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
your doughter in a certaine thing of great importance shee hath not had the means to come and visite you Then presenting the packet to Esplandian said vnto him Gentle knight My mistresse that loueth and fauoureth you as it is well knowne giueth you these armes and sendeth you word by mee that as shee gaue you the blacke armes that hetherto you haue borne to testifie thereby the sorrow for the losse of the king that as then was common among all his true subiects and friends So in these you shal finde the deuise of the lady that in beautie and comelinesse of person surpasseth all the ladies in the world as Amadis your father in time past well proued when shee set the crowne vpon her head in remembraunce whereof shee hath euer sithence borne the like deuise Who from henceforth shall bee so strongly fixed in your heart that you shal neuer giue stroke with sword nor launce but you will remember her Which she said in respect of the princesse Leonorine doughter to the Emperour of Constantinople that by destinie was appointed only vnto him And opening the pack shee pulled out a helmet shield Haubert and a Caparisson for a horse all of white imbrodered with crowns of gold and set with Diamonds and Pearles which hée most willingly receiued saying to the Gentlewoman I pray you in my behalfe giue Vrganda hearty thankes for the great honour and much good shee hath continually done vnto me assuring her that wheresoeuer I become she hath a knight of mee ready to obay her and that for the loue of her will beare these armes as long as it pleaseth her Bée it so in the name of God saied she but before long time bee past you shall haue another mistresse that will constraine you to doe greater matters for shée shall rauish both your heart and libertie in such manner that you should loose ouermuch if at sometimes you loose not your selfe for her And to conclude I tell you that my mistresse féeleth her selfe as yet so much bound and beholding to my lord Amadis your father because that by his meanes shee recouered her friend that during her life she wil vse al the means shee can to doe him plasure and you likewise for his sake And as shee deliuered the message vnto him Carmelle came thether and hearing her speake in that manner answered her and said Gentlewoman I pray you tell your mistresse from mée that she hath great cause to recompence them well by whom she enioieth her friend she loueth so entirely and tell her I know many to whom if such chance should happen that would not fail to acknowledge it with the price of their déerest blood and their soules likewise if néed were In faith said the gentlewoman I know not in whose behalfe you speake it but I know assuredly you touch mée at the quick which she vttered with so good a grace that the king could not refraine to smile hauing in times past felt the fury of loue when hée first saw the Quéene in the country of Denmarke Yet bee chaunged his countenance asking the Gentlewoman from whence that musicke came that hee heard in the morning before breake of day My lord said she being sometimes in greater passions then willingly I would I passe my melancholy humours with a Lute that I haue especially when I cannot sléepe which as I thinke was it you heard What company haue you in the Serpent said the king None said she but Esplandians Squire that I found in a manner dead for the desire he had to hear news of his maister to whome also I haue brought the goodliest white horse and the best harnaised that euer was séene which my mistresse sendeth him likewise Did she commād you to say nothing else vnto me said the king Yes my lord saied shee shee sendeth you word that at my arriuall here you and hee should enter into this ship that of it selfe will bring you into great Brittaine and that the fortunes that not long since happened vnto you are snares the world setteth to intrap those it séeketh to deceiue séeming to ioine gréene and flourishing age with that which already is dried vp and withered And further willeth you to put in effect that which in your selfe you haue determined to doe which was to forsake his kingly estate and liue a solitary life but hee wondered much that Vrganda knew it yet he made no shew therof but speaking to the Gentlewoman he saied Your mistresse bindeth mee daily more and more vnto her being well assured that without her helpe I could hardly haue found any to haue brought me into my country Wherfore I pray you tell her that whatsoeuer I haue is at her commandement and as touching my determination which as soone as I conceiued in my mind I perceiued it was knowne to her being at home if God giueth me life I meane to put in execution My lord saied shee she praieth you to commend the kéeping of this castle to Talanque and Ambor not taking any with you but Esplandian Sergil maister Elizabeth knowing for certaine that hereafter they shall doe such things that their renoume will spread throughout the world Wherewith my lord I will take my leaue and returne againe to her with the dumbe men that shall guide me in this little barke God haue you in his kéeping saied the king Then the Gentlewoman with her two Marriners entered into the barke that brought Esplandian thether and setting saile put to sea CHAP. XIII How King Luisart imbarked himselfe in the great Serpent and of the message Esplandian sent by Carmelle vnto the Princesse Leonorine doughter to the Emperor of Constantinople THe Gentlewoman that brought the message with the two dumbe men