Brittayne By this time sundrie spéeches past betweene him and the King where-among he dissembled his spéedie departure to prouoke a desire in him to stay him and thus spake Amadis Dread Lord seeing the Lady is frée I desire leaue for my returne againe but if in ought I may do your Maiestie any seruice I am the man readie to be commanded and you the Prince whome most I desire to honor Good fréend quoth the King your departure must not be so soone except you delight to displease me God forbid answered Amadis in respect my endeuour is altogether to obey you Do you thinke sayd the King it is any obedience if I may not intreate a longer stay In sooth my Lord quoth Amadis you may and shall commaund for in greater matters then this I will not offend ye Goe then and vnarme you replied the King and speaking these woordes him selfe took him by the hand conducting him to a sumptuous Chamber where he left him to take some refection with Arban King of Norgalles and the Duke of Glocester whome he commaunded to kéepe him company for King Lisuart was a Prince that especially fauoured and honored strange Knightes Hauing left Amadis thus woorthely accompanied he went to the Quéene and tolde her in what manner he had staied the good Knight who ouercame Dardan But doo ye my Lord quoth she know his name No verily answered the King for in respect of the promise I made him I durst not demaund that question of him It may be saide the Quéene he is the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule I would it might fall out so well answered the King Doo you know quoth the Quéene who may put vs out of this doubt euen the Squire that talked with Mabtla who came to search him in your Courte and saide how he was aduertised of his arriuall in this Countrye long before Immediatly the King caused Gandalin to be called and without declaring any thing to him thus spake Follow me for I must shew a Knight to thée that I may be resolued if thou know him or no. Gandalin attended on the King entring the Chamber where Amadis was and Gandalin viewing him very earnestly feigned to haue seene him long time since then setting his knee to the ground saide Ah my Lord great trauaile haue I endured to finde you since I departed from the Scottish Court Gandalin my good freend right hartely art thou welcome to me what newes doost thou bring None but good my Lord answered Gandalin all your noble freendes are in perfect health commending them-selues to your excellencie but hence-foorth Sir you must conceale your selfe no longer then turning to the King he thus procéeded Mighty King he that hath beene so long time vnknowne is this braue Prince the famous Amadis Sonne to the inuincible King Perion of Gaule and then came his Father to vnderstand so much when he slewe in combate the puissant King Abies of Ireland by meanes wherof he recouered his Realme which was well néere lost By these deuises was Amadis discouered and better welcommed then before for til then he was not knowen but through his famous déedes the renowne wherof was euery where blazed abroad and now was he so well honoured for his vertue as his noblenes required So spent they the whole day in honorable feasting vntill such time as eche one withdrew him self when King Lisuart commaunded the King of Norgalles that he should lodge in Amadis ChaÌ„ber afterward wheÌ„ they were alone to sound his minde and vnderstand by all meanes possible if he would consent to remain in his seruice Thus leauing them together he returned to the Quéene and to her thus spake Madame hardly shall I cause Amadis to stay as mine nor can I tell which way to compasse it albeit I neuer had greater desire to any Gentleman of long time for the high account is helde of him would cause mée to be much more feared and redoubted My Lord quoth the Quéene graunt him any thing he shall demaund and doo your selfe present him what you imagine will best please him He requesteth nothing of me replied the King for if he did I would consent therto more willingly theÌ„ he could desire Me thinkes it were good saide the Quéen to intreat him first by some other of our Courte and if they cannot preuaile will him to come sée me your Daughter and our Cozin Mabila they likewise shall sollicite the matter for they knew him when he serued them as a Squire Then shall we let him vnderstand how all the Knightes héer are yours and none but thinkes him selfe honored therby him will we desire to be one of the company that you may enioy his seruice when need shall require This will be a good meane answered the King to procure his stay and if he will not be wonne by you we may well iudge him of lesse ciuilitie then Chiualrie Now because it wexed somewhat late the King bad his Quéene good night and went to his Chamber On the other side the King of Norgalles perswaded his new come guest that he would abide in the Court of King Lisuart but Amadis could so cunningly dissemble that he altogether disguised the chéefe poynt of his desire and might not by all these intreties be wun When he perceiued he laboured in vaine on the morrow morning he brought him to the King of whome Amadis made offer to take his leaue but the King answered him in this manner My good fréend you should haue doone me pleasure not to departe so soone yet can I not constraine ye to tarye against your will but my Queene would gladly sée you before your departure Nor will I goe my Lord answered Amadis before I haue doone my dutye to her wherupon taking him by the hand he brought him into her chamber and thus spake to her Sée héere Madame King Perions sonne of Gaule who is come to salute you before his departure In sooth my Lord answered the Queene he dooth me great honor and he is very hartely welcome hither Then Amadis stepping to her fell on his knée to kisse her hand but she caused him to rise and sit downe by her when the King perceiuing they would enter into further talke with-drew himselfe to discourse with his Knights while they conferred together In meane while the Queene â—â—urteously entertained Amadis but the other Ladyes and Gentlewomen who had heard such fame of his beautie and excellent perfections began to eye him very diligently meruailing that nature had so enriched him with the only thing they most desired Now knew Amadis by their countenances what iudgement they held of him yet durst he net turne his head aside fearing least seeing his Oriana by some sudden mutation he might reueale what carefully he coueted to hide And as he continued in this perplexitie the Princesse Mabila came and did him reuerence wherevpon the Quéene the better to compasse her intent called her Daughter who dissembled as if she scant knewe him and
think not so Stand on your owne defence then replied the Knight wherwith they gaue the carrire against eche other méeting together so furiouslye as the Knight was vnhorssed yet held he fast the reines of his bridle till they brake in his hand which caused him to fall on his neck to the ground where he lay without remembraunce of him selfe or any other Héerupon Amadis alighted and pulling the helmet from his head perceiued that he was in a swoune wherfore he buffetted him in such sort as he came to him self again Thou art but dead said Amadis if thou yéeld not thy self my prisoner When the Knight saw the naked Swoord ouer his head fearing his death he yeelded Then Amadis mounted againe perceiuing Angriote already on horsse-back ready to reuenge his brothers iniurie and a Squire came to the Prince bringing him a Launce which he presented him with-all from Angriote Soone after they encountred so gallantly as their Launces flewe in péeces without any further harme and ending their carrire Amadis quickly drewe his Swoord turning to Angriote who thus spake Make not such haste Knight to combate with the swoord because thou shalt haue time enough for that annon this he saide in respect he reputed him self the best at the swoord that might be found But I pray thée quoth he let vs ioust till our Launces faile or one of vs be sent to y e earth Knight answered Amadis I haue weightye busines else where and may not trifle time with tarying héere What said Angriote thinkest thâ—â— to escape me so lightly I promise thee it is the least parte of my thought yet I pray thee let vs tyre one course more Amadis was content and taking such Launces as eche of them liked finished the ioust with such violence as Angriote was cast down and his horsse vpon him Amadis leaping from his saddle saw that a small trunchion of a Launce had a little entred his body yet scorning any shame should be discerned on his side fighting for the honor and beauty of his Goddesse Oriana snatched foorth the trunchion and marched with his swoord drawen against Agriote who seing him come said I sée sir Knight thou art very yong and me thinkes before it be woorsse with thee thou wert better to confesse my Lady fairer then thine Then should I lye very fowlly answered Amadis and by my will I shall not dissent so farre from the trueth These speeches enkindled choller on either side which made them charge eche other with such vigour as not only they that behelde them but euen theÌ„selues were driuen into doubts thinking it impossible to endure so extreamely And to say sooth the cause was hard for Amadis vndertooke the honor of his Lady for which he could rather chuse a thousand deathes then she should loose one iotte of her excellence and this opinion still whetted on his courage that Angriote was compelled to diuers simple shiftes to auoide the fierce assaultes of his valiant enemye who had wounded him in twenty seuerall places and he perceiuing his death at hand stepped aside thus speaking to Amadis Beleeue me sir Knight there is more valour in thee then I imagined Yéeld thy selfe said Amadis so shalt thou doo wisely seing thou art already brought into such danger for with the finishing of our combate thy life will likewise end which can be no pleasure at all to me in that I estéeme of thee better then thou weenest These woordes he vsed as well for the braue chiualrie he noted in Angriote as also y e great honestie he shewed to the Lady in his possession wher-upon Angriote returned this answere It is reason I should yeeld my selfe to the best Knight in the world and the like all other to doo that beare Armes beleeue me then gentle Knight I not so much sorrow for my foyle as the wreakfull chaunce threatned to me by loosing this day the only thing in the world I most loue That shall you not quoth Amadis if I can helpe it beside the Lady should shew her selfe very ingratefull if she acknowledge not your honourable paines in her defence and it cannot be but she will requite ye with the good you haue deserued As for me I promise ye to imploye my vttermost habilitie in causing her consent therto so soon as I shall returne from a searche I haue now in hand My Lord saide Angriote in what place may I héer-after finde you In the Courte of King Lisuart answered Amadis where by Gods helpe I meane shortly to be So tooke he leaue of Angriote who gladly would haue had him to his Castell but he might not be hindered of his iourney Thus dooth Amadis followe the Dwarffe who guided him fiue dayes together without any aduenture shewing him at length a meruailous strong and pleasant Castell saying Sir within yonder holde you must perfourme the promise you made me And I will doo it for thée answered Amadis if it consist in my power I am in good hope therof quoth the Dwarffe in respect I haue séene some proofe of your Fortune but know ye Sir how the place is named No verily saide Amadis for till now I was neuer in this countrey It is called Valderin replied the Dwarffe and thus deuising they came néere the Castell when the Dwarffe willed him to take his Armes Why said Amadis shall we haue any such neede Yea mary quoth the Dwarffe for they suffer none to come foorth that enter so lightly Amadis buckled on his helmet riding in before the Dwarffe and Gandalin following after then looking on euery side they could see no creature This place said Amadis is not inhabited where is y e request thou saidt I should doo for thee Credit me Sir saide the Dwarffe I haue sometime séene héere a most braue Knight and the strongest in chiualrie that euer I saw who in that Porche killed two Knightes one of them béeing my maister him he put to death very cruellye without regarde of fauour or mercy In reuenge wherof I would desire that traitours head which I haue long fayled in obtaining because all such as I brought hither haue lost their liues or remaine héere in captiuitie Thou doost the part of a loyall seruant answered Amadis yet oughtest thou to bring no Knight hither before thou tell him against whome he shall fight My Lord quoth y e Dwarffe the man is knowen well enough reputed for one of the best Knights in the world therefore when I haue named him I could not méete with any so hardy as to reuenge my cause Belike then thou knowest his name said Amadis Yea my Lord replyed the Dwarffe he calleth himselfe Arcalaus the enchaunter Amadis héereupon went further in looking round about if he might see any body but all was in vaine wherefore to rest his horsse he stayed there till euening saying to the Dwarffe What wilt thou I shall do now it is so late Alas my Lord quoth he the night being so néere at hand me thinks it
tooke Albert of Champaigne aside and said to him Thou knowest how thou hast sworne and promised to tell me what thou hast found by thy skil Sir answered Albert let then the rest be called into your presence for before them will I tell ye Well hast thou aduised said the King wherupon they were sent for afterward Alberte thus began My opinion is my Lord that the closed Chamber and him whome you sawe enter by the secret doore signifieth this Realme which is close and well garded notwithstanding by some right therto some one shall come to take it from you And like as he thrust his handes into your sides renting from thence your hart and afterwarde threwe it into the Riuer euen so shall your Townes and Castles bothe more and lesse be priuily stolen from you and put into his hand from whome you shall not easilye recouer them And what meaneth the other hart said the King which I dreamed should remain with me and yet he saide that some after I should loose it against the will of him that tooke the first from me It seemeth by this answered Albert that some other shall inuade your Country as the first did yet constrained more by force of an other that commaunded him to doo so then by any will therto in him selfe thus sée ye my Lord all that I can tell ye Now saide the King to the second named Antalles tell vs your aduise Me thinkes Sir quoth he that Albert hath very well saide and I am of his opinion except in this for ought I can learne as the cause sheweth me y t what he saith shall happen is already effected and by the person that most loueth ye notwithstanding I am greatly amazed therat séeing there is not as yet any parte of your Realme lost and if you doo loose any thing héerafter it must be by such an one as loueth ye déerely When the King heard this he nodded his head for it séemed to him that he came néere the marke but Vngan the Piccard who knew much more then the other fell into a laughter which he was sildome wunt to doo because he was a man very sad and mellancholly yet by chaunce the King perceiued it wherfore he saide Maister Vngan my fréend now remaineth none but you say boldely what you haue gathered My Lord quoth he peraduenture I haue seene into thinges which is not necessarye to be knowen to any other then your selfe and therfore let these giue place a while if you please At these woordes they withdrewe them selues leauing the King and Vngan alone who thus spake If your Maiesty sawe me ere while to laughe it was at one woord which little you thinke on yet it is true and will yee knowe what It was that which Antalles saide that what he found by your dreame was already happened and by the person that besâ—e loueth yee Nowe shall I reuâ—ale what you keepe in secret and thinke that no one knowes but your selfe You loue my Lord in such a place where you haue alreadye accomplished your will and she whom you loue is surpassing faire then tolde he all the gests and fashions of her as if she had béene there present But as for the Chamber you found shut you know Sir full well what if meaneth and how she whom you loue desirous to deliuer her hart and yours from gréefe and sadnes came to ye entring your chamber by the doore that was hid from you The handes that opened your sides is the coniunction of you twaine then the hart taken from ye sheweth that she hath by you a Sonne or a Daughter Now tell me saide the King what meneth y t casting therof into the Riuer My Lord quoth he that nothing concerneth you therfore neuer labour for further knowledge therof Yet would I saide the King faine vnderstand it and therfore feare not to tell me for any harme that may happen Seeing you will needes haue it answered Vngan I beseeche ye Sir assure me while you liue for any thing that I shall reueale you will not be displeased with her who loueth you so loyallye That promise doo I faithfully make thée saide the King In good sooth Sir quoth Vngan that hart that you saw throwen into the water is the first infant she shall haue by you who must of necessitie be forsaken And the other saide the King that shall remaine with me what meaneth that You may answered Vngan vnderstand by the one the desseigne of the other which is that she shall conceiue an other childe who shalbe caryed awaye againste the will of her that caused the losse of the firste Thou hast tolde me strange thinges said the King and would God the mis-fortune of my Children were not so true as what thou hast tolde me concerning the Lady I loue For thinges ordeyned and appointed by the highest answered Vngan none knoweth how to gain-say or remedy and therfore men of wisdom should neither be sad or reioyce at them because oftentimes the Lord disposeth matters beyond the capacitie of men and farre otherwise then they expect For this cause my Lord forgetting all that I haue said and which you haue béene so curious to vnderdstand referre all thinges to God desiring him in these your affaires and all other to limit the ende of them to his honor and glory and thus in mine opinion you ought to set downe your rest The King was highly contented with Vngan and so estéemed of him that from thence forward he had him néere his person by meanes wherof he receiued many great fauours Now it happened that at that instant as the King parted from the Philosophers a Damosell presented her selfe before him right costlye in garmentes and faire of beauty thus speaking Vnderstand King Perion that when thou recouerest thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland shall loose her flower So giuing her Palfray the bridle and the King not able to stay her she rode away these woordes made the good Prince more sad and pensiue then he was before For this time the Author leaueth this purpose and returneth to speake of the infant that Gandales caused to be nourished whome he made be called the Gentleman of the Sea Now was he curiously entertained wherfore in short time he grew and became so faire that all which beheld him meruailed therat but one daye among other it happened that Gandales rode to sporte him selfe in the féeldes arming him selfe as became a good Knight for he had dayly accompanied the King Languines at such time as he searched after aduentures and albeit the King discontinued Armes yet Gandales would oftentimes exercise him selfe and as he rode he met with a Damosell that thus spake to him Ah Gandales if many great personages were aduertised of what I knowe certainely I assure thee they would cause thée to loose thy head Wherfore quoth he Because saide the Damosell thou nourishest their death in thy house The knight know not the Woman that thus talked with him but
as she came to the prince at what time he was sporting with Oriana and the other Ladyes while the Queene slepte At that instant was he in such a sollemne thought of Oriana as not daring to lift vp his eyes to beholde her said within him selfe Ah God why hast thou endued this Lady with such excellent beauty that vnhappy I should suffer so extreame passions by louing her Ah mine eyes too high did ye looke when ye behelde her of whome you are not woorthy but if the woorst happen death shall satisfie this â—imeritie wherto my hart for her is humbled In this thought he was like to fall downe so had he forgotten and ouergone him selfe when a Page came to him saying Gentleman there is a strange Damosell attending without who hath brought ye certaine presents would speak with ye When she who loued him heard this message her hart began to tremble in such sorte as béeing not able to endure this new â—ame she called to the Prince saying I pray ye stay heere and let the Damosell come in that we may haue the sight of what she hath brought which he did and the Damosell being entred thus spake to him My Lord your good fréend Gandales saluteth you as the man whom he only loueth and hath sent ye this King this ware and this Swoord which he desireth ye for his sake to kéepe while you liue The Prince hauing receiued the presents â—aid the King and waâ— aside to beholde the Swoord which being without a sheath was wrapped in a fine linnen cloth wherat he greatly meruayled and while he was musing theron Oriana tooke the ware thinking it to be some other thing and said Beléeue me Gentleman for my parte I would haue this ware You may haue it if you please Madame quoth he but me thinks this faire King were better for ye I will haue nothing but this ware said Oriana and so tooke it During these discourses the King came who saide to the Prince What think ye of that Swoord My Lord quoth he I finde it a very faire one but I meruaile wherfore it hath no scabbard It is saide the King very néere fiftéene yéers since it had one and hauing so saide he laide it aside proceeding thus You would be a Knight and know not whether you ought be one or no therfore it is necessary y t you vnderstand what you are and I to tell you so much as I know Héerupon he declared how he was found in a Chest on the Sea with the Swoord and the King as you haue alreadye heard I beléeue my Lord quoth the Prince that for your pleasure you vse this inuention because the Damosell when she entred saide that my good fréend Gandales sent me these presents but I think she fayled in her woordes and would haue said my Father Gandales Notwithstanding my Lord if it be so as you haue rehearsed I am not displeased therat except in not knowing of whence I am nor they me yet doo I thinke my selfe a Gentleman for my hart perswades me of no lesse Now therfore it is more necessary that I be Knighted then before to the end I may labour to become such a one as may acquire honor and reputation séeing I haue no parents by whom I may be named not knowing what I am When the King heard him speak so vertuouslye he estéemed much better of him then before thinking him selfe that he could not but be a man of calling and hardie As thus they were deuising a Gentleman came to the King and said My Lord King Perion your brother is come to the Court The King very glad therof departed to receiue his Brother and embracing him thus spake I sée my good Brother you meant to take me vnprouided for little did I thinke of your so sudden arriuall in this Country Noble brother answered King Perion I come to request y e ayd of my fréendes because I haue more néede of them at this time then euer I had for Abies King of Ireland threatneth me with strong warre and is with great puissaunce entred my Kingdome so that he and Dagauel his Cozin haue laide very seuere siedge to me And which is woorst of all Fortune hath so hardly dealt with me that certaine whom I trusted haue forsaken me and the greatest part of my other fréends are ouerthrowen in the skirmishes we haue had together so that now I come to requeste your succour in this extreame need Truely Brother answered Languines you may be sure therof and your misâ—fortune gréeueth me not a little but I will prouide therfore so well as I can Agraies who was newly Knighted being hotte and ready to Armes hauing heard the request of his Unckle and the graunt the King his Father had made him of assistaunce came and â—â—ll on his knée before him saying I beséeche ye Father let me obtayne one boone at your handes The King who loued him as him selfe answered Demaund what thou wilt for it shall not be denyed thee I desire your sufferance quoth Agraies that I may goe to Gaule to aide the Quéen mine Aunte In good faith said the King well content am I and in good equipage shalt thou goe and stronglye accompanied When the Gentleman of the Sea heard this determination he was more earnest to compasse his enterprise then before and seeing King Perion was present he could not glut his eyes with beholding him only for the good reporte he had heard of him for he thought not theÌ„ of any affinitie or parentage but would rather be Knighted by his hand then any other in respect of his high and hautie déedes of Armes And to attaine his purpose he thought best to intreat the Quéen hoping that if she would doo so much for him as to mooue the King her brother therin she should not be gain-said for he saw her so sad that he durst not speake to her he boldely went to Oriana and setting his knee to the ground saide I pray ye Madame tell me what causeth the Quéene to be so pensiue Oriana beholding the man before her whom she loued in her very soule albeit neither he or any other knew it was surprized with such vehemencye of loue as she could hardly tell how to dissemble it yet thus she answered Gentleman of the Sea and my fréend I will take paine to know then shall I tell ye with all my hart seeing it is the firste request that euer ye made to me Madame quoth he I know in my selfe so small deseruing toward you that I account myself vnworthy to request any thing of you but I should think I were happy if I had the meane to obey you or that it would please you to commaund me What said she haue you so base a minde such small estimatioÌ„ of your self Madame answered he in what sort soeuer it be I haue no forces at all but such as haue left me in great desire to serue you for my hart is altogether yours
