thereof My Lord quoth she that tooke him by the hand when hee was enchanted mine Aunt Vrganda sent me to the Castle of Arcalaus by whose meanes we came thither and you were recouered Heauen shielde from euill that good Lady answered Amadis who hath so many waies bound me her obedient seruant and you faire Damosels the messengers of this fauour haue you any thing else wherein to cōmand me No my Lord said they take you the way you left and wee wil returne from whence we came Fare well sweet Virgins replied Amadis remember my humble duty to the health of your Mistresse telling her she knowes right well I am her Knight In this manner rode the Damozels one way and Amadis another wherefore wee must now tell what happened to Arcalaus since his departure from the Castle of Valderin CHAP. XXI How Arcalaus brought newes to the Court of King Lisuart that Amadis was dead which caused his friends to make manifold lamentations and regreets especially the Princesse Oriana SVch speede made Arcalaus after his departure from Valderin where he left Amadis enchanted hee being as I haue saide clad in his armor and mounted on his horse that the tenth day following hee arriued neer the court of king Lisuart who was riding abroade in the fields to take the aire accōpanied with his Lords along the forrest side They seeing Arcalaus come a far off hauing on the armor of Amadis imagining it was hee indeede diuers rode before to welcome him but when they came more neere they found thēselues deceiued by reasō Arcalaus had his head and hands vnarmed wherefore without saluting the Gentlemen he stepped to the King with these words Sir I come to acquite a promise wherein I stand bound namely to let you vnderstand how I haue slaine a Knight in battaile that some-time bare these armes And albeit I must be content to declare mine owne prayse which were more honorable for me being reported by another in mine absence yet am I constrained to do no lesse seeing the couenant was betweene me him whom I haue slaine viz. that the conquerour should dispoyle the vanquished of his head and present it before you as this day Full loth was I to be so cruell because hee tolde mee hee was your Queenes Knight commonly called Amadis of Gaule and so hee named himselfe whom I vanquished As for me Sir I tolde him in truth that I was Arcalaus whom fortune hath graced with such singuler fauour for I haue slaine the man some-time owner of this armour and horse which as a testimony of my victory I brought with mee Ah God sayde the King is then the most vertuous and accomplished Knight in the world dead you lowring heauens why began ye so braue to course in him and now on such a sudden to cut it off These sorrowfull newes prouoked sighes and teares both in the King and his royall company which Arcalaus perceiuing not speaking any thing else returned the same way he came feigning himselfe likewise very sad and grieued but you must thinke he went not without great store of curses euery one instantly desiring God to send him an euill and speedy death which with their Swordes they could gladly haue bestowed on him themselues but that they heard howe Amadis was slaine by an accorded battaile The King being ouercome with pensiuenesse and sorrow returned to the Towne where these newes were so opened to euery one that at length the Queene and her Ladyes heard thereof which presently conuerted their former pleasures in to mourning At this time was the Princesse Oriana in her chamber with the Damosell of Denmarke where hearing the sudden clamour and noyse she commanded her to goe vnderstand the cause thereof Alas good Lady 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 weeping into her chamber saying Ah Madame what tongue can deliuer this wonderfull mishap yet durst she not good Lady bee 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 sayde Alas he is dead it can not be otherwise It is true madame answered the Damosell but what remedy you must not likewise dy for company These words made Oriana fall into a swoune which the Damosell of Denmarke beholding thought shee had too indiscreetly brought her these bad tidings whereupon she called the Princesse Mabila saying Helpe Madame my mistresse dyeth She being come saw that shee neither moued or breathed doubted least life had taken leaue indeed wherefore she commanded the Damosell to shut the dore to the end her loue all this while so well concealed might not breake foorth into open suspition Then vnlacing her garments to giue her more libertie as also bathing her temples and pulses with vineger cold water she recouered againe when deliring a faint figh with a feeble voise she thus spake Ah sweete friends hinder me not in the way of death if you desire my rest and would haue God find 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 world who is replete with griefe 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 maruailous afflictions for thou hast left such honor in the world behinde thee