your doughter in a certaine thing of great importance shee hath not had the means to come and visite you Then presenting the packet to Esplandian said vnto him Gentle knight My mistresse that loueth and fauoureth you as it is well knowne giueth you these armes and sendeth you word by mee that as shee gaue you the blacke armes that hetherto you haue borne to testifie thereby the sorrow for the losse of the king that as then was common among all his true subiects and friends So in these you shal finde the deuise of the lady that in beautie and comelinesse of person surpasseth all the ladies in the world as Amadis your father in time past well proued when shee set the crowne vpon her head in remembraunce whereof shee hath euer sithence borne the like deuise Who from henceforth shall bee so strongly fixed in your heart that you shal neuer giue stroke with sword nor launce but you will remember her Which she said in respect of the princesse Leonorine doughter to the Emperour of Constantinople that by destinie was appointed only vnto him And opening the pack shee pulled out a helmet shield Haubert and a Caparisson for a horse all of white imbrodered with crowns of gold and set with Diamonds and Pearles which hée most willingly receiued saying to the Gentlewoman I pray you in my behalfe giue Vrganda hearty thankes for the great honour and much good shee hath continually done vnto me assuring her that wheresoeuer I become she hath a knight of mee ready to obay her and that for the loue of her will beare these armes as long as it pleaseth her Bée it so in the name of God saied she but before long time bee past you shall haue another mistresse that will constraine you to doe greater matters for shée shall rauish both your heart and libertie in such manner that you should loose ouermuch if at sometimes you loose not your selfe for her And to conclude I tell you that my mistresse féeleth her selfe as yet so much bound and beholding to my lord Amadis your father because that by his meanes shee recouered her friend that during her life she wil vse al the means shee can to doe him plasure and you likewise for his sake And as shee deliuered the message vnto him Carmelle came thether and hearing her speake in that manner answered her and said Gentlewoman I pray you tell your mistresse from mée that she hath great cause to recompence them well by whom she enioieth her friend she loueth so entirely and tell her I know many to whom if such chance should happen that would not fail to acknowledge it with the price of their déerest blood and their soules likewise if néed were In faith said the gentlewoman I know not in whose behalfe you speake it but I know assuredly you touch mée at the quick which she vttered with so good a grace that the king could not refraine to smile hauing in times past felt the fury of loue when hée first saw the Quéene in the country of Denmarke Yet bee chaunged his countenance asking the Gentlewoman from whence that musicke came that hee heard in the morning before breake of day My lord said she being sometimes in greater passions then willingly I would I passe my melancholy humours with a Lute that I haue especially when I cannot sléepe which as I thinke was it you heard What company haue you in the Serpent said the king None said she but Esplandians Squire that I found in a manner dead for the desire he had to hear news of his maister to whome also I haue brought the goodliest white horse and the best harnaised that euer was séene which my mistresse sendeth him likewise Did she commād you to say nothing else vnto me said the king Yes my lord saied shee shee sendeth you word that at my arriuall here you and hee should enter into this ship that of it selfe will bring you into great Brittaine and that the fortunes that not long since happened vnto you are snares the world setteth to intrap those it séeketh to deceiue séeming to ioine gréene and flourishing age with that which already is dried vp and withered And further willeth you to put in effect that which in your selfe you haue determined to doe which was to forsake his kingly estate and liue a solitary life but hee wondered much that Vrganda knew it yet he made no shew therof but speaking to the Gentlewoman he saied Your mistresse bindeth mee daily more and more vnto her being well assured that without her helpe I could hardly haue found any to haue brought me into my country Wherfore I pray you tell her that whatsoeuer I haue is at her commandement and as touching my determination which as soone as I conceiued in my mind I perceiued it was knowne to her being at home if God giueth me life I meane to put in execution My lord saied shee she praieth you to commend the kéeping of this castle to Talanque and Ambor not taking any with you but Esplandian Sergil maister Elizabeth knowing for certaine that hereafter they shall doe such things that their renoume will spread throughout the world Wherewith my lord I will take my leaue and returne againe to her with the dumbe men that shall guide me in this little barke God haue you in his kéeping saied the king Then the Gentlewoman with her two Marriners entered into the barke that brought Esplandian thether and setting saile put to sea CHAP. XIII How King Luisart imbarked himselfe in the great Serpent and of the message Esplandian sent by Carmelle vnto the Princesse Leonorine doughter to the Emperor of Constantinople THe Gentlewoman that brought the message with the two dumbe men imbarked and put to sea farre from the rocke king Luisart and the rest went vnto the castle where he staied not long for according to the aduise Vrganda had giuen him hee desired Ambor Talanque with Libee and the rest of the company to kéep the castle promising with all spéed to send them prouision of all thinges necessary whereof they wanted But when Esplandian saw there was no remedy but of force he must obey the king much displeased to depart so farre from the borders of Constantinople where he hoped to find her whereof maister Elizabeth had brought him the first newes hée tooke his faithfull seruant Carmelle aside and said vnto her My good friend I was in mind neuer to falsifie the promise I haue made you nor the gift you required at my hands neuerthelesse trusting more in you then any other I pray you take it not in euill part if to saue my life I send you to a place whether I thought to haue gone my self in person but it pleaseth the king as you wel know that I shal beare him company My lord saied shee I most humbly thanke you for the honour it pleaseth you to shew mee swearing vnto you by the liuing God that I take no pleasure
yet are they commonly to séeke in that which concerneth them as touching those points My lord saied she séeing it is your pleasure to vse my counsel I wil tel you truly what I thinke therein and so much I can assure you that if you should search throughout the world you shall hardly finde one that can come néere mee in iudging the passion wherewith you are molested for the same is in me that is in you and I féele it as well as you doe and it may bée more but the ease and great contentment I receiue by your presence haue giuen mee so many remedies that I delight in my greefe and liue not but only to cause my sorrow to indure To tell you truth at such time as you began to vse spéecheâ—â—nto mée of the king of Denmarke I thought vpon his long abâ—ente and me thinketh it were best wee sailed vnto Constantinople assuring you that I haue deuised a meanes to bring you vnto the Princesse Leonorine whereby you may both sée and speake with her without being knowne of any other then her selfe if you thinke it good And to bring it to passe we being arriued there it shal be necessary that all those of our ship be aduertised if any man asketh for you to say that you staied in the castle La montaigne defendu meane time you shall lie in the bottome of the shippe and I with Gandalin and Enil will goe vnto the Emperour to whome I will say that you sent mee to the Princesse Leonorine to present vnto her in your behalfe that which you haue conquered in the rocke of the Enchauntresse and for the rest let mee alone When Esplandian heard her speake in that manner hee behelde her for a while and at last saied vnto her My good friend I feare not death neither can it bee more bitter or sharper vnto me then the life I now indure but I feare the dishonour of my lady the iniury that thereby I might do vnto the Emperor who by his courtesie hath so much bound my father vnto him as if I shuld wrong him it would be a blemish to my honor while I liue Neuerthelesse I am content to hazard my self in all the dangers you shal think conuenient that is sufficient said Carmelle I pray you then be merry make good chear for if euer woman accomplished the thing she took in hand I wil bring this to passe Wherwith leauing Esplandian she called the Patron willed him to set saile for Constantinople whervnto he obaied had so good a wind the within thrée daies after they entred into the haueÌ„ where being arriued Esplandian told his men what by the couÌ„sel of Carmelle he had determined to do coÌ„maÌ„ding theÌ„ expressely not to make it known to any man of his being there but that they should say they left him in the castle La montaigne defendu For said he I am not now in such estate as I would be to preseÌ„t my self before so great a prince as the Emperor is And to the end you be not found liers I will stay in the bottome of the ship till you returne againe then he Carmelle Gandalin Enil spake together where the gentlewomaÌ„ shewed theÌ„ at large how she meant to bring hir enterprise to passe I will presently said â—â—e cause the 〈◊〉 he wee brought from the rock of the enchauntresse to be set vp in the same sort we found it vpon the hatches of the ship theÌ„ wil I go tel the emperor that I haue one of the singularest things abord the ship that euer was séen we find means to bring him hether where I wil shew him the lion with Iupiter al the rest of the furniture which hauing séene and peruseâ— I will tell him that you send it to the Princesse Leonorine He being gone vnto his palace you shall goe into the Ceader chest and so will I cause you to be carried into the princesse chamber lying in the arme whereof I will secretly aduertise her and by this meanes â—he may speake to you and you to hir what you thinke good I 〈◊〉 said Eâ—plandian tell mee how I shall come out againe I wil desire her said she to giue me the ceader theft therein to be by the body of Marroco that died a Christian wherein you shall had in closed and tomorrow in the morning I will cause you to be broughâ—◠〈◊〉 againe By God said Gandalin it is the prettiest deuise that euer I heard now I confesse that I was neuer but a foole in regard of Carmelle Meddle you not with any thing said shée but rest content let me alone to worke my will and to the same end let vs presently begin then Esplandian went downe into the bottome of the ship and the gentlewoman prepared the tombe as shée had determined before with that shée Gandalin and Enil landed and went vnto the Emperour whome they saluted most honourably but Carmelle did him no reuerence for as it is said before she estéemed not of any man liuing how great a Prince soeuer hee were but only of Esplandian shée and Gandalin were knowne in Constantinople by reason of their being there before Wherefore the Emperour receiued Gandalin very courteously and with smiling countenance said vnto him Friend Gandalin although your presence hath procured great melancholly in my minde remembring I haue often séene you here with the man that in all Christendome I most entirely loue whome I am vtterly persuaded I shall neuer sée againe yet you are heartily welcome and I pray you tell me how doth the knight with the Gréene Sword My lord said Gandalin it is long since I left him to come into this countrey neuerthelesse I am assured wheresoeuer he is he is a Prince ready to doe your grace any pleasure he can In good faith said the Emperour I beléeue it well and I am glad of the honour I vnderstand hée hath receiued at the hands of king Luisart that voluntarily hath deposed himselfe of all princely dignitie to inuest him therewith My lord said Enil that is true I can assure your Grace thereof as one that was present as his Coronation and although I could wish king Amadis the Monarch of all the world Truly when I beheld the gesture and humble countenance of good king Luisart I could not refraine wéeping for compassion I had to sée him and not I onely but all the people that beheld him I pray you Sir Knight said the Emperor shew me how it was for that all wise men are bound not onely to enquire of all vertuous actions but also to imitate them as néere as possibly they may with that Enil shewed him at large the whole order of the same as you heard it before Whereat the Emperour holding downe his head mused for a while and then said I am certainly persuaded it will be long before we find a better prince thaÌ„ king Luisart is or one that hath passed his young yéeres with more
doth remaine who since that time hath so much honoured the giants body that shée hath buried his bones within the Cedar chest that you madam said she to Leonorine if you do remember gaue vnto her touching these lines which containe these words That life shal be restored by him that suffered death that is likewise to be vnderstood of him for that loosing this transitorie life he hath obtained the eternall in Abrahams bosome so great grace hath he receiued at the hands of God by the merit of his sonnes passion in whome he did beléeue as I said before so my lord said she you haue heard what I can say as touching this strange prophecie I but said the Emperour what meanes the rest My lord said she I can tell you no more of it than can my lady your daughter or quéene Minoresse but so much can I assure you that in short time you shall sée it come to passe and if in any point it concerneth you the best is it will all fall out to greater good of your soule than to any power or worldly glory wherwith for this present I pray you content your selfe I truly said the Emperor so will I alwaies do for so my soule be well I estéeme not the misery of torments of my bodie And with that he left Vrganda with the Empresse went into the hall where great number of knights gentlemen staied for him with whome hée passed the rest of the day in all pleasant delightes meane time fortune by little and little began to play her part and to spread the nets wherewith she meant to inclose that troupe thereby to worke the enuie and great tribulations that afterward fell vpon them the beginning whereof was such as you shall here About a mile without the citie the Emperor had built a sumptuous pallace called Vaelbeniatnof as like to that of Apollidon in the firme Isle as well could be deuised which place was compassed with a parke furnished with all things requisite for mans delight whither hée meant to lead the ladies with Esplandian and his companie as also king Armato to feast them in the same and for that purpose within thrée daies after their arriuall they departed from the citie of Constantinople and went to Vaelbeniatnof going into the parke wherein they found the hunters and at their first entrance a great Hart was singled out which in the end after long chace was killed almost before the ladies going further they espied a bore so fiercely hunted by dogs that they made him turn with his tuskes stroke the dogs that none durst set vpon him but at the last one of the hunters strake him in the throat so he died so long this sport endured the supper time drew on wherfore the lords ladies entring into the palace found the tables couered sitting downe were serued in most sumptuous maner hauing supped they began to daunce which continued till midnight minding the next day to begin their sport againe but fortune minding to beare a part did so trouble the feast that she gaue them well to vnderstand how she can worke in all things at her pleasure for the next day about euening the knights and ladies being in the Parke some talking with those to whom they bare affection and cōtenting their mind with such deuises as loue to passe the time in pleasure put into their heads others running about and taking pleasure to gather floures and doe as most delighted them Melie from whō till then they could not heare one word went vnto Vrganda before them all spake vnto her and said Madame I maruell if it be so that your learning and skill be such as is reported why you make no sport vnto this company Melie said Vrganda where you are present I wil not vndertake to doe it before you but you should rather doe it being well assured that the Emperour would bee thankfull for the same If it pleased him said she I am content vpon condition that after me you do the like or better if you can Truly said the Emperour it is but reason and I pray you both to doe it My lord said Melie then command Vrganda to lend mée a booke that I was wont to haue whereon the picture of Medea her name written ouer it dooth stand then shall you beholde some of mine art and if Vrganda neuer knew it before she may learne it now of me In good faith said Vrganda that wil I not deny you with that she called one of her Gentlewomen willing her to fetch the booke meane time Melie tooke king Armato by the hande and making as though she would speake a word with him they walked a while together then they sat them downe hard by the place where the empresse and the ladies were talking with ech other and staying til the thing Melie had requested were brought thether which not long after Vrgandas Gentlewoman brought vnto her she hauing it in her hand opened the booke and then began to read making certaine signes with her eies lifted vp to heauen and calling Vrganda praied her to come thether saying she shold sée that shee neuer had séene before Vrganda not doubting any treason by Melie prepared went and sat downe by her and next her king Armato so that she sat betwéene Melie and him where Melie began to turne the booke shewing them certaine prophesies and other strange deuises which continued not long but the aire began to be couered with a round blacke cloud and there with it séemed so darke that they could not sée each other at the last the cloud opened and they beheld two horrible dragons comming downe out of the cloud that drewe a waggon and staied right before Vrganda who by Armato and Melie was so straitly embraced that whether shee would or not they thurst her in and they after her Wherwith the dragons séeing their waggon charged flewe vp into the aire and carried them away Vrganda crying for helpe but all in vaine for in lesse than the twinckling of an eye she was out of sight wherwith there was such noise among the company that Esplandian Talanque Ambor Manely and the rest of the knights that came thither with her sware neuer to rest aboue one night in a place before they found her out so that the same day taking their leaues both of the Emperor and others that by them were left in sorrow they entred againe into the great serpent but before Esplandian went he spake vnto the princes Leonorine beséeching her not to take in euill part his enterprise taken in hand for the loue of her to whome he found him selfe so much beholding promising her that presently hauing found Vrganda hée would returne againe My good friend said shée me thinkes you should doe this at better leysour and not in so great hast as now you doe yet am I well content to doe as pleaseth you but forget not I pray you
all that day hée had not eaten hauing supped they laied him in a bed where the Hermites doughter when shee came to sée her father vsed to lie and visiting his body to sée if he were hurt they found it much brused and blacke in diuers places but not wounded by reason of the goodnesse of his armour which no sword or other weapon could pierce then they annointed him with certaine ointments that appeased the sorenesse of his bruses wherewith hee fell on sléepe till the next morning CHAP. VI. Of the great displeasure king Luisart tooke for the departure of the blacke knight and what conference he had with Arcabonne mother to Matroco touching her vnfortunate life THe black knight being departed out of the castle he had newly conquered the prisoners entred therein among the rest king Luisart knew maister Elizabeth wherfore he rose vp sitting by Arcabonne Matrocos mother who as then leaned on her lap went to imbrace him asking him what fortune had brought him thether at that time to saue the Giants life being in so great extremity And it pleaseth your grace said he once this day I did not thinke hee would haue had so much néed of my helpe as he now hath But as I vnderstand by a knight that I met going downe the hill hee is in great danger of his life Neuerthelesse for the honour of him that commanded mee to helpe him I will doe the best I can I pray you doe so saied the king Then maister Elizabeth caused Matroco to be softly laied vpon his bed and being vnarmed searched his wounds and perceiuing them to bee deadly would not for that time doe any thing vnto them but stanch their bléeding leauing the rest till hee had slept wherein hee was newly fallen In the meane time king Luisart not forgetting what maister Elizabeth at his comming in had said vnto him asked him what was become of the blacke knight and it pleaseth your grace saied he as we entred into the castle I met him going secretly from hence and not minding to returne againe By Saint Mary saied the king haue I receiued so great aid at his hands and am I so vnfortunate that hee should depart from hence without knowing him Truly I am sorry I staied here to sée what would become of Matroco if I had not I would surely haue followed him and with much importunity haue craued his name Maister Elizabeth said he will you vpon your faith tell mee truly whether you know him or not If it be so if you will do doe me any pleasure hide it no longer froÌ„ mée for I neuer had so great desire to know any knight not only for the aid he hath done me but for the valiant enterprise at this present atchieued by him Your grace shall pardon mé◠if it pleaseth you said maister Elizabeth for it is true that I know him well but if I tel you any more I should do him wrong for hee hath expressely forbidden mee to doe it I sée well saied the king you will but increase the desire I haue to kâ—â—w him and that is worse by the same means bereaue me of all hope euer to sée him againe With that they entered into the hall where they met Arcabonne halfe dead with sorrow whome the king in courteous manner praied to stay a while asking her how her son did He doth saied shee as one in whome I haue as little hope of life as of the other that lieth dead in the court and to say the truth it séemeth that fortune hath wholly bent her selfe against me not ceasing continually to heap sorrow vpon sorrow to make me desperate Notwithstanding I know ful wel how to bee reuenged and that is in despight of her and her cruelties to bereaue my selfe of life whereby shee shall lose her power which by good reason I cannot well prolong séeing she hath not spared me one hower of rest since she first began still playing her part in tormenting mee but of all other my misfortunes none hath gréeued mee so much as the force of this knight by whose power saied she vnto the king I sée thée now deliuered out of my handes and from the cruell torments I had prepared for thée if accursed fortune had not withstood them Madame saied the king I pray you declare vnto me the cause of this your great mallice towards mee whether at any time I haue done you wrong or iniury whereby I should deserue it that wil I shew thée said Arcabonne not therein to doe thée pleasure but rather to gréeue thee more when thou shalt know and vnderstand that I was borne and bred in the same country wherein to my great despight thou hast raigned ouerlong for there I and Arcalaus my brother by father and mother were both begotten and brought vp in the art of Nigromancy which oftentimes we haue practised put in effect therewith to torment diuers persons that neuer did offend vs. In the which art as age and knowledge increased I growing very expert in the end became acquainted with Cartadaque as then lord of this castle with whom I grew in so great familiarity that he married me and with him euer fithence haue dwelt here in this castle where not long after I was deliuered of a sonne called Lindoraque after that of another named Matroco that now lieth in this bed and lastly of the third called Frerion whome thou hast slaine and my brother also that went to helpe Argantes the Porter of this castle And being thus married vnto such a husband as Cartadaque was so much feared and redoubted in all places and hauing thrée of the most valiant and worthy knights to my sons that euer liued I was so eleuated in pride and so little estéemed of cruell fortune that I thought it vnpossible for her to work me any woe But by tract of time I found it otherwise for by little and little shee hath wholly chaunged my ioy into most gréeuous sorrow and wilt thou know how Then I thinke thou doest yet remember the discord that long sithence happened betwéene thée and Childadan king of Ireland and of the battaile wherein thou ouercammest him where my deceased husband minding to bee present expressely departed from hence thether and as accursed fortune would tooke my sonne Lindoraque with him and hauing trauailed many countries at the last arriued at the place where my brother staied for them trauailing all three together with full purpose and intent to doe thée all the iniury they could and they had scarce entered into a forrest not farre from London but they met a knight as then surnamed Le Beautenebreux riding in company of a Gentlewoman that ware on her head a Cal all set with strange flowers whome my sonne as accursed fortune would liked so wel that with a great desire to haue hir to present vnto the Lady Madasine his loue commanded one of his squires to go fetch her to him which the knight
