well as she hath recouered what was taken from her and behold where my Squire conducteth her hither-ward Now because the heate was some-what violent Amadis put off his helmet to take the aire when the Damosell immediatly knew him for it was she that at his returne from Gaule conducted him to Vrganda the vnknowne whē by chiualrie he deliuered her fréend at the Castell of Pradoid which made her remember him so did Amadis her when alighting they embraced eche other the like curtesie he shewed to the other Damosell Alas quoth they had we but dremed on such a defender no villain could haue wronged vs halfe so much On my faith saide Amadis the help you gaue me within these three dayes may not be compared with this matter of no validitie for I was in greter exextremity then you but how could you possibly vnderstand therof My Lord quoth she that tooke him by the hand when he was enchaunted mine Aunte Vrganda sent me to the Castell of Arcalaus by whose meanes we came thither and you were recouered Heauen sheelde from euill that good Lady answered Amadis who hath so many wayes bound me her obedient seruant and you faire Damoselles the messengers of this fauour haue you any thing els wherin to commaund me No my Lord said they take you the way you left and we will return from whence we came Farwell swéet Uirgins replyed Amadis remember my humble dutie to the health of your Mistresse telling her she knowes right well I am her Knight In this mander rode the Damoselles one way and Amadis another wherfore we must now tell what happened to Arcalaus since his departure from the Castell of Valderin CHAP. XXI ¶ How Arcalaus brought newes to the Courte of King Lisuart that Amadis was dead which caused his freendes to make manifolde lamentations and regrets especiallye the Princesse Oriana SUch spéede made Arcalaus after his departure from Valderin where he left Amadis enchaunted he béeing as I haue saide clad in his armour and mounted on his horsse that the tenth day following he arriued néer the Court of King Lisuart who was riding abroad in the feeldes to take the aire accōpanied with his Lords along the Forrest side They séeing Arcalaus come a farre of hauing on the Armour of Amadis imagining it was he indeed diuers rode before to welcome him but when they came more neere they found them-selues deceiued by reason Arcalaus had his head and handes vnarmed wherfore without saluting the Gentlemen he stepped to the King with these woordes Sir I come to accquite a promise wherein I stand bound namely to let you vnderstand how I haue slaine a Knight in battell that some time bare these Armes And albeit I must be content to declare mine owne praise which were more honourable for me béeing reported by an other in mine absence yet am I constrained to doo no lesse séeing the couenant was such betweene me and him whom I haue slaine viz. that the conquerour should despoyle the vanquished of his head and present it before you as this day Full lothe was I to be so cruell because he tolde me he was your Queenes Knight commonly called Amadis of Gaule and so he named him self whom I vanquished As for me Sir I tolde him in trueth that I was Arcalaus whome Fortune hath graced with such singuler fauour for I haue slaine the man some-time owner of this Armour and horsse which as a testimony of my victorie I brought with me Ah God saide the King is then the most vertuous and accomplished Knight of the worlde dead you lowring heauens why began ye so braue a course in him and now on such a sudden to cut it off These sorrowfull newes prouoked sighes and teares bothe in the King and his royall company which Arcalaus perceiuing not speaking any thing else returned the same way he came feigning him selfe likewise very sad and greeued but you must think he went not without great store of cursses euery one instantly desiring God to send him an euill and spéedy death which with their Swoordes they could gladly haue bestowed on him them-selues but that they heard how Amadis was slaine by an accorded battell The King being ouercome with pensiuenes and sorrow returned to the Towne where these newes were so opened to euery one that at length the Quéene and her Ladyes heard thereof which presently conuerted their former pleasures into mourning At this time was the Princesse Oriana in her chamber with the Damosell of Denmarke where hearing the sudden clamour and noise she commanded her to goe vnderstand the cause thereof Alas good Ladie too soone was it brought to her for no sooner was she acquainted with the death of Amadis but her immoderate passions expressed the anguish of her heart and more to afflict this gentle Princesse the other Ladyes came wéeping into her chamber saying Ah Madame what tongue can deliuer this wonderfull mishap yet durst she not good Lady be too forward in enquiring the manner thereof least the cinders of her affection might be discouered and as if she had beheld Amadis dead before her she said Alas he is dead it can not be otherwise It is true Madame answered the Damosell but what remedie you must not likewise dye for company These words made Oriana fall into a swoune which the Damosell of Denmarke beholding thought she had too indiscreetly brought her these bad tidings whereupon she called the Princesse Mabila saying Help Madame my Mistresse dyeth She being come sawe that she neither mooued or breathed doubted least life had taken leaue indéede wherefore she commaunded the Damosell to shut the door to the end her loue all this while so well concealed might not break foorth into open suspition Then vnlacing her garments to giue her more liberty as also bathing her temples and pulses with Uiniger and colde water she recouered again when deliuering a fainte sigh with a feeble voice she thus spake Ah swéet freendes hinder me not in the way of death if you desire my rest and would haue God finde him another world who knew not how to liue one day without me Ah flower and mirrour of chiualrie thy death is insupportable not to me alone but to the whole worlde who is replete with greefe for thee because they haue lost him who in bounty prudence hardines and all other vertues did honor them aboue the compasse of all desire And were yet any feeling in thee I am certaine thou wouldst not sorrow for thy lost life but for my loue enduring by thy misse meruaylous afflictions for thou hast left such honor in the worlde behinde thee conquering so incomparable reputation in this short time of thy life that reconing thy merites thou diedst possessed with many yeeres Thus liuest thou in place immortall I remaining héere alone after thée can giue but wounding and vnthankfull spéeches Ah cruell death suffised it not that mighty loue murdered him with his feathered stéele but thou must kill him out-right
heart saying Now shall my Fathers life be shortened by my death whereof you are the only cause As she vttered these woords she offered to stab her selfe with the Swoord when the King suddenly staying her hand and meruailing at her impacient loue thus replyed Hurt not your selfe Madame for I am content to satisfye your will Héereupon he kindly embraced and kissed her passing the night with her in such sort as her hot desire was quallifyed and at that instant she conceiued with child the King little thinking thereon for the next morning he tooke his leaue of her and the Countie returning with all spéed he could into Gaule But the time of deliuerance drawing on and she desirous to couer her offence determined to goe visite an Aunt of hers whose dwelling was not past two or three miles off and many times she resorted thither for her pleasure So taking no other company with her but a Damosell as she rode through the Forrest the payne of trauaile made her alight from her Palfray she being soone after deliuered of a goodly Sonne The Damosell that was with her séeing what had happened bringing the child to the mother said Madame as your heart serued you to commit the offence so must it now practise some present remedie while I returne from your Aunt againe Then getting on horsseback she rode apace to her Ladyes Aunt and acquainted her with the whole matter which caused the old woman to bée very sorrowfull yet she prouided succour for her Niece sending a Litter with all conuenient speed wherein the Lady and her child were brought to her Castell secretly euery thing being so cunningly handled as the Countie neuer knewe his Daughters fault After such time as these matters require the Lady returned home to her Father leauing her Sonne in her Aunts custodie where he was nourished till the age of eighteen yeeres hauing Squires and Gentlemen attending on him who dayly enstructed him in managing Armes and all braue quallities beseeming a man of value He being growen of goodly stature the old Lady brought him one day to y e Countie his Grandfather who gaue him his Knighthood not knowing what he was and returning againe with his motherly Nursse by the way she brake with him in this maner My Sonne I am certaine you are ignorant of your parentage but credit my woords you are the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule begotten on his Daughter that gaue you your order of Knighthood endeuour your selfe therefore to follow your Fathers steps who is one of the most renowmed Knights in the world Madame quoth Florestan oftentimes haue I heard great fame of King Perion but neuer imagined my selfe to be his Sonne wherefore I vow to you being my long and carefull Nursse that I will trauaile to finde my Father and not make my selfe knowen to any one till my deedes declare me woorthy to be his Sonne Not long after he departed from the old Lady and accompanyed with two Squires iournyed to Constantinople which at that time was greatly vexed with warre where he remained the space of foure yeeres perfourming such hautie deedes of Chiualrie as he was counted the best Knight in all those partes When he perceiued himselfe in some account he intended to