conquering so incomparable reputation in this short time of thy life that rekoning thy merites thou diedst possessed with many yeeres Thus liuest thou in place immortall I remaining heere alone after thee can giue but wounding and vnthankfull speeches Ah cruell death sufficed it not that mighty loue murdered him with his feathered steele but thou must kill him out-right with thy curelesse stroke well in respect it is so offend not thy selfe my loue for thou shalt soone see reason proceede frō her that did thee wrong who beeing the cause will beare thee company in death And I may iustly challenge him of wrong seeing equall loue had vnited our willes to seperate our persons in this sorte where hauing affoorded our ending together wee likewise might haue inioyed one sepulchre After these words she swounded againe in Mabilaes armes and in such manner altered her countenance as they reputed her verily dead her faire and golden lockes being discheueled her armes and legges depriued of vitall motion euen as when the soule hath taken his flight from the body Mabila desparing of any life left in her was so surprised with griefe that shee was constrained to leaue the Damosell alone with the Princesse walking some-what aside by
her selfe thus lamented Incomprehensible wisdome let mee not liue to endure these trauailes seeing thou hast taken these two from me whom I loued as my life But when the Damosell of Denmarke saw her selfe thus alone betweene two extreames shee was maruailously abashed yet as one wise and well gouerned shee spake in this manner to the Princesse Mabila Why Madame when were you wont 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 danger if shee reuiue againe Come I pray yee succour her for now is the time of greatest neede and let these lamentations be referred till another time Mabila perceiuing the Damosell saide true wherefore she came to Oriana and feeling by her warmenesse some hope of life to bee expected they lifted her vpon the bed when soon after her spirites returned to their office and to qualifie this agonie they could deuise no better means then to busie her eares with some or other speeches Why Madame quoth one will ye leaue vs at least yet speake to vs. Madame saide the other your Amadis is yet aliue and well At the name of Amadis shee opened her eyes turning her head here 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 sigh started vp saying Alas sweete friend where is he We vnderstand quoth shee that he is in very good health and how the Knight who brought these bad tidings is wont to vaunt of himselfe without cause feeding himselfe with false praise of deceiuing Knights Why saide Oriana haue I not heard that hee brought his horse and armour A matter of nothing answered Mabila they may as wel be borrowed or stolne or he happily sent with that false allarme to try out constancy then finding vs thus weakely disposed hee should haue had the thing he desired I would not haue you thinke so simply Madam that Amadis could be ouercome by one and no better a knight then he nor were it reason to credit a commender of himselfe bringing his owne glory for testimony and no other approbation I am assured that Amadis will come ere long and if he finde you not onely dead in a manner but thus giuen ouer to griefe it will cost his life so shall you deliuer vnhappy proofe what wicked feigning by malice can do and thus you both shall die one for another When Oriana remembred how by this meane she might be the death of her friend if by good hap he yet enioyed life and imagined likewise that Mabila spake the truth she tooke courage casting her eye on the windowe where many times Amadis and she had amorously conferred when first he ariued at her fathers Court and intercepting a number of forced sighes thus spake Ah window the witnesse of my abādoned pleasures how piercing is the doubt of him whom thou causest me remember and by whose gracious words both thou and I were made happy Of this I am certaine that neuer canst thou indure so long as two so loyall louers might by thee enioy such delight as he and I haue done which fayling mee now giueth me strange and insupportable torments to bee my companions and hence-forth shall my sad spirit remaine 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 shee had done in this manner Why Madam thinke you if I held these babling newes for truth I could haue the power to comfort you in this sort the loue I beare to my Cozin is not so little but rather I should incite all the world to weepe then want consolation for you who stand in such neede thereof But I see so slender appearance of beleefe as I will not before time require repute you vnfortunate because discomforting our selues without asurance The euill hereby may be amended and the good made much more worse especially it will be the meane of discouering what hath so long time beene shaddowed in secret Alas quoth Oriana if he bee dead I care not though our loue were openly knowne