like disease whereof you still complaine for sometimes she blushed and againe became pale and otherwhâ—les was at such an exegent that shee could not answere mee a ready woord especially when I presented her with the ring that shee once gaue to Amâ—di your father as she told mee afterwards In recompence whereof shee sendeth you this hairelace which shee most earnestly desireth you to kéepe for the loue of her and as the first Iewell her Grandfather Grimanaise gaue to the Emperesse Appolidon being but her louer Expressely sending you the same as an assured token of the loue she beareth vnto you and the good will shee will bee ready alwaies to shew you during her mortall life With that shee tooke a little boxe out of her bosome wrapped in a péece of Taffata and gaue it vnto him which Esplandian receiued and taking it out of the boxe he sighed tenderly and saied Ha most fortunate present the first witnesse of the perfect alliance that the most loiall louers that euer liued had together from whom is descended the Paragon of all beauty happy to haue approched so néere her person But I much happier that receiueth it as more affectioned to serue her then any other liuing on the earth and it pleaseth God while life indureth I trust thou neuer shalt depart from mee but I will kéepe thée as carefully as I desire she should hold my heart Yet this is not all said Carmelle but behold the recompence of my labour and saying so shee cast the mantle from her shoulders shewing them her rich gowne all couered with crownes of gold which put Esplandian in minde of that Vrganda sent him word by her Gentlewoman when shee sent him the white armour set with the like deuise confirming in his mind the hope that vntill then he had holden doubtfull wherat he felt the greatest ease that possible he might And as they beheld the great and excellent workemanship with the great and costly imbrodery of Pearles and precious stones wherewith it was all couered Gandalin came and knocked at the dore to shew thé that there were a great number of vessels discouered on the sea and fearing them to bee some new supply of Turkes was of aduise they should bee ready to receiue them Wherevpon each man ranne to armes causing more men to goe into their shippes for their better safetie yet that alarme continued but a while for that the Pennons and Banners of Constantinople were perceiued on their ships by such as they sent out for to descry theÌ„ some of them comming backe againe in great hast to shew them that Gastilles as general of the army for the Emperour was comming to succour them whereof the Turks hauing intelligence presently brake vp their campe being gone farre from the castle before any of the vessels come neare the shoare Neuerthelesse those of the castle set vpon their reare ward and in the chase slue so great a number that had not night come on considring the euil order they held there had not escaped a man of all their campe In the mean time Gastilles with his army came vnto the mountaine where Esplandian the king of Denmarke and diuers others stoode ready to receiue him and after many courtesies and welcomes on all parts giuen Gastilles asked them how they dealt with their enemies As well as may be saied Esplandian but wée could not by any meanes cause them to stay till your comming but they are fled from hence as soone as they heard newes thereof Then hee tolde him of the larumes and issues by them made during the siege as also of the taking of king Armato That is good newes said Gastilles God bee praised therefore if mine vncle the Emperour had beene aduertised thereof before my departure from Constantinople I had not found the meanes to come send to visite you which would haue displeased mée much neither would he haue ben at charge to furnish such a Nauie but he was in doubt you were in great necessity that at my putting to sea hée commanded me to make al the spéed I could til he came in person with four hundred saile that already are prepared if our forces should not be sufficient to sustaine the Turkish army but for this yeare he shall be excused if there happeÌ„ no other aduenture I pray you said Esplandian come to land go with vs into the castle where wee will conferre of all things with some better leisure Which he agréed vnto wherewith he some of the principall captaines of his army entered into the knights boat and with them went vp into the castle where being arriued Gastilles that knew king Armato desired Esplandian before hee did any thing else that hee might sée him wherwith hée brought him to the chamber where he sate as pensiue as any man could bee Gastiles did him honour as to his estate appertained But king Armato would hardly looke vpon him but saied vnto him Gastilles I maruaile much why the Emperour your maister contrary to his faith and promise hath broken the peace agréed vpon betwéene vs and for a thing so little importing him as this place doth wherevnto hee neuer had any right as you well knowe But I perceiue from whence the same procéedeth because hee would euery man should knowe the little faith and lesse loialty that is in him which I shall one day make him know full well if euer I escape out of this prison My lord said Gastilles your honour saued the Emperour my maister hath in him all the parts that belong vnto a wise vertuous and hardy Prince such as hee is and it séemeth vnto mee vnder your correction that by good and iust cause he hath done no more then he might do séeing it is euident that this castle hath ben conquered by Christian knights whom he is bound to fauour with all the aid hee can not onely to defend our law or because they haue desired his aide as being the first and greatest monarch in the world but to sustaine the right that both hee and his predecessors haue alwaies pretended to these marches And where you threaten to make him féele the small loialty whereof you accuse him at other times heretofore you haue met each other with your forces where you sped so hardly that I rather beléeue you speake in choler then with reason specially considering the estate wherein you are at this present Gastilles saied Armato Although I were dead I haue sufficient number of Captaines and good Souldiours in my country to reuenge my cause and a sonne likewise that is not borne to indure the iniury done vnto his father and thus much I assure thée that if I thought him to bee other I would slay him with mine owne hands as soone as I should sée him My lord saied Esplâ—ndian that Prince Knight or Gentleman that vseth such vnfit spéech as you doe now is commonly holden for a man of no capacity especially when hee is in a place where humility
your promise In the meane time I will goe comfort them for I am in doubt most part of them are rather dead then liuing with that she desired Carmelle to bear her company they two going to the Temple gate which they found fast shut and rampired vp then shée called so lowd that some of them spake vnto her but neuer did men by pardon from their Prince brought backe againe from the Gibbet more reioice nor were better comforted then they when they knew her thinking the prince Alphorax had made some agréement with their enemies Wherefore they opened a little wicket whereat shee and the Gentlewoman entered into the Temple they asking the Princesse howe it was her chaunce to come thether in so good a time to succour them that looked for no other fauour then most cruell death My friends saied she I haue done so much with the Christians by Frandalos meanes whome I haue knowne long time that they are content to let you issue foorth your liues saued and goe where it pleaseth you and my selfe likewise that had fallen into their hands as well as you wherefore chuse whether you will follow mee to Tesifant where my lord Alphorax is who for my sake will shew you all the fauor and courtesie he may When the poore people vnderstood the agréement made for them by the Princesse Heliaxe they all agréed to goe with her and not forsake her giuing her most hearty thankes for the good shee had wrought them Then saied Heliaxe let those that haue armour put it off and come all forth with mee Then she being accompanied in that manner came vnto Esplandian and shewing him great numbers of women and little children that stood about her said vnto him I pray you sir knight behold the good whereof you are the cause and thinke what domage it had beene if these poore sâ—lly soules had suffered death for no offence wherein you are worthy great commendations And yet said shée smiling while I liue I shall not forget the small account you made of me when Frandalo and you found mee before my pauillion after the ouerthrow of my knights Wherefore madame saied Esplandian I maruaile saied shée why you aske mee such a question séeing you might well conceiue what gréefe I had in mind yet did you not so much as once salute me or vse word vnto mee in good truth it was but discourteously done of you Madame saied hee I beséech you pardon mee for the fault I committed in your behalfe was not done for want of bringing vp but fearing to bréede some iealousie in Frandalos mind séeing him so much affected to doe you seruice together with the good countenaunce you shewed vnto him although you had lost your men This excuse said Heliaxe is not to be accepted neither shal you escape so easily therewith which shee spake with so good a countenance that her séeming to bee offended contented all the company wherefore Esplandian saied vnto her Madame I am content to make amends for this great fault or to doe what pennance it pleaseth you The pennance said she that you shall haue shall be that according to the promise of mercy you haue made vnto these poore people as also of fauour in mine owne behalfe you giue vs leaue to go vnto the citty of Tesifant to my husband that for the same we thinke the better of you Madame said Esplandian you haue already vnderstood our minds wherefore you may fréely go whether it pleaseth you and I my self will be your guide if it be your pleasure With that Heliaxe gaue them many thankes and taking her leaue got vpon her palfrey and being accompanied of Foron with a great number of the poore people tooke the way that went to Tesifant Frandalo going with her aboue a league and more and further would haue gone although hee were wounded in diuers places of his body but she desired him to go back againe For said she although like a good curteous knight you haue had the means not onely to serue mee but also to saue the life of me and mine it may bee I shall not haue so the like to doe the same for you if you fall into my lord Alphorax hands who as I thinke ere now is aduertised of my misfortune whereby I am in doubt hee is already in the field with great number of men to succour me And if it should be so I know him so impatient that if hee méet with you being already moued with the losse of Alfarin as also the iniury my knights haue receiued and my selfe likewise as hee will suppose the pleasure that you doe me would bréed a danger to your person and to me great gréefe wherefore I pray you goe no further but turne backe againe Frandalo knew her counsell to be good wherewith hee committed her to God leauing her in the guard of his cousin Foron and therewith returned the same way that hee came It was then somewhat late wherfore Heliaxe hauing trauailed vnto the aduenturous fountain and finding her pauillion as yet standing vp determined not to depart from thence till the next day in the morning that shee tooke the way that led to Tesifant And hauing ridden till noone shee met the Prince Alphorax with a great number of knights that all night had staied vpon the way to the castle La montaigne defendu thinking those that had takeÌ„ his wife would lead her thether to haue her in safe kéeping and such was their opinion that brought him newes thereof But they met not any man in the way wherfore they returned againe to go vnto the aduenturous fountain much gréeued when they perceiued the Princesse Heliaxe comming towards them to whom Alphorax ranne and imbrasing him with a louing kisse asked her how she had escaped from the enemy My lord said she when I shall haue told you how yet am I in doubt you will hardly beléeue it And to say the truth it séemeth fortune hath taken pleasure in one day to make mee know both the good and euill shee could doe vnto mee Then shee shewed him of the ouerthrow of her knights the words that passed betwéene Frandalo Esplandian and her and lastly the honest intertainement they vsed in her behalfe Truly madame saied Alphorax it is very strange and I cannot imagine how these Christian dogs hauing taken my Towne of Alfarin by assault haue vsed so much humanity not only to these people but haue saued your honour being such and so beautifull a lady as you are But it is to bee thought that our gods hauing compassion on me haue preserued you as the thing I loue and most estéeme off in this world Yet if I liue but one yeare longer I sweare and promise vnto you to assemble so many men together that the citty of Constantinople and her periured Emperour shal suffer and indure much woe in such manner that the memory thereof shal not be extinct for one thousand yeares after my decease Heliaxe that
so well that Esplandian could neuer take him before hée had ouerthrowne him and pulled off his helmet wherewith hée yéelded meane time Frandalo and his companions being in the middle of the enemies laide so well about them slaying horses pulling away shields and doing so valiantly that woonder it was to behold them yet did not the Turkes once séeme abashed but still fought most couragiously vntil such time they perceiued their captaine taken prisoner which caused them to flie and turne their backes but not all of them for there lay more than one hundred and fiftie of them dead vpon the ground the rest saued themselues by meanes of the darke night It was then about an houre before day and Frandalo fearing that those of Tesifant hearing of the ouerthrow would issue foorth to cut off their passage presently caused captaine Eiraca to be remounted and all the Christians that wanted horses and with all spéed rode backe againe to Alfarin not the same way they came but another way somewhat farther about wherein they trauailed so long that about sunne rising they entred into a great woode where they alighted to refresh both themselues and their horses and staying not long there least they should bée surprised they made such spéed that about sunne setting they arriued in the town meane time newes came to Tesifant of the ouerthrowe of their men wherewith Alphorax was in such a rage that in a manner hée séemed desperate But for this time wée haue sufficiently discoursed of martiall affaires now wée meane to bring Loue in place who desiring to minister some comfort to the Princes Leonorine that liued in great paine expecting the arriuall of her friend Esplandian caused him to depart from Alfarin to visit her in the citie of Constantinople as in the Chapters following you shall heare CHAP. XXXIII Of the great griefe Esplandian had vnderstanding by the messenger that Gastilles sent vnto him what displeasure the Princesse Leonorine had conceiued against him YOV heard before how Gastilles shewed the Emperour what Esplandian had done and what message hée sent vnto him and to the Princesse Leonorine as also what answere she made which Gastilles by his Squire writ and sent vnto him hauing charge from the Emperour so to doe thereby to procure his spéedier arriuall in Constantinople The Squire with his lether made such hast that hée arriued at Alfarin about fiue daies after the taking of Eiraca and méeting Carmelle at the gate asked her if he might find Esplandian at conuenient leisour to deliuer him a letter from Gastilles but Carmelle being subtill suspecting it to be some newes from the Princeâ—â—e Leonorine that might mooue Esplandian who as then séemed discontent answered him said My good friend you can hardly speake with him at this time but follow me and giue me the letter and I will present it vnto him and cause him to returne you an answere The Squire did as she willed him and followed her to Esplandians lodging where entring into his chamber she found him sitting vpon his bed talking with the king of Denmarke and deliuered him Gastilles letter which when he read the teares ranne out of his eyes and therewith cast forth a great sigh saying O Lord but Carmelle that beheld him doubting the cause to be as she suspected asked him if he were ill at ease Ill said he I that I am and so ill that I would to God I were dead and looke I pray you said he whether I haue cause or not wherewith stretching forth hish hand he gaue Carmelle the letter and turning his face began to make the greatest sorrow in the world but when shée had read the contents shée estéemed not thereof but said vnto Esplandian What my Lord are you abashed at so small a matter By my soule I now perceiue very well that the affections and loues of men are farre different and much vnlike the passions that we simple women endure when we fall into the like extremities and knowe you how you men doe most commonly take pleasure to manifest and make known your loue either by word of mouth or outward shewes and many times dissemble more than you meane to doe and which is worse how much the more the Lady or Gentlewoman you loue is of great desert or high linage so much more glory doe you take to make it knowne not onely that you beare her affection but that you are beloued and fauoured of her aboue all others which is cleane contrary to the nature of women I meane such as may bée tearmed wise and of good vnderstanding for how much the greater their parentage is so much more feare they haue to manifest their amorous passions in such manner that most commonly both in word gesture and countenaÌ„ce they outwardly denie that which they haue most déepely engraued in their hearts and mindes and not without good cause for that the thing which redoundeth to your praise and commendations as you think which is the manifesting of your loue bréedeth to them a certaine spot in their honour which often times they can not easily deface Wherefore it is more than expedient to obserue this modestie and constancie in vs not that I meane to restraine my selfe vnto this lawe séeing that all my glory and felicitie dependeth vpon you in such manner that I desire no greater happinesse in this world then that the loue and dutifull obedience I beare vnto you should be published and made knowne vnto the world to the end that all those that shall heare of your great valour and my meane estate may know my great good fortune to haue the meanes to serue you as I doe Wherefore my Lord in my opinion you ought to take the spéeches Gastilles hath written vnto you to be vsed by the lady Leonorine in good part and greatly to your aduantage for I dare warrant you on mine honour that your affections are both alike and to say the truth she hath behaued her selfe most wisely to dissemble the matter so well as she hath done in the Emperors presence I deny not but she hath some cause to be impatient considering the message I deliuered vnto her in your behalfe but that is easie to be cured although the loue shée hath borne you so long time should be wholly extinguished which I can hardly beléeue euen as a bone that is broken in two péeces set togither againe is stronger in that place than in any other part so you being there and in her companie shall winne that you finde broken and by that meanes make it stronger than euer it was before Therefore I am of aduise that fulfilling her desire you goe vnto her and that as soone as possibly you may Alas Carmelle said Esplandian what good or what seruice did I euer doe vnto her thereby to haue deserued at her hands the least fauour among an infinite number I haue receiued from her specially by the report of your owne mouth If therefore shee hath iust
occasion to be offended with me hauing offended her so much can I hope for any other at her handes than méere disdaine and mortall hatred My lord said Carmelle I am a woman and know the nature of women better than you doe or then all the men in the world besides I pray you therefore beléeue me and go and sée her and if so be shée entertaine you not according to your desire then neuer giue credit to my words againe In faith my good companion said the king of Denmark Carmelle giueth you so good and wise counsell that either you ought to giue credit to her spéech or els wholly driue this fantasie out of your mind considering as is most true that sometimes and very often how much the more feruent and extreme the loue of a woman is so much the sooner is it dead and wholly extinguished for that their inconstancie is such and so great that for the least occasion in the world they are ouer ready to loue and much more inconsiderately doe they forget the same againe not that I accuse the Princes Leonorine of so great lightnes but to say the truth as cōmonly we find for my part I know not vpon what occasion you ground your loue wherby you should make so much accoūt of her séeing that she neuer saw you nor you her but are only content to conceiue well of ech other vpon a certaine renowm that hath spred abroad set forth the great perfections that are reported to be in you both which in truth may bée compared to a fire made of straw that is no sooner kindled but presētly cōsumed wherfore be not then so much abashed if the princes Leonorine shew her selfe at this presēt so smally affected towards you for those that loue most déerly do oftentimes fall into discurtesies coldnes of affection that they disdaine or at the least in the twinkling of an eie wholly forget those that for a long time they haue loued most intirely that for their sakes shal haue hazarded their liues in most dangerous aduentures Did you neuer heare how Brisarde behaued her selfe in regard of Troilus after the destruction of Troy shée loued him so well that she would néeds die in his armes whē she was constrained to forsake him the Gréekes thinking verily she would haue slaine her selfe yet was shée scarse issued out of Troy but she wholly forgot her loue Troilus transported that vehement loue she had borne him all her life to Diomedes king of Thrace O God What inconstancie what lightnes what foundation vpon a sandy groūd was that This vnconstant woman among other precious ornaments giuen her by Troilus her friend had a paire of perfumed gloues which within one houre after her captiuitie she gaue vnto her new friend Diomedes in token of the loue amity she bare vnto him What had Troilus said then if he had béen present would he haue beléeued her I thinke not And what a point of honestie I pray you did Clitemnestra shew vnto her husband when in stéed of welcoming him home at his comming from the siege of Troy where he had remained ten yéers togither she caused him cruelly to be murdered by Egistus her ruffian But will you heare more exāples of the like matter as he began to procéed Esplandian said vnto him My good friend I pray you do not this wrong vnto my lady Leonorine but let me here your counsell how I may from henceforth gouerne my selfe to satisfie her desire Go sée her said the king if you think good I will beare you cōpany Shall we go leaue our cōpanions said Esplandian that wil I neuer do wherfore said the king are not Frandalo Manely the rest of their cōpany strong inough to defend the town in your absence I am of aduise that you send presētly for thē giue them to vnderstand that by reason of certain newes you haue of late receiued you must be constrained to leaue them for the space of eight or fiftéene daies and in like sort dispatch Gastilles Squire and write vnto his master that you thanke him heartily for the good remembrance he hath had of you and that with all spéed you will send a messenger expressely vnto the Emperour with an answere to that it hath pleased him to command to bée written vnto you in the meane time I will take order to prepare a ship to bring vs to the castle La montaigne defendu where wée will imbarke our selues in the great Serpent that will not faile as I thinke to bring vs vnto Constantinople and determine with your selfe what companie you meane to take with you My good friend said Esplandian doe as you thinke good I am content to hazzard my life in your hands It suffiseth said the king but I pray you speake vnto our companions and dispatch the squire With that Esplandian called for inke and paper and wrote vnto Gastilles as the king of Denmarke had aduised him Next day in the morning Frandalo and the rest of the companie came into his chamber as they vsed ordinarily to doe and being togither deuising of diuers things Esplandian said vnto them My good friends I am constrained to leaue your company for the space of fiftéene daies or three wéekes to goe about certain vrgent affaires that import me much I will take with me my brother the king of Denmarke Gandalin Enil Carmelle and no more I pray you thinke it not strange for if I were not constrained thereunto I sweare vnto you of my faith I would not do it There was not any among them that once would aske him whether he went but answering him said That he might goe whither it pleased him that they for their parts would kéepe the place till he came againe although he staid a whol yéer before he returned by this means Esplandian by little little framed himselfe to take his voiage while the king of Denmarke caused the ship that brought the knights of great Britain thither to be made ready vpon a monday in the morning Esplandian his company imbarked themselues to saile vnto the castle La montaigne defendu but they were no sooner put to sea but the wind falling contrary the sea rose so high so furious withall that neither mast saile nor cord could hold but brake all in péeces in which maner they cōtinued for the space of tenne daies and as many nights so that neither maister nor marriners could tell in what part they were for that during that time the clouds were so thicke and the mist so great that it made the aire so darke and obscure that those that were in the shippe could scarse sée one the other expecting nothing else without the mercy of God then the ouerthrow of their shippe which they thought verily had happened when they arriued at the rocke of the Enchauntresse wherevpon they were driuen about thrée of the clocke after midnight wherewith the saylers