and can receiue nothing but from you Mine quoth Oriana and since when Since the time it pleased you Madame replyed the Prince And when was it quoth she that it pleased me At that time answered the Prince when the King your Father left you in this Country if you remember and when y e Quéene presented me to you saying I giue you this Gentleman to serue you and at that time you accepted me as yours when you answered that you were well contented Then was I giuen to you and yours only I repute my selfe so that I haue no authoritie ouer my selfe Certes saide Oriana you tooke her woords to better end then at that time she meante them which I take in good parte and am content it shalbe so No sooner had she thus saide but the Prince was ouer come with such ioy as he had no power to answer Oriana perceiuing it made no shew therof but saide she would goe to the Quéene to doo what he had desired and returned soon after telling him that her greef was for the Quéen of Gaule her sister because the King of Ireland so oppressed her country So please you Madame answered the Prince if I were Knighted I gladly would goe succour her with your leaue And without my leaue quoth Oriana will ye not goe Not for death saide he for without your graious fauour my conquered hart can haue no force or vertue in any perill At these woords Oriana smiled saying Séeing theÌ„ you are mine I graunt you to be my Knight and you shall aide y e Quéens Sister Most humbly did the Prince giue her thankes telling her how the King thought it not good to giue him the order of Knighthood but had denied him yet quoth he is King Perion heere as you know at whose handes so pleased you to intreate it I would more willinglye receiue it then of any other Nor will I let for that saide she and the better to compasse your desire I will cause the Princesse Mabila to beare me company for whose sake he will the sooner graunt it So presently she went to her and tolde what she and the Gentleman of the Sea had concluded to attaine his Knighthood and how faine he would haue it at King Perions hand for which cause she intreated her assistaunce in y e sute Mabila who loued the Prince vary well thus answered I assure ye Sister there shalbe no want in me for so well dooth the Gentleman deserue as would make one doo much more then this for him wherfore let him be ready this night in the Quéens Chappell then when time shall serue we will goe with our women to accompanie him and I will send for the King mine Uncle which shalbe somewhat before the break of day that he may come sée me and he being come to vs you and I will mooue him in the matter which I hope he will graunt vs considering he is a very gracious and affable Prince This is very well appointed answered Oriana wherfore they sent for the Prince and told him all the platforme they had laide who humbly thanking them would prouide all thinges ready for him selfe and therfore departed Then went he to finde Gandalin making him acquainted with the whole saying I pray ye brother conuay mine Armour so closely as you can into the Quéenes Chappell because I hope this might to receiue mine order and for I must right soone departe hence I would knowe if you haue any will to beare me company Beléeue me quoth Gandalin neuer with my will shall I departe from ye Of these woords was the Prince so glad that the teares flood in his eyes with ioy Well saide he prouide all thinges ready as I tolde ye wherin Gandalin faâ—led not for ere supper he took such order as all was doone vnseene of any and the Prince got him secretlye into the Chappell where he armed him selfe except the head and handes So staying there for the Ladyes and King Perion he fell on his knees before the Aultar desiring God to be his aide not only in conquering such as he should deale withall in Armes but also in obtaining her who caused him to endure so many mortall passions The night being come and the Queene withdrawen the Princesses Oriana and Mabila with their women came to the Chappell where the Gentleman of the Sea attended and Mabila hauing sent for King Perion he was no sooner entred but she thus began My Lord seeing you haue taken so much paines for me as to come hether I pray you graunt Madame Oriana daughter to King Lisuart a small request she will make to ye I would be lothe saide the King to deny her as well for her Fathers honor as her own sake Oriana arose to thank him whom when he behelde so faire he thought all the worlde could not match her in beauty thus speaking to her Madame dooth it please ye to commaund me any thing Not commaund my Lord quoth she but intreat ye to giue my Gentleman the order of Knighthood this said she pointing to him as he kneeled before the Altare When the King saw him he wondered at his goodly stature and said to him My freend would you receiue the order of Knighthood Yea my good Lord answered the Prince may it please you to giue it me In Gods name be it doone saide the King who giue you grace so well to proceed therin as he hath bestowed seemely perfection on you Then putting on his right spurre and dubbing him with the Swoord thus spake Now haue ye the order appertaining to a Knight but I would opportunitie had serued me to haue giuen it you with greater honor not withstanding according to mine opinion of you I hope you will proue such as your renown shall supply what wanteth heere in perfourmaunce Afterward King Perion tooke leaue of the Ladies who highly thanked him and then set on his way toward Gaule commending the new Knight to the heauenly protection this was the first act that might beare testimonie of these Louers sweet desires If it seeme to the reader that their purpose was not according to affection but simple in respect of their vehement passions I answere that they ought to excuse their age likewise it often commeth to passe that they which think them selues most expert in those pleasing and amourous amoris haue béene by this God so strongly bound and liuely attainted as not onlye he dâ—priued them of speech but of iudgement also and it is necessary for such persons to vse greater woordes then these two who as yet had not learned them But this new Knight béeing throughly furnished and ready to his iourney by his Ladies consent would in thanking y e companie take a more secret conge of Oriana And she who for this sudden parting felte new passions in her hart yet neuerthelesse dissembling theÌ„ took him by the hand and walking aside thus spake Gentleman of the Sea you will be gon then but first I pray ye tell me
Combate Then he that first spake rehearsed all the wordes of their Sister according as hath béen already declared In good sooth quoth the Prince neuer was villainie disguised in such sorte for she hath doone farre otherwise as you may vnderstand by her Husband him selfe who being neere his death I conuaied to an Hermitage hard at hand Seeing it hath so fallen out saide the three Bretheren dispose of vs as they that remaine at your mercy And mercy shall ye haue answered the Prince if first ye will loyally sweare to me that you will cary this woman and her husband to the Court of King Languines and there before him recite all that hath happened saying withall how you were therto constrained by a young Knight that sent ye thither and who this day departed from his Court desiring him to censure on this misdeed as he shall thinke good All this they promised and swore to perfourme wherfore commending thē to God he roade away leauing them together CHAP VI. ¶ How Vrganda the vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentleman of the Sea THis quarrell thus ended with the three Knightes the Gentleman of the Sea tooke the way which before he had left but they had not riddē long till they saw two Damoselles come toward them by two sundrye waies who addressed themselues to meete together which when they had doon they entred into cōmunication One of them bare a Launce in her hand and when they were come to the Prince she with the Launce auaunced her selfe to him saying My Lord take this Launce which I giue ye because I can assure ye that within three daies it will stand ye in so good stéed as therwith you shall deliuer from death the house from whence ye are discended The Prince amazed at these woordes thus answered How can it be Lady that a house should liue or dye It shalbe quoth she euen so as I haue said and this present I was desirous to bring ye as a beginning of recompence for two fauours I hope to receiue by you the first wherof shall be When one of your best freendes shall by you haue one of the greatest honors that euer he can receiue wherby he shall fall into the deepest danger that any Knight hath doone these ten yeeres space Beleeue me Lady answered the Prince such honor if God please I will not doo my fréend Full well I know quoth the Damosell that so it shall come to passe then putting on her Palfray departed this Damosell you may note was Vrganda the vnknowen When the other Damosell who heard the woordes saw her forsake her companie she determined for certaine daies to stay with the Prince to see what he should doo wherfore she saide My Lord although I am a stranger if you thinke it conuenient I would gladly for a while abide with y◠deferring a iourney that I haue to my mistresse The Prince well perceiued she was a stranger which made him to demaund of whence she was wherto she replied that she was of Denmarke And that him selfe could not gain-say because her language gaue assuraunce therof for hauing heard his Lady Oriana at her first comming into Scotland it made him the better remember that Country spéech wherupon he saide If you please faire Damosell to goe with me I will defend ye to my power but I pray ye tel me if you know the other Lady that euen now gaue me this Launce Truely Sir quoth she neuer did I sée her till now I met her on the way and then she saide to me that the Launce she caried she would giue to the best Knight in the world desiring me withall to let you vnderstand after her departure that she bare you great affection and how she was named Vrganda the vnknowne Ah God quoth he how infortunate am I in not knowing her if I forbeare now presently to follow her you must think Lady the cause is that I cānot finde her against her will and thus deuising they rode on vntill the darke euening ouer-tooke them At this time it so chaunced that they met with a Squire who demaunded where they intended to finde lodging trauailing so late Where we can answered the Prince In good faith saide the Squire if you meane to haue lodging you must leaue the way which now you take for you can not long time come to any that way but if you will follow me I will conduct ye to a Castell belonging to my Father who shall doo you all the honor and good entertainment may be deuised The Damosell thinking this councell good desired the Prince to accept therof which he did therfore the Squire rode before them as their guide leading them directly foorth of the way because he had neuer séene the combates of Knightes errant and hoping to conduct them the day following to a Castell where such pastime was vsed but that night he brought them to their lodging feasting and entertaining them very sumptuously yet could y e Prince take no rest all y e night for thinking on y e Lady that brought him the Launce On the morrow very early they would be gon and taking leaue of their hoste the Squire saide he would bring them againe into their way acquainting the Prince as he rode with the custome of the Castell which being very neere at hand he shewed them the Castell standing very strong and pleasantly for before it ran a huge swift Riuer and no passage therto but ouer a long drawe-bridge hauing at the end a faire Tower for defence therof When the Prince beheld it he thought he must needes passe thether by y e bridge yet he asked the Squire if there were any other way No my Lord quoth he for this is the vsuall passage Marche on then saide the Prince wherwith the Squire the Damosell and their company set forward but the Gentleman of the Sea remaining behinde entred into such a thought of his Lady Oriana as he had well néere forgotten him selfe but at length he heard the noyse of fire Halberders armed with Corslettes and Helmettes who at the entraunce of the bridge had arrested the Damosell and there would force her to take an oathe that she should neuer beare loue to her freend if he would not promise her to aide King Abies of Ireland againste King Perion which she refusing cryed to the Prince for his assistaunce This clamour made him forget his musing when addressing him selfe to the Palliardes he saide Trayterous villaynes who commaunded you to lay handes on this Lady being in my charge In speaking these woordes he came to the chéefest of the sixe from whom right soone he caught his hatchet and gaue him such a stroke therwith as he fell to the ground All the other together presentlye set vpon him but one of them he sliced to the verye téethe and soone after an other bare him companye with the losse of his arme When the thrée that were left sawe their companions so handled they took
them selues to flight and the Prince followed them so néere as one of them left his legge behinde him the other twaine he let go returning where he left the Damosell to whom he saide Now boldely goe on and like euill fortune may they haue that encourage any villaine to lay forcible hand on Lady or Damosell She béeing assured by these woordes went on with the Prince and his Squires but ere they had gon any thing farre they heard a great noyse and tumult within the Castell Me thinkes Sir said the Damosell I heare a meruaylous murmuring within this Fortresse therfore I would aduise ye to take the rest of your Armour Goe on quoth the Prince and feare not for where Ladyes are euill intreated who ought euery where to goe in safety there hardly abideth any man of valewe In sooth said she if you doo not what I haue desired I will not passe any further and so much she perswaded him that at length he laced on his Helmet afterward he went into the Castell at the entraunce wherof he met a Squire wéeping who saide Ah God why will they murder without cause the best Knight in the worlde alas they would enforce him to promise what is impossible for him to accomplishe These woordes of the Squire could not stay the Prince for he saw King Perion who had so lately Knighted him very hardly vsed by two Knights who with the help of ten armed Halberders had round beset him saying Swear if not thou dyest Greatly did it gréeue the Prince to sée such outrage offered to King Perion wherfore he thus called to them Trayterous villaines what mooues ye to misuse the best Knight in the world by heauen you shall all dye for him At these woords one of the Knightes left the King and taking fiue Halberders with him came to the Prince saying It likewise behooueth you to sweare if not you can escape no better then an other What quoth he shall I then sweare against my will by Gods leaue it shall not be so Then they of the Castell cryed to the Porter that he should shut the gate wherfore the Prince now saw he must stand vpon his defence wher-upon he ran fiercelye against the Knight charging him in such sorte as he fell downe dead ouer the crupper of his horsse for in the fall he brake his neck Which the prince beholding not tarying any longer with the Halberders came to the other Knight that combated with King Perion piercing his Launce quite through his body so that he accompanied the first in fortune King 〈◊〉 séeing him self thus succoured so cheered vp his hart as he did much better then before against his enemies causing them by sharpe strokes of his Swoord to retire in meane while the Gentleman of the Sea being on Horsse-backe ranne among them and scattered them tumbling one downe héere and another there so that at length by the aide of the King they were all slaine except certaine that fled away on the top of the walles But the prince alighted and followed them wherat they were so affrighted as they cast themselues downe headlong from the walles only two got them into a Chamber where they thought to remaine in safetie notwithstanding he pursued them so néere as he buckled pel mel with them But within the Chamber on a bed lay an ancient Knight whose vnweldie age had taken from him the vse of his legges to them that came in he vsed these spéeches Cowardly villaines from whom run ye so shamefully From a Knight aunswered one of them who hath plaide the Deuill in your Castell for he hath slaine your two Nephewes and all our companions As thus he spake the prince caught him by the head saying Tell me villaine where is the Lord of this place or else thou diest The poore man seeing him selfe in such perill shewed him y e olde Knight lying on the bed but when the prince sawe him so olde and decrepite he blamed him in this manner Thou wretched olde man hath death already seazed on thy bones and yet doost thou cause such a wicked custome to be maintained héer Well dooth thine age excuse thée from bearing Armes yet shall I giue thée the desert belonging to such villainie With these woords he made offer to smite off his head Wherfore the affrighted olde man cryed Alas my Lord for Gods sake mercie None at all quoth the prince thou art dead if thou swearest not to me y t while thou liuest such like treason shall be no more maintained in this place wherto y e olde Knight right gladly tooke his oathe Now tell me said the prince wherfore hast thou héertofore kept this custome héere For the loue of King Abies of Ireland answered the Knight who is mine Nephewe and because I can not ayde him with my person in his warre I was desirous to succour him with such Knightes errant as passed this way False villaine answered the prince what haue Knightes errant to doo with thy desire so spurning the bed with his foote threw it downe and the olde Knight vnder it where commending him to all the Deuilles he lefte him and comming downe into the Courte took a Horsse which was one of the slaine Knightes and bringing it to y e King saide Mount your selfe my Lord for it little likes me to stay any longer héere where such bad people haue their habitation The King presentlye went to horseback and so they rode together out of the Castell but the prince fearing least the King should know him would by no meanes take off his Helmet notwithstanding as they rode along the King thus spake to him I pray ye sir Knight tell me of whence you are that haue succoured me when I was so néere my death warranting me also héereafter from the enemies of this place and shewing your selfe a good fréend to Ladies and Knightes errant As for me I am the same man against whom they kept this straite passage importing the cruell oathe for which you combatted My Lord answered the prince I am a Knight desirous to doo you any seruice Beléeue me quoth y e King that haue I already well perceiued for hardly should I haue found so good a fréend to helpe me yet will I not giue ouer till I know ye Alas my Lord saide he that will little profit ye Notwithstanding quoth the King I pray ye take off your Helmet which he would not doo but put downe his Beuer a little When the King saw that his intreatie would not preuaile he desired the Damosell to obtaine so much for him wherto the condiscending tooke the prince by the hand saying I beséech ye Sir graunt the King what he hath requested He séeing her importunate took off his Helmet when presently the King knewe him that it was the same man hee had Knighted at the Ladies motion wherfore embracing him he saide Right glad am I to know so déere a fréend My Lord quoth the prince I knew you so soone as I came
to the Castell to be the man that gaue me mine order of Knighthood wherwith so please if God I meane to serue you while your warre continueth in Gaule and willingly I would not be knowne by any one till your troubles be finished You haue already said the King doone so much for me as I rest bounden to you while I liue allowing you to dispose of me and mine and if as you say you come into Gaule you shall augment with aduauntage the honor due to you then iustly may I tearme the hower happie that it was my fortune to make so good a Knight Such like woordes vsed King Perion little thinking how néere they were allied together and thus they rode deuising till at length they came to a double way when he demaunded of the King which of those waies pleased him to take This on the left hand answered the King because it guideth directly to my Countrye God haue you then in his kéeping saide the Prince for I must néedes ride this other waye I praye ye quoth the King remember your comming into Gáule as you promised me for the hope I haue in you hath abridged parte of my sorrowe and giueth me assuraunce withall that by your meanes I shall recouer my losse So tooke they leaue of eche other the King toward Gaule and the Prince in companye with the Damosell and Gandalin but because she had now seen what she desired namely the proofe of the Launce which Vrganda gaue him she would trauaile no further out of her way but turning to the Prince said I haue hetherto my Lord with right good will kept ye company because y e Lady that gaue ye the Launce saide she brought it to the best Knight in the world and surely I haue seen so much as I stand in no doubt of her spéeches wherfore I shall now shape my course to finde her I am sent to as before I tolde ye I pray ye Lady quoth he tell me what she is It is saide she the Princesse Oriana Daughter to King Lisuart of great Brittaine When he heard her named whom he loued so déerly his hart began to tremble in such sort as he had fallen beside his horsse but that Gandalin stayed him yet fetching a great sigh said Ah God my hart faileth me The Damosell thinking some suddē sicknes was cause therof would haue had him vnarmed but he tolde her it was néedelesse for he was oftentimes want to feele such passions The Squire who all this while had beene their guide tooke leaue of the Prince asking the Damosell if her way lay toward the Courte of King Languines which she affirming he saide he would accompanye her thither because he had busines of some importance there So hauing courteouslye saluted eche other they returned the same way they came and the Prince rode on with Gandalin to séeke aduentures Héere leaueth the Author to tell ye what happened to Galaor whome the Giant caried away and gaue in kéeping to the aged Hermite as already you haue heard By this time had Galaor attained the age of sixtéene yéeres meruaylouslye encreasing in stature and comely perfection hauing no other exercise then reading on a Booke which the olde man lent him discoursing the déeds of Armes of sundry auncient Knightes Héerin he tooke so great pleasure as on this occasion as also by a naturall instinct he was desirous to be Knighted neuerthelesse he knew not whether by right such honor appertained to him Uerye earnestlye he questioned theron with the Hermite but the holy man who knew right well that so soone as he receiued the order he should combat against the giant Albadan his eyes being filled with teares he thus answered My Sonne much better were it for you to labour in the safetie of your soule then to aduenture on the order of Knighthood which is to be maintained with wunderous trauaile Father quoth Galaor verye hardlye shall I follow the calling which I take against my will but in that wherof my hart hath made choise if God graunt me good successe will I aduaunce his seruice for ther-out may I not be during life The good Hermite who then well perceiued his grounded resolution replied Certes my Sonne seeing you are determined to follow Armes I can well assure ye that through faulte of high linage you neede not dispaire of good hap in respect you are Sonne to a King and Quéene but kéepe that to your selfe and let not the Giant know how I tolde ye so much When Galaor heard this he was excéedingly contented saying to the Hermit In sooth Father the care I haue had all my life time to be a Knight hath béene very great but now I thank God and you I am rid therof for by that you haue tolde me I can not misse of it The Hermit noting his earnest affection doubted least soon after he would be gon wherfore he gaue the Giant to knowe his Schollers for wardnes as also how his constitution did now very wel serue him being wonderful desirous of his knighthood and therfore he should now deale in the cause as best him selfe pleased No sooner was the Giant enfourmed heerof but presently he got him to horse-back and rode to the Hermit with whom he found Galaor of more large stature then his yéeres expressed very comely and beautifull in euery parte wherupon he thus spake to him I vnderstand Sonne that you would be a Knight to follow Armes truely you shall prepare your self to goe with me when time serueth and your desire shalbe honourablye satisfied Father answered Galaor héer in consisteth the summe of mine affection so not long after the Giant departed from the Hermit taking Galaor with him who falling on his knée before the reuerend olde man desired that as he had fatherlye nourished him so still he would remember him in his deuoute orisons The holy man with the teares trickling downe his chéekes kissed and blessed him thē mounted Galaor on horseback and followed the Giant who brought him home to his Castell where for certayne time he practised to combate at Armes as also brauely to manage horsses hauing all things conuenient for the same and two maisters very expert therin When he had continued a yéere at these exercises the Giant seeing him woorthye to receiue honor and strong enough to endure chiualrie disposed theron as you shall read héerafter Now againe dooth the Author leaue him and discourseth of that which chaunced to the Gentleman of the Sea who after he departed from King Perion and the Damosell rode two dayes together without any aduenture and on the third about mid-day he ariued at a verye goodlye Fortresse that appertained to a Gentleman named Galpan This Galpan was then the most valiant Knight in all that Countrey and therfore was greatly feared of all his Neighbours yet did he there maintain an abhominable and wicked custome forgetting God who was chéefly to be honoured bequeathed his endeuours to the seruice of the Deuill For he
