Asse ryding directly towards King Lisuart His aged trauaile was not so speedy but that the two Armies had fought twice together according as you haue already heard and hee came thither on the day before the second truce was finished As hee passed by the Campe he saw on euery side the interment of many slaughtered bodies whereat hee was so grieued that falling into teares and lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen hee said O my Lord God for the honour of thine owne great name I humbly beseech thee to take pittie on this people and grant mee grace that I may pacifie this great disorder Passing on further hee came neare to the Tent of King Lisuart who quickly espied him and immediately knew him whereupon hee went to welcome him for he held this man of holy life in high esteem and well considered that but vpon some great occasion he would not haue left his Hermitage take so great iourney to him whereupon as hee embraced him hee said Good father you are welcome then taking him by the hand he led him into his pauillion and seating him by himselfe in a chaire of veluet hee commanded all to depart and leaue them two alone together and afterwardes fell into this discourse Holy father I know you haue not vndertaken so tedious a trauaile and ill agreeing with your age but vpon some vrgent necessity wherein I humbly desire you to resolue me You haue great reason Sir answered Nascian to conceiue so of me for vndoubtedly extreamity of yeares and the condition whereunto it hath pleased our Lord to call mee may well excuse me from beeing seene among men of blood Neuerthelesse considering the harme that may ensue I haue not feared the danger of my person as hoping to performe a seruice acceptable to God and wholesome to your soule Let me then tell you Sir that being some few daies since in the Hermitage whereunto happy chance was your guide when you and I conferred together concerning the most strange nourishing of Esplandian I vnderstood the occasion of this warre attempted by you against Amadis and his friends Yet am I well assured that you cannot accomplish what you would doe namely marrie my Ladie your daughter to the Emperour of Rome by which enterprise many grieuous mischances haue already happened not onely because it is not agreeable to the greatest and meanest of your kingdome as many times already hath beene told you but for some other reason Sir beside concealed from you yet manifest to mee and against which by Gods lawe you cannot contrarie Knowe then Sir that Madame Oriana your daughter is already vnited in marriage to another as heauen hath appointed and stands well pleased to haue it so The King beeing much amazed to heare the olde man speake in this manner coniectured immediately that weakenesse of braine begot this kinde of language that hee was troubled in his vnderstanding or else had beene misinformed of that which he spake where-upon hee said vnto him How father my daughter was neuer married to my knowledge neither did I euer purpose to giue her to any other then to the Romane Emperour to whome I promised her accounting it for her honour and benefit And God is my witnesse that I neuer intended to dis-inherit her as many haue inconsiderately immagined but only to combine alliance with so great a Lord by meanes whereof he and I so vnited together Christian faith might be the more augmented And therfore my intention beeing iust mee thinkes I should not be therin blamed Sir answered the Hermite that which I haue tolde you concerning some matters hidden from you yet to mee apparant I will presently declare vnto you for from none other then my selfe can you know them Vnderstand then my Lord that the selfe same day when by your command I came to the Forrest where for more delight of the Ladies then present with you your Tents were erected for view of the sporte I knowe not whether you remember it or no I brought you young Esplandian who presented you the Lionesse that gaue him suck at the first The same day the Princsse Oriana your daughter was confessed by me tolde mee in her confession that she had promised mariage to Amadis de Gaule at such time as he deliuered her from the Enchanter Archalaus to whom you had giuen her a little before that the Damosell by whom you were enchanted had brought your state and person into the greatest danger that could bee possible from which Galaor freed you And beleeue it to be very likely that our Lord himselfe gaue consent to the mariage for Esplandian is the issue thereof and of him Vrganda the Vnknowen foretolde many maruailes as you your selfe doe very well know Now in my poore iudgement you should not be displeased there-with considering that Amadis is the sonne of a King and accounted in all places to be one of the best and most gracious Knights in all the world I would aduise you Sir that in shewing your selfe to be such as you euer haue beene you should defend the honour and conscience of your daughter and making an end of this warre call her home again to you vse her hereafter as reason requireth In so doing our Lord will be well pleased with you who else will doubtlesse bee offended with you for the effusion of so much blood which you haue caused to be shedde vpon no occasion When the King had all this while listned to this discourse he shewed himselfe to be very pensiue and at last saide Good father is it possible that my daughter should bee married to Amadis Yes truely replied Nascian hee is her husband and Esplandian is your grandchilde O God quoth the King how ill hath it been for mee that I could not know this matter till now vpon my faith many good Knights had yet beene liuing which now to my no little griefe are dead Alas father why could not you sooner haue reuealed this I might not doe it answered the Hermite for it was tolde mee in confession and if now I haue made it knowne to you thinke it is done by such permission as I receiued from the Princesse your daughter for otherwise you had neuer heard it from mee But she is therewith well contented as well for the clearing of her soule as also to take away all occasion from you of further sinning herein through ignorance At that very instant meere conceit in the King presented before the eyes of his soule the seuerall seruices hee had receiued by Amadis and his kâ—â—â—ed and such they were as hee had not then beene liuing but only by them hauing so many times â—olpen him in very serious affaires Desert in Amadis pleaded iustly for his daughter and a greater gift if hee could bestow it on him and so much the rather because the Emperor to whom he had promised her was dead and beside Vrganda had tolde him many wonders concerning Esplandiâ—â— but aboue all the rest
that hee should be the cause of perpetuall peace between him and Amadis as euen already in a manner hee saw performed and hauing discoursed all this in his minde thus hee answered Nascian Father albeit I had set downe my rest for death all mine with me or to haue the vpper hand in this warre yet seeing how matters haue happened I will follow your counsell and I entreat you most affectionately to worke so well with Amadis that hee may listen to peace which for my part I put into your hands to the end that you may hereafter testifie before God with what dutie I submit my selfe in this case These wordes were so pleasing to the good old Hermite as weeping for meere ioy hee fell before the Kings feet saying O most happy Prince the Lord almighty quite you for this kindnesse and blesse you with long and prosperous life The King taking him by the hand raising him vp said Father I wil perform what I haue promised you without any manner of reuocation Neuerthelesse I would haue al men to know that neither feare or defect of courage hath hereunto constrained mee but reason only and in such nature as you haue reuealed to mee Wherefore it shall be fitting for you to go into King Perâ—ons Campe before the truce bee fully ended to the ende that according to what you shall certifie me I may stand vpon my guard Sir said Nascian if God so please I will neither eate nor drinke till I haue spoken with Amadis and let me entreate leaue for my departure because occasion now frankly offers herselfe to me Hauing thus spoken the King hee returned to the Knights where they found Esplandian newly there ariued from Queene Brisena who had sent him from Vindilisore to King Lisuart only to vnderstand of his health whom when Nascian beheld hee knew him presently yet wondred to see him of so taule stature very neare ready to vndergo Armes which made him with meer ioy runne and embrace him But the young gentleman was much amazed to see the olde man so wonderfull kinde to him hauing wholly forgotten him and therefore blushed strangely notwithstanding soone after he both remembred the Hermite and his hermitage and falling on his knees before him kissed his hand when the olde man folding him in his armes said Beloued childe of God blessed be the houre of thy birth and praised bee the name of our Lord for prospering thee to such estate wherein I now see thee During this discourse the standers by were much amazed to see this holy man vse Esplandian so louingly and the King himselfe be-but newly aduertised that hee was grandfather to him mooued with a fatherly affection felt such ioy in his soule as neuer at any time hee receiued more So that the hatred which he formerly bare to Amadis and his friends became suddenly changed into amity extraordinary and hee demanded of the youth from whence he came Esplandian well enstructed by nature kissing a packet of Letters in his hand humbly presented them to the King answering thus Sir the Queene my Mistresse sent mee to you as there more at large you may be certified Then the King opened the letters wherein among other matters shee earnestly entreated him that by all meanes hee would listen to peace if hee might doe it with his honour After hee had ouer-read the Letters hee shewed them to Nascian saying Beholde good father it seems that my Queen knows already what is intended betweene you and me Sir said the Hermite shee counselleth you wisely and if God be so pleased that which shee so earnestly desireth shall bee put in execution before this yong gentleman returnes to her againe Wherefore let mee craue of your Maiesty to let him goe along with mee in companie to the end that during my trauaile I may conuerse with him the more easily Let it be so then answered the King for it is my will that hee shall not leaue you so long as you would haue him with you The Hermite most humbly thanked the King and presently mounted on his Asse as Esplandian did on his horse attended only by Sergill his companion who had come along thither with him So they departed thence taking the way towards King Perion and all that while the good olde man conferred with Esplandian euen till they were ariued at the watch There they were stayed to knowe wherefore they came and what they demanded but when they vnderstood that Nascian came to speake with Lord Amadis they conducted them both to his Tent and there presented them vnto him Here you must consider that he had neuer before seene the reuerend olde man and therefore knew not what he should thinke or what businesse hee might haue with such a person Looking likewise on Esplandian he had as little knowledge of him albeit hee had formerly spoken to him on the same day when he combated the Romanes on the behalfe of faire Grasinda when he being then very young begged the liues of the two Knights that else had been slaine by Amadis But Quedragant who had taken better notice of him when hee met him at his last returne from Great Brittaine went and embraced him saying Faire Sir you desired me and Brian also not long since to doe your commendations to the Greek Knight which wee accordingly performed and here he is himselfe to iustifie that wee failed not therein These wordes gaue assured testimony to Amadis that hee to whom Quedragant spake was his sonne which made him feele inwardly inestimable ioy And then the young Gentleman came and did him reuerence not as a sonne to his father beeing yet ignorant of him but as to the onely Knight of the world by whom he had hope to haue his knighthood so conceu ed in him on the very same day hee combated the Emperours Knights Notwithstanding the differences happening between the Knights of the Enclosed Isle and them of Great Brittain raised a wounderfull doubt in him that he should not attaine to his intention Then Amadis embracing him demanded if King Lisuart had granted leaue for his comming to him My Lord quoth he this good olde father Nascian will acquaint you with the reason of his comming to you Obserue here that Amadis had often heard of this Hermite who was reputed generally for a most holy man of life wherefore going to him hee said Father I pray you pardon mee for I knew you not at your entrance but now I vnderstand more of you and the honour that is due to you by desert Honour replied the Hermit be giuen to God only I am his poore humble seruant who in his feare desires to speake alone with you in secret if it shall please you but to heare me Yes on my faith answered Amadis And so taking him by the hand they went aside by themselues and Nascian began in this manner with him Sonne before you vnderstand the cause which hath mooued mee to come see you I
consideration should be vsed for diuiding their estates goods amongyou As for my selfe I deny any part or portion belonging to mee holding my selfe sufficiently satisfied if I can compasse any means of doing you any perticular pleasure or seruice When they that were not meanly affected to their Ladies heard him vse these wordes and knewe what power he had to forward them that way you may well imagine that they did not lende any deaffe â—are to such a pleasing motion especially Agraies who earnestly entreated him to giue his honourable furtherance for his marriage with the faire Olinda Bruneo with Melicia Grasandor with Mabila and Quedragant who neuer loued till then declared his affection to Grasinda saying I now sufficiently vnderstand that youth and time haue heretofore been contrary to my quiet hauing then no other care but for the managing of my Horse and Armes but at this instant yeares and reason constraines mee to another kinde of condition so that if it like Madame Grasinda to accept me as her husband I shal account my happinesse equall to any mans of what condition soeuer he be Before God said Florestan I was once determined to returne into Aliemaine so soon as the businesse concerning my Lord Amadis was ended as well to see my mother as many other mine endeared friends Neuerthelesse I know not with what eie I obserued the Queen Sardamira but this I am well assured that if I could compasse the meanes to marrie her I should easily forget mine intended voyage and all things else whatsoeuer But others more free from loues imperious subiection hauing their mindes wholly addicted to follow Armes spake in a quite contrary language desiring Amadis to imploy them in the conquest of Arauignes kingdome the countries belonging to Barsinan or any where else And we request quoth they no other part of booty but the means of winning renowne honour and Chiualrie Hereupon Amadis returned theÌ„ answere Seeing you are of this disposition with the good liking of the company I will make a present diuision On Quedragant I bestowe the countrie of Sansuega for his larger portion in marrying with Grasinda To you Bruneo I giue the kingdom of Arauigne with my sister Melicia And as for my brother Florestan I will worke so with the Emperour that hee shall giue him the countrie of Calabria with the Queen Sardamira whom hee so dearely affecteth As for my Lord Agraies and Grasandor they are thankes bee to God rich and mighty enough by means of their fathers will content themselues as I thinke to enioy those beauties that affect them What else remaineth shall be distributed particularly according to the merit of euery man so soon as King Lisuart shall be heere ariued Which they all liked well and so we leaue them returning to their lodgings attending the time when they should goe and conuerse with their Ladies according to their wonted custome CHAP. XXVI How Bruneo de bonno Mer and Branfill were appointed to iourney into Gaule to fetch the Queene Elysena and Galaor and of those aduentures that happened to them in their returning back againe SOme fewe dayes after that K. Perion and the other Knights were come to the enclosed Isle Agraies Brunco and they that had hope of speedie marriage fearing least the absence of the Queene Elysena and Galaor might cause a further deferring of that long desired day Came and humbly requested King Perion that he would send for them whereto he presently yeelded Whereupon Bruneo made first tender of his seruice saying Sir I humbly intreate you that none other then my brother and I may haue this charge for otherwise you shall doe vs wrong Well then answered the King smyling to himselfe if I should graunt your owne request I am perswaded you would more gladly keepe company with Melicia then vndertake so long a iourney from her In good faith Sir replied Bruneo to be alwayes neere her is the only happinesse I can desire notwithstanding I am willing to goe for the Queene and Galaor only in my earnest affection to doe them seruice By my faith said Angriote you must not performe this voyage without my companie Why then quoth the King goe you all three and heauen grant that you may finde my sonne in better estate then when I left him Sir answered Ysanio some few daies since certaine Merchants comming from Gaule gaue mee credible assurance that hee was well recouered because they had seene him complayning only that his countenance was as yet pale and Wan by reason of his long sicknesse These newes were highly pleasing to the King and all the companie in regard whereof Bruneo and his two other friends tooke shipping the next morning and sayled with such prosperous Windes that in few dayes after they landed where the Queene then lay of whom they were most gratiously entertayned especially by Galaor because hee longed to heare tidings from his brother and other friends And as hee embraced them with the tears trickling downe his cheekes hee said By my faith my good Lords misfortune hath so long kept mee companie that considering what iniurie she hath done mee in with-holding me all this while from you and the exercise of Armes it hath beene well neere a Thousand deaths to me My Lord quoth Bruneo wee haue brought you such newes as will make a sufficient satisfaction for all the anguish you haue endured So hee declared before the Queene the encounter and battailes betweene the Kings Perion and Lisuart what great dangers and perils they were in by the sudden onset of King Arauigne and Archalaus And last of all the league of loue and amity combined on both sides and the seuerall marriages consulted and agreed vpon hereat Galaor was somewhat amazed hauing neuer heard any thing of such attempts and answered Bruneo thus Is it possible that my noble Lord king Lisuart should be in such extreamity and I not neare him Vpon my soule I must now confesse that Fortune loued mee much better then euer she did For had I not beene sicke whatsoeuer dutie I owe to the King my father I should haue made no spare of my life to succor the other Yet it had fallen out worse for mee if in the time of my sicknesse I had receiued any certaine tydings of this matter vndoubtedly it had beene my death to faile him in a necessity so vrgent It is much better saide Bruneo that all things are past in so good order Then taking him by the hand thus he proceeded I receiued charge from my Lord Amadis to doe his re-commendations to you and to desire you that you would cheere vp and recreate your spirits in the best manner you can deuise for he is minded if you thinke it so conuenient to haue you ioyned in marriage with Queen Briolania so soone as you shall be ariued there And wee were expressely sent from king Perion to conduct the Queen to the Enclosed Isle where he attendeth her comming with a goodly traine of
extraordinarily ioyfull as triumphing in the very highest happinesse the world could yeeld her And the Princes her sonnes with the three Knights came neare vnto her to kisse her hand which shee would not suffer but embraced them very graciously declaring no meane thankfulnesse for her happy fortune Afterwarde they conuayed her into a rich Litter purposely brought for her iourney and so coÌ„ducted her to the Pallace in most royall manner where shee was no sooner alighted but she commanded the Duke to be brought before her as accordingly it was performed And albeit shee had resolued with her thoughts not to execute any reuenge vpon him but euen in meere pittie to forget and forgiue all yet considering what shamefull wrongs she had suffered and the murder of the King her husband so fresh in her soule shee commanded him presently to the â—ibbet But the Knights of the Enclosed Isle were not therewith contented and therefore in most gracious and modest manner tolde her that they neuer tooke any prisoner to mercy to whom after-warde they vsed any molestation Wherefore they desired her to containe her purpose till their departure and then to doe what shee thought fitte and as her Councell should best aduise her requiring also fauour for their departure Shee fearefull to offend such honorable high deseruing friends returned this answere Nay my Lords thinke not but I will doe whatsoeuer you commande mee yet notwithstanding you must needes grant me to stay heere with mee eight or tenne daies more In which time I hope to compasse the Coronation of my sonne and then to send him along with you to Lord Amadis if you will but honour me so much as to bee his conuoy thither Madame quoth they wee are all herewith heartily contented Hereupon she sent presently to one of the Masters of the houshold giuing him charge to see all things fitting in readinesse as were belonging to such a solemnitie and in him there wanted not any dilligence The day of triumph being come the young King accompanied with the Princes of his blood the Knights of the Enclosed Isle multitudes of noble Personages more rode maiestically to the Cathedrall Church where they heard solemne and diuine seruice Afterward he was conducted to a goodly Theater most magnificently adorned and there by sound of Trumpets and voyce of the Heralds he was openly proclaimed King he throwing much golde and siluer among the people crying three seuerall times Largesse Largesse Largesse giuen by the most mighty and magnanimous Prince Garinter king of Dacia As foure of the chiefest Dukes in the kingdome conducted him to the place where the royall feast was prepared the Trumpets and Clarions sounded on all sides so that for the space of three whole daies and nights together the people ceased not from making Bonfires and other signes of ioyfull triumphing As also the Nobility of the Court had Maskes Tourneies Dances and such like pastimes which had continued much longer if Angriote and his companions would haue stayed there But they earnestly importuned the Queene to licence their departure which much against her minde she was enforced to grant and before their embarquing thus she spake to theÌ„ Noble Gentlemen although it is impossible for me in any dutie to requite what you haue done for mee without any merite at all on mine owne behalfe yet is so falles out at this season that running into a farther debt I am to solicite you with a second request and wherein I desire you not to deny mee You know very well that I neuer sawe Lord Amadis de Gaule for whose sake you did partly as I imagine vndertake this long voyage which hath fallen out most fortunate to mee and to your endlesse honour for euer Now I haue not any thing more deare in esteeme then the new created King my son who as I haue already tolde you I desire to send to the Enclosed Isle to liue among so many good knights as are there vntill he come to yeares fit for knighthood hoping that a nouell kind of breeding there will highly aduantage him and that then Lord Amadis will deale so honourably with him as to bestow knighthood on him with his owne hand Wherefore once more I entreate you to take him with you and deliuer him to Lord Amadis as a present from me Madame answered Bruneo I faithfully promise you that with all my heart I will performe it and further I dare assure that hee will be very welcome thither Take order then for his equipage because wee would aboard to morrow the winde now sitting so prosperously for vs. Heereupon the Queene hauing fitted all things necessary for her sonne with a very honourable traine conducted him to the Shippe and there committing him to God and the Knights louing care away they sayled discouering in fewe dayes the coaste of the Enclosed Isle But before they landed they sent to Amadis to let him vnderstand that the king of Dacia was in their companie beeing purposely sent thither to him and to remaine vnder his gouernement Which caused Amadis immediately to take horse and accompanied with many of the knights conducted him to the lodging of king Perion CHAP. XXVIII How King Lisuart his Queene Brisena and their Daughter Leonora departed from Vindilisore to goe for the Enclosed Isle according as it was concluded on at their setting from Lubania NOt long since it was told you that the same day as King Lisuart came to his Queene hee acquainted her with his promise made to Amadis and some others beside entreating her likewise most earnestly to take order for all things fitting her owne preparation and her daughter Leonora â—whom hee had affianced by his worde to the Emperour and that they might set away the next weeke following In the meane while he sent to Galuanes and Madâ—sima to come to beare him company in this vaoyage as accordingly they did Soone after they set on forward and at the end of eight dayes came within lesse then foure leagues of the Pallace of Apolidon Whereof when king Perion and the rest were aduertised they mounted on horse backe with the Ladies and Gentlewomen ryding not farre before they mette them Many embracings past on either side but Amadis and Galaor alighted so soone as they came to King Lisuart only to kisse his hand which hee would not suffer but embracing them in his armes desired themto mount themselues againe King Perion who came one of hindemost gaue the spurre to his horse and gallopped to meete king Lasuart who came in the like manner towards him and they both embraced very louingly together In the meane space Oriana went to the Queene her mother and doing her very humble reuerence she entertayned her so graciously as no woman liuing could doe more As the Queene Elisena Briolanta Sardamira and all the other Ladies saluted each other the Emperour Arquesill came and alighted from his horse to kisse and welcome them Then the knights of great Brittaine went among