wisedome and magnanimitie of courage and as I vnderstand both fortune and vertue haue béen fauourable vnto him fortune in giuing him force to ouercome and obtaine honour against diuers misfortunes and hard aduentures that she her selfe had prepared for him and vertue for that in the end of his daies she hath set him in the way to enter into paradise And leauing that dâ—â—course hée changed purpose and spake to Carmelle of whome â—niest he asked if she were still tormented with the extreame passions of loue towards Esplandian as she had béen in times past My Lord said she if there be any chaunge since I spake with you it is that the loue seruitude affection I beare vnto him are augmented in me and daily more and more increase Whereat euery man began to laugh In good faith said the Emperour wée may then very wel persuade our selues that you came not to our Court to moue any of our Gentlewomen to loue the good knight your master although he should expressely commaund you to doe it My lord said shee you iudge as in reason it ought to â—e neuerthelesse I take so great a pleasure in seruing him to his contentment that I will except no seruice whatsoeuer and to speake truth my arriuall here is to aske your Grace a gift neither gold nor siluer but onely that it would please you to goe vnto the hauen to sée a Present that my Lord Esplandian sendeth to the princesse Leonorine as her knight In good truth said the Emperor you require a thing at our hands that we should rather desire at yours Come then my Lord said shée for I may not stay long here With that the Emperour accompanied of diuers Noblemen went vnto the hauen and being there entred into Carmelles shippe shee shewed him the christall tombe then that of azure stone and lastly the image of Iupiter whereat the Emperour stayed longer to behold it than the rest not so much for the richnesse thereof as to read the prophecie it held and hauing read it was not a little abashed which Carmelle perceiuing spake vnto him and said My lord all this you sée hath continued aboue two hundred yéeres in the broken palace of the inchantresse yet in all that time not any knight how valiaÌ„t soeuer he were could euer conquer the same nor yet so much as sée it vntill my lord Esplandian arriued there that is become Lord and possessour of the same as you now behold Truly said the Emperour it is the goodliest present that euer I saw and worthy the greatest admiration for although it be of incomparable riches yet doe I estéeme it of no value in respect of the great science and wonderfull knowledge that was in her to whome it first belonged as she maketh it well appeare by the threatnings she vsed against vs in this table God graunt all may fall out better than I doubt it will My lord said Carmelle although it be such as you estéeme it yet doe I feare that my Lady your daughter will not make so much account thereof that in recompence of the same she will acquite the good knight Amadis and the master that I serue of the promise they haue made vnto her I know not that said the Emperour but I am well assured that no earthly treasure can be comparable vnto the valour vertue of your master neither will I euer giue my consent that Leonorine shall make that exchange as desiring the company of Esplandian much more than to haue all the treasures in the world within my coffers and with good reason for that the wickedest person liuing on the earth may be rich of gold and siluer but not of vertue which is not aboundant vnto any but to those that séeke it wherefore if you thinke good carry your presents backe againe for Esplandian can not be acquited vnto vs but onely by his presence My Lord said Carmelle I am commaunded to leaue them with the Princes Leonorine whether it bée vpon that condition or not and if it be your pleasure séeing she is not come hither with you I will cause it to be carried into her chamber My daughter 〈◊〉 the Emperour is with her mother the Empresse about a miâ—â— hence â—â—ake the aire when she commeth home you may present it vnto her and assure your selfe she will not refuse it not so much for the value thereof as for the good I wish to him that sent it her as shée knoweth full well Wherewith hée departed out of the shippe and béeing a land walked towardes his palace not without much talke with his knights noble men touching the excellencie of the tomb Which the more they spake of the more they estéemed it in such manner that they all acknowledged neuer in their liues to haue séene so rich nor so singular a present CHAP. XXXVI How Esplandian was put into the Cedar chest and with the tombe carried into the Princesse Leonorines chamber and what conference they had togither THe Emperour and his company gon as it is said before Carmelle called Esplandian that in the meane time lay in the bottome of the shippe and told him the manner of their procéedings as also the spéech the Emperour had with Gandalin and Enil all what had happened as it is before rehearsed By my soule said Esplandian I was neuer in the like paine for hearing all you speake only the lady Leonorine I could not tell what to thinke but when the Emperour told you she was not in the citie beléeue me it comforted my heart Did not I play my part well said Carmelle That you did and as well as one could wish said Esplandian and if it be true which is commonly said That a good beginning makes a good ending I hope I shall not faile to bring my purpose to passe And while they deuised togither it waxed night so that the Empresse returned into the citie which Carmelle vnderstaÌ„ding caused Esplandian presentâ—â— to lie downe in the Cedar chest in such sort that the aire entred therein on all sides and couering it with the Azure and Christall stones Gandalin Enil and their Squires tooke the tombe and with the gentlewoman went out of the ship and came vnto the palace where they found the Lady Leonorine béeing already aduertised of the goodly Present sent her by Esplandian in great deuotion staying for Carmelle for it had béene tolde her that in the euening she would bring it to her lodging wherefore she had no sooner espied it but she with many other ladies and gentlewomen no lesse curious to behold the same met her in the hall With that Carmelle perceiuing her come stepped forward and doing reuerence vnto her said Madame the good knight Esplandian sendeth you this Present the not long since he conquered in the rocke of the enchantresse according to the good fortune happy destiny aboue a hundred yeres past predestinated of him which he sendeth vnto you expresly to giue you to vnderstand the great
prince By all my gods said he I had rather die a thousand deaths then you should indure the least iniury in the world we beléeue it wel said al the knights With that he caused them to enter into the lists at one end and the ten pagans at the other but before they entred into fight he called Norandel his companions said vnto them My friends I pray you let me shew you what the custome of my country is in such affairs theÌ„ if you think good you may obserue it if not my knights shal kéep your custome if it be indiffereÌ„t Shew vs theÌ„ said Norandel what it is if the same be reasonable we wil not refuse it You shal vnderstand said he that all knights iustle one against one to the end that all men may know the excellency of the victor And if any one be ouerthrown he that is on horseback shall not assaile the other before their companions haue run out their course Then he that is on horseback shall alight and shall fight it out by dint of sword with him that before was ouerthrown Because it chanceth oftentimes that the best knights that are fall into such inconuenience only by the fault and means of bad horses which cause them diuers times either to faile in striking of their enemy or els not to run their right course Which cannot bee excused in those that are on foot to whome it is permitted to succour each other if néed require Truly said Norandel that custome is wel ordained and I and my companions will obserue the same Wherwith the soudan went out of the lists causing his Heralds to proclaim the fight With that a Pagan stepped forth against Norandel that refused him not but couering himselfe with his shield they met so fiercely that their spears were brokeÌ„ to their wrests méeting body to body with so great strength that the Pagan fell ouer his horse taile lying flat vpon the ground but Norandel had no hurt onely that his horses shoulder was thrust out of ioint so that he lighted of staying til the rest had runne their course as he had promised Then Garuate du Val Craintif ran against one of the other and they charged each other in such sort that their féet failing in their stirrops they were both cast out of their saddles Then Talanque ran against the third Pagan to whome fortune was more fauourable then to any of the rest for they ran so wel that neither of them once started aside or moued in their saddles and yet brake their speares in many péeces The like chanced to Manely and Ambor but not to Brauor the son of Balan for hee hit him that ran against him right in the breast and threw him from his horse And presently therewith Imosil of Burgundy had so great a stroke with a launce that his eies started in his head and was therewith so much astonished that his horse bare him to the side of the bâ—rriers where he fell downe flat Elian le delibere and hee that ran against him were constrained to holde by their horses maines Listoran of the siluer bridge missed his stroke and his enemy likewise the like happened to Trion and the last that ran with him That done all they that were on horsebacke lighted downe to fight with swords and there began betwéen them such a fight as the like had not béene séene of so few knights together maintaining themselues so brauely one against the other that the strongest of them was so wearie and out of breath that they were constrained to rest And as Norandel leaned vpoÌ„ his sword which he rested on the ground the bracelet that Minoresse gaue him fell downward vpon his arme which put him in so good remembraunce of her that cleane forgetting all the trauaile hée he had taken before he spake so loud that euery man might hear and said By God sir Knight this rest doth not beséeme vs many men will from henceforth be in doubt of the great glory that now we meane to win Wherefore let euery man shewe forth what he can doe and let no man spare Wherewith taking the little péece of his shield that rested in his hand and lifting vp his arme he gaue so great a blow vnto his enemie that he made him réele therewith and doubling it strake him so surely on the helmet that with the blow the Turke was forced to knéele downe and let his sword fall out of his hand which Norandel seased vpon being readie to strike off his head if he had not cried him mercie which Talanque and Manely perceiuing employed their forces in such manner that it might easily be iudged they would soon obtaine the victorie As for Brauor he had alreadie stricken his knight downe wherefore he ranne to helpe the rest and Norandel likewise With the which helpe it soone appeared that they which rested yet to ouercome would not long resist for in short space they found themselues in such extremitie that vnlesse the Souldan of Liquie had desired the Christian knights to stay a while they had all died but calling Norandel vnto him he said I pray you said he procéed no further in this combat and content your selues that I account my knights for vanquished as in truth they are and so hardly handled that the force you shall from henceforth vse against them shall more be holden for a kinde of crueltie than any chiualrie Neuertheles if my request may take no place with you doe as you thinke good Souldan said Norandel if they acknowledge it at our hands and aske vs mercie they shall not faile to haue it for it was neuer our custome to vse force to such as could not stand against vs. Content your selues saide he that I that am their Lord yéeld you the victorie and I pray you therefore shew mercie vnto them swearing vnto you by my crowne if you doe them so much good that while I liue I will not be vnmindfull of the same With that the ten Christian knightes went out of the fielde and mounting on their horses tooke their way vnto the citie where the Emperour staied for them for he had séene the issue of the combat and how they returned victors but he heard not what words had past betwéene them till they being lighted off their horses told him what was done for the which hee praised God estéeming more of them for their courtesie they had shewen vnto the enemy CHAP. L. How Queene Calafre came to aide the Pagans and of the maruailous and perillous assault that shee gaue to the citie of Constantinople THe renowne of this warre vndertaken by the Kings Taborlans Souldans Califfes and Princes dwelling in Tartaria India Arabia and other countries in the East against the Emperour and his Empire of Constantinople was spread so far abroad that it was knowne to the puissant Quéene Calafre reigning in Califorine a most fertile and pleasant countrey confining on the head of the riuer Boristenes hard by
talking with king Luisart Esplandian and other good knights Where knéeling on the ground she asked which of them was the knight of the great Serpent and his father Amadis spake vnto her and saied Gentlewoman I am the one and this is my sonne Is it your pleasure to speake with vs The gentlewoman casting hir eie vpon Esplandian maruelling at his great beautie spake said In good faith king Amadis I verily beléeue that this is hee for I haue heard him in diuers places estéemed for the same that nowe I doe behold in him Gentlewoman said Amadis if you came into our camp only to sée him you now haue your desire That hath not ben only the cause said she but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and Quéen Calafre send vnto you both wherfore hauing read it I pray you returne an answere With that Amadis hauing taken it in his hand the Gentlewoman departed out of the tent attending their resolution King Amadis hauing read it shewed it to King Luisart and the rest that were in presence wherewith there rose great controuersie among them concerning the refusall or acceptation of the combat for that the most part of them were of aduise it should not be accepted shewing diuers great and euident reasons to confirm the same as the greater number of enemies they had before them readye to giue them battaile if it happen said they that fortune should be contrary to king Amadis and Esplandian in whome partly consisteth our hope such hard chance would bréed great fear in diuers men that are now very willing ready to do the best they can Others held the contrary saying that it would be shame vnto them al for that that refusal only would much incourage the enemy but they were of this opinion that it might wel be required that the number of the combatants might be greater In good truth saie Amadis be it of two against two twenty against twenty or of greater number the victory is in the hands of God Wherefore in refusing thereof I should doe my selfe wrong and cause a great blemish to all Christendome that would not be defaced in long time after Besides I haue great hope of Gods helpe herein for whose faith and honour I haue vndertaken this voiage When Esplandian heard his fathers mind he spake boldlier and said That he would take that combate vpon himselfe alone not onely against the Souldan and the Quéene but against two others more with them rather then it so should be refused whereupon it was concluded that Amadis and he would fight and sending for the messenger into the tent Amadis saied vnto her Gentlewoman you shall tel the Souldan and the Quéene that I and my son are content to doe as they require wherefore let them chuse what arms they will and for the place it shall bee betwéene their campe and ours assuring them on the faith of a king that not one of our soldiours shall once remoue how soeuer we spéed which wee desire likewise at their hands and if it bée their desire to haue the combate fought this day we are content to doe it With that the gentlewoman returned and comming to the Souldans tent shée declared her message vnto thē being such as you haue heard wherof the Souldan was glad but especially the Quéene for the great desire she had to sée Esplandian wherefore shee asked the Gentlewoman what she thought of him Madame saied shee I haue in my life time séene many men and women that nature had indued with great beautie but by the gods I confesse it is all but painting in regard of that I haue found in him for hee is so faire and beautifull that the more I thinke thereon so much the more it maketh me cōceiue such beauty to be rather deuine thē humane That is much said the Quéene I know not said the gentlewoman what you meane by that word Much but I am wel assured if you had séene him as I did that you would say as much as I doe and it may be more Truly saied the Quéene before I enter in combat with him I will first sée him vnarmed and speak with him not as an enemie to an enemy but as friends commonly do one vnto the other Madame saied the Souldan séeing it is your desire it were good our Gentlewoman went againe vnto them to desire them to giue you leaue to come and visite them in their campe not to procure them any cause of enuy but to do them honour and for that cause to desire their safe conduct This counsell séemed good vnto the Quéene and without longer staying she sent the Gentlewoman backe againe vnto Amadis and Esplandian whom she found yet in the Tent whereas she left them With that she told them what her message was and the great desire the Quéene had to sée them before they entred into combat King Amadis could not refraine laughing to hear the Gentlewoman expresse the affection her mistresse had asking king Luisart what he thought therein Sonne saied hee deny not her request for I assure you since our comming hether I haue heard the Quéene to bée estéemed a wise and beautifull Princesse You heare our answere saied Amadis to the Gentlewoman let the Quéene come hether when she thinketh good for she shall be heartely welcome With that the Gentlewoman returned to the Quéene who being greatly pleased with that answere determined the next daye to goe vnto them But she knew not well what manner of apparell she were best to weare sometimes shee thought it fit to goe as she vsed when she went to bataile and then presently changed opinion thinking a womans apparrell would bee more séemely and conuenient séeing she went not to trie their forces but only to win the loue and fauour of Esplandian if she might procure the same And thinking on it all night long in the morning when she meant to apparrell her self she was resolued to dresse her as women vse to do thinking she had means inough afterward to shew her selfe in habite of a knight whereby shee might bee séene both in the one and the other sort Whervpon she caused her most precious robes to be brought vnto her and apparrelling her self forgot not any thing that might once beautifie or adorn her person or that in her opinion would deck her well the better to be liked And to bear her company she tooke twelue of her own gentlewomen so well furnished and set forth with stones and pearles that the like was neuer séene That done she sent vnto her ships for a most strange and monstrous beast wherevpon sometimes shee vsed to ride in great pomp It was as big as a great Dromadary the hair long somewhat yellow black spots his two eares hanging downe vnto his knées hauing but one eye shining brighter then a burning glasse and stood right in the midst of his forehead out of his mouth there issued two great téeth like hornes and although his
THE FIFT BOOKE OF THE MOST PLEASANT AND ELECTABLE HISTORIE OF AMADIS DE GAVLE 〈◊〉 the first part of the most strange valiâ—â—â— worthy actes of ESPLANDIAN sonne to Amadis 〈◊〉 as his strange sailing in the great Serpent the winning of his Sword â—â—nquest of the Castle La montaigne defendu his warres with Armato King of Turkie his loue to Leonorine daughter to the Emperour of Constantinople with diuers seruices done in her behalfe the bâ—sieging of Constantinople by the Turks Pagans with their ouerthrow by the Christian Princes his mariage with Leonorine his investing in the Empire of Greece and lastly his enchantment with diuers other Princes in the pallace of Apollidon deuised by Vrganda NON PLVS LONDON Printed by Adam Islip and are to be sold by Hugh Iackson dwelling in Fleetstreet 1598. The Printer to the courteous Readers GEntlemen I present you here with the fift book of Amadis de Gaule of whose delectable history you haue already perused the first and second books wherefore it may bee you rather expect the third and fourth bookes to come forth in due course then that the fift should thus vntimely appeare before the rest The cause of which vnorderly proceeding grew from this occasion J hauing only interest in this and the following bookes of Amadis haue already set out this fift booke being the first of those which are in my hands and also doth begin with the hystory of Esplandian being the sonne of Amadis intending by Gods grace to proceed with the others in due order as time doth permit But as concerning the other Bookes which rest in another mans right as they are not in my power so can J make no promise when they shall bee published wherefore seeing that matter remaines wholly to his will I being ignorant of his intent did according to my owne fancy go forward with my owne which may the sooner produce him to set out his but if he should not yet will I by Gods helpe goe thorow with mine till I haue finished all the parts that are in my hands which are Hystories so pleasant and delightfull that it were great pitty they should lie hidden from your gentle sight especially for that they containe such high matters of knighthood and princely chiualry All which I humbly commend to your fauourable censure Yours in all dutie A. I. THE FIFT BOOKE OF Amadis de Gaule containing part of the valiant acts of Esplandian his sonne and others CHAP. I. How Esplandian sleeping in the great serpent when hee awaked he found himselfe to bee at the foot of the rocke of the Enchauntresse and what happened vnto him ESplandian that had fallen asléepe in the serpent by meanes of the melodious noise of trumpets that the sixe Gentlewomen sounded along the shoare after he had receiued the order of knighthood as it hath ben declared vnto you in the end of our fourth booke when hee awaked was much abashed that he saw not any of the company that were there present when the Giant Balan dubbed him knight but found himselfe alone betwéene the wings of that monstrous beast at the foot of a rocke vnknowne to him which rocke was so high that hee thought it impossible to climbe vp but hee was persuaded that Vrganda la Descogneue whose workes and enterprises were most wonderfull had ordained it to be so and therevpon he comforted himselfe going down into the body of the ship where the day before that great assemblie had ben but he found no man and séeking further hee went into the chappel where hee espied Sergil his squire fast sléeping and hard by him two old men with rols on their heads apparrelled like Turkes with that he went to Sergil and with his foot gaue him such a thrust that on a sodain he started vp and speaking to his maister as though hee had neuer séene him before asked him what he meant whereat Esplandian began to laugh and said vnto him Good God Sergil hast thou ben in my company all thy life time and knowest mee no better and taking him by the hand he drew him in such maner to him that therewith hee awaked much ashamed to haue committed such a fault whereof séeking to excuse himselfe hee said vnto his maister By my faith sir I was so fast asléepe when you called me that I neither remembred you nor my selfe and I am now more abashed then I was before to think how I fel into so sound a sléepe That cannot I tel answered Esplandian although as much hath happened vnto me Then he told him that hee had slept and when he awaked he found himselfe alone betwéene the wings of the Serpent without any of the company that were with him when hee receiued the order of knighthood and now said he we are arriued at the foot of the highest rocke that euer I saw and withall it is so hard and difficult to climbe vp that I can find neither path nor way how to doe it yet haue I beheld it long but as I perceiue it is enuironned with the sea in such manner that considering the scituation of the place I certainly beléeue it is the rocke of the Enchauntresse whereof in times past thou hast heard by Amadis my father And as they were in this manner speaking Sergil heard the two old men snort that as yet they had not once perceiued and demanded of Esplandian if he knew them not As God helpe me no said Esplandian for as farre as I remember I neuer saw them before but I iudge that Vrganda hath left them here to helpe vs if we néed I pray you said Sergil let vs awake them then hee called them so lowd that they rose vp Esplandian asking them who brought them thether but they made signes that they could not speake It was then about twelue of the clocke and Esplandian would willingly haue eaten if he had found meat and said vnto Sergil Friend neuer in all my life had I so good an appetite to eat as I haue now but I doubt we shall find no victuals in the ship I pray thée Sergil let vs go sée for as I perceiue if we trust vnto these dumbe men we are like to fare but hardly but the dumbe men perceiued well what he meant wherefore going out of the chappell they entred into a chamber that ioined to the hall from whence they presently returned bringing with them such quantity of meate that Esplandian and Sergil were neuer better satisfied in all their liues hauing dined the tables vncouered they went vnto the place where Esplandian had slept from whence hee shewed Sergil the rocke whereof hee had told him before saying Assure thy selfe Sergil séeing the serpent stirreth not from hence it is a signe that I must goe vpon this high rock to sée if there be any aduentures and if I can bring them to an end I know not answered Sergil what you will doe but if you trust to the counâ—ell of our dumbe men we shall stay