imbarked and put to sea farre from the rocke king Luisart and the rest went vnto the castle where he staied not long for according to the aduise Vrganda had giuen him hee desired Ambor Talanque with Libee and the rest of the company to kéep the castle promising with all spéed to send them prouision of all thinges necessary whereof they wanted But when Esplandian saw there was no remedy but of force he must obey the king much displeased to depart so farre from the borders of Constantinople where he hoped to find her whereof maister Elizabeth had brought him the first newes hée tooke his faithfull seruant Carmelle aside and said vnto her My good friend I was in mind neuer to falsifie the promise I haue made you nor the gift you required at my hands neuerthelesse trusting more in you then any other I pray you take it not in euill part if to saue my life I send you to a place whether I thought to haue gone my self in person but it pleaseth the king as you wel know that I shal beare him company My lord saied shee I most humbly thanke you for the honour it pleaseth you to shew mee swearing vnto you by the liuing God that I take no pleasure
many times you shall desire death And opening the packet she tooke forth a white armour all set with crownes of gold inriched with Pearles and Diamonds most sumptuous to behold Which Esplandian with harty thanks vnto Vrganda and the messenger receiued willingly This as I thinke madame said Carmelle is the cause why he hath ben called the blacke knight but I suppose séeing hee hath chaunged his deuise he will likewise change his name The Princesse Leonorine knew thereby that all these thinges were saied as touching her wherewith shee felt an alteration in her mind for that loue by little and little began to burne her heart which shee had willingly couered but Carmelle by the changing of her colour which sometimes waxed pale and sometimes redâ— the sundry motions wherewith swéet loue did pricâ—e her 〈◊〉 heart perceiued it â—ull well in such manner that being no longer able to abstaine â—rom sighing as if she had spoken to her selfe she said I pray God his beginning may proue a happy end Wherâ—with Carmelle perceiuing her maisters suâ—â—â— prospeâ— with effeâ—t the better to encrease the desire of the lady 〈◊〉 said vnto her madame he hath commanded me not to stay long here for till my returne he doth continue in excéeding paine and neuer shall bée frée if hee receiue no comfortable answere from your â—race Gentlewoman saied â—he Princesse I were the most vngratefull Princesse liuing on â—he earth if I should doe so but tell him I pray you from me that I giue him hearty thankes for the courtesies hee offereth mee by you and when he once arriueth here hée shall soone know the great good will I beare him As also that I hold him for my knight for proofe whereof you shall on my behalfe present him with this â—airelace as being the first present that Grimanaise my grandfather gaue to his Appolidon being but her louer Wherewith taking a cloth of tissue from her head she vnbound her hair and deâ—iuered the hairelace vnto her and sending for a gowne imbroâ—ered all with crownes of gold gaue it her likewise But saied shee because the two knights haue promised the Emperour not â—o depart from hence till eight daies are past you shall stay for them and all together return vnto the castle called La montaigne defendu which she willingly graunted CHAP. XXIII How newes was brought vnto the Emperour that Armato king of Turkie had besieged the castle of La montaigne defendu and of the charge he gaue Frandalo with Manely and the king of Denmarke to goe succour it IN manner as you heard before the two knights of the Ferme Isle and Carmelle staied at Constantinople where there arriued a certaine shippe that brought a Squire on message from Talanque and Ambor to certefie the Emperour that Armatâ— king of Turkie aduertised of the death of Matroco had besieged the castle La montaigne defendu both by land and sea desiring him to send some aid otherwise they should bée constrained to yéeld the same not hauing victuals nor men for to defend it The Emperor hearing those newes and considering the truce betwéene him and the king of Turkes as also that hee had not any men prepared for to send neither Gally Galliace ship nor Brigandine ready for the sea stood somewhat in amase But considering with himselfe of what importaunce that Frontier castle might bee vnto him if the enemy should obtaine it he determined by all meanes to hinder him from the same Wherfore calling for Frandalo and taking him aside he said vnto him Well Frandalo you are now my prisoner and it lieth in me either to hang you like a théefe or deliuer you with greater riches then euer you possessed which I promise you to doe if from this time forwards you sweare to bee my loiall subiect and faithfully to serue me when you are imploied My lord saied hee I beséech your grace wholly to forget the faults by me committed to your Maiestie swearing of my faith if it pleaseth you to pardon my offence you shal from henceforth find a seruant of me that in time will make you knowe by effect how much I estéeme this fauour at your hands Will you doe it said the Emperor I and it pleaseth your grace said he What is become of your Nauie saied the Emperour that in times past you held vpon the sea My lord saied Frandalo the winds tempests that lately happened on the sea hath so scattered them that I can heare no newes of them Neuerthelesse I am of opinion they may easily be brought together