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
within them Thou speakest said the blacke knight as thy nature yéeldeth and I as vertue bindeth me for the rest let God worke his will Come in then said Frerion and defend thy selfe from mee if thou canst With that the black knight entred into a faire court paâ—â—d with white marble all galleried about and supported with pillers of Purphire in the middest whereof stoode the portall that entered into the house where an old lady accompanied of diuers yong gentlewomen stoode looking forth to whom the Giant went and knéeling on his knée said vnto her Madame I most humbly beséech you that neither for good nor euill which may happen vnto me in fighting with this knight not one of your house bée so bold to help or fauour me in any sort for I my selfe wil put him to death with this my trenchant blade and rising vp againe holding his shield before him with his cimiterre in his hand he marched towards his enemy who hauing God on his side to whom he recommended himselfe stood ready to receiue him Then there began such a combate betwéen them that their blowes séemed two smiths forging vpon their anuiles séeming like fire that the wind kindleth in the aire and surely the blacke knight had sped but hardly at that time had it not béene for the armour Vrganda gaue him that could not bée cut by any weapon for the good sword hee conquered in the rocke of the Enchantresse whâ—â—ewith hee strooke not one blow but he drew blood on the Giant â—rerion who neuerthelesse did meruellously both defend himselfe and assaile his enemy but by euil fortune as he thought to strike the knight on the right arme hee started backe and stepping forwards againe gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the helmet that hee cut away a great péece thereof together with the buckle that made it fast but although the blow was maruellous great and in a manner incredible yet was not the Giant any thing therewith abashed but still shewed himselfe as fresh as if hee had not fought all the day long Neuerthelesse the blood in such aboundance issued out of his body that the white pauement of the court was chaunged into red and therewith he grew so weake that it might easily be iudged he had the worst whereby he stil began to reuile séeking only to defend himselfe from his enemies blowes whereat the old lady that beheld them considering her sonnes extremity cried out and said alas my child is it possible I should sée thée murthered before my face and therewith in great hast shee ran thether thinking to part them but it was too late for as she began to goe towards them the Giant felde aâ— on the ground with two blows that the black knight gaue him one vpon the head where he was vnarmed the other right in the middle of his leg where with hee cut it from his body whereat the old lady was so gréeued that she swouned in the place being by her Gentle women carried from thence into hir chamber where they laied her on a bed cursing him that was the cause thereof neuerthelesse hee followed them to the chamber dore where the old woman being reuiued perceiuing him to enter began againe to lament and mourne and shedding great abundance of teares she said vnto him Alas thou cruel knight the only bereauer of all my ioy and felicitie art thou not satisfied yet But wilt thou like wise haue my life and my sonnes both Then I pray thée with spéed either execute thy wil or else depart from hence and take what thou thinkest good permitting mee to liue the rest of my miseraale daies in sorrow and care with these poor women but all her intent was to make him enter into the chamber which was so inchaunted that no man could passe the threshold of the dore but presently hee lost all his sences and fell downe vâ—on the ground as if hee were dead but little did the inchauntment â—â—aile her against the blacke knight because the shining sword had such a propertie in it that no enchantment whatsoeuer could hurt the bearer thereof Therefore the knight hearing the sorrow the old lady made hee went into the chamber speaking courteously vnto her said Madame me thinkes you should take the offence I haue committed on your behalfe in much better part considering such hazards are common vnto knights desiring to win honour and therefore I pray you appease your sorrow and shew mee the knight you brought hether out of great Brittaine When the old lady perceiued him so farre within the chamber without let and that he desired to sée the king she being as it were out of her wits cried as lowd as she could and saied alas vnhappy wretch that I am what haue I done for thinking to reuenge another mans death I haue procured the destruction of mine owne children and therewith shee sighed in such manner as if her heart would burst within her body and lamenting that absence of her other son said Alas Matroco where art thou now What vnhappy fortune hath thus seperated thée from thy brother and mee Surely when thou hearest of his death and at thy returne shalt find another lord of this castle I am in doubt thou wilt not haue the patience to put vp so great an iniury but thinking to reuenge thy selfe I feare this deuill will handle thée in the like sort he hath done the rest for sure he is no mortall man for if hee were hee had found more resistance in this place then he hath done Then speaking vnto the knight she asked him if he knew the man she held in prison I truly saied he it is king Lisuart whereof I am right sorry being well assured that kings elected of God as hee is for the gouernement of his