hee hath receiued any great fauours Neuerthelesse our Lord hath hitherto preserued him and gaue him me at the first to loue and instruct him as mine owne childe At these wordes the King began to conceiue that hee would not conferre any further with him before so many by-standers therefore tooke him aside but the Hermite changed his discourse saying I beseech you Sir to beleeue that considering the condition whereto I haue been long time called and so many aged yeares already ouer-gone me I would not haue forsaken my Cell to bee seene among warres and contentions had it not been that my slacknes in so important a businesse might haue procured much euill wherewith our Lord would haue been highly offended And his displeasure would not only haue extended it selfe to you the people assembled in both these Campes but also to many other vnskilfull in the discords betweene you and King Lisuart with whom I haue already conferred so well perswaded him to peace as hee is ready both to listen thereto and to entertaine it according as I haue imparted to Lord Amadis your sonne who wholly referreth all to you Therefore I desire you Sir that preferring the good and tranquile estate of so many people before priuate spleens and passions not to disdaine what is freely offered you and which you ought rather striue to purchase Father replied King Perion God is my witnesse what griefe I haue endured for matters that are alreadie past with the losse of so many worthie men and how gladly I would haue gone another way if King Lisuart would haue listened thereto But hee alwaies carried so high a hand as notwithstanding all remonstrances made to him by our Ambassadours especially in reguarde of Madame Oriana whom hee sought to disinherite he made no account of vs at all presuming so much vpon himselfe that by the ayde of the Romane Emperour hee would ouer-run the whole worlde By this meanes hee made refusall not only to admit this difference to iustice but likewise contemned all hearing thereof Neuerthelesse if hee will yet submit to reason I dare repose such trust in my followers as they will bee ordered by mine aduice I haue euermore descanted on this discourse proceeding from no other occasion but whereto hee stands bound by right of nature and to his owne blood So that if hee will yet repeale the princesse his daughter into his former gracious fauour and not marrie her to any other person not onely to her and his owne people but to all them that know or heare thereof wee will deliuer her to him and continue his kinde friends if hee bee as desirous as wee Sir answered the good old man if God bee so pleased all this will come to passe Therefore if you thinke it conuenient elect two Knights on your behalfe to determine the differences where-about so many harmes haue alreadie happened King Lisuart shall likewise nominate two other for him and I standing in the midst between them will labour to ende all strife and contention Bee it so quoth the King Sir said Nascian I will not sleep before I hope to speed with such successe as the effects shall be answerable to your owne desire Instantly hee tooke leaue of him and the rest returning whence he came to finish what he had begun And presently King Perion sommoned all the chiefe of his Armie together speaking to them in this maner Lords endeared friends as we are bound to put our goods and persons in danger not onely for the defence of our honour but also to maintaine equity iustice so are wee likewise obliged to set aside all hatred and passion to reconcile our selues with our enemie when of himselfe hee profers vs peace For although it cannot be gaine-saied but that the beginning of warre may goe on without offence to God yetnotwithstanding in the end if through rash opinion fantisie and want of knowledge we estrange our selues from reason that which at the first appeared honest conuerts it selfe into iniustice And doe not thinke that I vse these speaches to you without cause Nascian a holy Hermite well knowen to the most part of you came lately to mee as you sawe to practise peace betweene vs and our enemie where-to King Lisuart is willing to yeeld if you mislike not Neuerthelesse I would not giue him any resolution till first I heard your deliberations For to mee it seemeth very reasonable that as you haue been made partakers of toyle and trauaile so should you also be of ease and tranquility And therefore I pray you that without any dissimulation you would all aduise for the best and God will therin further your counsell For my selfe according to the opinion of olde Nascian I holde it very meet that wee should make choyce of two Knights amongst vs and giue them ample power to determine with two other appointed by King Lisuart of all differences whereby this warre receiued originall Albeit I desire not to be credited in this case but rather will allowe of such aduise as you conceiue fittest for the good of all together Hereupon Angriote d' Estreuaus first presented himselfe of whom the King required his opinion Sir said hee you haue beene chosen chiefe of this enterprise as well for the dignity of a king shining in you as for the fauour and esteeme generally helde of you whereby you may resolue on the businesse of this warre as it shall seeme best vnto your selfe Notwithstanding seeing it is your pleasure that I shall first speake my minde I like it well vnder correction that if peace be presented vs by our enemy wee ought to accept it For as it falles out it is to our no meane aduantage hauing not onely the better of him already but Madame Oriana also in our owne power for whose cause wee first entred into the field Now for the naming two choyce men among vs to accord as you say all differences I know none more meet for such a businesse then the Lords Quedragant Brian de Moniaste They at the first vnderwent this charge when they were sent into Great Brittaine to excuse vs to King Lisuart for that which we had done in rescuing his daughter from the Romanes and I am peswaded they will vndertake the same charge againe if they were thereto entreated Now because this aduise found generall allowance Brian and Quedragant yeelded presently thereto whereat king Perion was highly pleased hoping the warre so hotly begun would by these meanes be calmely ended CHAP. XX. How Nascian returned towards King Lisuart with the answere heâ—receiued from King Perion THe Hermite being returned backe to King Lisuart gaue him to vnderstand all that he had agreed on with king Perion assuring him withall that hee would make them good friends before hee parted from them For I left him quoth hee with a purpose to conferre with the chiefe of his Army to winne them thereto if hee can Father saide the King hee dealeth most wisely therein