for all our mishaps in respect of it are nothing Thus debating and deuising together the two Ladies 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 demanded for Oriana she answered that she accompanied Mabila whom she would not suffer to part from her by reason of her griefe for her Cosin Amadis Thus was the princesses secret sadnesse couered all night she being vnable to take any rest such were her assaults between doubt and despaire not forgetting any thing that past betweene her and Amadis since their younger yeeres But on the morrow about dinner time Brandoynas entred the palace leading Grindaloya in his hand which gaue great ioy to such as knew them for of long time they could not imagine what was become of them they falling on their knees before the king were quickly called to remembrance his maiesty thus speaking Sir Brandoyuas how chaunce you haue tarryed so long from vs Alas my Lord quoth he imprisonment hath bin the cause whereout had not the good Knight Amadis of Gaule giuen liberty to me this Lady and many more by such deedes of Armes as are vnspeakable we could neuer haue been deliuered Yet was he once in danger of tarying there himselfe by the villainous coniurations and sorceries of Arcalaus but he was succoured by two Damosels who deliuered him from all the exorcismes When the King heard him name Amadis whom hee verily thought to be dead What my friend quoth he by the faith thou owest to 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 demanded such a questiō Because sayd the King Arcalaus yesterday tolde vs he had slaine him heere-with he declared his speeches and the manner how What a traiterous villaine is that replied Brandoyuas but worse is befalne him then he weeneth as yet hereto he added what passed betweene Amadis Arcalaus as already you haue heard whereby each one forsooke the sorrow of the former false newes the King presently commanding that Grindaloya should be conducted to the Queene that shee might vnderstand these happy tidings Into the Queenes chamber is she brought and the Damosell of Denmarke hearing her reporte ran with all speede to the Princesse Oriana who hearing by her the truth of all the passage of her speech was stopt for a long time seeming as one confounded with enchantment thinking in these newes shee gaue her the bag or that she dreamed them but when she recouered the vse of her tongue she thus answered the
in his armes the teares streaming from his eyes with ioy and greeuing to see him so sore wounded doubting least his life was in great danger but when the Lady saw them so good friends and the enmity conuerted into such Humility as one right glad thereof shee said to Galaor Worthy Sir though first you gaue me occasion of great heauinesse yet now with sufficient ioy you haue recompenced me So taking each of them by the hand she walked with them into the Castle where they being lodged in two sumptuous beds her selfe skilfull in Chirurgerie cured their wounds Thus remained the two brethren with the rich and beautifull Lady Corisanda who desired their health as her owne wel-fare CHAP. XLIII How Don Florestan was begotten by King Perion on the faire Daughter to the Countie of Zealand AT what time King Perion sought after strange Aduentures he ariued in the countrey of Almaigne where he soiourned the space of two yeares accomplishing many braue deedes of Armes the renowne whereof continueth to this day And as he returned toward Gaule hee lodged in the Counties house of Zealand where he was entertained very royally as well in respect of his owne reputation as also because the County himselfe had sometime beene a Knight errant which made him loue all such as followed Armes After supper the King was conducted to his Chamber where being in bed and somewhat wearie with trauaile he sell a sleepe soundly but to shake off this heauinesse he felt himselfe embraced and kissed he knew not by whom when starting vp to arise he was so held down that he could not Why Sir quoth she that thus mastred him take you no pleasure in me who am alone with you the king looking on her by meanes of the light which still burned in his Chamber he discerned her to be a most beautifull Lady wherefore he thus answered I pray you faire friend tell me what you are What soeuer Iam quoth she I loue you exceedingly as one that freely giues her selfe to you In sooth replyed the King I very gladly would know your name You trouble me said the Lady with this importunity yet can I vse no other continence thē you see but it were necessary quoth the king I should know your name if you meane to be my friend Seeing you constraine me thereto answered the Lady know that I am the Counties Daughter who hath so friendly entertained you Now trust me Madam replyed the King you must hold me excused for I had rather die then abuse the man I am so much beholding to Will you then refuse me quoth she well may you bee tearmed the worst nurtured Prince in the world in denying the conquest which all