wherewith I will doe your grace seruice if you thinke good Doe it then saied the Emperor and that with spéed for I haue determined to raise the greatest army that euer hath been séene therewith to driue Armato king of Turkie out of the Frontiers of my Empire who not long since hath besieged La montaigne defendu And while my forces are preparing you with the two knights that of late came hether shall goe before and vsing meanes to assemble your men shall in the meane time giue the Turkes somewhat to doe My lord said Frandalo God giue me grace to doe you faithful seruice then be you ready in the morning saied he to depart from hence wherewith hée commanded Frandâ—â—os ship to bee rigged and prepared with al things necessary and finding Manely and the king of Denmarke he told them that he had receiued news from Talanque and Ambor touching the â—astle of La montaigne defendu and what hee had determined to doe as concerning their reléefe shewing them what had passed betweene him and Frandalo touching the same Wherefore my good friends saied hee because I well perceiue the great desire you haue to sée your companions me thinketh it were good you imbark your selues with him who goeth before to aduertise them of the aide I meane to send them My lord saied Manely it is our whole desires In the morning said the king you shal haue your bark ready and furnished with all things necessary and some other of my ships likewise to second you attending the great army my selfe dooth meane to bring But before their departure hee gaue them diuers rich presents which they refused contenting themselues with the honor and courteous intertainement hee had already giuen them and taking their leaue of all the court especially of the Princesse Leonorine they took sea and Carmelle with them hoping to haue her maisters great good will for the good newes she brought him But before we passe further to shew you what became of them I thinke it not out of our hystory to leaue Esplandian no longer at Miresleur but shew you what became of him being healed of his wounds CHAP. XXIIII How Esplandian healed of his wounds tooke leaue of king Luisart and all the court to goe vnto the Ferme Isle where hee left the great Serpent wherein accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil he imbarked himselfe to returne vnto the castle of La montaigne defendu MAny
threatned him with feare of being hanged Wherefore hoising vp his anker the company began to row forward but it was impossible for them to come neare the Serpent by a good bow shot and withall the sea it was so hie that the waues cast them backe againe into the Hauen with so great a force that the Gally was in danger to bee cast away Which the Princesse Leonorine perceiuing who till then thought assuredly Esplandian had expressely come thether for to sée her began to despaire of her good hope and making her complaint saied vnto her selfe Alas monster ship Gally or what vessell soeuer thou art wherefore art thou now so cruell vnto me in not suffering him that is within thée to land at this our Hauen to the end mine eies might enioy his presence but rather as if thou haddest conceiued a iealousie towards vs thou vsest all meanes possible to hinder the ship wherin my cousin Gastilles saileth not to approch neare thee that hee might bring him hether or at the least that wée might hear some newes of him But in faith all well waied and considred I think thee rather to haue reason and my selfe without consideration for that so excellent a thing ought not to bee so lightly set at libertie Therefore it is no meruaile if thou refuse him vnto vs fearing least thou shouldest loose him séeing thou maist well vaunt that in thée there resteth so valerous knight as in regard of him all others may be nought estéemed I would to God that wee being both together might neuer depart out of thy body for being with him his only presence would bréed in mée so much contentment that I should thinke my selfe to haue attained vnto the top of all felicity and if his loue bee such as Carmelle hath assured mee it cannot be but that he suffereth the like passion I now indure by ouermuch desire to sée his person Wherewith shee remained in such an extasie that by the changing of her colour it might easily be iudged her heart was not at ease which in the end compelled her to sigh and at the same instant to repent the spéeches she had vsed vnto Carmelle as also of the rich gowne that she gaue vnto her For said she vnto her selfe what know I if my swéet friend séeing her apparrelled therin would imbrace her not for the loue of her but for the gowne that once belonged vnto mee And if it be so it is not to bee doubted but shee will by all meanes séeke to ioine her lips to his yea and her body like wise which would bee worse séeing she is neither so euill fauoured nor of so bad behauiour but it may be in a heat he would both forget himselfe and me But out alas what said I Truly I doe him wrong to bée so iealous of him considering the chast loue that is betwéene them both and therefore if it so fall out that in respect of mee hee shall imbrace her body beholding her apparrelled in a thing that somtimes serued me it will bee much more glory vnto me till I my selfe may once imbrace his body as in time I doubt not but I shall But if Leonorine were in paine Esplandian had no lesse both sollicited with like iealousie for the great distrust of their not méeting at that time and gladly would haue approched néerer to each other had it not béene that the one was on land