any counsell that comes from you because if I should doe otherwise it will be the ending of my dayes Well vnderstood Melicia to what effect this answere tended yet would â—hee not seeme to yeeld any apparant note thereof but hauing concluded his first dressing sayd my Lord Brunco for my sake I pray yee receiue a little sustenance and afterward take some rest if you can Then calling for such foode as shee knew meerest for him and with a hand more white then Alablaster making it ready for his eating she quickened such delicate apprehensions in his soule that his eye went farre beyond his appetite So commanding euery one to depart the Chamber that the least noyse might nor offend him she said You haue promised mee that you will essay some repose let me see how obedient you will be herein till such time as I come to visite you againe Then her selfe departing she called Lasinde Bruncos Esquire and said vnto him Friend you know better then any other your Maisters conditions make demaund therefore of such things as you thinke fittest for him The Squire was not now to learne what entercourse of affection had passed betweene them and therefore presuming more boldly in his owne wit then one lesse skilfull hee returned her this answere Madame I wish no worse to my worthy Maister then that good fortune would conduct him to some such place where he might make acknowledgement of the fauours you affoord him But it appeares to me that such as are desirous to recouer a wounded body first of all they should apply helpe to the place principally offended Which kinde of Physick instructeth me to entreate your pittie to my poore Maister who endureth not so much paine by the hurt so lately receiued as by a disease of greater antiquity and you that are the onely cause can best minister the mittigation Friend quoth shee I can tell how to helpe an infirmity wherewith I am acquainted but secret soares are quite out of my curing Trust me Madame replied the Squire if the one seeme plaine to you the other is no lesse apparrant for you are not ignorant that the extremitie of his affection to you was the maine motiue why he went to behold the Images of Apolidon and Grimanese in the Enclosed Island Lasinde quoth shee they that become sicke by such a strange meanes had neede haue much time to compasse their amendment without vrging any other remedy then that which experience shall repute most necessarie And so she left the Squire who went forthwith and acquainted his Lord with all the conference that had past betweene him and the Infanta Melicia wherewith hee was not any way displeased perswading himselfe that she had thus discreetly answered reposing as yet but slender confidence in the Squire And like as true louers often vse to doe he conuerted all to his owne best aduantage being much better contented then euer heretofore and thanking God that Andadones hurting him had fauoured him with such an extraordinary felicity For vnder the happie fortune of this wound he oftentimes enioyed her gracious companie without whom life was most tedious to him Some few dayes after Amadis Galaor and King Cildadan walking together Galaor perceiuing the nere approch of King Perion hee went vnto him with these words Sir I most humbly entreate your Princely aduise in a matter something questionable with mine owne iudgement You know my Lord quoth hee to his Brother Amadis that you gaue me to King Lisuart commanding me to serue him and that I should be wholy his whereof I made him faithfull promise and you likewise Now beholding how great a differeÌ„ce hath happened betweene you two during the time of my absence I finde my selfe very strangely perplexed considering what errour I may commit by taking part with him against you as also how iustly I may be blamed by him forsaking him in a time of such vrgent necessity Wherefore most Royall father I humbly craue your opinion in this case to preuent my dishonour on either side and that reason may bee preferred before mine owne will Sonne answered King Perion you may not fayle to follow your Brother against a King so head-strong and vngratefull for if you gaue your selfe to his seruice against all men yet your brothers cause caâ—ies an exception herein in which respect you may well forgoe your attendance on him not onely because hee declares himselfe to Amadis in his owne person a deadly enemy but also to all his kinred and friends amongst whom you ought to hold the prime place Sir replied Galaor it appeares to me vnder correction that I shall greatly forget my selfe and runne into no meane blamefull imputation by withdrawing my seruice from him before his owne permission to that purpose for seeing in the times of peace hee gaue mee honour and good entertainment what will be noysed abroade of mee to forsake him when affaires of importance be fall him Well knew Amadis whereto the speeches of Galaor aimed and that hee had no will to keepe him company wherefore formalizing him-selfe answerable to his Brothers fantasie hee thus answered him Brother although we both stand highly obliged to obey the councell and commaund of the King our father yet I will humbly desire his pardon in telling my minde concerning your intention Seeing you are so earnestly addicted to returne into Great Brittan and to continue in the seruice of King Lisuart it likes mee well that you should doe so For in the case that concerneth our difference I doubt not but â—â—w many good Knights soeuer shall come to attend him God who is a iust Iudge will in the end make him know what wrong he hath done vs and his ouer-great ingratitude especially to mee that haue honoured him with so many well deseruing seruices Therefore may it so please our Kingly father hee may licence your departure for I am contented with it Why then quoth the King God be your guide and I will rest in this hope that you may one day be the meanes of compounding peace in so vnhappy a warre Thus Galaor obtayned his desire for departure and because King Cildadan would shape some honest excuse to goe along with him hee began in this manner My Lords it is sufficiently knowen to you all to what issue the battaile came which I had against King Lisuart who only by your meanes got the glorie of the day to my no little disaduantange for such honor as in Iustice appertained to mee conuerted to my great confusion in regard that by the couenants on either side concluded before I was constrained for a limitted time to acknowledge him as my Commander and to serue him 〈…〉 with all my knights which was no meane griefe in me to accomplish But valuing mine honor much dearer then life I yeelded to controule and checke mine owne will and according to my promise to bring him a number of my subiects in his assistance whereof already he hath giuen mee summons and no
the ruin of so beautifull a place without any meanes in me to helpe it As they rode on the way at the entrance of a neere neighbouring Forrest they espied two knights refreshing themselues by the brim of a goodly Spring or Fountaine who seeing the Litter attended by fiue knights and two Damosels they imagined that some wounded body was therin where upon they made toward it to be resolued which when Archalaus perceiued he said Go bid yonder high-way spies come to me and if they make any deniall hew them in pieces but be carefull that you doe not tel them who I am lest they flye away with feare Heere you must note that these two thus sent for by Archalaus were Galaor and his companion Norandel to whoÌ„â—hen the other knights came fiercely they commaunded them to lay downe their Armes and come speake with him that was in the Litter What saucie Sir is hee said Galaor that would haue vs disarme our selues and then come to him You shall know no more then you doe replyed one of the other knights but if yee vse any longer contesting we wil make ye come to him with cudgelling I would laugh at tha tsaid Norandel I am sure you meane not as you say That shal appeare quoth they and so ranne against them but Galaor and Norandel vnhorsed the first two they met withall albeit they all fiue gaue the encounter together and yet could not stirre them in their saddles The fight grew fell and fierce betweene them but the knights belonging to Archalaus were not able to endure the blowes of the other two who tooke such order with them that three of them