your life time you might haue fayled of You may speake your pleasure answered the King but I will do what is conuenient for your honour and mine and not offend in so foule a manner I shall quoth she cause my Father to thinke himselfe more iniuried by you then if you grant what I desire So starting from the bed she tooke the Kings Sword euen the same which was afterward found with Amadis when he was taken vp on the Sea and drawing it forth she set the point against her heart saying Now shall my Fathers life be shortned by my death whereof you are the onely cause As she vttered these words she offered to stab her selfe with the Sword when the king suddenly staying her hand and meruailing at her impatient loue thus replyed Hurt not your selfe Madam for I am content to satisfie your will Hereupon hee kindely embraced and kissed her passing the night with her in such sort as her hot desire was quallified and at that instant she conceiued with childe the King little thinking thereon for the next morning he tooke his leaue of her and the Countie returning with all speede he could into Gaule But the time of deliuerance drawing on and she desirous to couer her offence determined to goe visit 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 shee rode through the Forrest the payne of trauaile made her alight from her Palfrey she being soon after deliuered of a goodly Sonne The Damosell that was with her seeing what had happened bringing the childe to the mother said Madam as your heart serued you to commit the offence so must it now practise some pre-present remedy while I returne from your Aunt againe Then getting on horseback she rode apace to her Ladies Aunt and acquainted her with the whole matter which caused the old woman to be very sorrowfull yet she prouided succour for her Niece sending a Litter with all conuenient speede wherein the Lady and her childe were brought to her Castle secretly euery thing being so cunningly handled as the Countie neuer knew his Daughters fault After such time as these matters require the Lady returned home to her Father leauing her Sonne in her Aunts custody where he was nourished till the age of eighteene yeeres hauing Squires and Gentlemen attending on him who daily instructed him in managing Armes and all braue qualities beseeming a man of value He being growne of goodly stature the old Lady brought him one day to the Countie his Grand-father who gaue him his knight-hood not knowing what he was returning againe with his motherly Nurse by the way she brake with him in this manner My Sonne I am certaine you are ignorant of your parenatge but credit my words you are the son to King Perion of Gaule begotten on his daughtr that gaue you your order of knight-hood endeuour your selfe therefore to follow your fathers steps who is one of the most renowmed knights in the world Madam quoth Florestan oftentimes haue I heard great fame of King Perion but neuer imagined my selfe to be his son wherefore I vow to you being my long and carefull nurse that I will trauaile to fiude my father and not make my selfe known to any one till my deedes declare me worthy to be his son Not long after hee departed from the olde Ladie and accompanied with two squires iournied to Constantinople which at that time was greatly vexed with warre where he remained the space of foure yeeres performing such haughty deedes of Chiualrie as he was counted the best knight in all those parts When he perceiued himselfe in some account he intended to visit Gaule and make himselfe knowne to the king his father but comming into great Brittaine hee heard the fame of Amadis to be maruailous which was the cause of his stay there to win some report by armes as his bretheren had done whom he longed to acquaint himselfe withall At length he met with them both in the forrest as you heard and afterward combated with his brother Galaor which caused their aboad at the Castle of Corisanda vntill such time as their wounds were healed But now let vs
vnto her selfe and casting forth a sigh she saide with a feeble and low voice Ah wicked woman that I am whē with so great wrong I haue depriued him of life whom in this world I most loued And seeing it is out of my power now to reuoke that mischiefe whereof I am the repentant causer I beseech you friend to take my lament in satisfaction of the hurt which I haue purchased vnto you with the sacrifice which I shall make of mine owne life to follow you vnto the death so the ingratitude which I haue committed against your loyaltie shall bee manifested your selfe reuenged and I punished And as shee thought to haue proceeded further her speech failed her againe wherewith Mabila and the Gentle-woman were more abashed then before so that they called Durin to know what heauie newes hee had brought vnto Oriana who wholly declared it vnto them Let me alone the said Mabila for I know wel how to remedy this matter Hereupon they vnlaced her and bestirreth them so well that she brought