vnder the gouernement of another man the other at sea within a vessell which he could not command In the meane time the great Serpent setting forwards made such spéede that in very short space it passed the straights of Bosphore Wherewith the Princesse Leonorine was like to sound but shée refrained it as much as possible shee might fearing to manifest that she most desired to kéepe secret Whereby she withdrew her selfe halfe dead into her chamber and making as if she desired to sléepe threwe her selfe on her bed commanding her Gentle women to depart the chamber they being gone she began againe to renue her sorrow and almost drowned in teares said vnto her selfe Alas now I surely sée and well perceiue my gréefe to be wholly without remedy hauing séene the thing that in all the world I most intirely loue so néere vnto me and at one instant so suddainly to depart that it is vncertaine whether he is gone Ha cruell torment that still increaseth in me so couertly is it possible that from henceforth I can so well dissemble as yet I haue done Truly no for if in time past I inforced my selfe to estéeme the desire I had a singular pleasure vnto mee nowe séeing I well perceiue my accursed fortune to approch and my ioy to fade in manner as soone as it was conceiued I desire nought but death which to me would be more acceptable then liue in so great paine not hoping any ease And leauing so shee gaue so great a sigh that Quéene Minoresse heard it Who fearing shee had beene sicke opened the chamber dore asking her how she did Wherewith the Princesse perceauing that discouery to excuse her selfe the best she could shee told the Quéene shee dreamed Madame saied the Quéene it is not long since the Emperesse sent to sée what you were doing Is it not your pleasure to rise and goe vnto her Let vs goe saied shee In the meane time Esplandian with his companions sailed so long that within two daies after they perceiued the rocke of La montaigne defendu and not farre from them the vessels and men of warre Frandalo had assembled that stayed for a wind to surprise the Turkish Army on the sea who perceauing the great Serpent making towards them began to arme themselues thinking that it had beene some monster that came to deuour them But Manely and the King of Denmarke that had séene it oftentimes before were very glad giuing them to vnderstand what succours they might haue thereby whereat they all reioiced specially when they perceiued Esplandian Gandalin and the rest that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew wherefore causing a boat to bee made ready they with Frandalo and Argenton the king of Denmarkes Squire a very good marriner entered into it and rowing to the great Serpent Esplandian receiued them with great ioy asking Manely what fortune had brought them thether In faith saied he it is not long since we departed from the citty of Constantinople to discouer and to hinder the passage of victuals that are daily brought by sea from the Towne of Norolia vnto Armato king of Turks who not long sithence hath besieged the castle of La montaigne defendu expecting daily the comming of the Emperour with a great army to driue the Turke from thence But we haue had so contrary a wind that it hath ben impossible for vs to effect our charge In good truth said Esplandian I would neuer haue sought you in these countries neither doe I knowe what became of you after wée fell asléepe in this vessell I pray you
desire that daily more more increaseth in him to be your faithfull knight But before you procéed further it is conuenient you grant me two requests the one that neither you nor any other shall looke into the tombe vntill the morning that I returne againe with the keye to open a Cedar chest that you shall find therin the other that after you haue opened it you shall giue it me to carry with me to the place where my father kéepeth his hermitage therein to bury the bones of Matroco that died a christian as you haue vnderstood Carmelle my friend said the princes that am I content to doe neuerthelesse I am much abashed why Esplandian deferreth the time so long before he commeth to sée the Emperour Madame said shee I will tell you that to morrow meane time I pray you determin where you will haue our men to set downe their charge In the great hall said Leonorine that my gentlewomen may sée it at their ease In faith madame you shall pardon me said Carmelle this place is too open and ouer common to leaue so precious a thing standing therein I denie not to let them haue the pleasure to behold it but hauing séene it for the more safetie it shall be set into your owne chamber wherof you and none other shall haue the keye With that they that bare the tombe entered into the hall and set it downe till Leonorine and the rest of the gentlewomen had beheld it long and if Carmelle had not béene there assure your selues it had béene better visited than it was but she would not depart from thence till it was shut vp Which done taking her leaue as shée went out she tooke the Princes aside and giuing her the keye of the chest wherein Esplandian lay said vnto her Madame I leaue you in this tombe two inestimable treasures although their difference be great as you may will perceiue you being alone for it is sure that vnder this keye lyeth the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée without staying Leonorines answer she went out of the chamber and with Gandalin and his company returned to the ship leauing the princes in a maruellous doubt by reason of the words