were slaine out tight and the other fled into the wood to saue themselues whom they resused to follow lest he in the Litter should get away from them in the meane while To the Litter they came found Archalaus left all alone because they that kept him company had quite forsaken him vpon the soile flight of the siue knights only there was a Boy remaining who guided the horses of the Litter Archalaus was not a little amazed to see him-selfe in the power of strangers who might well be reuenged on him for the outrage done them neuerthelesse be thinking himselfe on a sudden subtile shift he saluted them in very humble manner But they being iustly moued with choller comming neere and offering to strike him said Treacherous thiefe is this thy maner of behauiour to knights errant seeking their death that neuer offended theeâ— I sweare by heauen this is the last outrage thou shalt doe to any man liuing Galaor hauing spoken these words lifted vp his arme to smite him but Archalaus in great feare cryed out Alas my Lords for Gods sake mercy Mercy quoth Galaor If Grumedan iudge thee worthy of mercy thou mayest perhaps haue it otherwise not for to him shalt thou goe and by him shall thy vill any be sentenced Worthy Lords answered Archalaus you cannot doe me a greater pleasure then bring mee to my Cousin Grumedan who knowes me to bee another manner of man then you imagine me It is not vnknowne to him that at all times I haue laboured serued and honored Knights errant such as I now perceiue you are When Galaor and Norandel heard him speake so honestly and named Grumedan to be his kinseman they were halfe offended with themselus that they had giuen him such rough language and answered him thus What moued you then to send vs such an iniurious command by your men In good faith my Lords quoth he if you please but to heare me I will acquaint you with the whole truth Know then that as I not long since crossing the For est of the Black Lake I met with a Damosell who made complaint vnto me of a great wrong done her by a knight which my duty and order binding me to repairâ—e I pursued him according to her direction and entring the Combate with him before the Count of Ganceste soyled him But it chanced afterward as I returned hometo my Castell that villaine Traytour which first of all you slew accoÌ„panied with two other knights who lay closely ambushed to entrap me watching their fittest oportunity did all set vpon me and would forcibly compell me to make them Lords and Commanders of mine owne dwelling What shall I more say to ye They followed mee with such violence as notwithstanding all I could doe in my best defence they tooke me and sed me prisoner to a Fortresse not farre hence where they long time detayned mee in the most iniurious manner could be deuised not permitting so much as the dressing of such wounds as I had receiued in fight against them and are heere apparant to your view With these words hee shewed them diuers skarres and hurts And because quoth he they stood in feare lest I should escape froÌ„ them and go to the Court of good King Lisuart there to require ayde and instice of the gentle knight Amadis de Gaule or of his noble Brother Galaor by the suitherance of my Cousin Don Grumedan this very day they had me along with them in this Litter because I was not able to endure trauaile on horse-back purposing to carry me God knowes whether doubting the friendship and helpe of my honourable kinsmen that laboured to release mee out of their thraldome some few dayes since In which respect they no sooner espied you but thinking you to lye in waite for the same occasion they made no conscience in abusing you as they had done mee in most rigorous maner Worthy Sir replied Galaor on the faith of a knight by this discours of yours they were truely villaines For you being kinsman to one of the best-deseruing men in the world your wrongs haue bin too great and vnsufferable But let me entreat you to tell vs your name and to pardon the iniurie wee haue likewise done ye being ignorant of whence and what you were I am named quoth Archalaus Branfiles and know not whether you haue heard of me heere to fore or no. Yes that I haue and vnderstand your merit among the very best answered Galaor in doing all honorable courtesies to knights errant at what time soeuer you can compasse the meanes as Don Grumedan himselfe hath many times told me I am glad of it quoth Archalaus and seeing you haue receiued knowledge of me let me in kindnesse obtaine so much fauour at your hands as to take off your Helmets and to tell me your names that I may returne thankes to my Cousin Grumedan for your extraordinary curtesie This knight saide Galaor my deare friend and companion is called Norandel and he is Sonne to King Lisuart And I am Galaor brother to Amadis de Gaule Happy man that I am answered Archalaus dissemblingly lifting vp his eyes to heauen could any greater felicity befall me then to bee thus relieued with two of the best knights in the world This conference he continued the longer taking good note and obseruation of
awake your silent cogitation and tell me truely what you think Sir quoth he I beseech you to hold me excused for I finde my capacitie ouer feeble to yeeld you any faithfull counsell in a case so important Moreouer you are minded to congregate the chiefest Lords of your Land to commune with them in so serious a businesse and they no doubt like loyall subjects will direct you as becomes a King But yet quoth the King I would gladly first haue your aduice else you will giue mee cause to misconceite you God shield me Sir said Galaor from so doing rather I will liberally lay my heart open to you according to mine owne poore iudgment and the true integrity of my minde Sir said he whereas you say that in marrying your Daughter Oriana with the Emperour there remaines no possibility of a fairer fortune surely I am of a quite contrary opinion for she being your principall Heire and sent into so remote a Country to lose a kingdome already prouided for her you shall leaue her poore without meanes and subiect to a people but slenderly agreeing with the manners and conditions of this Nation And whereas you conceite that in being wife to an Emperour and dignified with the name of an Empresse her authoritie and renowne is the surer afterward before God Sir let mee plainely tell you that you wrong both your iudgement and reason therein Fore-thinke what may ensue and say shee haue heires male by her husband which is the sole comfort of any kingdome she becomming a widdow the first fauour her owne childe shall doe for her is to vrge her retreate to hold possession of the Empire by himselfe If he take a wife then it falles out far worse for her because the new Empresse will be second to none and then it is most certaine that your Princely Daughter lyes open to a thousand inconueniences and vnauoydable grieuous extreamities For first shee hath lost this Country which was certaine to her as being her naturall place of birth and breeding to liue in a strange land farre from parents subiects and seruants which is no common kind of affliction And whereas you alleage that by his alliance and fauour you are sure to be succoured and much feared Surely Sir I must tell you that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it you haue so many true friends and trusty Knights at your command as without any helpe of the Romaines you may easily extend your limites when you please And I am perswaded that in exspectation of support from them they will rather seeke to ruinate