people ought not to be vsed in that manner Wherefore I would haue you shew me where he is otherwise I will doe worse then I haue hetherto done I know not said she who thou art nor by what meanes thou hast so great power but I am well assured and I would neuer haue thought that twenty such knights as once this day I did estéeme thée could euer haue attained to the achieuing of so great an enterprice and much lesse to haue withstood my art as thou hast done so that considering thereof I suppose that this thy power procéedeth from him in whoÌ„ in my yong yeares I did once beléeue and since that haue forsaken him to follow the workes of the common enemie of all mankinde who according to his naturall instinction hath iustly rewarded me to my desert therefore it were but folly to denie thée any thing that art so surely defended by him to whome all thinges are obedient Follow me then said she and I will shew thée the king but as I thinke it is not he thou séekest And with that shee rose vp went into a darke chamber the knight following her then she opened an yron gate and said vnto
Amadis was so wounded by Esplandian that in the end with a thrust of a launce into the right shoulder and other blowes with his sword hee was slaine in the field which Oriane hearing threw her selfe out of a window and brake her necke But it is not true for they raigned after that both in Fraunce and great Brittaine and had another sonne named Perion and a doughter no lesse beautifull then her mother that married Arquisil sonne to the Emperour of Rome But I cannot conceiue from whence those lyers could inuent such a thing if they vnderstand not by death the shadowes that Esplandian caused his fathers valiant acts to bee couered withall by the light and pleasant shining of his owne wherby his fathers were so much had in obliuion that there was no more brute of them then if they had neuer beene done But to returne againe vnto our matter you must note that newes went presently vnto the court what had chanced to the two knights Wherewith the king and Oriane much displeased departed from London came to Mirefleur when maister Elizabeth began the second time to dresse their wounds Whereby he perceiued them out of danger and cured them so well that within seuen daies after they could walke about the chamber which put Oriane in better comfort then before and it fell out well for her for if her malancholy had longer indured she had for certain died at that time And because the king had not as yet vnderstoode the reason that mooued them to fight one day when hee found Amadis in good disposition hee praied him to tell him In faith my lord saied hee I was desirous to haue the difference of our two forces knowne being assured that whatsoeuer chaunced thereby it could not bee but to mine honour for if my sonne bee a better knight then my selfe his honour for the present time will increase my glory past Before God saied the king your enterprise was but rashly vndertaken I pray you another time let vs leaue such youthfull partes for those that are but entring into arms Beléeue me and it pleaseth your grace saied hée I was neuer better beaten in all my life It is no matter saied the king séeing you haue both escaped with your liues now séeke meanes to bée healed of your wounds with as much spéede as you may and from henceforth let vs war only against Harts and other wild beasts that are within this forrest as my huntsmen haue shewed me this day CHAP. XVI How the King of Denmarke Garinter and Manely succoured Vrganda that certaine knights would haue slaine because she aided the Emperors sonne of Rome YOu heard before of the aduentures of Esplandian Ambor and Talanque after they had receiued the order of knighthood now you shall heare what became of Garinter king of Denmarke and Manely who sléeping as others did by the sound of sixe trumpets that plaied on the shore the next night they found themselues with their squires in a little barke so farre out of al knowledge that although they had landed they knew not where they were and it was so darke that they could not sée each other till at the last they perceiued a fire not farre from thence that moued them to goe thether to sée if they could find any that would shew them in what country they were therefore leauing their squires to kéepe their barke they tooke their shields and mounting vp a little hill they perceiued a fire burning circle wise in the middle whereof they saw a woman holding a yong child in her armes and about the fire stood tenne knights all armed that sought to take her but by no meanes they could come néere her she was so well defended by the fire And as they went néerer vnto it they heard one among the rest that said vnto her Ha thou false and accursed wretch thy diuellish spirits and familiars can now no longer helpe thée but at this time thou shalt surely die And although Manely and Garinter had their helmets on their heads yet the woman they so threatened knew them well calling thē and said Help me my sonnes and faile me not I pray you at this time With that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew her by her voice wherefore laying hands on their swords they marched towards the tenne knights wherof one of them stepped before the rest asking them if they knew that wicked woman that had done him the greatest mischiefe that euer was By God sir knight said Manely you lie in your throat she is not wicked but faithfuller for her part then you for yours Wherewith they ran each vpon other and there began the combate of tenne knights