her to life againe then Mabila demanded of her how she did Gentle friend answered she farre better then I desire So as I rather desire death then life for now I do nought else but languish Wherefore Madame said Mabila do you thinke my Cosin so inconstant that hee will not willingly excuse the iniurie that you haue done vnto him knowing that extreame loue rather then any other thing constrained you thereunto And if he be gone as Durin hath tolde you it is but to passe away part of his melancholy tarrying vntill his innocency bee knowne vnto you But I am certaine if it pleased you to call him back againe that he is as ready to obey you as euer he was And behold what you shall doe intreate him by a Letter that hee take no regard vnto that which you did command him by Durin and that which you did was suddenly after a false report made vnto you of him and therefore will him to come vnto you to Mireflure where you stay for him to amend your fault at his discretion Ah my Cosin answered Oriana do you think that he will euer vouchsafe either to respect me or make one steppe for me But do you thinke saide Mabila that the loue he beareth to you is of so little force that he will not bee farre more glad to recouer your good fauour then he hath beene sorry to be by you forsaken I am verily assured that to die he will not displease you And to accomplish this matter well it behoueth the Damosell of Denmarke to vndertake the charge to finde him out because he knoweth her and putteth his trust in her Well answered Oriana I am content to be aduised by you So shee tooke paper and inke and as they had determined she did write vnto Amadis afterwards the Letter was giuen to the Damosel of Denmark with expresse commandement to passe first into Scotland thinking that he might be there with Gandales rather thē in any other place And the better to colour their enterprise they aduised the Damosell to tell the Queene that Mabila sent her towards the Queene of Scotland her Mother to vnderstand some news from her With the which the Queen was well pleased and gaue her a Letter and tokens to present vnto her Thus was the Gentlewoman dispatched who departed with Durin her brother and Enil the Cosin of Gandales And so long they rode till they came vnto a port towne called Vegill which separateth great Brittaine from the Realme of Scotland There they tooke shipping and they had the winde so faire that the sixt day following they landed in the Citty of Poligez Then tooke they their way toward the Knight Gandales whom they met a hunting but when he beheld the Damosell of Denmarke knowing that she was a stranger he stayed enquiring of her what she did seek in that Countrey Your selfe answered she towards whom two Princesses your friends haue commanded me to come to present from them certain presents which I carry vnto the Queene of Scotland Gentlewomā said he may it please you to tell me their names yea willingly sir said she the one is my Lady Oriana daughter to the mighty king Lisuart the other the Princesse Mabila whom you know well enough Ha said Gandales you are most luckily here arriued and they haue reason to accompt me their most humble seruant for so I am I pray you most heartily to come and alight at my house then tomorrow we will go together to see the Queene in the meane while doe mee this pleasure as to tell me how Amadis doth The Gentle-woman was herewith much astonished seeing that she had missed of her purpose notwithstanding dissembling her sorrow she answered Gandales that he was not returned to the Court since he departed thence to reuenge Briolania and it is thought that he is come into these parts with his cosin Agraies to see the Scottish Queene his Aunt and you also for this cause the Queene and other Ladies of his kindred and deere friends gaue me in charge to deliuer him a Letter which will be very welcome vnto him I am sure And the Gentlewoman said thus much because she knew certainly that although Amadis would hide him frō knowing that she brought him news from Oriana others yet hee would change his minde to speake with her I would said Gandales that he were here for I haue a long time greatly desired to see him Thus talking together at the last they arriued at the Castle of Gandales where hee feasted the Gentlewoman three dayes and the fourth day following hee conducted her vnto the Court where she deliuered to the Scottish Queene the Letters and presents which the Queene Brisena had sent vnto her CHAP. VIII How Don Guillan the Pensiue did bring vnto the Court of King Lisuart the Shield Armour and Sword of Amadis which he had found lying by the Fountaine of the plaine field AFter that Don Guillan the Pensif was departed from the Fountaine where he found Amadis his Armour he rode six daies before he ariued in the Court of King Lisuart And he ordinarily carried the shield of Amadis about his necke and neuer tooke it off except when hee was constrained to fight then he tooke his owne fearing to deface the other And as he rode he met with two knights Cosins to Arcalaus who incontinently knew the shield of Amadis and they thought Guillan to be he Wherefore they who hated him to the death determined to assaile him and said one to another euen now will we carrie the head of this villaine vnto our vncle Arcalaus This they spake so lowd that Guillan heard it where-with being throughly chafed he answered them Palliards you reckon without your host for neuer did traitor affright me no more shall you seeing I know you for kinsemen to Arcalaus and as wicked as himself then pulled he downe the visor of his Helmet couched his launce and ran