visit Gaule and make himselfe knowen to the King his Father but comming into great Brittayne he heard the fame of Amadis to be meruailous which was the cause of his stay there to win some report by Armes as his bretheren had done whome he longed to acquaint himselfe withall At length he met with them both in the Forrest as you heard and afterward combatted with his brother Galaor which caused their aboad at the Castell of Corisanda vntill such time as their wounds were healed But now let vs returne to Amadis and Agraies who stayed with faire Briolania fiue dayes together preparing their Armour and euery thing in order which béeing doon they set forward on their way accompanied with Briolania her Aunte certaine waiting Gentle-women and Squires to doo them seruice by the way When they drew néere the Realme of Sobradisa they came to the Castell of an ancient Lady named Galumba who some-tune liued in Briolanias Fathers Courte and there they were welcommed very honourablye yet whether Briolania trauayled thus accompanied the olde Lady Galumba could not chuse but meruaile which made her request to be satisfied therin Briolanias Aunte tolde her how Amadis was one of the best Knightes in the worlde and had promised to reuenge the murdered Kings death likewise how he discomfited them that guarded the Chariot and afterward ouer-came the rest in the Castell at what time the Lyons escaped as you haue heard Galumba wondering at such singuler prowesse answered If he be such a one as you make reporte his companion must néeds be of some estimation and wel may they bring your enterprise to end considering the trueth and iustice of the cause but take héed least the traiterâ—us King woorke some treason against them That is the chéefest pointe of my feare answered Briolania wherfore we came to craue your aduise héerin Héer-upon she wrot a letter and sealed it with the Princesses seale at Armes then calling a Damosell after she had giuen her instructions she bad her make haste in deliuering the letter Presentlye went the Damosell to horsse-back and trauailed so speedily that she arriued at the great Cittie of Sobradisa which the whole Realme tooke this name by There was Abiseos with his two Sonnes Darison and Dramis and these thrée must the combate be waged withall for Abiseos slew the Father of Briolania by couetous desire he had to the Crowne which he euer since vsurped and helde more by tirannie then any consent in the subiectes The Damosell entred the Pallace on horsse-back when diuers Knightes came to her requesting her to alight but she made answer she would not till she saw y e King and that he commaunded her to leaue her palfray Soon after came the King accompanied with his two sonnes and many great Lordes and after she had saluted him he boldely bad her say what she would My Lord quoth she I shall fulfill your commaund on condition I may abide in your protection and receiue no iniurie for any thing I say By my Crown said the King I warrant your safetie wher-upon the Damosell thus began Sir my Lady and Mistresse Briolania disinherited by you gréets you with this letter which may openly be read before this royall company and I after-ward receiue answere for my discharge When the King heard the name of Briolania remorse of conscience touched him with the wrong he did her yet was the letter openly read which was to giue credit to the Damoselles woordes The most of the Lordes there present who sometime were subiectes to the slaughtered King seeing the messenger of their lawfull Quéene indéed pittyed she was so vniustly disinherited in their harts desired of God to plague the treason doone to her Father Proceede Damosell
you must vnderstand how she was the same that saide to King Perion that when he recouered his losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower yet notwithstanding he was farre from y t matter because he knew not wherof she spake and therfore thus replyed For Gods sake damosell I pray ye tell me on what occasion you vse these spéeches Beleeue me Gandales quoth she I haue told thée nothing but trueth At these woordes she departed from him leauing him very sad pensiue yet long he did not continue in these thoughts but he saw her returne againe in great haste thus crying and calling Ah Gandâ—lâ—s for Gods sake succour me then Gandales turning about beheld a Knight follow her with his Swoord drawen wherfore he gaue his horsse the spurres to meete him and placed him selfe for defence of the Damosell then comming to him y t pursued her he said Stay thou bad aduised Knight what moueth thee thus trecherously to outrage Ladyes What now answered y t other doost thou hope to saue her who by trumpery hath made me loose both bodye and soule That meddle not I withall saide Gandales but I will defende her to my power well knewing that Ladyes ought not to be corrected in this manner albeit they did deserue it We shall presently see that answered the Knight and so gallopped to y e place from whence he came which was a little thicket of trees where stayed a very beautifull Lady who when she saw him returne came foorth bringing him a Shéelde and a strong Launce which he tooke and without longer tariaunce returned to his enemye Gandales being a stearne Knight would not refuse him wherupon they met together in such sorte as their Launces were broken on their Sheeldes and they with their Horses cast to the ground yet quickly did they recouer footing when began betweene them a meruailous combate which woorsse would haue beene but that she which desired succour of Gandales stepped betweene them saying Stay Gentlemen fight no more At these woordes the Knight who before pursued her went backe then saide the Damosell to him Come now and aske pardon of me Most willingly answered y e Knight theÌ„ throwing his Swoord and Shéeld down came and humbled him self on both his knees befoâ—e her wherat Gandales was greatly amazed afterward the Damosel said to y e knight Goe commaund the Lady vnder the trees that she get her away immediatly vnlesse thoâ— halt take her head from her shoulders To this charge the Knight yeelded him selfe obedient and to her whoÌ„ he loued more then him selfe by sudden change from loue to hatred became and angerly saide Traiterous woman I know not how I shall defend my selfe from killing thée presently Well perceiued the poore Lady that her fréend was enchaunted and that contestation would nothing at all profit her wherfore incontinent she mounted on her Palfray and rode away making the most gréeuous sorrow that euer was heard and there remained she whom Gandales had defended speaking to him in this manner You haue Sir doone so much for me as I shall be beholding to you while I liue and now you may departe at your pleasure for if the Knight offended me I haue pardoned him w t all my hart As touching your pardon answered Gandales I haue nothing to doo therwith for my selfe I will end the Combate or he shall holde him selfe vanquished It behooueth that you acquite him saide the Damosell séeing that if you were the best Knight in the world easily can I make him ouercome ye Doo therin what you can replyed Gandales but I will not acquite him except you firste declare to me wherfore euen now you saide that I kept the death of many people in my house Then will I rather tell ye quoth she because I loue you both he as mine own Soule you as my defender albeit constraint cannot make me doo it so taking him aside she saide You shall sweare to me as a loyall Knight that no other shall know it by you vntill such time as I commaund it heereof he made her faithfull promise Know then saide the Damosell that he whom you found in the Sea shall one day be the flower of chiualrie and shall cause the very strongest to stoope he shall enterprise and with honor finishe what other shall faile off and such déeds of armes shall he doo as no one thinkes can be begun or ended by the strength of one man The proud shall he make humble and gracious being cruell to the pittilesse as also benigne and amiable to the debonaire this Knight most loyally will maintaine loue and shall affect in place answerable to his magnanimitie Moreouer I assure thée Gandales that he is the Sonne of a King and without doubt all this will happen which I haue told thée but if thou kéep it not secret it maye returne thée more harme then good Madame answered Gandales I praye yee tell me where I may meete with you heerafter to conferre with you on the affaires of this infant That must you not knowe by me saide the Damosell or any other Yet tell me your name quoth Gandales if so it be your pleasure By the faith you beare to the thing you most loue in the world replyed she you coniure me so as you shall knowe it albeit the thing that moste I loue is he that wisheth me least good and would you know what he is it is the Knight against whom ere while you combated notwithstanding I will not leaue to intreat him at my pleasure without he being able to remedy him selfe My name is Vrganda the vnknowne and to the end you may remember me an other time beholde me well at this present At that instant she who shewed her selfe to Gandales faire yong and fresh as one of eightéene yéeres became so olde and ouer spent as he meruailed how she could sit on her horsse if then he was stricken into admiration you may iudge But when she had beene a prettie while in that state she tooke out of a little bottell which she caryed a certaine vnguent wherwith she rubbed her face and right soone recouered her former countenaunce saying to Gandales What iudge ye now Sir thinke ye to finde me heerafter against my will vsing all the dilligence you can deuise neuer therfore put your self to such paine for when all liuing creatures goe about it if I list they shall loose their labour In good faith Madame answered Gandales I now make no doubt therof yet I beséeche ye to be mindefull of the Gentleman who is forsaken of all but my selfe Doo not you trouble your selfe therewith saide Vrganda this forsaking will be a recouering of much more My loue to him is greater then you can imagine being she that shortly intendes to receiue by him two aydes which no other can giue me In recompence wherof I will giue him two likewise wherwith he shall thinke him self highly satisfied Let this suffise ye for this time because of