fountaine not farre from thence and was passing by when the knight spake vnto him saying Father God saue you which when the good man heard he was in so great a mase that for feare his pitcher fell out of his hand and brake in péeces Neuerthelesse by little and little he came to himselfe againe and perceiuing him that spake vnto him answered and said My sonne it is now twenty years past fithence I left the pleasures of this world and forseek my natiue soile to obtaine the grace of God and that which most abasheth mée is that since the time whereof I speake I neuer found man that as yet saluted mee in this manner and I thinke verely you are a stranger in these countries or els your spéech and apparell disguiseth you much Father said the knight true it is I am a stranger brought hether by such meanes that I neither know the country where I am nor any man or womā inhabiting therin for you are the first creature that I met since I arriued here of whom I might enquire assuring you that when I perceiued this crosse it reioiced my heart for it is the armes of the maister that I serue What saied the Hermit doe you then know the vertue thereof I answered the knight that I doe being well assured that vpon the like crosse our Redéemer whereof I speak suffered death and passion Alas saied the holy man you say true praised be his holy name that once before I die he hath giuen me the grace to let me sée a man on this side the sea that beléeueth in him assuring you sir knight that you and I are onely the two creatures in this country that are Christians for all the restare Pagans and idolaters And as he would haue procéeded further his spéech failed him doubting that hee to whom hee spake was but a fantasie or shadow of a man but at the last he waxt bolder and in maner of coniuration asked him if he were a mortall man or not Mortall answered the knight that I am for certain and withall a sinner which displeaseth mee much and if it abasheth you at this present to sée mee here I am my selfe no lesse abashed to sée you for without doubt the manner of my arriuall in this countrey hath béen such and so strange that I can render you no reason thereof but if you know the countrey where in wée are I beséech you good Father tell it me to put me out of doubt Gladly said the Hermite and with that he tooke him by the hand led him to his Hermitage and there sitting downe together vpon a log of wood the old man began to speake in this maner and said Now sir knight tell mee I pray you what countryman you are Father said he Great Brittaine is the countrey where in my youth I was borne and bred I know not if euer you were acquainted therewith How long is it said the Hermite since you came from thence It is fiftéene daies more since I was there said the knight did you neuer know king Lisuart saied the Hermite that in my time raigned therin Yes truly said the knight for I haue séene him many times how did hee when you came from thence said the Hermite That can I not certainely shew said the knight for hée was lost and led away from thence but by whom or in what manner no man cantell notwithstanding the great paine and diligence diuers of his knights haue vsed to find him out When the Hermite heard that he séemed very pensiue which the knight perceiuing thought in his mind that hee could tell him some newes where vpon he began to behold him well in the face to sée if hée changed colour with that the Hermite that well perceiued the Knights meaning said vnto him Truly Sir Knight not without cause haue I enquired so much touching King Lisuart but before I will shew you my reason why you shal vnderstand that I am of great Brittaine as well as you where as yet the greatest part of my kindred are liuing whome I forsooke at the same time that a Gyant lord of this country married with a lady who as then I serued and with her passed the sea not only hoping to reape some reward for my former seruice but as yong men are moued with a great desire to sée strange countries but it fortuned that my mistresse being forsaken of God as soone as shee arriued in this countrey left his holy law to receiue the law of her husband wherefore considering with my self that by reason as wel of my natural weakenesse as by often frequenting the company of these countrymen I might fal into some error I determined to withdraw my selfe into this place wherein I haue endured much paine and misery to the great daunger of my life by reason of the controuersie betwéene the law of Iesus Christ which I hold and the law of the Pagans that séeke daily to destroy it that without the fauour of my mistresse that would not suffer them to displease me I had not liued so long as I haue done among them but when it pleaseth God I wil depart hence and returne again into mine own country now you haue heard how I haue hetherto liued I pray you sir knight said hee shew mee your aduentures and who hath brought you into this place from whence very hardly you will euer be able to returne again but rather are in danger of most cruell death or to indure the most horrible imprisonmēt that euer was heard of which would gréeue me much not only for the great beauty and young yeares that I perceiue to be in you but for that you are my natiue countryman Father answered the knight you haue done mee great pleasure to shew me the manner of your life and bringing vp neuerthelesse before I satisfie your request tell mee if it pleaseth you wherfore when you spake of king Lisuart you séemed so sad which made mee coniecture that you know some thing touching him Sonne said the Hermit you shall vnderstand that a doughter of mine seruant to the lady whereof I spake not long since came hether to sée me and told mee that hee mistresse returning from great Brittaine whether shee went to deliuer a brother of hers out of prison brought with her very secretly a knight of great estimation as shee said neuerthelesse I cannot assure you who it is but as I haue learned since they say the two Giants sonnes were much pleased therewith which maketh mee doubt considering the newes you haue shewed mee touching king Luisart that he is most likely to be the man for shée is so well séene in the art of Nigromancy and Magicke that oftentimes shee procureth mischief vnto those that neuer offended her And in what countrey are wee now said the knight You are betwéene the marches of Turky and Gréece said the Hermite for this mountaine parteth both the countries but it is so strong not onely by
him goe in and there shalt thou finde the prisoner Ladie saied the knight if it were to fight I would not faile to doe your commandement but if by subtiltie I should be shut in prison you would laugh at me that I had no more wit but to put my trust in you wherefore goe you in first that whatsoeuer happeneth you may haue your part I sée well saied the lady that my labour is in vaine and all my art is nothing in respect of thée therefore I am content to doe thy will but we haue no light to sée Care you not for that saied he for I will prouide you light and with that hee pulled of the taffata that couered the scabberd of his sword whereby there was so great a brightnesse in the place as if the sunne had shone therein Then they descended into a caue where the knight perceiued king Luisart lie vpon a couch of straw with a great coller of yron about his necke and fetters on his legs whereby he indured no little paine whereat hee was so gréeued that for sorrow the teares ranne downe his eies yet would hee not disclose himselfe vnto him neither once vtter what hee thought but without making himselfe knowne said vnto him Noble king you haue beene ouerlong within this filthy place rise vp I pray you and follow mee When the king heard him speake in that manner hée made no other account but to end his daies at that time wherewith he could not refraine to wéepe and speaking vnto the old lady asked her if she knew him For saied hee since I entered into this place I neuer saw any knight nor any one that spake vnto me but that little sustenance I had was let downe at a hole from the top of this dungeon TheÌ„ she answerd him and in great despight said Thou accursed king if I had not knowne thée I would neuer haue taken paines to fetch thée so farre from hence as I haue done cursed bee the time when first I tooke it vpon mee for thou onely art the cause of my great sorrow and the sole instrument of my bereaued ioies In faith lady saied the king I know not what you meane and am very sorry for your heauinesse for I neuer sought but to doe honour and pleasure vnto all ladies and Gentlewomen that desired the same and for them haue I oftentimes enterprised many dangerous aduentures to the great perrill and hazard of my life and if it hath happened otherwise vnto you it is altogether vnknown to mee and wholly against my will wherefore I be séech you bee not offended with me but tell me where I am and in whose power I now remaine a prisoner in so great misery or by my soule I know it not neither can I so much as conceiue which way I came into this place only I remember that to second a Gentlewoman that a villaine would haue forced I entered into a tent but what happened vnto mée after that I know not but that now I find my selfe lying on straw like a théefe with yrons on my legs King said she the short time of thy continuance in this darknes hath not satisfied as I well hoped it would the great mischief I doe wish thée and that for good cause séeing that by thée onely I haue indured so much sorrow that if the heart and bowels were taken out of my body they would bee found as burning whote as flaming fire and especially for the new displeasure I haue nowe conceiued to sée thée so soone deliuered out of my hands being in good hope by thy long imprisonment to satisfie my losses past but yet I am deceiued for that fortune hath now made mee pay the vsury of my forepassed ioies hauing giuen thée into my handes from whence by the exquisite force of this diuell incarnate thou art now deliuered who hauing put to death the Gardians of this castle and slaine mine owne sonne hath constrained mee to bring him vnto thée which I neuer thought hée could haue done much lesse that euer I should haue yéelded vnto his request knowing the wrath of a woman not to haue any bridle or meanes of mittigation vntill her desired reuenge hath wrought the effect and so had it happened vnto thée without the force of this my enemy but in despight both of him and thée with mine owne handes I will slay my selfe if my aâ—cursed fortune bereaue mee not the sooner of my wretched daies Cursed bée both thou and thy King thou now hast found saied shee vnto the knight Now take him and doe thy pleasure with him I pray you then lady said hée vnlose his irons and helpe mee to lead him vp with that shee tooke the keies out of her pocket and opened the lockes of his chaines whereby the King rose vp vpon his féet and embracing the blacke Knight saied vnto him What great good or pleasure sir Knight did I euer doe you whereby you should purchase this liberty vnto me By my soule I sweare that besides the honour you haue obtained in this place you haue so much bound me vnto you that during my life I shall neuer forget your courtesie wherefore if you loue me let me know your name Noble King said the knight whosoeuer I am I account my selfe happy if many sort I may be able to doe you seruice as for the rest pardon mee if it pleaseth you and let vs goe out of this caue thanking God that oftentimes sendeth scourges vnto those hee loueth as in his heauenly wisedome he thinketh conuenient thereby to kéepe them in obedience vnto him The King pecreiuing well by the knights words that he desired not to be knowne and for the same cause kept his helmet on his head therefore hee determined not to mooue him any more but with that they went all thrée out of the caue and came into a goodly hall when the sunne began to goe downe CHAP. V. How that after King Luisart was deliuered out of prison Matroco Frerions elder brother with his ships arriued at the foot of the rocke called La Roche defendu and of the battell betweene the said Matroco and the blacke knight KIng Luisart the black knight and the lady being entred into the hall as they looked out at the windowes into the sea there entered a Gentlewoman and doing reuerence vnto the lady shee saied Madame your sonne Matroco with his ships is euen now arriued at the foote of the rock with him great numbers of other vessels that he hath taken vpon the seas What is your pleasure to say vnto him When the ladie heard her shee waxed pale and with teares in her eies answered her and said I would to God he were as farre from hence as hee is néere for my heart giueth mee he will spéed in the like maner that others haue done before him And as shee spake king Luisart and the knight looked into the sea and perceiuing the Giants fléet surging on the shoare out of wind
that my soule sustained I haue to the contrary aduanced mine owne shame and vtter ruine iustly receiuing the reward that belongeth vnto such as refusing the better part thinke to remedy one mischiefe by procuring a worse vpon themselues Madame said the Giant if at this present you haue receiued great losse by the death of some of your friends neuerthelesse you ought not to take it so offensiuely séeing they haue ended their daies in honourable combate as behooueth all worthy knights such as they were And as for me think you that for feare of death I will refuse to doe that whereunto by knighthood I am bound No no likewise what reason or what excuse should moue me being as I am both fresh and wel disposed to refuse the combat alone against one simple knight I deny not madame but confesse that affection causeth you to vse these words and shew the nature of a woman but you must conceiue think with your selfe that I answere you as it becommeth me preferring mine honour before your teares wherefore I beséech you suffer mee to take the small vengeance I can vpon the villaine that hath so much offended mee Matroco saied the knight thou reckonest before thine host I would not for all the gold in the world lose such an occasion offered as I now haue both for mine honour and aduantage Beléeue mee that neither thy mothers teares nor the duty thou owest vnto her as being her child can by any meanes prolong the end of thée or me if without dissimulation thou doest not by oath promise and assure mée to liue in as good sort from this time fâ—rwards as in times past thou hast liued wickedly Wherefore it were better for thée to make mee know by effect the Prowesse thou vauntest thy selfe to haue and for me to let thée sée the curtesie which it may bee thou shalt find at my hands if I ouercome thée When the lady perceiued that her prayers could take no place she left them and the two knights began to runne one vpon the other so brauely and with such fury that king Luisart beholding them thought he neuer saw so cruel a battell the which abashed him more was that hee could not presume how or in what manner the blacke Knight had found him in so strange a place and yet he knew him not sometime hee thought him to be Amadis but when he remembred the loue he bare vnto the lady Oriana that hee had newly married hee was otherwise persuaded and likewise hee remembred very well the combates hee had séene Amadis de Gaule make at Windsore against Dardan le Superbe and after that with Ardan Canile wherein hee vsed all his forces yet were they not comparable to those of the blacke knights who as then found himselfe as fresh and wel disposed to fight as if hee had not fought all the day before Againe when he thought it to be his nephew Esplandian for that Vrganda had foreshewed many wonderfull things of him he was soone dissuaded from that opinion by reason hée left him with the quéen his mother not once séeking to receiue the order of knighthood and although that since his departure out of Brittaine he might haue obtained that honour yet did hee estéeme it impossible for Esplandian to doe so valiantly at the first Further Vrganda had alwaies prophesied of him that the first valiant acts he should atchieue should be renowned and spoken of by his strange fearefull nauigation in the great serpent wherein he should be imbarked and for the blacke knight he knew he arriued there in a little barke vnfurnished whereby he estéemed it vnlikely to be his nephew Esplandian But hée thought hee neuer had séene so valiant and hardy a knight for the longer he fought the more he wearied and laboured Matroco Neuerthelesse hee continued fighting for the space of two hours together before it could be iudged who should haue the victory but in the end the Giant féeling himselfe wounded in so many places his armour altogether broken and his shield halfe clouen in two began to mistrust his owne force Wherefore stepping backe he staied his hand and saied Knight I pray thée let vs breath our selues a while and hear what I wil offer thée which cannot bee other then to thy honour and aduantage With that the knight stood still and Matroco began to speake saying I wonder sir knight what mooued thée to venture in this manner vpon this rocke wherein neuer any but thy selfe durst enterprise to come during my fathers life neither yet sithence that by his death I haue ben lord therof and besides this thy enterprise wherein thou hast done the thing that all others feared to doe before thée thoâ—â—â—st also slaine thrée of my friends whereof two of them as I thinke were the best knights in their time liuing on the earth whereby I haue iust cause to hate thee more then any man liuing But when I call to minde that thou hast done therein like a valiant and hardy knight I haue some reason to pardon thée and to estéem thee for one of the valiantest champions that euer I saw in all my life although I haue both prooued and vanquished many others longer practised in armes stronger then thy selfe Wherfore if the onely cause of thy arriuall in this place was to deliuer the king that looketh on vs I am content thou take and lead him hence in safety and for the same cause likewise I quite thée of the combate vpon condition that without long soiourning here thou shalt presentlie depart out of this castle that belongeth vnto mee When the blacke knight had heard him hée answered him and saied Giant as farre as I perceiue thou estéemest it a great enterprise that I haue done to come hether and find thée here within thy castle where by mee those that thou so much lamentest haue ben slaine but if thou knewest the maister that I serue to whom as duty bindeth mée I am obedient thou shouldest presently perceiue and plainely sée this enterprise by thée estéemed much to bee nothing in comparison of that hee is able to doe and bring to passe for that from him onely and none other procéedeth all whatsoeuer I haue done whereby of good right the glory belongeth vnto him and to the contrary you that are idolaters serue those that are accustomed to rocke and lul you asléepe in all kind of vices cruelties outrages thefts murthers and infinite other wickednesse which for a time doe prosper with you whereby you liue in honour riches and all worldly pleasures and so are nulled in all filthinesse but surely such manner of life may well bee compared to buildings erected vpon the sands that cannot â—ontinue long but are most sure to haue an euil end euen then â—hen they are estéemed to bee at the top of all their worldly felicity Like as it happened vnto Lucifer and his fellswes whereof it may be thou hast heard spoken Neuerthelesse if thou wilt
called Le beau tenebreux whereof I speak would not permit but sent the messenger back againe well beaten wherewith my sonne being moued thought to haue her by force but it fell out otherwise for him for at the first encounter the knight with one blow with his sword thrust him into the body whereof hee died and as much had chanced to his vncle Arcalaus if his horse had not saued him by running away hauing first lost foure of his fingers on the right hand Yet fortune not contenting her selfe with this mischiefe prepared me a worse for my husband who for his valour and prowes was feared and redoubted throughout all Asia and Europe was cruelly slaine by the same murtherer of Lindoraque vpon the same day the battell was fought if thou canst remember it whereby euer sithence I remained a widdow with my other sonnes as thē very yong and tender of age with whom I haue passed the greatest part of my daies most extreamely wéeping and lamenting with continuall sadnesse which had ben more gréeuous vnto mee had it not ben for the hope I conceiued of their valour and prowesse But to come to the point of my discourse time reason hauing in a maner suppressed my forepassed sorrows news was brought me of the last victory thou diddest obtaine by the Prowesse of the knight named Le beautenebreux now as it is said called Amadis de Gaule and likewise of my brothers imprisonment wherwith I was so gréeued that respecting not my old yeares I tooke vpon me to trauaile into Brittaine hoping by some meanes to get him out of thy hands But before I arriued there I had certain newes of his deliuery neuerthelesse considering with my selfe the forepassed iniuries I haue receiued by thy kinsmen namely by that wicked wretch Amadis de Gaule I determined before my returne hether to finde the meanes to make him knowe that small good will I beare him But hauing imploied all my art and finding it in vaine to worke any further therein against him by reason of a ring he beareth daily on his finger giuen him by that wicked enchauntresse Vrganda I determined to proue my skill which could not take effect in him against thée being aduertised of thy often riding to hunt with very fewe in thy company where I made thée sée one of my Gentlewomen and a villaine that would defloure her whom thou thoughtest to succour and if thou now remembrest mee I am the very same thou foundest in the pauillion following after him that fled before thée and there thou remainedst inchaunted from whence wee carried thée into our barke and without knowledge vnto any but mine owne seruants thou wast brought hether by sea with full deliberation to cause thée languish in prison in the meane time with the helpe of my allies and friends thy countrey should bée inuaded but I find my selfe deceiued For that this place which neuer was conquered by any power whatsoeuer the kings of Turkie or the Emperours of Constontinople could euer bring against it in lesse then one day is both conquered and taken by one simple knight with the losse of my two sonnes and others estéemed Paragons among the best knights in the world whereby it may clearely be perceiued that by means of thy captiuity there is much more mischiefe happened vnto mee then sorrow to thy person While Arcabonne made this long discourse the king that still beheld her in the face remembred well it was she to whom hée spake in the pauillion wherefore hee said vnto her In good faith madame I now beléeue you better then at the first yet mee thinketh you doe mee wrong to make mee beare the burthen of another mans offence Thinkest thou so said shee No truly for thy imprisonment only had wrought great domage vnto diuers men but to me and mine great profit and aduantage It might be so answered the king notwithstanding I will not cease to doe you all the fauour and pleasure that I can In the meane time I pray you take your aduersity with as great constancy as you may By my soule saied she thou speakest at thy pleasure and therewith in a great fury shee went into Matrocos chamber leauing the king that had not eaten all that day wherefore hee called maister Elizabeth and the other company that meane time had prepared his meate and sitting downe to supper they discoursed of the talke hee and Arcabonne had together till it was time to goe to rest when the king went to bed leauing Libee to guard the castle CHAP. VII How the Giant Matroco died whereat Arcabonne was in such a fury that hauing failed to kill King Luisart shee threw her selfe headlong out of a window into the sea KIng Luisart was not fully asléepe but hee was forced to awake by meanes of a crie of women that hee heard making great lamentation wherefore starting vp and calling maister Elizabeth and the rest of his company he tooke a hatchet which he had laied vnder the bolster of his bed and went to sée what it meant and as he passed through the hall hee perceiued Arcabonne comming towards him couered onely with a mantle wringing her hands tearing her haire making great sorrow Wherwith the king went to her asking her what she meant Alas said she that which I most feared and euer sithence yesterday most assuredly expected is fallen out and as she vttered those words shee pulled out a naked sword that shee bare vnder her arme wherewith shee meant to kill the king But as fortune would he perceiued the blow comming and stepped aside and with the force of the blow the sword hitting vpon the pauement fell out of the old womans hands wherewith the king stepped vpon it and when hee stooped to take vp Arcabonne perceiuing the chamber dore where maister Elizabeth was to bee open shee ranne thether and threw herselfe out at a window into the sea the king followed her not but went into the chamber where Matroco lay and perceiuing him to bee dead came foorth againe into the hall where hee met maister Elizabeth that tolde him newes of Arcabonnes death In good truth saied hée there is no extremitie like to that of a woman behold I pray you with what fury she was possessed for as I issued out of the chamber I met her and thinking with faire spéeches and good persuasions to comfort her shée failed not much to kill mee with this sword that I haue in my hand and as they beheld it the king knew it to bee the same he wore when hee was inchaunted which pleased him so wel that he saied Ha good sword the best and faithfullest companion that euer man had how many victories haue I had by thy meanes and what combats and aduentures haue I brought to an end with thy helpe And by great misfortune hauing lost thée thou knewest mee for being in a mad womans hands that with thée would haue slaine mee thou hast not onely denied her that