them that if euer they should happen into his hands he might be the better reuenged on them And my good Lords quoth he command me what seruice shall like you best for I confesse my life to be onely yours assuring ye on my faith that if you at any time come where I may entertaine ye you shall effectually finde what loue I beare ye Friend Branfiles answered Galaor good successe attend ye but if you please we will ride along with ye for your better security I hartily thanke ye replyed Archalaus but this day I shall neede no further defence I am so neere to a Castell where I am assured of kind welcome So he departed from them not a little glad that he was so well rid of them for if they had knowen him he had not easily escaped from them wherefore he commaunded him that guided the Litter to make all the haste he possibly might and to take the most vnfrequēted waies lest they should pursue and recouer him again By this time it waxed so late that the Moon shone brightly wherefore Galaor seeing no other helpe concluded on their byding that night by the Fountain whereto Norandel was as willing as he As they disarmed themselues one of their Squires told them that they should haue better cheare then they expected How shall we haue it quoth Galaor It is ready enough for ye answered the Squire for while you were fighting with the 5. knights they that remained with Branfiles forsook him also and left a horse loden with victuals whereof I took the charge while the 2 damosels which accōpanied the litter entred among yonder old ruines of houses from whence as yet they are not gone because I haue obserued them warily So much the better answered Norandel conduct me where they are that they may haue part in this booty Galaor went with him and the Squire who shewed the place where they had hid themselues which was an old Caue in regard whereof the Damosels had falne so deepely into it as they could not by any meanes get out againe Now because the Squire knew not certainly whether any knights were in their company or no the entrance of the Caue being so vnaccustomed and neither Galaor or Norandel had their Armes about them hee would proceede no further but with a loud voyce called vnto them saying Come foorth Ladies come foorth and giue mee not occasion to fetch ye foorth lest perhaps you repent it Twise or thrise he thus called to them and they appeared not to heare him when Norandel growing offended thereat aduised Galaor that fire should be made at the caues mouth and so to smoake them forth whether they would or no. Dinarda hearing these wordes waxed very fearefull and cryed out aloud saying Alas Gentlemen take pitty vpon vs and we will presently come forth vnto ye Dispatch then said Galaor and come away quickly for we may not attend your leysure Beleeue it Gentle-men quoth shee vnfaynedly that wee are not able to come vnto yee without your helpe we are falne so deepe vnder the ground and further perhaps then you will beleeue Heereupon Norandel went in him-selfe and holpe them out each after other when perceiuing them to be such beautifull creatures I know not which of them was the forwardest to entertaine a faire friend so that Galaor pleaded possession of Dinarda and Norandel of the other Then sending the Squire to prepare their Supper meane while they wandred somewhat further into the wood where you may well conceiue that hauing a place so conuenient and being furnished with such prouision as such yong yeares and wanton desires could wish for neither of the knights was so dull spirited but knew well enough how to entertain his amorous Mistresse Which dalliances being ended the knights conducted them to the Fountaine where they friendly supt together with such food as the men of Archalaus had left behind them vsing such conference all the time of Supper as doubtlesse was not any way displeasing By meanes whereof the Damosels who at the first encountring seemed strange and halfe angry were now become so gentle milde and tractable that Supper was no sooner ended but they went into the wood againe with the knights as familiar in their kisses and kinde embraces as formerly they had beene to Galaor and Norandel In which pleasures they continued til the break of day when Norandels Lady thus spake vnto him In good sadnesse Sir I feare lest Madame Dinarda will be offended with me because I haue absented my selfe so long time from her Neuer thinke you so quoth he for she needes none of your presence being so well accompanied as shee is And I dare make it good that she is as willing to be alone as you are or can be But resolue me in one thing I pray ye is not this Dinarda the daughter to Ardan Canile who not long since came into this Country to aske the counsel of Archalaus how she might be reuenged on Amadis de Gaule and compasse his death I am not acquainted said she with the cause of her comming hither but well I wot shee is the daughter to Ardan Canile and in my poore opinion he that hath beene pleased with her company this night past may well boast of his happines good fortune for he hath wonne that which many great persōs could neuer gaine so much as a sight of Heere let me tell ye as heereto-fore I haue done that this Dinarda was both cunning and malicious expressing to Galaor such an outward shew of loue and intire affection as if her soule and behauiour truely consented together And so farre was his beliefe abused by her that notwithstanding his aduertising by Norandel what speech had past betweene him and his nightcommodity yet hee made no account at all thereof but declared as faire friendship to her as before not wanting in his very best curtesies to her But at length he demaunded of her if she knew the knight that was carried in the Litter Full well quoth she and did not you know him to be Archalaus the Enchanter Archalaus answered Galaor Had I but knowne so much before hee should haue felt the keene edge of my Sword Is he not dead replyed Dinarda No quoth Galaor my ignorance for this once hath priuiledged his life but if euer hereafter we chaunce to meet againe he shall well finde that a debt delayed is not payed another day will serue the turne Right glad was Dinarda to heare that her Vncle had escaped with life notwithstanding wisely shee dissembled her contentment and returned this answere Trust me Sir it is no long while since I hazarded my life for the safety of his but now finding my selfe so farre interrested in your faire affection assure your selfe it is one of my greatest grieuances that you did not kill him for there is not a heauier enemy in the world to the life of you and your brother Amadis I know it too well replied Galaor and so long
which hath so long time layen wast and ruined Moreouer for the earnest desire hee hath to see you hee entreateth you by vs to passe with what conuenient speede you may towards Constantinople where hee will welcome you according to your due merit Lord Gastilles answered our Knight I haue so often heard of the Emperours goodnesse and magnificeÌ„ce that although I neuer saw him yet am I earnestly desirous to doe him any seruice and to be employed as hee shall please to command me I must further entreate you said Gastilles to let vs see the Monster Endriagus that his liuely portraiture may be taken by an expert painter which for the same purpose is sent hither with vs. Here is Maister Elisabet said our Knight and Gandalin my trusty Squire also who was present wheÌ„ I fought with the beast they can easily conduct ye where he lieth But I feare his body is so infectious as you will hardly bee able to come neere it Let vs make triall of that replyed Count Salender to giue the better report to others how and in what manner we found him Our Knight perceiuing their vnalterable desire praied Maister Elisabet to guide them to the place where hee was assailed and to let them know the truth of all So they mounted on horse-backe for it was somewhat farre from the Gyants Castle and by the way Gandalin reported to them the manner of the sights beginning the doubt hee had of it and little hope or expectation of his Maisters returne And in this time of conference they were come to the place where Endriagus lay so stinking as if Maister Elisabet had not formerly giuen them excellent preseruatiues they had beene in great danger of their health But by this meanes they might come the neerer to him while the Painter drewe his Figure so artificially as nothing was wanting but life it selfe But the more they obserued him the more they found the aduenture to be so that no iust comprehension could haue been made of the substance except their eyes were reall witnesse Afterward they returned back to the castle again and soiourned there with our knight three dayes visiting the Isle in euery part and the day following they tooke shipping thence with so good a gale of wind that they took landing in the porte of Constantinople not long after The Emperour hauing intelligence thereof sent Chariots and horses for the Knights more honorable conuoye to his Court and himselfe accompanied with a goodly Traine of Princes and great Lords rode in person to meete him Our Knight offred to kisse his hand but the Emperour embraced him telling him that hee was heartily welcome as he that iustly deserued by his valour to hold ranke among the greatest Lords of the world For if I quoth he and such as resemble me are constituted in the preeminence and authoritie of Emperours of Kings it comes to vs by the meanes of our Predecessors whe got and conserued such fortune for vs but you hauing performed such rare deeds of Chiualrie are not only worthy of an Empire but euen of the Monarchie of the whole world and that meerly by merit You haue power mighty Prince answered our Knight to paint me in what coulours you please not withding all that I am or can bee is no more then your humble vassaile and seruant would it pleased God to afford such means as might expresse my earnest loue to you in any serious or importaÌ„t seruice So ceasing the Emperour walked along with him to a chamber which he had caused to be prepared for his lodging being so faire sumptuously furnished as neuer had the like bin seen except that belonging to Apolidon in the Firme Island The Emperour with-drawing left him accompanied with Gastilles and Count Salender went to the Empresse giuing her to vnderstand that the Knight of the Greene sword so much renowned through the world was come to Court To whom he purposed all the kinde entertainment could be deuised And therefore Madame quoth he be not sparing towardes him in the very best graces may be affoorded commanding your Ladyes so to decke and adorne themselues that it may mooue his desire to continue in our Court. For beside his repute and estimation of being the very best Knight in the world and bringing vnder awe and obedience that goodly Island so long time dispeopled I am vndoubtedly perswaded that hee can bee none other then some great Lord disguised for his better veiwe of strange Princes estates therefore let mee commend him to your very choycest respect My Lord quoth she seeing it is your pleasure I will not fayle in effectuall performing what you haue commanded me By this time it waxed and grew somewhat late and our Knight finding himselfe not halfe currant after his sayling on the Sea departed not out of his chamber till the next morning when hauing bin with the Emperour at Masse he brought him afterward to see the Ladyes all of them giuing him most gracious welcome Especially the Empresse But hee fell on his knee before her to kisse her hand and as shee tooke him vp hee said Madame among all the blessings of heauen bestowed vpon mee I esteeme this one of the chiefest to haue the meanes of seeing the magnificence of the Emperours Court famous in all places of the world and that with such affable lookes and entertainment as I take no little care how or which way my power can euer stretch it selfe to acknowledge this fauour by any dutious seruice And I would I could tell you in good Greeke Language how much I am and desire to be wholly yours but the slencer power I haue in this countrey may excuse my ill speaking and referre to full effect any thing wherein you please to command mee and that shall best witnesse my good will Knight of the Greene Sword said she the Emperour hath long time desired to haue your company wisheth with al his heart that your mind were answerable to his for your coÌ„tinuance still heere with him So falling out of one discourse into another the Empresse beeing wise and curious in vnderstanding all Nouelties especially the qualities and fashions of strange remote Countries enquired many matters of him whereunto he knew how to answere with so good a grace and discretion that she sayd within her selfe it is impossible but hee must be of as great prowesse as prudence All this while the Emperour entertained the Queene Menorâ—ssa and other of the principall Ladyes to whom hee said Can you giue such welcome to our newe Knight as may make him ours alwayes heerâ—… after It may be sweete Ladies that therein you should performe so famous a conquest as neuer any beauties did the like for I haue credibly heard that infinite dangers of death can neuer daunt him to maintaine all their rights that request it of him In good faith answered the Dutchesse mother to Gastilles we are all then highly beholding to him seeing he is so ready
other Knights in his company of no lesse valour and prowesse then hee as I am giuen to vnderstand I am well pleased to Combat against them and you if you haue any wil to take their part prouided that two of my companions may ioyne with mee By this meanes it will be apparantly discerned to whom the honour of victory shall fall the fight being equall of three Romaines against two Greekes and a Knight of great Brittaine Grumedan smiling at the Princes pride returned this answer It were shame for me to make refusall therfore I accept your offer I and those two that shall take my part Thus speaking he drew a Ring from off his finger and making a low reuerence to the King said Behould Sir here is my gage which most humbly I beseech you to receiue on the behalfe of mee and my companions as in iustice you can doe little lesse the Prince Saluste hauing challenged the combat as you your selfe haue heard otherwise hee must either vnsay his words or yeeld him selfe vanquished By God said Saluste sooner shall the Seas be dryed vp then the word of a Romaine be retracted or the least iniury done to his honour And I doe much meruaile Grumedan that you dare speak words so voyd of reason but if age haue made your sences faile you your body must iustly pay the penance in combate for speeches so indiscreetly deliuered Surely Sir answered Grumedan I am yet yong enough to bring mine enterprise to a good issue and to gaine that from you which you imagine to get ouer-easily from me And let me plainly tell you that mine age hath taught me more experience then euer young pride or presumption could learne as I hope is sufficiently seene in you by the proud perswasion you haue of your selfe who rather appeares to be a Captaine of Braggardsâ— then a man to performe any matter indeed With these words arose vp King Arban more then thirty Knights beside to take the cause in hand to maintaine what Grumedan had spoken but the King imposed silence on them commanding them on perill of their liues not to vse anymore such words in his presence Whereupon euery man departed to his lodging leauing Count Argamont alone with the king to whom he spake in this manner Sir haue you not obserued the audacious insolence of these Romanes and how vnreuerently they dare abuse the knights of your Court In your own iudgement they that are so mallepert here what will they not doe in other places In good faith Sir seeing they declare so litle discretion I greatly feare their behauiour to the Princosse Oriana euen so soone as you shall haue lost sight of her And yet notwithstanding as I hear you haue already giuen them your grant for her which makes mee to meruaile not a little whence this strange fancie in you should proceed considering that neuer did any Prince so wise and iudicious as you haue alwayes bin esteemed so far forget himself wherby plainly appeareth that you are desirous to tempt your own good fortune to let loose the reines of diuers disasters very ominous to this whole kingdome Haue you forgotteÌ„ what especiall graces our Lord hath in a maner heaped vpon you And doe you not stand in feare of his anger Fortune is not she mutable Are you now to learne that when shee growes weary of good turns to him whom she hath exalted she wil chastise him afterward with many stripes yee with such cruel tortures as are a thousand times worse then death Pardon me Sir I beseech you if the faith I beare you haue made me thus bold to speake such words as perhaps you like not you are not ignorant how transitory the matters of this world are and that all the renowne glory which by long and tedious trauell can bee gotten in this life is oftentimes quenched and quite buried vpon a very small occasion if Fortune doe but once distaste the person So that if any remembrance remaine of a mans former felicity this blame will only liue vpon him that hee did not make vse of his precedent happines but rather entertayned it with an idle and negligent respect Pausing here a while and hearing the King to returne no answere hee began againe thus Sir doe but thinke on the fault you sometime fell into by banishing so many good Knights farre hence as Amadis his brethren kinred and friendes by whom you were feared honoured and respected euery-where And being scarcely freed from this mishap will you voluntarily fall into a worse Vndoubtedly I must needes imagine that God and all good successe hath forsaken you because you haue first forsaken him For if it were otherwise you would accept the counsell of them that desire to liue no longer then in loue faithfull seruice to you But seeing what I doe I am content to discharge the homage and duty I owe you and with-draw my selfe into mine owne territories because I will auoyde so much as possibly I may the iust complaints and teares of your Daughter Oriana at such time as you deliuer her according to your promise and the manifold miseries that will ensue thereon to your dishonour and woefull ouer-throw of this famous Realme Vncle replied the King that which is done is done were I to dye I will not falsifie my word But I pray you to abide heere two or three dayes longer to see what issue these new-attempted Combats will sort vnto because I elect you as Iudge of these exploytes with such beside as your self shal make choyse of Heerein you shall yeeld mee great contentment and such seruice as cannot be more acceptable because we haue no one heere that vnderstandeth the Greeke language better then you doe Sir quoth Count Argamont seeing such is your pleasure farre be it from me to contradict it yet vnder this condition that afterward you will dispense with my departure for it will be impossible for me to abide among such grieuous mournings as must needs succeed this heaâ—y fortune So breaking off their discourse by reason of the Prince Saluste Quides comming Count Argamont with-drew himselfe leauing the King and Prince in priuate conference Now we may not bee vnmindfull of Lasinde the Squire to Don Bruneo who compassed so good meanes that he attained to true intelligence of all matters and conference since the Damosell-Messengers departure Wherefore seeing the night fast hastening on secretly he left the Court and made his speedy passage by Boate to the Greeke knight whom he acquainted with the Prince Salustes request to the King the answere of Don Grumedan and all things else in their due proceeding This fell out to his no little comfort and so much the rather because now hee knew he should meddle with none but Romanes whereas he feared before that either his brother Galaor or some other as worthy a Knight of Great Brittaine would steppe into his place on the Ladies behalfe And then hee knew too well that neuer could
Brian said Madame if you please to coÌ„mand any thing to the King your father or to your mother the Queen wee are appointed from this companie to depart for Great Brittaine about your businesse Now was Amadis withdrawn aside with Mabila while Agraies coÌ„ferred with Olinda and Florestan and Angriote with Grasinda And well we may conceiue that Amadis was in a strange perplexity seeing her so neare him whom hee loued aboue all creatures in the world and yet hee durst not so much as speake to her but regarded her with a stedfast eye whereto her eye also seemed to make answere euen as if an imparlance had passed between them which made his words to Mabila to sauour of idle and fond imperfection But shee well knowing the Saint of his deuotion to cure him of his ouer-awing fit bethought herselfe of the most honest meanes that could be both to quicken him and recouer some spirit likewise in Oriana saying soddenly Madame you promised Gandalin yester day that you would write to Queene Elisena and to Melicia and for ought I heare to the contrary he is presently to depart and you haue forgot your letters Oriana who vnderstood well enough at what marke shee aymed answered Let him come hither and by word of mouth I will as well satisfie him as if I had troubled him with my Letters Then one of the Damosels arose and going foorth of the Chamber called for Gandalin who presently entred with her Well had hee beene instructed by Amadis concerning what hee was to doe if the Princesse would speake with him before this company wherefore beeing come where she was hee made her an humble reuerence and then to his Master who talked all this while as I formerly told you with Mabila It was not long before Oriana who sate between Quedragant and Brian arose and taking Brian by the hand said to him I pray you Cosen to witnesse with mee what message I shall send by Gandalin to the Queene of Gaule and her daughter Melicia to the end that you may report it to the King my father if hee inquire any such matter of you In the meane while Lord Quedragant if so hee be pleased shall abide with the Queene Sardimira who knowes well enough how to entertaine him But Brian who was one of the most gentle and courteous Knights liuing would not follow her but with an amiable smile thus answered Madame you must pardon me for beeing appointed as I haue told you to goe to the King about your businesse my friends heere may grow suspitious of me and stand in doubt that I may be so subborned by your gracious speech as I shall shew my selfe more milde and tractable to him then consists in my commission and the charge I haue receiued from them Nay Sir replied Oriana heare but the reason why I would haue you acquainted with this message It is to no other end but by hearing mine owne tongue to relate my hearts tribulations wich I desire should bee knowen not onely in Great Brittaine but likewise in all countries of the world you would bee the more indulgent to mediate my peace and to deliuer al these Ladies from imprisonment And if you were affected to any one amongst them her vertue might preuaile against any sterne deliberation Oriana deliuered these wordes with such a gracious demeanour as they all tooke delight to heare and behold her Especially Brian who although he was young faire and of goodly forme yet was hee more addicted to follow Armes then loue and fewe Knights were more actiue then hee to handle his launce and sword for the defence of iniured Ladies whensoeuer they stood in need of his help Whereby hee became a friend to all in generall and did them infinite particular seruices which being desirous that Oriana should take knowledge of thus hee answered By my faith Madame you may esteeme of mee as you please but if I should long tarrie in so good company I greatly feare I should soone lose that which I haue alwaies held as mine owne since first I had knowledge of my selfe Therefore I had need to get me further off and leaue my roome to Lord Amadis your Cosen they may serue you for witnesses if they be so plâ—â—â—sed At these wordes euery one 〈◊〉 led for he retired with such a grace as declared some bashfulnesse of what hee had spoken leauing Oriana close by Amadis who neuer had any priuate conference with her since his departure from King Lisuarts seruice But now seeing opportunity so graciously fauour him as he might freely speake what hee vvould hee was so vtterly lost in ioy that â—â—e stood trembling as one vnable to vtter a vvord But Oriana laying her right hand vpon his arme caught holde vvith her other vpon his hand locking it fast in hers to testifie the vigour of her affection said Deer friend though no greater happinesse in this vvorld can befall mee then continually to enioy your â—…ed presence yet it hath been no mean discomfort to mee that beeing so neare one to another â—â—e houe bin barred from such a blessing Neuerthelesse I accoumpt my selfe highly beholding to fortune for deliuering me into your power as all my life time I haue desired and wherewith I hope also neuer to part so long as my soule shall liue in this body for it had as I thinke neuer beene created but only to be dedicated in seruice and obedience vnto you yet I knowe very well that we frequenting one with another as sometimes we did in Great Brittaine mine honour may receiue endamagement for the newes of my surprizall is alreadie so diâ—ulged that if wee dissemble not our priuate passions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereby may ensue vnto vs. Therefore I hold it better to gouerne our selues rather by discretion then the lauish power of fond affection which if wee doe we may may alwaies presume that the charitable deed you haue done is no more than the commendable custome among all good Knights that make no spare of their liues to succour afflicted persons especially women so badly vsed as I haue beene And beleeue mee sweete friend if herein you will not follow my counsell by weening to borrow some stolne delight and contentment we shall but formalize an imagâ—…e happinesse lose that vtterly which the wise attending for time will vndoubtedly bring vs. Madame answered Amadis I neuer had any other thought but how I might best bee obedient to yâ—â— neither shall haue any other so 〈◊〉 as I liue because I haue no other maintainance for this poore life of 〈◊〉 But let mee be regarded in your pittie for if you thus 〈◊〉 â—p your sâ—lfe and suffer me to see you no oftner then I doe it is impossible but that the melancholie which ouer-masters mee will hasten my death very suddenly I doe not vrge those priuâ—… which your gracious fauours affordâ—â— me in Great Brittaine or that euery eye sâ—â—uld discern then but 〈◊〉 â—…ght may sometime befrend