eyes and all together praised God for this good aduenture especially the Prince because he had beene preserued in so great danger and now at length to finde such honor and good hap as to méete with his Parents being all this while vnknowen to them As thus they deuised on the fortunes passed the Queene demaunded of him if he had no other name then that which now he called himselfe by Yes Madame quoth he but it is not fully three dayes past since I knew thereof for as I came from the Combate against King Abies a Damosell brought me a Letter which I haue and as she saith was fastened about my neck being wrapped in ware when I was found in the Sea wherein I finde that my name is Amadis and héere-withall he shewed the Letter to the Quéene which she full well knewe so soone as she sawe it Beleeue me sayd the Queene this truely is the Letter that Darioletta wrote when she made the seperation betweene you and me thus though I was ere while in great griefe and sorrow yet now praised be God I feele as much ioy and pleasure Now seeing assuredly your name is Amadis it is needlesse you should beare any other contrary title so thence forward he was called no more the Gentleman of the Sea but Amadis and sometime Amadis of Gaule It was not long before the bruite héereof was spread through the Cittie that the good and famous Knight was Sonne to King Perion and the Queene Elisena wherefore if euery one reioysed you must thinke the Prince Agraies was not sory for they were found to be Cozin germaines Among the rest the Damosell of Denmarke had knowledge heer-of wherefore considering what comfort this would be to the Princesse Oriana she laboured so much as she could to returne toward her knowing she would giue her friendly countenance bringing her so good newes what gracious fortune had happened to him whome aboue all other she loued For this cause she intreated Amadis to dispatch her returne to hir Mistresse In that I well perceiue quoth she you cannot so speedily depart hence as you would nor were it reasonable but you should giue some contentation to them who for the loue of you haue shead so many teares These words caused the teares to tricle downe his cheekes yet smothering his griefe so well as he could he made this answere to the Damosell Lady I will pray that the heauens may safely conduct ye yet let me intreate your friendly remembrance commaunding the vttermost of my endeuours for without your gentle care my life cannot endure withall I finde my selfe so indebted to my gracious mistresse as I dare not request any thing at her hand Neuer-the-lesse you may say to her that right soone shall I come to shewe my obedience and in like armour will I be clad as when you sawe me Combat with the King of Ireland because both she and you may the more easily knowe me if I can not compasse the meane to spake with you and in this manner departed the Damosell of Denmarke On the other side Agraies seeing his Cozin Amadis was to remaine longer in Gaule determined to take his leaue and calling him aside said Faire Cozin for this time I must be enforced to leaue ye albeit your company is more pleasing to me then any other but my passionate hart will allowe me no quiet vntill I be with her who both farre and neere hath power to commaund me It is Madame Oliuia daughter to the King Vanain of Norway who sent for me by the Damosell that brought me the Helmet of Galpan which you sent me in reuenge of the dishonor she receiued by him that I should come to her with all conuenient speede and therefore I neither may or dare faile which is the only cause of my parting with you Now must you note heerewithall that at the time as Don Galuanes brother to the King of Scotland was in the Realme of Norway with Agraies his Cozin this young Prince became so enamoured of the Lady Oliuia as he concluded neuer to loue any other then her and this made him the more earnest to depart by her commandement And to tell ye what this Galuanes was he had the name of Galuanes without land because all the portion his father left him was only a poore Castell for the rest he had spent in following Armes and entertaining Gentlemen whereupon he had the Sir-name of without land Such as you haue heard were the speeches Agraies had with Amadis of whome he requested to knowe where he should finde him at his returne from Norway Cozin quoth Amadis I hope at my departure hence to visit the Court of King Lisuart where I haue heard chiualrie to be worthily maintained with greater libertie and honor then in the Kingdome of any Emperour or King But seeing it liketh you to take another way I desire when you shall see the King your Father and the Queene to remember my bounden dutie to them both assuring them on my behalfe that they may commaund me in their seruice euen as your selfe or any other as well in respect of our alliaunce together as also for the gracious entertainement I had in my youth being by them most carefully educated and esteemed This done Agraies tooke his leaue being honorably conducted through the Cittie by the King and all the Lords of his Court but so soone as the King entred the feelds he sawe a Damosell comming toward him who boldly laying hold on the raine of his horsse bridle thus spake Remember thy selfe King Perion what a Damosell sometime said vnto thee That when thou didst recouer thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower Thinke now I pray thee whether she said true or no thou hast recouered thy Sonne whome thou reputedst lost and euen by the death of valiant King Abies who was the flower of Ireland and such a one as that countrey shall neuer haue his like vntill time the good brother of the Lady must come who shall by force of Armes cause to be brought thither the tribute of other Countreys and he must dye by the hand of him that shall accomplish for her the only thing of the world which most he loueth And so it happened by Marlot of Ireland brother to the Queene of that countrey whome Tristan of Leonnoys killed on the quarrell of tribute demaunded of King Marke of Cornewall his Unckle which Tristan afterward dyed for the loue he bare to Queene Yseul being the only thing of the world that he most loued Now must thou be mindfull héereof said the Damosell to the King for Vrganda my mistresse so commaundeth thee When Amadis heard her speake of Vrganda he tooke occasion thus to answere Damosell and my friend I pray you say to her who sent you hither that the Knight to whome she gaue the Launce commendeth himselfe to her good grace being now assured in the matter whereof then she spake how with that Launce I should
deliuer the house from whence I first discended and euen so it fell out for I deliuered my Father vnknowen to me being then at the very point of death So without any other reply the Damosell turning bridle rode back the same way she came and the King into the Cittie with Amadis his Sonne so lately recouered for which cause he assembled all the Princes and Lords of his Realme meaning to kéepe a more magnificent Court then euer he had done before to the end that euery one might behold Amadis in regard of whose honor and happy comming there were Knightly Tourneys dayly vsed beside great store of other pastimes and delights During these pleasures Amadis was aduertised in what manner the Giant had caryed away his brother Galaor wherefore he determined happen what might to goe séeke him and if possible he could to recouer him either by force of Armes or otherwise Notwithstanding his heart being dayly mooued to goe see her that hourely expected his presence one day he intreated the King his Father seeing now he had peace with his enemyes that with his leaue he might goe seeke aduentures in great Brittayne because he was lothe to remayne idle But little pleasing was this request to the King and much lesse to the Quéene yet by importunitie he obteined permission for his voyage nor could they all haue power to withhold him by reason of the loue he bare to Oriana which made him obedient to none but her Héereupon being clad in such Armour as he promised the Damosell of Denmarke he set forward on his iourney embarquing himselfe at the néerest Port of the Sea where by good hap he found passage readie Not long was his cut into great Brittayne landing at Bristow a most noble and auncient Cittie of that countrey where he heard that King Lisuart soiourned at Windsore royally accompanyed with Knights and Gentlemen for all the Kings and Princes his neighbours did highly fauour and shew him obeysance which made Amadis shape his course directly to the Court Not long had he ridden on the way but he met with a Damosell who demaunded of him if that were her readie way to Bristow Yea marie is it answered the Prince I pray ye then tell me quoth she if I may finde any Shipping there for my spéedie passage ouer into Gaule What affayres calles you thither said Amadis In sooth replied the Damosell I goe thither to finde a Knight named Amadis whome King Perion not long since hath knowen to be his Sonne Greatly did Amadis meruayle héereat for he thought these newes had not béene so farre spread abroade wherefore he demaunded how she heard thereof I knowe it quoth she from her to whome the most secret things of all are manifest for she knewe Amadis before he knewe himselfe or that his father heard of Amadis and if you would vnderstand what she is her name by common report is Vrganda the vnknowen She hath at this time especiall affayres with him and by no other can she recouer that which she now standeth in feare in loose Beléeue me Damosell answered Amadis séeing she who may commaund euery one doth now please to imploy Amadis I assure ye it is néedlesse for you to trauaile any further for I am the man you are sent to seeke and therefore let vs goe whether you thinke conuenient What said the Damosell are you Amadis Yea verily am I answered the Prince Come then and follow me quoth she and I will conduct ye where my Mistresse is who attendeth your arriuall in good deuotion Heere-with Amadis rode after the Damosell and thus are they gone together in company CHAP. XII ¶ How the Giant bringing Galaor to King Lisuart that he might dub him Knight met with his brother Amadis by whose hand he would be Knighted and no other THe Giant of whome sundry times we haue spoken héeretofore causing young Galaor to be enstructed in managing Horsses and all other exercises beséeming a Knight found him so capable of euery thing as in lesse space then a yeare he was growen meruaylous perfect so that now nothing remained but to know of him by whome he most willingly would receiue his order of Knighthood Notwithstanding before the Giant moued this matter to him one day among other Galaor came to him in this manner Father quoth he you haue dayly promised me that I should be Knighted I desire you would be so good as your word for there is too much time spent since I ought to haue had it In sooth my Sonne answered the Giant you haue reason for your words yet tell me by whome you would receiue your order King Lisuart quoth Galaor is reputed a gentle Prince and a right good Knight wherefore if it so like you I shall be contented to haue it at his hand Well haue you aduised sayd the Giant so presently preparing all things in order they set forward on their iourney About fiue dayes after their departure by good hap they came neere a very faire strong Castell named Bradoid seated on the top of a Mountaine enuironed about with fennes or marishes as also with a salt water that ran before it wondrous swiftly so that without a Barque it was impossible to get thither And because the marish was very long there was to passe ouer it a faire long causey being so broade as two Chariots might well meete together on it and at the entrance of the causey was a drawe bridge where-under the water ran with such a violent fall as no one was able by any meanes to passe it Héere must ye note that equally facing this bridge there grew two goodly high Elme trées where under the Giant and Galaor beheld two Damosels and a Squire with a Knight mounted on a black Courser this Knight was armed bearing figured in his Shéeld two Lions rampant and because the bridge was drawen vp he could passe no further but called with a loud voice to them within that some should come to giue him entrance which Galaor perceiuing said to the Giant My Lord if it please you I would gladly see what this Knight will do héere Soone after they espied at the further end of the causey by the Castell side two other armed Knights accompanyed with ten Halberders who came and demaunded of the Knight what he would Marie enter in answered the Knight It may not be said one of the two Knights except you meane to combate first I will not stick for that answered he that would enter cause you the bridge to be let downe and come to the combate which presently they did But one of the twayne more hastie then his companion auaunced himselfe first and placing his Launce ran with a swift carrire against the Knight who receiued him so brauely as he sent both horsse and man to the ground The fréend to the dismounted Knight thinking to reuenge his iniurie gaue foorth to méete him and fayling in the attaint with their Launces so furiously encountred with their bodyes
with thy curelesse stroke well in respect it is so offend not thy selfe my loue for thou shalt soone sée reason proceed from her that did thée wrong who being the cause will beare thee company in death And I may iustly challenge him of wrong seeing equal loue had vnited our willes to seperate our persons in this sorte where hauing affoorded our ending together we likewise might haue enioyed one sepulchre After these woordes she swouned againe in Mabilaes armes and in such manner altered her countenaunce as they reputed her verily dead her faire and golden lockes béeing discheueled her armes and legges depriued of vitall motion euen as when the soule hath taken his flight from the bodye Mabila dispairing of any life left in her was so surprised with gréef that she was constrained to leaue the Damosell alone with the Princesse and walking some-what aside by her selfe thus lamented Incomprehensible wisdome let me not liue to endure these trauailes seeing thou hast taken these two frō me whom I loued as my life But when the Damosell of Denmarke saw her selfe thus alone betweene two extreames she was meruailouslye abashed yet as one wise and well gouerned she spake in this manner to the Princesse Mabila Why Madame when were you wunt to abuse your honourable vertues is it now time to forget your selfe will you thus consent to the death of my Lady you rather ought to aide and comfort her then thus to forsake her and procure her further daunger if she reuiue againe Come I pray ye succour her for now is the time of greatest need and let these lamentations be referred till an other time Mabila perceiued the Damosell said true wherfore she came to Oriana and feeling by her warmenes some hope of life to be expected they lifted her vpon the bed whē soone after her sprites returned to their office and to quallifie this agonie they could deuise no better meanes then to busie her eares with some or other spéeches Why Madame quoth one will ye leaue vs at least yet speak to vs. Madame said the other your Amadis is yet aliue and wel At the name of Amadis she opened her eyes turning her head héere and there as if she looked for him which good humour Mabila desirous to continue proceeded thus Amadis commeth Madame and shortly you shall see him Oriana giuing a great sighe started vp saying Alas sweete freend where is he We vnderstand quoth she that he is in very good health and how the Knight who brought these bad tidings is wunt to vaunt of him selfe without cause feeding him selfe with false praise of deceiuing Knightes Why said Oriana haue I not heard that he brought his horsse and Armour A matter of nothing answered Mabila they may as well be borrowed or stolne or he happily sent with that false allarme to trye our constancie then finding vs thus weakly disposed he should haue had the thing he desired I would not haue you think so simply Madame that Amadis could be ouercome by one no better a Knight then he nor were it reason to credit a commender of him selfe bringing his owne glory for testimony and no other approbation I am assured that Amadis will come ere long and if he find you not only dead in a manner but thus giuen ouer to greefe it will cost his life so shall you deliuer vnhappy proofe what wicked feigning by mallice can doo and thus you bothe shall dye one for another Whē Oriana remembred how by this meane she might be the death of her freende if by good hap he yet enioyed life and imagined likewise that Mabila spake the trueth she tooke courage casting her eye on the windowe where many times Amadis and she had amourously conferred when first he arriued at her Fathers Courte and intercepting a number of forced sighes thus spake Ah windowe the witnes of my abandoned pleasures how piercing is the doubt of him whome thou causest me remember and by whose gracious woordes both thou and I were made happie of this I am certaine that neuer canst thou endure so long as two so loyall louers might by thee enioy such delight as he and I haue doone which fayling me now giueth me strange and insupportable tormentes to be my companions and hence-foorth shall my sad spirit remayne in bitter sadnes vntill the comming of him or my death Mabila perceiuing the cheefest danger was past laboured to confirme her opinion more strongly then she had doon in this manner Why Madame think you if I helde these babling newes for trueth I could haue the power to comfort you in this sorte the loue I beare to my Cozin is not so little but rather I should incite al the world to wéep then want consolation for you who stand in such néed therof But I sée so slender appearaunce of beléefe as I wil not before time require repute you infortunate because discōforting our selues without assuraunce the euill héereby may be amended and the good made much more wursse especially it will be the meane of discouering what hath so long time béen shaddowed in secret Alas quoth Oriana if he be dead I care not though our loue were openly known for all our mishaps in respect of it are nothing Thus debating and deuising together the two Ladyes all that day kept their chamber not suffering any other to come in for when the Damosell of Denmarke who passed often in and out was demaunded for Oriana she answered that she accompanyed Mabila whome she would not suffer to part from her by reason of her gréefe for her Cozin Amadis Thus was the Princesses secret sadnes couered all night she being vnable to take any rest such were her assaults betwéene doubt and despaire not forgetting any thing that past betweene her and Amadis since their younger yeeres But on the morrow about dinner time Brandoyuas entred the Pallace leading Grindaloya in his hand which gaue great ioy to such as knew thē for of long time they could not imagine what was become of them they falling on their knées before the King were quickly called to remembrance his Maiestie thus speaking Sir Brandoyuas how chaunce you haue taryed so long from vs Alas my Lord quoth he imprisonment hath béene the cause where-out had not the good Knight Amadis of Gaule giuen libertie to me this Lady many more by such deeds of armes as are vnspeakable we could neuer haue beene deliuered Yet was he once in daunger of tarying there himselfe by the villainous coniurations and sorceries of Arcalaus but he was succoured by two Damsels who deliuered him from all the exorcismes When the King heard him name Amadis whome he verily thought to be dead What my fréend quoth he by the faith thou owest vnto God and me is Amadis liuing Yea my good Lord answered Brandoyuas it is not ten dayes since I left him in good disposition but may it like you to tell me why you demaund such a question Because said the King
least they thinke of her variable changings often telleth them that men purpose but she will dispose All this royall company being in ioy and pleasure a Damosell strangely attired entred the Pallace and a Gentleman that bare her company demaunding where the King was whereof being resolued by his Maiestie himself the Damosell thus spake In sooth my Lord well doo you séeme a King by your porte and countenance yet may it be doubted what your heart is Damosell quoth the King you must iudge of what you sée and heereafter knowe the rest when you haue occasion to prooue Me thinks my Lord answered the Damsell you speake according to the magnanimitie of your minde and euen as I my selfe doo desire remember therefore what you haue spoken before so many great persons for seeing you make me such a liberall offer I hope one day to trye the matter I doubted Neuerthelesse I will deferre it till the feast of September because I heare you will then keepe Court at London where must be assembled many valiant men who shall knowe by the promise you haue made me how woorthy you are to gouerne such a noble Realme and how highly Chiualrie is honored by you Damosell sayd the King so much as effects may better my words so much the more will it glad me to sée good store of hardie Knights there present My Lord quoth she if effects answere your woords I shall haue great reason to be contented So tooke she leaue of him returning the same way she came where-at euery one was much abashed and displeased with the Kings rash promise not knowing any reason for it and now they began to misdoubt that the enterprise of this woman would bring the Kings person into some danger But his heart was so addicted to magnanimitie as whatsoeuer happened he would not be reprooued with cowardise and so déerely did his subiects loue him that they rather desired a thousand deathes then to sée him suffer any mishap or iniurie Whereupon the Lords and Barons perswaded him greatly fearing some threatned inconuenience to alter the promise he had so lightly made shewing it was not beséeming his Maiestie to deale with affayres of Knights and Gentlemen hee béeing placed in authoritye ouer them While they stoode on these tearmes there entred three Knights two of them beeing very well armed and the third hauing on no Armour at all for he was a man of auncient yeares as séemed by his white head yet in his countenance appeared a more cheerefull couller then commonly hath béene noted in a man of his age who likewise was of tall and comely stature This Knight caryed in his armes a very costly Cofer and demaunding for the King the Gentlemen shewed where he sate making him way to his Maiestie before whome he fell on his knees thus speaking God blesse so good a Prince as is King Lisuart for within these fewe dayes he hath made the most woorthye promise that euer King did if he intend to keepe it Beleeue me Knight answered the King I neuer promised ought but it was in my power and therefore the easier to bée perfourmed but I would fayne knowe your meaning héerein I vnderstand Sir quoth the Knight that you intend to maintaine chiualrie in the very highest honor a matter wherein now adayes fewe Princes delight therefore are you to bee commended aboue all other Héerein you were tolde trueth sayd the King and you may bée well assured that I will doo my vttermost to aduaunce the cause of vertue while I liue Long may you continue in this minde replyed the Knight and because I haue likewise heard how you haue summoned the Princes and Lords of your Countrey to bee readye at your Court the next feast of September I haue brought you héere a thing with me which such a King as you are ought most royally to receyue Then opening the Cofer he tooke foorth a Crowne of golde so sumptuously embelished with Orientall Pearles and precious Stones as neuer was séene a more costlyer Iewell euery one béeing of the minde that it was to impale the head of some especiall mightye Lord. When the King had long and earnestly beheld it hée was verye desirous to haue it at what price soeuer which the Knight perceiuing sayde This Crowne my Lorde is of such workemanship as no Ieweller in the world can make the like and beside the vnualuable riches thereof it hath a vertue highly to be estéemed for the King that kéepeth it in his power shall encrease in all felicitie and honor So will it happen to the King who must enioy it while he liueth and long time haue I kept it no King but you that euer sawe it but if you like it so well I will make yee a present thereof prouided you helpe to saue my head which I am in some daunger to loose All this whyle was the Quéene in place earnestly wishing that the King her husband might haue it where-upon she said to the King Me thinkes my Lord it would full well become your Maiestie if you may haue it at so easie a rate as he demaundeth Madame quoth the Knight I haue a better thing for you if you please to buye it it is this mantle the richest and fairest that euer was séene for beside the precious stones wherwith it is beautified it is imbroydred with all sortes of beastes and birdes which nature hath giuen life to On my faith answered the Queene it is a most rare and curious piece of woorke not wrought as I thinke by humane capacitie You say true Madame replyed the Knight for the like heereof is not to be found yet may not the riches compare with the propertie and great vertue of this mantle which is such as it rather belongeth to maryed Ladies then any other because she that weareth it shall neuer be offended with her husband A vertue of chéefe regarde answered the Quéen if it haue any such indéed I haue tolde ye true Madame quoth the Knight if you will buy it you may proue Now grewe she meruaylous desirous of it what-soeuer price should be paide for it especially to conserue peace and loue betwéene the King and her wherfore she said to the Knight Say Sir how doo you estimate this Mantle and the Crowne My Lord quoth he and you good Madame I beseeche you to vnderstand my fortune I am but lately escaped the handes of him who long time kept me prisoner on a strange condition which is no little cause of gréefe to me for I am out of all hope to finde remedie while I liue and because I know not well the valewe of these Iewelles I will leaue them in your custodye vntill the day you holde open Courte at London where you shall deliuer them againe to me or giue so much for them as I then demaund In mean while you may make triall of them if you please for hauing experimented what I haue saide you may the more willingly pay well for them Now trust