the sea although hee is well known by the name of Frandalo for by his valor hée hath brought in subiection the greatest part of all this sea pilling and taking all hée findeth and by force of weather hath beene constrained to put into this Island his other vessels being scattered so farre heare him named Notwithstanding one thing ouercommeth him and vanquisheth his most couragious heart which is your grace my good lady said she whom he loueth honoureth and desireth to serue while life indureth But knowing not if his seruice would be accepted of he durst not presume to come himselfe in person to offer you the same although by him that next after your selfe may most commaund him hee had expresse charge to present it vnto you as bound thereto by promise And to the end you may giue credite to my wordes hee sendeth you this ring which is the very same you gaue to Amadis being in this Court if your grace can call it to remembrance With that Leonorine tooke it in her hand and beholding it long time she saied vnto the Gentlewoman Truly this ring was sometimes mine which I gaue vnto the best knight nowe liuing in the world In faith said the Gentlewoman a better knight then hée hath sent it you againe and that is my lord Esplandian his sonne I neuer sawe him that I know off said she True it is maister Elizabeth told me of a yoong Gentleman sonne to the knight with the greene sword that not long since was made knight in the Ferme Isle Vrganda being present and the next day was carried away in a strange ship of whome as then they could beare no newes Madame said Carmelle I know not who the knight with the gréen sword may be but he whereof I shew you hath had such a beginning in armes that if it be your pleasure to heare it you will bee abashed thereat tell it I pray you said the Princesse But as the Gentlewoman began to speak one brought the Princesse news the Emperour her father was come from hunting and asked for her wherewith shée knowing what pleasure her father would take to heare newes tooke Carmelle by the hand and led her into the Emperours chamber and doing reuerence vnto him she said My lord here is a strange Gentlewoman that can tell you newes of the good knight with the gréene sword and of his sonne likewise of whome maister Elizabeth made a long discourâ—â— and she hath ben conducted hether by two knights of the Ferm Isle whereof one of them hath fought with Frandalo and hath presented him vnto me and staying your returne I haue sent them into a chamber to refresh themselues Doughter said the Emperour both they and the Gentlewoman are most heartely welcome My lord saied Carmelle God preserue your grace without further honour vnto him shee stoode still and held her peace whereat all the company began to smile thinking that want of ciuilitie caused her to forget her selfe But not long after they changed their opinion Carmelle beginning to speak in this maner My lord I haue beene nourished all my life among the best knights liuing in the world yet let not your grace find it strange if at the first being in your maiesties presence I haue vsed so little honour to your grace whereby your Gentlemen should haue cause to laugh at mee For that want of vnderstanding howe to behaue my selfe in presence of so great a Prince is not the cause thereof but onely the ioy I conceiue in my selfe to bee a seruant vnto him whom I more estéeme then any man liuing and I only hold for my lord and maister not knowing any worthier then he And if it pleaseth your grace to know who it is together with the cause of my arriuall in this countrey I pray you send for the two knights that brought mée hether I will shew such things whereat it may be your grace will be abashed Gentlewoman saied the Emperour you shall therein doe mee great pleasure Wherewith hee commanded a Gentleman to goe fetch the two straunge knights who comming into the Emperours presence hauing kissed his handes and he welcommed them in courteous manner he willed two chaires to bee brought wherein hee set them being a Prince that alwaies entertained straungers with great honour especially if hee knew them to be of forraine countries That done all the knights Gentlewomen and ladies went néere to heare the Gentlewomans spéech when shee turning vnto the Emperour said in this manner My lord I thinke your grace hath long before this time knowne the castle called La montaigne defendu the which during the life of valiant Chartadaque and since that time you and the king of Turkie haue diuers time assailed to winne although in vaine it hath alwaies been so well defended by the Giants Matroco and Frerion yet in one day a knight alone hath conquered it slain the two giants whereof I spake with their vncle Arcalaus and Argantes the Porter of the same And which is more hath deliuered king Luisart that lay prisoner therein no man knowing it for hée had ben surprised in great Brittaine and secretly brought from thence by Arcabonne lady of the castle The which lady falling in despaire threw her selfe out of a window into the sea And to the end your grace may knowe how all hath happened it is so saied shee that Arcabonne who as then I serued hauing intelligence of her brothers imprisonment in the Ferme Isle departed expressely from the castle hoping to deliuer him but before she got thether he was set at liberty Notwithstanding she being loth to loose her labour to bee reuenged thereof did so much by her art that she got king Luisart as then hunting in the forrest into her tent the king thinking to succour a Gentlewoman that as hee thought a knight would haue defloured where he was so cruelly inchaunted that losing all his sences hee was transported without any mans knowledge into the dungeon of the castle where my lord and maister found him And continuing her discourse she shewed in what manner Esplandian was made knight and séeking to find the king hée was carried by the boat of the great serpent into the Isle of the Enchauntresse where he conquered the shining sword and after that brought in a little barke to the foote of the rocke called La montaigne defendu the spéech hee had with the Hermite the combates with Argantes Matroco and Frerion the desperatenesse of Arcabonne the determination she had to kil him when she found him sléeping in the hermitage the loue wherwith she was sodainly surprised And lastly the means how king Luisart knew him for my lord said she he is son of Amadis his son and of the Princesse Oriane And because at his departure froÌ„ his father he gaue him in coÌ„mandement to come serue the Princes Leonorine your doughter with the other ladies according to his promise he hath expressely sent me hether humbly beséeching theÌ„
many times you shall desire death And opening the packet she tooke forth a white armour all set with crownes of gold inriched with Pearles and Diamonds most sumptuous to behold Which Esplandian with harty thanks vnto Vrganda and the messenger receiued willingly This as I thinke madame said Carmelle is the cause why he hath ben called the blacke knight but I suppose séeing hee hath chaunged his deuise he will likewise change his name The Princesse Leonorine knew thereby that all these thinges were saied as touching her wherewith shee felt an alteration in her mind for that loue by little and little began to burne her heart which shee had willingly couered but Carmelle by the changing of her colour which sometimes waxed pale and sometimes redâ— the sundry motions wherewith swéet loue did pricâ—e her 〈◊〉 heart perceiued it â—ull well in such manner that being no longer able to abstaine â—rom sighing as if she had spoken to her selfe she said I pray God his beginning may proue a happy end Wherâ—with Carmelle perceiuing her maisters suâ—â—â— prospeâ— with effeâ—t the better to encrease the desire of the lady 〈◊〉 said vnto her madame he hath commanded me not to stay long here for till my returne he doth continue in excéeding paine and neuer shall bée frée if hee receiue no comfortable answere from your â—race Gentlewoman saied â—he Princesse I were the most vngratefull Princesse liuing on â—he earth if I should doe so but tell him I pray you from me that I giue him hearty thankes for the courtesies hee offereth mee by you and when he once arriueth here hée shall soone know the great good will I beare him As also that I hold him for my knight for proofe whereof you shall on my behalfe present him with this â—airelace as being the first present that Grimanaise my grandfather gaue to his Appolidon being but her louer Wherewith taking a cloth of tissue from her head she vnbound her hair and deâ—iuered the hairelace vnto her and sending for a gowne imbroâ—ered all with crownes of gold gaue it her likewise But saied shee because the two knights haue promised the Emperour not â—o depart from hence till eight daies are past you shall stay for them and all together return vnto the castle called La montaigne defendu which she willingly graunted CHAP. XXIII How newes was brought vnto the Emperour that Armato king of Turkie had besieged the castle of La montaigne defendu and of the charge he gaue Frandalo with Manely and the king of Denmarke to goe succour it IN manner as you heard before the two knights of the Ferme Isle and Carmelle staied at Constantinople where there arriued a certaine shippe that brought a Squire on message from Talanque and Ambor to certefie the Emperour that Armatâ— king of Turkie aduertised of the death of Matroco had besieged the castle La montaigne defendu both by land and sea desiring him to send some aid otherwise they should bée constrained to yéeld the same not hauing victuals nor men for to defend it The Emperor hearing those newes and considering the truce betwéene him and the king of Turkes as also that hee had not any men prepared for to send neither Gally Galliace ship nor Brigandine ready for the sea stood somewhat in amase But considering with himselfe of what importaunce that Frontier castle might bee vnto him if the enemy should obtaine it he determined by all meanes to hinder him from the same Wherfore calling for Frandalo and taking him aside he said vnto him Well Frandalo you are now my prisoner and it lieth in me either to hang you like a théefe or deliuer you with greater riches then euer you possessed which I promise you to doe if from this time forwards you sweare to bee my loiall subiect and faithfully to serue me when you are imploied My lord saied hee I beséech your grace wholly to forget the faults by me committed to your Maiestie swearing of my faith if it pleaseth you to pardon my offence you shal from henceforth find a seruant of me that in time will make you knowe by effect how much I estéeme this fauour at your hands Will you doe it said the Emperor I and it pleaseth your grace said he What is become of your Nauie saied the Emperour that in times past you held vpon the sea My lord saied Frandalo the winds tempests that lately happened on the sea hath so scattered them that I can heare no newes of them Neuerthelesse I am of opinion they may easily be brought together wherewith I will doe your grace seruice if you thinke good Doe it then saied the Emperor and that with spéed for I haue determined to raise the greatest army that euer hath been séene therewith to driue Armato king of Turkie out of the Frontiers of my Empire who not long since hath besieged La montaigne defendu And while my forces are preparing you with the two knights that of late came hether shall goe before and vsing meanes to assemble your men shall in the meane time giue the Turkes somewhat to doe My lord said Frandalo God giue me grace to doe you faithful seruice then be you ready in the morning saied he to depart from hence wherewith hée commanded Frandâ—â—os ship to bee rigged and prepared with al things necessary and finding Manely and the king of Denmarke he told them that he had receiued news from Talanque and Ambor touching the â—astle of La montaigne defendu and what hee had determined to doe as concerning their reléefe shewing them what had passed betweene him and Frandalo touching the same Wherefore my good friends saied hee because I well perceiue the great desire you haue to sée your companions me thinketh it were good you imbark your selues with him who goeth before to aduertise them of the aide I meane to send them My lord saied Manely it is our whole desires In the morning said the king you shal haue your bark ready and furnished with all things necessary and some other of my ships likewise to second you attending the great army my selfe dooth meane to bring But before their departure hee gaue them diuers rich presents which they refused contenting themselues with the honor and courteous intertainement hee had already giuen them and taking their leaue of all the court especially of the Princesse Leonorine they took sea and Carmelle with them hoping to haue her maisters great good will for the good newes she brought him But before we passe further to shew you what became of them I thinke it not out of our hystory to leaue Esplandian no longer at Miresleur but shew you what became of him being healed of his wounds CHAP. XXIIII How Esplandian healed of his wounds tooke leaue of king Luisart and all the court to goe vnto the Ferme Isle where hee left the great Serpent wherein accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil he imbarked himselfe to returne vnto the castle of La montaigne defendu MAny
hee could not sléepe till day began to appeare when Frandalo and the rest of his knights entred into his chamber to talke with him not only as touching the intertainement of their prisoners but of other thinges that much imported them And as they were in counsell together Gandalin came vnto them shewing them that king Armato desired for to speake with them wherevpon they went out of the chamber to heare what hee would say Frandalo could speake the Arabian tongue better then the rest for that hee had serued the king of Turkie and hee knew him very well wherefore Esplandian desired him to speake for all the rest And entring into the chamber Frandalo went first who knéeling on the ground kissed the kings hand With that Armato thinking hee had beene prisoner asked him where he was taken My lord saied he I am now become a Christian and a knight of Iesus Christ that hath done mee so much grace not long time since to call mee to bee one of his A Christian said the king is that possible By my soule it maketh mee more abashed then the cruell fortune that is now happened vnto mee for that all knights following armes ought patiently to beare those hazards that they fall into vsing necessitie as a vertue But thou vnhappy wretch that through feare and want of courage hast forsaken our iust and holy law wherefore takest thou not a rope and hangest thy selfe as vnworthy to goe vpon the earth My lord saied hee you may say what pleaseth you as being priueledged for the greatnesse of your estate yet I can assure you I neuer had so cowardly a heart as you estéeme I haue but rather account my selfe happie to haue done that I haue done Yet will I not refuse to doe you seruice my honour still reserued in any thing I can With that Armato remembred himselfe and thought hee did him wrong wherefore moderating his choler he saied vnto him Friend Frandalo If it gréeueth mee to haue lost you let it not séeme strange vnto you séeing now I had greater hope then euer I haue had to bée serued by your meanes But séeing it is so you knowe howe I haue vsed you heretofore now I pray you if you may doe any thing for mee to finde the meanes with your companions that I may bee deliuered from hence by some reasonable composition My lord saied Frandalo pointing to Esplandian This is hee that hath all power and authoritie in this place both ouer you and mee With that Armato looked vpon him and perceiuing him so yoong without a beard thought Frandalo saied it to excuse himselfe wherefore hee asked if he mocked him God forbid I should doe so my lord saied Frandalo but I pray you beléeue me for it is true that my lord Esplandian standing here before you is he and none other that slew Matroco Frerion Arcalaus the inchanter and Argantes the Porter of the castle which hee conquered as you haue been aduertised By my head saied the king I would hardly haue estéemed him for so braue a man but séeing it is so I pray thee doe somewhat with him touching the thing I told you of euen now Beléeue mée my lord said Frandalo there shall want no good will in me and with that hee bad him God morrow and leauing him with his guard they went into the hall where they found the tables ready couered for dinner for it was about noone time But as Esplandian rested ill that night so hee made but a meane dinner not being able to withdraw his mind from thinking on the princesse Leonorine which was the cause that the Tables being vncouered hee went into his chamber without any company onely the king of Denmarke whom he loued as himselfe where being together he began to shew him the cause why he sent Carmelle to Constantinople as also what affection hee bare to the Princesse Leonorine And to the end said he you bee participant of my ioy I pray you let vs haue her here that shee may shew vs what shee learned in her voyage My lord saied the king of Denmarke if you saw her apparrelled in the gowne the Princesse gaue her I am assured you will scarse knowe her at the first Will you that I send her word to bring it hether It is well saied saied Esplandian with that he called a Squire sending him to Carmelle that as theÌ„ was in company of Arcabonnes Gentlewomen but vnderstanding Esplandians pleasure went presently to apparrell her selfe as hee had willed her and hauing a mantle on her shoulders because she would not be séene went to him in his chamber where she found him and the king of Denmarke talking together but as soon as he espied her he tooke her in his armes and setting her in a chair couered with veluet saied vnto her My goodfriend I meane to shew my companion you sée here how much I loue and estéeme him wherefore I pray you shew me before him what intertainement the princesse Leonorine gaue you knowing you came from me and whether I find any fauour in her sight My lord said she as soone as I was arriued and that she vnderstood the cause of my comming vnto her I found her no lesse yours then you hers whereby I may estéeme you the happiest knight liuing in the world And know you why She is so faire and of so comely personage that vnlesse it bee her selfe none can resemble her and of truth shee dooth farre surpasse all other ladies for being alone in her priuate chamber playing on some instrument or singing for her pleasure she stealeth and rauisheth the harts seperated from the bodies of such as either heare or sée her and if at sometimes she attireth her selfe after the Italian manner with a cap of that country fashion then you may sée her faire and glistering haire part giuing a certaine shadow on her vermilion chéekes the rest knit vp together inuironing her head shewing with farre better grace then any crowne that she could weare bée it of stones laurell or the finest gold that may be found But if that be a temptation vnto man her two humble and modest eies like two suns giue them as many deaths as they at times behold the same and againe reuiueth them better â—hen at the first and all at one instant whereat you must not 〈◊〉 abashed séeing that loue it selfe doth often skirmish and striue in them thereby to yéeld both pain and pleasure vnto those that doe behold the same and if hée touch her he feareth to hurt her as being in most extreame passions of loue And not without a cause for that nature hauing made her brake the mould that shee might be the only perfect creature accompanied with so many vertues that loue findeth nothing in her but bones to gnaw vpon And I assure you my lord that speaking vnto her of those thinges you had giuen mee in charge I plainely perceiued her by the changing of her countenance to be charged with the