caried not this comfort farre for Bruneo ioyned with him suddenly and reached him such a mighty stroake on the Helmet as made him sit staggerring on his horse by which aduantage catching fast holde on his Gorget hee drew him so strongly to him that downe hee fell to the ground amazedly There lay the Knight shaking quaking while Bruneo diuerse times couruetted his horse ouer him euen as if hee meant to tread him in peeces as indeede hee had done but that he cryed out to him for mercy Arise then said Bruneo and see if thy companion be dead or no. The Knight beeing full of paine rose quakingly vp and comming to the other tooke off his Helmet when receiuing ayre hee began to breath Lift him vp saide Bruneo into thine owne saddle and sit behinde to supporte him vppe which the Knight accordingly did Then looking about hee sawe that the young Prince his guide were fled but they returned againe vpon fight of the victory and being come to him hee said to the Kings sonne My Lord heere I present you two prisoners aduise with your selfe whether I shall pardon them or put them to death before your face for more terrour to the rest that followe the treacherous Duke their Master Sir Knight replyed the Prince they should not pay penance for this offence I pray you send them backe to the Campe where if they will become ours I will cause them to be as well respected as lies in my power to doe This aduise was wel liked by Bruneo and much did hee commend the wisedome and good minde of the young Prince wherfore vpon receipt of their fidelity they rode together to the Citie Aumenta where they were no sooner ariued but the inhabitants knew both the guide their young Lord. Wherupon in a very small time all the people assembled about him to kisse his hand and offred him the very vttermost of their power whereof Bruneo being very ioyfull spake vnto them in this manner worthy Citizens the loue which you haue shewen to this young Prince your true and lawfull Lord bindeth him to you in endeared affection so long as hee shall liue and the trust which he reposeth in you should binde you to loue and honour him You see hee is but young and hath small meanes to expell the enemy out of your limits and that enemie as you all well knowe murdered by treason your late good and royall King Since when vsurping on the kingdome hee hath besieged the chiefest Cittie and keepeth his strength as yet so near about it that without your ayde it is in danger of vtter spoyle and ruine with all the noble Citizens and good Knights abyding therein Wherefore worthie Lords and Citizens now that occasion so louingly offers herselfe by returne of the Queene your royali Mistresse who hath brought with her three Knights of the Enclosed Isle whereof I am one conclude among your selues to reuenge such iniuries as you haue receiued by the traytor and doe so much that your legittimate Lords may be re-seated in their rights And this I dare assure you if you will follow me that I shall haue the meanes to surprise both him and his Army yea vtterly to ouerthrowe them only by the helpe of my companions who are alreadie within the Cittie and they will not faile to issue foorth so soone as I shall giue them the signall As thus hee continued on his Oration there ariued two peasants who came in great hast from the camp to aduertise theÌ„ of this citie for certaine That the besieged knights and Cittizens had made a fallie forth in the night vpon the Watch whom they had slaine as also a great number more before they could bee any way succoured Moreouer that the Duke himselfe was beaten downe from his horse taken led away prisoner into the Cittie by two strange knights as the report went Hereof said these fellows there neede no doubt to be made because we were in the camp when the Allarm was giuen where we were constrayned to abide by reason of the turbulent night which hindered vs from selling our victualls But wee were neuer in such a feare and not without great reason considering that the Souldiers were and yet are so mightily terrified as they ranne away confusedly striuing who shall get him-selfe first farthest off So helpe mee God said Bruneo these are happy newes Now bestirre your selues my friends let vs forth-with part hence and pursue them in the rere that wee may the sooner send them packing At these words euery man cryed to Armes but Bruneo vpon better aduice deferred this hast vntill the euening to the end they might come vpon them vnprouided in the meane while they went to receiue some sustentation that they might the better march away in the night His adâ—uice was geeerally allowed and they all resolued to liue and die with him Hereupon the houre for their departing being come they were all marshalled in order and each battalion appointed marching on in good order towards the Campe and about break of day they came neere it within a quarter of a league Then Bruneo by fiering of a Beacon gaue a signall to them of the Cittie aduertising them thereby what hee intended But the Dukes watch perceiuing it presently sent intelligence to their Captaines who doubting some immediat danger and not forgetting the precedent night and great losse caused their bagge and baggage closely to bee trussed vp and raysed their siedge so speedily as they were gone three leagues off before any knowledg could be had of them or where they were But so soone as these newes came to Angriote and Bruneo they and their people mounted on horse-backe to follow them finding them very conueniently driuing all their luggage before them then they beganne to skirmish each against other and although the harquebuziers kept themselues behind with the greater part of the Horse yet were they so sharpely charged by them of the Cittie that they fell from their ranckes and ranne into great disorder By meanes wherof very many lost their liues a great number were taken prisoners and more had receiued much greater damage but that they rallied them-selues together againe and kept in a fast combination Angriote well obseruing this and calling to minde that the pursuite of a desperat enemie causeth often times the losse of a battaile already wonne commanded retreate to bee sounded and the rather beecause darke night approached So returning backe to the Cittie each man betooke himselfe to rest till the next morning concluding then to goe visit the Queene who as you haue already heard remained still aboard her Shippe in expectation of tydings from the Knights of the Enclosed Isle and of her sonnes Accordingly they came thither to her finding her so oppressed with melancholy as no woman possibly could be more But when she saw them in so good disposition vnderstanding also the surprisall of her enemie and dissipation most ruinous of his Campe her soule became
to the ende of the clowdie valley which you haue likewise past wee saw a Knight well armed mounted slâ—nâ—ing by vs as if hee desired not to bee seene Whereupon my Cosen aduised me to followe the Damosell and hee would ride to know what that other was Thus were wee seuered and soone after I met with him I sought for and calling to him hee came to me presently vnarmed After some small conference betweene vs hee seemed to know mee well and demanded of me what I would haue I acquainted wim hith all that the 〈◊〉 had tolde mee desiring him to deliuer her husband without any further molestation wherâ— to for my sake as he said 〈◊〉 with gaue consent Appeaâ—ing to this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kindnesse to 〈◊〉 euen as much as any 〈…〉 could doe I tolde him 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 ouâ—… with a good minde and woâ—… but winne him blame among all Knights of merit For which gentle reprehension hee thankeâ— mee most louingly promised neuer after to be so forgetfull of himselfe So parting from him I returned to the Monasterie where I found my Cosen very sore wounded Demanding of him how this perill had happened to him hee made mee answere that going after the Knight we met so soone as hee had left me he cried to him to stay and turne his face which hee did After the Launces encounter a sterne and dreadfull combate passed betweene them neuerthelesse the issue of the action prouing to my kinsmans honor and holding his enemy for fully vanquished two other came forth of a secret ambushment and â—an together so 〈◊〉 vpon him that they brought him â—nto such a case as you haue lately seene him And it God had 〈◊〉 directed two Religious men that way accidentally 〈…〉 their wonted way home 〈…〉 he had vtterly 〈◊〉 there But then prayer and 〈◊〉 were so earnest and instant that they preuailed for his life and so carried him thence with them One of those reuerend Monkes answered Grasandor acquainted mee with all that which you haue reported of your Cosen yet not any thing of you but that you were gone thence to pursue the committers of so horrid a villanie for which thankes bee giuen to God both you and I are sufficiently reuenged because I thinke they are all dead I know not that replied Landin let vs goe see for more assurance So going to Galifon lyâ—… vnable to rise and his brother â—ard by him not dead but 〈◊〉 Landin 〈◊〉 his two Squires to alight who mounted them into the faddles of their horses and sate behinde on the cruppers themselues onely to support them So rode they on towards the Monasterie fully resolued that if Elisco were dead they both should be hanged but if he were in good disposition then they would take some other deliberation Beeing come to the Monasterie they found 〈◊〉 in much better estate of health then they expected for one of the religious Monkes a man most expert and skilfull in the art of Chirurgerie had tended him so carefully that hee was quite out of any danger Causing Galifon his brother to be dismounted and they looking on Landin disarmed they presently knâ—w him hauing often seen him with King Cildadan before they forsooke his seruice only thorough the small account they made of him when he became tributarie to King Lisuart after which time they fell to robbing theeuing spoyling any that fell into their power Highly pleased was Galifon his misfortune considered to see him-selfe and his brother at the command of such a man from whom he assured himselfe of mercie and therefore with teares in his eyes thus hee began For the honor of God and true Nobilitie I beseech you Lord Landin not to deale with vs as we haue iustly deserued but by declaring your goodnesse and gentle breeding referre the base liues of me and my brother vnto your wonted mercy and pitty Galifon answered Landin I neuer thought you to be such men hauing beene brought vp vnder so good a Prince as is the King your Master and among so many worthy Knights as ordinarilie doe attend on him among which number God is my Iudge I alwayes esteemed you and not to bee any such men as I haue found yee Alas sir quoth Galifon desire of rule and commanding hath won mee this due desert as it hath done many more as idle headed and improuident as my selfe But be it howsoeuer in your hands now lies all my remedie What would you said Landin that I should doe for you Begge pardon replied Galifon for me of the King to whose mercy and your good pleasure I willingly submitte my selfe I am contented so to doe said Landin prouided that herafter you change your vile condition and become as vertuous as you haue beene lewd and vicious That I solemnly vow and sweare to you answered Galifon Vpon that faithfull promise quoth Landin I dismisse you conditionally that you and your brother within the space of three weekes hence ensuing wheresoeuer King Cildadan shall then bee you doe render your selues vnto him intirely obey him and then I will compasse the means that he may forget what hath past and pardon you if my power can stretch so far Most humbly did Galifon and his brother shew themselues thankeful and because it grew to be late they supped together with such meane cheere as both the time and place could afforde them Earlie the next morning Grasandor hauing heard Masse tooke leaue of the companie and returned to the place where the Barque waited his comming and the men not a little ioyfull that hee had heard newes of Amadis For by the plaine appearing words of Landin he made no doubt of meeting with him in short time or else to heare report of him in the Isle of the Infanta for which cause hee intended the greater hast Being in the Barque he enquired of the Patron if hee could conueniently bring him to the Isle of the Infanta who made him answere that knowing now the countrie wherein they were hee could easilie set sayle for that Island and Grasandor earnestly entreated him so to do So without any farther delay they weighed Anchors and hauing the winde prosperous for them sayled all that night till about breake of day they descried the Island Then drawing to starbord and making vp into the Seas hight about euening they came to coast it Grasandor went a shoare and mounted vp the Rock vntill hee came to the great Towne where meeting with the Gouernour already returned backe hee vnderstood that Amadis had conquered Balan and friendshippe was vnited betweene them according as you heretofore heard By my Knight hood said Grasandor these are the best newes that euer I could aske for not so much for knowing whether Amadis had finished to his high honour a combate so perillous beeing euermore inured to such happy fortunes as this but for my more certaine knowledge where I may find him for otherwise I am not capable of any rest either by day or night
following they landed where the Armie of the Enclosed Isles Knights were encamped No sooner were Galaor and Galuanes Agrates and the rest aduertised thereof and that Balan himselfe was come on shoare but they mounted on horse-backe to goe meete and welcome him with a worthie troupe attending on them for they knew before all that had passed between Amadis him As they came neere they embraced each other and the first that stept to Balan was Galuanes of whom the Giant not knowing him demanded if hee were Galaor the brother to Amadis whom he was very desirous to see No sir quoth hee I am Galuanes your friend and kins-man if so you please to accept mee Ha my Lord and Cousin said Balan I had not beene so tardy from your company and my deare Cosin Madasima also but for your friend-shippe with him who then was my most deadly enemie yet now wee are become so good friends that I loue you so much the more and for his sake Close by him was Galaor who presenting himselfe to Balan bad him most louingly welcome The Giant vnderstanding what and who he was did him very humble reuerence saying My Lord I stand so engaged to your Noble brother as no Gentleman in the world can bee more his then I am and yours likewise And surely wonder must now cease in mee concerning the fame and renowne published of you both because I neuer saw any man more truely resemble him then in all respects you effectually doe But to speake truely there is no other difference betweene yee but that you are somewhat taller and Lord Amadis a little more corpulent By this time they were come to the Campe and his lodging appointed in the Tent of Galuanes which was singulerly beautifull and farre more rich then any of the rest CHAP. XXXVII How Balan being in the Tent of Galuanes the principall Commanders of the Armie came to see him And what conference they had together YOu haue heard how the Gyant Balan beeing come to the siege before the City of Arauigne hee was visited by Agraies Quedragant 〈◊〉 dâ— bonne Mer Angriote d'Estrauaus Granate of the Dreadfull â—ale Palomir Brian de Moâ—…ste and all the chiefest Lords of the Armie after some kinde salutations and speeches passed betweene them Balâ—… began in this manner My Lords iâ— you wonder at my so sudden comâ—â—ing hither and in a season so little expected my selfe may well maruell as much at something not long since happening to me because from the time of my first apprehension of knowledge I had a continuall purpose and deliberation by all meanes possible to procure his death whom now I affect more dearely then my selfe And therefore it is most certaine that the execution oâ— mens willes are more in the power of Heauens strong hand then in any abilitie of such as intend them as I haue well experienced by my selfe So turning about to them all hee prâ—â—eeded thus I thinke there is not 〈…〉 among yo◠〈…〉 mee to be the 〈…〉 liant and drâ—adfull 〈…〉 bull 〈◊〉 of the Island of the 〈◊〉 Tower who was slaine by Amadis in the battaile of King Cildadan where â—…med himselfe the bright Obsâ—… Nâ—turâ—l reason 〈…〉 then to 〈◊〉 reuenge on him â—â—r my fatheâ—â— death but the contrary hath 〈◊〉 happened vnto me my selfe beeing vanquished and ouer-come by his hand So he discoursed the whole manner of the combate betweene them vpon what occaâ—â—â—n Amâ—… came to seeke him in hi◠〈…〉 lâ—stly the peace and 〈◊〉 concluded bâ—tween theÌ„ with 〈…〉 him in the 〈…〉 quoth â—â—c 〈…〉 aduertisemâ—nt 〈…〉 as well at the â—â—â—ges beâ—…ing as since I resolâ—ed to bring 〈◊〉 sâ—â—h â—uâ—cour as I could and as already you haue â—eene purposing 〈◊〉 leaue you till 〈◊〉 countrie were reduced to perfect obedience and in such maner as you would haue it Lord Balan aniwered Agraies your fathers death deserues iust excuse especially on the behalfe of 〈◊〉 Câ—… Amadis performing no 〈…〉 then as one enemie â—â—â—uld doe to another meeting him in the 〈◊〉 of fight though 〈◊〉 of persons your father so farre out going and exceeding him both 〈◊〉 strength and stature wherby may bee gâ—…ed that it is no mâ—…r of marâ—aiâ—â— when Heauen mainâ—… a â—…full cause and by imagiâ—â—d wâ—akenesse â—astes 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 might Conâ—… now beâ—… from his 〈…〉 I am very well 〈◊〉 thaâ—â— thereby you haue rather woâ—… then lost because there is not a Knight in this Campe but is wâ—… yours in all kindes of imployment as our further willing seruâ—ce at all times shall aproâ—e Bâ—lâ—n returned him many thankes and because it waxed somewhat late being also a priuate night of supper all bad him good rest except Galaor and Galuanes who stayed still to keepe him company On the morrow morning Balan being desirous to round the Cittie to obserue the best strength thereof and which place was fittest for breach or entrance Galaor and hee walked very early together so couertly as they could But when Balan had well considered the Bulwarkes all about the platformes and Rampires within the depth of the ditches and aboue all else what number of men were to defend it with their store of victuals and necessary munition it appeared a Citty to him very hardly to be enforced But then Galaor told him that the most part of the Souldiers were bandied against the inhabitants and the inhabitants against them Whereby quoth hee this discord is sufficient for their ruine vtterly Considering withall that as wee haue receiued aduertisement their hearts are so deiected as they dare make no more sallies forth vpon vs in regard of the great losses they haue had already More-ouer our men are resolued to die in the assault or they will enter notwithstanding wee will not permit them to haue so much head fearing their losse and respecting our hope day by day of their surrender the reasons before alleaged considered and our detayning their King here prisoner with vs also Beleeue mee Sir said Balan you stand vpon very great apparances neuerthelesse if my aduise were worthy to be allowed I would giue them no longer time of respite But attempt our fortune to morrow morning and see what lookes they will set vpon vs in a bolde sudden and sprightlie assault So long lasted this discourse as it brought them to the Campe of Agraies where meeting with Enill he saluted Balan saying My Lord the Prince Agraies entreates you being â—n this forwardnesse that you would see the King Arauigne here prisoner in my Tent because hee is desirous to speake with you as hee hath made knowne to the Prince I am well contented answered Balan for perhaps this comming of mine may promise some good agreement with him So they went all three to the King Arauigne whom they found attended with his guard But so soone as Balan saw him he set his knee to the ground and kissed his hand The King tooke him vp saying he was most heartily welcome And because they would conferre priuately
him if hee would bee a Knight Yes Sir quoth â—ee if you please to bestow such honour on mee Then Balan gaue him the accolade and after-warde buckled on his right spurre saying I pray God faire Gentle-man to make thee such a man as generall hope is conceiued of thee This done Vrganda tooke Amadis aside saying Bethinke your selfe if you will haue any thing with your sonne because hee is to departe hence suddenly Hereupon Amadis rounding him in the eare saying My sonne at such time as I ariued in Greece I was receiued and highly honoured by the Emperour who afterwardes lent mee so good assistance as I must confesse my selfe for euer beholding to him And because hee tyed mee to some promises made then vnder mine oath to his faire daughter Leonoryna one of the most wise and gracious Princesses in the worlde as also to the Queene Menoressa other Ladies in her companie that if I could nor returne againe to them my selfe I should send them a Knight of my linage to serue them I finde my selfe in no disposition leaning that way but command you that so soone as you haue released King Lisuart you goe and discharge my dutie to her And that you may be the better knowne receiue this Ring which was giuen me there for a kind token Esplandian humbly vpon his knee promised not to faile a iote herein but it was not fulfilled so soone as they both hoped for because before hee came thither hee passed through many perills for the loue of that faire Lady whose renowne only hauing neuer seene her tied him so subiect to hir as hee made no valuation of his Life as when it comes more aptly to our purpose you shall further vnderstand Then Vrganda called him saying Sonne you must needes bestowe Knight-hood of these your foure companions who before many dayes are past may render you the honour of your gift Esplandian obeying the will of Vrganda gaue them the embrace and spurre on their heeles and then the sixe Damosells sounded their Trumpets so sweetely As all the Lords and the fiue new made Knights likewise became so sleepilie enâ—â—aunced as they were voide of â—ll vnderstanding At which very instant the Serpent voided out â—…er mouth and nosthrills such a horrible smoake as the Sea could not bee discerned for a long while But very soone after no body could â—eâ—l how the Knights of the Enclosed Isle found themselues to bee in the Parke of Apoâ—â—idon not a little wondring how they came â—…her but much more beside what was become of the Serpent and the fiue new created Knightes But that which most of all amazed Amadis was when hee awaked 〈◊〉 finde a wrighting in his hand 〈◊〉 inscription The wrighting which Amadis found in his hand at his waking Kings and Lordes that are in the Enclosed Isle returne home to your Countries and there contentedly rest your Spirits leauing the glorie and prize of Armes to those that beginne to mount aloft vpon the mutable wheele of Fortune let the Fauours shee hath hitherto affoorded you remaine as a full satisfaction And thou Amadis de Gaule who since the day that King Perion made thee Knight at the request of thy Oriana hast vanquished many braue Knightes and cruell Giants escaping strange and vnparraleld perills Let the happinesse thou hast had suffice thee beeing more then any could attaine vnto before thee Learne now to tast those sweets and sowres which Kinges and Rulers are Subiect vnto for they are now prouided for thee And like as in thy younger yeares thou wentst in the condition of a simple Knight errant succouring manie in their necessities So at this time as thou entrest into farre higher felicities thou shalt finde more neede then euer heretofore to lend thine assistance in much greater matters bemoaning many times thy former condition of Life and thy Dwarsse onelie ouer whom thou hast had command Hauing all of them read this Letter they entred into a contestation whether they should follow the Counsell of Vrganda or no But at length Amadis tolde them that it was behouefull to credit her in regard of the continuall truth of her predictions And therefore quoth hee to Galaor I take it for the best that you and Galuanes should goe to Great Brittaine to visit the queene and let her know what Vrganda hath proposed vs for the Kinges deliuerance which will be no little ioy to her and so soone as you returne mee answere my Cosen Agraies Balan and I will followe after you And you my Lords quoth hee to the rest that haue accomplished so many famous conquests returne to take more ample possession and fully enioy the fruits of your labours Where-to they all willingly condiscended and leading their wiues along with them on the morrowe they tooke leaue of Amadis Oriana and the rest that made their stay in the Enclosed Isle And heere wee intend to leaue them making an ende of this our Fourth Booke attending till the Fift shall come to our hands The end of the Fourth Booke A Table of all the Chapters contained in this Fourth Booke of Amadis de Gaule CHPTER 1. OF the great sorrowe made by the Queen Sardamira after shee vnderstood the death of the Prince Saluste Quide and of the ariuall of Oriana in the Enclosed Isle Fol. 1. Chap. 2. A discription of the Linographie and foundation of the Pallace which Apolidon had caused to be builded in the Enclosed Isle Fol. 4. Chap. 3. Of the Councell held among the Knights of the Enclosed Isle touching the businesse for the Princesse Oriana And what they further determined to doe Fol. 11. Chap. 4. Of the discourse which Amadis had with Grasinda and the answere shâ—e made him Also what Letters were directed by Amadis to diuerse great Princes Fol. 18. Chap. 5. Of the priuate talke which Oriana and Mabila had with Gandalin And what he gaue Amadis to vnderstand concerning them Fol. 24. Chap. 6. How newes was brought to King Lisuart of the Romaines foyle and ouerthrowe and how his daughter Oriana was taken from the whereath grieued greately Fol. 31. Chap. 7. Of a Letter sent by the Priâ—cesse Oriana beeing in the Enclosed Isle to the Queene her mother Fol. 34. Chap. 8. How King Lisuart called a Councell concerning what hee intended to doe against the Knights of the Enclosed Isle And what resolution was agreed vpon Fol. 39. Chap. 9. How Quedragant and Brian sayling on the Sea by a sudden and vnexpected tempest were cast so farre out of their course that hauing lost all knowledge of Land they met accidentally with Queen Briâ—lania And what happened to them Fol. 46. Chap. 10. Of the reporte deliuered by Quedragant and Brian to the Knights of the Enclosed Isle concerning their Embassie to King Liâ—uart And of that which thereupâ—… was resoluedly determined Fol. 51. Chap. 11. How Master Elisabet ariued in the countrie belonging to Grasinda and passed from thence to Constantinople to the Emperour according to the