the habit and estate whereunto I am called such speeches as these become me not at all neuerthelesse knowing that it is for your good I am sure that I doe not amisse in this counselling a person so comfortlesse as you are Here-with all the Faire Forlorne fell vpon the ground to kisse his feete reioysing that he had happened into the company of a person so holy that knew how to comfort him so well in his aduersity desiring very heartily that whatsoeuer the holy man had told him might so come to passe and he said vnto the Hermit my Father seeing it hath pleased you to do me so much good as to expound this dreame I pray you likewise to tell me the meaning of one other which I dreamed the night before I came from the firm-Island Then did hee recite it word by word vnto him Whereupon the aged man answered him My son by this you may plainely see that which already is happened vnto you for I assure you that the place ouer shaddowed with trees where you thought that you were the great nūber of people which at the first made such great ioy about you signifieth the firm Island which you haue conquered to the great pleasure of al the inhabitants thereof But the man which came vnto you with a boxe full of bitternes is the messenger of the Lady that gaue you the letter and your selfe doth know better then any other whether he brought you bitternesse or no by the discourse which he had with you The sorrow which afterwards you did behold in the persons which before were so ioyfull are they of the Isle who at this present are very heauy for your absence The apparell which you threw off are the teares which you haue shed The stony place wherin you entred inuironed with water this rock witnesseth to you what it is The religious mā that did speake vnto you in an vnknown lāguage is my selfe who do instruct you in holy writ which you neither vnderstand nor can comprehend Father answered the Fair-Forlorn I know verily that you say the truth which giueth me great hope of that which you haue declared of the other but the continuall griefe and melancholie wherein I liue hath already ouer-mastered mee that I beleeue if the good which you promise vnto me do not the sooner case my care death will first seize vpon my sorrowfull corps Notwithstanding the Hermit knew how to perswade him so wel that from thenceforth he shewed a little merrier countenance then before he had done and began to turne his sorrow to some solace vsing to angle for fish with two Nephwes of the olde man that kept him company Neuerthelesse the most part of the time he with-drew himselfe into a secret place hard by the sea side which was ouer-shadowed with diuerse sorts of trees and there oftentimes he cast his sight vnto the Firme-Island which put him in remembrance of those fauours whereunto fortune had called him the wrong that Oriana did vnto him hee hauing neuer offended Alas saide he haue I deserued this entertainment to be banished without hauing offended so much as in thought Truely deere friend if my death were agrieable vnto you you haue meane enough to giue it me more speedily without making mee thus to liue in languishing The onely deniall of your good grace the very first day that you accepted me for your knight had beene sufficient at that time to haue made me die a thousand deathes Many other lamentations did the Faire Forlorne euery day make in this solitary place wherein he tooke so great pleasure that oftentimes hee there passed away both the day and the night so as one time finding himselfe more frollick in his minde then of a long time he had beene hee made this song following Sith that the victory of right deserued 〈◊〉 they do withhold for which I serued Now 〈◊〉 my glory thus hath had a fall 〈◊〉 it is to end my life withall By 〈…〉 is my death likewise my woes release My 〈…〉 loue doth cease But euer 〈…〉 my during paine For 〈…〉 my glory and my gaine My selfe haue 〈◊〉 and my glory slaine Thus the Faire Forlorne passed away the time waiting vntill fate or better fortune should bring him forth of this miserie But it happened that one night lying vnder the trees as hee was accustomed about the breake of day hee heard very nigh him the sound of a most sweete instrument wherein he tooke so great pleasure that he gaue attentiue eare thereunto a good while amazed notwithstanding from whence it might proceede