rather then threatnings would become him better Haue you already forgotten the prison wherein you are and in the handes of those that haue so small occasion to wish you well My lord vertue is neuer better knowne to bee in man but then when hee is in most distresse Wherefore if vntill this time you haue not knowne what constancy doth meane learne hereafter to discerne the same vsing words worthy your estate and not such nor so iniurious as you haue vttered vnto my lord Gastilles who in this place representeth the person of an emperor a greater lord then you in whose mercy your life or death consisteth for we are all his souldiours ready to doe him seruice The king perceiuing well that hee had done them wrong and fearing to bee hardlier vsed then hee was accustomed to bee saied vnto Esplandian Sir Knight I pray you pardon my impatience considring with your selfe the great gréef and melancholy humour wherein I am when I that was wont to be feared and redoubted of al the princes in Asia am now constrained to obay the will and pleasure of my greatest enemies which vnto me is so extreame gréefe that I die each day a hundred times because I cannot die But Esplandian answered not one word but leauing him with his gard taking Gastilles by the hand led him into one of his best chambers where they supped The next day they assembled all together and after many matters propounded it was agréed among them according to Frandalos aduise that they should enter into Turkie being as then in great perplexity as well for the taking of king Armato as for the ouerthrow of his army as it shall bee shewed vnto you hereafter for at this time wee will cease to speake thereof returning to shew you of king Luisart that during this time for the most part held his court in the citty of London CHAP. XXVIII How the greatest part of the knights that vsed to be at king Luisarts court returned vnto their owne houses and of the coronation of Amadis and Oriane at London YOu haue heard before of the combat betwéene Esplandian and Amadis his father and how after long time of their abode at Mirefleur staying the healing of their wounds Esplandian desiring to returne vnto the castle La montaigne defendu tooke his leaue of king Luisart the like did diuers of the knights that as then were at the Court as Galaor king of Sobradise Agraies Gransador Balan Galuanes and Angriotte d'estrauaulx some to sée their wiues others to tast the ease and pleasant rest of their mansion houses whereby it happened the court was lesse replenished with knights then it had beene in long time before especially by reason of the newes they heard from the castle La montaigne defendu whether diuers yong knights trauailed to aide Esplandian King Luisart therefore so meanely accompanied as I said before being very old and decrepit began to bée melancholy and to haue the palsie setting aside all Hunting Hawking Armes and Chiualry or any other pleasure whatsoeuer And with a remēbrance of death so much abhorred all things past present and to come that he estéemed them vaine and altogether transitory whereby he determined to depose himselfe of all kingly estate and gouernment of his realme to passe the rest of his time in a solitary and religious manner specially when he called to mind the great perils from whence he had escaped and aboue all his last most dangerous and cruell imprisonment Neuerthelesse for a time hee kept it secret vntill one night hee being a bed with the Quéene where they lay talking of the sicklenesse of this world hee discouered his whole mind vnto her and how hée determined to make Amadis his sonne king and gouernour of his country to the end he might fréely and without any interruption withdraw himself to his castle of Mirefleur where by Gods helpe he meant to liue a solitary life The Quéene that was one of the wisest and deuoutest ladies in her time confirmed him so well in his opinion that they agréed to returne to London there to accomplish their pretence And the next day they departed from Mirefleur accompanied of Amadis Gransador and others and comming to London after they had remained there a certaine time the Quéene sent for all the nobilitie who being arriued at the court caused a scaffold to bee made in the principall place of all the citty where the people might repaire And as he and the Quéene both apparrelled in their roiall robes each set in a chaire of estate Amadis sitting somwhat lower on his right hand and Oriane on the left were come thether a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéepe silence ◠the king with a stately countenaunce and Princely magnanimitie turning to the people saied vnto them My good friends and loial subiects before I begin to shew you the cause why I haue made you to repaire vnto this place I wil put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I haue often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris whē it pleased God to call me vnto the gouernment of this land and as I thinke there are yet many of you liuing that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the meanes and subtletie of Arcalaus the inchanter I was deliuered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my sonne Amadis deliuered mee Yet not long after by euill counsell I made warre against him which ended as all men know fortune enuious of my felicitie afterward prepared mee such a banket that without his helpe I had beene prisoner with king Arauigne and vtterly ouerthrowne And that which hath yet more astonished mee was that when I thought my selfe sure and out of danger of all mishaps a worse then all the former suddainely chanced vnto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verely to haue ben the end and consumation of my daies Neuerthelesse the Lord God regarding me in pitty sent my yong sonne Esplandian to my sorrowfull prison from whence hée hath deliuered mee as no doubt you haue heard Now my good subiects you all sée mée to bee very old and white haired hauing already attained to the thréescore and tenth yeare of mine age which maketh me think it time now to forget all wordly pleasures and to serue God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I haue determined from henceforth to forsake all royall dignity and leaue you my son Amadis for your king to whome at this time I yéeld both my Crowne Scepter and all the right I haue vnto the gouernement of this land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will bee faithfull and true subiects vnto him as you haue alwaies ben to me And although hée bée but my sonne in law if I knew him vnworthy of the place beléeue
or some of his companie if they chaunced to stray abroad Frandalo not willing to deny them any reasonable request agréed with the consent of Esplandian to depart the next night following and to take with thē to the number of fourescore knights and no more which Esplandian liked well he minding to bee one Where vpon those that were appointed for the iourney prepared themselues and about sunne setting issued out of Alfarin Frandalo and Belleris knowing the country so well that they néeded no other guides but trauailed strait towards Tesifant and hauing ridden till eleuen of the clocke at night they came vnto a crosse way where Frandalo aduised them to deuide themselues in two companies willing the knights that before that time had neuer ben in Turkie to hold close together For said he the warres in these countries are far otherwise then they are in great Brittaigne where knights vse most commonly to trauaile alone without company and although they chaunce sometimes to ride in companies the least occasion that happeneth maketh them seperate themselues but here those that vse armes trauaile in great companies together whereby the combates that are fought here most commonly are rather battailes then incounters And more then this if thrée hundred Turkes chance to surprise one hundred thirtie twenty or lesse number of their enemies they take a pride to put them to death preferring reuenge before a certaine kind of honour that as I haue vnderstoode is kept and obserued in the West parts where combates are in a manner equall Wherefore my friends saied he I pray you seperate not your selues but march all in a company assuring you that in the place whether wee goe wee shall not faile to finde men sufficient against whome wee may imploy our forces and shewe what valour is in vs. I knowe that within halfe a mile of Tesifant Alphorax vseth oftentimes to lie at a house that hee hath caused to bee made called Gruobinach where if it bee our good fortunes wee may chaunce to finde him wherefore I am of aduise that we deuide our selues in two companies my nephew Belleris shall take the left hand and lie in ambush néere vnto the village of Ientinomele from whence hee may easily perceaue when any man issueth out of Tesifant and I with Esplandian and the other halfe of our companie will followe this way that bringeth vs vnto a valley néere to Gruobinach where we will secretly stay if néed require to succour each other whereunto they all agréed but before they departed thence they found their enterprise to be far more dangerous than they estéemed it as hereafter you shall heare Belleris and his companie leauing Frandalo trauailed so long that about two houres before day they met fixe souldiours whome Belleris saluted in the Arabian language asking them of what place they were My Lord said they we are going to the towne of Srasse My good friends said he we trauaile this night to Tesifante to aduertise the prince Alphorax of the great dommage and destruction the Christian dogges continually doe and within short spade haue done vnto the countrey round about for they are issued out of Alfarin haue taken and carried away all they can find and as yet are abroad not ceasing to execute all tyrannie they can deuise neuertheles if it pleaseth him to giue vs aid wée know the place of their retrait where we may easily inclose them not one of them shall escape What are you said the souldiours that bring vs these newes Friends said Belleris I am Roussan cousin to Eiraca ehiefe captaine of Tesifant We can tell you good newes of him said the souldiours wherewith we thinke you will be well pleased for he is not farre from hence being ridden out of Tesifant with two hundred knights to goe vnto Falandie to sée the same be not so lightly surprised as Alfarin was But because he willed vs to ride before wée will stay no longer wherewith they hadde them farewell Friends said Belleris the good fortune I wish you I pray God may happen vnto you With that the souldiours passed on their way but they had not gone farre when Belleris sent after them and fearing they would discouer his enterprise caused them to be slaine and therewith presently dispatched one of his Squires on message to Frandalo to aduertise him of the enemies béeing abroad with a verie strong and huge companie whereupon hée wished him to ioyne with them The Squire made all the hast hée could but before the newes came to Frandalo Belleris met with Eiraca and his company about the village of Ientinomele béeing vpon them before they had time to put on their helmets There did the captaine of Tesifant shewe himselfe to be no yoong beginner in armes for that like a valiant and hardy knight hee entered among the Christians and being seconded by his men did most valiantly defend themselues and assailed the enemy although at their first encounter ten of their brauest souldiours were vnhorsed and ouerthrowne And as Eiraca entered into the prease Norandel and he met together with such force that Norandel was wounded in the left shoulder but not sore hurt and the captaine of Tesifant loosing his stirrops was throwne ouer his horse with so great a strength that with the fall hee was forced to lie vpon the ground and could remooue neither hand nor foote which the Turkes perceauing to reléeue their captaine did so valiantly that they ouerthrew foure of the Brittish knights who neuerthelesse rose presently againe and with their swords in hand thrust so many of the Turkes horses into the sides and flanckes that in short space more then twentie of the Turkes were ouerthrowne likewise and many slain outright at that charge Enil and Gauarte were hurt and the rest so hardly handeled that without Frandalos company that came to succour them they had all beene ourthrowne and in truth they had almost straied too long but the Squire that Belleris sent vnto them could not ouertake them before they were in the valey where they should haue met And although they had heard the sound of their blowes yet did they not suspect any such perrill vntill the squire had done his message wherewith they ranne with all the spéed they could vnto the place where Belleris and his companions being out of breath did nothing but recule and defend themselues against their enemies blowes that had slaine diuers of them but that the captain of Tesifant would haue them to bee taken and presented to the Prince Alphorax Neuerthelesse Frandalo Esplandian and the rest of their company made them change opinion for when they perceaued their companions so hardly matched by the enemy they entered among them with such fury that had it not beene for Eiraca who at that time behaued himselfe most valiantly they had ouerthrown the Turks at their first onset but by reason of the great resistance hee made they continued fighting halfe an houre after wherein hée maintained himselfe
cast anker and going on land staied till day appeared CHAP. XXXIII How Esplandian and his company went vp vnto the broken pallace of the Enchaunteresse and of the straunge thinges they found there ESplandian and his company being on land not knowing the place where they were arriued caused a great fire to bee made about the which they thought to lie downe and sléepe but they heard such a noise from the top of the rocke that they were all abashed with that the winde began to cease and the sea to waxe calme the skie shewing full of starres and withall the mone shone so bright that it séemed as light as if it had ben day wherefore Esplandian desirous to know what the noise might bee determined to mount vp the rocke but he was counselled by his company to stay till the next day in the morning When Esplandian knew it certainely to be the rocke of the Enchauntresse and saied vnto the king of Denmarke In good truth I thinke I haue beene here before and take it to be the place whether the great Serpent brought me the same day I receaued the order of knighthood which putteth mee in better hope of our voiage then I had before which he saied remembring the scroll with the prophesie that he found in the lions paw Then he told the king of Denmarke how he conquered the sword he bare the death of the serpent all that he had séene vpon the rocke it is called said he the rock of the Enchauntresse By God said Gandalin you say trew for I remember that pursuing after a knight that led a Gentlewoman away I found your father king Amadis Grandasor here the knight likewise that I sought that had hiddeÌ„ himself in the old pallace vpoÌ„ this rock theÌ„ he told theÌ„ froÌ„ point to point what had happened vnto him the great loue the knight bare vnto the gentilwomaÌ„ he had carried away by force but said he before we departed she agréed with him they promised mariage to ech other although before the time shée hated him most deadly neuertheles vnderstanding that the force he vsed vnto her was only done for the loue he bare her she clean forgot her former hatred chaÌ„ging it to a most excéeding loue In good faith saied Carmelle as farre as I perceiue no man ought to dispaire of any thing hée taketh in hand no more will I during my life which shee said in respect of Esplandian who in time as shée thought might loue her whollie forget the Princes Leonorine And so long they talked that day began to apear theÌ„ Esplandian said to the king of Denmark CoÌ„panion I pray you stay here forme while I goe vp for I wil haue no body with me but Gandalin Enil they shal go with me not that I fear any danger that may happeÌ„ vnto me but only because they may help me to lift vp the tomb wherof I told you eueÌ„ now My lord said the king I pray you offer me not so much iniury for I will not leaue you though it cost mee my life especially in this place where I haue most great desire to sée that I neuer saw before Séeing it is your pleasure said Esplandian let vs go let our squires bring some victuals with them if we néed to eat before we come backe againe which the squires did wherwith they began to mount vp the rock and trauelled so long that about sunne setting they came vnto the hermitage where the great image was erected wherof you heard before where they stayed all night the next day they trauelled again came vnto the lake that ran before the old pallace because it began to be dark they determined not to trauel any further for the time to say the truth they were weary but all night the serpeÌ„ts the issued out of their holes to drink of the water ceased not to hisse and passe before about them to assaile them which they had not failed to doe had it not beene for the vertue of Esplandians sword wherevnto no venomous thinges might once approch or come néer Neuerthelesse they rested not but as soon as they might sée rose vp went on their way and passing by the ruinated monumeÌ„ts they came vnto the pallace of the enchantresse where they found the gates shut wherat Esplandian gaue so great a blow with his foot that they opened they entred into the place where the shining tombe stood with the lion vpon it Then Esplandian said vnto the thrée knights In good faith when I was here before I could not lift vp this plate I pray you each man prooue what you can do then I wil sée if I be grown stronger in the back theÌ„ I was at that time wherwith the king of Denmark assailed to doe it but what strength so euer hée vsed it was impossible for him the like did Gandalin Enil but they sped no better then the king wherat Esplandian began to laugh taking it by the two ends lifted it vp so easily as if it had been a péece of dry wood yet was it a péece of christall of thrée fingers thick about ten or twelue foote long vnder it they found an azure stone the fairest most orient color that euer was séene the couered a Ceader chest which smelt as swéet as any balme the chest being shut with a locâ—â—â— emerald stone hauing a key of diamoÌ„ds that hong by it at a chaâ—â— of fine gold al most artificially coÌ„posed the stone takeÌ„ vp the chest opened they found the image of Iupiter lying therein all of massy gold garnished with many pearles rubies other inestimable rich iewels especially a crown that he ware on his head about that which were placed certain Carboncles inform of Gréeke letters with these words Iupiter is great god of all gods in his right hand he bare a table coÌ„taining this prophesie WheÌ„ time shal come that my art knowledge shal faile the hart of the Hind inclosed herein life restored by theÌ„ that were the cause of death the Grecian sheep long time norished in plesant pastures shal be coÌ„strained to feed on a herb bitterer theÌ„ gal by means of the extremity the huÌ„gry sea wolues shal put theÌ„ vnto whose number shall be so great that they shall couer the sea in diuers places in such wise that the poore sheep inclosed in their great forrest diuers of their lambes being dead and torn in peeces their sheepheard hauing in a maner lost all hope of restoring theÌ„ againe with anguish of heart and mind in abundance of teares shall lament their great misfortune Then shall come the braue Lions whelpe by whose meanes that great troope of wolues shall be driuen away and destroyed Neuerthelesse hee shall take from the sheepeheard his great power and the best beloued of his sheepe wherevpon he shal seaze in such sort that his strong teeth and sharpe clawes shall enter into her
one instant presented themselues she ranne in all hast to fetch cold water which throwing in her face she reuiued again Where with the Quéene said vnto her What Madame wil you throw the helue after she hatchet will you bée holden for a foole and loose the reputation that is spread of you throughout the world Where is the constancie the modestie and the wisdome wherewith you were woont to be adorned Must you for one word which you misvnderstand forget your selfe so much Suppose it were true that Esplandian should be dead can you call him againe by this tormenting your selfe For Gods sake be patient and if the worst be you may prooue if it be so and not fall into this kind of fantasie vpon your owne imaginations Carmelle hath tolde you that the thing you most desire in all the worlde is inclosed in this tombe is it therfore to be said Esplandian should not be aliue Thinke you he is the first man that hath done the like for his beloueds sake This I assure you that although I breake the tombe and all that belongeth to it I will presently sée what may bée in it Alas cousin said the Princes I feare you will sée it ouer soone for me for if he be dead as I thinke he is assure your selfe I will beare him companie before it be day I pray you said the quéene be not vnhappy before your time but let me worke the feat hold then said Leonorine here is the keye the Carmelle left me which the Quéene tooke in her hand and entring into the chāber where the tomb stood she lifted vp the christall plate that done she spake aloud and asked if any bodie were within the same Esplandian to whom one houre séemed a whole yéere staying for that time and hearing the Quéene speake answered presently and said I Madame Who are you said Minoresse Madame said he I am the happy or vnhappy knight Esplandian that put my selfe into this tombe ready to receiue either death or life as it shall please the princes Leonorine to dispose Are you said the Quéene Esplandian sonne to the good knight with the Gréene Sword that by messages hath so often times promised to come and serue vs I madame said hée and that to accomplish my word haue caused my selfe to be brought hether in this manner If you wil promise me said the Quéene and sweare not to passe my commandement in that I shall appoint you to doe I will cause you both to sée and speake to her you desire so much to serue That will I promise you said he and a greater matter likewise so my lady be contēt It is inough saied the Quéene wherewith shee lifted vp the second plate and then opened the chest where in he lay and comming out he vsed great reuerence to the Quéene but as then he knew her not till she saied vnto him Sir Knight it may bee you haue heard of mée before this time I am Minoresse that to deliuer my Lady and you from the great paine you both indure hath taken you out of this your prison Wherefore I pray you stay here a while till I returne againe With that she went vnto the Princesse Leonorine that meane time for feare shooke like an aspen leafe and with a merry countenance saied vnto her Madame when wee haue a long and hard Winter it is commonly séene there followeth a pleasant Summer and after great sorow commeth excéeding ioy You haue be wailed your knight Esplandian for dead but neuer in all my life haue I séene a dead creature buried that was so faire and of so pleasant countenance as the dead man I haue found within the tombe I pray you come and sée it I be deceaued or not When the Princesse heard the Quéene vse those words touching Esplandian and to laugh withall with ioie her heart leaped in her body and rising out of her bed without speaking any word she ranne presently into the chamber at the entery whereof shee espied him shee had so much lamented who presently knéeled downe to kisse her hands But Leonorine was not as then disposed to vse ceremonies but forgetting her accustomed modestie and the grauitie required in her sexe especially the shamefastnesse that commonly is séene to be in wise and vertuous Ladies could not so much command her owne affections but cast her selfe into Esplandians arms kissing him wiih so great affection as if shee had séene loued and knowne him all her life time And assure your selfe if Quéene Minoresse had not drawne her backe and reprooued her lightnesse that at that instant those two louers had died in the place for that both their spirits had abandoned all their vitall parts to méet together at their mouths to imbrace each other euen to the extremity of their lips ready to passe further I say not but the Quéene Minoresse did thē wrong and likewise if any man would accuse Leonorine of folly or inconstancy I answere him againe that she is most easily to be excused both of the one and the other for although shee had neuer séene Esplandian before that time that in reason she should haue known him better before she shewed her selfe so priuat vnto him you must suppose as it is trew that loue had of long time before so well ingrauen him in her mind that she seased not to sée him euery day with her inward eies And as nature had studied to make her most perfect in all perfections whatsoeuer loue had likewise taken pleasure to make her the best beloued and the truest louer that euer was before her time Wherefore it is not to be maruelled if at the first shee shewed so good a countenance to her friend considring the pain great gréefe she had indured since the time Carmelle brought hir news These two louers being thus before each other Esplandiā stil knéeling séemed to be so rauished the quéen Minoresse could not refrain to say to Leonorine Madame me thinketh you should doe well to commaund the knight to rise vp lead him into your chamber where you may talk together while the night indureth if you think géed but to let him knéele still on the ground in good faith it is not wel My good friend said Leonorine he hath fled from vs for almost two years together now I mean to kéep him so néer me that he shall not easily escape away with that shée tooke him by the hand to lift him vp but hée would not stir but said vnto her Madame Gastilles not long since sent me word being at Alfarin that you were much offended with me I pray you shew me the cause for if I euer cōmitted fault against you it hath ben only in louing you with all my heart as I am bound to do Neuerthelesse if in your aduise I séem to haue presumed ouermuch pardon me I pray you giue me what punishment you shal thinke good My friend said she your absence hath procured me so great cause of