eyes and all together praised God for this good aduenture especially the Prince because he had beene preserued in so great danger and now at length to finde such honor and good hap as to méete with his Parents being all this while vnknowen to them As thus they deuised on the fortunes passed the Queene demaunded of him if he had no other name then that which now he called himselfe by Yes Madame quoth he but it is not fully three dayes past since I knew thereof for as I came from the Combate against King Abies a Damosell brought me a Letter which I haue and as she saith was fastened about my neck being wrapped in ware when I was found in the Sea wherein I finde that my name is Amadis and héere-withall he shewed the Letter to the Quéene which she full well knewe so soone as she sawe it Beleeue me sayd the Queene this truely is the Letter that Darioletta wrote when she made the seperation betweene you and me thus though I was ere while in great griefe and sorrow yet now praised be God I feele as much ioy and pleasure Now seeing assuredly your name is Amadis it is needlesse you should beare any other contrary title so thence forward he was called no more the Gentleman of the Sea but Amadis and sometime Amadis of Gaule It was not long before the bruite héereof was spread through the Cittie that the good and famous Knight was Sonne to King Perion and the Queene Elisena wherefore if euery one reioysed you must thinke the Prince Agraies was not sory for they were found to be Cozin germaines Among the rest the Damosell of Denmarke had knowledge heer-of wherefore considering what comfort this would be to the Princesse Oriana she laboured so much as she could to returne toward her knowing she would giue her friendly countenance bringing her so good newes what gracious fortune had happened to him whome aboue all other she loued For this cause she intreated Amadis to dispatch her returne to hir Mistresse In that I well perceiue quoth she you cannot so speedily depart hence as you would nor were it reasonable but you should giue some contentation to them who for the loue of you haue shead so many teares These words caused the teares to tricle downe his cheekes yet smothering his griefe so well as he could he made this answere to the Damosell Lady I will pray that the heauens may safely conduct ye yet let me intreate your friendly remembrance commaunding the vttermost of my endeuours for without your gentle care my life cannot endure withall I finde my selfe so indebted to my gracious mistresse as I dare not request any thing at her hand Neuer-the-lesse you may say to her that right soone shall I come to shewe my obedience and in like armour will I be clad as when you sawe me Combat with the King of Ireland because both she and you may the more easily knowe me if I can not compasse the meane to spake with you and in this manner departed the Damosell of Denmarke On the other side Agraies seeing his Cozin Amadis was to remaine longer in Gaule determined to take his leaue and calling him aside said Faire Cozin for this time I must be enforced to leaue ye albeit your company is more pleasing to me then any other but my passionate hart will allowe me no quiet vntill I be with her who both farre and neere hath power to commaund me It is Madame Oliuia daughter to the King Vanain of Norway who sent for me by the Damosell that brought me the Helmet of Galpan which you sent me in reuenge of the dishonor she receiued by him that I should come to her with all conuenient speede and therefore I neither may or dare faile which is the only cause of my parting with you Now must you note heerewithall that at the time as Don Galuanes brother to the King of Scotland was in the Realme of Norway with Agraies his Cozin this young Prince became so enamoured of the Lady Oliuia as he concluded neuer to loue any other then her and this made him the more earnest to depart by her commandement And to tell ye what this Galuanes was he had the name of Galuanes without land because all the portion his father left him was only a poore Castell for the rest he had spent in following Armes and entertaining Gentlemen whereupon he had the Sir-name of without land Such as you haue heard were the speeches Agraies had with Amadis of whome he requested to knowe where he should finde him at his returne from Norway Cozin quoth Amadis I hope at my departure hence to visit the Court of King Lisuart where I haue heard chiualrie to be worthily maintained with greater libertie and honor then in the Kingdome of any Emperour or King But seeing it liketh you to take another way I desire when you shall see the King your Father and the Queene to remember my bounden dutie to them both assuring them on my behalfe that they may commaund me in their seruice euen as your selfe or any other as well in respect of our alliaunce together as also for the gracious entertainement I had in my youth being by them most carefully educated and esteemed This done Agraies tooke his leaue being honorably conducted through the Cittie by the King and all the Lords of his Court but so soone as the King entred the feelds he sawe a Damosell comming toward him who boldly laying hold on the raine of his horsse bridle thus spake Remember thy selfe King Perion what a Damosell sometime said vnto thee That when thou didst recouer thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower Thinke now I pray thee whether she said true or no thou hast recouered thy Sonne whome thou reputedst lost and euen by the death of valiant King Abies who was the flower of Ireland and such a one as that countrey shall neuer haue his like vntill time the good brother of the Lady must come who shall by force of Armes cause to be brought thither the tribute of other Countreys and he must dye by the hand of him that shall accomplish for her the only thing of the world which most he loueth And so it happened by Marlot of Ireland brother to the Queene of that countrey whome Tristan of Leonnoys killed on the quarrell of tribute demaunded of King Marke of Cornewall his Unckle which Tristan afterward dyed for the loue he bare to Queene Yseul being the only thing of the world that he most loued Now must thou be mindfull héereof said the Damosell to the King for Vrganda my mistresse so commaundeth thee When Amadis heard her speake of Vrganda he tooke occasion thus to answere Damosell and my friend I pray you say to her who sent you hither that the Knight to whome she gaue the Launce commendeth himselfe to her good grace being now assured in the matter whereof then she spake how with that Launce I should
he was vnséene of any espied a goodly troupe of Lords and Ladies comming toward them whereof he made haste to aduertise the Prince but he was so perplexed as he could not answere wherefore Gandalin tooke him by the arme saying My Lord sée you not what a great traine maketh toward vs At these words he came to himselfe beginning to sigh and lifting his eies to heauen said Gandalin if in this loue I were maister of my strength as I am in diuers other actions neither shouldest thou haue neede to aduertise me nor my selfe be without councell so much as I am But I feele my selfe so oppressed as all the enemyes in the world can not bring me to such extremitie as this ouer-ruling passion doth therefore I pray thée talke to me of the felicitie a man shall enioy in death for other may I not taste and practise no meanes of my life seeing the contrary doth surmount it What my Lord answered Gandalin estéeme you the victorie ouer your selfe so difficult after so many conquests of stout and bold Strangers Why do you not thinke that peraduenture she loueth you as well for whome you endure such assaults and happily by as great reason as you loue her your personage prowesse beawtie and nobilitie of linage can they deserue lesse then the good grace of the most rare and excellent Lady in the world let these humours my Lord repell your desperations Further he would haue proceeded but Amadis brake him off in anger saying Wretch darest thou blaspheme so much as to say that he who hath merited no condition in the world may be equalled with so perfect a thing as is my Lady enter no more into such tearmes if thou wilt not haue me thine enemy and so lose my conuersation Well well said Gandalin I pray ye wipe your eyes least those that come hitherward perceiue you haue wept What aunswered Amadis commes there any body Yea marie quoth Gandalin and now they be at hand héerewith he shewed him y e Knights and the Ladies who were hard by them by time Amadis was mounted Then as though he had stayed for their company he saluted them and riding among the trayne he beheld a Lady very comely and beawtifull who wept verie grieuously whereupon he left the rest and rode with her saying Madame God comfort ye and giue you ioy In sooth answered the Lady and thereof haue I néede in that as now it is very farre from me which except heauen fauour me with better grace I am vtterly out of hope euer to sée againe And so high a Maiestie said Amadis can prouide therefore when he pleaseth notwithstanding if you were so contented I gladly would knowe the cause of your sadnes Beleeue me my friend quoth she all that euer I enioy in this world consisteth in the triall of a Combat By these words he knew this to be the Lady of whom the Damosels had told him before wherefore he enquired further if as yet she had found a Knight on her behalfe No truely said the Lady and which gréeueth me most of all to morrow must my delay be exterminate What will ye then do answered Amadis What would you that I should do quoth she but lament