shee vsed vnto her there with did so certainely persuade her selfe that her friend Esplandian lay dead within the same that she was constrained to cause all her gentlewomen to depart the chamber only quéene Minoresse that staied to beare her company with that she threw her selfe on her bed almost drowned in teares began to make the greatest sorrow in the world Quéene Minoresse abashed at so suddain alteration knew not what to think but perceiuing her gréefe to increase still more more went vnto her and said Madame I pray you hide the cause of this sorrowe from me no longer for I sweare vnto you of my faith if by any means I may reléeue the same I will deale therin as for my selfe Leonorine that neuer ceased sighing could not answer her one word but with much importance at the last answered her and said Alas my good friend for Gods cause let me be in rest and let it suffice you that you know that I neuer was so desirous for to liue as I am at this present to die What Madame said the Quéene will you tell me nothing els No said shée In good faith then said the Quéene you shall do me wrong and I shall haue good cause to thinke the loue and fauour that in times past you haue shewen vnto me to bee altogither fained whereat I am much gréeued séeing I haue borne such a mind to you that I would neuer haue failed to hazard not only my honor but my life and soule both for your sake When the princes heard her speake with such affection she was somwhat better assured and thereupon said vnto her Séeing you are so desirous to know the cause you shall heare it presently vpon condition you shall promise me to be a meanes rather to hinder my daies than any waies to further them séeing I am fully determined to die You may yet well remember said she the first time that Carmelle came hither to bring vs newes of Esplandian sonne to the good knight with the gréen Sword that had commandement from his father as she said to come hither to serue vs in his place according to the promise he had made vnto vs being in this court Carmelle said that for that cause onely Esplandian had sent her vnto Constantinople to giue the Emperour and vs to vnderstand therof but there were other matters in the wind for shée came expresly to intreat me to be good vnto her master who for the great loue and affection he bare vnto me liued in the greatest paine that possible could be Whereupon it happened that being vanquished ouercome with an infinite number of reasons that she made vnto me I confirmed in my heart that which his renowme had alreadie imprinted in my mind and there with determined for to wish more good to him that to my selfe not that I euer thought to commit any fault that might redound to my dishonour but onely for the glory to haue so worthy a knight readie at my commandement whereby this fire did so augment in me that euer since I could not thinke on any other thing that vpon Esplandian with whose loue my mind hath béene to mooued that his long absence hath almost procured my death yet the hope I had from day to day to sée him hath made me able to sustaine my griefe with so great patience that neither you nor any other as I thinke could euer perceiue it in me But as the Saylor on the sea being in a tempest thinking at length to arriue at some hauen for to saue himselfe suddainly méeteth with a rocke that breaketh his shippe in péeces so I most vnfortunate Ladie hoping by the presence of him I so much desire to sée to be at the end of my great sorrowe am now fallen into the gulfe of desperation considering the spéech which Carmelle vsed to me who speaking softly saied in this manner Madame I leaue you within this tombe two inestimable treasures the one is the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée which maketh me verily thinke it can be no other thing than the dead bodie of Esplandian and that as it is very likely hée hath desired at his death to be brought vnto me to wéepe and lament ouer him as I meane to doe during the terme of my life which if it pleaseth God shall not be very long And saying so shée cast forth a great sigh sowning in Quéene Minoresses armes who being abashed to hear the princesse vse those words so far from the estimation she alwaies had conceuied of her knew not at the â—câ—â— what counsell or comfort to minister vnto her neuertheles considering the extremitie shee was in minding to prouide for two accidents that both at
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
féet were clouen like an ox yet was there no Hart in all the world that could outrun him were it in plaine way or ouer rockes In that manner she entered into the Christans campe of whom she was not a little wondred at before shee came to King Luisarts tent where Amadis and in a maner all the principal captaines of the army staied for her praying Quedragant to goe out to welcome her which he did with great courtesie for he had no sooner espied her but hee stepped forward and doing her great reuerence holpe her to discend and taking her by the arme led her into the tent where the lords were all assembled of whome shee was most honourably receiued But when she beheld Esplandians beauty she was so much surprised with the loue of him that shee repented her comming thether not so much for the small hope shee had to win him being diuers in religion but doubting that the fantasy newly entred into hir mind would so much estrange hir force by ouermuch thinking vpon him when she went to fight that therby she should be in danger to lose the honour and reputation shee had