and destroy you then furnish you with any such assistance as you may imagine scorning all equality or any to bee greater then themselues Moreouer it is most certaine that they can couet no better meanes then by compassing some apt occasion to register you downe in their Chronicles to your shame and their glory vnder the shadow of some sleight fauour irregularly affoorded then which no greater mischiefe can happen to you and yours And alas Sir what reason haue you to send the Princesse Oriana so farre from you being your Daughter and chiefest Heire onely to aduance the Princesse Leonora who is her yonger Sister By my soule of a most vpright and vnpartiall King renowned through the wide world for the Authour of Iustice you will procure the greatest scandall to your reputation and wound your vntainted honour so deepely as neuer powerfull Prince or King did the like But I hope that Heauen will better direct your iudgement and settle more surer cogitations in your soule which I as the very meanest Knight in your Court doe hartily desire And beleeue it Sir that I durst neuer haue beene so bold to tell you the free censure of my soul but that you pleased so expressely to command me and I as a loyall seruant could doe no lesse And let this be your perswasion of me that during my life time I will keepe my promise faith and fidelity to you as one that stands much obliged to you for infinite good turnes and fauors done me Well declared King Lisuart by his countenance that he was scarsely pleased with Galaors remonstrance and he likewise as quickely apprehended it wherefore continuing on his speech he said Sir King Perion my Father hath commaunded mine attendance on him in Gaule so soone as possibly I can and because I meane to set hence to morow morning to the end you may not conceiue but that I haue counselled you faithfully if you bee so pleased whatsoeuer I haue spoken I will set downe in writing that you may acquaint them with it whom you intend to assemble together I pray you doe so answered the King And at these wordes they were come neere vnto the City which made them alter their discourse Being alighted the King betook himselfe to his Chamber where he sate downe very sad and pensiue and would not all that day be seene in any company The next morning Galaor tooke shipping according to his former determination for hâ—…ould not bee present at the resolution of this mariage as knowing certainly that the King would not bee altered from his purpose notwithstanding all aduice and councell to the contrary More-ouer he knew some part of the priuacies betweene Amadis and Oriana who all this while remooued not from Mirefleure whither the Queen Sardamira came to see her as you haue heard already finding her to be the onely fairest Princesse in the world What would shee then haue thought if she had seene her in her former condition before this continuall melancholy seized her for the absence of her Amadis and this new purpose for marriage which grieuously oppressed her Being now somewhat meagre pale and pensiue yet she appeared as if Nature had studied all her life-time to make her the mirrour of choicest perfection The Queene finding the day no way fauourable to acquaint Oriana with the cause of her comming deferred it till the next morning when resorting againe to see her and hauing first heard Masse together they walked along the allies of the Garden and proceeded so farre into the businesse that she told her how dearely the Emperour affected her what pursuite he made to enioy her as his wife and what supreme felicity attended her onely by this mariage But the answere of Oriana was so vntuneable as the Queene durst proceede no further with her but in the interim Florestan came to them who purposing to take his leaue that he might returne to the Enclosed Isle she tooke him aside declaring what infinite afflictions hourely encompassed her how shamefully the King her father dealt with her by compelling her to marry into a straunge Country and to the onely man of the world whom she least respected But beleeue it Sir quoth she if he continue in this humour the first newes he shall heare of me after my departure hence will be my death For come what may if he sunder me from this Country Death and the
other Knights in his company of no lesse valour and prowesse then hee as I am giuen to vnderstand I am well pleased to Combat against them and you if you haue any wil to take their part prouided that two of my companions may ioyne with mee By this meanes it will be apparantly discerned to whom the honour of victory shall fall the fight being equall of three Romaines against two Greekes and a Knight of great Brittaine Grumedan smiling at the Princes pride returned this answer It were shame for me to make refusall therfore I accept your offer I and those two that shall take my part Thus speaking he drew a Ring from off his finger and making a low reuerence to the King said Behould Sir here is my gage which most humbly I beseech you to receiue on the behalfe of mee and my companions as in iustice you can doe little lesse the Prince Saluste hauing challenged the combat as you your selfe haue heard otherwise hee must either vnsay his words or yeeld him selfe vanquished By God said Saluste sooner shall the Seas be dryed vp then the word of a Romaine be retracted or the least iniury done to his honour And I doe much meruaile Grumedan that you dare speak words so voyd of reason but if age haue made your sences faile you your body must iustly pay the penance in combate for speeches so indiscreetly deliuered Surely Sir answered Grumedan I am yet yong enough to bring mine enterprise to a good issue and to gaine that from you which you imagine to get ouer-easily from me And let me plainly tell you that mine age hath taught me more experience then euer young pride or presumption could learne as I hope is sufficiently seene in you by the proud perswasion you haue of your selfe who rather appeares to be a Captaine of Braggardsâ— then a man to performe any matter indeed With these words arose vp King Arban more then thirty Knights beside to take the cause in hand to maintaine what Grumedan had spoken but the King imposed silence on them commanding them on perill of their liues not to vse anymore such words in his presence Whereupon euery man departed to his lodging leauing Count Argamont alone with the king to whom he spake in this manner Sir haue you not obserued the audacious insolence of these Romanes and how vnreuerently they dare abuse the knights of your Court In your own iudgement they that are so mallepert here what will they not doe in other places In good faith Sir seeing they declare so litle discretion I greatly feare their behauiour to the Princosse Oriana euen so soone as you shall haue lost sight of her And yet notwithstanding as I hear you haue already giuen them your grant for her which makes mee to meruaile not a little whence this strange fancie in you should proceed considering that neuer did any Prince so wise and iudicious as you haue alwayes bin esteemed so far forget himself wherby plainly appeareth that you are desirous to tempt your own good fortune to let loose the reines of diuers disasters very ominous to this whole kingdome Haue you forgotteÌ„ what especiall graces our Lord hath in a maner heaped vpon you And doe you not stand in feare of his anger Fortune is not she mutable Are you now to learne that when shee growes weary of good turns to him whom she hath exalted she wil chastise him afterward with many stripes