against two and although the match was not equall Manely and the king of Denmarke setting their backes together laied valiantly vpon them yet in the end they could not haue resisted but Vrganda playing her part put out the fire and taking her two knights aside left the rest in the darke striking each other as if Manely and the king of Denmarke had beene with them Meane time Vrganda and her company got into the thicket of the wood and hauing trauailed long at the last the moone began to shine when they were weary whereby they determined to stay a while and rest themselues till day appeared Meane time the two knights desired Vrganda to shewe them how shee came thether and whether she knew the country My good friends said she hauing long since learned by my art that this little child son to the Emperour of Rome and of the Empresse Leonor his wife should bee stollen away by the Traitor that assailed you who is sonne to Garadan that Amadis as then called the knight of the gréene sword put to death in the countrey of Bohemia in defending the right of king Tafmor As soone as you fell on sléepe in the great Serpent I made al the hast I could vnto this place to succour it according to my promise made being in the Ferme Isle in presence of Amadis and diuers other knights where I arriued at so good a time when the villaines which you saw came to a shepheards house where a poore nurse dwelt to whom they deliuered this little child to giue it sucke And séeing it was time to put my enterprise in practise I went out of my barke and making as if I had ben robbed by certaine théeues ranne towards them crying out and wéeping bitterly wherewith they all came forth to sée what it might be and perceiuing me in that manner asked the cause of my gréefe Ha my lords said I It is so that as my husband I passed through this wood wée met eight théeues that slew him and not content therewith haue taken away my horse and my budget wherein there is a great summe of money Which they beléeuing to bee true not that they were mooued with compassion for my losse but respecting their owne particular benefite hoping to get a booty by them
that had robbed mee scattered themselues in companies to find them out where they staied so long that the shéepheard and his wife went out of the house and thinking to haue their parts left mee alone with the child that not long after I tooke in mine armes and went away But as it fell out the nurse came in and missing the child called to them for help who running in great hast followed mée so fast that had it not ben for night that ouertooke them and the great fire you found about mee I had neuer escaped their hands And what would they haue done with this poore infant said Manely You shall vnderstand said she that the sonne of Garadan hauing conceiued a mortal hatred against the Emperour either because he could not haue the entertainement hee thought hee had deserued or else gréeued as I thinke that hee could not attaine vnto the Empire as hee pretended determined not onely to reuenge himselfe vpon this little child but to kill the Emperour likewise if euer he haue the means By God said the king of Denmark hée is a wicked and cruell hearted man but assure your selfe that God wil not permit it to be so Neuerthelesse I am in doubt this child will indure much woe séeing you haue no meanes to giue it sucke Let me alone with that said Vrganda for I haue certain hearbes about me with the iuice wherof I will nourish it if néed be eight daies together What saied hee will you then stay here so long No said Vrganda for as soone as it is day I will returne vnto my boat that staieth here at the shoare But madame saied they what shal become of vs for we are arriued here not knowing who brought vs hether But for Gods sake if you haue heard any newes of our companions let vs knew it and where wee may goe to find them My friends said shee you must first let desteny haue his course and indure many hard aduentures when time serueth you shall haue your desires And in that manner sometimes talking and sometimes sléeping they passed the time away till day began to appeare when they thrée together went to the sea side where they entered into Vrgandas boat wherein foure Gentlewomen and two dwarfes staied for her CHAP. XVII How Vrganda departed from the two knights and being guarded by two dragons went vnto the Emperours court to deliuer them their yoong sonne for the losse whereof all the court was in an vprore FOr a time Vrganda staied with the two knights not minding presently to ease the Emperours mind with the recouery of his sonne in the end she caused them to returne vnto their barke willing them from that time forwards to arm themselues against the assaults of fortune although she séemed neuer so variable and vnconstant For said shée therefore was the order of knighthood instituted appointed that thereby it might appeare more excellent And they were no sooner departed but she set foot on land and mounted on a palfrey with the child in her lappe shee rude forward with two dragons to guard her one vpon her right hand the other vpon the left that bare her company till shée came to Triol where the Emperour helde his court And approching the Towne she met great companies of knights that went to séeke the child who séeing those horrible beasts casting fire out of their mouths for feare they began to flie whereat Vrganda smiled At the last Florestan king of Sardinia comming that way hauing ridden a great compasse about to pursue Garadans sonne and returning as then all weary sore trauailed