of you you may therby easily induce him to loue vnder that cerimonye draw him to doo what your selfe shall desire In sooth replyed Madasima I will assay to know if he be such a one as you report him to be Doo Madame quoth he and you shall finde him one of the fairest Knightes that euer you behelde Héer you must note that the Knight no sooner left Galaor when he went to the Lady but he tooke occasion thus to talke with his brother You see my Lord the estate wherin we are which requireth some notable dissimulation at our handes I beseech ye therfore moderate your anger because alreadie it endangereth our liues and for a while follow my direction By heauen brother answered Amadis death had béen very welcome to me but since you wish me to be gouerned by you I am content desiring the conseruation of our honors which beeing lost we are vnworthye to liue Further they could not proceed because Madasima came and interrupted them when calling him aside and faire day was displayed on the earth his beautye and good grace so especially contented her as she became surprised with his loue which she shaddowed vnder demaunding how he fared Madame saide Galaor I fare wursse then you should were you in my power as I am in yours for I would doo you what seruice and pleasure possible I could and you vse the contrarye to me I hauing giuen no occasion of offence reason willeth I should rather be your Knight to loue and honor you then your prisoner thus vnkindely bound as I am And surely I cannot but meruaile heerat considering the simple conquest you haue therby vse then such rigour to vs as women so diuinely adorned are wunt to doo Madasima hearing his gentle language was more and more enflamed with his loue yet striung to dissemble it she merily said Tell me faire Sir if I chuse you as my fréend and deliuer you from prison will you for my sake leaue the seruice of King Lisuart and afterward tel him how you did it by my meanes With all my hart Lady answered Galaor and to perfourm it you shal haue what oathe you please both of me and my companyon for he will doo no more thē I request him Credit me quoth Madasima if before this companye you will promise to obey me presently you shal enioy your liberty Beholde me ready replyed Galaor Yet is not this enough answered Madasima for you shall sweare it in the presence of a Ladye where I am intended to lodge this night in meane while you must assure me not to departe my companye We will not on my faith Madame quoth Galaor and calling Amadis caused him to affirme as much wher-upon they were vnbound and set at libertie their Squires likewise as fréendly vsed and mounting on their owne horsses rode at their ease as they did before But Madasima Galaor still continued their amorous discourses till they arriued at a Castle named Albies the Lady wherof receiued them very honourably in respect of great fréendship betweene Madasima and her Néedlesse were it to tell ye of their good cheere it could not but be answerable to the time and company but after supper Madasima demaunded of Galaor if he meant to keepe his promise he made her by the way What else Madame quoth he prouided you be so good as your woord to me Make no doubt ther-of replyed Madasima then framing her spéeches to the Lady of the Castell and also to two Knightes that were her Sonnes she proceeded in this manner My good fréends I pray you hear a couenaunt betwéen me these two Gentlemen because heer-after you maye be my witnesses They are my prisoners and vnder these conditions I haue released them that one of them shall continue my freend and bothe of them forsake the seruice of King Lisuart telling him how for my sake and in despight of him they haue doone it Heer-upon I intreate this fauour at your handes as to meete me at the Courte of that wretched King on the day they must declare this message to see how contentedly he will take it but if they fulfill not their promise hence-foorth you shall publishe in all places the heinous offence by them committed and ten daies I giue them to execute this charge I am wel pleased said the Lady of the Castell to doo a greater matter for you then this if they as willinglye consent therto We praye you quoth Galaor not to faile héerin for we haue promised and will performe it Receiue then your libertie answered Madasima yet must you not departe this night these woordes she spake because she intended to seale the bargaine with Galaor When the time came that summoned them to rest Amadis was conducted to one chamber and Galaor to an other whether soone after Madasima repaired she beeing young beautifull aduenterously giuen Galaor likewise a man forward to such fortunes when Loue had erected his scaling ladders to the walles quicklye got possession of the Forte And so well liked she these amorous skirmiges as afterward she reported in many places how she neuer tasted a more pleasant night and had she not promised him departure hardly would she haue let him goe so soone nor did she but in hope of his spéedie returne Thus was she enclined to voluptuous desire as without care of her honor she often fell in this sort By these meanes escaped Amadis Galaor vnder the conditions you haue heard which they hoped to preuent without impeach as héereafter shall be declared vnto you All that day they rode not hindered by any thing and at night were fréendly entertained in an Hermitage setting forward the next morning to the Court of King Lisuart CHAP. XXXV ¶ How King Lisuart was in daunger of his person and his state by the vnlawfull promises he made too rash and vnaduisedly FOure dayes after Amadis and Galaor departed from the Court the auncient Knight came to the Cittie of London who left the Crowne and the mantle with the Quéene as you haue heard when falling on his knée before the King he began in this manner I meruaile my Lord that in a time of such honor you weare not y e Crowne I left with you And you Madame quoth he to the Queene is it possible you should make so slender account of the sumptuous mantle I gaue you in charge not deigning as yet to prooue it or how it will become ye When the King heard his words knowing they were lost he sate a good while without any answere which made the Knight thus begin againe On my faith I am glad you like them not for had you pleased to keepe them you must likewise haue graunted my demaund and happily it would prooue greater then you expect otherwise in falsifying your promise you might procure the losse of my head Most humbly therefore I beséeche yée my Lord to will them be deliuered me againe because I may tarry no longer héere Now was the King
villaines and ransomed me with the price of their liues They were vnwise to resist said Grumedan when you had so good a champion but I pray you my Lord what is become of your brother Euen in the same place answered Amadis where they seperated the father from the daughter we seuered our selues he posting after the King and I followed Arcalaus who led away Madame Oriana The better hope haue I of his succour quoth Grumedan seeing so good a Knight hath taken it in hand Héerevpon Amadis told him the horrible treason of Arcalaus and Barsinan Let me therefore intreat ye quoth he to conduct the Princesse leasurably after while I make hast before least the Queene be distressed because I doubt the traitour will offer her iniurie I thinke it likewise expedient that you cause all the Knights to returne you meete withall for if the King should be reskewed by multitude of men there is enow before alreadie and more then néedes So leauing his Lady with Don Grumedan he made all the haste he could toward London ouertaking the Squire by the way that came from the King who told him all the newes of his deliuerance which was no little ioy to Amadis hearing the fortunate successe of his brother Galaor There met he with an other likewise who made report of Barsinans dealings at London wherefore entring y e Cittie so couertly as he might the first he met withall was King Arban of whome he was louingly embraced and welcommed with request of what newes he brought None but good answered Amadis and such as you are desirous to heare but because I doubt the Queene is scant mery let vs goe sée her for happily she will be glad of our comming So rode they to the Court together Amadis still kéeping the Squire with him that came from the King and when they entred the Quéenes presence Amadis falling on his knée began in this manner Madame this Gentleman left the King well this morning and at libertie whereof his Maiestie certifieth you by him my selfe likewise not long since left your Daughter with Don Grumedan and very shortly they will be with you But because I vnderstand that Barsinan mollesteth you with trecherie suffer vs I pray you to go sée what he can doo When the Quéene heard these ioyfull tidings her inward content tooke away the libertie of her speeche nor could she doo any thing but lift her hands and eyes to heauen applauding his name from whome this good proceeded and by gestures deliuering some signe of thanks to Amadis At length hauing ouercome this delightfull passion and intending to question further concerning these newes the allarme was sounded wherefore King Arban Amadis hyed to the barres where they found Barsinans men giuing an eager charge as hoping to conquer the contrary part But Amadis thrusting him-selfe formost caused the barres to bée taken downe and accompanyed with King Arban brake in couragiously vpon the enemy a noble president to their Souldyours who being chéered by this onset tooke hart and followed Now wexed the skirmish to be hot indéed so that on both sides very many were slaine which Barsinan perceiuing and trusting in his multitude to suppresse the weaker part came formost him-selfe in person thinking now he sawe the barres open to driue his aduersaryes back againe into the Cittie When Amadis noted his forwardnes he stepped back and chaunged his Creast and Shéeld with a simple mercenarie Soldiour yet reseruing his Launce which with a strong carrire pierced through his Armour and wounding Barsinan brake in pieces in his flesh Then drawing his Swoord he gaue him such a stroke on the Helmet as he was astonnied there-with and redoubling his blowe cut his right arme quite from his shoulder when Barsinan féeling him so wounded would haue retyred back to saue him-selfe by the spéed of his horsse but he fell to the ground as depriued of his sences Wherefore Amadis left him and set vpon the rest who being vnable to endure these hot assaults likewise beholding their Lord dismounted tooke themselues to flight for safetie of their liues yet were they so closely followed as the most part of them were slaine in the feeld and some fewe of them escaped into the Tower causing the bridge to be quickly drawen vp after them Heere-upon Amadis returned where he left Barsinan and because he was not yet dead commaunded he should be caryed to the Quéenes lodging there to be kept till the Kings returne and as he would haue put vp his Swoord he sawe it soyled with blood wherefore in wiping it he said Thou trustie Sword in a happy houre was the Knight borne to whome thou belongest and as thou art one of the best in the world so is thy Maister the most vertuous Prince liuing He vsed these words because it appertayned to King Lisuart and was sent him from the Quéene by Gandalin as you heard before but now returnes he with King Arban to the Quéenes lodging to comfort her with newes of this happie victorie All this while the King is hasting toward London giuing order to returne al the Knights he met by the way among whome were Agraies Galuanes Soliuan Galdan Dinadaus and Bernas all which were highly in the Kings fauour as men of vertue and no small deseruing and his Maiestie hauing embraced them said My noble good freends you had almost lost me but God be thanked you haue recouered me againe by the help of these thrée woorthie Knightes Galaor Guilan and Ladasin In sooth my Lord answered Dinadaus so soone as your mishap was knowen in the Cittie eche one prepared to bring you succour I knowe my good Nephewe quoth the King that I am greatly beholding to you all but I pray you take good store of these Knights and post with spéede to assist the Quéene for I doubt she is in no little daunger This Dinadaus was one of the best Knightes of the Kings linage and well estéemed among men of account as well in respect of his vertues as also his braue behauiour in chiualrie so according to the Kinges commaund he rode away presently very brauelye accompanied The King likewise followed an indifferent pace least his Nephewe should stand in need of helpe and by the way he ouer-tooke Don Grumedan with his daughter Oriana how ioyfull his méeting was you may easily conceiue that the seperation was not so greeuous but this was as gladsome Grumedan told his Maiestie how Amadis left the Princesse with him while he rode before to assist the Quéen thus with repetition of many matters they beguiled y e time till they arriued at London where he vnderstood the successe of Barsinans enterprise and how valiantly King Arban had resisted him not forgetting the woorthye behauiour of Amadis in taking him prisoner and discomfiting his men except a few that saued them-selues in the Tower Héere would it aske a worlde of time to reporte the ioye pleasure and contentment betwéene the King and Quéene at their meeting
that your woordes procéeded from no loyall hart nor to credit any thing you say héerafter The King whom loue had already depriued of liberty to vnite him selfe with Elisena to the end that he might be adorned with the great and gratious fruite which afterwarde happened as shalbe receited vnto ye tooke his Swoord and setting his right hand on the Crosse therof saide these woordes I sweare by this crosse and on this Swoord wherwith I receiued the order of Knighthood to doo what you faire Damosell shall commaund me at all times and whensoeuer your mistresse Elisena shalbe therto aduised Be you then frollicke and merrye answered Darioletta for I shall likewise accomplishe what I haue promised And at that instant she returned to the Princesse declaring to her what she had concluded with King Perion wherwith the amorous Lady was so pleased as she had vtterly lost her former countenance and incesfanty embracing Darioletta thus demaunded My déere fréend when will the hower come that I shall holde betwéene mine armes my Lord whom thou hast giuen me I shall tell ye answered the Damosell you know that in the Chamber where King Perion lodgeth there is a doore on the Garden side which your Father hath sundrye times vsed for his recreation and which at this present is couered with the cloth of Arras but I haue the keye thereof wherfore at night when euery one is at rest we may easily there enter vnséene of any and when néedefull time of returne commeth my selfe will call ye When Elisena heard this deuise she was highly contented therwith yet breathing foorth a sighe she said Alas my faithfull fréend how shall we bring this to passe seeing my father is determined to lodge with King Perion and if he perceiue vs we shalbe both in very great danger Refer that doubt to me answered Darioletta and I shal easilye prouide for this matter whereupon for this time they brake off conference because the Tables were couered for Supper And in like manner as the feasting began in the morning so now it continued till the Tables béeing voyded eche one prepared him selfe to rest now a little before Darioletta went to king Perions Squire and thus saide to him Gentle Squire and my fréend I pray ye tel me in good faithe whether you be a Gentleman or no. Why aske ye answered the Squire For the desire I haue said the Damosell to know one thing of you which I intreate ye by the faith you owe to God and to the King your Maister not to hide from me By Saint Mary quoth he I will tell you what you please to aske prouided that it be not to the domage of my Lord. Heerin saide the Damosell will I consent with ye for I would not demaunde any thing of you that should giue him displeasure nor were it reasonable that you should acquaint me with any such matter but I desire to knowe who is the Lady he loueth most perfectlye The King my Maister quoth the Squire loueth all ingenerall and I assure ye that I know no one to whom he beareth such affection as you speak off While they were thus talking the King Garinter came who séeing Darioletta conferring with king Perions Squire demaunded what we she had to doo with the Gentleman In sooth my Lord quoth she he telles me that the king his Maister is woont to lye alone and therfore I thinke he loueth not to haue any company When Garinter vnderstood that he went presently to king Perion saying My noble Brother there are certaine affaires suddenly be fallen me and likewise I must rise somewhat early in the morning which hath made me thinke that not to trouble you the best way is that I breake company from lodging with ye My Lord answered king Perion doo as shall séem best to your liking This answer appeared to king Garinter conformable with that the Damosell had saide wherfore right soone he commaunded his bed to be fetcht frō king Perions Chamber When Darioletta heard therof she imagmed their affaires would fall out the better and therfore returned to Elisena acquainting her with all that had passed betwéene the two kinges In good faith quoth she I now beléeue that séeing God hath graunted so good a beginning our enterprise which at this present séemeth a great sinne will héerafter redound to his seruice but tell me what wee shall doo for the great ioy which I haue hath taken from me the most healthfull part of my iudgement Madame saide Darioletta this night will we execute what we haue determined séeing the doore wherof you knowe is certainly open To my selfe I keepe it answered Elisena and to you only I commit the charge to prouide when the hower shall permit and so they remained attending for the fauourable time CHAP. II. ¶ How the Princesse Elisena and her Damosell Darioletta went to the Chamber where King Perion was lodged THe time béeing come when eche one most commonly betake themselues to rest Darioletta who for the contentment of her Mistresse had vsed extreame dilligence came and tolde her Madame now is the time to finishe our enterprise then let vs goe if you please Whē Elisena heard what she saide you must think she gaue no occasion to be reproued with slothfulnes but hastely arose and without tarying casting only a mantle about her shoulders went forward and afterward they bothe entred the Garden The time was then calme and gracious the Moone faire and splendant giuing cléere light to the two Ladies but surely the one had more cause of content then the other who gladlye would haue tasted this good hap or such an other for her selfe if she could any way haue compast the meane and so much she gaue in outward appearance as Elisena perceiued well that she wanted but the executour to perfourme the same for Darioletta féeling in her spirit the ease at hand which she should receiue whome she conducted could not but very pleasantly iest and dally with her Mistresse breaking many a bitter sigh among as though she were to participate in Elisenaes future good fortune to whome she saide Alas Madame how happye is the Prince by whom this night you shall receiue such pleasure You say true answered Elisena but what thinke you not that Fortune is as fauourable to me as to him for if I be faire is not he one of the most perfect men that hath béene heard off either in personage good grace or hardines assure thy selfe Darioletta my fréend that I imagine my self so happy sa I thinke it is impossible for me to be more and therfore let vs make haste I praye thee These woordes she vttered with such affection that she trembled like the little leafe on the high tree and as she ended those spéeches they arriued at the Chamber doore where king Perion was lodged who for y e strangenes of this new amorous flame as also y e hope he had in Darioletta had not as yet taken any rest Neuerthelesse béeing at
whether you be the Sonne of Gandales or no for according to the good opinion I haue of you I thinke ye to be issued of better place Then rehearsed he all that King Languines had tolde him wherin she conceiued very great pleasure which doon they committed eche other to God So departed the Prince from this companie and right soon found Gandalin who attended for him at the Kinges lodging doore with the rest of his Armes and his Horsse wheron he mounted and left the Cittie vnséene of any because as yet it was not day so rode they on till they came into a Forrest Now is the greatest parte of the daye spent before they would refreshe them selues in any place but hunger constrained them to feede on such viandes as Gandalin had brought with him from the Cittie During this time they heard in the wood on their right hand the voice of some one which seemed to them very dolefull wherfore the prince rode presently that way where he found a Knight dead and hard by him an other in little better case for he was so wounded that he had no hope to liue As for the partie that so cried it was a woman who lay vpon the Knight pressing him so sore as made his hart to faile him and which was woorst of all the villanous woman to cause his death the sooner cruelly thrust her handes into his woundes But when the wounded Knight espied the Prince so well as he could he craued succour saying Ah gentle Sir for Gods sake suffer me not to be thus murthered by this ribaude Greatly was the Prince abashed at this wicked dealing and therfore very roughly thus spake Woman withdraw your self for you doo the thing not beséeming you or your like She as one ashamed retired and y e Knightful of anguish fel in a swoune which made the Prince verye desirous to knowe what he was but fearing that he had alreadye yeelded his breath quickly alighted and vsed such good meanes as reuiued him againe when he began to crye Ah I am dead good fréendes bring me to some place where I may haue councell for my soule Take courage answered the Prince for you shall haue what you demaund but I pray ye tell me what fortone brought ye hither or where is he that hath thus hardly intreated ye It is said the Knight through this wicked woman who albeit I was rich and puissant yea far much more then she I made choice for the good loue I bare her and espoused her as my wife neuerthelesse she discourteous creature forgetting the good and honor I had doon her hath sundry times abandoned her honest regarde namelye this night past with this Knight héere dead whom I hauing neuer before séene by chaâ—â—ice yesterday he came to me and this last night thus villanouslye abused me where taking him with the déed we had a combate together wherin as you see he lost his life But when this strumpet sawe I had slaine him fearing I would doo as much to her she fell at my féete and desired pardon wherto I easily condiscended prouided that she offended no more Héerupon I intreated her to binde vp my woundes but she perceiuing how gréeuously I was hurt brought into very weak estate through ouer-much losse of my blood to reuenge the adulterous Uillaines death she assaied to kill me outright and to make me languish the more in dying cruelly she thrust her handes into my woundes so that well I perceiue I cannot long liue Therfore I beséeche ye good Sin help me to an Hermitage which is néere at hand where I shall finde some religious man to comfort me in the agonie of my Soule Such compassion tooke the Prince on him as he and Gandalin taking him in their armes caried him on a horsse to the Hermitage in meane while the wretched woman stole away priuilie and a little before she fearing that her Husband would be reuenged on her sent for helpe to thrée of her bretheren who dwelled not farre from that place giuing them to vnderstand which way they should come In her wandring they met with her and she had no sooner espied them but she thus cryed out Ah helpe me good bretheren for héerbefore is a theefe who hath slaine this Knight which lyeth héere and hath beside so wounded my Husband as there is no hope of life left in him let him not therfore escape ye nor he that is in his company because the one is as déepe in the euill as the other Such like spéeches vsed this Harlot that by the death of the Prince and Gandalin her treason might be couered therfore that her Husband should not dye alone with her will she shewed them the Gentleman of the Sea euen as he returned from the Hermitage where he left the wounded Knight Héeer-upon the thrée bretheren too light of beléefe gallopped toward him crying Traitour thou art but dead You lye villaines answered the Prince for right well shall I defend my selfe from such traitours as you are Bestirre thy self then said the bretheren for thou hast offended vs all three and we all will be reuenged on thée if we may By good hap the Prince had his Shéeld and Launce ready and his Helmet very well laced wherfore without any further answere he sharpely charged them and méeting with the first pearced through both his Shéeld and arme and withall threw his Horsse and him so fiercely against the ground as his right shoulder was broken in the fall in like manner was one of his horsse legges so that neither the one or other could rise At this encounter he brake his Launce wherfore he suddenly drew his Sword and addressing him selfe to the other twaine gaue one of them such a forcible stroke as sâ—icing through his Armounr entred the fleshe to the very bone on his shoulder likewise so that therwith he fell from his Saddle Being thus dispatched of two he came to the third and saluted him with such a sound blow on the Helmet as the poore Gentleman was constrained to embrace the neck of his Horsse therby to sheeld himselfe from falling finding him self as greatlye amazed as y e other were Heer-upon the woman that brought theÌ„ thether fled away which y e Prince perceiuing cryed to Gandalin that he should stay her in meane while the first Knight hauing recouered him selfe vsed these spéeches to the Prince We know not Sir whether this fight hath beene for right or wrong For right it could not be answered the Prince vnlesse you think I haue doone wrong in succouring the husband of this traiterous woman whom cruelly she hath caused to dye When the thrée Knightes heard that they were very much abashed and then thought they had béen abused by their Sister wherfore they thus replied Insooth my Lord so please ye to assure vs we will shew on what occasion we assailed you You shall haue good assuraunce so to doo said the Prince yet will I not acquite ye from the