yee with such cruel tortures as are a thousand times worse then death Pardon me Sir I beseech you if the faith I beare you haue made me thus bold to speake such words as perhaps you like not you are not ignorant how transitory the matters of this world are and that all the renowne glory which by long and tedious trauell can bee gotten in this life is oftentimes quenched and quite buried vpon a very small occasion if Fortune doe but once distaste the person So that if any remembrance remaine of a mans former felicity this blame will only liue vpon him that hee did not make vse of his precedent happines but rather entertayned it with an idle and negligent respect Pausing here a while and hearing the King to returne no answere hee began againe thus Sir doe but thinke on the fault you sometime fell into by banishing so many good Knights farre hence as Amadis his brethren kinred and friendes by whom you were feared honoured and respected euery-where And being scarcely freed from this mishap will you voluntarily fall into a worse Vndoubtedly I must needes imagine that God and all good successe hath forsaken you because you haue first forsaken him For if it were otherwise you would accept the counsell of them that desire to liue no longer then in loue faithfull seruice to you But seeing what I doe I am content to discharge the homage and duty I owe you and with-draw my selfe into mine owne territories because I will auoyde so much as possibly I may the iust complaints and teares of your Daughter Oriana at such time as you deliuer her according to your promise and the manifold miseries that will ensue thereon to your dishonour and woefull ouer-throw of this famous Realme Vncle replied the King that which is done is done were I to dye I will not falsifie my word But I pray you to abide heere two or three dayes longer to see what issue these new-attempted Combats will sort vnto because I elect you as Iudge of these exploytes with such beside as your self shal make choyse of Heerein you shall yeeld mee great contentment and such seruice as cannot be more acceptable because we haue no one heere that vnderstandeth the Greeke language better then you doe Sir quoth Count Argamont seeing such is your pleasure farre be it from me to contradict it yet vnder this condition that afterward you will dispense with my departure for it will be impossible for me to abide among such grieuous mournings as must needs succeed this heaâ—y fortune So breaking off their discourse by reason of the Prince Saluste Quides comming Count Argamont with-drew himselfe leauing the King and Prince in priuate conference Now we may not bee vnmindfull of Lasinde the Squire to Don Bruneo who compassed so good meanes that he attained to true intelligence of all matters and conference since the Damosell-Messengers departure Wherefore seeing the night fast hastening on secretly he left the Court and made his speedy passage by Boate to the Greeke knight whom he acquainted with the Prince Salustes request to the King the answere of Don Grumedan and all things else in their due proceeding This fell out to his no little comfort and so much the rather because now hee knew he should meddle with none but Romanes whereas he feared before that either his brother Galaor or some other as worthy a Knight of Great Brittaine would steppe into his place on the Ladies behalfe And then hee knew too well that neuer could
beseech you so much as a man may doe that before you send her so farre hence you would maturely consider it and iudge thereof without any partiall affection For as we commonly see that a wise man seldome fals into any errour when he is guided and led by reason euen so we discerne the contrary when he pâ—esumeth so much vpon himselfe that he will allow of no counsell but out of his owne braine then he falles into greater dangers then all his after-wit can recouer as by wofull experience hath bin obserued in many Princes You see my Lord what extremitie your Daughter Oriana is in and if you well consider thereon you may easilie iudge what inconuenience may happen to her person by an inward violent-conceiued despaire which afterward all your life-time you may at leysure repent Beyond all this you will runne into an vnauoydable blame not only of strangers but euen of your owne subiects and thereby grow hatefull to them whereon must needes ensue many mis-fortunes Therefore beleeue the counsell of them that solie desire the good benefit and honour of you and your kingdome whereby no perill what-soeuer can happen to you in so doing but if it should fall out otherwise yet you stand clearely excused and they bound to prepare all possible remedies These considerations my royall Maister do importune my soule with endlesse imprecations that you would vse a fatherly pitty and please these Ambassadors by some other means then the precious price of your daughters blood Vncle quoth the King these words haue moued too much therefore if you meane to please me vse no more of them So turning from him he espied the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell enter the Garden who being come neerer called them to him saying Lords my daughter is now come to court and she is somewhat sickly but I trust she will be better amended to morrow Sir answered Brandatell we gladly would haue her deliuered to vs so soone as may stand with your liking because the Emperour our Master exspects her day by day according as he hath written to you You know replyed the King that I haue conseâ—ted to his request against the whole opinion of the knights of my Court yea and contrary to her will too Notwithstanding I haue done it in regard of the Emperors vertues and the hope I haue of her honorable respect and entertainment In the meane while forbeare a little that she may forget what shee must forsake and prouide your shipping in a readines for this next weeke ensuing I will deliuer her to you fully furnished My Lord answered the Prince Saluste Quide it is not to bee wondred at if at the first she mouâ—ne for parting from you but I am well assured that so soone as she shall be arriued at Rome beholding so many great Lords to giue her obeysance the triumphes prepared to welcome her and aboue all the choyce loue and respect of the Emperour to her her ancient breeding will easily bee forgotten Moreouer if you please to grace Olinda with her company I meane to make her my wife so soone as she comes there because I finde her to be a wise and vertuous Lady Beleeue me quoth the King I wishe it might bee so And then he entred into a large discourse of such especiall vertues remaining in her as more could not be found in any Lady By this time the Tables were couered for dinner in the midst wherof they that intended to combate with Grumedan came and presented themselues speaking thus to King Lisuart Sir you know what words were vsed some few dayes past by Lord Grumedan to the great disgrace of the Romanes so that Prince Saluste and we with him do come to challenge him the combate Because hee shall well know that it ill becomes such an old dotard as he is to make comparison with knights of Rome therefore if you be so pleased it shall be performed tomorrow for it grieues vs that he should remaine so long vnpunished Don Grumedan hearing himselfe thus abused beganne to change colour and as hee was about to make answere the king seeing him in choler arose and said to him Grumedan you haue euermore hitherto beene wise and temperate especially in speech let mee then request you to conceale your displeasure and