and loose all vnlesse by hap I finde one in the Kings Court who mooued thereto by charitable compassion will courteously defend the right of a desolate widdow Such fortune said Amadis shall I pray may befall ye for I should not be a little glad thereof as well for your owne sake as also because I neuer thought well of your aduersarie I thanke ye gentle Sir quoth she to God I commit the reuenge of my wrong So passed on the Lady and Amadis turning bridle rode back to the Pauillion where he found the Damosels who were already returned from the Towne and presently they told him how Dardan was come into the feeld with full resolution to do his deuoire And trust me said Amadis it was my hap to méete the distressed Lady euen the same whome the case concerneth héerewith he declared all the talke they had together But now is the hower of quiet come and eche one went to rest till the point of day when the Damosels being risen came to tell Amadis how they would goe before to the Towne and send him word when Dardan was readie Not so quoth Amadis I will not be farre behinde ye but let one ride before to aduertise me when Dardan shewes himselfe in the féeld After he was armed they went all to horsseback and being come to the issue of the Forrest he said to the Damosels Now may you goe if you please for I will not depart this place til I heare some newes from you Away they went when Amadis alighting tooke off his helmet to refresh himselfe No sooner did the Sunne appeare in the East but the King came to the place appointed for the Combat which was without the Towne hard by the walles where Dardan not long after shewed himselfe in such manner and equipage as an ambitious man vseth to gaine goods and honor also like an amourous Champion to maintaine the quarrell of his beloued who to countenance him with the greater fauour was queintly led by the raynes of his palfray then presenting himselfe before the King on his knees he said My Lord according to the ordenance by you appointed this Lady and I humbly beséech ye that the goods may be deliuered her as is no more then reason for if any Knight oppose himselfe against her héere am I readie for the Combat The King then called for the other Ladyes defendant but she poore soule appeared alone Why Lady quoth the King are you vnprouided of a Champion that you come without any one to sustaine your right So help me God answered she wéeping I am my Lord forsaken of all except you graunt me mercie Great compassion had the King on her for he knew her to be very vertuous but he could not together order reason and the lawe In meane while Dardan who thought no resistance would come sate downe in the middest of y e féeld attending the third hower which was the time according to the custome when the King should pronounce sentence to the conquerour but one of the Damosels seeing now the noedfull time made haste to let Amadis vnderstand what want of his presence was in the féeld For this cause he immediatly mounted on horsseback being armed as appertained commaunded the Damosell and his Squire to goe some other way for he would not be seene by any from whence he came assuring them that if he were victor he would returne againe to the Tent. So departed Amadis alone riding on a braue white Courser as he promised the Damosell of Denmarke in Gaule and arriued at the place where Dardan held the world in wunder of him The King and his Nobles séeing him come from the Forrest stoode somewhat in doubt of him for he caryed such a gallant Knightly countenance as
can I giue to mine owne distresse because as it often happeneth to our sexe when thinking to drawe neere such as we desire we are furthest off and séeking for a harbour of contentment glaunce into a place of torment and vexation so falleth it out with me by thy maister whome fortune hath euer kept me furthest from but God knowes my good will hath alway béene with him and gladly would I prouide for his griefes and mine owne if I were able to compasse the meanes Do then Madame what you may answered Gandalin if you loue him as I am sure he doth you and begin at this instant to let him knowe how he shall behaue himselfe in this Countrey Oriana then shewed him a Garden which was vnder the windowe where they talked saying Returne to thy Maister and tell him that this night he must secretly come to the place thou séest and remember this withall how the Chamber vnder where we stand is the same that Mabila and I lodge in and there is a crosse barred windowe neere the ground where-through wée may easily discerne eache other and talke together for his Cozin is acquaynted with mine affayres nor is it necessarie they shoulde bée concealed from her Then taking a costly Ring off her finger she thus proceeded Deliuer hym this token from me as the only Iewell I most estéeme and ere thou goest thou shalt sée the Princesse Mabila who is so wise and discret as shée will easily vnderstand thée yet thou must say some-what loud to her that thou hast brought her tidings from her Mother Héereupon Oriana called her to talke with the Squire whome the Queene of Scots her Mother had sent to her but when she sawe it was Gandalin she then suspected how matters went wherefore she went to the Quéene leauing them in déepe talke together In meane while the Queene demaunded of her daughter if the Gentleman were to returne shortly or no For quoth she I would send a token to the Quéene of Scots by him Madame answered Oriana the chiefe cause of his comming into this countrey was to seeke for the good Knight Amadis Sonne to the King of Gaule of whome you haue heard such famous report And where is he said the Quéene The Squire saith quoth Oriana it is more then ten moneths since he heard that he was héere and now he meruaileth to misse of him in this Court. Now trust me answered the Quéene right glad would I be to sée so good a Knight in the Kings company for it would be a great comfort to him many wayes hauing to deale with so many countreys wherefore I assure ye if he do come hither he shall finde heere such honorable entertainement as he shall haue no cause to depart in haste Of his prowesse Madame replyed Oriana I knowe little but what common bruite hath blazed abroade but héereof I am certaine how he was one of the most braue young Gentlemen that euer Isawe when in the King of Scots Court he serued Mabila and me All this while Mabila continued with Gandalin enquiring if his Maister were as yet arriued Yea Madame answered Gandalin the same was he that vanquished Dardan and expresse charge he gaue me to salute you on his behalfe The name of heauen be for euer praised quoth she hauing preserued our kinseman from such exceeding daunger and now sent him hither so honorably Ah Madame said Gandalin he were happy indeede if the force of loue made him not in wursse case then dead for Gods sake therefore do you assist him being thus fully perswaded that if he find no ease to cure his afflictions you shall loose the best Knight in the world and the vpholder of your fathers fame He may be well assured answered Mabila how he can not with greater desire imploy me then I haue to do him pleasure and will him not to faile in what the Princesse hath commaunded him as for thy selfe being iudged to come from the Quéene my mother thou mayst come and speake to vs at all times as need shall require Gandalin tooke his leaue for that time returning toward Amadis who attended the answere of life or death and into such debilitie was he brought by these extreames as he had scant force enough to support himselfe for the short sight he had of his Lady at the combate encreased such a desire in him to see at more libertie as euery hower seemed to him longer then a yeare When he sawe that Gandalin was returned in hope of happy newes he came and embraced him not daring to demaund any thing of him fearing least matter should not fall out to his contentation but Gandalin with a cheerefull countenance told him that he brought no bad tidings and rushing into the matter at the first said My Lord God make ye as constant as you haue cause to be content for if you haue that vertue you are the most happy and accomplished Knight in the world Ouerwhelmed with ioy Amadis caught him in his armes demaunding what he had done seene and heard I haue seene and heard answered Gandalin the felicities of Paradise and knowe that they are prouided for you if you hinder it not your selfe Ah Gandalin quoth Amadis iest not with me but tell me the verie truth Then Gandalin declared word by word how euery thing happened first of the counterfeit Letter and next the appointed meeting at the windowe and by the way reported some part of his owne speeches moouing a chaunge of countenance in Oriana then her answere euen to the conclusion before rehearsed likewise how he talked with Mabila and how willing she was to assist him with her vttermost habilitie Amadis was so fed with content by these reports that he made him rehearse one thing ten times and I cannot tell which of them was most affectionate either Gandalin in reporting or Amadis in hearing for both the one and other seemed inâ—atiable in the end Amadis thus spake My faithfull companion I thought my selfe altogether indebted to thy Father who saued me from the daunger of drowning in the Sea but I confesse that dutie belongs more necessarily to thée because by thy dilligence and discretion thou hast giuen me a better life then he preserued But tell me now didst thou take good marke of the place to which she commaunded me Assure your selfe thereof quoth Gandalin for she her selfe shewed it me Ah God said Amadis how shall I deserue the great good she doth for me away from me now all cause of sorrow and complaining Yet this is not all my Lord quoth Gandalin sée héere a token she hath sent ye as a testimonie of her honorable loue to you so he gaue him the King which came from Oriana and after he had long beheld it kissing it a thousand times put it on his finger saying Faire King that hast béene so happie as to be caried and accounted déere by the most accomplished creature in the world albeit thou be now in a place of