Gandalin shewed him from point to point what spéeches had passed betwéene the Princesse and him not only before the Emperour but also in the garden And of my faith sir saied hée you do her wrong considering the good meanes you haue both to satisfie her and your self for what excuse soeuer you can make you are not so sore charged on this side that you may not spare some time to goe and sée her which shee craueth at your hands That I wil doe saied Esplandian but I must find the meanes take you care for that said Gandalin and let me go sléepe for I neuer had more néed Goe said Esplandian be here again betimes in the morning Wherewith Gandalin tooke his leaue leauing Esplandian alone in great care how hee might find some conuenient excuse to leaue his companions in the extreamity but God prouided for him for the same night about an hour before day as he began to slumber he heard a most pleasant sound of musick which you must vnderstand came out of the great serpent that hee left in the castle La montaigne defendu which at the time was arriued before the town of Galatia but little did he thinke of any such thing or that Vrganda had ben therein because he thought her to bée in great Brittaine This mellody continued for the space of half an houre and more which done he heard such a noise of trumpets Clarigals Phifes and Tabers that sounded so high that the sentinels of the town thought verily the enemies nauy had ben arriued before the same to lay siege vnto it wherevpon they caused an alarum in the town each man running to the wals being all of that mind till day when they might be hold the great serpent wherein Vrganda was all hung with long pennons and streamers wherat Esplandian was so glad that going downe vnto the Hauen hee presently entered into a boat with Talanque Manely and diuerse other of the principall captaines to sée who might bee there And rowing néere vnto it they knew Vrganda that staied for them on the hatches stretching forth her armes spake vnto them said My good friends you are most hartily welcome I pray you come vp into my ship that I may imbrace you With that Esplandian entered and as he meant to salute Vrganda she knéeled on the ground to kisse his féet whereat he being ashamed tooke her vp and saied vnto her Madame I neuer thought you would haue takē pleasure to mock with me séeing I account my self much more bound to you then to any creature liuing in the world And therfore for Gods cause if at any time I chaunce to offend you punish mee I pray you in some sort or other Most happy Knight sayed shée The aide I hope for at your hands before manie dayes shall passe mooued mée to doe as I haue done wherefore I beséech you take it in good part And with that shee embraced him and after him Talanque Manely and all the rest euery man doing her great honour desiring her to shewe them the cause of her so suddaine comming thether My good friends saied shee you shal know it at some other time when better laisure serueth mean while I am to tell you that it is necessary for you shortly to go vnto the city of Constantinople where you shall enter all armed apparelled in the same armor I haue brought hither for you and thus must I tell you that if you should deferre it till another time it would be preiudiciall to you all Wherfore I counsel you to do it vpon the first day of the next wéeke assuring you to be as well receiued of the Emperor as euer were any knights which your ease and pleasure in his company shall continue vntil the rolling whéele of Fortune turning about shall bring with it manie trauels passions and aduentures which shal cause many gréefes and sorrowes both to you and others And the better to make you beléeue that all I say is true I tell you that I my selfe shall fall into two of the greatest dangers of my life that euer I had whether it bee here or in another place I knowe not And which is worse I cannot by any means auoid the same not knowing any cause how nor wherefore it should be so although it be in a manner ready to fall vpon mee Madame saied Esplandian before you shall receiue any hurt in our presence wee will all lose our liues to succour you My good child said she mans destiny of force must bee accomplished But I pray you let vs enter into some other talke for this maketh mee melancholy Madame saied Manely Is it not your pleasure to goe into the Towne I saied she and I pray you send for Norandel who at this present I knowe is at Alfarin and I wil giue you as great cause to reioice as euer you had for that within my shippe I haue brought the king of Denmarke wounded in a combate that hee fought against Garlante Lord of the Isle of Calafre that by force would haue taken two Gentlewomen from him And although Garlante bee estéemed a hardy and valiant knight yet did the king bring him in such case that vnlesse hee had craued mercy the king would haue stricken of his head which he spared vpon condition that during his life hee should neuer after iniury any knight which Garlante sware and vowed in my presence for that by chance arriuing there during their combate I heard what passed betwéene tham And because I perceiued the King to bee in danger of his person by reason of the great number of wounds he had vpon his body I would not leaue him but caused him to enter into my shippe and layed him in the best bed where now hée is almost healed Ha saied Esplandian What good newes are these of my faith I thought verily he had ben dead wherefore madame I pray you for Gods cause let mée craue the means to sée him with the Vrganda led him where he lay but when they saw each other Esplandian could not refraine wéeping with the great pleasure hée took to sée the king Neuerthelesse for that time they had no great spéech together neither would Vrganda permit them to do it doubting least the king being yet but weake and féeble might therby bée hindered of his health Wherefore she caused Esplandian to go forth and entring with her into the boat they rowed to the shoare from whence they led Vrganda to the best lodging in the town with as much honor as they could haue done to the Quéenes Brisenne or Oriane if any of thē had ben there in presence The next day Esplandian pitying the great number of women little children that had ben kept within the town from the time that it was takē said to his companions that it would be better to giue them leaue to depart from thence then to hold them stil for the the longer they continued in the town the
do it minding only to draw her out of the vaut wherewith hee tooke her by the haire and pulled her with all his force With that hee espied a great old Ape with two eies burning like flaming fire that lept vpon him for to tear his flesh but hee gaue him such a blow with his fist betwéene the eies that he strooke him dead And passing forward brought Melie out of her caue and leauing her in Frandalos kéeping went in againe to sée if Vrganda were aliue where hee found her in such pain that it séemed the soule would depart out of her body wherat he had so great pittie that he tooke her in his armes and set hir in the aire the like hee did to Talanque and Manely who within one quarter of an hour after could not call to mind what had happened vnto thē but were as whole and as wel as euer they were before Wherefore they mounted on their horses taking Melie with them that sat vpon Sergils horse and he behind her holding her in his armes least she should escape And God knowes with what ioy Vrganda shewed them what feare she had ben in which as she said was such that she thought verily to die But said shée euen as one naile driueth out another so the ioy I haue of my deliuery maketh mee in a manner to forget the paine wherein I was And with that they entered into the Towne being almost night CHAP. XL. How Carmelle arriued at Tesisante and spake with Heliaxe and of the maruellous combat which Esplandian Frandalo Gandalin and Enil fought against three Gyants and twelue Turkish knights CArmelle trauelled so long with the women and children of Galatia that they arriued at Tesifant where they found both their fathers and husbands as many of them as had saued themselues as it is said before Estéeme I pray you what gréefe they had to thinke vpon their exile and losse of all their goods Surely there is no heart so hard but would haue wept with gréefe to behold great numbers of men and women with diuers litle children about them and not hauing any meanes to giue them bread or drinke Whereof the Prince Alphorax hauing newes hearing of their sorow could not refraine to say in presence of them all Ah immortall gods it must néeds be that either for some great sinne of me or mine this cruell warre is mooued in my countrey O gods immortall let your wrathes appease and of your infinite goodnes let it rather please you that all the mischiefe which you send vpon those impotent people fall only vpon mée that alone haue mooued your indignations if not then I beséech you giue me grace that to your glory I may driue these cursed Christians enemies of your holy lawes out of my countrey swearing vnto you that if you vouchsafe your aides I will make so great a slaughter of them that thereby your wrathes shall bée appeased if it be so that the small indeauour I haue hither to vsed to driue them hence be the occasion of your anger towards me Then hée asked them how they got away My Lord said hée that brought him newes a faire gentle woman named Carmelle as I heare say hath brought them hither and desireth to speake with you and the princesse Heliaxe Ladie said Alphorax to his wife doe you know her I my lord said Heliaxe for she bare me company all that day that I fell into Frandalos hands being very ready to do me all the pleasure and seruice that shee could deuise wherefore my lord I pray you let her haue that honour and entertainement she deserueth Lady said Alphorax I am wel content therewith With that some of them ran to fetch Carmelle who being come in presence of Alphorax went presently vnto the Princesse Heliaxe and without salutation said vnto her madame you know the lord and maister that I serue who only hath aucthority ouer me think it not therefore strange if in any sort I haue not humbled my selfe before the prince Alphorax or to you And to the end Madame that you should knowe the cause of my arriuall here I thinke the taking of Galatia is not vnknowne vnto you whereof at this present the Christians are Lords and maisters hauing conquered it from you by force not finding any Garrison therein but a number of women and little children which my lord Esplandian his company send vnto your grace committing them vnto your good discretion Assuring you their Religion onely excepted they are ready to doe you any seruice that they may Carmelle saied the Princesse this is not the first fauour they haue shewed vnto me I am of long time so much beholding to them that bee it in their aduersities or their prosperities I will neuer bee vnmindfull of the same Neuerthelesse I am assured that at this day I haue not neither yet shall euer haue the meanes to doe it as I thinke vnlesse that variable fortune turne her rouling whéele and abase them as much as now they are aduaunced then if it so fall out they shall full well perceaue howe much I estéeme their vertues and fauours they haue showne vnto mee Carmelle saied Alphorax haue they willed you to deliuer no message vnto mee No my lord saied shee but I tell you plaine they are determined verye shortly to come and visite you in such manner as will not greatly like you By all my gods saied Alphorax I will ease them of that burthen if they make not the more hast For I haue so many men preparing that I meane to goe in person to Constantinople to destroye the wicked Emperour and all the Christians Then shall my wife haue meanes if shee thinke good to acknowledge the fauours towards them which they haue showen vnto her as shee sayeth My lorde said Carmelle Mens enterprises doe oftentimes fall out contrarie to their expectations and God that is in Heauen aboue commaundeth and disposeth of all thinges as it pleaseth him and not as wee would haue it Nowe Madame sayed shee to Heliaxe I haue done the commaundement of those that sent mee hether wherefore I beséech you let mee be safely conducted to the place from whence I came My lord said the princesse to Alphorax I pray you shewe her so much fauour for it would gréeue mée much that shée should receaue the least iniurie in the world which hee graunted vnto her and withall Heliaxe gaue her for her paines one of the richest gownes shee had Wherewith shee caused her to bee conducted by twenty knights vnto the Towne of Galatia where being arriued shee shewed them what shee had done as also what spéeches the Prince Alphorax vsed vnto her which Vrganda marked well saying vnto the Knights In faith my good friendes as touching Alphorax high woordes they are the fruites of his nature being altogether prowd and arrogant Neuerthelesse I can assure you that fortune promiseth him great matters And because it will not bee long before they doe happen I
the agréement we shall make Wherefore make mée an answere worthy such a Knight that thereby thy honour be not stained Norandel hauing read this letter shewed it to his friends who were all of aduise to graunt the Soudan his request But Norandel would determine nothing before hée made the Emperour acquainted vnder whose conduct during the siege he had submitted himselfe whereupon hee went to speake with him and hauing shewed him the contents of the letter that hée had receiued in Esplandians name and the counsell of his companions the Emperour asked him what hee thought therein My lord saied hee if it pleased you that I and nine others which I will chuse shall vndertake this combate you shal doe vs great fauor My good friend said the Emperor you sée the estate wherein I am and the time wherein I ought to kéepe not onely you and others wherein I put my whole affiance but the meanest souldiour in this Cittye Neuertheles I will so much agrée vnto your will that if you and your companions thinke it good I am content you do it My lord said Norandel both I and they most humblye craue it of your grace Wel then said the Emperour If it pleaseth God you shal win honour thereby as you haue done before in many as perrillous aduentures as this is Norandel thanked the Emperour and the same day caused his Knights of great Brittaigne to bee assembled together by whose aduise there was an Aunswere framed to the Soudans letters the contents whereof doe follow The knights that are seruants to Iesus Christ being at this time with the Emperor of Constantinople for the defence augmentation of the Christians name to thée Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie like gréeting thou hast sent vnto the knight of the great serpent a gentlewoman that saith shee belongeth vnto thée that hath giuen vs a letter directed vnto him the contents wherof are in two points In the first thou complainest of the enterprises he hath made against thine vncle king Armato in the other thou shewest a desire thou hast to proue thy person against his or a greater number against a greater as he shal think it good But for that the knight thou writest vnto at this present is not here nor in place wheras he can return thée answer we thought it conuenient in his behalf to satisfie thy request to accept the offers thou hast made vnto him assuring thée that here is the son of a king nine other knights with him that wil fight with thée and as many more of thine if thou be content therwith Aduise thy self thē herein hauing receiued thy answere with safe conduict safely to go and come we wil not faile to be in the place where you shall appoint This letter sealed vp Norandel gaue it to one of his squires to bear it to the soudan who made him answere that he desired only to proue his body against the knight of the great serpent none other But saied he if those that sent you hether haue any desire to fight against ten of my knights they shall find thē ready being as great gentlemen and of as high a linage as they are And as touching their safe conduict I wil so wel prouide for it that they shall haue occasion to think wel of me wherfore return thou vnto thē and let me know their answere With that the squire hauing his dispatch went and came so often betwéene them that in the end the combate of ten to ten was fully agréed vpon and the lists appoint hard before the Towne where they the next morning the tenne knights went whose names were as followeth Norandel Garuate du Val Craintif Talanque Manely Ambor de Galdel Elian le delibere Brauor son of Balan Trion cousin germane to Quéene Briolanie Imosil de Burgoigne and Listoran of the siluer bridge CHAP. XLIX How the ten Christian knights entred into the lists and of the combate betweene them and tenne Pagan knights that belonged to the Souldan of Liquie ALL that night the ten Knights watched in the principallest church of Constantinople confessing thēselues and praying vnto God as if they should presently die The next day as the sunne began to appeare the Emperour accompanied of diuers Noblemen the Empresse the Princesse Leonorine Quéene Minoresse with diuers other Ladies and Gentlewomen came vnto them where they heard masse deuoutly that done they returned vnto the pallace where Norandel and his nine companions armed themselues the ladies seruing them for squires in such sort as Norandel receaued such fauor at quéen Minoresses handes that shee found meanes to helpe to buckle on euery péece of his armour one after the other As shee was busie about him he found meanes to say vnto her Madame the honor that you doe me maketh mee so couragious that this day I hope to make it knowne to those that shall beholde vs fight how much my strength is now increased by your meanes But if it pleased you to bestow some fauour vpon me that I might bear the same about my armour I should account my selfe for one of the most happy knights liuing on the yearth My good friend saied she the most precious iewell that I can giue vnto you is my heart that shal accompany yours to the end that being vnited together they may the better preserue both your life mine And taking a bracelet of gold that from her infancy she had alwaies kept shee tied it about his right arme And this circle saied she being round as you behold it shall without ceasing bee witnesse of our loues seruing for a rampart to this army which if it pleaseth God in defending it shal so wel defend his master that he shall return in as good health as I desire he should Norandel thanked her most heartily mean time Leonorine intertained Talanque Manely the rest to whom she said My friends I hope the Lord wil shew you so much grace that the victory shall be yours for the combat you take in hand is not for to defend the honour of a Gentle woman but the glorious faith of Christ If therfore it be so the strength procéedeth from him be you thē wel assured that he wil impart so much to you as you shal want Madame said Talanque at other times we haue ben at the like feast from whence we haue returned to the great expence of those that called vs thither as if it be Gods wil we hope this day to do the like Wherwith taking their leaues of her they went to find their horses and being mounted the emperor with great number of knights and gentlewomen brought them to the gate And committing them to God the ten knights marched brauely to the place of combat where the souldan with a great number of his friends met thē asking them whom the emperor had appointed iudge on their side Souldan said Norandel wée desire no other iudge then your self that are accounted a curteous and most faithfull
new forces come against the towne for they had not any intelligence of the sending of Gandalin Enil to the christian princes that brought with them a multitude both of ships men as well knights as others Now to returne to the Christians fléet King Childadan knowing that Alphorax plaied the foxe desired Quedragant hauing equall power with him to be content that he with thréescore pinnaces might skirmish with him that thereby if it were possible he might prouoke him to come out which he agréed vnto wherefore setting saile he made towards the enemie so néere that they were ready to fight hand to hand neuertheles Alphorax for that time would not touch the bait but entred farther in the straights wherewith king Childadan retired and came vnto the hauen of the citie making the brauest show that might be séene those of Constantinople perceiuing the bandirols and streamers of great Brtttain of other christian princes made him answer with the like and so high that the noise of the trumpets clerons tabers was so great that Armato and all the Pagans might easily hear it With that king Childadan was receiued by the Emperor Norandel others to whome he shewed what aide was come vnto them and what princes had taken the voiage in hand In good faith said the Emperor they bind me for euer vnto them yet am I much abashed how they vnderstood of the wars betwéene Armato me What my Lord said Childadan did Esplandian neuer tell you therof No I assure you said the Emperor nor any of his companions as far as I know Is he not in the city said the king In good truth said Norandel hee would not leaue the castle La montaigne defendu minding to kéep it if the Pagans came to besiege it Assure your selues said Childadan he will not long stay there before king Amadis sendeth for him for we determine presently to giue battell if he should faile at such a iourny it would gréeue him euer after Much other talketh had the knights of Constantinople with Childadan and those that bare him companie where he stayed till the next day in the morning that he entered into his ships to returne vnto Quedragant CHAP. LII How Esplandian and the king of Denmarke were sent for by Gandalin that went vnto the castle La montaigne defendu where they staied attending the succours of the Christian Princes and of a letter that the Souldan of Liquie and Queene Calafre wrot vnto king Amadis and Esplandian KIng Childadan returned to Quedragant as you heard before and the army on land incamped in sight of the enemy Amadis was aduertised by those that had ben in the city of Constantinople that Esplandian and the king of Denmarke were at the castle La montaigne defendu wherevpon he sent Gandalin to fetch them Gandalin tooke shipping and had so good a winde that without any aduenture hee arriued there where hee declared vnto them howe king Amadis and almost all the Christian Princes were incamped within halfe a mile of the Pagans host and all what hee and Enil had done considring their charge And because said Gandalin that our men are determined shortly to giue them bataile they pray you to come vnto them Truly saied Esplandian Gandalin my friend you haue wrought the matter well and I thanke you for the paines that you haue taken My lord saied the king of Denmarke are you not determined that we go vnto them For my part I had rather lose one of mine armes then faile thereof Brother saied Esplandian to morrow if it pleaseth God the great serpent shall bring vs thither before that time it had alwaies vsed to saile of it selfe but as then it failed For when they were entered into it it stirred not whereat Gandalin much abashed could not refraine to say By god this vessell is like to the horse with the white legge that faileth vs when we haue most néed Friend said Esplandian I am surely persuaded that this procéedeth by reason of Vrgandas imprisonment who at this time is in Melies power and so well inchaunted that her art profiteth her as little as this vessel doth vs that moued by her inchauntments which at this present hath no meanes to stirre as you may well perceiue And Esplandian saied true for at the same time the countrey wherein Vrganda dwelt called The vnknowne Island because it was alwaies inuisible was as then discouered and séene of all men With that Gandalin counselled them to enter into the Pinnace which Esplandian and the king of Denmarke did and hauing a good winde sayled towards Constantinople and on a sunday in the morning they espied the vessels of king Childadan and Quedragant which not long after they borded where Esplandian and the king of Denmark were receiued with great ioy after that hee went to sée his father and the rest of the knights that were on lande and after an infinite number of imbracings and welcomes on all sides they determined to visit their enemies somewhat néerer wherby many braue skirmishes were made where the women of Quéen Calafre were continually in armes and among the rest a sister of the Quéenes named Liote a hardy and valiant ladie that tooke a Frenchman prisoner which certefied the Souldan of Liquie that Amadis de Gaule king of great Brittaine and Esplandian his sonne were in the army Whereof the Souldan and Quéene Calafre being aduertised determined together to write a letter vnto them the contents whereof doe follow Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie mortall enemy to the enemies of our gods and Calafre Quéene of Califorine a countrey most rich and abundant in gold and precious stones giue you Amadis de Gaule king of great Brittaine and your sonne Knight of the great Serpent to vnderstand that the occasion of our arriual in these countries hath been for these two causes The one in hope to destroy all Christendome and the other to prooue if wee may take from you the renowne that is spread abroad of you to bee the two best knights liuing in the world for we account our selues for such as that if you will accept the combate of your persons against ours we will euidently make it knowne that our valor is no lesse then yours And to the end the glorye of the victors may be knowne the vanquished shall remaine in their powers to dispose of them as they shall thinke conuenient Aduise your selues therefore to answere vs herein by this our messenger to whome wee haue giuen charge to declare vnto you if you refuse this combate that from henceforth we shall haue iust occasion to attribute to our selues the aduantage of the praises and endlesse glories that fortune heretofore hath giuen you and to estéeme of you as meanely in time to come as you haue béen highly renowned heretofore This letter giuen to the Gentlewoman that bare the first to Norandel she went vnto the Christians campe and being aduertised which was Amadis tent entered therein as he sate
