to finde me But if within three daies you heare no tydings of me then assure your selfe that mine enterprise hath succeded ill then proceede in the rest as you shall see occasion Grasandor seeming somewhat offended thus answered How my Lord do you think I haue not courage enough to endure what trauaile soeuer can bee in this place especially being in your company where it would much more encrease if I had but as little as the value of amity I promise you dear friend saide Amadis neuer any such opinion of you did once enter into my minde hauing knowen you in so many worthie actions as deseruedly bestowes the esteeme on you to bee one of the best Knights in the worlde And seeing you thinke good to beare me companie I haue a great desire that it should be so So hee commanded a planke to be laide for landing and they two only went ashore â—rmed at al parts with their Swords and Shields readily prepared whensoeuer or howsoeuer they should be assailed This done they beganne to mount the Rocke by a little tracke somewhat rough and vneasie scrambling vp by little and little till they came to an Hermitage wherein stoode a Statue of Brasse crowned holding in both hands iust before the brest a Table of Copper guilded wheron were engrauen certaine Greeke Letters and Characters easie enough for them to reade that vnderstood the language And yet it was aboue two hundred yeares since they had beene engrauen by the Damosell Enchantresse who was in her time the most expert in Magicke Artes that euer had beene since and daughter to one named Finctor of the Cittie of Arges in the countrie of Greece Now were our Knights so weary and out of breath as they were able to goe no further wherefore they sate downe on a seate of stone to obserue the Statue more aduisedly It appeared to them an admirable peece of Arte especially the Table and Characters which Amadis began to reade as well hee could although his stay in Greece was not long when he conquered the Monster Endriagus and the writing on the Table was as followeth The inscription on the Table At such time as the Great Island shal flourish and therein shall be assembled the flower of
or no account at all of vs or else being willing to bestow your horses on vs you are content to dismount so readily as for your â—â—kes we will doe the like The Romanes whose hearts before were so highly aduanced as none could reache a loftier pitch finding their proud hopes to bee thus frustrated were so confounded with shame as they would not answere so much as a word but holding downe their heads ranne vpon their enemies with such swiftnes as easily might their inward malice be discerned But if they shewed themselues rough and sharpe assayling the other were not negligent in defending especially Grumedan who in his earnest desire to be reuenged entred among them laying blowes hardly to be endured wounding others and receiuing some himselfe Notwithstanding in the end he and his two companions laying aside all care of perill layde such heauy loade vpon the other that they were compelled to recoyle and Maganil fell downe backward Then Brunco de bonne Mer who sharply pursued him stept vpon him and violently plucking the helmet from his head threw him against the Scaffold whereon the Queene and Ladies sate Where Maganil seeing him selfe in danger of death cryed out for pitty and compassion but Bruneo pretending not to heare him bade him yeeld himselfe or else hee would smite off his head Sir quoth he I will doe whatsoeuer you commaund me and heere I am ready to confesse that I haue lied falsely for the Romane Knights are not such as I haue boasted them to be nor any way comparable to them of Great Brittaine This acknowledgement was heard by the Queene and Guillan who pittying him that so earnestly sued for pardon saide to Brunco Worthy Grecian Knight mee thinkes you should haue little desire to that head which is full of nothing else but pride and vain-glory wherefore leaue it to himselfe as a matter of no value to the end that when he is returned to Rome hee may there make report what benefit he got heere by his insolence and presumption the Queene and her Ladies ioyne with me in this suite to you Since so vertuous a Princesse answered he doth command me and you whom as yet I know not doe also desire it farre be it from mee to deny it So taking his foote off from Maganil he returned to Grumedan who had beaten downe the second and he likewise fearing the losse of his head made the like amends as his fellow did Now there remained none but the third who had lost so much blood that he fell downe dead at the feete of Angriote wherefore he tooke him by one legge and dragde him out of the field In which while Grumedan remounted on horsebacke and imaging that his two new friends would follow him with-drew thence to his owne lodging that his wounds might be looked vnto But so soone as he was gone Bruneo and Angriote without putting off their Helmets as fearing to bee knowen presented themselues before the King and said vnto him Sir we must now take our leaue of you and returne to our worthy friend the Greeke Knight with whom we are so much honored and esteemed as in no place else we can deuise to finde the like Wherefore if you please to commaund vs any seruice to him we are ready to doe it with most willing mindes God be your guide answered the King for certainly both he and you haue made it sufficiently knowen that you are no new learners to deale in such combates Then the Damosell who had bin their conduct thither saide to the king that shee desired to speake in priuate with him concerning a matter much importing him That shall you faire Damosell said he So all being commanded thence she ascended the Scaffold to afford Bruneo and Angriote the better meanes of departure â—â—turning the same way as they came and she being come to the King beganne thus Sir quoth she you haue hitherto bin held for the most esteemed King of Christen â—ome a louer of all honour and vertue but aboue all the rest the onely protector of Ladies and Damosels bestowing on them infinite fauours and graces whereby they haue receiued iust occasion â—o loue you more then any liuing â—â—an beside But now by losing all the hope they had in you they finde themselues vtterly defeated of your wonted great and gracious goodnes by too euident a testimony of cruell vnkindnesse to your owne Daughter the fair Princesse Oriana diâ—…eriting her of that happinesse which in right belongeth to her after you Whereat how impossible a thing it is in their opinion that your wonted royall affable and beniâ—â—e nature should be so suddenly â—â—nuerâ—ed into cruelty almost the like neuer heard of Neuer more 〈◊〉 they exspect any kindnesse towardes them from you vsing such strange behauiour to her whom loâ—e and fatherly pity bindes you neere vnto beside your royall title of King whereby you ought to be an â—…right Iusticer and see that all are truely dealt withall Thinke not Sir â—ut much euill will ensue heereon bâ— the wretched example you giue to your people and the ceaselesse teaâ—es and bitter lamentations of Madame Oriana all which are before God calling for due vengeance so that if you take not good heed the end of your reigne will ensue but the beginning of these miseries wherein you will be more pittied then any other Prince that I know More I may not say to you because I am to follow the two knights who I feare haue long ere this exspected mee Damosel said the King heauen bee your conducter you haue spoke very wisely and like a woman of good spirit So the Damosell descended and departed and arriuing where the two knights were they rode on to the Sea finding a Brigandine there attending which Grasinda had appointed for them And because they knew for certainty that king Lisuart had set downe his determination to deliuer his Daughter the first day of the weeke ensuing they made what haste possibly they could to be with the Greek knight that he might also bee acquainted there-with And they stayed not aboue two dayes and two nights but they took hauen in the Enclosed Isle where the other were landed but a little before Whereof Agraies Plorestan and others being aduertised they went to meete them with no meane ioy There might you haue seene mutuall loue and amâ—… on all sides congratulations embraces and all the ceremonious offices of courtesie all done in honour of Lord Amadis whereat Grasinda being amazed knew not what to say vntill hee came vnto her saying Madame I pray you bee no way discontented that thus long I haue concealed my name from you which is Amadis de Gaule of whom your selfe haue often spoken These other are my kinred and companions friends and followers all resolued to doe you any seruice what-soeuer Lord Amadis answered she you need not desire any pardon of me considering you haue neuer offended me but rather I am highly to be condemned that haue had you so