much inferiour honor yet hast thou not changed thy Mistresse for both thou and I are hers and she doth compasse my heart with greater force then thou canst possibly binde in my finger Let vs leaue this talke answered Gandalin and returne to the Damosels who tarrie for vs in the Tent but you must dissemble cunningly for if they sée you altered from your wunted mellanchollie it may be some hinderance to your determination So they brake off communication and went into the Pauillion where Amadis nothwithstanding Gandalins councell could not but shew himselfe pleasantly disposed whereat the Damosels were very glad because such behauiour better beséemeth him then his former pensiuenes When the houre of rest was come eche one went to his accustomed lodging and soone after Amadis seeing the time commodious for his enterprise arose and found Gandalin who had alreadie prepared for their iourney wherefore being armed they mounted on horsseback taking the most conuenient way for their purpose to the Towne When they came to the Garden which Oriana had before shewed Gandalin they alighted and tyed their horsies at a tuft of trées néere adioyning afterward they went through a hole which a water-course had made in the garden wall and approached the window where Oriana lay faire and softly did Amadis knock thereon with his finger she not yet sléeping who expected his comming and when she heard the louing signall of hir friend she awaked Mabila saying Sweete Sister I thinke your Cozin knocketh at the windowe My Cozin answered Mabila it may be so but you haue greater interest in him then I or all other of his linage together Mabila presently arose and lighted a waxe taper which she had hid for the nonce when Oriana likewise was got out of bed they came together and opened the casement where they found Amadis no more attending then he was attended If they were then well pleased it were folly to enquire for all the contentinents in the world might not be compared with the ioy of séeing eche other And without question they had two inducing reasons heereto for beside the nourishment they receiued together in their younger yeares and their first amitie continued by the remembrance and good opinion they had of eche other their beautie and perfectons were so correspondent as if they had neuer seene one another till that verie instant yet had they cause enough to loue together Oriana had on such braue attire beséeming the night as set the hart of her louer on fire for vnder a fine and daintie white frontlet appeared the rarest golden tresses of haire that euer nature made and about her shoulders she had a mantle of figured cloth of gold imbroidered all ouer with rich and costly flowrets as it might beséeme the greatest Maiestie in the world And for her selfe a thing more faire was impossible to be found the inward conceit of her present comfort decked her face with such a heauenly beautie as it séemed that nature in pride of her arte made this péece to excell all other in perfection I will leaue you then to consider on the iudgement of Amadis who when the was nothing so glorious in fairenes thought her worthie the loue of the best Knight in the world now if he stoode mute blame him not hauing the only iewell of his heart before him and therefore she to breake off this silence first spake in this manner My Lord if I haue giuen you the libertie contrary to my dutie and custome to see me in this place at an houre so vnfitting you must commit the offence to the securitie which our former nutturing together loyally promised and likewise to the good opinion of your great vertues since that time encreassed which hath conquered no lesse fauour in me then honor and renowne in all other places Amadis to auoid further silence thought it better to let his spéeches passe at aduenture thē by holding his peace to be reputed vnworthie this happines or not so feruently touched with loue as she was to exclude all which doubts he thus replied Madame I account my selfe not so much fauoured by fortune in any thing else as honored at my first entrance into your seruice euen the verie highest tipe of grace she could affoord me nor do I féele my self so beholding to my vertues as I rest double bound to them that report so well of me But when both these benefits shall be excluded yet is my loue and seruice to you so affectionate as they can deserue no lesse then this secret gentlenes and when you shall allow me more ample courtesie it may commaund a stricter bond of dutie but not of affection for that is alreadie so substantially grounded that the vttermost good you can do me is neither able to augment it or the sharpest vnkindnes diminish it I know not whether it be séemely for a man to confesse the extremities he hath infinite times endured by this passion the verie least griefe I receiued hath béene the losse of rest and banishment of sleepe from mine eyes and yet to afflict me with greater torment my spirit hath séene in a dreame what it vncessantly desired How many times hath it happened to me in thinking on you to be so confounded that such as haue séene me reputed me not only depriued of common sence but euen of verie life it selfe What woman what childe well beaten hath euer powred foorth so many teares as I poore Knight haue done yea my very chiefest enterprises haue I sprinckled withall for your sake not as feeling my selfe a happie subiect in loue but rather too little merit in my selfe and much lesse hope This fauour procéeding from you in deigning to heare me is greater then euer I durst hope forand so far◠doth it surmount my passions as I cannot expresse the least part of my ioy my tongue likewise séemeth as vnprofitable and ignorant of his office hauing béene so long from seruing me to you But aboue all this impuissance in spéech shall on my behalfe testifie to you what all the words in the world cannot deliuer with sufficient trueth for as all other beautie in comparison of yours is nothing so before mine affection all the other habilities of my soule vanish away and become of no reckoning Will you then good Madame with your courtesie supply my insufficeincie and with pittie giue me both life and my selfe and conserue that which else cannot be vnlesse it be yours only These words vttered Amadis with such interruption of sighes and teares as witnessed he had no intent of feigning but rather knew how to suffer then speake wherewith Oriana mooued to compassion thus answered I make no doubt déere freend but you loue me in respect of the paines you haue taken for me as also by what you haue now told me and though I should haue no signe thereof by speech or ought else yet am I content to beléeue because my hart hath no other desire but héerein conceiueth greatest
contentment And yet the torment I sée you in with impacience troubleth my quiet for you béeing assured by sufficient prooues and especially this that I loue ye me thinkes you should haue no further cause of so seuere affliction but rather ought to temper your paines in that through the vnion of our spirits I féele no lesse then you doo your selfe If you will not appease them for your owne sake I pray ye let it be doone for mine the rather that we may the oftner meete if you please publiquely when such sadnes will but discouer what we most willingly would kéepe vnknowen wherby may arise too great inconuenience and be a meane to hinder the thing we chéefest desire Swéete Lady answered Amadis I haue such felicitie in séeing and hearing you as wanting strength enough to vnder-prop the burden of so especiall contentation I am faine to fall downe vnder it experimenting no lesse the paine of not accustomed pleasure then the other beside of continuall pensiuenes which makes me wonder that I cannot dye héer in this solace If then I haue offended you by this transportation pardon it in your owne selfe who brought me to this happie misfortune and likewise gaue me this hurtfull medicine suffer me then yet longer to vse it that in the assuraunce of your grace I may by little and little learne to support it and attaine the knowledge of liuing content excusing my apprentishood in this felicitie being yet scant skilfull enough how to vse it Loue is sicknesse and be it fauourable or contrary it cānot be without passion woorking the like effect in other which you reproue in me Well haue you saide my fréend answerd Oriana how you are as yet but an Apprentise and so you shew very well by your woordes proouing that loue cannot be without passion I hope to see the time when you attayning greater and more perfecte knowledge therin then yet you haue shall be in higher tranquillitie of minde which it may be you thinke cannot be had in this world Nor shall it not happen to you by admiration of that which now you most loue and is likewise of far more lesse account but by the fruition of the thing wherin felicitie consisteth the knowledge wherof vniteth and lifteth the spirits so high as heauen And albeit I am yet so young in yeeres and discretion as I cannot be exempt from the ill you complaine on yet am I not vnprouided of desire to hasten the time when we shall liue together merrye and contented Ah Madame saide Amadis the hope of that happie day shall make me passe this mournfull life in pacience supporting for your honor my inward paines so couertly as I can and bearing the outward with what courage possible I may but I beséech ye doo me the fauour as to tell me when it will be Well perceiued Oriana that he had not thorowly vnderstood her meaning wherfore in smiling she saide It is already begun but the dazeling of your eyes will not let you see it Heerwith Amadis became very pensiue holding his eyes stedfastly fixed on her and she to change his sadnes tooke him by the hand thorow the windowe which Amadis kissed a thousand times without