saying Ah gentle Knight how highlye am I indebted to you you are to this place the most welcome man in the world for by your meanes haue I thorowly recouered mine honor Leaue we this talke saide y e Prince and saye where I may quicklye finde some remedye for my woundes In my house answered the Knight abideth a Niece of mine who shall heale your hurtes better then any other So riding on they arriued at the Castell where being dismounted they walked into the great Hall the Knight reporting by the way how Galpan had kept him from bearing Armes one whole yeere a halfe compelling him to change his name and sweare to call him self while he liued the conquered by Galpan but now quoth he séeing he is dead mine honor is restored me againe Afterward he caused the prince to be vnarmed and laide in a sumptuous bed where his woundes were dilligentlye attended by the Ladye who assured him in shorte time to make him well againe if he would be aduised by her councell which he promised faithfullye to doo CHAP VIII ¶ How the third daye after the Gentleman of the Sea departed from King Languines the three Knightes came to the Courte bringing with them the wounded Knight in a Litter and his disloyall wife ON the third day after the Prince left y e Court of King Languines where he receiued the order of Knighthood the thrée Knightes came thither with their wounded brother and his trothlesse wife of whom the discourse hath béen already recited At their arriuall they presented him before the King letting him vnderstand the cause of their comming and deliuering their prisoner on the newe Knightes behalfe to deale with her as he should thinke conuenient Greatly did the King meruaile at the womans disloyaltie not imagining such wickednes could haue harboured in her notwithstanding he thanked the Knight that had sent them to his Courte yet could he not guesse who it was for he nor any bodye else knewe that the Gentleman of the Sea was Knighted but the Princesse Oriana and the Ladies which accompanied her in the Chappell Full soone was he aduertised of his absence from the Courte but he thought he was gone to visite his father Gandales then the King turning to the Knight in the Litter saide Me thinkes that a woman so vnfaithfull as your wife hath béene deserueth not to liue My Lord quoth the Knight doo therin as it shall like your maiestie as for me I will neuer consent that y e thing I moste loue should dye This said the knights tooke their leaue of the King carying backe againe with them their Brother in the Litter leauing their Sister to receiue Iustice by the Kings appointmēt who after their departure called for her and saide Woman thy mallice hath béene too great in respect of thy Husbands kindenes but thou shalt be made an example to all other that they héerafter offend not in the like and so he commaunded her to be burned aliue The execution béeing doone the King was in greater pensiuenes then before because he knew not who the new Knight should be that parted so suddenly from his Courte but the Squire standing by which lodged the Gentleman of the Sea and afterward conducted him to the Castell where he deliuered King Perion from death began to imagine that it was his guest wherfore he said to the King It may be my Lord a young Knight with whome the Damosell of Denmarke and my selfe were certaine daies and then we left him when we came hither Knowest thou his name quoth the King No my Lord said the Squire but he is both yong and very beautifull beside I saw him doo such rare chiualrie in so little time as in mine opinion if he liue he will proue one of the best Knightes in the worlde Then discoursed he at large euerye action as also how he deliuered King Perion in the time of great danger When the King had noted well his tale his desire to know him encreased now more and more My Lord quoth the Squire the Damosell that came hether with me happilye can tell ye more tidinges of him for it was my chaunce to meete them together Of what Damosell speakest thou saide the King Of her answered the Squire that lately came from great Brittayne to Madame Oriana Presently was she sent for and he demaunded what the Knight was of whom there went such reporte Wherupon she declared so much as she knew chéeflye the occasion wherfore she rode with him and in what manner the Launce was giuen him by Vrganda as to the only Knight in the world But in sooth quoth she I knowe not his name for neuer could I learne it of him Ah God saide the King who may it be Now was Oriana voide of all doubting for she wel knew it was her Gentleman of the Sea but she was so gréeued with the newes which the Damosell of Denmarke had brought her as well she knew not whome she might complaine to for the King her Father sent her woord how she should prepare her selfe in readines to come to him so soone as his Ambassadours should be sent for her into Scotland But much more willingly could she affoord to stay in that Countrye then there whether she should now goe against her minde not only in respect of her gentle vsage there but because she imagined by béeing farre thence she should be further from him that had the prime of her affection beside she might there hardlye afterward heare any newes of him but continuing in Scotland she could easilye compasse it In these melancholly thoughts was the amourous Princesse and the King on the other side in dayly musing what he might be that sent the foure Knightes with the wicked woman whom the fire had consumed But fiue or sixe dayes after these matters were thus passed as the King was conferring w t his Sonne Agraies who now stood vpon departing toward Gaule to succour the King his Unckle there entred a Damosell who falling on her knee before all the assembly framed her speeches to Agraies in this manner May it please ye my Lord that in the presence of his highnes and this assemblye I deliuer a message of importance to ye then taking the Helmet from her Squire she thus procéeded This Helmet thus broken and battered as ye see I present ye in place of Galpans head as a token to you from a new Knight to whom in my iudgement it better belongeth to beare Armes then any other and the cause why he sendes it to you is for that Galpan villainously abused a damosell that came to you on vrgent affaires What quoth the King is Galpan ouercome by the hand of one man beléeue me Damosell you tell vs meruailes Woorthy Lord answered she he only of whom I speake hath doone him to death after he had slaine all the other that resisted him in Galpans Castell and he thinking to reuenge their foyle him selfe combatted hand to hand with y
Perion his Father and by the Queene Elisena his Mother IN the beginning of this Historie it hath béene recited how King Perion gaue his Quéene Elisena being then in little Brittayne a King like another that commonly he wore and these two Kings were of such an vniforme as there was no difference to bee discerned betwéene them Likewise you haue vnderstood how when the young Prince was put vpon the water this King was fastened about his neck which Gardalâ—â— kept till time he sent it by the Damosell a little before he was Knighted with the Sword and the ware Now had the King sundry times demaunded of the Queene for the King who made him diuers doubtfull answers and in the end said she had lost it But it came to passe that as the Prince walked with Orianaes Damosell which commonly he was wont to doo young Melicia daughter to King Perion passed by him weeping when the Prince stayd her saying Faire friend why wéepe ye Ah my Lord quoth the Princesse I haue euen now lost a King which the King my Father gaue me to kéepe while he slept Wéepe not so faire Uirgin answered the Prince you shall haue another of me to giue him so taking his owne King from his finger he gaue it her When she beheld it thinking it was the same she had lost she said A my Lord you haue found it wherewith I am not a little glad for I haue all this while sought it What now quoth the Prince this is not your King In mine opinion it is answered Melicia or the only thing of the world that most resembles it So much the better said the Prince for more easily will it be iudged the same you lost Héerewith went Melicia to the Kings chamber and finding him awake he asked her for his King then gaue she him the same she had of y e Prince which the King put on his finger thinking it was his owne But soone after as he walked through the Gallarie he espied in a corner lying the other King which he gaue his daughter before to keepe and taking it vp he compared them together whereupon he remembred that one of these two was the same he sometime gaue the Quéene so he asked of Melicia where she had the King The young Princesse affrayd of beating durst not lye but thus aunswered My Lord and Father your King I lost and as I searched for it I met with the Gentleman of the Sea who because he sawe me wéepe gaue me one of his which I deliuered you in stead of your owne and if that be not it I knowe not where it is When the King heard this he presently conceiued suspition betweene his Quéene and the Prince imagining in respect of his beautie how she was fallen into some dishonest liking of him and therefore had giuen that token Héereupon he went to the chamber where she was and shutting the dore sate downe by her not speaking one word a good space but silently fixed his eyes on the ground then breathing foorth a passionate sigh he said I will not meruaile any longer Madame why you would neuer make me any certaine answere when I demaunded for the King I gaue ye in little Brittayne you haue lost it in such a place where you would be loth I should knowe of it but hardly can you conceale affection when it procéedeth to such effects The Gentleman of the Sea inconsiderately gaue it to Melicia little thinking that it came at the first from me and thereby do I know what he suspecteth not and your selfe would I should not vnderstand When the Quéene who alreadie by his countenance sawe he was troubled heard what he had said she now determined not to dissemble with him in any thing but summarily made a true discourse of hir child-birth And not without teares she recounted to him how standing in feare of the King her Father as also the seuere lawe vsed in his Kingdome she was constrained to comunt her Sonne to the mercie of the Sea and in his cradle coffin put with him both the King Sword and what else hath béen already declared Confounded was the King with meruaile when he heard the whole trueth and presently imagined that the Prince might be his first Sonne whome God had so miraculously preserued wherefore he sayd to the Quéene According to your circumstances reuealed it may be that he who is vnknowne to vs is our Sonne and the rather I coniecture so by the name he beareth of the Sea Ah God said the Queene may it fall out so happily I beseech ye my Lord send presently for him and we will desire him to tell vs of whence he is Let vs goe then quoth the King to seeke him So went they to his chamber where they found him sléeping wherefore without making any noyse he approching neere the bed espied his Sword which he tooke and after he had well viewed it knew it to be the same he esteemed so much and wherewith he had finished many famous aduentures whereupon he said to the Quéene On my faith this is the Sword I left in the chamber of the King your Father the first night we were acquainted together and now do I the better beleeue what you haue said vnto me Ah God sayd the Quéene let vs suffer him sléepe no longer for my heart cannot endure this weightie burden heerewith she tooke him by the hand and awaked him saying My Lord sléepe no more at this time for other occasions calleth you Easily was the Prince raysed from sléepe but when he behelde the Quéene wéeping as one amazed thereat he said Madame from what occasion procéede these teares is there any thing I may do ye seruice in to remedy them Noble friend quoth the Quéene you only may quallifie my griefs by your words in telling vs whose Sonne you are So God help me Madame answered the Prince I know not for by strange aduenture was I found in the Sea The good Lady was then so ouercome with ioy as not only spéeche but vitall sence was taken from her and she fell downe in a swoune which the Prince perceiuing quickly ran to recouer her saying What ayle ye Madame further could he not imagine on the cause of this alteration Ah my Sonne quoth she now knowe I better then thy selfe who thou art The King likewise was so caryed away with ioy and admiration as he stood not able to speake a word now was it hard to iudge which of these three felt greatest contentation but the mother throwing her armes about the Princes neck said Now may I boldly dare to kisse thée in safetie hauing beene so long depriued of thy sight and knowledge highly am I beholding to the diuine bountie who hath fauoured the offence I committed through feare which was in deliuering thee to the courtesie of the waters and sée heere thy Kingly Father that begot thee With these words the Prince fell at their féete extreame ioy reducing the teares into his
as the Knight of the Castell fell into the water where he was drowned and the conquerour rode on which the Halberders séeing presently drew vp the bridge againe after him When the Damosels sawe he was thus closed in they cryed aloud to him that he should returne and as he was about so to do he espied thrée other Knights well armed comming toward him who very audaciously thus spake Unhappy was the hower to thee when thou didst passe this bridge for thou shalt dye in this water where he is drowned that was of greater reputation then thou art Héerewith they all three together ran against him and met him so firmely as his Horse was like to haue fallen ouer backward yet hauing broken their Launces on him he was at this encounter wounded in two places neuerthelesse one of them he met in such order as his Armour being vnable to resist the point of the Launce pierced through with such violence that the trunchion still remained in his body This done couragiously he drewe his sword addressing himselfe to the other twayne and they in like manner against him where-upon began a dangerous combate betwéene them but he with the Lions in his Shéeld doubting his death laboured so much as he could to ouercome his enemyes giuing one of them such a stroke on the right arme as being cut from his body it fell sword and all to the ground wherefore féeling himselfe thus wounded he gallopped with all spéed to the Castell crying Help my fréends help your Lord who is in daunger of killing When the Knight of the Lyons heard that he with whome he must yet deale was the Lord of the Castell he deliuered him such a rigorous blowe on the Helmet as made him loose his stirrops and readie to fall had he not got hold about the neck of his Horsse in this staggering the Knight of the Lyons rent his Helmet from his head and he perceiuing himselfe vnarmed thought to escape by flight as the other did but his enemy got betwéene him and the Castell saying Thou art dead if thou yéeld not thy selfe my prisoner Alas answered the amazed Knight I am dead in déede if you please but as you are a Gentleman take pittie on me for I do yéeld my selfe your vanquished Suddenly the Knight of the Lions looking about espyed other Knights and armed men on foote that came in great haste from the Castell to succour their Lord wherefore he stepped to his conquered prisoner and holding his sword against his throate sayd Commaund thy men to returne else shalt thou presently dye Then he who sawe his life in such perill cryed to them and made a signe with his hand that if they loued him they should returne where upon they beholding their Lords life at his enemyes swords point obeied his commaund with all possible speed Yet is not this enough sayd the conquerour cause now the bridge to be let downe which he did and they came both foorth on the causey where the Ladyes taryed but when the Knight of the Castell beheld them and that one of them was Vrganda the vnknowne Ah my Lord quoth he if you kéepe me not from this Lady I am but dead Nay beléeue me answered the Knight that will not I do but rather am to deale with thée as she shall commaund me then stepping to Vrganda he said Madame see héere the Lord of the Castell what is your pleasure I shall do with him Smite off his head aunswered Vrganda if he will not deliuer you my friend whome he kéepeth in prison Héere-with he lift up his sword to feare him when the Knight falling on his knée cryed Ah my Lord kill me not I will obey what so euer she commaundeth Dispatch it quickly then said the Knight of the Lyons So called the Lord to one of the Halberders within saying Go to my brother and tell him if euer he intend to sée me aliue let him quickly cause the imprisoned Knight to come hither and the Damosell that brought him with her Right soone was the messenger gon on this errand returning immediatly with the Damosell and the Knight to whome the Knight of the Lyons thus spake Thanke this Lady who hath done so much for ye and truely great cause you haue to loue her in that she hath taken wonderfull paines to deliuer you from this thraldome I do loue her answered the restored Knight and so will continue better then I haue done heeretofore But before he could finish these words Vrganda ran and embraced him the like did he to her afterward the conqueror demaunded what should be done with her that brought him thither It is necessary that she dye replyed Vrganda to let her knowe the price of so hainous an offence Presently was the poore Damosell so strangely enchaunted as she ran skipping ouer the marrish quag-mires and turning back againe would haue throwen her selfe into the water had not the Knight of y e Lyons intreated Vrganda to pardon her trespasse for this time Prouided said Vrganda that she returne no more to offend me otherwise she shall pay for all together When the Lord of the Castell saw the Damosell was remitted at his request who ouercame him he thus spake My Lord I haue perfourmed what hath beene commaunded therefore I pray ye giue me leaue to depart froÌ„ her that neuer loued me In sooth answered Vrganda for honor of him by whome you make your sute I am content and you may returne He being gone the Knight of the Lyons who yet meruailed by what occasion the Damosell was driuen into the furie asked what moued her so to do Ah my Lord quoth she me thought one came round about me and would haue burned me with a lighted torch therefore to saue my selfe I sought to leape into the water At these words the Knight fell into a laughter saying Your folly hath beene ouer-great faire Damosell to worke her ill who knowes how to reuenge it Galaor stood and had séene all these things where-upon he thus spake to y e Giant Beléeue me father I very much desire that this worthie man should giue me my order for if King Lisuart be renowmed it is for his possessions but this Knight deserues it by his strength and valour I am well content answered the Giant goe and request it of him if he deny you the fault is his owne So Galaor went forward accompanyed with foure Squires two Damosels when comming to the Knight of the Lyons he found him yet vnder the trees At his arriuall he was courteously receiued by the Knight who reputed him one of the most comely Gentlemen that euer he had séene afterward Galâ—â—â— thus began Gentle Sir I am come to intreat a fauour at your hand Truely answered the Knight if your request be reasonable it will the sooner be graunted My sute Sir quoth Galaor is for nothing else but that it might please you to giue me the order of Knighthood and in so doing you shall
dutie came hither to prepare his lodging therefore I pray ye that he may be well receiued of you all and obey him as your true and naturall Lord for well am I assured that he will intreat you with loue and gentlenes These requests were presently aunswered by one for them all who said Hither shall he be most hartely welcome because we hope that he to whome we shall be â—assailes and subiects will cherish and fauour vs in stead whereof y e other vsed vs as villaines slaues and you being y e conquerour we hold for our only deliuerer All things thus debated accorded Galaor departed thence with his company returning to the Hermitage where the Hermit atteÌ„ded for happy news but he was not a little glad to see Galaor come with such successe wherfore he thus spake My Sonne daily are you bound to praise the diuine bountie whose loue hath giuen you grace to execute this notable vengeance On the morrow after he had receiued the good mans benediction he set forward on his way one of the Damosels intreated him that he would suffer her to trauaile in his company whereto right willingly he gaue consent And I quoth the other must take another way in that I had not come thus far but only to behold the issue of the coÌ„bat which I haue seene with such content as I must néeds make coÌ„mendable report therof to other and so shall I not faile to do in y e Court of King Lisuart whether now I go to find a brother of mine gone thither before me Fair Damsell answered Galaor if you méet a yong Knight who beareth in his Shéeld a couple of Lions I pray ye say to him that the Gentleman to whome not long since he gaue the order of Knighthood doth humbly salute him adding this withall how he endeuoureth to honor the order wheÌ„ they both shall meet he will acquaint him such matter betweene them as yet perhaps he knoweth not So tooke the Damsell her leaue of Galaor who afterward thus begaÌ„ to commune with the other You know Lady that I haue finished the combat with y e Giant and you said to me before I began it how the Knight himselfe should know what she is y â— sent you thether Uery true answered the Damsel but if you would be resolued therin follow me and within fiue dayes I will shew you her That shall not let me said Galaor thus rode they on together so long till at length they came to a forked way and Galaor who rid muâ—ing before thought she had followed him but she arrested behind a little and wheÌ„ she hoped to ouer-take him againe it was her hap to take the wrong way This chanced at the entrance of the forrest of Braganda which seuereth the countreys of Claire and Gresca where long he had not erred but he heard a voice thus calling to him Ah good Knight help me Galaor turning his head to sée what was the cause I thinke quoth one of his Squires it should be the Damosell that departed from vs. What sayd Galaor hath she left vs Yea truely answered the Squyre she tooke the way leading on the left hand Beléeue me quoth he I had very little care of her hastily without taking his helmet hauing only his Shéeld and Launce he galloped so fast as he could to the place where he heard the voice and hard at hand he espied fiue men on foote armed with Corslets and Halberds and a Dwarffe on horsseback who cruelly laid on the Damosell with a staffe When Galaor approched neere them he came to the Dwarffe saying Thou villainous and deformed creature soone shall I send thy soule to the Deuill and running fiercely against him with his Launce threw him against the ground meruailously amazed Then came the other eagerly vpon him compassing him on euery side but to the first he gaue such a gréeting with his Launce as he lay sprawling along on the earth An other of them buckled close to him laying load on his Shéeld with his Halberd but at length he pierced his Launce quite through his body When the other thrée saw this massacre they ran away so fast as they could ouerthwart the Forrest and Galaor not able to ouertake them returned back againe to the Dwarffe who being gotten on horsseback fled away after the other crying Accurssed Knight in haplesse hower hast thou thus misused my men for thou shalt dye an euill death Galaor séeing the Dwarffe laboured so hard to saue himselfe would follow him no further but went to see if his Launce were vnbroken which he had left in the bodie of the dead man and finding it sound as it was before gaue it to his Squire saying to the Damosell Ride now before me and I will guard ye better then I haue done So tooke they the way againe they had left that brought them to a Riuer named Braz which could not be passed at the fâ—rd now rode the Damosell somewhat farre before Galaor finding the passage so readie as she went ouer before he came In meane while he stayed the returne of the boate he espied the Dwarffe come after him crying Uillainous traytour thou art dead if thou deliuer not the Damosell thou tookest from me Little account did Galaor make of his words but looking back he saw thrée Knights come after the Dwarffe well mounted one of the thrée thus speaking to the rest It were great dishonor for vs to set all thrée together vpon one man and as for my selfe I thinke scorne to be assisted by any Hauing so said with a full course he ran against the Prince who likewise was ready to entertaine him and they encountred in such sort as the Knight pierced Galaors Armour making him feele y e naked point of his Launce but Galaor bad him so brauely welcome casting him from his saddle with such might as he lay on the ground not able to stirre whereat the other twaine were so abashed that they ran both together against the Prince the one failing and the other breaking his Launce which Galaor determining to reuenge strooke his Launce into the sight of the last Knights Helmet as he made it fall from his head and he hauing lost his stirrops ready to lye along Meane while the second who had not broken returned against Galaor and sped in méeting Now albeit the encounter was with great vigour yet escaped the Armour on either side Hauing thus gallantly shiuered their staues they drewe foorth their Swords beginning a fierce and cruell combat and while the fight endured the Dwarffe without ceassing cried to his men Looke well that he escape not but kill him least he get away Then Galaor comming néere him who had lost his Helmet reached him such a stroke on the head as he tumbled downe dead before him And when the third saw his companyon slaine being affraid of himselfe he turned his back and away but Galaor pursued him so neere that he gaue him a