your Kingdome for you doe very well know that Amadis and they of his line are good and valiant Knights admired for their power and not neglected by their friends Moreouer there is no man ignorant how falsely they haue beene accused to your Maiestie as the victorie which Angriote and Sarquiles enioyed so lately against the acâ—… hath deliuered sufficient testimony for had not right and truth supported their cause although they are good and approued Knights indeed yet could they not so easily haue gone cleere from the soones of Gandandell nor of Damas whereby sufficiently appeareth that the hand of heauen was powerfull in maintayning their iustification And therefore Sir were you so pleased as to forget your concerned displeasure gone out against them and make a repeale of them to your seruice in my poore opinion it would be for the best considering it hath neuer past with any honourable allowance that a King should warre with them whom hee may easily and with his no meane dignitie commaund to yeeld him both loue and seruice whereas in doing otherwise oft times it prooueth to the losse of his people extreame expences and weakening his authoritie a matter so daungerous as vpon such aduantage inciteth neighbouring Commanders to thirst in desire o nouell attempts to hurle off awe and subiection and to winne more libertie then they could formerly aime at And therefore a wise Prince if possible it may be should neuer giue occasion to his subiects to runne from that feare and reuerence which in duty they owe vnto him but rather ought to essay by all meanes that his gouernment may rellish of temperate discretion winning their hearts and willes rather by cordiall louc then the least sauour of vigour and tyrannie as a faithfull Shâ—â—pheard respecteth his flocke Wherefore Sir it is requisite to quench the fire already â—ndled before it get head to a full â—…ne of deuouring for often times â—fter an errour is perfectly knowen the remedy falls out to be too farre off Amadis is so humble minded and so much yours as if you but send to recall him you may quickly haue him and all they that follow him of whom you may dispose to be much better serued then euer you haue beene I know well replled the King that your aduise is verie good but they vrged mee with such a demaunde as lay not in my power to grant them hauing made promise thereof before to my daughter Leonora And I know withall that their strength is no way equall to mine wherefore forbeare to proceed herein with me any further but prepare you and the rest to keepe mee company for to morrow Cendill de Ganote shall goe to defie them all in the Enclosed Island You may doe as seemeth best to your Maiestie answered King Arban who perceiuing the Kings anger to be highly prouoked would contest with him no longer but without any shew of discontentment retired into his owne lodging But you must vnderstand that Gandandell and Brocadan perceiuing their Treason to be so apparrantly published by the death of their sonnes and waxing weary of liuing any longer among people of vertue and honestie caused the dead bodies to be had thence and afterward they and their adherents embarked themselues in a Shippe and sayling away arriued in a small Island where they finished the remainder of their wretched lines wherefore our History will make no more mention of them Let vs now returne to King Lisuart who after hee had a long while considered on the message sent him by Angriote and what speeches had beene vrged to him by King Arban summoned a great companie of his Knights together and began a heauie complaint vnto them concerning Amadis and his followers declaring the bold speeches and insolent tearmes which Angriote had sent him by Grumedan Wherefore my louing friends quoth he I pray yee to counsell me how I shall gouerne myselfe in this case For if I endure this iniurie it will redound no lesse to your dishonour then mine owne disaduantage considering that a Prince cannot bee wronged without great blame to the Subiects if they suffer it and vse no defence against it Hereupon warre was concluded against Amadis and his allies and instantly he called Condill de Ganote saying thus vnto him Goe to the Enclosed Island where you shall finde Amadis and tell him that hence forward neither he nor any of his frieÌ„ds may attempt the boldnesse vpon any occasion whatsoeuer to enter my Countries for if any of them may be taken there I shall in such sort bestow them as they will hardly escape agine with ease Furthermore make this addition that I doe defie them and let them rest assuredly perswaded that I will be their vtter destruction both in body and goods wheresoeuer I can meete with them And because they make vaunt of ayding Galuanes against me I am determined to goe in person and will take possession of the Isle Mongaza whether if they dare persume to come I will cause them to be surprized and hanged In this manner departed Cendill de Ganote and the same day the King dislodged to soiourne in the Citie of Gracedonia and there also to assemble his Army whereof Oriana was most ioyfull knowing the time of her de speake whatsoeuer them pleased Sir replyed Gandales here is Sadamon who hath charge from all the Knights now abiding in the Enclosed Island to acquaint you with their ioynt deliberation As concerning my selfe I am sent particularly to you as I shall make knowen to you from my Lord Amadis if it may please you to let me haue a sight of your Queene as one that desireth to doe her most humble seruice and to your selfe mine honor reserued Beleeue me Gandales my good frâ—end answered the King I am not offended that you should take part with Amadis for I am perswaded that you account him as your owne sonne And whereas you desire to see the Queen I am well pleased therewith onely for your loues sake hauing so kindly entreated her daughter Oriana during the time shee â—oâ—ourned in Scotland In the meane while seeing Sadamon is the principall Ambassador in the businesse for which you are both sent hither he hath permission to speake his pleasure Then Sadamon aduanced himselfe and with a manly countenance began his speech declaring first to the King the wrong that he had done to Gaâ—â—anes and Madasima and generally to the kinred and friends of Amadis From whom quoth he King Lisuâ—rt I bring thee defiance and here pronounce that they are and will be thy deadly enemies so long as thou pretendest any â—…ght to the Islâ—… Mongaza which with shame constrâ—iâ—â—dly you enâ—oy Afterward particularly he deliuered all the rest not omitting the â—â—ast particle of his charge What replyed the King doâ— they thinke to feare mee with 〈◊〉 No no they shall not enâ—oy a â—â—te of their demaund much 〈◊〉 any peace with me And the better to manifest their folly I am well contâ—â—ted not to weare
because I receiued Letters some few dayes since from him whereby he gaue me to vnderstand that neither he nor Florestan would stirre out of Gaule vntill they heard some newes from me I cannot chuse then replyed the King but maruaile of whence and what they are I know not quoth Galaor but whatsoeuer they are heauen shreld them from any il successe for neuer in my life did I looke on more braue and worthie Knights or men that could doe more for you then this day they haue done So spent they out the rest of the day in no other discourse almost but onely concerning the knights of the Serpents And raising their Campe on the morrow they went to Gandale where the Queene and Ladies awayted the Kings comming there also hee brake vp his Atmy discharging euery man to his owne home CHAP. VI. How the three Knights of the Serpents returning homeward into Gaule were by contrary fortune cast on the place where Archalaus the Enchanter dwelt who resolued on their death and what afterward befell them THree whole dayes together King Perion his two Sonnes kept theÌ„selues closely hidden in the Forrest as well for ease and refreshing after so great toyle as in expectation of a conuenient winde for shipping which on the fourth day fortunatly happened so they set sayle with a purposed intent for returning home into Gaule But it fell out farre otherwise with them for hardly had they attained into the maine Sea but it began to swel and rise in such dreadfull manner being stirde and enraged with contrary windes as if Heauen and earth had contended together and the Ship was so hurried by impetuositie of the waues that notwithstanding all the paines and endeauours of the Mariners they were constrained and driuen backe againe towardes the coast of Great Brittaine to land farre enough from the place where they tooke shipping There the three knights went on shore and mounting on their horses without any Squire to attend them they would needs seek after some aduenture vntill the Sea should be better setled hauing left expresse command with their men not to depart thence till their returne They had not ridden any great length of ground but descending downe a Rocke to a goodly plaine they â—…et with a Lady attended by threâ— Squires and two Damosels each carrying a Falcon on their fist as if they intended an hourely flight The Lady beholding them made way with her Palfray towards them deliuering mostâ— gracious gesture for their happy meeting and vsing ceremony of kinde salutation gaue them to vnderstand by apparant signes that she was bereft of speech and dumbe Most louely and faire she appeared to the knights which moued them to compassionat greatly her hard fortune and she going to him that had the golden Helmet making signes of embraces and offers to kisse his hand gaue outward notice both to him and the rest of request to haue them accept alodging in her castel which was at hand And lest the knights should mistake her meaning she made the like signs to her Squires who fully acquainted them with her desire entreeting them at their Ladies motion to accept of one nights entertainment in her Castell The knights being somewhat crazie and wearied with the rough tempest endured on the Sea imagined that her will accorded with their words and that no treason lay hid vnder this honest out-side yeelded to hers and their request riding softly on with her and entring into a pleasant seated Castel where they were most graciously entertained and conducted to a very goodly Chamber and there they vnarmed themselues When they were set downe at the Table for Supper diuers Damosels came each of them hauing an instrument and began to play most melodiously passing the time away in these pleasing recreations vntill the houre for rest drew neere Then withdrew the Musicians and the thred knights being left all alone layed â—hrm downe in one bedde together where soone after they fell asleepe as men that had some neede of repose Heere yee are to obserue that the Bed wherein the knights lay was fixed vpon a vice or screw to bee let downe and mounted againe without any noyse at all into a dungeon of twenty fathome deepe and there the knights found themselues in the morning at their awaking whereat they were not a little amazed perceiuing themselues to bee betrayed for they could not discerne any light at all nor deuise how they should bee transported thither At length they arose to finde either some window for aire or doore for passage to get forth but all was in vaine no likelyhood appeared anywhere of opening or that might yeeld them the smallest comfort But continuing on in this doubtfull maze they could heare the steppes and treadings of people ouer their heads and about seauen or eight houres after they saw a window opened vp aloft and a knight but meanely aged putting thorow his head demaunding very vnmanerly what new-come guests came so willingly to looke for good entertainment there By my faith lustie Roisters quoth hee since I haue gotten hold of yee I shall bee soundly reuenged of the wrongs ye haue done me but that your liues is not any part of sufficient payment I am not now to â—…arn that you are they which caused the ouerthrow of Aranigne and his Army maintaining the quarrell of that wicked Lisuart and let me now tell ye that you are in the power of Archalaus who will soone enough make knowne what loue hee beares yee Looke well vpon mee and if you neuer saw mee before this instant take good notice of me now to know me againe if you can scape from me Oh how glad a man should I bee if that villaine Amadis de Gaule were one among yee By my soule I would not sleepe till I had cut off both his nose and hands and put him to the most cruel death that euer was deuised Presently came the Lady who the day before counterfeited her selfe to be dumbe and said Vncle yonder youngest man pointing to Amadis is the knight that wore the golden Helmet who you said had so brauely behaued himselfe in Armes This Lady we now speake of was the daughter to Ardan Canile naming her selfe Dâ—…raa the most malicious and subtile woman that those times affoorded and had not come into these parts but only to take Amadis and procure his death which was the principall reason why she dissembled her selfe to be dumbe No sooner had she vttered these words but Archalaus went frem the window and shutting it againe in most churlish manner said to the knights Be as merry as yee may for before night I wil haue your heads cut off and then I le send them to king Aranigne in satisfaction of the iniuries hee receiued by your meanes Much more amazed now then euer was King Perion and his sonnes to see themselues thus in the power of Archalaus and perceiuing so palpably that vnder the counterfaited shew of dumbnes the
the ruin of so beautifull a place without any meanes in me to helpe it As they rode on the way at the entrance of a neere neighbouring Forrest they espied two knights refreshing themselues by the brim of a goodly Spring or Fountaine who seeing the Litter attended by fiue knights and two Damosels they imagined that some wounded body was therin where upon they made toward it to be resolued which when Archalaus perceiued he said Go bid yonder high-way spies come to me and if they make any deniall hew them in pieces but be carefull that you doe not tel them who I am lest they flye away with feare Heere you must note that these two thus sent for by Archalaus were Galaor and his companion Norandel to whoÌ„â—hen the other knights came fiercely they commaunded them to lay downe their Armes and come speake with him that was in the Litter What saucie Sir is hee said Galaor that would haue vs disarme our selues and then come to him You shall know no more then you doe replyed one of the other knights but if yee vse any longer contesting we wil make ye come to him with cudgelling I would laugh at tha tsaid Norandel I am sure you meane not as you say That shal appeare quoth they and so ranne against them but Galaor and Norandel vnhorsed the first two they met withall albeit they all fiue gaue the encounter together and yet could not stirre them in their saddles The fight grew fell and fierce betweene them but the knights belonging to Archalaus were not able to endure the blowes of the other two who tooke such order with them that three of them were slaine out tight and the other fled into the wood to saue themselues whom they resused to follow lest he in the Litter should get away from them in the meane while To the Litter they came found Archalaus left all alone because they that kept him company had quite forsaken him vpon the soile flight of the siue knights only there was a Boy remaining who guided the horses of the Litter Archalaus was not a little amazed to see him-selfe in the power of strangers who might well be reuenged on him for the outrage done them neuerthelesse be thinking himselfe on a sudden subtile shift he saluted them in very humble manner But they being iustly moued with choller comming neere and offering to strike him said Treacherous thiefe is this thy maner of behauiour to knights errant seeking their death that neuer offended theeâ— I sweare by heauen this is the last outrage thou shalt doe to any man liuing Galaor hauing spoken these words lifted vp his arme to smite him but Archalaus in great feare cryed out Alas my Lords for Gods sake mercy Mercy quoth Galaor If Grumedan iudge thee worthy of mercy thou mayest perhaps haue it otherwise not for to him shalt thou goe and by him shall thy vill any be sentenced Worthy Lords answered Archalaus you cannot doe me a greater pleasure then bring mee to my Cousin Grumedan who knowes me to bee another manner of man then you imagine me It is not vnknowne to him that at all times I haue laboured serued and honored Knights errant such as I now perceiue you are When Galaor and Norandel heard him speake so honestly and named Grumedan to be his kinseman they were halfe offended with themselus that they had giuen him such rough language and answered him thus What moued you then to send vs such an iniurious command by your men In good faith my Lords quoth he if you please but to heare me I will acquaint you with the whole truth Know then that as I not long since crossing the For est of the Black Lake I met with a Damosell who made complaint vnto me of a great wrong done her by a knight which my duty and order binding me to repairâ—e I pursued him according to her direction and entring the Combate with him before the Count of Ganceste soyled him But it chanced afterward as I returned hometo my Castell that villaine Traytour which first of all you slew accoÌ„panied with two other knights who lay closely ambushed to entrap me watching their fittest oportunity did all set vpon me and would forcibly compell me to make them Lords and Commanders of mine owne dwelling What shall I more say to ye They followed mee with such violence as notwithstanding all I could doe in my best defence they tooke me and sed me prisoner to a Fortresse not farre hence where they long time detayned mee in the most iniurious manner could be deuised not permitting so much as the dressing of such wounds as I had receiued in fight against them and are heere apparant to your view With these words hee shewed them diuers skarres and hurts And because quoth he they stood in feare lest I should escape froÌ„ them and go to the Court of good King Lisuart there to require ayde and instice of the gentle knight Amadis de Gaule or of his noble Brother Galaor by the suitherance of my Cousin Don Grumedan this very day they had me along with them in this Litter because I was not able to endure trauaile on horse-back purposing to carry me God knowes whether doubting the friendship and helpe of my honourable kinsmen that laboured to release mee out of their thraldome some few dayes since In which respect they no sooner espied you but thinking you to lye in waite for the same occasion they made no conscience in abusing you as they had done mee in most rigorous maner Worthy Sir replied Galaor on the faith of a knight by this discours of yours they were truely villaines For you being kinsman to one of the best-deseruing men in the world your wrongs haue bin too great and vnsufferable But let me entreat you to tell vs your name and to pardon the iniurie wee haue likewise done ye being ignorant of whence and what you were I am named quoth Archalaus Branfiles and know not whether you haue heard of me heere to fore or no. Yes that I haue and vnderstand your merit among the very best answered Galaor in doing all honorable courtesies to knights errant at what time soeuer you can compasse the meanes as Don Grumedan himselfe hath many times told me I am glad of it quoth Archalaus and seeing you haue receiued knowledge of me let me in kindnesse obtaine so much fauour at your hands as to take off your Helmets and to tell me your names that I may returne thankes to my Cousin Grumedan for your extraordinary curtesie This knight saide Galaor my deare friend and companion is called Norandel and he is Sonne to King Lisuart And I am Galaor brother to Amadis de Gaule Happy man that I am answered Archalaus dissemblingly lifting vp his eyes to heauen could any greater felicity befall me then to bee thus relieued with two of the best knights in the world This conference he continued the longer taking good note and obseruation of