with his horse tyred perceiuing the people to runne so fast asked them the cause wherewith they shewed him a farre off what they had séene but hee not abashed went towards the dragons thinking if it were possible to fight with them and as he came néerer vnto them he knew Vrganda and spurring his horse hee thought to salute her but the more hee prickt him forwards the more the horse gaue backe whereby he was constrained to light downe and saluting her he tooke her by the hand but the dragons vanished away whereat hee was abashed which Vrganda perceiuing said vnto him In faith sir knight they haue good cause to giue you place knowing well the magnanimitie of your inuincible courage And for my part I estéeme my selfe better guarded being in your company then I did before wherfore I pray you leaue me not till I haue deliuered this child vnto his mother which I haue recouered from the villaines that had stollen it from her Is it possible madame said Florestan that the emperour should receiue so great a pleasure by your means Shew mee I pray you if it pleaseth you how you procured the same You shall know it saied she when time serueth till then content your selfe and mounting on horsebacke I pray you bring mée to the citty of Triol With that they rode together till they came to the Emperours court where they found the Empresse halfe dead for sorrow but when shee heard the good newes Vrganda brought her sorrow turned to excéeding ioy And for that the emperour being armed was ridden out to séeke the child as others did shee sent men on all sides to certefie him thereof hee hauing intelligence thanked God with all his heart and turned backe to sée Vrganda that told him in what manner she found the child as you haue heard before Where wee leaue her and returne to shew you of Manely and the king of Denmarke who in the mean time were at sea in so horrible a tempest that they thought to haue ben drowned CHAP. XVIII Of the strange aduentures that the king of Denmarke and Manely had after they departed from Vrganda and what pastime they had with two great apes in an Island where by chaunce they arriued AFter the king of Denmarke and Manely departed from Vrganda they entered into their barke where their two Squires staied for them and so imbarked presently hoised saile and put to sea the weather very peaceable and calme but they had not sailed long when a contrary winde began to rise wherewith the waters grew so high and the sea began to swell so bigge that one while it séemed to mount vnto the skies and againe to descend as low as the bottomelesse pit of hel whereby their little barke was oftentimes couered with water hauing neither maste saile nor cable but all rent in péeces And that which abashed thē most was that night comming vpon them it was so darke they could not sée the length of their boat in which torment they continued for the space of thirty daies together till at the length it cast them vpon an Island where being arriued about sunne setting they landed Then commaunding one of their squires to kéepe their boat being armed at all points they went into the Island to sée if they could find any fresh water or other victuals for they had not sufficient in
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
morning we will visit you againe Which he said fearing least too much talke might cause him fall into a feuer for Gastilles before that had béene deuising with him aboue two houres togither touching the conference betwéene him and Esplandian as concerning his returne vnto the Emperour With that the knights bad him farewell and went out of the chamber on the other side Gastilles made all the hast he could to depart from thence the next day in the morning and taking leaue of all his friends the same night he entred into his ship when day began to appeare he set saile with so good winde that within eight daies he discouered the city of CoÌ„stantinople entring into the hauen which the Emperor vnderstanding went to receiue him going with him to the palace asked him what he had done in his viage whether Armato were retired froÌ„ the siege or not My lord saied hee The good knight Esplandian and his company most humbly commend themselues vnto your grace especially Frandalo whom I can assure you to bee one of the best seruaunts that euer you had With that the Empresse accompanied with the Princesse Leonorine Quéene Minoresse and diuers other ladies and Gentlewoman came thether to whom Gastilles doing humble reuerence they bad him welcome and because hee staied to doe Esplandians commendations to the Princesse Leonorine the Emperour said vnto him Truly nephew you shall make an end to shewe vs what hath happened in your voiage then if it please you you may court the ladies Wherefore I pray you tell from the beginning what you haue done My lord saied he at our departure from hence wee had so good a winde that without any let wee arriued at the castle La montaigne defendu yet could wee not make such hast but that Esplandian with his great Serpent and Frandalos ships had already drowned and ouerthrowne certaine of the enemies ships and made the rest to flie and the next day after king Armato was taken prisoner his army ouerthrowne and put to flight but the sport was when I saluted the Turke and that hee knew mee then hee told the great rage the Turke was in the threatnings and spéeches hee vsed vnto him the ouerthrow of the twenty knights at the aduenturous fountaine the skirmishes and assaults at the Towne of Alfarin the danger wherein Esplandian and Frandalo found themselues