blow betwéene the neck and the shoulders which brought off a great many plates of his Armour Now did the run-awayes feare more and more encrease whē he felt his enemy so néere at hand wherefore the better to saue himselfe he cast his Shéeld back ouer his shoulders and fled away faster then he did before which Galaor perceiuing would follow him no longer but hastily returned thinking to take the Dwarffe and binde his legs to a trée from which the Dwarffe kept himselfe well enough for he had gotten more ground in running away then y e other Héere vpon he came to the first that he dismounted who hauing some-what recouered himselfe Galaor thus spake to him In sooth your misfortune grieueth me more then your fellowes doth for like a good Knight you came alone to me albeit I know not on what occasion in respect I neuer offended ye as I remember It is very true answered the Knight notwithstāding you must not◠what the Dwarffe said to vs how you had beaten him slaine his men taken a Lady perforce from him that was in his company Beleeue me quoth Galaor shewing him the Damosell on the other side of the Riuer he falsely lyed and were it that I had brought her away perforce she would not tary for me so willingly as she doth but she vnhappily straying in this Forrest the Dwarffe met with her offering to leade her away against her will and because she would not obey him he gaue her many cruell strokes with a staffe Ah traitour that he is answered the Knight for this villainy shall I reward him if euer we méete againe And because Galaor found the Knight in so good sort he holpe to take his horsse that had escaped desiring him to punish the Dwarffe for his treason This done he entred the boat and past the water afterward he and the Damosell rode on their way she shewing him soone after a Castell néere at hand which stood very brauely on the top of a Mountaine saying Héere will be the best lodging we shall finde this night and alighting from their horsses they were entertained there with meruailous courtesie it being the dwelling of the Damosels mother Soone after was the Prince vnarmed and then the Damosell came to him in this manner To the end my Lord I may kéepe promise with ye if you please to stay héere till I returne which credit me shall be very spéedily I will bring ye newes of her whome you desire to see I am content answered Galaor prouided that you make no tariance because I haue affaires of importance elsewhere Let it suffise replied the Damosell you shall see me againe sooner then you imagine And so she departed vsing such diligence as Galaor was not displeased with her stay At her returne they mounted on horsseback and rode together crosse the Forrest which when they left the night ouertooke them whereupon the Damosell forsaking the out-right way turned aside and by time the greater part of the night was spent they arriued at a verie faire Citie named Grandares where comming to a Castell gate the Damosell said Now let vs alight and follow me for héere will I shew you her I promised but leaue not your weapons and Armour because one can scant tell what may happen The Damosell went before and Galaor followed her till they came néere the wall Get vp héere sayd the Damosell and I will goe on the other side to attend you With much adoo he ascended the wall by reason of his weightie Armor as also being troubled with his Sheeld and Helmet When the Damosell saw he was amounted she entred the Pallace to guide him as she had begun in meane while Galaor was discended and sate hard by a posterne that entred a Garden where he taryed so long till the Damosell came and opened the dore with one of her companyons but ere he entred they thus spake Although you haue attained thus farre yet before you passe any further you must néedes tell vs whose Sonne you are Let that alone answered Galaor for I haue such a Father as till the time of better hap I am content not to name him Neuerthelesse quoth one of thē it is very necessary we should know for it shall not be any way to your hinderance I am answered Galaor Sonne to King Perion of Gaule and the Quéene Elisena and it is not sire dayes past since I could not tell ye so much Stay then said the Damosell so they caused him to be vnarmed casting a mantle about his shoulders and afterward went on the first Damosell going before and the other comming behinde him In this manner they entred the Pallace passing through a chamber where many Ladyes and Gentlewomen were in bed and if any one demaunded who went by so late the Damosels his guides made answere for him Thus not perceiued by any they came to another chamber wherein when Galaor entred he saw sitting on a gorgious bed a most beautifull Lady with an Iuory combe kembing her faire locks but when she espied Galaor she presently cast on her head a chaplet of flowers and came to receiue him whome the Damosels had brought saying My friend you are right hartely welcome being the best Knight in the world that I knowe And you Madame quoth he are most happily found being the fairest Lady that euer I sawe Then the Damosell that had guided him thither thus spake My Lord sée heere my mistresse now am I discharged of the promise I made ye and if you would haue me say any more she is named Aldena daughter to King Serolys and because the wife to the Duke of Bristoya is Sister to her mother she nourisheth her héere as her owne daughter And you Madame quoth she to the young Princesse haue héere present as I can assure ye the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule wherefore you being both the children of Kings excelling in beauty and natures perfections if you loue together no one dare blame ye Héerewith she went presently foorth of the chamber and making fast the dore after her left the two louers alone by which meanes they spent this night so amorously as they that haue tasted like fortune may conceiue and therefore neede I make no further talke thereof But the hower being come when Galaor should depart he was warily aduised thereof by the Damosels who brought him to the place where ouer-night he had left his armour and after he was inuested therein as he ought to be he went along the Garden againe where-through he came in And as neuer any good chaunceth without some mishap attending thereon so now came it to passe for there found he the Dwarffe ambushed that had so misused him before as you haue heard who no sooner espied him but he cryed out Beléeue me Sir Royster vnwise wast thou to enter héere for thou dyest and the traytresse that did conduct thée Come foorth Knights come foorth héere is a man that secretly came from out the Dukes
contentment And yet the torment I sée you in with impacience troubleth my quiet for you béeing assured by sufficient prooues and especially this that I loue ye me thinkes you should haue no further cause of so seuere affliction but rather ought to temper your paines in that through the vnion of our spirits I féele no lesse then you doo your selfe If you will not appease them for your owne sake I pray ye let it be doone for mine the rather that we may the oftner meete if you please publiquely when such sadnes will but discouer what we most willingly would kéepe vnknowen wherby may arise too great inconuenience and be a meane to hinder the thing we chéefest desire Swéete Lady answered Amadis I haue such felicitie in séeing and hearing you as wanting strength enough to vnder-prop the burden of so especiall contentation I am faine to fall downe vnder it experimenting no lesse the paine of not accustomed pleasure then the other beside of continuall pensiuenes which makes me wonder that I cannot dye héer in this solace If then I haue offended you by this transportation pardon it in your owne selfe who brought me to this happie misfortune and likewise gaue me this hurtfull medicine suffer me then yet longer to vse it that in the assuraunce of your grace I may by little and little learne to support it and attaine the knowledge of liuing content excusing my apprentishood in this felicitie being yet scant skilfull enough how to vse it Loue is sicknesse and be it fauourable or contrary it cānot be without passion woorking the like effect in other which you reproue in me Well haue you saide my fréend answerd Oriana how you are as yet but an Apprentise and so you shew very well by your woordes proouing that loue cannot be without passion I hope to see the time when you attayning greater and more perfecte knowledge therin then yet you haue shall be in higher tranquillitie of minde which it may be you thinke cannot be had in this world Nor shall it not happen to you by admiration of that which now you most loue and is likewise of far more lesse account but by the fruition of the thing wherin felicitie consisteth the knowledge wherof vniteth and lifteth the spirits so high as heauen And albeit I am yet so young in yeeres and discretion as I cannot be exempt from the ill you complaine on yet am I not vnprouided of desire to hasten the time when we shall liue together merrye and contented Ah Madame saide Amadis the hope of that happie day shall make me passe this mournfull life in pacience supporting for your honor my inward paines so couertly as I can and bearing the outward with what courage possible I may but I beséech ye doo me the fauour as to tell me when it will be Well perceiued Oriana that he had not thorowly vnderstood her meaning wherfore in smiling she saide It is already begun but the dazeling of your eyes will not let you see it Heerwith Amadis became very pensiue holding his eyes stedfastly fixed on her and she to change his sadnes tooke him by the hand thorow the windowe which Amadis kissed a thousand times without any woord passing betweene them and Mabila noting it she came to them saying Gentles you forget your selues Amadis lifting vp his head curteously saluted her she dooing the like to him and after sundry spéeches of welcome as also how long they desired to sée him Mabila demaunded what length of time he intended to stay in the Courte So long as it shall please Madame Oriana answered Amadis It must be then continually quoth Oriana and you shall graunt it if the King request it swéete Madame answered Amadis if it please his Maiestie so much to honor me I will obey both him and you yet will I dissemble strangenes a while All the better replied Mabila and in the mean time I pray ye visit vs often Longer they would haue continued in talke but Gandalin gaue them warning how the daye appeared wherfore he saide to Amadis My Lord me thinkes you are importunate but then you must néeds accuse the day Amadis gaue no eare to him for he proceeded on still with his deuise but Oriana perceiuing Gandalin said true thus spake to Amadis Now go my Lord if you please for it is time and forget not your promise Then taking her by the hand and kissing it he went to horsseback returning to the wood where he left the Damosels who had by intreatie earnestly perswaded him to goe deliuer their Cozin that the King held captiue vntill such time she presented her Champion as you haue heard wherefore after they had rested till morning they returned to the Towne in the greatest fauour and expectation of the world CHAP. XVI ¶ How Amadis made himselfe knowen to King Lisuart as also the Princes and Lords of his Court of whome he was honorably receiued and feasted EArely the next morning Amadis armed himselfe and mounting on horsseback rode presently to the Towne accompanyed with the two Damosels where being arriued they brought him to their Cozins lodging when the good Lady knowing her worthie Champion falling on her knees before him sayd My Lord all the goods I haue you gaue me for of you I holde them and no other dispose therefore of them as you please but Amadis brake her off in this manner Come Lady let vs goe before the King to the end he may acquite you and I returne where vrgent affaires call me so taking off his Helmet he rode on to the Pallace with the three Ladies The people knowing him to be the man that ouer-came Dardan made such thronging in the stréetes to sée him as the King was giuen to vnderstand thereof and he reioysing at his comming honored him so much as he came to meete and receiue him on the way thus speaking to him Worthie Knight hither are you so welcome as may be deuised because we haue been very desirous to sée you Amadis noting this gracious entertainment setting his knée to the ground thus answered The God of heauen giue your Maiestie a long and happie life then the King taking him by the hand caused him to arise saying Right glad am I to haue knowledge of you being a Knight of so excellent deseruing these words enforced Amadis to blush yet he replyed in this manner My Lord to desire the Ladyes discharge whome you caused to be detained I am bold to come before your Highnesse and seeing she hath answered the Lawe according to your appointment héereafter I hope she may enioy her libertie yet till this present she knew not who maintained her quarrell against Dardan While the King and Amadis thus conferred together a number of people gathered about them some commending his beautie other his gallant youth and all in generall his famous Chiualrie in that he being so young had the power to vanquish Dardan who was redoubted and feared through all great
this will not helpe thee therfore defend thy self So charging their Launces they brake so brauely on their sheeldes as the shiuers flew vp into the aire and with such violence met their horsses and bodies that they were both laide along on the ground Quickly they arose and with their swoordes began a bloodie combate wherin desire of victorie and hautie resolution of vnconquerable courage made them continue a long time till Arcalaus retyring aside thus spake to Amadis Knight thou art in danger of death and because I know not who thou art tell me that when I haue slaine thée I may yet commend thy boldenes in entring héere My death answered Amadis is in y e hand of God whom I reuerence and thine in the power of the Deuill who is weary of helping thée and bequeatheth thy body to so innumerable mischéefs as a present perishing of soule and all together But seeing thou wouldst so gladlye know my name I am commonly called Amadis of Gaule Knight to the Quéene Brisana let vs now then chat no longer but fall to the combate for on my parte I promise no more resting Arcalaus auauncing his shéeld came with foming fury against Amadis who knew full wel how to welcome him and such eager stroks past on either side as their shéeldes were scattered in péeces about them and likewise very many plates of their armour Now was it about the thirde hower when Arcalaus hauing sustained great losse of his blood was forced to seud vp and down before his enemye and séeing the imminent death before his eyes fled to that parte of the Castell where he came out yet Amadis by close pursuite stil continued his feare wherupon he stept into a chamber at the door wherof stood a Lady be holding the combate and he was no sooner entred the roome but he caught vp another swoord turning his face to Amadis saying Enter this chamber to make an end of our combate The open Court answered Amadis is more spacious and conuenient I will not come foorth quoth Arcalaus for thy pleasure What said Amadis thinkest thou so silly to escape so placing his sheeld before he entred the chāber but as he lifted vp his swoord to strike he was depriued of strength and the vse of his members so that he fell to the ground as he had been dead Yea mary said Arcalaus this is the way to make thée dye as I desired sléepe then till I wake thee Now say you Lady quoth he to her that stood by am I not in your opinion well reuenged on him Indéed saide she he is now altogether at your commaundement Presently he vnarmed him Amadis not féeling any thing was doone to him afterward Arcalaus put on him selfe the Princes Armour thus speaking to the Lady Madame looke on perrill of your life that no one remoue him hence vntill his soule haue forsaken his bodye then he intended to iourney to the court where ech one seeing him in the Armour of Amadis might thinke he had slayne him But now the sorrowfull Lady so lately deliuered from prison made such mone as would haue melted a hart of Adamant and what Gandalins countenaunce was you may easily iudge when Arcalaus saw the Lady lament he said Dame séeke some other to deliuer you from prison for I haue dispatched your hardie champion These woords made Gandalin in such dispaire as he fell downe like one sencelesse and Arcalaus called the Lady to him in this manner Come hither mistresse and you shall see him dead that durst so boldly combate with me When he had shewed him to her he demaunded if he were not now quiet enough The comfortlesse Lady séeing him in such estate wanted no teares to expresse the aboundance of her greefe and withall Ah God quoth she how irkesome will the reporte of his death be to many then Arcalaus calling his wife saide So soone as this wretch is dead imprison this Lady where she was before for I will goe to the Court of Ling Lisuart and there declare how I combated with Amadis by couenaunt that the conquerour should cut off the head of the vanquished and within fiftéen dayes following to publishe his victorie openly in great Brittaine By these meanes none shall quarrell with me about his death and I shall obtaine the greatest glory in the worlde hauing ouer-come him that conquered euery one Then went he where he left Gandalin and the Dwarffe commaunding them to be locked vp in a prison but Gandalin who wished death thinking his maister was dead indéed would not goe with him desiring some one to kill him and to enforce Arcalaus doo him so much fauour reuiled him with names of traytour and villaine hauing slaine the most loyall Knight in the worlde Arcalaus made no account of his woordes but because he would not goe willingly he dregged him by the eares and thrust him into the dungion saying If I presently kill thee thou shouldst endure no more paine but heere shalt thou suffer wursse then death So mounted Arcalaus on the horsse of Amadis and accompanied with thrée Squires rode toward the Courte of King Lisuart CHAP. XX. ¶ How Amadis was enchaunted by Arcalaus when he would haue deliuered the Lady Grindaloya and other from prison and how afterward he escaped the enchauntments by the ayde of Vrganda GRindaloya the Lady deliuered by Amadis from prison made such excessiue lamentations for him as euery one pittied her she thus speaking to the Wife of Arcalaus and the rest in the company Ah faire Ladyes behold yee not the beautie of this braue Gentleman who in so young yeeres was the only Knight in the world mishap attend on such who by enchauntment iniurie men of vertue D soueraigne creator why doost thou suffer so bad-minded people to liue The Wife of Arcalaus who though her husband was addicted to shamelesse crueltie yet she being of gracious and pittifull disposition grieued in her very soule to behold his dealings and continually prayed for his amendment comforting the wofull Lady so well as she could As thus they were deuising together they sawe two other Ladyes enter the chamber eche of thē bringing in her hād good store of candles lighted which they set round about on the cantons of the chamber finding Amadis thus lying before the Wife of Arcalaus and the rest they being not able to lift or stir him Then one of the Ladyes so lately there arriued tooke out of a little Casket she caryed a Booke whereon she began to reade and diuers times an other voice answered her As thus she continued her lecture many other voices were heard as they imagined them more then an hundred then came an other Booke flying into the chamber séeming as if the winde caryed it and fell downe at her féet that read she pulling it in foure parts burned it at the foure corners of the chamber where the candles stood This done she returned to Amadis and taking him by the right hand sayd Lord Amadis arise you haue
to finde there the Princesse Oliuia the choice Ladye and Mistresse of his hart But when they came among the Ladies their entertainment was good and gracious especially by the Quéene her selfe who caused them to sit down by her as meaning matter of more priuate conference Many familiar spéeches were entercoursed betwene them and practising by all meanes to welcome them honourably for she was the only Quéen of the world that soonest could win the harts of Gentlemen and therin took no little pleasure by meanes wherof she was loued of most and least beeing reputed the most vertuous Lady liuing Now had Oliuia made choise of her place next Mabila thinking Agraies would soonest come to his Sister when he left the Queene but while he beguiled the time with her his eye glaunced on the obiect of his heart which he being vnable to dissemble was compelled to a sudden alteration of countenance and could not withdraw his lookes from the Adamant of his thoughts which the Queene somewhat noted yet imagined his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies wil ye not see your Sister whome you loue so deerely Yes Madame quoth he so it please you to giue me leaue Heerewith he arose and came to Mabila who stepping forward to meete him you must thinke Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcommed him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia loouing him as you haue heard ouer-maistring her will with reason as a most wise and well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand awhile asunder from all the rest Yet did Agraies keepe neere his Mistresse taking her by the hand and playing with her fingers often sent her a sweete kisse in imagination so that by intire regarding her he was transported with such singuler delight as he neither heard or made any aunswere to his Sister She beeing ignorant as yet of his disease knew not well what to thinke for notwithstanding all her courteous speeches his minde was otherwise busied then on her yet in the end she discouered the cause of this sudden mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with ech others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauour them with more libertie feigning a desire to speake with her Unckle Galuanes which she prettily coullered in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Unckle may come hither because it is long time since I sawe him and I haue somewhat to acquaint him withall secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agraies wherupon he went to the Queene and thus spake Madame if you could spare mine vncle a little you might doo his Niece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good saide the Quéene at which woordes Galuanes went with him which Mabila séeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Faire Niece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye doo you like Scotland or this countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the windowe because I haue many thinges to tell ye which were needlesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they béeing of such importance as they are These woordes she vttered smiling and with a meruailous good grace cheefelye because her Brother might courte his freende alone And well saide Niece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes be kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes wherof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone when the Prince perceiuing he had libertie to speake trembling in aboundaunce of affection he began thus Madame to accomplish your commaundement when you parted from me as also to satisfie my hart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gracious contentment conuayed therto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my faith that beeing neere your person my spirits feele them-selues viuified in such sorte as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therfore I desire ye if it be your pleasure to limit me some better hap héer-after in place where I may often sée and doo you seruice and as he would haue procéeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the gréefe you endure we béeing absent one from an other as no other proofe is required then what mine own hart doth plainly testifie smothering a displeasure wursse then death it self wherto often-times I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerfull hope reback this despaire how one day our loue shall meete together with happie contentation And perswade your selfe that I dayly trauaile in remembraunce of our mutuall loue meane while swéete fréend temporize and dismay not Mistresse said Agraies you haue already so bound me to you as I must in dutye temporize till time you please but I desire ye to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortefie me withall so that if you continue your graces to me as you haue begun I shal haue strength to serue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer wil I faile ye be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteem ye wherby I may striue to loue you more theÌ„ any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine only And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioye therin for it cannot be without recitall of your hautye courage and chiualrie yet my hart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer-bolde venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare him selfe so praysed vayled his lookes and she lothe to offend him altered her spéech demaunding what he was determined to doo On my faith Madame ê™ he I will doo nothing but what you please to commaund me I will then saide Oliuia that hence-foorth you keepe companye with your Cozin Amadis for I know he loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to be one of this Court deny it not Beléeue me Madame answered Agraies both you such good councelling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I will more credit with mine affaires then my honourable Cozin Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing knowledge of him in her fathers Kingdome of Denmarke where he perfourmed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with