this tract it will guide yee thither for I must needs after my fellow to the Fountaine where wee must dresse the venison which wee haue gotten this morning Then the King left him and ascending vp the Rocke espied on the height thereof the poore dwelling of Nascian so enuironed with great bushes as well witnessed the wonderfull solitude of the good Hermite Alighting from his horse he entred into the first room where hee found the holy man vpon his knees clothed in a religious habit and reading in a Booke of deuotion which hee gaue not ouer at his arriuall but hauing finished his prayers hee arose demaunding of the King what he sought for Father quoth he not long since as I crossed the Forrest I met with a goodly childe leading a Lyonnesse in a leashe I pray ye for courtesies sake to tell me what he is for at the very first sight of him my minde gaue me that he is issued from some good place While the King continued on this speech the Hermite so heedfully obserued him that hee knew him as being the man to whom he had done many seruices during the time that he followed Armes In regard whereof falling down humbly vpon his knees hee craued pardon for his error in not giuing him such entertainment as beseemed so great a Maiestie But the King raysing him vp tooke him by the hand saying Good Father will you not resolue me concerning the young childe which I mentioned to ye Assure your selfe vpon my faith that the knowledge you may giue me of him cannot but redound to his great benefit Sir answered the Hermite our Lord hath hitherto shewen great signes of loue to that childe and seeing hee hath so carefully kept him as I shall relate vnto ye it stands with good reason that you as a King should loue defend him in such sort as no harme or displeasure should bee offered him You haue as appeareth by your speeches an carnest desire to know what he is In trueth Sir during the time that I haue nourished him he may be tearmed mine albeit it is not yet fully sixe yeares since I tooke him from the teeth of a Lyonnesse that was carrying him to her whelpes Wherein our Lord apparantly declared that hee is the preseruer of all his creatures because the beast neuer did him harme but onely suckled it among her yong ones so that by the milke of her and of a little Ewe which then I had I compassed the meanes of fostring him for more then a moneth In expectation still of mine owne Sister Mother to the other yong Lad that keepes him companie who afterward comming to me she became so good a Nurse and Gouernesse to him that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it I am perswaded he is one of the goodliest creatures this day liuing And one thing more strange then all the rest I am to tell yee vnderstand Sir that as I was about to baptize him my Sister hauing taken off very rich clothes wherein he was swadled shee shewed me a letter vnder his right pappe as white as snow contayning the word Esplandian and on the other side directly against his heart were other carracters as redde as blood which I could neuer vnderstand because they are neither Latine nor of our language Now in regard of that name which at his birth it seemes he brought with him into the world I haue euer-more since caused him to be called Esplandian accordingly In good faith Father saide the King you haue tolde me wonders but seeing you found him in such fort as you say it is to be presupposed verily that he was borne not far off from this Countrie That know not I answered Nascian neither couet I to vnderstand more then what our Lord hath permitted Well then quoth the King to morrow good Father I pray you meete me at the Fountaine of the seauen Beeches where I shall be with my Queene and a goodly company of Ladies Bring Esplandian the Lyonnesse and your young Nephew with you to whom I intend some good for his Father Sergils sake whom I somtime knew to be a good knight Sir replyed the holy man I am bound to doe what you haue enioyned mee and desire of God that all may be to his honour and glory The King giuing him the good morrow rode thence and arriued at his Tents about midday Now because none there knew what was become of him each man was diligent in enquiry after him and although his most intimate familiars desired to know where hee had bin yet would he reueale nothing but commaunded to couer for dinner As he was ready to sit downe at the Table Grumedan came to tell him that the Queene entreated him to see her Tent before dinner about some nouell occurrences lately happening Whereupon hee went thence to her and being alone by themselues shee told him that as they came ryding from the Citty a very beautifull Damosell mounted vpon a light ambling Hobbie and conducted onely by a Dwarfe presented her selfe before her And she being very sumptuous in her apparell rode by all my Ladies and women â—quoth the Queene not vouchsafing one word to them vntil such time as she came before mee when she gaue me this Letter telling me that you and I must reade it this day before dinner because thereby wee should bee acquainted with admirable matters And no sooner had shee spoken that word but she rode away from me so fast as her horse could gallop without permitting me the least leysure of any answere So she gaue the King the Letter sealed with an Emerauld chased in golde with these words engrauen about it This is the Seale of Vrganda the vnknowne Then opening the Letter the King read the contents following The Letter of Vrganda the vnknowne to the mightie King Lisuart MOst high and powerfull Prince Vrganda the vnknowne who loues and desires to doe you any seruice doth aduise and councell you to your great benefit that at such time as a Gentleman nourishea by three diuers Nurses shall appeare before your Maiestie you would embrace entertaine loue and dearely respect him for he is the cause of your quiet by deliuering you from the greatest danger wherein euer you were He is deriued from blood royall on both sides and partaketh somewhat in the natures of those creatures that gaue him sucke By the first of them he shall be so strong and magnanimous as hee will darken all the valour of the very best Knights that haue gone before being neuerthelesse so milde and gentle that hee will be loued and esteemed of all men occasioned by the nourishment receiued from his second Nurse As for the third beleeue it Sir that neuer was Gentleman of better spirit more Catholique and compleate in all good conditions so that he shall addict himself to actions pleasing to God auoyding all vaine affaires wherein the most of other Knights doe commonly spend their time And that which exceedeth all the
when he offers to speake he may well be laught at for his foolish babbling Indeed Sir quoth the Emperour I onely am the cause of all this contending and therefore we must needs make an end together The amends said our knight is too much made already my Lord prouided that I may remaine in your good conceit and that you will remember me hereafter Let me tell ye Sir answered the Emperor that heereof you cannot fail nor in any satisfaction that I can make ye although you should stand obstinat against the permissioÌ„ Now albeit the Emperour spake these words in iest yet followed a time that they fell out to good earnest as you will finde more at large in the fourth Booke following Sir knight said Leonorina I know that I haue done you wrong and seeing it is not in my power at this present to make you a sufficient amends I beseech you to accept this Ring euen with as good a heart as I was desirous to know of you all that I demaunded Taking it from off her finger he stepped forward to giue it him but in steed of the Iewell he tooke her by the hand saying Madame this white and delicate hand is more worthy to be kissed then any other that I haue seene within this yeares compasse and the Ring may well repute it selfe happy to be circled with so high an honor therfore pardon me I pray ye and suffer me to kisse it All this Sir quoth she cannot hinder the Ring to bee yours so she presented it to him again whereof he durst make no refusall but in setting one knee to the ground took it sweetly kissed her hand Assure your selfe Sir said she that you haue so excellent a stone as I esteeme it to bee the onely one of that kinde albeit I haue the very like in the Crowne which you gaue me backe againe which two stones indeed should be but one So help me God replied our knight it is not to be admired that a thing so rare should bee in the power of the worlds choycest Lady for like as such a precious Iewell is not easily come by as hardly I think can all the East yeeld another to go beyond you either in wisdome knowledge and all good graces else therefore this Iewell is only fit for you before any other With that the Emperor stept in saying Let me tell ye Sir when you know from whence it came you wil make much greater estimation of it if you obserue the excellency of the Ring you will find it worthy of right good keeping For it is of an Emerauld as faire as possible can be and the rest is a Rubie of two colours by nature the one red as blood the other white as snow Then know Sir that Apolidon my Grand-father whose renown hath long time circled the whole earth though I know not whether as yet it came to your ears holding the place that now I doe among many other singular things giuen him by Filipane King of India he sent him twelue Crownes the very richest that could be seene And although they were of inestimable value yet there was one to be prized aboue all the rest and that is it which my daughter presented you first wherin the stone being whole was then enchased But Apolidon finding it to be so strange caused it to be cut in twain leauing one of the parts in the Crowne which he gaue to his Queen wife Grimenesa whoÌ„ he loued so dearely as more loyall louers were neuer heard of kept the other moitie for himselfe which hee wore so long as he liued in this Ring and which I pray you keepe for her sake that gaue it you with so good a heart And if at any time you haue occasion to part with it let it be to some one of your kinred to the end that if Fortune conduct him into these parts hee may know and serue the Lady that gaue it you if she stand in need thereof And so it came to passe after-ward for it fell into the power of Esplandian who for the loue of her some short while after performed many deedes of Chiualry as you shall vnderstand in the fift Booke Sir answered our knight I haue often heard speech of that Apoliaon who builded the Arche of loyall Louers in the Firme Iâ—â—and where I my self haue bin trauailing through the country of Great Brittaine there also I saw the figures of him and his faire Grimenesa with many other singularities which are there at this present Perhaps then quoth the Emperour you know the knight that conquered the Enchanted Palace whereof I heard so much report Sir said he I haue diuers times spoken with him and hee cals himselfe Amadis Sonne to King Perion of Gaule who is talked of in many places It is he that was found floting on the water whereupon hee was tearmed the Gentleman of the Sea In a plaine field of battell he vanquished Abies the most potent King of Ireland and there the King his father and his mother knew him to be their Sonne On my soule said the Emperour but that I am perswaded that so great a Lord would not vndertake so long a iourney I should thinke it were your selfe that you speake of and I should hardly bee altered otherwise Our knight made him no aunswere at all but changing into other conference at length they brake off and sixe whole dayes he remayned in Constantinople during which time neuer had man more honourable entertainment And because the time drew neere of his promised returne to Grasinda againe he purposed to take his leaue causing his Ship to be in a readinesse and finding the Emperour at conuenient leysure hee thus closed with him Sir you haue bestowed so much honour and respect vpon me as I can come in no place wheresoeuer but you may boldly say that I am your seruant ready to obey all your commaunds as often as you shall please to imploy me And because I intend shortly to bee in the marches of Romania according to a solemne promise made I most humbly beseech you to licence my departure Worthy Friend answeced the Emperour if it were possible that you could afford longer abiding heere you might doe me an infinite pleasure but seeing your promise hath so strictly engadged you God forbid that I should cause you or any other to falsifie your word Sir said our knight I dare assure you that my honour will bee highly wrongd in doing otherwise as it is well knowne to Master Elisabet therefore I entreat you to detaine mee no longer Well then quoth the Emperour I am contented prouided that without any contradiction you graunt mee three dayes longer stay Your will bee done Sir saide our knight seeing it is your pleasure to haue it so The saire Princesse Leonorina nor being present at this parlie shee sent for him into her chamber and being in the midst of her Ladies she said vnto him Sir you haue graunted the
out farre otherwise then they did betweene our Knights and you Gentlewoman quoth he your selfe doth sufficiently know that the fault proceeded from themselues in demaunding such a matter of me as I could no way yeeld to but with mine owne deepe dishonour But tell mee I pray you did the Queene your Mistresse abide there all this day in the same place where I left her Behold Sir quoth the Gentlewoman a Letter which shee hath sent you And kissing it 〈…〉 shee humbly presented it to his hand Now because as I hâ—â—e formerly told you credeâ—â—e was absolutely committed to her charge Florestan desiâ—ed her to declare â—â—r mâ—ssage My Lord quoth shee seeing you haue disabled the Knights that had the charge of her conduct and the way which she must pasâ—e by is not safe as shee is gâ—â—en to vnderstand the Queene my Mistresse doth earnestly desire you that you would be her guide to Mirefleure where she hopes to finde the Princesse Oriana with whom shee hath especiall occasion of conference Truely Gentlewoman answered Florestan I should be very sorry to deny so goodly a Lady as your Queene is in any thing she pleaseth to command of me and most humbly I thanke her for the high honour she doth me in chusing me to her conduct but now the day is so farre spent and the Sunne declining to his rest that I thinke it necessary to tarry till the breake of day and to morrow morning wee will be so earely with her as if we had rested there all night Doe said the Gentlewoman as seemes best to your selfe Then food was brought them to eate and they supt together deuising on diuers things vntill it was a fit houre for rest Now because beside the place where the old Hermite slept himselfe there was but another very small Cell Florestan left it to the Gentle-woman and went to repose himselfe vnder the Trees vntill the houre of dislodging thence Being armed he called for the Gentle-woman and so they took their way towards the Queen who continually exspected when they would come Being arriued at the Tents Florestan entred that belonging to Grumedan who met him with kind embraces not a little 〈◊〉 of his presence And after â—…rs speeches passed betweene them Grumedan saide vnto him My Lord Florestan me thinkes the Queene hath sustayned no losse finding so good a change of you for her owne Knights and thus much let me assure you that shee is one of the very wisest Princesses I haue euer seene highly deseruing to bee honoured and serued Vpon my faith Lord Grumedan answered Florestan I account my selfe happy if I may accomplish any thing liking to her So walking vp and downe within the Tent with a louing embrace Grumedan said Tell me Sir I pray you what haue you done with the Shields you caried hence yesterday Why Sir quoth hee I haue sent them all to your deare friend Galuanes who now is at the Enclosed Isle because he may there rank them according to their merite And if any other Knights of Rome desire to re-obtaine them as in reuenge of their fellowes shame they may there also compasse the meanes by triall how well they deserue at the Arch of loyall Louers In the speaking of these wordes the Queene Sardamira entred into Grumedans Tent which caused Florestan to be silent and meeting her with humble reuerence fell on his knee to kisse her hand But the Queene stayed him by the arme and raising him vp gently from the ground said that he was most heartily welcome Madame quoth he I haue all my life time bin a seruant to Ladies by a much stronger obligation then euer doe I now stand engadged to imploy my very vttermost paines for you whose merit reacheth beyond them all In good faith Sir replied the Queene I must needes thanke you for the great paines you haue taken and seeing you are so ready to make amends for the fault wherein my Knights haue offended reason requires that I should likewise pardon you for any error against me or my women Me thinkes Madame answered Florestan that I can feele no paine or trauaile by obeying you in regard that your admired beautie doth well deserue the conduct of a farre better Knight then I am But in affording me this honour you bind me to ye in more then I shal be able to satisfie Let vs breake off this talke said the Queene and tell me shall wee now set forward on our iourney When you please Madame answered Florestan First quoth Grumedan I hold it meere to conuey these wounded Knights to a Towne not farre hence where they may be well attended vntill they bee able to mount on horsebacke Let it bee so said she Then was a goodly white palfray brought her whereon being safely seated shee set onward with her Ladies and Gentlewomen being guided by Florestan and Grumedan who entertained the time with such good discourse as the way seemed neither long or tedious Heere I must tell yee that the Princesse Oriana had long before heard of the Queenes comming to Mirefleure onely to see her which grieued her very greatly knowing she would talke with her concerning the Emperour whose very name was hatefull to her But when she vnderstood withall that Grumedan and Florestan came in her company her sorrow was indifferently asswaged hoping to heare by them some tidings of Amadis And as shee was busied in these thoughts newes came that they were alighted at the gate wherevpon shepresently went to welcome them The Queen Sardamira going for-most made a low reuerence to the Princesse with a proffer of kissing her hand but she tooke her by the arme and ledde her into a goodly Haule expressely prepared for her entertainment There they sate downe each by other and the two Knights neere vnto them and as they were in talke together Oriana perceiuing the Queene Sardamira lend an attentiue eare to a priuate discourse betweene her and Grumedan softly spake thus to Florestan aside In good sadnesse Lord Florestan it is a very long time since wee saw you in this Countrie to my no litle discontentment as well in regard of the good-will I euer bare you as for the great losse many a poore soule hath sustayned who were wont to finde helpe by you your brother Amadis and many other of your followers But cursed be they that caused this so long separation and I beleeue that I speake it not but vpon vrgent occasion for I know a poore Damosell in daunger of disinheriting because shee hath no man to right the wrong offered her But if Amadis were heere once againe and so many more as are too farre off absent shee might well assure her selfe that that which is hers in iustice should not so easily be taken from her whereas by reason of their absence she hath now no better hope or comfort then onely in death Oriana continuing on these speeches teares issued abundantly from her faire eyes as fore-seeing her vnfortunate end if the King should
messengers to our kinred and friends to supply vs with their best succour when we shall require it Such was the answere of Quedragant and approued by all the Knights there present whereupon it was concluded that Amadis should send a messenger to his father King Perion of Gaule also Agraies into Scotland Brunco to the Marquesse his father and Quedragant to the Queene of Ireland of whom he should haue many able men if her husband King Cildadan brought no worse then he did to the ayde of King Lisuart This was made knowne to the Princesse Oriana and their finall deliberation for procurement of peace As thus they continued in these conferences some of them standing in the gazing windowes which had full view vpon the fields they espied comming from the coast that gaue entrance into the Isle a Knight all armed with fiue Squires attending on him who when hee drew neerer they knew him to be Briande Moniaste sonne to Lazadan King of Spaine of whose arriuall they were all right ioyfull for hee was an amiable bold and hardie Knight and as courteous as any whatsoeuer Hee espying so great a company there together vpon their comming foorth to meete him began to grow doubtfull that they had heard some euill tyding of Amadis for whose sake and search hee had expressely left the King his fathers Court But perceiuing that their intention was to salute him and seeing Amadis there among them he instantly alighted and running to embrace him said Trust me my Lord the quest I vndertooke to heare newes of you is sooner ended then I expected for I was giuen to vnderstand that you were so closely hid as it was a matter impossible to finde you but God be praised for it me thinkes I see you in very sound health Cousine quoth Amadis you are most kindely welcome hether assuring you that as Fortune hath released you from one toyle and trauaile so now she hath as readily fitted you with an other answerable both to to the time and place where your presence and imployment may much auaile vs as you hereafter shall heare more at large In the meane while I thinke it conuenient that you should be disarmed and then wee will tell you our mindes afterward So taking him by the hand hee conducted him to his lodging where as they were taking off his Armes seeing such store of Knights flocke more and more about him he sayd to Amadis My Lord I am verily perswaded that so faire an assembly of worthy and valiant men could neuer be thus met together but vpon some extreame vrgent cause therefore I pray you tell me what it is Hereupon Amadis amply related to him how and in what manner all things had past especially the churllish ingratitude which King Lisuart vsed not onely to the Knights that had done him infinite seruices but also to his owne children enforcing one of them through ouergreedie and great auarice to bee disinherited from her right and meerely against her will sent to Rome to be wife to the Emperour and that is Madame Oriana And this is the cause that so many of vs are here assembled together quoth Brian is the Princesse Oriana at Rome No replied Amadis we haue forcibly taken her from the Romans that had the charge of her conuoy And now at this present shee is here in this Pallace with all the Ladies and Gentlewomen that were in her companie Now shall we easily redeliuer thē except King Lisuart determine more respect of them then hitherto he hath done Afterward he told him what was resolued on by them all which Brian liked as well as they albeit hee conceiued that the iniuries of two such potent Princes by this defeature would not bee suddenly appeased Notwithstanding seeing that which was done could not be recalled he dissembled his cogitations and onely answered thus I know King Lisuart to be one of the most reuengefullest Princes this day liuing and very hard to endure an iniurie therefore you must quickly consider on some resistance if he shall offer to assaile you and I hold it more requisite to take order for all inconueniences which may ensue by his means then to consume time in friuolous words Of one thing I am highly glad that Madame Oriana and her women haue so happie a retirement and I would gladly see her if you please Let me tell you Sir answered Amadis my Cousine Agraies and my Brother Florestan are appointed to make her acquainted with our deliberation and you may goe along with them being well assured that it will be no meane ease to her to conferre with you on her misfortunes in priuate No time was delayed in going to her but before they would presume to enter her lodgings they sent her word that they came to her from the whole company Hereupon their entrance was admitted and she went to meete them especially Brian whom she had not seene in a long time and therefore as he did her reuerence she said vnto him Cousine you are come hither in a very good time to defend the libertie of a Lady who stands in great neede of such helpe as yours Madame said he I had not so long delayed my comming hither but that presently after the seuen Kings ouerthrow in Great Brittaine the King my father commanded my home returne to with-stand the warre which the people of Affrica made vpon him And scarsely was it ended but I vnderstood my Cousine Amadis was so farre distant from his friends through some conceiued griefe or displeasure as no tidings could be heard of him Wherefore fearing least he was lost for euer I resolued to enter vpon his quest both in the loue and reuerence I beare vnto him This was the occasion that drew mee from Spaine being fully perswaded that I should sooner haue notice of him here then in any other place else whatsooner And Fortune I thanke her hath guided mee hither where I haue met with apt occasion not onely to doe him seruice but also for you royall Princesse for which great kindnesse Oriana returned him infinite thankes But now before I passe on any further I thinke it very necessarie to tell you what was the principall motiue and reason why so many good Knights and worthy men should beare such honour and good will to this Princesse Asiure your selues it was not for any guifts or presents she had bestowed on them she being as yet voide of all meanes to that effect Much lesse for any fauour by Amadis borne to her the loue betweene them both being kept so secret as you haue heard at large in the precedent Bookes But indeed she was so humble wise and debonnaire that by her meere humility and courtesie shee knew how to steale the heartie affections of euery one A matter so apt and proper to heroyick persons and them deriued from great place as they haue no other powers or faculties but such as make them to bee more honoured praised and esteemed Consider then in what