onely answere to the combat which these Knights doe vrge you to Sir said Grumedan seeing it is your will it shall be so and to morrow I will not faile to meete them in the field according to my promise where I hope to reuenge the wrong they haue done mee in your presence So the King rose from the Table and went into his Chamber with Grumedan demaunding there of him where were they whom he had chosen to take his part Sir said he first I know the right on my side and if Galaor come to morrow as I think he will I am well assured that hee will beare me companie but if hee come not then will I fight with them all three one after another That may not be answered the king for you haue consented to three against three and so the oath remaines before me recorded which makes me stand in great doubt of you because they are young and strong you aged and weake and without any to helpe you Sir said Grumedan God who hateth pride and presumption wherewith they are too much enflated can prouide helpe when it is least looked for But if the worst should happen I know two of mine owne kinsemen that wil not deny to ayde me against them were they farâ—e better knights then they are The King pausing a while suddenly said I haue considered otherwise for you I will disguise my selfe and second you in the cause for assure your selfe you and I shall well hold out against them all three God forbid Sir answered Grumedan that you should so endanger your royall person for me Why said the King in better place I can neuer doe it and neuer else can I iustly acknowledge the manifold seruices you haue done for me hazarding your life in so many seuerall dangers onely for the defence of me and my Realme Sir quoth he the present demonstration of your gracious goodnes towardes me hath so farre enlarged the obligation of my duty to you that if I could dye a thousand deathes in your seruice I should yet confesse my selfe more indebted to you â—ut neuer feare man replyed the king my heart hath yet courage enough and this arme is endued with sufficient strength to maintaine a quarrell of greater moment Pardon me Sir said Grumedan neuer will I giue consent thereto considering what wrong you shall doe to your selfe you being a king of vpright iustice should deale as truely with a stranger as him that is your familiar friend Well quoth the King seeing you are so earnest I will vrge it no further although it goes much against my minde goe then and prouide for your busines for you haue no time now of trifâ—ing delaying
your gracious fauours towards mee and I desire pardon for your greeuous feare which this rude encounter could not but put vpon you I heard none at all said shee I was so ouercome with extreame melancholy if Mabila had not told me of it I had bin as vtterly ignorant of any fight as they that dwell in Great Brittaine But tell me I pray you whether are you minded to cary mee Let mee coniure you deare sweet by all the loue you haue euer borne mee that seeing wee are now met together and in so good company you would speake nothing to me in any place that may returne to our preiudice but when you are willing to command any thing your Cousine Mabila may easilie enterpret betweene vs. My further intent is to be conuayed to the Enclosed Isle where I would gladly be till heauen afford more fauour for mee and my Father may vnderstand what wrong he hath done me Let me liue no longer Madame answered Amadis then to doe you my vttermost seruice wherefore you may well perswade your selfe that your will shall any way be accomplished And I hold it very expedient that you should make your mind known to Agraies Quedragant and Florestan who couet nothing more then to please you with their vttermost paines Well quoth Oriana when you meete in counsell together I will send your Cousin to them to know how they wil dispose of me So Amadis departed from her and called all the Knights of the Enclosed Isle in counsell to vnderstand which way they would take Many contrary opinions passed among them some thought it meet that Oriana should be conueyed to the Enclosed Isle others would haue her into Gaule to king Perion but the most part agreed for SCOTLAND till Mabila comming to them said My Lords Madame Oriana entreates you that she may bee conducted to the Enclosed Isle vntill her reconciliation with her father King Lisuart And seeing you haue already so well begunne this busines that proceeding on from good to better you would still stand fast for her as alwayes you haue done for distressed Ladies and Damosels requiring your help with due consideration had to the quality of her person Madame answered Quedragant I am sure that my Lord Amadis and al we of his company are determinately resolued to serue her till death without spare of coyne friendes or any thing else remayning in our power yea were it against the King her father the Emperour or any other that dare offend her not doubting but by the helpe of God and the iustice of our cause in doing her seruice we may lawfully make resistance against them Considering also that there is not a man among vs but hath solemnely sworne neuer to depart from this association vntill she be at perfect liberty And so you may safely assure her from vs concerning all which hath bin said as not to be denyed by any one in this company Mabila thanking them most affectionatly departed from them and comming to Oriana declared what the Knight had said vnto her wherof she was not a litle ioyful instantly all betook themselues to their seueral Ships And according to their former conclusion they set saile for the Enclosed Isle where in their voyage we wil leaue them to make an end of this Third Booke The end of the Third Booke A Table of all the Chapters contained in this Third Booke of Amadis de Gaule Chapter 1. OF the discords and warres which befell in Great Brittaine and thereabout occasioned by the bad counsell which King Lisuart receiued from Gandandell Brocadan against Amadis and his followers whereby many good Knights afterward on either side cruelly concluded their liues Fol. 2. Chapter 2 How Amadis being in the Enclosed Island enquired of Gandales tydings concerning the Court of King Lisuart determining to passe into Gaule with Bruneo to shake off his melancholy And of those aduentures which happened to him by a tempest that threw him vppon the Sad Island Fol. 12. Chapter 3. How King Cildadan and Galaor in trauailing towards the Court of King Lisuart met with twelue Knights and a Lady whâ— conducted a young Gentleman that entreated the King to make him Knight Fol. 21. Chapter 4. How King Lisuart fought a Battaile against the Knights of the Enclosed Island whom he vanquished And of the great liberalitie bee vsed towards Galuanes in restoring him to all the lands and Seigneuries belonging to Madasima Fol. 34. Chapter 5. How Amadis being with his Father King Perion found himselfe subiect to ouer-much melancholy to be so farre sundred from his Oriana And contrarywise Bruneo 〈◊〉 highly contented hauing so apt occasion to see and conferre with his Melicia at what time him-selfe pleased And of their seuerall enterprises to satisfie their owne humors Fol. 41. Chapter 6. How the three Knights of the Serpents returning 〈◊〉 ward into Gaule were by contray fortune cast on the place where Archalaus the Enchanter dwelt who resolued on their death and what afterward befell them Fol. 53. Chapter 7. How Esplandian was nourished by the olde Heâ—â—iâ—e Naâ—…n And what aduenture happened to Amâ—… 〈◊〉 the â—…ne â—…ile changing his knowne â—…e and câ—…g himselfe