the olde man heauen graunt the finishing therof to your honor then taking him by the hand he brought him to the bed wheron the dead man lay thus speaking to the sorrowfull Lady Madame this Knight saith to his power he will reuenge the death of your Lord. Alas gentle Knight quoth she the God of heauen kéepe you in that good minde for I can finde no kinred or freend in this countrey who will doo so much for me because my Lord was a straunger yet while he liued euery one shewed great fréendship in lookes but now their kindenesse is colde enough Lady answered Galaor in respect both he and I were borne in one countrey my desire is the greater to reuenge his death Are you said y e Lady the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule whome my deceassed Lord often tolde me was in King Lisuartes Courte Neuer came I there Madame replyed Galaor in all my life but tell me what he is that did this treason and in what place I maye finde him Gentle Lord quoth she you shall be conducted thither if you please neuerthelesse I stand in doubt considering the perrill you will mislike the enterprise as many other haue doone who were heer-tofore accompanyed thither Heerin Mad Madame saide Galaor is the difference betweene good and bad yet if you will allow me so much as you did them that made refusall happily I may spéed better then they did The Lady noting his honourable disposition called two of her Damoselles commaunding thē to conduct Galaor to the Knight that helde her daughter perforce In sooth Madame saide the Prince little credit shall you haue by sending me on foote my owne horsse I lost not long since in the wood by hard fortune I pray ye then let me haue another on this condition that if I reuenge not your cause I maye stand bound to deliuer him againe You shall haue one Sir answered the Lady for I hope by your prowesse not only our possessions shall remaine at your disposing but our selues likewise your obedient seruantes CHAP. XXVI ¶ How Galaor reuenged the death of the Knight whome he found slaine on the bed vnder the tree THus departed Galaor in conduct of the two Damoselles who leading him the néerest way thorow a Forrest at the further side therof shewed him a Castell beeing the place whether they were commaunded to bring him where-upon they thus spake to the Prince Beholde my Lord at this Fortresse you may reuenge the murdered Knightes death Tell me his name replyed Galaor He is called Palingues answered the Damoselles Being now come hard by the Castell they sawe the gate was fast which made Galaor call out aloud wherat an armed Knight came on the battlements demaunding what he sought fo I would enter the Castell answered Galaor This gate quoth he is appointed to no other end but for the comming foorth of such as remaine heere within Which way shall I enter then said Galaor I will shewe you quoth the Knight But I doubt I shal trauaile in vaine and that you dare not come to vs. Now trust me replyed Galaor I would faine haue béen within long since We shall quickly sée that said the Knight if your hardines be such as you make shewe of alight from your horsse and come néere the Castell wall Which Galaor did and giuing his horsse to the Damosells went to the place where he was appointed Then came the Knight again and another with him seeming of greater stature then his companion they two winding a winche about ouer the wall let downe a basket with a corde saying to the Prince If you wil enter héere the passage by the basket is this high way But if I put my selfe therein answered Galaor will ye promise to draw me vp in safetie Yea truely quoth they albeit after ward we will not warrant ye Crediting their woordes he entred the basket saying Drawe me vp for on your honest promise I aduenture Heer-with they began to winde vp the basket which the Damoselles séeing meruailing not a little at Galaors hardines said Ah good Knight God shéeld thée from treason for doubtlesse thou she west a gentle and valiant hart By this time the Knightes had drawen him vp taking him and the basket in at the top afterward the Knightes thus began with him Gentleman it is necessary you sweare to aide the Lord of this Castell against such as would quarrell with him for the death of Anthebon otherwise you neuer shall departe hence What said Galaor did one of you twaine kill him Why demaund you replyed the other Because quoth he I am come to let the murderer know how he hath committed a déede of monstrous treason Come ye for that intent said they now surely you might haue béene a great deale better aduised darest thou threatten vs and art in custody alas we must haue another manner of account at thy handes and we must chastice the folly wher-with thy braine is troubled then drawing their Swoordes they laid vpon him very furiously When Galaor saw him selfe thus wronged both in woordes and déedes he entred into such choller as quicklye he made thē féele y e edge of his swoord so that the Damoselles might easily heare the clanching of the strokes on the Armour for the two Knightes were strong and vigorous and Galaor wel moued with hot displeasure Ah God quoth one of the Damoselles hark how the woorthy Knight dealeth with the traitours let vs not departe hence till we sée some end therof All this while Galaor so laboured his enemies with such sharpe charges as their harts began somewhat to dispaire for to one of them he gaue such a blowe on the helmet as his swoord entred thrée fingers déepe into his head afterward he buffeted him with the hiltes of his Swoord that he made him fall on his knées to the ground In meane space the other spared not Galaor but layd loade on him to reuenge his companion whose head the Prince had now seuered from his shoulders and comming to the other the coward began to turne his back running downe the staires faster then euer he came vp but Galaor followed so nimbly that laying holde on him he made him sure for euer letting downe the basket againe to draw vp any more Knightes on the walles Now because the Prince knew not Palingues and doubting one of these twaine to be he he threwe them ouer the battlements to the Ladies bidding them to looke on them and afterward to resolue him but they answered they were so mangled as they could not iudge of them and they were perswaded that Palingues was neither of these twain Wher upon Galaor went downe into the Castell and as he looked euery where about him he espied a faire yong Lady who cryed alowd Palingues Palingues is this the great chiualrie for which thou wouldst be renowned now thou flyest like a cowardly and faint harted knight yet sayest thou wert a better man at armes then my murdered Father whom thou
me saide the King séeing you repose such confidence in me assure your selfe to haue what-soeuer you request or else they shalbe restored againe It suffiseth quoth the Knight then turning to the Lordes he thus procéeded Woorthy Lordes you haue all heard what the King hath promised me that he wil restore the Mantle and y e Crown which I leaue in your presence or giue me what-soeuer I shall demaund So much his Maiesty hath saide replyed the Lordes and we are witnesses therof Adiew then answered the auncient Knight for perfocre I must return to the most cruell prison that euer poore Knight was enclosed in But héere you must note how during the time of this conference the two armed Knightes which conducted the olde man was still in presence the one of them hauing the beuer of his Helmet open and séemed a young man the other held downe his head as lothe to be knowen béeing of so tall and mighty stature as no Knight in the Kinges Court might be equalled with him So departed they againe all thrée together leauing the Mantle and the Crowne in the Kinges custodye CHAP. XXXI ¶ How Amadis Galaor and Balays arriued at the Courte of King Lisuart and what happened to them afterward AMadis Galaor and Balays béeing all happily met together rode on without any occasion to trouble them vntill they came to the Courte of King Lisuart where they were welcommed with excéeding ioy because Galaor was neuer there before nor knowen but by renowne of his famous chiualrie Beside eche one reioyced to sée Amadis who by y e false report of Arcalaus was thought to be dead and graciously did the King entertain them all conducting them to a chamber where they were vnarmed blaming the villainous inuention of Arcalaus and the Damosell that caused their combate together practising the death of two so noble Princes who were but euen now in the prime and flower of their youth Right soone did the King aduertise the Quéene of their arriuall when accompanied with Agraies Galuanes and King Arban he went with them among the Ladies but Amadis casting his eye on Oriana and she on him I leaue their ioyfull passions to your iudgement remembring that when long absent louers méete lookes sighes and teares are familiarly entercoursed béeing the only means to conteÌ„t ech others hart Yet Amadis thought it not best to staÌ„d still thus musing least euery eye should growe cunning in coniecturing the cause which to auoide he fell on his knee before the Quéene saying Madame according to your charge at my departure from the Courte I haue brought this Knight whom I present as only yours I thanke ye Sir Amadis quoth the Queene both he and you are welcome to our presence In good faith Madame said the King you doo me wrong if you take them both Amadis already is yours me thinkes you should be content with him and leaue Lord Galaor for me You aske no small matter answered the Quéene but if he be so pleased I am not against it albeit such a present was neuer giuen in great Brittaine not-with-standing séeing you are the best King that euer reigned heer so good a Knight is wel bestowed on you But what say you Lord Galaor the King is desirous to haue you will ye then be his Madame quoth Galaor me thinkes that any thing so great a Prince demaundeth should be graunted if it were possible heere am I to obey you in euery respect so please my Lord and brother to like therof because he hath greatest authoritie ouer me It contents me very well saide the Quéene that you should doo as your brother commaundeth for through him shall I haue title in you by reason he is mine I am yours indeed Madame answered Amadis and brother you must be my fellowe seruant to the Queene With all my hart replyed Galaor I am content and seeing you haue giuen me to her seruice for euer I shall remaine at her disposition I thank you Sir quoth the Quéene now may I boldelye giue you to the King for I see he would be glad of so good a freend then stepping to the King she said My Lord you are desirous of this Knight I giue him you on this condition that you loue and intreat him according to his desertes which may not be valued at any meane rate Beleeue me Madame answered the King I take this gift most kindely at your hand assuring you he shall soone perceiue how I loue and estéeme him nor can I be so affectionate to him as he hath noble vertues wherby to induce me which none can valewe or compare withall But if Amadis durst haue spoken he gladly would haue maintained the contrary for he perswaded him self that he loued his Oriana beyond his brothers deserte or any other what-soeuer So remained Galaor in the Kinges seruice from which he could not be seperated for any quarrell concerning Amadis as we shall haue occasion to declare héereafter All this while Oriana Mabila and Oliuia had withdrawen themselues from the other Ladyes likewise Agraies and Amadis were talking together when Galaor was thus graciously entertained by the King and Quéene wherefore Mabila called her brother saying I pray yée cause the Knight to come hither that standeth with you conferring because we are desirous to sée him Agraies returned where he left Amadis who dissembled as if he thought not on the Ladies till the Prince thus spake My Lord these Gentlewomen would fayne speake with you and desire you to come a little more néere them which he presently did But Mabila being wise and discreet not ignorant what medicines should be applyed to passionate mindes after they all thrée had saluted them Mabila tooke Amadis by the hand desiring him to sit betwéene Oriana and her leauing Agraies to court his Oliuia they being set she merily thus began Although I am now among those foure fréends whome I haue most cause to loue and regard yet haue I such present busâ—nes else-where as I must of necessitie leaue you awhile Thus deuised she to bring the loouers together and by a pretty wyle gaue them oportunitie to content their thoughtes with secret communication Now beginneth Amadis to conferre with his Lady and thinking to declare the great affection which vnder good hope gaue him life and essence extreame loue tooke from him the facilitie of spéeche yet his eyes not vnmindfull of their office supplyed the defect of the tongue deliuering testimony to their diuine obiect how farre the sad and languishing heart was transported by ease and pleasure Which Oriana perceiuing she secretly tooke his hand vnder her mantle wringing him by the fingers sighing thus spake My Lord and fréend what dolour greefe did the traytour procure in me who brought hither tidings of your death neuer was poore mayden in greater perill and not without cause for neuer did woman sustaine such a losse as I should haue done in loosing you And as I am better loued then any other
to him the one of them vsing these woords King Lisuart spare the Knight otherwise thou shalt not reigne one hower If I dye answered the King so shall you all for me like traytours as you are Then one of them gaue him such a blowe with his Launce as not only sore hurt him but made him fall on his face to the ground yet did he recouer himselfe very quickly like one resolued to defend his life albeit he sawe death present before his eyes But béeing vnable to resist so many at length they got sure hold on him when renting off his helmet and his Shéeld they bound him fast with a double chayne Afterward they set him on a simple horsse two Knights still holding the ends of the chayne and so leading him along sought where they might finde Arcalaus Oriana and the Damosell of Denmarke but the Knight against whome the King first fought rode before apace and wauing his gauntlet aloft to Arcalaus said Behold Cozin King Lisuart is ours A very good prize answered Arcalaus hence-foorth shall his enemyes haue no cause to dread him Uillaine quoth the King well knowe I thou wast neuer other then a traytour and though I am wounded yet will I maintayne my woords if thou darest combate with me By God sayd Arcalaus neuer should I make reckoning of my selfe to vanquish such a Lord as thou art Thus contending as they rode they came to a double way where Arcalaus stayed thus speaking to his Page Sirra ride with all spéede to London and say to Lord Barsinan that he must execute what I willed him for I haue begun indifferently if he can make an end as well Gone is the Page toward the Cittie in meane while Arcalaus deuised to send the King one way and Oriana another wherefore he sayd to his Cozin Take ten Knights with you and conduct Lisuart to my prisons at Daguanel these other foure shall kéepe me company for I will leade Oriana to mount Aldin where I will shewe her straunge and woonderfull things This mount Aldin was the place of his most vsuall aboad beeing one of the strongest and fayrest in the world thus the ten Knightes caryed away the King and Arcalaus with the rest had charge of the Princesse But certaynely if héere we consider the properties of Fortune we may easily repute her as mutable or rather more toward great Princes and Lords then the meaner sort as well she witnessed by King Lisuart euen in the time when he intended most honorably to be thwarted with such a contrary chaunce For at one instant he sawe himselfe in the hands of his greatest enemyes his Daughter and heyre to his Kingdome taken from him and all his estate in daunger of ruyne He that was woont to bée honored of all was now iniuriously despised bound and led as a théefe by a villainous Enchaunter a meane Gentleman and out of any other hope then death Is not this then a faire example for such as at this daye are called to the greatest honors in the world wherewith oftentimes they are so blinded that they forget both God and themselues King Lisuart was a right good vertuous and wise Prince yet the diuine ordenaunce suffered him to fall in these dangers to the end he might remember how all creatures remayne at his heauenly disposition This lesson he taught him for in short time he was brought so lowe as might bée and afterward restored againe as you shall presently vnderstand CHAP. XXXVI ¶ How Amadis and Galaor vnderstood that King Lisuart and his daughter were caryed away prisoners wherfore they made haste to giue them succour WE haue before declared by what meanes Amadis and Galaor escaped from Madasima the Lady of Gantasi who would haue put them to death if she had known their names likewise how they tooke their waye toward London as men right ioyfull of their good successe But by the way they met Dardan the Dwarff so fast as horsse could gallop wher-upon Amadis thus spake to Galaor Brother me thinkes my seruant Dardan commeth toward vs and doubtlesse about some matter of importaunce for doo you not sée what speede he maketh By this time Dardan brake off their talke rehearsing euery thing that happened since their departure but when he tolde how the Princesse Oriana was caryed from y e Court against her wil what sorrowful lamentations she made Amadis entred into a dispairing fury demaunding which way they went that had her in charge In sooth my Lord answered Dardan they rode thorowe the Forrest which lyeth on the other side of the Cittie Without more woords Amadis gaue the spurres to his horsse galloping amaine toward London so confounded with the terrour of these newes as he could not speak to his brother Galaor who left him not but followed at hand Through y t Cittie they ride not making any stay enquiring which way they took that led away the Princesse and euery one shewed it him verye readily As Gandalin came posting after his Lord it was his hap to passe by the Quéens lodging where she standing at a window ouer-come with gréef espied Gandalin whom she called to her and asked where he had left his Maister Madame quoth he he is gone after them that haue away the Princesse Stay a little I pray thee saide the Quéene then sent she for the Kinges swoord which was accounted one of the best in the worlde saying I desire thee carry this swoord to Amadis and tell him the King for-sooke it this morning he beeing gone with a Damosell to combate for her and she hath giuen him another swoord as yet we heare no tidinges of him either when he will returne or whether he is gone Gandalin hauing receiued the swoord set away with speede after his maister whose impacience vrging him to more haste then care of his iourney made him ride so farre into a foule sloughe as he was faine to alight ere he could get foorth again And leading his horsse by the bridle to escape the mire Galaor and Gandalin ouertooke him acquainting him with the Queenes message and deliuering the Swoord she sent him When he heard how the King was likewise gon his desire of speed encreased to giue him succour but his horsse was so wearied with striuing in the bogge as he was constrained to take Gandalins which trauailed much wursse then his own yet with the helpe of his spurres he made him goe At length they found the tract of horsses and by good hap met with certaine poore labouring men whom they asked if they met not any by the way Yes my Lord quoth one of them we met certaine men leading a Knight two Ladies albeit we durst not shew our selues but kept vs hidden in the thickest of y e wood for doubtlesse they be some bad people heer to they added such a discription of the prisoners as they easilye gathered them to be the King and Oriana betraied But tell me good freendes saide Amadis know you none of the
whose power they reputed able to ouer-throwe an Armie As he continued the combate with them the Damosell of Denmarke seeing the freendes of Arcalaus fight so timorously him selfe lye still as one in a traunce she saide to Oriana Madame beholde how your Amadis honoreth your loue see you not how he hath vsed Arcalaus and our hoste in sooth we are alreadye succoured for these other villaines can holde out no longer Ah happie Amadis quoth Oriana the mirrour of all vertue and chiualrye heauen giue thee grace to finishe our deliueraunce with victorie ouer these malicious traitours When the Squire who had the charge of Oriana as you haue heard vnderstood that she named Amadis he was in such feare as presently he leaped from y e horsse saying By my faith I might full well be reputed a foole to tarry for such blowes as my companyons haue and with these woordes he ran away so fast that he neuer looked behinde if any pursued him In this time Amadis had dispatched thrée of the Knights and the fourth misdoubting like lot would fall to him trusted to his horsse legges for safetie of him selfe but as Amadis followed him he heard the Princesse giue a lowde crye when looking back he saw that Arcalaus had got her with him on horsse-back and gallopped away so fast as he could Héer-upon he let goe the Knight to helpe Oriana ouer-taking Arcalaus ere he got much ground and lifting his swoord to strike at him he doubted least he should hurt the Princesse but turning on the other side he gaue him such a wound on the shoulder as he was glad to let fall Oriana that him-self might escape away more lightly for he knew if Amadis laid holde on him all the treasure in the world could not saue his life When Amadis saw him selfe sure of his Lady he still pursued the cowardlye run-away saying Tary Arcalaus tary and thou shalt sée if Amadis be dead according as thou lyedst not long agoe But Arcalaus had no leysure to answere he rather tooke his Shéeld from his neck and threwe it to the ground because nothing might hinder his horsse in running At length as Amadis strook at him the blowe fell shorte on the horsse buttocke and the beast féeling him selfe wounded made greater haste away then he did before leauing Amadis very farre behinde who earnestly desired the death of Arcalaus but séeing all his labour was in vaine and doubting least some harme might happen to his mistresse to loose her againe by negligence hauing by hardy valour so well recouered her he turned back againe and attaining the place where she stayed for him he alighted from his horsse then falling on his knée humbly kissed her hand saying Madame heauen hath affoorded me more grace in strengthening me to succour you then euer it did to any other Knight for I was out of hope to sée you againe But she good Lady remayned still so passionate in respect of her vngentle vsage as also affrighted with feare when Arcalaus let her fall that she could returne no answere but gaue him thankes by many kinde embracinges By this time the Damosell of Denmarke came to them and by the way found the swoord of Arcalaus which she bringing to Amadis thus spake Sée heere my Lord a very faire swoord Right soone did Amadis know it to be the same was found with him on the Sea which Arcalaus tooke from him when he laye enchaunted béeing not a little glad he had recouered it While many affable spéeches passed betwéene them Amadis still comforting his dismayed mistresse and shée reioycing in her louely fréend Gandalin arriued who had sought his maister all that night and happily found him there with his Lady Now minded they to tary no longer in this place wherefore making choise of the Knights Horsses to their owne liking they all amounted Amadis leading Orianaes Palfray by the bridle and she rehearsing to him by the way what iniurie the dead Knights had doone her as in her life-time shée neuer endured the like Madame answered Amadis much greater gréefe haue I suffered by a liuing creature yet lesse to be feared then the dead who can doo no harme but beautie only hath hazarded my life Albeit Oriana well knew his meaning yet she demaunded who was the cause thereof Euen you Madame quoth he who holde me in a life more yrksome then death My Lord sayd the Princesse neuer with my consent did you sustayne any harme and very sory would I be you should thinke me so vnkind for rather could I affoord to ease your greefe were it in my power to compasse the meane Ah Madame replyed Amadis as by you only I tooke my hurt so from you only must I haue my help and reason reputes it a matter of great inconuenience that such rare perfections should cause so rough passions But if you be endued with such pittie as the rest of your excellencies doo plainly promise you will not behold that in me which you greeue to sée in your chéefest enemyes euen death gentle Princesse who in my torments awayteth on me forbearing to strike béeing conquered with this hope that did oportunitie and place serue your passed promise should ease your thoughts deliuer me from this weightie oppression But see how sweet occasion fauoureth vs and fortune stands aloofe from hindering our content doo not you then good Madame let slip this gracious offer when time and place challenge it at your hand considering the argument is vrgent and being now loytered may hardly be againe so well recouered Oriana not so much for these reasons as because her payne was equall with his and had not he begun the motion her selfe would haue sollicited the same thus answered Great is the force of your perswasions but greater the vnfained loue I beare you which hath such authoritie ouer me as when you shall haue least occasion to demaund I am content and constrained to obey yea to repose such a thing in your trust as very hardly can I hold fast in my thoughts Yet I desire you albeit you sée me not stored with prouidence that you will carefully manage our enterprise by warie kéeping it from knowledge or suspect rather submitting our selues to the highest displeasure then common reproofe which is containd within no limits Sufficient protestations made Amadis héereof but little batterie néeded when the hold was woon and riding through a very thick wood the Princesse became desirous of sleepe because the night before she enioyed no rest whereupon she acquainted Amadis therewith saying she must néeds sleepe ere she went any further He being no vnprofitable counceller and séeing a daintie plot by a riuer side shaddowed with boughes from the heate of the Sunne aduised her to rest there awhile and dismounting from their horsses he thus spake So please you Madame in this place we may stay till the heate be gone and you rest in tarying for the cold euening in meane space I will send Gandalin to the