gotten in arms among the best knights in all the world which to preuent shee determined to stay the lesse time there knowing the nature of loue to bee such that it can steale the hearts of all persons and commonly maketh himselfe possessor of it before hee that hath it in possession can perceaue it And as the Princes entertained her with diuers swéete and pleasant spéeches shee tourned to Esplandian and saied Sir Knight for two most excellent graces that are in you I haue taken the paines to come and visite you The first is the gift of beauty which is such in you as I could neuer haue imagined the same The other is the force of your body and magnanimity of your courage whereby you are accounted altogether inuincible The one I haue séen with mine eies to be so perfect that I neuer hope to sée the like againe although I liued a thousand yeares and more the other the combat you shal haue against the most puissant Souldan of Liquie will be a witnesse vnto vs and had it not ben that hée requested me to fight against king Amadis because his onely desire is to prooue his body against yours I would haue tried it my selfe Of one thing can I wel assure you that if the honour remaine to vs and life to you I will afterward tel you a thing that much importeth me and which I greatly desire to let you know before I saile into my countrey Now for this time I haue satisfied my desire wherefore my lords said she vnto all the Princes I beséech you pardon me in not vsing longer spéeches for I know full well that my long staying with you thinking to finde that I hoped for might possible cause me to lose my selfe wherewith I should be ouermuch displeased for that before sunnesetting I hope to bée in place where I will shew such valour in armes that hee which neuer could be vanquished by man as it is reported shal now receiue an ouerthrow at a simple womans hand Madame saied king Perion fortune can doe much when it pleaseth her if you do as you say truly you shall doe more then we can well beléeue but commonly the workman is known by his worke and because the issue of the combat is the glory of him or you til then we wil defer our iudgements And although Amadis perceiued himselfe much outraged by the quéen yet he made no sign thereof but taking her by the arm led her where her company staied and as shée mounted to return with a smiling countenance he spake vnto her and said Madame whē we come to dealing of blowes I beséech you shew me not the greatest extremity you can because I was alwaies a friend to women and euer will be during my life wherevnto the quéen answered not a word but rode vnto the Pagans camp to arm hir selfe Mean time Brian de Moniaste arriued in the Christians camp who hauing ben sent by the king of Spain his father with a great power of men into Africa to besiege the town of Cesonie after called Centie was aduertised by a pirate of the Christians enterprise and how their army and great fléet had passed the cape of Finis terre presently sent vnto his father to desire him to giue him leaue to goe that voiage whereunto by much importunitie he granted For which cause Brian brake vp his siege of Cente and entring again into his ships sailed to Cicile and from thence to Galipoli and so to Constantinople where he ioyned with the Christian princes that receiued him most gladly CHAP. LIII How king Amadis and Esplandian his son fought against the Souldan of Liquie and Queene Calafre and of the battail fought the same day both by sea and land betweene the Christians and the Pagans QVéene Calafre returned to the Pagans campe as you heard before presently armed her selfe the Souldan like wise and stayed not long before they came vnto the place where the combat was assigned where not long after they found Amadis and Esplandian and because the two campes were not well assured of each other notwithstanding the oathes and promises on both sides made they set themselues in order of battaile not stirring one foot king Perion sending word to Quedragant and king Childadan that as they had intelligence from the enemy they should set vpon their armie by sea the like word was sent vnto the Emperour of Constantinople that he might likewise be prepared and as the foure combatants were ready to strike each other the Souldan called Amadis and Esplandian asking them if they would not sweare and kéepe promise according to the agréement sent vnto them by his gentlewoman that the vanquishers without impeachment should lead away the vanquished I truly said they therefore beware of vs. With that Amadis made towards the Quéene and the Souldan against Esplandian to whome he gaue so great a blow with his launce into the shield that he pierced it through wherby diuers thought assuredly he had béen wounded to death but it was not so for the launce passed vnder his saddle without any further hurt but Esplandian gaue him his exchange striking him so fiercely that hée made him loose both stirrop and saddle and fall vpon the ground with so great might that he rolled twice or thrice before he stayed in such manner that the helmet flew off his head Quéene Calafre ranne against king Amadis and he against her and as they were in the middle of their course Amadis turned the but end of his launce against her passing forward would not strike her yet shée held her launce downe and strake his horse in the stéele of his forehead and withall they met so strongly body to body that therewith the Quéene fell downe Amadis was constrained to light his horse was so astonished with the truncheon of