the Knight with the Greene Sword Fol. 69. Chapter 8. How King Lisuart hunting in the Forrest where he had left the Ladies accidentally met with a young Damosell who shewed him the way to the Hermitage where the good Hermite Naâ—cian made his abiding And how the Infant long time after was knoweâ— to be the Some of Amadis and Oriana Fol. 83. Chapter 9. How the Knight of the Greene Sword being departed from King Tafinor of Bohemia came into the marches of Romania where hee met with Grasinda 〈◊〉 the fieldes accompanied with many Gentlemen Ladies and Damosels Especially with a Knight named Brandasidell who would compell him by force of Armes to come speake with â—he Lady Grasinda and of the Combate they fought together Fol. 87. Chapter 10. How within short while after the Knight of the Greene Sword had hoysed saile into the maine Sea and had quite left the Islands of Romania By hard fortune hee was cast vpon the Deuils Island where he fought with a Monster named Endriagus Fol. 97. Chapter 11. How the Knight of the Greene Sword made knowen to the Emperour of Constantinople to whom the Island appertained where he slew the Endriagus the great fortune and victory he there obtained And of matters happening to him afterward Fol. 105. Chapter 12. How the Knight of the Green Sword departed from Constantinople to satisfie the promise which he had made to the faire Grasinda And of that which afterward happened to him Fol. 117. Chapter 13. How the Queene Sardamira with the other Ambassadors from the Emperour Patin arriued at the Court of King Lisuart hoping at their returne to beare thence the Princesse Oriana with them And of that which happened to certaine Romaine Knights offering iniurie to a Knight errant Fol. 129. Chapter 14. How the
a thousand deaths then redeliuer her to Patin without whom hee could not liue an houre He made no doubt of compassing some meanes to regaine her the former grace of the King her father and to breake the alliance else-where intended which that he might the better attaine vnto hee gaue the Prince Agrates and Quedragant to vnderstand that the Princesse had sent to pray this fauour For otherwise quoth he she intendeth rather to make a Sacrifice of her selfe then to fall into his power whom she more hateth then any man liuing Beside it shall no way redound to our honour to suffer such a monstrous shame hauing made so great and good a beginning for her deliuerance Quedragant returned him this answere I sweare vnto you Sir at our first and giddie-headed eye-sight we see so great a fire already kindled as we may easily presume is impossible to be quenched without a hard and daungerous warre which we may not well maintaine and endure for any long time without the ayde and succour of our deare friends and companions wherefore I thinke it expedient that all the rest which are here should be made acquainted there-with to know their opinions to the end that they may be the better enclined to sustaine the businesse if they shall conclude on warre I pray you then said Amadis that we may all meete together tomorrow and take the charge if you please to summon them wherto Quedragant gladly condiscended Hereupon the day following they met together and Amadis sitting in the midst of them beganne in this maner Honourable Lords yesterday Madame Oriana sent to pray me that we all would consider one some good meanes to winne againe the lost grace and fauour for her with the offended King her father qualifying in him if it bee possible that strange conceit of his to marry her with the onely Prince in the world to whom she beareth the least affection otherwise death will be much more welcome to her And therefore I thought it good after I had spoken with some of this company particularly to vnderstand from you all in generall what you thinke thereof For seeing wee haue beene friends and companions in the procuring of her libertie it is much more reasonable that we should all agree to maintaine it But before I enter into further speech I humbly desire you to fixe before your eyes that already your fame renowne is so knowne through the world by reason of the rare actions of Chiualry by you performed that at this day there is neither King Prince nor State but stand in feare of your high valour For they all well know that to winne immortall honour you haue contemned not onely the sumptuous treasures and kinde entertainments inherent to you in your owne houses but the deare blood of your owne bodies where-of you haue made no spare in giuing the boldest spirits to know the sharpe and keene edges of your swords to the mightie perill of your owne persons And as markes and testemonies of your prowesse the wounds receiued in many parts of your bodies may render such apparant faith as Fortune thinkes her selfe much obliged to you being willing to shew you how much her owne selfe is in debted to you And being desirous to recompence your former high deseruings she made plaine proofe thereof by deliuering this glorious victorie into your hands which you haue had against the two chiefest Princes of Christendome King Lisuart and the Roman Emperor Nor doe I speake concerning the ouerthrow of their men onely being farre inferiour to you in merit but of the worthie succour you haue giuen to the most wise debonnaire and vertuous Lady this day liuing Wherein you haue done a very acceptable seruice to God by executing that dutie whereunto you are expressely called namely to succour the a◅ted whē they are to endure wrongs beyond all reason Now if the King and Emperour thinke it good to be angrie yet seeing right is on our side and God who is iust will stand for vs also let vs giue them to vnderstand that if their owne experience cannot teach them iustice but by might and power they meane to assaile vs we are able to meete them with such resistance as shall remaine in memory while the world endureth Therefore let euery man speake his minde in this case what he conceiueth meetest to be done either to finish the war begun or else to motion peace by restoring Madame Oriana to the King her father according to her owne desire For as concerning my selfe know that I will neuer yeeld thereto except you be so pleased nor shall fond opinion ouersway me in this matter beyond the compasse so your liking I know you to be men indeed and your vertues of apparant as nothing can withdraw you from true valour and magnanimitie neither to aduenture on any action whereby your honour in how small a degree soeuer may receiue any base imputation So he ceased leauing the mindes of all the companie highly contented and satisfied by such an humble and gracefull remonstrance as he had made vnto them Then Quedragant commaunded thereto by all the assistants stood vp and answered Amadis in this manner Lord Amadis it is most certaine that our attempt made vpon the Emperour was not for any hatred wee bare to him but onely to keepe the faith whereto euery good Knight standeth obliged in maintayning and defending afflicted persons from wrong especially all vertuous Ladies of whom it is our dutie to be protectours And therefore I would aduise that before we vndertake any further warre wee should send to King Lisuart to let him fully vnderstand vpon what occasion we dealt with the Romans And if he be found discontented then in the verie mildest manner can bee deuised to shew him withall gracious demeanour what shamefull iniurie he offered to Madame Oriana vnder collour of marrying her to a forraigne Prince vtterly to disinherit her at home a matter euery way offensiue to God and not to bee suffred by his owne Subiects Pausing a very little while and clapping his fist vpon the boorde thus he proceeded If therefore it may stand with his good pleasure to forget his conceiued anger against her if there be any entred into his royall brest then we to offer deliuerie of her againe on this condition and not else If he refuse or disdaine the dutie wherein we send vnto him then to tell him resolutely wee feare him not a iote but if he will make warre vpon vs we are as ready to defend our selues In the meane while I hold it very necessarie that wee strengthen our selues with all such things as an action of such importance doth require as this is At least that he may not come vpon vs vnprouided whensoeuer hee determines to assaile vs if he be so minded albeit in mine opinion peace were much better then warre But this conclusion is not to be tardied by any meanes rather we must put our selues in due preparation dispatching hence