Towne to bring some viaunds to refresh vs withall Your reason is good said Oriana but how shall he come by meat He shall leaue his horsse in pawne answered Amadis and returne on foote Yet I quoth Oriana haue a better helpe then that he shall sell this King which can doo vs no better seruice then now in our néed So pulling the King from her finger she gaue it to Gandalin who taking his leaue as he came by his Maister said So good time lost will neuer be had againe Amadis knew his meaning well enough yet made he no shewe thereof but vnarmed himselfe and Oriana spreading the Damosels mantle on the grasse layd her downe vpon it the Damosell likewise went aside into the wood where she fell soundly a-sléep by reason she watched all the night before Thus remained Amadis alone with his mistresse so glad of her gentle graunt and the fauourable hower at hand as he could not withdrawe his eyes from their comfort which made him delay time in needlesse gazing In the end though his hands had béene slowe in vnarming him all his other members were in better state for not one of them but did his dutie The hart was rauished in thoughts the eye in contemplation of excellent beautie the mouth with swéete kisses the armes with kinde embracings and no one mal content in any point except the eyes which wished themselues in number like the starres in heauen for their better habilitie in function thinking they could not sufficiently behold so diuine an obiect In great paine were they likewise because they were hindered from the pride of beautie for the Princesse held her eyes closed as well to disguise her desire of sléepe as also for the discréet shame conceiued by this pleasure so that she durst not boldly looke on him she most loued Héere-upon carelesly spreading her armes abroad as though she slept in déed and by reason of the exceeding heat leauing her gorget open two little alablaster bowles liuely shewed them-selues in her bosome so faire sweetly respiring as Nature neuer shewed more curious workemanship Now Amadis forgetting his former bashfulnes seeing Fortune allowed him so queint a fauour let loose the reynes of amourous desire with such aduantage as notwithstanding some weake resistance of the Princesse she was enforced to prooue the good and bad together which maketh freendly maydens become faire women Daintie was the good grace and subtiltie of Oriana in shaddowing her surpassing pleasure with a delicate and femenine complaint of Amadis boldnes shewing in countenance such a gracious choller and contented displeasure as in stead of consuming time in excuses Amadis re-saluted her with sundry sweete kisses as also an other cause to chide if she would But she being lothe to mixe angry speeches with amiable sollace or with frowning looks to crosse an equall content thought it better to commend the controle of so kind a louer and therefore continued this pleasing recreation as nether partie receiued occasion of mislike rather with kisses which are counted the seales of loue they chose to confirme their vnanimitie then otherwise to offend a resolued pacience Ah how many repetitions made Oriana of the paines she suffered in expectation of this day confessing those priuate particularities which none but she and her desire were acquainted withall How many matters likewise alleadged Amadis expressing thereby his singuler contentment and credible assurance of his perpetuall faith now reckoning all his trauailes well imployed and more then sufficiently recompenced In these discourses and pleasures they spent most part of the day caryed so farre from remembrance of any thing else as they thought not on the time how day wasted and night ensued whether Gandalin were returned or the Damosell awake all these things were now cast into obliuion They imagined to haue viands good store béeing thus delighted the one with the other which séemed more delicious to them then all the Nectar or Ambrosia of Iupiter Yet at length they remembred them-selues some-what better when hearing the Damosell and Gandalin so néere them their pastime ended and taking eche other by the hand walked among the trées to take the ayre in the meane while Gandalin and the Damosell spred a cloth on the grasse and set there-on such victuals as they had Now though there wanted rich cup-boords of plate as were in the houses of King Lisuart and Perion as also the sollemnitie of great seruices yet the fortunate entertainement at this time was held by them of higher estimation During their repast as they regarded the woods and fountaines they began to estéeme it no strange matter why the Gods some-time forsooke the heauens to dwell in groues and delightfull Forrests Iupiter they imagined wise when he followed Europa Io and his other fréends Beside Apollo had reason to become a Shéep-heard for the loue of Daphne and the daughter of Admetus They béeing willing to imitate their example wished continuallye to tary there without returning to the Pallace and royall pompe reputing the Nimphes of of the woods most happie Goddesses excelling such as remained in the walled Cities Pittie were it to trouble these louers in their amorous deuises wherfore we will leaue them and see what happened to Galaor following the searche of King Lisuart CHAP. XXXVII ¶ How Galaor rescued King Lisuart from the ten Knightes that led him to prison GAlaor parting from his brother Amadis in such sort as you heard followed the way whereby the King was led prisoner and making great haste in respect of his earnest desire to ouer-take him had minde of nothing else he met by the way As thus he continued gallopping he saw a Knight well armed come riding toward him who meruailing why the Prince vsed such extreame dilligence when he came neere him saide Stay a while Knight and tell me what affaires cause you make such speede Forbeare Sir I pray ye answered Galaor for by my tarying may happen too great an inconuenience By God saide the Knight you must not so escape for you shall tell me whether you will or no. I may not trifle the time quoth Galaor and so rode on still without any tariaunce Nay Gallant replyed the Knight I I will be resolued in my demaund though to your cost Heer-upon he posted after Galaor still exclaiming on him with hard woords weening he fled away for feare of him and often-times he thought to smite him with his launce but the Prince euer-more escaped his attempte yet his horsse beeing sore wearied hindered him very much when the Knight ouer-taking him thus spake Infamous palliard without hart of these three thinges chuse the best either to combate returne or answere my demaund Now trust me said Galaor the easiest of these three is hard to me wherin you make no shewe of courtesie for return I may not and if I combate it must be against my wil. But if you desire to know the cause of my haste follow me you shall sée for I should
and Briolania holpe to vnarme Amadis for she could not be satisfied with beholding him because she counted him the fairest knight that euer was séen being now but twenty yéeres of age And so piercingly did he regarde her as long time after she wexed very amourous so that when she had recouered her Kingdome she wished him sole Lord of her and her countrye togeather as shall heer-after be declared But Amadis was else-where addicted and gaue sufficient proofe to her that the extream anguishes he endured for his Oriana were manifest examples of his stedfast loyaltie Neuer-the-lesse the yong Lord of Portugall pittying faire Briolania would disguise this historye in another manner describing farre otherwise the loue of her and Amadis which reporte is woorthye of no credit For he saith that Briolania being restored into her Kingdome prouiding for the health of Amadis and Agraies who were wounded she continuing euer-more amourous of Amadis seeing by no meanes she could win him to be her fréend tooke aside the Damosell to whome Amadis Galaor and Agraies made the seuerall promises at what time she conducted Galaor to the Knight that iousâ—ed with them in the Forrest and discouering the secrets of her hart to her with aboundance of teares and affectionate sighes requested her councell and remedye in these amourous passions The Damosell compassionate on her Ladyes sickenesse promised to giue her redresse for it wher-upon she said to Amadis that the boone she would desire of him was his entrance into a Tower from whence he should not depart vntill he had begotten of Briolania a sonne or a daughter Amadis willing to kéepe promise with the Damosell yeelded therto yet without any will to touch Briolania wherby he grew into such melanchollye as he refused all bodily sustenaunce and fell into such danger of his person as euery hower he expected death Which beeing heard in the Courte of King Lisuart as also his deadly dangerous extremetie Oriana lothe to loose him sent him woord and licence that he should doo what the Lady requested Wherupon Amadis considering he might no way else escape and his gracious Mistresse pittyed him so much he begat a sonne and a daughter of Briolania wherof she was deliuered at one labour but this historye is altogeather false and faigned It might be that Amadis was prisoner in the Tower and Briolania behelde his dayly pining away but she desired the Damosell to remit him this boone on condition he should not departe till his brother Galaor returned as willing to comfort her selfe with the sight of him while she attended his brothers arriuall for Galaor espoused her afterward as you shall read in the fourth booke of this Historye Let it then suffice at this time that Amadis and Agraies soâ—ourne certaine daies in the Castell while all néedfull thinges were ready for their combate CHAP. XLII ¶ How Galaor went with the Damosell after the Knight that dismounted him and his companyons in the Forrest whom when he found they combatted together and afterward in the sharpest pointe of their combate they knew eche other FOure dayes together rode Galaor with the Damosell seeking the Knight that vnhorssed him in the Forrest for which he was so ouercome with anger as euery Knight he met withall déerly felt it because in combate manye receiued their death Then espying a faire Castell on the top of a high mountaine the Damosell tolde him there was no other place néere where they might lodge that night wherfore he béeing glad to accept therof they came to the Castell finding many Gentlemen and Ladies sporting together among whom was a Knight aged about thrée-score yeeres who taking Galaor by the hand did him all the honor might be deuised My Lord quoth Galaor your courtesie to vs is so great that albeit we were determined to passe further on our way yet for your sake we are conteÌ„t to stay with you this night Then the Knight conducted Galaor into a faire chamber leauing the Damsell among the other Ladyes after the Prince was vnarmed the Knight spake to him in this maner Héere Sir may you rest and take your ease calling for any thing you stand in néede of for God knowes I haue vsed such entertainemente not onlye to you but to all Knightes errant that passed this way because some-time I haue beene as now you are Yet hath nature giuen me two sonnes whose only delight is in search of aduentures but now they lye sick in their beddes béeing cruelly wounded by a Knight who with one Launce cast them bothe from their Saddles But they were so ashamed at this foyle as they mounted againe and pursued the Knight ouer-taking him as he entred a Barque to passe the water where my sonns saide to him that in respect he had iousted so well they would trye his fortune in combate with the Swoord but the Knight made answere he could not now intend it yet would they needes presse him so farre as to hinder his entraunce into the Barque Wher-upon a Lady béeing in his company said they wronged her ouermuch to stay her Knight but they were not to departe til he had combated with them at the Swoord Seeing it will be no otherwise replyed the Lady he shall enter fight with the better of you bothe on condition that if he be conquerour the other doo forbeare the combate They answered if the one were vanquished the other would reuenge his foyle which when the Knight heard he was so angry as he had them bothe come together in respecte they were importunate and would not rest contented In the triall one of my Sonnes sustained the wurst wherfore his brother séeing him in such perill stroue to reskue him from death yet all was in vaine for the Knight handled them so roughlye as he left them like dead men in the feeld and afterward passed away in the Barque No sooner heard I of this mishap but I sent for my sonnes and home were they brought in this dangerous plight but y t you may giue credit to my woordes beholde héere their Armour cut and mangled as I think the like strokes neuer came from any mans hand Galaor meruayling at this discourse demaunded what Armes the conquering Knight bare when he was answered his Shéeld to be of vermillion couller with two black Lyons figured therin By these tokens Galaor knew him that it was y e same man he trauailed to finde which made him demaund of his fréendly hoste if he had no further knowledge of the Knight No verily Sir quoth the auncient Gentleman For this night answered Galaor let vs take our rest and to morrow I intend to seek the man you talke on For alreadye I haue trauailed foure dayes in his searche but if I méete with him I hope to reuenge the iniurye of your sonnes and other likewise whome he hath offended or else it wil cost the price of my life I could rather wishe saide the Knight that leauing this perillous enterprise you would take some
when he fought with his brother Amadis which made him cary better opinion of the Knight and bothe of them being glad to breath a while Galaor entred into these speeches You see Sir I haue the better of the combate let me therfore know your name and why you conceale your selfe so closely wherin you shall doo me very great pleasure and we may continue freendes else wursse wil ensue then you imagine Be well assured answered the Knight our strife shall not be ended so easily nor am I to be ouercome so lightly as you weene beside I was neuer more desirous to prolong a combate then I am at this instant because I neuer met with the knight that tryed me so wel but to you nor any other will I be knowne except one Knight who hath power to commaund me Be not so opinitiue replyed Galaor for I sweare to you by the faith I owe to God neuer to leaue you til I know what you are and why you conceale your selfe so secretly And I sweare to you quoth the Knight while breath is in my bodye you shal not know it by me and rather would I presently dye then any but two should vnderstand what I am yet I knowe not them but they may and shall haue knowledge of me And what are they saide Galaor you estéeme so much Neither will I disclose them to you answered the Knight Bothe them and my former demaund quoth Galaor I will knowe else one of vs shall dye or bothe together I am well pleased ther-with replyed the Knight So begin they to charge eche other a freshe as if they had not fought together before at all but the strange Knight receiued many cruell woundes which made his strength more and more to faile and the Lady séeing the great danger of his life would suffer him to endure no further peril but comming to Galaor said For-beare Sir Knight would God the Barque and Mariners had suncke before they brought you hither Lady quoth Galaor you ought not to blame me in dooing my deuoire against this Knight who hath outraged me many more beside for which I meane to be reuenged this day For-beare said y e Lady to wrong him any more otherwise you may fall into an extremitie without any mercy It matters not what may happen answered Galaor but nothing shall make me giue ouer vntil he haue satis-fied my demaund And what is that quoth she He must tell me his name replyed Galaor and why so closely he concealeth himself likewise what y e two Knights are of whome he told me but euen now Proceed no further in combate said the Lady and I will satisfye your demaund This Gentleman is named Don Florestan concealing himselfe in this secret manner to finde his two bretheren who are in this countrey accounted such men at Armes that albeit he hath well tryed himselfe with you yet will he not be commonly knowen till he haue accomplished such déedes in chiualrie as may deserue to equall him with them who are at this time in King Lisuarts Court one of them being named Amadis the other Galaor and all thrée the Sonnes to King Perion of Gaule Alas what haue I done quoth Galaor heere brother take my Swoord and therewithall the honor of the fight for I haue offended ouer-much What said the Knight am I then your brother According to this Ladyes spéeches answered Galaor you are and I am your brother Galaor Florestan amazed at this accident fell on his knée saying My Lord I desire you to pardon me for this offence in combatting vnknowen with you was caused by no other reason but that I durst not name my selfe your brother till I had made some imitation of your noble vertues Galaor courteouslye embraced him in his armes the teares streaming from his eyes with ioye and gréeuing to sée him so sore wounded doubting least his life was in great danger but when the Lady saw them so good freendes and the enmitie conuerted into such humilitie as one right glad therof she saide to Galaar Woorthy Sir though first you gaue me occasion of great heauines yet now with sufficient ioy you haue recompenced me So taking eche of them by the hand she walked with them into the Castell where they being lodged in two sumptuous beds her selfe skilfull in Chirurgerie cured their wonndes Thus remained the two bretheren with the rich and beautifull Lady Corisanda who desired their health as her owne wel-fare CHAP. XLIII ¶ How Don Florestan was begotten by King Perion on the faire Daughter to the Countie of Zealand AT what time King Perion sought after strange Aduentures he arriued in the Countrye of Almaigne where he soiourned the space of two yéeres accomplishing many braue déedes of Armes the renowme where-of continueth to this daye And as he returned toward Gaule he lodged in the Counties house of Zealand where he was entertained very royally as well in respect of his own reputation as also because the Countie him-selfe had some-time béene a Knight errant which made him loue all such as followed Armes After supper the King was conducted to his chamber where beeing in bed and some-what weary with trauaile he fell a sleepe soundly but to shake off this heauines he felt him self embraced and kissed he knewe not by whome when starting vp to arise he was so held downe that he could not Why Sir quoth she that thus maistred him take you no pleasure in me who am alone with you The King looking on her by meanes of the light which still burned in his chamber he discerned her to be a most beautifull Lady wherefore he thus answered I pray you faire freend tell me what you are What soeuer I am quoth she I loue you exceedingly as one that freely giues her selfe to you In sooth replyed the King I very gladly would knowe your name You trouble me said the Lady with this importunitie yet can I vse no other continence then you see But it were necessary quoth the King I should knowe your name if you meane to be my freend Seeing you constraine me there-to answered the Lady knowe that I am the Counties Daughter who hath so fréendly entertained you Now trust me Madame replyed the King you must hold me excused for I had rather dye then abuse the man I am so much beholding too Will you then refuse mée quoth she well may you bée tearmed the wurst nurtured Prince in the world in denying the conquest which all your life time you might haue fayled of You may speake your pleasure answered the King but I will doo what is conuenient for your honor and mine and not offend in so foule a manner I shall quoth she cause my father to think himselfe more iniuried by you then if you graunt what I desire So starting frō the bed she tooke the Kings Swoord euen the same which was afterward found with Amadis when he was taken vp on the Sea and drawing it foorth she set the point against her
e Knight but such was his bad successe as there with dishonour he lost his head which I would gladly haue brought to this Courte yet doubting the corrupt sauour therof and being otherwise aduised by him that sent me to my Lord Agraies as testimony of his victorie this Helmet may suffise Undoubtedly said the King to all there present it is the same Knight of whose name we are ignorant how say you Lady cannot you resolue vs My Lord quoth she I obtained it by excéeding importunitie for otherwise he would neuer haue told me Say then good maiden replied the king to ridde vs of all other doubts He nameth him selfe said the Damosell the Gentleman of the Sea When the king heard this he was greatlye abashed and so were all the other likewise afterward he thus spake By my faythe I am assuredlye perswaded that whosoeuer Knighted him néede not to be ashamed therof seeing so long time he requested it of me and I deferred it for occasions which I néeded not haue doon seeing Chiualrye is in him alreadye so well accomplished Then Agraies taking occasion to speake demaunded of the Damosell where he might méete with his gentle freend My Lord quoth she he humblye commendeth him selfe to your good grace giuing you to vnderstand by me that you shall finde him at the warres in Gaule if you come thither Good newes faire Damosell saide Agraies haue you brought me now am I more desirous to be gone then before I was and if I may finde him there with my good will shall I neuer leaue his companye You haue reason so to doo answered the Damosell for he loueth you as becommeth a Gentleman Great was the ioy for these good newes of the Gentleman of the Sea and if any one receiued displeasure you must think it was Oriana aboue all the rest yet was it handled so couertlye as the watchfullest eye could not discerne it Now in meane while the king enquired by diuers meanes how and by whom the Prince was knighted when at length he was aduertised y t the Ladies attending on the Quéen could tell better thē any body els which with much a doo he obtained of them Then may the Gentleman of the Sea quoth he vaunte that he hath found more curtesie in you then in me but the cause why I prolonged the time of his honor was that he seemed too young for so great a charge In this time Agraies courteouslye welcommed the Dammosell who beside the Helmet deliuered him Letters from a Ladye that déerelye loued him of whome the Historye héerafter maketh mention But now for this present occasion the Reader must imagine that Agraies without longer tarying in Scotland is departed with his Armye trauailing toward Gaule to his Unckle King Perion CHAP. IX ¶ How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter the Princesse Oriana for that long before he had left her in the Courte of King Languines who sent her accompanied with the Princesse Mabila his only Daughter as also a noble traine of Knightes Ladies and Gentlewomen ABout ten daies after Agraies was departed the King his Fathers Courte with his troupe three Shippes of great Brittain took porte in Scotland wherin as cheefe was Galdar of Rascuit accompanied with an hundred Knightes of King Lisuartes as also many Ladies and Gentlewomen that came for Oriana Béeing arriued at the Courte of King Languines they were very graciouslye entertained especiallye Galdar for he was esteemed a wise and hardie Knight After he had giuen his Maiesty to vnderstand his ambassadge which was harty thankes from King Lisuart his Maister for the gentle entreataunce of y e Princesse his Daughter he requested now to haue her home and Mabila his Daughter with her to whom he would doo all the honor could be deuised Right thankfullye did King Languines accept this offer and was contēt that his daughter should go with Oriana thence-forward to be educated in the Court of King Lisuart Certaine daies soiourned Galdar and his train in Scotland during which time they were most honourably feasted and in this while the King prepared other Shippes to accompanie the voyage When Oriana saw that matters fell out in this sorte she knew well it was impossible longer to dissemble or tarry wherfore as she placed all her little trifles in order she found among her Iewelles the ware which she had taken from the Gentleman of the Sea This gaue her such a remembraunce of him as y e teares entred her eyes and through vehement loue often wringed her handes so that the ware which she helde in them suddenlye brake and she espied the Letter enclosed therin which so soon as she vnfolded she foūd therwrittē these woordes This is Amadis without time Sonne to a King At these newes she conceiued such ioy as quickly she left her former countenaunce and not without cause for she was now assured that he who before was estéemed at the most but the Sonne of a simple Gentleman or it might be of lesse because he was vnknowne both of name and parents the man whom she so faithfully loued was Sonne to a King and named Amadis therfore without longer deferring she called the Damosell of Denmarke to her one whom she intirelye trusted and thus spake By good fréende I will declare one thing to ye which no other then mine owne hart and you shall knowe therfore regarde it as the secret of such a Princesse as I am and of the best Knight in the world beside On my faith Madame answered the Damosell séeing it pleaseth you to honor me so much more willinglye shall I dye then faile therin and well may you be assured that what-soeuer you disclose to me shalbe altogether kept secret and executed to my power Then so it is déere fréend saide Oriana that you must néedes goe séeke the Gentleman of the Sea whome you shall finde at the warres in Gaule and if you chaunce to come thither before him there must ye of necessitie stay for him but so soone as you see him giue him this letter saying he shall finde his name therin written on the day that he was cast into the Sea wherby I know him to be the sonne of a King which ought inspire him with higher courage and hardines to encrease the fame he hath alreadye so well begun You shall likewise tell him how the King my Father sent for me and therfore I am gon toward great Brittaine which I was desirous to acquainte him withall that when he returneth from the warre where he is he should immediatly come to the place of my aboad limitting all thinges in such sorte as he may liue in my Fathers Courte vntill he receiue other commaundement of me Such was the spéedye dispatche of y e Damosell as without longer stay she iournyed toward Gaule and executed her enterprise whereof héerafter you shall vnderstand more But not to discontinewe the purposed voyage of Oriana after that Languines had prouided all things necessary for the same Oriana