persons of so great quality as they all are and the case so important In which respect the conflict happened betweene vs and the Romans according as thou sawest it wherein we tooke many prisoners and reâ—â—ued he Ladies from their hands But to mediate the matter with King Lisuart and my Cousin 〈…〉 shall speedily part hence with expresse order from vs all to worke by humble intercession that he would take in good part what wee haue done and receiue Madame Oriana with all her attendants into his fauour againe And yet wee stand resolued that if he will not accept our honest offer but proudely despise it to stand vpon our guarde against him our good friends and kinred backing vs among whom Gandalin thou maist assure him that we reckon him as the chiefest and therefore doe humbly entreate him to helpe vs in so reasonable a necessitie See also the Queene my mother and kisse her hand on my behalfe Pray her to send hither my sister Melicia to keepe companie with these other Ladies among whom she may learne many singular qualities But before thou goest hence know of my Cousine Mabila if shee will command thee any seruice thither and make some means to speak with the Princesse Oriana who will not shew her selfe so strange to thee but that thou maist perceiue the estate of her good health and how her affection continueth towards me If Amadis was thus seriously busied about the procuration of good ayde Agraies slept not on the otherside for he instantly sent Gandales into Scotland with expresse charge to the King his father in what need they stood of his assistance Already Landin was gon for Ireland by whom Quadragant entreated the Queene his Niece to send such a sufficient power as possibly she might And yet not to let King Cildadan her husband know thereof for it was against all reason that hee should meddle in the matter considering the couenants and alliances betweene him and King Lisuart Moreouer hee had command to prouide so many shippes for warre as he could and to bring them along with him Brunco de bonne Mer who dearely affected Melicia sister to Amadis wrote to the Marquesse his father and to Branfill his brother about the same busmesse and deliuering his Letters to his Squire Lasinde spake in this manner My honest friend Lasinde thou seest what a number of Knights are here assembled notwithstanding thou must conceiue that the greater part of this businesse coÌ„cerneth Amadis principally whom beside the vnfeigned loue I beare him I would gladly ayde to my vttermost power for his sister Meliciaes sake to whom I stand obliged in seruice and to none other For should I doe any otherwise I am well assured I should procure his great discontentment which were worse to me then any death And therefore thou must wisely perswade my father to giue vs his best succour shewing him discreetly that this matter is as important to me as to any other and yet not vse one word of Melicia Onely tell him my obligation and dutie to Amadis who hath honoured me with his company in so many places is the onely motiue that commands me And my brother Branfill shall hereby winne more honor then so to sleepe in the cinders of negligence as he doth My Lord answered Lasinde I hope so well to accomplish your command that my voyage shall haue effect equall to your desire And so taking leaue he went away Nor was Amadis vnmindfull concerning the offers made him by King Taffinor of Bohemia at such time as he vndertooke his cause in Combate against Garadan whom he slue and afterward foyled eleuen other Knights belonging to the Emperour Patin Hereupon consulting with his owne cogitatioÌ„s he determined to send thither Ysanis the ancient Gouernour of the Enclosed Isle a worthy wise Knight to request ayde of him And pursuing this purpose he called for the good old man to whom he said Ysanio knowing the fidelity remayning in you and your euer-readie good will to doe mee any seruice I would entreate you to vndertake a iourney for mee about a matter of great consequence not knowing any Gentleman beside your selfe more apt and answerable for the businesse I would haue you goe to King Taffinor of Bohemia to whom you shall beare Letters of credence from mee giuing him beside to vndestand our occasions and what trust wee repose in his assistance Hee is a Prince magnanimous and bountifull and I trust will not faile me hauing formerly made mee such liberall offers My Lord answered Ysanio I promise you I will doe my duetie Well then sayd Amadis to morrow morning you shall set on-ward but aboue all things Ysanioâ— my deare friend I pray you vse dilligence Then hee gaue him the Letter which spake thus The Letter from Amadis to Taffinor King of Bohemia SIR if euer I did any seruice worthie your liking and acceptance the honourable and kinde entertainement which I receiued of you and yours all the while I remained in your Court hath made me much more readie so long as I liue to make no spare of my person but alwaies to be in due preparation for your continuall obedience and seruice Wherefore I humbly entreat you not to imagine that the sending of this present messenger to you is in expectation of any recompence but rather remembring the honest offers you made mee at my departure from Bohemia it drew me on to so much boldnesse as by this meanes of sending to you earnestly to desire you to giue mee aide in abusinesse which nerely concerneth mee and wherewith this bearer will further acquaint you I beseech you Sir to credit him euen as my selfe and to command his dispatch with all possible speed to rid him out of all dread that is readie to sacrifice his life for you And that is Amadis de Gaule sirnamed in many places The Knight of the greene Sworde euermore by you and yours to be commanded CHAP. V. Of the priuate talke which Oriana and Mabila had with Gandalin and what he gaue Amadis to vnderstand concerning them AMbassadours being dispatched to all parts as you haue formerly heard Gandalin being readie to depart for Gaule came to the lodgings of the Princesse Oriana according as his Maister before had appointed him And because no man might enter without command and permission from the Princesse the gate being alwaies kept by one of the auncientest women he sent word to Mabila to know from her if she pleased to write to the Queene her Aunte or to her Cousine Melicia Mabila being acquainted by the Gentlewoman concerning the motion made by Gandalin went and told Oriana thereof so loude as euery one might heare her saying Madame Gandalin is going for Gaule towards King Perion may it please you commaund him any thing to the Queene or to my Cousin Yes mary will I answered Oriana cause him come in that I may speake with him Then Gandalin was addmitted into the Princesse Chamber when seeing him she
in the Enclosed Isle because we heard newes that hee was vtterly lost foure yeares agoe and now it amazeth mee not a little that he should be so suddenly found again and giue such succour to Madame Oriana Lord Grumedan answered Brian the King it may be will know in time both what we are and what seruices we haue done him And if he attempt any thing against vs hee will finde the issue to be more sharp and sower than the entrance was pleasing or delightsome As for Lord Amadis you sawe him not long since in this Court when hee conquered the Crowne from the Romans that maintained the beauty of the maides of Great Brittaine to bee more excellent than the Ladies that came with him Saint Mary said Grumedan what doe you tell me Is it possible that Amadis was the Greek Knight Beleeue it answered Brian it was he and none other By my soule said Grumedan I now well perceiue that I am a man of very poore iudgment seeing I might then haue wel assured my selfe that it was hard for any man to doe what he did I may doubt whether I haue eyes vnderstanding But faire Sir seeing you haue already done so much for me let mee further entreate you to tell mee who they were that lent assistance on my day of Combat Who answered Brian smiling why two of your very dearest friends Angriote d' Estrauaus and Brunco de bonne Mer. In good sadnesse quoth Grumedan if I had knowne them I should haue warranted my victorie more certaine than I did and am well content to confesse now that the honour of the day is more iustly due to them than to me and all my life time I am a friend and seruant to Amadis and to you likewise mine honour reserued As thus they rode on deuising together they met with Esplandian newly returned from hawking with Ambor sonne to Angriote d' Estra uaus carrying a Spar-hawke on his fist and comming somewhat neare them Brian de Moniaste demanded what he was This is answered Grumedan the young Gentleman Esplandian of whom the wise Vrganda hath spoken so many maruailes I haue heard of him sayd Brian heretofore I pray you cause him to stay a while that wee may the better beholde him Which Grumedan did for as hee was passing by them hee called to him saying Come hither Sir see heere the friends of the Greeke Knight who at your request pardoned the Emperours Knights at least wise send him some commendations from your selfe My Lord answered Esplandian I humbly entreate them to pardon me I knew them not but for my loue to that good Knight I would gladly haue the meanes to doe him any seruice and if they please to kisse his hand on my behalfe they shall binde me to them all my life time Faire Sir saide Brian that office shall be mine and I will doe it with a glad soule albeit hee hath changed his name since you last saw him for now hee is called Amadis de Gaule Amadis de Gaule answered Esplandian surely I cannot think it because I heard that he was dead whereat I conceiued no little grief for the renowned prowesse reported to be in him It is he doubtlesse said Quedragant Then Sir I dare assure you replied Esplandian I am not so forie for the losse of my hawke this day though I loued her dearely as I am ioyfull to heare what you haue tolde me because if I may liue to grow great I will begge so earnestly of the Queene that she shall not deny mee to goe see him and to receiue my Knight-hood from his hand if hee shall please so much to honor me Sweet youth said Brian God blesse and prosper you And so they tooke leaue each of other Brian and Quedragant following their way to the Enclosed Isle and Grumedan and Esplandian returning to the Court. CHAP. VIII How King Lisuart called a Councell concerning what hee intended to do against the Knights of the Enclosed Isle And what resolution was agreed vpon After that Quedragant Brian were departed from the Court King Lisuart found himselfe wonderfully discōtented seeing such weightie occasions to grow more and more vpon him he intended on the morrow to call a Councell only of Arban King of Norwales Grum den and Guillan le Pensit who being mette together the King beganne in this manner Honourable friends you know what iniurie I haue receiued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle and what shame I should do to my selfe in suffering them to passe vnpunished Neuerthelesse not to shunne the way which all Princes should take doing nothing without counsell and deliberation I would first bee aduised by you in what manner I should shape my reuenge that hereafter they may remain an example to such as dare enter into the like attempts against mee Full well you knowe how dangerous it is to vse delay in such actions and of what consequence my occasion is therefore I pray you let vs consider together on some redresse and euery man freely speake his minde Arban King of Norwales was the first that answered speaking thus Sir seeing you are resolued to make warre against Amadis and those of his league accounting it vnmeete to accept the offer made you by them it is expedient to consider that the managing of the matter may bee so ordered as the glory must remaine to you For although we holde it vndoubtedly that victorie consisteth in the hand of heauen onely God giuing it when where and how hee pleaseth and commonly agreeing with the iustice of the cause yet diligent prouidence is not to bee neglected in all such cases as are required before any enterprise be attempted or any contempt made of the enemie It is good to imagine that he may prooue able enough to finde you play sufficient if fortune looke fauourably on his cause considering that when men are too confident either of their owne right or trusting to their owne strength it procureth their ruine and totall destruction through ouer-bolde presumption albeit the victorie were their due Fauour me Sir to tell you that if you well consider with whom you haue to deale mee thinkes an aduantageable peace were more honourable for you than a hazardous and doubtfull warre falling out more strangely then can bee imagined You know Amadis and the rest by whom hee is backt and supported to bee all good Knights men of great spirit and all of them nearely alyed to Kings and potent Princes who will not faile them for any disaster or death it selfe You know also on the other side that the most part of your subjects neuer liked or thought well of the deliberation meerly made by your selfe for marrying your daughter to the Emperour the onely motiue and occasion of this warre And therefore you may be well assured that how soeuer they beare it with a smooth brow and rankerous spleen inwardly they can be easily contented that all should goe but badly on your side by not following their
to Sea On the other side Landin who was secretly sent by Quedragant into Ireland found meanes to speake with the Queen who hauing vnderstood the cause of his comming to her called some of her trustiest seruants and commanded them that in the closest manner they could deuise they should gather a power of men to goe to her Vncle in the Enclosed Isle And although shee bare but little loue to Amadis hauing alwaies in memory the death of King Abies her father yet much more did shee hate King Lisuart for the yearely tribute he compelled her husband King Cildadan to pay Wherefore shee resolued helpe the one in hope to confound the other But now our History speaketh no more concerning her but leads you to another matter touching King Lisuart who had sent Guillan le Fensif to the â—…rour and other messengers to other friends to bee supplied in his purposed warre CHAP. XIII How Guillan le Pensif ariued at the Emperours Court of Rome Philipinell in Suâ—tia and Brandoynas in Ireland GVillan le Pensif being dispatched from King Lisuart had such speedie sayling taruaile as in lesse than three weekes hee landed in the nearest port to Rome Then taking horse according to the custome of the Knights of Great Brittaine he rode on to the Emperour who was then accompanied with a great number of Princes and Lords purposely sommoned to Court for the entertainement of Madame Oriana whose ariuall hee expected euery day For the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell de Reque had written to him that King Lisuart had deliuered her to them and that they were continually vpon their parting towards him When the Emperour beheld Guillan he knew him immediately because he had seene him many times before and thinking hee brought him some newes of his long expected wish demanded where hee had left the Prince Saluste Quide and the rest of the traine Sir quoth hee King Lisuart my Master hath sent this Letter to you command that it may be read to you and then you shall be further satisfied in your demand then the Emperour tooke the Letter and although it contained some particular priuate credence yet he would needes haue it publiquely read and that hee in like manner should deliuer what hee had to say Sir said Guillan my Master King Lisuart greets you thus that in regarde of your perpetuall loue and alliance hee was well content according to the request made to him by your Ambassadours to giue you as wife Madame Oriana his eldest daughter principall heare And thereupon after many difficulties debated among the Princes Lords and Subiects of his Realme hee deliuered her to their hands who had power to receiue her on your behalfe but it came to passe that Lord Amadis de Gaule and diuerse others his complices well prouided with shipping lay as scouts in the way assayled them in their passage and after a long fight the Prince Saluste Quide was slame and most of the rest of your people led as prisoners to the Enclosed Isle where as yet they detaine Madame Oriana the Queen Sardamira and same others that were in their company Notwithstanding after-ward to make amends for the offence committed they sent Ambassadours to his Maiesty offring him diuerse good conditions which he would not accept before he vnderstood your minde because the iniury concerneth you as much or rather more than him Wherefore he commanded me to tell you that if you meane to reuenge this wrong hee will bring a good and sufficient Army into the field prouided that you for your part will doe the like And so your powers being ioyned together he and you shall easily drawe them to such reason as shall bee best liking to your selues When the Emperour had heard this neuer was man in greater choller and very apparantly he did declare it for like one improuident and vnfurnished of all foresight he began to sweare and euen enter into a meere lunacy saying to Guillan You know what is done returne to your Master and tell him I shall neuer enioy any rest vntill I be ioyned with him and with such a power as those Rake-hells of the Enclosed Isle shall well know how highly they haue offended me Sir answered Guillan you cannot come so soone as you shall finde the King my Master and his Army readie Haste home then answered the Emperour and make no longer tarying here Thus was Guillan constrained to get him gone without almost the leasure of receiuing any sustenance whereat hee was not a little offended especially for his slender entertainement and he made no long tarrying from Great Brittaine to make his complaint thereof to King Lisuart Beeing embarqued on the Sea he sayled directly to Vindilisore where hee landed not long after finding the King there expecting his ariuall to whom hee declared all that the Emperour had said and what small discretion hee bewrayed before so many Princes Lords And beleeue it Sir quoth he vndoubtedly that if they which come in his company haue as slender braines as hee neuer were seene men more vnmeet for warre nor worse gouerned then they will bee If they will be aduised by mee said the King I hope wee shall not be beaten for want of good guiding for they beeing mingled among vs we shall both help them and they vs. It shall suffice me that they be speedy in their comming because I haue this day receiued aduertisement that the Emperour of Constantinople and the Kings of Gaule Scotland Bohemia and Spaine doe enter Armes for the ayde of Amadis I heare also that King Aranigne with Archalaus and Barsinan do muster men from all parts but what their intent is I know not and therefore I holde it conuentent that wee should first bid our enemy battaile before hee win time to come vpon vs. Which wee may easily doe if they proceede not against the Romanes for Brandoynas is newly ariued from Ireland who assureth me that hee left King Cildadan mustring his forces and in forwardnesse to ioyne with vs. Philipinell likewise is comming home from Suetia and hath certified mee by his Letters that King Gasquilan will not faile to bee here within fifteene dayes with such a band of worthy Knights as are soundly setled in resolution As for the rest leauied heere at home in mine owne countries you may see all-ready more than fiue thousand trouping together in the next meddowe so that before a moneth be expired we shall be fully ready for marching hence But what of Galuanes said Guillan is he for you or no No answered the King hee hath entreated mee by Brandonynas that hee may at this time stand exempted Desiring rather to redeliuer vp the Isle of Mongoza into my hands then to go against Amadis and his Nephew And knowing that in other occasions hee may doe mee good seruice I am content to holde him excused So three weekes and more were passed ouer yet no newes heard either of the Emperour or of his Armie Whereat the King
would set before your eyes the great obligations wherein you are indebted to our Lord to the ende that you may henceforth encline your selfe to do such things as are best pleasing to him I make no doubt but am well assured you haue often heard how in the very first daies of your life you were forsaken of all friends and giuen ouer to the mercie of the Sea in a matter of small defence and without any other guarde but God by whose goodnesse you fell into their hands who afterwardes gaue you nourishment euen vntil you came to be a Knight and the most compleate knowne at this day For our Lord hath induâ—d you with strength to gaine the maistery of many Giants Monsters Tyrants and most cruell beasts whereby your renowne hath extended it selfe into all partes of the worlde Now seeing he hath enriched you with so many great graces mee thinkes it is no more then reason that you should acknowledge him for your soueraign Lord and labour in thankefulness to him by humbling your selfe before his face for otherwise all the fauours hee hath bestowen vpon you will turne but to your shame and disgrace Sonne you see how olde and decrepit I am nature almost decaied in mee Notwithstanding I haue not feared to vndertake so long a iourney to you because I heard euen in mine owne poore Hermitage the discord betweene you and King Lisuart with whom I haue lately spoken and found him to be such a man as a good Prince and minister of God ought to bee and ready if nothing keep you to the contrary to listen to peace which me thinkes you ought not to refuse as well for the quiet of your conscience as for the safety of your person And to the end that you may make no disguising of your affections let me assure you that I know more of your most intimate affaires then you imagine I doe for Madame Oriana vnder the seal of confession hath tolde mee a chiefe secret concerning you both When Amadis heard him speake so plainely hee knew well enough that he spake nothing but the truth wherefore hee thus answered Father if I could serue my God according to his graces and mercies bestowed on mee I might well esteeme my selfe the most happie Knight in the worlde But beeing a grieuous sinner as I am preferring too often mine owne pleasure before his glory I must needs faile as other men doe to my no little griefe Yet I hope knowing mine owne defects to behaue my selfe better then heretofore I haue done Humbly beseeching you good father not to feare or defer in telling me what you best thinke I ought to doe that may bee most acceptable to him for I will therein obey you to my vttermost power Ah my good sonne quoth he you do enough in taking this wholsome way whereby I hope to bee your guide not only for the tranquility of your countrie but also for the good of many soules Then he recounted to him how hee had trauelled to the Enclosed Isle where hee had conuersed with Oriana and by her consent was sent to King Lisuart and acquainted him with all hee had in charge especially the troth-plight marriage of them both the issue where-of was Esplandian And beleeue me childe quoth the Hermite the King hath heerein carried himselfe so vertuously and takes all in such good part that if you fall not off I hope to vnite a perpetuall alliance betweene you Now you may diuine whether Amadis heard these tydings gladly or no but I dare assure you they were so welcome to him as hee had no power to dissemble his inward ioy but presently returned this answere to the Hermite If it shall please the King to accept me as his sonne I promise you good father that hee shall finde me so tractable to him as I will be diligent in doing him any seruice There remaineth no more then replied the Hermite but that you both may speake together therefore aduise with your selfe both how and when it may most conueniently bee done Let me tell you answered Amadis I would haue you first go to King Perion my father and tell him the cause of your comming to me likewise your owne opinion that king Lisuart will now accept those offers which lastly were made to him in Great Brittaine on our behalfe by Quedragant and Brian de Moniaste concerning the Princesse Oriana if they might be once more tendered to him Say moreouer you are well assured that hee shall finde him reasonable and a Prince of peace euen as any other what-soeuer in the world And you may tell him that you haue spoken with me but I haue referred all to his disposition For the honour of God said the good olde man I pray you without any longer delaying to let me be brought where hee is Father replied Amadis my selfe therein will serue as a guide to you and for so good an occasion Vpon these tearmes they went instantly to King Perion who being aduertised of Nascians comming came to welcome him but beholding Esplandian with him he could not guesse who hee should be only hee appeared to be a very goodlie creature as any he had euer looked on in his life wherefore he demaunded of the Hermite whether he were his son or no Sir quoth hee hee is partly mine as beeing a foster father to him in his younger yeares and our Lord bestowed him on me almost miraculously It is very true answered the King if this be hee to whom the Lionesse gaue sucke at his beginning as I haue often heard and of whom Vrganda the Vnknowen hath foretolde many wounders and among the rest that he shal be the cause of planting peace and amity between King Lisuart and my sonne Amadis which I pray God induâ— him with grace to doe And beleeue mee seeing such faire fruit is to fal from his fortune hee well deserues to be both beloued and esteemed In truth answered the Hermite this is hee of whom you speake and when you haue further knowledge of him you will affect him more then you imagine as at better leasure I shal hereafter tell you Then hee called Esplandian and commanded him to doe reuerence to the King when the young Gentle man setting his knee to the ground would haue kissed the Kings hand but hee tooke him in his armes saying Gentle Sir you are so faire and vertuously quallified that such as see you or haue euer heard of you doth both loue and highly esteeme you And I am perswaded you will proue so worthie a man that Knighthood were very desertfully bestowed vpoÌ„ you Esplandian hearing himselfe so coÌ„mended began to grow somewhat bashfull thereat and perceiuing the King to blush likewise desired to know of the Hermite if he could tell whose sonne hee was Sir said Nascian to the King this young man as yet knoweth not any thing concerning his owne demand and as for my selfe I am very certaine that hee hath neither father or mother from whom as yet