the World with him from his mothers wombe and surely in mine opinion they are the very same Notwithstanding if you had not quickned my memorie I should neuer haue thought on it And therefore make no complaint of your Fortune if you faile in this enterprise because for ought I can perceiue you haue begot him that must carrie this honor from you Amadis musing to himselfe while suddenly starting said I am of your minde for so haue I gathered by the Table on the Image of Brasse Return we then back againe quoth Grasandor and leaue the rest to bee ended by him to whom the destenies haue made their promise So we must bee inforced to doe saide Amadis albeit I am somewhat offended that I may not carrie away his sword with mee By my faith replied Grasandor if you should offer to get it your hinderance may be more then you imagine and yet it may fal out not to proue so good a sword as your owne Moreouer when I consider how you obtained it neuer could any Knight attaine to a fairer fortune nor more beseeming a man than yours was then This hee spake in regard that Amadis wonne it by approouing himselfe to bee the most loyall and perfect louer that euer loued according as in the Second booke of this Historie hath been oftentimes declared vnto yee Hereupon they returned backe by the same way they came and passing againe among the Antiquities Amadis stayed there a while better to beholde them The more hee looked on them the more hee commended their rare perfections both in moldings friezes chapters lying among the ruines of those famous buildings And no way could hee turne his eye but he beheld many fractures of singular carued parsonages the very muscles obserued to the life and such perspectiue where occasion required it that in his opinion it relished more of some diuinitie then to be performed by the skill of man in workemanship As hee continued in these meditations a knight armed with a white Armour and holding his sworde ready drawen came to them courteously saluting them as they did the like to him Then he demanded of theÌ„ whether they were of the Enclosed Isle or no We are answered Grasandor but why doe you moue that question Because quoth the other I found a Batque beneath and men therein who tolde mee that two Knights belonging to the Pallace of Apolidon were ascended vp this Rocke but they concealed their names from mee as I did mine from them Nor desire I any thing else but peace and friend-shippe with them beeing casually come hither in pursuite of a knight who by trompery is escaped from mee with a Damosell forcibly carried away by him Friend said Grasandor in courtesie let me entreate you to take off your Helmet or to tell vs your name If you will swear to me replied the Knight whether you know my Lord Amadis or no and that you will doe the like to mee I am well contented otherwise you speake but in vaine By my faith quoth Grasandor we are two of the best friends hee hath and therefore you may well be knowen to vs. So the Knight disarmed his head saying You may now knowe mee well enough if you be such as you haue sworne your selues to mee Hardly had hee concluded his wordes but Amadis ran and caught him in his armes saying Brother Gandalin is it possible that fortune should cause vs to meet in this maner Much amazed was Gandalin to see himselfe thus embraced and by a man vnknowne to him and vnable to coniecture who he should be wherefore Grasandor suddenly said Why how now Gandalin Haue you forgotten your Lord Amadis Amadis answered Gandalin may it bee possible Then falling on his knee whether he would or no hee kissed his hand before Amadis could any way preuent him but then demanded of him how and by what meanes he came thither Beleeue me my Lords replied Gandalin your equalls in loyalty of affection would gladly know as much concerning you as you now demand of me you being as farre from them as this place is from their abyding Neuerthelesse to giue you content I will declare the whole truth vnto you Know then that being with Bruneo and others who are yet in conquering the countries of Arauigne Sansuegua returning from a cruell battayle which the Kings Nephew gaue vs at our entrance and wherein many worthy men lost their liues one day among other a Damosell belonging to the kingdom of Norway attired all in black came into the Tent of Agraies desiring him on her knees in no mean plenty of teares to giue her rescue in a wrong done vnto her Agraies causing her to rise and sit downe by him demanded the cause of her sad complaint and hee would redresse it so much as lay in him to doe Alas Sir quoth she you haue good reason to helpe mee because I am both a subiect and seruant to the King who is father to Madame Olinda your wife for whose sake and honour I desire you to assist mee with one of your Knights for recouery backe of my daughter whom the Lorde of the great Tower on the Sea shoare hath forcibly taken from mee being thereto onely emboldened because I would not giue him her in mariage And my reason is in regarde hee is neither so noble nor descended of so good a house as my husband was but rather is of base and seruile condition vsurping the place he possesseth vpon his neighbours whom he hath since expelled The father to my daughter was brother to Don 〈…〉 honour 〈…〉 of Great Brittaine 〈…〉 I at any meanes for the recoâ—… of her without you because notwithstanding all the earnest entreaties I haue vâ—ed to him the wicked man is so cruelly minded as hee doth dayly deny mee so that my dayes can haue no long continuance except by Armes he be compelled to restore her Damosell answered Agraies why doth not your King do you iustice as in right to him belongeth My Lord quoth she he is so ouerspent in yeares and decayed in bodie as hee is not able to gouerne himself or any other neither doth hee euer come forth of his bedde only through his extreamitie of age and sicknesse The man then you speaks of replyed Agraies is his abyding farre from hence No Sir quoth shee in lesse space then a day and a halfe the winde sitting conueniently wee may by Sea easily sayle thither Then I made tender of my seruice as willing to goe along with the Lady But my Lord Agraies would not consent thereto except I made him faithfull promise of returning backe againe to him after I should haue combated the Knight without attempting any further if with honour I might safely doe it My promise made to that effect and I sufficiently furnished I went aboard with the Damosell in a Barque which shee had purposely brought with her and the Sea was so calme and fauourable to vs that on the morrow about mid-day we