the launce that stucke within his forehead But the Quéene rose presently and with her sword in hand went towards Amadis the like did the Souldan to Esplandian that had suffered him to take breath and lace his helmet not for any good he wished him but that at the end of his carere hée espied the princes Leonorine standing on the walles of Constantinople whereat he was so abashed that euery man saide the Souldan had hurt him in the bodie Neuerthelesse within short space after they knew the contrarie for hée lighted on foote where betwéene them two was fought the most perillous combat that euer was séene for Rodrigue was as valiant a knight in armes as any in his time but Esplandian handled him in such manner that often times he made him cleane forget the subtilties that commonly he vsed in such affaires and in the end vsed him so hardly that it might euidently be séene the victorie would be his Meane time the Quéene vsed all her force to ouercome king Amadis who holding in his hand a great truncheon of a launce instead of a sword gaue her such a blowe on the crest of her helmet that hée made her eyes start within her head Wherewith shée being much offended spake vnto him and said What sir Knight doe you thinke me either to he a dogge or else a countrey clowne that you séeme to beat me with a staffe By my head before you escape out of my handes there is no armour you haue but will be néedfull for you to the safegard of your life Calafre said Amadis all my life time I haue béene a seruant vnto Ladies and if at this time I should begin with you to wish them ill the good that others haue receiued at my handes would be lesse estéemed You account mée then said the Quéene one of that number but you shall presently féele that I am something more with that shée tooke her sword in both handes and in great choller gaue him such a blow that shée claue his shield in two and thinking to double her stroke Amadis stepped vnto her and plucked hers from off her necke with such force that shée was constrained to knéele vpon the ground Neuerthelesse shée rose presently againe and thinking to be reuenged vsed all her force to charge Amadis who turning aside gaue her such a blowe with his truncheon hard by the eare and therewith made her so astonished that her sworde fell out of her hand wherewith he stepped forward and taking her by the helmet said vnto her Now you shall be my prisoner whether you will or not as well as the Souldan is prisoner to my sonne With that the Quéene looked aside and perceiued that Amadis said true wherefore shée said Truly I am your prisoner séeing fortune will haue it so and therewith Rodrigue and Esplandian came vnto them and they foure going out of the lists went vnto the Christians campe the Pagans that saw them ledde away in whome in a manner consisted most of their hope when the campes should ioyne in battaile made countenance to rescue them which caused the Christians to stand all day in order of battaile meane time they agréed among themselues to send the Souldan and the Quéene vnto Constantinople Gandalin hauing charge to bring them thither and present them to the Princesse Leonorine from Amadis and Esplandian who thanked them most heartily And before hée returned againe vnto the campe a souldier of Thrace that had dwelt in Tartaria aboue twentie yéere togither came and yéelded himselfe vnto the Christians and tolde King Perion and Luisart that their enemies determined the next day in the morning to surprise them before they were aware whereof they aduertised the Emperor of Constantinople to the end he might be readie There were in the citie fortie thousand men whereof he appointed thirtie thousand to issue forth vpon the enemies rereward as soone as they perceiued the battaile once begon and gaue likewise intelligence to King Childadan and Quedragant that his spies had brought him newes that Alphorax had vnfurnished his shippes of men to strengthen their armie on land trusting to the straights which they meane to kéepe hoping thereby to saile into the Maiorque seas if fortune fauour not their enterprise and there it would be good with the other Christian princes aduise that they should set vpon him and that Frandalo with his fléete should second them Which newes vnderstood by the two Generals of the armie by sea they sent vnto king Amadis and the rest of the Commaunders in the campe to knowe their aduise whereunto answer was returned that they should followe the opinion of the Emperour of Constantinople which they should execute vpon the next day in the morning wherevpon Frandalo ceased not all night to make and prepare diuers kindes of artificiall fires wherewith he made account to burne the most part of Alphorax ships which he did as hereafter you shall heare But to returne to king Armato and his forces About an houre before day according to their former determinations they began to march against the Christians thinking to find them sléeping and thereby to slay their watch before they should haue meanes to set themselues in order of battaile Neuerthelesse they found themselues deceiued for they were alreadie set in order of battaile standing close with great desire to receiue their enemie as they did the Emperour of Rome had the vantguard and with him king Luisart king Amadis king Perion Galaor and Esplandian the maine battaile Florestan Bruneo and Balan the rereguard On the Pagans side there marched first the Souldan of Alaxa thréescore knightes two Califfes and foure Tamorlanes that in great furie set vpon the Emperour of Rome and his battaile where at their first arriuall many a braue knight was stroken downe both on the one side and the other for Esplandian and the Christian princes being fayned togither gaue not one blowe but it was a deadly stroke yet at the first they were repulsed by the great quantitie of arrowes the enemies shot against them which flew in so great number that hailestones neuer fell thicker out of the skies wherby it fell out that both vantguard maine battaile and reregard indured much paine with that Norandel Talanque Manely Trion Landin Licoran Imosill Palomie Enil Ellan and to conclude all Esplandians companions with thirtie thousand men chosen by the Emperour issued out of the citie which small troupe resolutely determined did so abash the Pagans that in a manner they all lost their courages whereby they presently began to recule as farre backe as they aduanced themselues wherewith those that before had béen in feare tooke courage againe and turning their faces on the enemie recouered the ground that they had lost in such sort that with good cause they might well crie Victorie On the other side Quedragant and Childadan setting saile made towardes the straights at the entrie whereof Frandalo ouertooke them with fourescore vessels of all sorts and as they
to shew the cause thereof which at the first she could not doe her heart was so full of gréete Neuerthelesse in the 〈◊〉 shee tooâ—◠〈◊〉 againe and saied vnto them My good friends 〈…〉 of almighty God al things haue 〈…〉 teÌ„poral things should passe away by death haue an end according to the qualities of his creatures Which diuers great persons considering with themselues haue trauailed during their liues in many sorts after their deaths to leaue some memorie of them not minding to bury their renowme togither with their bodies Now I know for certaine that the end of your daies is néere wherefore it is most requisite that you bée constant and shew your selues to be the same you were at the beginning Neuerthelesse before that death shall seaze vpon you I will shew the loue that I haue alwaies borne vnto you and with the helpe of God will doe so much that without death you shall remaine asléepe vntill the time that one descended of your race shall deliuer you froÌ„ thence and after that shall bée in as good case and raigne againe within your countries as you did before otherwise assure your selues that before sixe moneths do come vnto an end not one of you shall be aliue but all buried in the earth Wherefore let euery man shew me his opinion and for the rest said shee let me prouide Surely that spéech and newes of death was so harde for them to endure that not one of them but changed colour their hearts béeing seazed with an extreme sorow And as they beheld ech other king Amadis séeming least astonished answered vnto Vrganda and said Madame we know for certaine that not one of vs nor any other liuing creature can perfectly knowe what is necessarie for vs but only you alone wherefore doe with vs as you thinke good and wée will all obey you that is sufficient said Vrganda therefore let euery man put on his armour in the same maner hée vseth when hée goeth to the fielde and each man hold his sword naked in his hand that done she caused them to goe into the forbidden chamber setting them in their roiall seates with all their wiues by them which done Vrgandas two cousens Iuliande and Solisde in two basons of gold brought a certaine composition wherewith shée desired them to wash their faces which they did Whereby it happened that on a suddaine Beautie which Age and Time had decaied in them began againe to appeare within their faces in as great perfection aâ— euen it had done which aduenture pleaseâ— the Ladies so â—â—ll that they began to behold ech other and their husbands thereat to be much abashed Then Vrganda called master Elizabeth taking him by the hand led him into the next chamber where she caused him to sit downe putting the booke that he had brought into her hands she made signes to Gandalin and the gentlewoman of Denmark that they should follow her and passing through the Arke of faithfull louers they entred into the garden where the images of Apolidon and Grimanaise were placed ouer the which she set them and Ardan the dwarfe hard by them wherwith she said vnto them My friends the true and faithfull louers haue béen worthy to sée these images before the Arke sometime inchanted so you deserue this place for the faith and true and affection that you haue alwaies borne to your masters Wherefore vpon your liues sée you depart not hence whatsoeuer you shall heare or sée that done she went vnto the chamber where shée left the Emperour and taking Carmelle by the hand before them all she said vnto her Carmelle you were but of meane parentage but the vertue and great curtesie of your heart hath so much inabled you that you shall bée placed at the Emperors féet to fulfill the promise made vnto him which was neuer to forsake him while you liued With that she spake vnto king Amadis and all the other princes praying them not to flie till shée returned againe and going vp into one of the towers of the pallace shée tooke with her the best of Medeas bookes which Melie had that sometime belonged to the Enchantresse lady and being in the tower shée vncouered her head with that she began to read certaine coniuâ—â—ations and looking into all the foure quarters of the earth making signes and tokens with her fingers her face became so redde â—hat it séemed fire had issued out of her eyes Whereupon there â—appened such an earthquake so great tempests of lightning and â—hunder as though the Elements had fought togither This tempest continuing for the space of thrée quarters of an houre those whome she had caused to sit downe as you heard before remained in a trance without all knowledge as if they had béene dead and with that there appeared a cloud so obscure and thicke which inuironed the place that neuer after it could be séen till Luisart of Gréece sonne to Esplandian brought that enchantment to an end by meanes of a sword which he conquered as it shall be declared to you in the sixt Booke wherein is described one of the most pleasant and delectable histories that euer was read At which time all the Princes and the rest were reuiued againe and not before The Emperor Esplandian at that time had a sonne after his grandfathers name called Luisart as then about the age of eight yéeres King Amadis a sonne and a daughter the sonne named Perion and the daughter Brisene that married the eldest sonne of the Emperour of Rome King Galaor two sonnes the one named Perion the other Garinter of whome I haue shewed you before Florestan the King of Sardaigne two sonnes the one named Florestan after his father that raigned after him and the other Palmindan of Almaine after his grandfather Agrayes Earle of Salandrie two sonnes the one called Languines the other Galmenes King Bruneau one sonne named Vallade and a daughter named Helisenne that married Quedragants sonne and bare his fathers name King Childadan two sonnes the eldest called Abies of Ireland after his grandfather whome Amadis slewe the first day hée entred into Knighthood And although these princes left such heires as you heard before yet would they not during their fathers absence take on them the names or titles of Kings hoping by Gods helpe that they should once returne as well as euer they were For the which cause they hauing â—â—â—tained to the age and strength to bear armes passed 〈◊〉 â—reland there to bée made knights by King Childâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 very weake and withered with age 〈…〉 followed strange aduentures doing many 〈…〉 feates of armes which are at large declared in the bookes that followe which in time may come vnto your handes when it pleaseth God FINIS
Armato as knowing him not but when they shewed him which was he he imbraced him and said My lord and brother I beséech you pardon my ignorance in not entertaining you before this time as not knowing you but I will amend the fault when you think good My lord saied Armato I am now as it pleaseth fortune in place where you may command me yet I pray you call to mind who I was and what I may bee and doe for me as you would I should do for you if your case were mine Considering with your selfe that the like hard fortune may fall on you and that it is no lesse vertue to intertain the vanquished courteously then to ouerthrow the puissant enemie With that the Emperour led him into his pallace the rest following after him and when they were in the hall hee left them with the Empresse to speake vnto Frandalo and taking him aside saied vnto him Frandalo to let you knowe howe well I do account of the great good seruice you haue done for mée I will that from henceforth you shall bee my chéefe standard bearer in which place I nowe establish you For the which Frandalo thanked him most humbly accounting himselfe most happye to haue so great authoritie CHAP. XLIII How Norandel and Queene Minoresse fell in loue one of the other and what conference they had together THe Emperour being among his Knights making them all the cheare and honour that hee could deuise It happened that the Princesse Leonorine and Quéene Minoresse séeing the king of Denmark and Norandel together called Carmelle and asked her who they were My Ladies saied shée you haue séen him that hath the least beard here before which is the king of Denmarke for hee came hether with Frandalo the other is Norandel king Luisarts sonne estéemed for one of the hardiest knights liuing on the earth I pray you said the Princesse desire them to come hether that wée may speake with them With that Carmelle called them vnto her and as they were before the two Princesses the more they beheld the excellency of their beauties the more they maruailed at it and not without cause for next vnto Leonorine there could hardly be found in all Gréece one that matched quéene Minoresse especially in comelinesse and good behauiour but if shee had some perfection in her nature had not forgotten her selfe in forming the two knights especially Norandel who till that time had neuer felt the stings of loue no more had Quéene Minoresse Neuerthelesse that little théefe surprised them so couertly that hee bound them both making them captiues one to the other in such manner that after many Questions and Answeres propounded they drew themselues apart leauing the king of Denmarke talking with the Princesse Leonorine the Quéene asking Norandel what hee thought of the Princesse Madame said hée although I haue heard her estéemed for one of the goodliest ladies in the world yet did I neuer thinke her beautie had béene such as now I sée it is although you are little behinde her in that respect whereby I might estéeme my selfe most happy if I had ben asléepe that day I enterprised to take my iourney hether Wherfore said the quéen haue you had so ill intertainment in this court No madame said he but there is one hath stollen that from me which I haue most carefully kept during my life The Quéene not knowing what he meant was thereat abashed asking him what it was whether he knew the théefe I madame saied he and it resteth in you to do me iustice if it bée your pleasure for you none other haue that whereof I speake In good faith saied the Quéene you shall pardon mee for I haue nothing of yours that I cam remember Madame saied Norandel since the time I first did knowe what belonged to a man I kept my liberty not alienating it to any one But comming hether I had no sooner set mine eie on you but I found my selfe of a fréeman a bondslaue and captiue to your ladiship 's good fauor which I beséech you afore me in recompence of the liberty you now haue taken from me Truly sir knight saied she you haue at this presēt run too far astray for if you beheld me as you should you had not found me such a one as you say wold haue ben twice aduised to vse such spéeches as you do Neuerthelesse I will not take them at your hands being a stranger in so euill part as mine honour doth require and I think likewise you speake farre otherwise then you meane which she said to vndermine him thereby to sée if Norandels words were spoken from the heart who hearing that ouerthwart answere was much astonished but being moued with loue answerd her and said Madame pardon my boldnesse I beséech you but I sweare vnto you by the faith of a knight that I haue discouered the secret of my heart and if you will not beléeue me at this time I hope in time to come to doe so much that you shall well perceiue what great desire I haue to bee your Knight if it will please you to graunt mee so much fauour to accept mee for the same When Quéene Minoresse perceaued him so earnest as that in vttering those words hee shewed great affection shee estéemed in her minde to haue sufficient argument that might persuade her to beléeue his wordes wherewith shee answered him and saied My lorde Norandel If you doe as you promise I well beléeue that you say and for the accepting you to bee my Knight mee thinketh I should doe wrong to refuse so small a fauor to so courteous a gentleman as you are wherfore I both grant it and desire it of you With that she took a litle ring she commonly wore off from hir finger giuing it vnto him for a witnesse of their new confirmed aliance And had it not ben that the Emperor was ready to go to supper they had no sooner left talking but the Empresse went in whereby quéen Minoresse was constrained to follow after taking Melie Carmelle with hir to whom she did al honor good intertainmēt she could deuise supper being don the tables vncouered the princes Leonorine that had séen Norandel quéen Minoresse talking with so great affection doubted some feathers in the wind wherefore taking her aside said vnto hir Cousin I beléeue the knight that intertained you so long told you some news out of great Brittaine or somthing els that pleased you ful wel I pray you fair lady tel me what it was for you were very earnest to harken thervnto How now madame said she since when I pray you did you learn to mock cal you the mocking said she which is don in earnest I pray God the mockery I mean to you may fal out as I desire it wold thē shal I at the least haue as good aduātage at you as you haue had at me which wold please me wel not so much to haue a cōpaniō
in mine own estate as to yéeld you in exchaÌ„ge the like pleasure I haue receiued at your hands wheÌ„ you first were made acquainted with the loue betwéen Esplandian me Wherfore fear not to vtter your mind vnto me otherwise I wil from henceforth haue you in a iealousie for that you haue already done or yet would doe Madame said the quéene rather theÌ„ you should do so I wil declare to you the secretest thing I know The knight said she wherof you speak I know not by what means hath so captiued my mind that I féel the thing in my self which I neuer thought could haue happened to me And as they that are molested with a coÌ„tinual ague do find the tast of water better theÌ„ the hope of life to theÌ„ so I likewise the was accustomed not only to coÌ„temn the force of loue but blame al such as yéeld to his might estéeming their estate rather voluntary then forcible finde my selfe so much surprised that if God help me not I am in the greatest danger that euer poore woman was What said the princesse think you my lord Norandel is of so hard a heart and little courtesie as that hee would disdaine the loue of so faire and comely a Lady as you are Doe you perceiue by him that his mind is placed elsewhere No madame saied she but to the contrary hee protested to be wholly mine without any further aduantage then that I haue accepted him for my knight Truly saied Leonorine I am glad thereof and if you had done otherwise he might surely haue complained and you much more to haue refused so great a good when it is offered without dissimulation else if it bée otherwise it is no good but rather a curse I am of this opinion saied shee that my lord Norandel would rather die a thousand deathes then beare that mind Wherefore determine I pray you to vse him well assuring you that I will not faile to succour you in what I may and will doe for you as you haue done for mée So long they talked together that the Emperour and his company risen from the table came to sée the ladies Neuerthelesse neither the Princesse nor Quéene Minoresse could haue the meanes to entertaine their friends but onely with a looke whereby their hearts panting in their bellies were some what eased when night approching euery man withdrewe him to his rest but when Quéene Minoresse found her selfe alone and in her bed she began to think vpon the spéeches that Norandel vsed vnto her sometimes determining to assaie if by any meanes shee could driue the same out of hir mind and then presently changed thoughts and saied vnto her selfe Alas was there euer greater constancy in a woman then that I alwaies had vntill this time Must I nowe of force yéeld vp the fort that against so many hard assaults I held inuincible Alas I nowe perceiue it is of force wherefore it is better presently to séeke for remedy then to consume thus secretly as I doe But what if I chaunce in this sort to yéeld vnto mine own desire poore soule that I am then doe I manifestly perceiue the danger wherein I fall and the thraldome that I bring my selfe into from whence while I liue I shall neuer escape Wherefore it were far better for mée to bridle mine owne affection and command that which commandeth me then do that which hereafter I might repent With that shee held her peace and tourning on each side like one not well at ease in body nor in mind she had no sooner resolued one thing but presentlye dissolued it againe so great was her inconstancy therein Neuerthelesse hauing well debated with her selfe al the pleasures or displeasures that might chaâ—â—e thereby In the end with a lowd voice shee vttered these words I knowe not what may come to passe but Loue promiseth me great things Wherefore if the worst fall out and that from henceforth I forget my selfe hee shall beare the blame and not I that will doe nothing but vnder his protection In which opinion she fel asléepe and the next day Norandel and she finding meanes to talke together they confirmed their loue in such sort that they determined to vse the same more by wisedome then by passion which those that are in like case ought to follow thereby to attaine vnto the point of their desired ioyes which in times past before was commonly called the gracious gifte of Mercy CHAP-XLIIII How Vrganda declared vnto the Emperour the signification of the Prophesie that was found in the tombe and of two dragons that carried her with king Armato and Melie vp into the aire and set them in the middle of the citty of Tesifant YOV heard before howe Carmelle in her ship shewed the Emperour the tombe that Esplandian had conquered in the Rocke of the Enchauntresse with the image of Iupiter and the Prophesie he held within his hand which the Emperour remembred so well that hee neuer ceased to thinke thereon Whereby the next day after the arriuall of that noble company in the citty of Constantinople he calling to mind that there could no person be fouÌ„d in all the world better able to resolue his doubt then Vrganda was caused her to goe into the closet where the Emperesse with the Princesse Leonorine Quéene Minoresse and no more stayed for her they fiue being together the Emperor caused the image of Iupiter to be brought thither which done he said vnto Vrganda Madame I pray you doe me so much pleasure as to declare if it be possible what are the meaning of the letters that this Image holdeth With that Vrganda read it and hauing considered thereof she said vnto the Emperour My lord the great knowledge and skill that this Idol hath fore showen shall in time to come be lost is alreadie happened for as you know the power of Iupiter and of other gods hath béen suppressed and abolished by the comming of Iesus Christ and as touching these wordes The bondslaue of the bond of slauerie shall be buried here and life restored by him that suffered death These are hard and obscure tearmes yet will I declare them to your Grace as well as possibly I may With that Leonorine and quéene Minoresse thought she would haue spoken of the knight Esplandian that had béen put into a Cedar chest as you heard before wherewith they béeing surprised with a deadly feare began to behold each other in most pitifull manner which Vrganda well perceiuing intending to ease their mindes continued her discourse in this manner My lord said shée this prophecie was written concerning Matrodo lord of the castle La montaigne defendu who as you knowe was alwaies a Pagan till his latter day that he became a Christian whereby long time he continued a bondslaue of the bond of slauerie for such ought the sea of Idolatrie to be named but Esplandian perceiuing his repentance suffered him to be buried in the hermitage where as yet Carmelles father