any woord passing betweene them and Mabila noting it she came to them saying Gentles you forget your selues Amadis lifting vp his head curteously saluted her she dooing the like to him and after sundry spéeches of welcome as also how long they desired to sée him Mabila demaunded what length of time he intended to stay in the Courte So long as it shall please Madame Oriana answered Amadis It must be then continually quoth Oriana and you shall graunt it if the King request it swéete Madame answered Amadis if it please his Maiestie so much to honor me I will obey both him and you yet will I dissemble strangenes a while All the better replied Mabila and in the mean time I pray ye visit vs often Longer they would haue continued in talke but Gandalin gaue them warning how the daye appeared wherfore he saide to Amadis My Lord me thinkes you are importunate but then you must néeds accuse the day Amadis gaue no eare to him for he proceeded on still with his deuise but Oriana perceiuing Gandalin said true thus spake to Amadis Now go my Lord if you please for it is time and forget not your promise Then taking her by the hand and kissing it he went to horsseback returning to the wood where he left the Damosels who had by intreatie earnestly perswaded him to goe deliuer their Cozin that the King held captiue vntill such time she presented her Champion as you haue heard wherefore after they had rested till morning they returned to the Towne in the greatest fauour and expectation of the world CHAP. XVI ¶ How Amadis made himselfe knowen to King Lisuart as also the Princes and Lords of his Court of whome he was honorably receiued and feasted EArely the next morning Amadis armed himselfe and mounting on horsseback rode presently to the Towne accompanyed with the two Damosels where being arriued they brought him to their Cozins lodging when the good Lady knowing her worthie Champion falling on her knees before him sayd My Lord all the goods I haue you gaue me for of you I holde them and no other dispose therefore of them as you please but Amadis brake her off in this manner Come Lady let vs goe before the King to the end he may acquite you and I returne where vrgent affaires call me so taking off his Helmet he rode on to the Pallace with the three Ladies The people knowing him to be the man that ouer-came Dardan made such thronging in the stréetes to sée him as the King was giuen to vnderstand thereof and he reioysing at his comming honored him so much as he came to meete and receiue him on the way thus speaking to him Worthie Knight hither are you so welcome as may be deuised because we haue been very desirous to sée you Amadis noting this gracious entertainment setting his knée to the ground thus answered The God of heauen giue your Maiestie a long and happie life then the King taking him by the hand caused him to arise saying Right glad am I to haue knowledge of you being a Knight of so excellent deseruing these words enforced Amadis to blush yet he replyed in this manner My Lord to desire the Ladyes discharge whome you caused to be detained I am bold to come before your Highnesse and seeing she hath answered the Lawe according to your appointment héereafter I hope she may enioy her libertie yet till this present she knew not who maintained her quarrell against Dardan While the King and Amadis thus conferred together a number of people gathered about them some commending his beautie other his gallant youth and all in generall his famous Chiualrie in that he being so young had the power to vanquish Dardan who was redoubted and feared through all great
with thy curelesse stroke well in respect it is so offend not thy selfe my loue for thou shalt soone sée reason proceed from her that did thée wrong who being the cause will beare thee company in death And I may iustly challenge him of wrong seeing equal loue had vnited our willes to seperate our persons in this sorte where hauing affoorded our ending together we likewise might haue enioyed one sepulchre After these woordes she swouned againe in Mabilaes armes and in such manner altered her countenaunce as they reputed her verily dead her faire and golden lockes béeing discheueled her armes and legges depriued of vitall motion euen as when the soule hath taken his flight from the bodye Mabila dispairing of any life left in her was so surprised with gréef that she was constrained to leaue the Damosell alone with the Princesse and walking some-what aside by her selfe thus lamented Incomprehensible wisdome let me not liue to endure these trauailes seeing thou hast taken these two frō me whom I loued as my life But when the Damosell of Denmarke saw her selfe thus alone betweene two extreames she was meruailouslye abashed yet as one wise and well gouerned she spake in this manner to the Princesse Mabila Why Madame when were you wunt to abuse your honourable vertues is it now time to forget your selfe will you thus consent to the death of my Lady you rather ought to aide and comfort her then thus to forsake her and procure her further daunger if she reuiue againe Come I pray ye succour her for now is the time of greatest need and let these lamentations be referred till an other time Mabila perceiued the Damosell said true wherfore she came to Oriana and feeling by her warmenes some hope of life to be expected they lifted her vpon the bed whē soone after her sprites returned to their office and to quallifie this agonie they could deuise no better meanes then to busie her eares with some or other spéeches Why Madame quoth one will ye leaue vs at least yet speak to vs. Madame said the other your Amadis is yet aliue and wel At the name of Amadis she opened her eyes turning her head héere and there as if she looked for him which good humour Mabila desirous to continue proceeded thus Amadis commeth Madame and shortly you shall see him Oriana giuing a great sighe started vp saying Alas sweete freend where is he We vnderstand quoth she that he is in very good health and how the Knight who brought these bad tidings is wunt to vaunt of him selfe without cause feeding him selfe with false praise of deceiuing Knightes Why said Oriana haue I not heard that he brought his horsse and Armour A matter of nothing answered Mabila they may as well be borrowed or stolne or he happily sent with that false allarme to trye our constancie then finding vs thus weakly disposed he should haue had the thing he desired I would not haue you think so simply Madame that Amadis could be ouercome by one no better a Knight then he nor were it reason to credit a commender of him selfe bringing his owne glory for testimony and no other approbation I am assured that Amadis will come ere long and if he find you not only dead in a manner but thus giuen ouer to greefe it will cost his life so shall you deliuer vnhappy proofe what wicked feigning by mallice can doo and thus you bothe shall dye one for another Whē Oriana remembred how by this meane she might be the death of her freende if by good hap he yet enioyed life and imagined likewise that Mabila spake the trueth she tooke courage casting her eye on the windowe where many times Amadis and she had amourously conferred when first he arriued at her Fathers Courte and intercepting a number of forced sighes thus spake Ah windowe the witnes of my abandoned pleasures how piercing is the doubt of him whome thou causest me remember and by whose gracious woordes both thou and I were made happie of this I am certaine that neuer canst thou endure so long as two so loyall louers might by thee enioy such delight as he and I haue doone which fayling me now giueth me strange and insupportable tormentes to be my companions and hence-foorth shall my sad spirit remayne in bitter sadnes vntill the comming of him or my death Mabila perceiuing the cheefest danger was past laboured to confirme her opinion more strongly then she had doon in this manner Why Madame think you if I helde these babling newes for trueth I could haue the power to comfort you in this sorte the loue I beare to my Cozin is not so little but rather I should incite al the world to wéep then want consolation for you who stand in such néed therof But I sée so slender appearaunce of beléefe as I wil not before time require repute you infortunate because discōforting our selues without assuraunce the euill héereby may be amended and the good made much more wursse especially it will be the meane of discouering what hath so long time béen shaddowed in secret Alas quoth Oriana if he be dead I care not though our loue were openly known for all our mishaps in respect of it are nothing Thus debating and deuising together the two Ladyes all that day kept their chamber not suffering any other to come in for when the Damosell of Denmarke who passed often in and out was demaunded for Oriana she answered that she accompanyed Mabila whome she would not suffer to part from her by reason of her gréefe for her Cozin Amadis Thus was the Princesses secret sadnes couered all night she being vnable to take any rest such were her assaults betwéene doubt and despaire not forgetting any thing that past betweene her and Amadis since their younger yeeres But on the morrow about dinner time Brandoyuas entred the Pallace leading Grindaloya in his hand which gaue great ioy to such as knew thē for of long time they could not imagine what was become of them they falling on their knées before the King were quickly called to remembrance his Maiestie thus speaking Sir Brandoyuas how chaunce you haue taryed so long from vs Alas my Lord quoth he imprisonment hath béene the cause where-out had not the good Knight Amadis of Gaule giuen libertie to me this Lady many more by such deeds of armes as are vnspeakable we could neuer haue beene deliuered Yet was he once in daunger of tarying there himselfe by the villainous coniurations and sorceries of Arcalaus but he was succoured by two Damsels who deliuered him from all the exorcismes When the King heard him name Amadis whome he verily thought to be dead What my fréend quoth he by the faith thou owest vnto God and me is Amadis liuing Yea my good Lord answered Brandoyuas it is not ten dayes since I left him in good disposition but may it like you to tell me why you demaund such a question Because said the King