the taking of the Towne and of Heliaxe her deliuery with the peoples that fled to the temple of Iupiter and how that before hee imbarked himselfe to returne a great shippe arriued there from great Brittaigne with diuers knights therin whose names and sirnames he rehearsed as hauing séene them with king Amadis Further my lord said he the good knight Esplandian willed me to shewe you that hee kéepeth king Armato till your grace shall dispose of him as also the citty of Alfarin but for the castle La montaigne defendu hee saith hee mindeth not to yéeld the same to any other then to the Princesse Leonorine in whose name hee hath conquered it hoping as her seruaunt and no other to defend the same When will he be here saied the Emperour With all the spéed hee may saied Gastilles as hee hath promised mee In good faith saied the Emperour I would it were this day before tomorrow I haue so great desire to knowe him by reason of the great chiualry that daily increaseth in him in such manner that if heretofore the knight with the Gréene Sword hath béen estéemed the best in all the world now his sonne diminisheth a great part of his glory And all being well considered I thinke that Amadis hath not done more in tenne yeares time then Esplandian hath accomplished in the space of tenne wéekes But touching Frandalo is hee so well disposed to our seruice as you make report My lord saied Gastilles It is not possible to doe better then he hath done wherefore my lord Esplandian willed mee to shew you that for the better entertaining him in his procéedings hée is of aduise that your grace should giue him the citty of Alfarin not knowing any man worthier then hee to kéepe it In good truth saied the Emperour Esplandian and his companions haue had the paines to conquer it wherefore I am content they haue the disposing thereof Neuerthelesse if they rest vpon my consent therein I am well content it shall bee so and I will not cease to shewe him greater fauour if hee perseuer as hee hath begun And you daughter saied hee to the Princesse Leonorine what say you to this that my cousin Gastâ—lles hath told you touching Esplandian that sayeth hee kéepeth the castle La montaigne defendu for you onely My lord saied she I know not how you and many others estéeme so much of him considering the small obedience hee sheweth to his father for if he were such a knight as hee is reported hee had long since come hether to acquite the promise wherevnto hee is bound which maketh mee verily thinke the spéech Carmelle vsed of him and all that hee hath sent you by word of mouth by my cousin Gastilles are onely but dissimulations And I for my part am not yet determined although hee reporteth himselfe to bee my knight to accept him for the same much lesse to pardon him before hee comes in person to excuse his fault then I will consider what I haue to doe The emperor that perceaued his doughter speak with such a choler therwith to blush more then ordinary could not refrain laughter and saied vnto her What daughter doe you refuse the seruice of the best knight in all the world I my lord saied shee and so should euery maister his seruant when hee flieth from his presence and obeyeth not his commandements no more then he hath done both yours and mine Truly swéet heart said the Emperour I like you well I would to God that nature had furnished you with a bodie like vnto your heart if shee had shee had made you a perfect man and not a woman as you are Nowe nephewe you heare my doughters answere I pray you let Esplandian know it that he may make hast hether least he lose not her good will And although the Emperour spake it as in iest Esplandian tooke it otherwise when he heard the newes by a squire that Gastilles sent vnto him CHAP. XXXII How Frandalo accompanied of fourescore Knights issued out of Alfarin towards Tesifant and of the taking of Eiraca captaine of the Towne THe knights of great Brittaigne arriued in the Towne of Alfarin as you heard before Frandalo and others that were hurt being healed of their wouÌ„ds Belleris that ceased not continually to hearken after Alphorax was aduertised by his spies that hee continued in the citty of Tesifannt which hee and Branfil told vnto the rest of their company who therewith being somewhat incouraged very earnestly desired Frandalo to lead theÌ„ forth and bring them to some place where they might lie in ambush to surprise Alphorax
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
deserue one sparke of fauour at your handes considering your estate and the small valour that is in him although at this day hée is estéemed the best knight that euer bare armes for these hundred yeares Neuerthelesse séeing you accuse him of that that ought most to excuse him I promise you of mine honor leauing all thinges apart presently vpon my retourne hee shall come hether vnto you to doe whatsoeuer it shall please you to commaund him Gandalin saied the Princesse Leonorine thinke not whatsoeuer I say that I either take pleasure or displeasure at his presence or his absence but onely as my Father dooth and I for his sake knowing the great loue and affection hée hath alwayes born to King Amadis his Father and continueth the same to his sonne But hereof am I well assured that hée cannot so excuse himselfe or make vs thinke other then that herein hée hath done vs wrong Neuerthelesse séeing it is the Emperours pleasure I will kéepe the Present hée hath sent mée vppon the promise and assurance you haue made of his comming hether as soone as you shall bee arriued at Galatia Truely Leonorine