Queenes chamber where being alone by themselues hee began in this maner Madame if you found your selfe much amazed when you heard the matters concerning your daughter and Amadis beleeue no lesse of me when I heard the first newes thereof And by that which I knew afterwarde both you and I were farre off from our reckonning For perswade your selfe it is no little disturbance to my minde that I could not know these things before the scandall was discouered and nothing euer touched mee so nearely especially the losse of so many worthie Knights who had now beene liuing and perished in these vnhappy wars which breeds in me such remorse of conscience as you or any other will hardly credit but matters already past are ouer-late to bee remedied Wherefore I purpose now that what yet remaineth to be done shall bee performed with our very vttermost honour Forgetting the offence of our daughter who made choyce of a husband at her owne pleasure yet one that well deserues her a better For I neuer saw any Knight errant that could winne himselfe so many friends or haue such a multitude of Kings Princes and potent Lords at his comande whereby it plainely appeareth that Fortune is diposed to preferre him before any other And because at my parting from Lubania I promised to bring you with mee to the Enclosed Isle there to consummate the mariage betweene her and him I pray you giue order for all things which you thinke requisite in such cases Also for the conduct thither of your daughter Leonora whom vpon his owne request I haue giuen as wife to the new Emperour Very ioyfull was the Queene to see the King so well disposed especially towardes her daughter Oriana which was the thing shee most desired In regard whereof and to maintaine him in this good minde she saide Sir it seemeth to mee that heauen hath beene very gracious to you and me bestowing such alliance on vs in fauour of whom their friends shall for euer hereafter be ours What else remaineth to bee done referre all to mee for all shall bee ordered to your contentment Hereupon earely the next morning shee sent for Arban King of Norwales Great maister of the Kings housholde to whom she gaue the charge of all CHAP. XXV How King Perion and his companie tooke their way towardes the Enclosed Isle And of that which they did before King Lisuart came thither to them AFter that they of Great Brittaine were gone from Lubania King Perion and his Armie marched backe to the Enclosed Isle where Oriana expected their comming newly aduertised by Gandalin what conclusion was made with king Lisuart So soone as they were there ariued they went to see her and Amadis presented the Emperour Arquisill to her whom she had neuer seene before saying Madame as yet you know not this Knight but he is in good hope to be nearer in kinred to you then you imagine By these words she plainely vnderstood that he was the Emperour wherefore raising her selfe shee went and did him reuerence as hee did the like to her with a very Princely grace said Madame I am so much beholding to Lord Amadis that both you and hee may dispose of me and whatsoeuer is in my power at your pleasure My Lord answered the Princesse I know what who you are wherefore I most humbly beseech you that hence forward you would reckon mee as one of your best sisters and kinde friends During this time Agraies Florestan Quedragant Brian gaue curteous salutaions to Queene Sardamira Grasinda and Olinda and Bruneo de bone Mer to his most dearely affected Melicia But Amadis obseruing Grasandor sonne to the King of Bohemia standing by the Infanta Mabila so rauished in soule with loue to her that accustomed feare in such affaires closed vp his mouth not daring to deliuer so much as on ewoâ—d caused him to call his Cosen and thus he rounded her in the eare Madame you know that Grasandor loues you more theÌ„ himself yet you appear ouermuch to neglect him I pray you speake to him for well I knowe that you beeing sicke of the same disease and many times in the like extreamity would euen gladly as hee finde ease in the like tormenting affliction therefore to your mercy I recommend him Shee knowing that Amadis was shot in the same place where this loue-sicke paine oppressed her euen as violently to another as shee to Grasandor began to blush in such strange manner as all present did apparantly perceiue it and ghest at the cause of her alteration Yet to couer it so well as shee could she made answere to Amadis that shee would obey his commande And he taking her by the hand weÌ„t with her to Grasandor presently saying See Sir heere is a Lady that findes fault with seeing you so melanchollie Let me intreate you my Lord to yeeld her some reason how and from whence your affliction ensueth and so hee left them together Grasandor finding opportunity to fauour him and that now he might freely vtter his minde to her between hope and feare kindnesse and constraint thus hee began Madame it seemes to mee that Lord Amadis findes the same passions in mee as him selfe suffered when loue allured him at the first to like Madame Oriana And to speake no more then truth when I thinke to impart my oppressions to you the three principall organes of my life are in most strange and vnusuall distemper namely mine eyes my heart and my tongue For so soone as mine eyes can but gaâ—…e a sight of you they incite speech onely to tell you the cause of my griefe but all in vaine Then my tongue hoping to supply that defect openeth my mouth but feare preuailing quickly closeth it vp againe If then my heart be in heauy martyrdome I leaue to your owne iudgement speaking as it doth by continuall fighing And finding it selfe vn-furnished of all helping meanes checks mine eyes for bringing home the first tydings of your bright beauty Then they in excusing their errour promise to performe the tongues office because it is dumbe in your presence and by outward appearance shewing it selfe pitifull would begge of you mercy and remedy While Grasandor continued these complaints Amadis not knowing how he should raise the siege the Emperor still talking with Oriana saw Queene Briolania enter the chamber whom hee going to kisse called the Emperour saying My Lord you haue not yet seen all the beauties in this goodly beauty as here Queene Briolania may testifie to you Before God quoth hee you say very true So leauing Oriana to salute the Queene she seemed so faire in his eye and her behauiour so gracious that hee vsed these wordes to her I am perswaded Madame that Apolidon in creating the singularities of this place left them in such rich perfection only for the honour of excelling Ladies For I can repute them no other then immortall and make men tractable to abide heere all their life time among such
the Ladies who held them in pleasing and familiar discourse vntill they came to the Pallace of Apolidon where King Lisuart and Queene Brisena were lodged Quedragant conducted King Cildadan to his lodging Amadis King Arban and Grâ—medan Guillan Galaor and Nâ—randell and Agraies his vnckle Galuanes all these were thus honourably attended Now was Esplandian iust equall in age with the yong king of Dacia and this very day grew in such friendly acquaintance with him as they made themselues vowed companions together neuer thence forward to sunder companie But more especially after they receiued the order of knight-hood and during their voyage to Constantinople where Esplandian became amorous of the faire Leonerina whose gracious companie hee enioyed by the meanes of his companion Talanque Sonne to Galaor and Manely le Sage Sonne to King Cildadan whom they begot on the two Nieces to Vrganda the Vnknowen in the time of their imprisonment As our historie more amplie relateth in the fift Booke wherefore at this time we will speake no more there-of but returne to our first purpose After the ariuall of king Lisuart in this manner the Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen being walking together in the garden of Apolidon viewing the rare and most artificiall pictures they heard without the pallace a wonderfull noyse and clamour of people and therefore sent immediatly to know the reason thereof Newes came to them for certaine that on the Sea there was a fire so dreadfull as neuer had the like beene seene before and it made directly towards the Port where-upon the knights sent for their horses mounting on them presently and the Ladies vp into the highest Turrets the better to behold this meruaile All of them did visiblie discerne on the Sea a flaming Rock so impetiously driuen by the winds and waues as if it were continually in danger of drowning And that which most augmented their feare was a sudden alteration of this fire into the shape of a most horrible and hiddeous serpent which in more then supernaturall manner extended forth his wings so farre as a very good Archer was not able to shoote If this gaue them iust cause of amazement that which followed did no lesse for it came directly towards them with his head so highly exalted as the head or scuttle of a Shippe-mast deliuering such thick black smoake out at his nosthrills as made the sight of it to be lost many times together then suddenly againe was it heard to hisse and make a noyse as neuer could the like diuelish terror be talked of the common people taking it to bee some diuine iudgement and a punishment sent from heauen for a notorious affliction vpon them all fled vp into the highest part of the Isle and the like did most part of the knights though much against their mindes because their Horses affrighted at the horrid sight of this monster beganne to snoare and fling about and foaming vpon the bits in their mouthes ranne vp into the mountaines their Masters being vnable to stay them Yet in the end such as preferred honour before losse of life got themselues dismounted returning back to the Sea shoare to make resistance against this monster if it should presume to come on land No sooner were they returned thither but they saw the Serpent aduance his wings as if hee meant to flie away and instantly from vnderneath them launched foorth a small Frigot couered with cloath of Gold hauing two dwarfes in it rowing with Oares conducting a very beautifull Damosell and two Esquires attending on her Suddenly King Lisuart called to mind how terribly Vrganda affrighted him when first shee came to him in the Cittie of Fenusa assuring them all that doubtlesse this was shee and none other Sir answered Amadis I beganne to imagine as much so soone as I discouered the Friggot although before I knew not what to thinke but was verily perswaded some Diuell was come to worke vs mischiefe Scarsely had hee concluded these words but Vrganda shewed her selfe to them all whereupon their former great feare was conuerted into as exceeding ioy and so much the rather because in her owne familiar shape shee came on Land which seldome before shee vsed to doe For at all other times when she would bee seene in any such assemblies shee came in the likenes of an aged woman or Beldame or as a childe a beast a bird or any similitude best pleasing to hir selfe Then King Lisuart Amadis went on to welcome her and so did the Emperour whom shee had neuer seene before Neuerthelesse shee shaped her course to him before any of the other and spoke to him in this manner Sir neuer in all my life time haue I beene in any place that was honoured with your royall presence till now yet notwithstanding I know you so well as I desire to doe any gratefull seruice to you and your Empresse as alwaies hath been my studious inclination and as your selues hereafter shall perceiue For by my meanes the first fruite proceeding from your generation shall be preserued from diuerse dangers wherefore I wish you to remember my words And although my abyding is farre from the limittes of your Empire yet can I when pleaseth mee be with you in Rome in lesse space then the compasse of a naturall day Lady said the Emperour farre be it from me to refuse your gracious kindenesse much lesse to misprise your happy remembrance Assuring you I holde this for the greatest good that can happen vnto mee and I hope that you will keepe promise with me I will not faile answered Vrganda Then looking about and seeing Amadis neare her kissing him she said Although my Lord you haue beene so highly fauoured by Fortune as to teach the height of your affectionate desires yet giue not too much credite to her wanton smyles For although you seeme to bee now aboue all stormie tempests beeing in the peacefull possession of your long loued Oriana whom you preferre before al things else whatsoeuer yet let me tell yee you will finde more serious businesse hereafter to bee performed then as yet you haue gone thorough Because blame will more nearely choake you by losse of the reputation wherein you now are then if you had neuer attained therto But as I haue beene alwayes yours in your passed fortunes so credit me I will continue in them that are to come Madame quoth hee considering the manifolde fauours I haue receiued from you and what true signes of loue you haue alwaies shewen me you may well perswade your self that while any breath remaineth in this body you haue intire power of commanding me and that my desires are apted to your obedience Concerning such trauailes as are destined and ordained to me you know my wonted patience to endure them and my vndoubted hope in you will enable mee with sufficient strength to withstand all encombrances beeing guided by your fauour and good counsell King Lisuart then came to her saying Madame if you be so pleased
let vs goe on to the Pallace of Apolidon where the Ladies doe attend your comming for they are already aduertised of your ariuall and there we may much better conferre together With all my heart quoth shee and calling the two young Squires forth of the Frigate placing the one on her right hand and the other on her left she went on with the King and troupe then calling Esplandian to her thus shee spake I promise you faire youth I haue had better remembrance of you then you can imagine And beholde I haue brought hither these two Gentlemen to keepe company with you because you will stand in much need of their helpe when you shall bee in the greatest heate of all your businesse Wherefore hence forwarde I pray you to affect them euen as deare as your sefe Then perceiuing the Ladies cōming to meet them shee gaue ouer talking to doe them reuerence and as shee kissed each after other comming to Oriana shee spake out so loude as all might heare her Beleeue me Madame neuer was I better pleased then being in such cōpanie for hardly can elsewhere be found such store of bright beauties enriched with all rarietie of choyce perfections Madame answered Queene Brisena no doubt but your words would be very true if all here were such as you speake of So taking her by the hand she conducted her into her chamber where the Knights left them that they might conuerse more priuately together CHAP. XXIX Of the conference which Amadis had with his Cosen Dragonis in giuing him the kingdome of the Profound Isle and the Princesse Estoilleta to wife whom he had loued a long time DRagonis was not with Amadis when he made partition of king Arauignes countries and them belonging to the other prisoners but followed a Damosell that guided him from the Monastarie of Lubania to fight with Angriffort Lord of the Deep Gulffe who kept her father in prison to compell him surrender vp a Castle belonging to him And the Combate was wonderfull between them for Angriffort was the most hardy and valiant Knight then liuing in all that countrie Notwithstanding Dragonis had the victory and made him promise to meete him at the Enclosed Isle within twentie daies next ensuing there to craue mercy of the Princesse Oriana This Dragonis that we speake of was young actiuely disposed and an excellent warriour as hee well declared in the Isle of Mongoza when King Lisuart came thither to assault Galuanes For the more part of his confederates beeing defeated and fled he kept a narrow passage with very few men and performed there such deedes of Chiualrie as hee became famous thereby all his life time after Now he could not come to Amadis so soone but at his returne from the Deepe Gulffe he went to Galuanes and being both together they receiued Letters from king Lisuart whereby Galuanes was requested to come beare him company according as formerly hee had made promise By this meanes Dragonis and he iourneyed thither together and so soon as they were come to the Enclosed Isle Amadis remembring what good seruices his Colen Drogonis had done for him in the late foughten battailes what wrong should be offered him if hee did not pertake in the like pleasures and contentments equall with his other companions being alone by them-selues together thus hee spake to him Cosen since such time as you left vs diuerse marriages haue been cōcluded on of the chiefest knights here present and those gracious Ladies whom they haue so long time intirely affected Moreouer by generall aduice and consent the countries belonging to king Arauigne Barsinan and our other prisoners haue beene diuided and you therein forgotten by reason of your absence Yet there is further consideration had of you as you shall presently vnderstand I haue beene lately aduertised by a Squire that since our parting for Lubania the King of the Profounde Island being grieuously wounded before died on the Sea some fewe dayes after sayling homeward from recouerie of his health In which respect his kingdome shall become yours and likewise you shall enioy in marriage the beautifull Estoilletta by you long time beloued meerely as due desert she being a faire wise and vertuous Princesse descended from Kings by eyther side and as deerely esteemed by Oriana as any that I know mee thinkes that for your own contētment no better satisfaction can be made you Then to enioy her whom you loue and esteeme as choysely as your selfe Dragonis being not a little pleased to heare Amadis speake in this manner knew not at the first what answere to make For he was once purposed to goe along with Brunco and Quedragant in conquest of those lands which Amadis had diuided to them and from thence to seeke after strange aduentures in Sardaignia then to ioyne with king Florestan and assistt him in his serious affaires Notwithstanding considering how Amadis affected him and what zealous care hee shewed on his behalfe he promised to obey him Whereupon the next day following hee and Estoilletta were affianced together in presence of all the Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen to generall ioy on euery side expecting the long lookt for day when these marriages should bee celebrated and accomplished The same night Amadis desired of King Lisuart the Dukedome of Bristoy for Guillan le Pensif who gladly granted it and the widdow to the deceased Duke also for whose sake he had so much suffered as thereby he got the name of Pensiue CHAP. XXX How the marriages of Amadis with Oriana and the other Princes and Ladies Were solemnly Celebrated in the Enclosed Isle Where the selfe same day Oriana made proofe of the Arch of loyall Louers and likewise of the Defended Chamber THe day being appoynted when the amorous knights should receiue from their Ladies the fruite of their longing expectation and that the mariages so long time delayed were come to the pointe of celebration the holy man Nascian prepared himselfe for that office and after the solemnity in such cases vsed a comming from Masse Amadis spake thus to King Lisuart My Lord most humbly I begge one boone of you which reasonably you cannot deny me Son and my best friend quoth hee I grant it with all my heart what soeuer it bee Then I entreate you sir said Amadis command Madam Oriana your daughter before wee sit downe to dinner to make proofe of the Arch of loyall Louers as also of the Defended Chamber Whereto she would not as yet by any means listen by all entreaties made vnto her Howbeit I haue such confidence in her loyaltie and likewise in her excelling beautie that shee will obtaine the honor of the place whereinto for more then a hundred yeares neyther Lady or Gentlewoman could bee so happy as to enter And hereof I doe so much the rather assure my selfe hauing often times seene the statue of Grimanesa which is portrayed in hir chiefe and most eminent perfection neuerthelesse I am verily perswaded shee neuer was
but if I meete with repulse others haue had the like fortune before mee Madame answered Amadis it appeares to me that defect of beauty should no way be your hinderance much lesse any want of good will so that if you like to beleeue mee you may passe them before any other who by this meanes may well be releeued by you and spare their labor in attempting entrance Grasinda imagining that Amadis spake as hee thought deferred no further but blessing herselfe with the signe of the crosse went on directly to the first degree which easily shee ascended But when she came to that of Marble she was repulsed backe so rudely that shee lay along vpon the ground vnable to mooue either hand or foote Which Quedragant beholding ran to her and lifted her vp gently in his armes not without much pittying her estate albeit hee was well assured that his infirmitie would turne to nothing Neuerthelesse such was his deare affection to her as hee most misdoubted her owne danger by conceit Agraies who all this while stood talking with Olinda spake thus vnto her Faire beautie though madam Grasinda hath had such ill successe yet you may reuenge her wrong therefore neuer feare but proceede on boldly So kissing her he tooke her by the hand and conducting her very neere to the steppe of copper she passed it as easily as Grasinda had done before her But as the one was beaten backe weening to get ouer the marble staire so the other found no better fortune but was suddenly surprised by the tresses of her hayre and throwne to the ground very disgracefully By meanes whereof Melicia aduanced her selfe and euen as if her heart and feete had flown together shee passed ouer the two formost staires whereby they which obserued it were verily perswaded that this aduenture was only dedicated to her and to none other Now beganne Oriana to grow very suspitious which lasted but a little while for very soone after she was worse repulsed then any of the former and so shaken that Bruneo thinking her verely to be dead began to greeue very extremely Notwithstanding they that were well acquainted with the sight of such accidents did nothing else but laugh knowing for a certaine that these feares were but signes of better assurance There remayned now no more of the foure Ladies to gaine by proofe the supremacy of beautie for entrance into the Enchanted Chamber but only Oriana And shee standing somewhat neere to Amadis smiling thus hee spoke to her Madam I know well enough that this honor is only due to you and many times I haue assured your of it therfore pursue you fortunate promise and stand in dread of no danger whatsoeuer At these words he left the Princesse and she proceeding unto the stayres passed them all without any difficultie but when shee drew neere to the doores entrance shee seemed to feele an infinite number of armes and handes which very strongly and mainely resisted her Neuerthelesse shee was not a iote discouraged but defended her selfe vertuously turning euery way to any resistance and in meere despight of any impeachment made free her passage yet much out of breath But when shee coulde no longer sustaine her selfe the hand which first fauoured Amadis as you haue already heard in the beginning of the second Booke drew her pleasantly in Then an infinite of humaine voyces were heard singing so loud as they were easilie vnderstood Blessed bee the ariuall of that only and excellent Lady none the like since Grimanesa and yet goeing beyond her in all beauties in regard whereof she is worthie of the most valiant Knight that euer bare armes this hundred yeares and more with whom she may here henceforward liâ—e at her owne pleasure according as best shall seeme to her selfe Instantly the chamber doore flew open and Oriana entred thereinto so highlie satisfied as the commaund of the whole world could not more content her Which when Ysanio the Gouernour of the Isle perceiued hee plainely published before them all This day is the consummation of the Enchantments which Apolidon left heere to perpetuate his memorie But seeing this Lady hath entered the Chambers all others may follow without any hindrance Hereupon all the rest as well Knights â—s Ladies and Gentle-women followed in after her and there beheld all the singularities which haue beene already related to you in the beginning of this fourth Booke about which they spent so long pleasing time as they quite forgot when they should goe to dinner But the master of the houshould came to king Perion and told him that their meate was neere spoyling Wherefore he tooke Oriana by the hand and led her into the great dining Hale where a royall Feast was ready for them there they sate downe at each Table according as the master of the Ceremonies called them by name and were serued with the most exquisite cheare that could bee possibly deuised No sooner were the tables with-drawne but they fell to dauncing and so spent out the day till they couered for supper which being ended masques and mummeries came in continuing so long among the Ladies till the Queenes of great Brittaine and Gaule withdrew the new married couples Amadis had prepared his lodging in the Defended Chamber where he meant to rest with his long loued Ortana the like preparation was made for the Empresse and the other brides In the meane while Amadis disroabed himselfe to meete with her in louely embracings whom hee had so long time desired and by infinite trauailes dearely deserued And being now alone by themselues no doubt but they made proofe of the greatest delights loue could affoord which feare had kept theÌ„ from long before And if they were well pleased wee must needes thinke no lesse of Brunco and Melicia and also of the other amorous combatants displaying now their colours in the face of Venus CHAP. XXXI How Vrganda the vnknowne reuealed before them all such matters as shee long time had foretold before they happened And how shee tooke her leaue of Amadis as also of all the other companie to returne whence she came AFter that the triumphs and feastings were ouerpast which continued for the space of eight dayes together Vrganda the Vnknowne desirous to returne home to her own dwelling desired the Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen to meet on the morrow following in the great hall of the Pallace to the end that before hir departure shee might imparte some matters to them which as yet they neuer vnderstood And for the apter way the next day following after dinner was ended and the tables taken away in the middest of the whole assembly shee called the two young Gentlemen or Squires which came with her in her Frigot and taking them by the hand directing her selfe to the company in generall thus she began Lords and faire Ladies I know long time agoe and without the aduise or helpe of any mortall man that this meeting should bee here in this place after the passed