to finde there the Princesse Oliuia the choice Ladye and Mistresse of his hart But when they came among the Ladies their entertainment was good and gracious especially by the Quéene her selfe who caused them to sit down by her as meaning matter of more priuate conference Many familiar spéeches were entercoursed betwene them and practising by all meanes to welcome them honourably for she was the only Quéen of the world that soonest could win the harts of Gentlemen and therin took no little pleasure by meanes wherof she was loued of most and least beeing reputed the most vertuous Lady liuing Now had Oliuia made choise of her place next Mabila thinking Agraies would soonest come to his Sister when he left the Queene but while he beguiled the time with her his eye glaunced on the obiect of his heart which he being vnable to dissemble was compelled to a sudden alteration of countenance and could not withdraw his lookes from the Adamant of his thoughts which the Queene somewhat noted yet imagined his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies wil ye not see your Sister whome you loue so deerely Yes Madame quoth he so it please you to giue me leaue Heerewith he arose and came to Mabila who stepping forward to meete him you must thinke Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcommed him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia loouing him as you haue heard ouer-maistring her will with reason as a most wise and well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand awhile asunder from all the rest Yet did Agraies keepe neere his Mistresse taking her by the hand and playing with her fingers often sent her a sweete kisse in imagination so that by intire regarding her he was transported with such singuler delight as he neither heard or made any aunswere to his Sister She beeing ignorant as yet of his disease knew not well what to thinke for notwithstanding all her courteous speeches his minde was otherwise busied then on her yet in the end she discouered the cause of this sudden mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with ech others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauour them with more libertie feigning a desire to speake with her Unckle Galuanes which she prettily coullered in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Unckle may come hither because it is long time since I sawe him and I haue somewhat to acquaint him withall secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agraies wherupon he went to the Queene and thus spake Madame if you could spare mine vncle a little you might doo his Niece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good saide the Quéene at which woordes Galuanes went with him which Mabila séeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Faire Niece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye doo you like Scotland or this countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the windowe because I haue many thinges to tell ye which were needlesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they béeing of such importance as they are These woordes she vttered smiling and with a meruailous good grace cheefelye because her Brother might courte his freende alone And well saide Niece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes be kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes wherof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone when the Prince perceiuing he had libertie to speake trembling in aboundaunce of affection he began thus Madame to accomplish your commaundement when you parted from me as also to satisfie my hart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gracious contentment conuayed therto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my faith that beeing neere your person my spirits feele them-selues viuified in such sorte as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therfore I desire ye if it be your pleasure to limit me some better hap héer-after in place where I may often sée and doo you seruice and as he would haue procéeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the gréefe you endure we béeing absent one from an other as no other proofe is required then what mine own hart doth plainly testifie smothering a displeasure wursse then death it self wherto often-times I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerfull hope reback this despaire how one day our loue shall meete together with happie contentation And perswade your selfe that I dayly trauaile in remembraunce of our mutuall loue meane while swéete fréend temporize and dismay not Mistresse said Agraies you haue already so bound me to you as I must in dutye temporize till time you please but I desire ye to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortefie me withall so that if you continue your graces to me as you haue begun I shal haue strength to serue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer wil I faile ye be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteem ye wherby I may striue to loue you more theÌ„ any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine only And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioye therin for it cannot be without recitall of your hautye courage and chiualrie yet my hart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer-bolde venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare him selfe so praysed vayled his lookes and she lothe to offend him altered her spéech demaunding what he was determined to doo On my faith Madame ê™ he I will doo nothing but what you please to commaund me I will then saide Oliuia that hence-foorth you keepe companye with your Cozin Amadis for I know he loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to be one of this Court deny it not Beléeue me Madame answered Agraies both you such good councelling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I will more credit with mine affaires then my honourable Cozin Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing knowledge of him in her fathers Kingdome of Denmarke where he perfourmed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with
had slaine my seruantes they brought me into this place all of them swearing to force me one after another but God and you haue graciouslye deliuered me Her modest behauiour in spéeche and comely beauty made Balays to wexe some-what enamoured which made him thus to interrupt her In sooth faire Damosell I perceiue they haue dealt with ye vngently for they were very lothe to parte with ye but séeing fortune hath allowed such a conuenient meeting euen where we may lay a foundation of loue let me request this fauourable kindenes that we may not loose so good an oportunitie I knowe not Sir quoth she how you are minded but had they compelled me to their lasciuious desires both God and the worlde might holde me excused contrari-wise if I should willingly graunt you such an vnhonourable request what excuse might thē serue either you or me Hitherto you haue shewen your selfe a well disposed Knight let me intreat ye to accompany chiualrie with continence and vertue as by duety you are bound When Balays heard her answere so soberlye he repented that he had offred her such vndecent woordes saying With reason faire virgin you haue fully satisfied me yet pardon me for attempting so bad a sute in respect it is no lesse séemely for Knights to moue Ladies with loue then for them modestly to deny as you haue doone And albeit at the first we imagin it a great conquest to obtaine of them what we most desire yet when wiselye and discreetly they resist our inordinate appetites keeping the thing without which they are woorthy no praise they be euen of our selues more reuerenced and commended This is the cause quoth she why I more estéeme your succour to mine honor then my life because the difference betwéene them is farre incomparable Well saide Balays what will you now I shall doo for you Let vs leaue these dead carkasses replyed the Damosell and goe where we may stay till day light I like your councell answered Balays if I had another horsse but béeing now destitute I know not what to doo We will ride on my horsse saide the the Damosell till we finde other remedie so he mounting vp before the Damosell they rode till they came to a pleasant meddow where they rested them-selues till Sunne rising and then they went to horsse-back againe Now because Balays intended to seeke the Knight who caused Galaors horsse to escape awaye from him he asked the Damosell what shoulde become of her My Lorde quoth she not farre hence is a house whether when you haue brought me you may departe to what place you please As thus they rode communing togither he sawe a Knight come toward him carying his legge on his horsses necke but drawing néerer he put foote in stirrope couching his Launce against Balays and running at him threwe him and the Damosell bothe from the horsse after-ward he vsed these spéeches In sooth Lady I am sorye for your fall but to amend the wrong I haue doone ye I will bring ye-where you shall be contented because hee that hath the charge of you is vnwoorthye to haue so faire a creature in his custodye Ere this had Balays recouered him selfe and knowing him to be the Knight he sought for he drewe his swoord saying By thee villayne haue I lost my horsse and my companyon thou hast in like sorte abused now finding me vnprouided thou takest delight in offering me wrong but bothe for him and my felfe will I be reuenged on thée else let me be thought vnwoorthy of my order What quoth the Knight art thou