played her part very cunningly herein for hardly would it haue béen thought or once imagined that Esplandian and shee had so faithfully giuen their handes and harts as they had done in the presence of quéene Minoresse as you heard before and Gandalin for his part knew not what to think although he had borne Esplandian in the tombe and set him in hir chamber as you likewise heard Then the Emperour asked him how long hée meant to stay My lord said Gandalin as little as I may for it were not fit for me to line at rest while my cōpanions are in armes Wherefore I most humbly beséech your grace to giue mée my dispatch as soone as possible you can Gandalin saied the Emperour I will presently send for my admirall wil cause men in al hast to be prepared that within sixe or seuen daies they shall bée ready to depart With that hee went into the Garden to recreate himselfe and the Ladies with him where when Gandalin perceiued Leonorine in an herbor of Mirtle trées walking pensiuely alone hee went vnto her and saied Madame my lord Esplandian commanded mee to certefie your grace that since the time hee departed from you and that he receiued so great fauour at your handes his heart that wholly is yours hath so longed after you that hee hath thought to die a thousand times with gréefe for the losse of your presence And to say the truth I haue knowne many men troubled with the passions of loue but I certainely beléeue there was neuer his like nor that more wisely could dissemble it which maketh mee greatly to doubt his person For that it is impossible considering the gréefe hee still indureth together with the small comfort hee receiueth of his familiar friends not knowing his disease but that hee must in short time end his daies whereby great dommage should then arise vnto all Christendome considering the straunge beginning of Knighthoode and great Prowesse that is in him which is such as that if hee continue as hee hath begun he will bring that order in greater estimation then euer it hath béene before wherefore Madame séeing I haue alwaies as it may bee you are alreadie aduertised beene a seruaunt to his father and that I am acquainted with the nature of his sonne and the daunger wherein hee is like to fall into if you shewe him not some fauour I haue presumed to shewe your Ladyship the hard case wherein he was when I left him as also that hee hath expressely commaunded mee to asure you that his only intent and desire is to be in your presence Yet perceiuing the danger wherin his companions do remain he knoweth not what excuse to make whereby he might take occasion for to leaue them wherfore he be séecheth you to impute his long absence vnto fortune and not to him that is born only to loue serue and obay you In vttering whereof Gandalin shewed so sorrowfull a countenance that hee made Leonorine ready to wéepe In which kind of office hee had so well ben exercised from his youth that no man could surpasse him in the same Friend Gandalin said the princesse Leonorine I know not what you mean I should do for him more then already I haue done nor yet for what cause you should imagine that I séeke to be the means of his death séeing that if he were but sick I know my selfe so féeble and impatient that with gréefe sorow I should not be able to liue one hour after Let it therfore be far from you once to thinke that I would euer be any other mans then only his and think it not strange if in the Emperors presence or before the world I dissemble as I do for I would not in any case that the least inckling of the burning loue wherein my heart continually flameth towards him should as yet bee once perceiued chéefly for the great good I wish vnto him Madame said Gandalin I am well assured hee will receiue an extream pleasure to hear these newes and that he wil leaue all things to come hether if you thinke it good That is my desire said she and I pray him so to do and you to persuade him therevnto While they were deuising Tartarie the admiral so called of the place of his birth entred into the garden being a man issued of a mean house but aduanced vnto great authority by his great wit valiant courage so that he commanded ouer all the Grecian seas The Emperor and hée talked long time touching Gandalins message concerning aid to bee sent vnto Galatia and in the end he willed in all hast to prepare thirty gallies Foistes with two thousand of the best souldiers he could find to man the same The admirall Tartary according to his charge executed his commission in such sort that within sixe daies after he was ready with his nauie to set saile and depart from thence CHAP. XXXIX How Vrganda arriued at Galatia and of the danger wherein shee was by the subtletie of Melie the Enchauntresse THe admirall Tartarie and Gandalin hauing taken their leaues of the Emperor set saile and passed the straights of Constantinople and without any aduentures arriued at Galatia within one wéek after their departure if they were wel receiued by the Christian knights it is not to be doubted for their number was so small and so dispersed that they were in doubt to bee able to kéepe that Towne with Alfarin and the castle La montaigne defendu But when they saw such aid they were in better hope and hauing receaued the admirall they deuided their two thousand men as néed required Mean time Esplandian had no small desire to know of Gandalin if he had spoken with the Princesse Leonorine how she did for the which cause being in his chamber hée sent for him Where talking together
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