light vpon Vnderstand then sir that hee is Sonne to the fierce Giant Mandaffabull the same man that Amadis when hee tearmed himselfe the Bright Obscure slew and on the very day when the king my Master and he of Great Brittaine fought a hundred against a hundred wherein perished many other Giants all neighbours to this countrie and kinsemen to Balan whom you now enquire for By the death of his father he became and yet remayneth Lord of the Red Island where hee maketh his aboade at this instant it being one of the most fertill Islands in all the Easterne Sea and of the greatest reuenues by meanes of the frequent resort of strange Marchants that land there at all times of whom hee exacts an infinite tribute Now sir you are to obserue beside that if his father was valiant and not meanely experienced in Armes His sonne exceedeth him in all things only crueltie excepted For looke how much the one was a Tyrant and most inhumane the other is so much the more mild peaceable and gracious so that it appeareth almost a miracle in nature to see men issued of one the same linage to be so different in their qualities In this point I must tell you a generall opinion that this faire demeanour became hereditarie to him only by vertue of his mother who was one of the most modest benigne and affable Ladies then to be seene farre differing herein from the other Giantesse wife to Famongomad and her owne sister shee beeing the most foule deformed sluttish and vnhansome creature that euer was seen of her kind Whereby may bee collected that two such contrarie complexions seldome haue power to agree together being deriued from such discordant nature Notwithstanding the reason hereof in my poore opinion may be thus rendred that vertue most commonly is a companion with beauty and comely feature but is a meer stranger to vgly deformity and base disposition Now Sir I am further to tell you that it is more then twenty yeares since I was appointed Gouernour of the Isle where you found me therefore I can speake to you the more vnderstandingly as a man most frequent in knowledge of any thing you can demand of me For since the yongest years of the King my maister I neuer went out of this Climate by reason of the faithfull trust reposed in me especially in those daies when the rich golden Sunne shone not so aboundantly on him as in later times it hath done For by his prowesse and other high deseruings he married the daughter to King Abies of Ireland who was slaine by Amadis when hee entitled himselfe by the name of the gentleman of the Sea or the like kinde of appellation Beleeue mee Sir saide Amadis you haue done me a great pleasure so well to acquaint mee with the conditions of Balan whom I could wish for mine owne benefit to be of another kinde of Character then you haue now described him to me For if hee had beene indued with such plenty of vices as you haue giuen him to mee in vertues hee cannot expect when time shall serue for our meeting any hope in his owne ability of strength And let mee tell you till this instant I neuer stood in feare of his vtter-most power albeit I cannot now well resolue what to thinke of my selfe in a case of such strange contrariety Neuerthelesse come what can more precious to mee is mine honour then my life And let mee further entreate you to tell mee if hee be married and whence he had his wife In good faith quoth the Knight neuer man had better fortune in marriage then he enioying one of the most virtuous Ladies that can be she being daughter to Gandalack Lord of the Rocke of Galtares by whom he hath a sonne aged as I imagine about fifteen yeares Very sorrie was Amadis when he vnderstoode for a certaintie what alliance was between Balan Gandalack whom he loued dearely for the nourishing which his brother Galaor had of him in the time of his infancie and he could wel haue wished that this combate might haue been against some other person although it should fall out more doubtfull and dangerous to him But if it were against his owne brother hee could not now denie it in regarde of his promise passed to Darioletta And so long they held on discourse that darke night ouer-tooke them yet they sayled on merrily still till somewhat â—arely the next morning they discouered the Island with the red Tower whereby the whole countrey had her name because in the midst thereof was a goodly Castle builded enuironed with great Towers and such walles as were of no meane maruell to be seen Then the Knight seeing Amadis take some delight in beholding theÌ„ said Sir this Castle which you see yonder was not built as this day noâ— more then an hundred since but as you now see it so doe ancient Histories speake of it that he who first founded it was named Ioseph sonne to that Ioseph of Aramathia who brought the Sangreal into Great Brittaine at such time as the whole land consisted of Paganes But by his meanes the most part of the people conuerted to the faith of Iesus Christ not without suffering many incursions of hostile enemies that dayly came in vpon them grieuously molested them from time to time To preuent this annoyance this Tower was thus erected in manner as you now beholde it but after-wards as all things haue their changes with the alteration of times if fell into the hands of Giants who tooke great paines to re-people the Isle with worshippers of Idols excluded all them that honoured the true God Neuerthelesse our Lord prouided so wel for them that in despite of their enemies they still continued heere though not in so great a number or enioying such libertie as formerly they had yet partly by paying great taxations and tributes and other of lesse ability by continuall seruitudes to the Giants vntill such time as Balan came to bee Lord thereof who as I haue alreadie tolde you is debonnaire vertuous and of Catholique religion whereby hee is very naturally beloued of all his subiects Now although the Knight declared all these good qualities and many more in the Giant to Amadis yet all were but as fuell to fire enflaming him so forwardly that hee entreated him to goe before and to let the Giant vnderstand that a Knight of the Enclosed Isle was come thither with a Ladie whose sonne he had slaine and kept her husband daughter seruants prisoners And if by combating with him and vanquishing him they might be deliuered hee reque sted security against all men but himselfe otherwise let him not aduenture to come neare the Port because the challenger held it as his refuge The Knight forthwith entred into a small Skiffe leauing Amadis and his company at the hauen in expectation of his returne So soon as he came near the Giant he knew him as one whoÌ„ he had many times seene
without any iniury or disgrace done vnto him And to morrow thou shalt better see the disposition of thy father and gouerne thy selfe thereto accordingly for I dare assure thee that hee is in no perill of life True it is that without my request first propounded for him and the Knights affection to Gandalacke thy grandfather as him-selfe assured me he had smitten off his head therfore follow my counsell and better will befall thee then thou art aware of I will doe so answered Brauor if my mother shall allow of your aduise Goe then said the Knight to know her minde and in the meane while let euery man withdraw himselfe Brauor commanded his people to depart and keepe themselues farre enough off from the Caue least they should any way offend Amadis in the time of his going to the castle Where comming to his mother he declared all that the knight had said to him and how for the loue of Gandalack hee that had vanquished his father refused to kill him When she heard what her sonne had saide she presently imagined that he was Galaor whom shee affected as her own brother because they had been nursed together at the Rock of Galtares Whereupon she wished her Sonne to follow the Knights aduise for his father began much to mend By this meanes Amadis remained in peace yet standing still vpon his guard least hee should againe bee aslaulted by them of the Castle who stood still as his besiedgers but a great distance off from him CHAP. XXXIIII How Darioletta perceiuing Amadis to bee in such danger made great â—oaâ—e and lamentation And how Balan and hee were made friends WHen Darioletta perceiued Amadis to be besieged on all sids without any meanes of ayd or succour she began to grieue and lament very earnestly and in her weeping vsed these words Wretched and vnfortunate woman that I am must the only best knight in the world lose his life and by mine occasion How dare I hereafter appeare in the presence of the King his Father the Queene or any other of his friends knowing what harm I haue procured to him Miserable woman and much more miserable then I am able to tearme my selfe If I was once the meanes of sauing his life by inuenting that strange kind of cradle wherein hee was committed to the rude Seas mercy how farre vnkinde and contrarie am I now to him in causing the end of his dayes when I most expected and hoped for helpe by him Alas how misguided were my sences from reason and vnderstanding at the time when I met him on the Sea shoare and would not suffer him so much as turne back to the Castle of Apoliaon to take his leaue of madam Oriana and from whence hee might haue brought some other Knights with him by whom in this extreamity he should haue beene well supported Who therfore deserues iustly to be punished but only my selfe hated and despised of all good luck and performing the part of a light headed and indescreete Woman trusting ouer much to mine owne rash opinion All this while did Amadis beholde Dariolettaes sadde complaynings and how often times shee heaued vp her hands to heauen as requiring comfort onely from thence yet could he not vnderstand any one word she spake but enioyed this benefit of seeing her by light of fire made by them that watched him and for their better wearing away the cloudie night which also gaue him some feeling of her wofull condition and so afflicted him in soule as hee resolued to die or get out of the rocky caue because the nights obscuritie woulde therein more auaile him then day light could doe or delaying time till the morning Beside coÌ„sidering the doubtfull issue of his present estate it appeared plainlie to him that hee could not escape thence without eyther death or taking being ouer wearied with weight of his Armes want of naturall rest and extreamitie of hunger all of these beeing no meane enemies to any hopefull expectation Only his best helpe in this necessity was that he saw his guardes begin to nodde and sleepe and therefore so softly as he could and by little and little hee offered to steale out of the Caue hoping so to compasse his peace Well was this obserued by the Knight of the Infanta Island who considering what danger he might fall into what speeches had past betweene Brauor and the Gyants wife all tending to his good and safetie ranne presently to him and stayed him euen against his will as it were saying Sir Knight I pray you to befrend me so much as but to heare me before you aduenture any farther whereat Amadis stood still to listen what he would say and the other declared to him how hee had conditioned a truce with Brauor vpon hope of the Giants recouerie who already appeared to be out of perill and told him beside what you haue formerly heard Amadis hereat was very ioyfull beleeuing him to be an honest and kinde man that would bring him so good news and that no dread of death could cause him to inuent them where-upon he thus answered Courteous Knight for this time I both credit and will follow your counsell swearing to you by mine order of knight-hood wherein already I haue spent ten yeares seruice that I had much rather be hewn in peeces then the Lady for whom I haue contended with Balan should not be fully satisfied in her demaunde Both you and shee replied the Knight shall haue all that you can desire For I know Balan to be such a man as makes more account of his worde then hee doth of his life During this time the Gyant lay on his bedde not able to vtter a worde but panted extraordinarily as one that endured a strange kinde of perplexitie in his stomack wherby his breath began greatly to faile him and still one while after another he shewed with his left hand and poynted to the place where hee was most payned Which his Chirurgeons perceiuing who durst not as yet take off his garments as fearing much to stirre him they aduentured to obserue the place whereto he signed and found by present apparance that hee had great reason so to doe for more then the palme of a hands breadth round vpon the stomacke the flesh and bones were quashed and meerly broken as it were whereupon they applyed immediatly so many oyles vnguents and other helpefull remedies that before breake of day speech came to him againe and hee demanded what was become of the Knight and the Ladie Then the truth of all was tolde him for none of them durst tell a lie in his hearing which made him to call for his sonne Brauor and all the rest that kept Amadis so sharpely besieged and beeing come before him he began in this manner to his sonne Infamous villaine durst thou presume to falsifie my worde in any thing that I had promised Slaue as thou art what honour or what aduantage could redound to thee by so base a deed as thou
the World with him from his mothers wombe and surely in mine opinion they are the very same Notwithstanding if you had not quickned my memorie I should neuer haue thought on it And therefore make no complaint of your Fortune if you faile in this enterprise because for ought I can perceiue you haue begot him that must carrie this honor from you Amadis musing to himselfe while suddenly starting said I am of your minde for so haue I gathered by the Table on the Image of Brasse Return we then back againe quoth Grasandor and leaue the rest to bee ended by him to whom the destenies haue made their promise So we must bee inforced to doe saide Amadis albeit I am somewhat offended that I may not carrie away his sword with mee By my faith replied Grasandor if you should offer to get it your hinderance may be more then you imagine and yet it may fal out not to proue so good a sword as your owne Moreouer when I consider how you obtained it neuer could any Knight attaine to a fairer fortune nor more beseeming a man than yours was then This hee spake in regard that Amadis wonne it by approouing himselfe to bee the most loyall and perfect louer that euer loued according as in the Second booke of this Historie hath been oftentimes declared vnto yee Hereupon they returned backe by the same way they came and passing againe among the Antiquities Amadis stayed there a while better to beholde them The more hee looked on them the more hee commended their rare perfections both in moldings friezes chapters lying among the ruines of those famous buildings And no way could hee turne his eye but he beheld many fractures of singular carued parsonages the very muscles obserued to the life and such perspectiue where occasion required it that in his opinion it relished more of some diuinitie then to be performed by the skill of man in workemanship As hee continued in these meditations a knight armed with a white Armour and holding his sworde ready drawen came to them courteously saluting them as they did the like to him Then he demanded of theÌ„ whether they were of the Enclosed Isle or no We are answered Grasandor but why doe you moue that question Because quoth the other I found a Batque beneath and men therein who tolde mee that two Knights belonging to the Pallace of Apolidon were ascended vp this Rocke but they concealed their names from mee as I did mine from them Nor desire I any thing else but peace and friend-shippe with them beeing casually come hither in pursuite of a knight who by trompery is escaped from mee with a Damosell forcibly carried away by him Friend said Grasandor in courtesie let me entreate you to take off your Helmet or to tell vs your name If you will swear to me replied the Knight whether you know my Lord Amadis or no and that you will doe the like to mee I am well contented otherwise you speake but in vaine By my faith quoth Grasandor we are two of the best friends hee hath and therefore you may well be knowen to vs. So the Knight disarmed his head saying You may now knowe mee well enough if you be such as you haue sworne your selues to mee Hardly had hee concluded his wordes but Amadis ran and caught him in his armes saying Brother Gandalin is it possible that fortune should cause vs to meet in this maner Much amazed was Gandalin to see himselfe thus embraced and by a man vnknowne to him and vnable to coniecture who he should be wherefore Grasandor suddenly said Why how now Gandalin Haue you forgotten your Lord Amadis Amadis answered Gandalin may it bee possible Then falling on his knee whether he would or no hee kissed his hand before Amadis could any way preuent him but then demanded of him how and by what meanes he came thither Beleeue me my Lords replied Gandalin your equalls in loyalty of affection would gladly know as much concerning you as you now demand of me you being as farre from them as this place is from their abyding Neuerthelesse to giue you content I will declare the whole truth vnto you Know then that being with Bruneo and others who are yet in conquering the countries of Arauigne Sansuegua returning from a cruell battayle which the Kings Nephew gaue vs at our entrance and wherein many worthy men lost their liues one day among other a Damosell belonging to the kingdom of Norway attired all in black came into the Tent of Agraies desiring him on her knees in no mean plenty of teares to giue her rescue in a wrong done vnto her Agraies causing her to rise and sit downe by him demanded the cause of her sad complaint and hee would redresse it so much as lay in him to doe Alas Sir quoth she you haue good reason to helpe mee because I am both a subiect and seruant to the King who is father to Madame Olinda your wife for whose sake and honour I desire you to assist mee with one of your Knights for recouery backe of my daughter whom the Lorde of the great Tower on the Sea shoare hath forcibly taken from mee being thereto onely emboldened because I would not giue him her in mariage And my reason is in regarde hee is neither so noble nor descended of so good a house as my husband was but rather is of base and seruile condition vsurping the place he possesseth vpon his neighbours whom he hath since expelled The father to my daughter was brother to Don 〈…〉 honour 〈…〉 of Great Brittaine 〈…〉 I at any meanes for the recoâ—… of her without you because notwithstanding all the earnest entreaties I haue vâ—ed to him the wicked man is so cruelly minded as hee doth dayly deny mee so that my dayes can haue no long continuance except by Armes he be compelled to restore her Damosell answered Agraies why doth not your King do you iustice as in right to him belongeth My Lord quoth she he is so ouerspent in yeares and decayed in bodie as hee is not able to gouerne himself or any other neither doth hee euer come forth of his bedde only through his extreamitie of age and sicknesse The man then you speaks of replyed Agraies is his abyding farre from hence No Sir quoth shee in lesse space then a day and a halfe the winde sitting conueniently wee may by Sea easily sayle thither Then I made tender of my seruice as willing to goe along with the Lady But my Lord Agraies would not consent thereto except I made him faithfull promise of returning backe againe to him after I should haue combated the Knight without attempting any further if with honour I might safely doe it My promise made to that effect and I sufficiently furnished I went aboard with the Damosell in a Barque which shee had purposely brought with her and the Sea was so calme and fauourable to vs that on the morrow about mid-day we
my selfe into his power prouided that he will bee so kinde vnto me as carry me back againe to the Ladie and there pleade my cause for mee that she will be pleased to suffer me enioy her daughters as my wife because now she hath made choise of me before any other Is that true quoth Amadis to the Damosell Yes sir said shee albeit heretofore hee detayned me against my will neuerthelesse obseruing the truth and integritie of his affection I am now fully minded to forget all former violences both pardoning and promising to accept him in marriage Beleeue me said Amadis I am very glad of it and Gandalin if you will follow mine aduice worke with the Mother so much as you can that this happy wedding may bee effected I shall Sir quoth hee with all my heart and reioyce to see so good a conclusion So they went on to returne to the Sea shoare but the night preuenting them they were enforced to stay in the Hermitage discending the next morning downe to their men who awaited their comming in the Barque As Gandalin tooke his leaue Amadis and Grasandor intreated him to recommend them to Agraies and their other friends there aduising him and them also to returne speedily to the Enclosed Isle where they should heare other tidings Thus Gandalin sayled thence to the Lady mother where hauing deliuered both her daughter and the Knight hee laboured the matter so effectually that notwithstanding all former spleene the mother quickly consented to her Daughters minde Gandalin was not a little amazed hereat but remembring that womens constancie was as certaine as the continuall turning tides of the Ocean hee could not chuse but smile and leauing them to their further affaires went aboarde the Barque returning to Agrates who was highly pleased with Gandalins good successe as also his fortunate meeting with Amadis and Grasandor in so strange a manner But now wee must change our purpose to them that were bound for the Enclosed Isle with an earnest desire to see their wiues whom they had left in no meane melancholie only for their absence Amadis and Grasandor departing from the Island of the Damosell Enchantresse found the Seas and Windes so fauourable that without any impeachment whatsoeuer they entred the port of the Enclosed Isle As they mounted vp the Rock and came to the Monasterie which Amadis had caused to bee builded they saw before the Gate a Damosell attired all in mourning and two Squires with her holding their Palâ—raies by the bridles They saluted her very courteously as she did the like to them and then they entred into the Church to performe their Orisons in the meane while the Damosell enquired of one of the Monks there standing what they were The religious man answered her that the one was the Lord of the Isle and the other was his noble friend and companion When the Dâ—â—osell knew that Amadis was there shee stayed in the porch of the Church and seeing him comming towardes her shee fell at his feet and weeping aboundantly said Alas Lord Amadis are not you he who knowes how to giue remedie to â—…re afflicted soule such as mine is at this instant Assuredly if it were not so your fame and renowne would neuer haue circled the worlde so oftentimes as already they haue don For this cause I the most vnfortunate of all other am come to to craue mercy and pittie of you Thus speaking she caught fast hâ—ld about his legges embracing them so strictly as Amadis could by no meanes gette from her for the more hee stroue to get loose the more violently still she pressed vpon him wherefore he said vnto her Faire Damosell I pray you tell me your cause of griefe as also what and whence you are and although I should refuse aâ—l other Ladies yet will I doe for you whatsoeuer I am able to release you out of the sorrow wherein I see you Pausing a while shee said My name you shall not know till I be certaine that you will performe what you are to promâ—se but the cause of my grieâ—e and tribulation grew in this manner I am wiâ—e to a Knight whom I loue with all my hart but such is both my misfortâ—… and his that hee is become a prisoner to the very greatest enemy hee hath in the world and it is impossible for him to be thence deliuered without such help as I hope for in your goodnesse and no man else whatsoeuer Beleeue it Sir quoth shee my knees shall neuer part from this earth nor mine armes from about your legges except thereto you forcibly constraine me till you grant what I am to demand of you Amadis perceiuing both her importunitie and obstinacie knew not wel what to say fearing to stand obliged by his promise for the vndertaking of some such matter which well he might repent at leasure as indeed hee did Neuerthelesse he was so moued to compassion seeing her teares flowe forth so incessantly that hee granted what shee desired requiring that hee might know her name Then she caught him by both the hands and whether hee would or no kissed them sweetly and addressing her speechâ—s to Grasandor beganne in this manner Sir Knight I pray you remember that Lord Amadis hath made this promise to me who am the wife to Archalaus the Enchanter and him hee keepeth in prison beeing the greatest enemy hee hath in the world But if Heauen were so pleased this hatred may conuert it selfe into the greater amity by such happy meanes as may bee wrought Much offended was Amadis to see himselfe deceiued by the subtilty of this woman and gladly hee would haue reuoked his promise sworne vnto her notwithstanding hee could not blame the woman who had iust reason to imploy her vtmost paines for the benefit of her husband as euery good wife else ought to doe and thus hee answered her By the faith I beare to God Ladie you haue made too large a request to me for in despite of any perill that can come to me I would not consent to such a matter but only in regarde of the promise I haue made yee and it is the first that euer I granted to Ladie or Damosell whereof I repented my selfe afterward With these words hee and Grasandor mounted on horsebacke commanding the wife of Archalaus to follow him to the Pallace of Apollidon but before they could get thither Oriana and Mabila had intelligence of their arriuall What pleasure they conceiued by this their so long expected comming it is impossible for me to expresse yet such it was that not only they but all the Ladies and Gentlewomen went to attend their entrance into the Parke At their meeting there needes no other question to bee made but the like kisses and embraces passed betweene them euen as yong married couples vse to doe vpon the very day of their choisest delighting to yeelde the truer testimonie of their Faiths firmnesse And these sweete ceremonies vshered them to their Chambers where no doubt