one of them that mocked me as I rid in the darke I hope now I haue put the mockery on thée Héer-upon they presentlye fell to the combate and many sharpe blowes were giuen on either side till Balays at length fastning holde on his enemye got him vnder foote when renting the Helmet from his head he tooke his life as raunsome for his villainye and breaking his swoord in péeces layde them by him then mounting on his horsse and the Damosell on her owne they tooke their waye toward the trée where he left Galaor But because their stomackes well serued them to meat they alighted at a little Lodge where dwelt two women of austere and holye life who bestowed on them such chéere as they had the Damosell acquainting them with all her mishap and how Balays deliuered her frō the théeues at what time they intended to dishonor her hauing slayne her seruants and she destitute of help whereof the holye women were very glad by reason those théeues did much harme in that countey After they had refreshed themselues Balays and the Damosell tooke their leaue and comming to the trée met Amadis there newly returned from his enterprise wherfore they concluded no more to sunder them-selues vntill they arriued at King Lisuartes Courte By this time the night drew on apace wher-upon the Damosell earnestly intreated them to lodge that night at her Fathers which was not farre off they liking well of her fréendly offer went with her being there entertained and vsed very honourablye Early in the morning arming them-selues they thanked their gentle hoste his daughter framing their course toward Windsore but by the way you must note how Balays according to his promise presented the horsse to Galaor which he wun from the Knight and he refused it because he had another so that Balays saued his oath therby CHAP. XXX ¶ How King Lisuart held open Court most royally and of that which happened in the meane time I Haue heeretofore declared the ioy and content of the good King Lisuart for the newes brought by the Dwarffe concerning the health of Amadis and Galaor but the more to shew his princely mind he concluded at their comming to keepe a most royall and magnificent Court as all his auncestors in great Brittayne neuer did the like Which Oliuas perceiuing who came as you haue heard to make his complaint on the wrong done him by the Duke of Bristoya in putting to death trayterously his Cozin germaine fell on his knee againe before the King desiring he might haue iustice in the cause When the King had considered thereon with them of his blood as also diuers other Knights and auncient Gentlemen he decreed that within one moneth all excuses set apart the Duke should come in person to answere Oliuas and if with two Knights more beside himselfe he would iustifie his cause Oliuas should likewise prepare two other Knights Warning héereof was presently sent to the Duke and open Proclamation made the same day that all Gentlemen following Armes should be readie at the Cittie of London on the day of our Lady following in September Like summons was sent abroad by the Quéene to aduertise the Ladyes and Gentlewomen of the countrey by which meanes great resort came to the Court where all kind of pastimes and sports were inuented without respect of fortunes mallice any way who commonly in great assembly of states when
him-selfe So trauaile they on with the Damosell and long time they neither heard or sawe any one which made them thinke she spake these woords to feare them yet soone after Amadis espyed the Knight who séemed a man of goodly stature and ready prepared for the combate As hee and his companyons stoode beholding him they sawe him speake to a Squire who reared foure Launces against a trée and afterward came to them saying Gentlemen my Maister giueth you to vnderstand how during the space of fiftéene dayes he hath vndertaken the guard of this Forrest in all which time his fortune hath beene not to be vanquished by any one and though it be a day and a halfe since his intended tearme is expired yet stayeth he héere till now for the pleasure he hath in Iousting and as he was departing hence he espyed you comming wherefore he letteth you knowe that if eche of you will breake a Launce hee careth not to trye his fortune with you prouided that the combate at the swoord be spared because he sildome procéedeth so farre without dooing more harme then willingly he would When Agraies heard this message he tooke his Armes returning this answere Fréend goe tell thy maister I am content to trye the Ioust with him Héereupon he gaue the Spurres to his horsse and the Knight seeing him comming gaue foorth to meet him their Launces being broken in the encounter but Agraies was easily cast from his horsse of which foyle he could not but be ashamed Galaor beholding his Cozin dismounted determined to reuenge his wrong bidding the Knight to prepare himselfe who taking an other Launce ran against Galaor with such furie as after their staues were broken their bodyes met together so vehemently that Galaors horsse beeing more feeble then the other fell downe with his maister on his back but the Prince not recouering him-selfe was left on the ground when the horsse arose and ran about the feeld as the other of Agraies did Amadis abashed at these accidents preparing himselfe said to the Knight I knowe not what thou art but thou mayst vaunt that thou hast dismounted two approoued good Knights So coutching his Launce proceeded forward but Galaor stayed him calling the Knight to the combate which made Amadis thus to answere Brother finde not your selfe agreeued with him because he sent vs woord before the Ioust that he would not combate with the Swoord but I hope to take reuenge for all Heerewith they encountred valiantly together breaking their Launces so couragiously and meeting with their bodyes so violently as Amadis was throwen to the earth his horsses shoulder being broken in the fall in like manner was the Knight dismounted but kéeping the reynes of his bridle in his hand he quickly mounted on horsseback againe when Amadis thus spake to him We must try one course more if thou wilt haue the honor for as yet it is not wun because we bothe were vnhorssed I will not now Ioust any more answered the Knight Then you doo me wrong replyed Amadis Redresse it if you can said the Knight for according to my order before the Ioust I am bound to no more then what I haue doone After these woords hee gallopped away through the Forrest so fast as hee could which when Amadis and his companyons sawe they being all on foote they stood as men ashamed for they could not imagin what hée was that had thus intreated them where upon Amadis mounted on Gandalins horsse saying to his fréendes Followe me if you please for it would greeue me not to knowe the name of this Knight In sooth answered the Damosell it were the greatest folly in you aboue all the Knights belonging to King Lisuart to thinke you can finde him in one whole yéere vnlesse you bée directly guided Faire Damosell said Galaor it may be you know what he is and the place where he abideth On my faith quoth she if I knowe any thing thereof I meane not to tell it you for neuer will I iniurie so good a Knight Damosell replyed Galaor by the affection you beare to the thing you most loue in the world tell vs I pray yée what you knowe in this matter You coniure me in vaine quoth she for neuer will I discouer his affaires except you deliuer me some good present Demaund what you will answered Amadis and you shall haue it on condition you helpe vs to finde the Knight I am content replyed the Damosell if first you will tell me your names and afterward eche of you graunt me a boone at what time I shall demaund them of you With all our harts quoth Amadis as for our names the one is Galaor the other Agraies and my selfe am Amadis When the Damosell heard this she was very glad saying Certes my Lord my iourney is shortned for I seeke you Then you haue now found me answered Amadis what is your will with me That you shall know quoth she when time serueth but doo you not remember the combate which you promised to perfourme for the King of Sobradisaes daughter when she succoured you by meanes of the Lyons Yes that I doo saide Amadis and now am I riding toward her Would you then quoth the Damosell follow a Knight so hard to be found and the time for the combate béeing néerer then you wéene She saith very well my Lord answered Galaor doo you therfore and Agraies proceed on your iourney and I will séeke the Knight with this Damosell for neuer shal I rest til I haue found him and if it be possible I wil be with you before you deale with Abiseos Be it so replyed Amadis but she promised vs to tell his name and where we may finde him His name quoth the Damosell I cannot tell ye for I know it not my selfe and yet I haue beene a moneth with him in which time I haue seene him doo such déeds of Armes as without sight thereof I would neuer haue credited but where he now is I can conduct him thither that will goe with me It is all I request answered Galaor Followe me then quoth she so taking their leaue they seperated themselues Thus Amadis and Agraies holde on their waye arriuing within fewe dayes after at the Castell of Torin where they found the faire Briolania with the auncient Lady but when Amadis behelde her he found her meruaylouslye changed for if she were faire when he first saw her she now séemed of such excellent perfection as except Oriana he reputed her the most beautifull creature in the worlde wher-upon he saide to Agraies If nature was desirous to expresse her cunning in a creature in this Ladye she hath most sufficiently accomplished it My Lord quoth she full long haue we expected your comming for in you consisteth our only hope Madame answered Amadis by the helpe of God I trust you shall recouer your losse and we will doo our vttermost therin As thus they deuised they entred a faire chamber where mantles were brought to wrap about them