Knowing the place to bee solitary that no other there remained but the hermit his two Nephewes and himselfe wherefore he rose vp without making any noyse at all and approched more neere to see what it might be Then he beheld two young Gentlewomen sitting by a fountaine who tuning their voyses to the sound of a lute did sing a most pleasant song neuerthelesse fearing to trouble their mirth hee stood still a great while without being by them perceiued Afterwards he came forth and disclosed himselfe saying vnto them Truely Gentlewomen your musicke hath made me this day to loose Matins for the which I am very sorry When these women heard him speake hauing not seen him at all vntill that time they were much afraide Norwithstanding one of them more bold then her fellow answered him My friend we did not thinke to offend you with this our mirth but seeing we haue so luckily found you tell vs if it please you who you are and how this desert place is called In truth faire Gentlewomen saide the Faire Forlorne this place is called the poore Rock wherein there liueth an Hermit vpon the top thereof in his little hermitage As for me I am a poore man that keep him company doing great and hard penance for the sin and wickednesse which I haue committed Gentle friend answered they may we finde in this place for two or three dayes onely any house wherein we may place at ease a Lady both rich mighty so tormented with loue that she is euen at deaths dore therewith Trust me said he there is no other lodging in this Rock but the little cabinet wherein the Hermit doth lie and one other that I do sleepe in some-time but if the Hermit will lend you mine I am content to do you a pleasure to lie in the meane time abroad in the fields as I commonly vse to do The Gentlewoman gaue him hearty thankes and bidding him good morrow they departed towards a Pauilion within the which the Faire Forlorne beheld a most beautifull Lady vpon a bed Wherupon he knew that the same was shee of whom they told him But looking farder off he did see foure armed men walking by the Sea side who scouted abroad whilest fiue others did take their rest and he also perceiued a shippe at Anchor well appointed The Sun was already vp when he heard the Hermitage bell to ring which
beheld him meruailed thereat but one day among other it happened that Gandales rode to sport himselfe in the fields arming himselfe as became a good Knight for he had dayly accompanied the king Languines at such time as he searched after aduentures and albeit the king discontinued Armes yet Gandales would oftentimes exercise himselfe and as he rode he met with a Damosell that thus speake to him Ah Gandales if many great personages were aduertised of what I know certainly I assure thee they would cause thee to loose thy head Wherefore quoth he Because said the Damosell thou nourishest their death in thy house The knight knew not the woman that thus talked with him but you must vnderstand how she was the same that said to king Perion that when he recouered his losse the Kingdome of Ireland should lose her flower yet notwithstanding he was farre from the matter because he knew not whereof she spake and therefore thus replyed For Gods sake Damosell I pray ye tell me on what occasion you vse these speeches Beleeue me Gandales qooth she I haue tolde thee nothing but truth At these wordes she departed from him leauing him very sad and pensiue yet long he did not continue in these thoughts but he saw her returne againe in great hast thus crying calling Ah Gandales for Gods sake succor me then Gandales turning about beheld a knight follow her with his Sword drawne wherefore he gaue his horse the spurres to meete him and placed himselfe for the defence of the Damosell then comming to him that pursued her he said Stay thou bad aduised knight what moueth thee thus trecherously to outrage Ladyes What now answered the other doest thou hope to saue her who by trumpery hath made me loose both body and soule That meddle not I withall said Gandales but I will defend her to my power well knowing that Ladyes ought not to be corrected in this manner albeit they did deserue it We shal presently see that answered the knight and so gallopped to the place from whence he came which was a little thicket of trees where stayed a very beautyfull Lady who when she saw him returne came forth bringing him a Sheeld and a strong Launce which he tooke and without longer tariance returned to his enemy Gandales being a sterne knight would not refuse him whereupon they met together in such sorte as their launces were broken no their Sheelds and they with their horses cast to the ground yet quickly did they recouer footing when began betweene them a meruailous combate which worse would haue bin but that she which desired succor of Gandales stepped betweene them saying Stay Gentlemen fight no more At these wordes the Knight who before pursued her went back then said the Damosell to him Come now and aske pardon of me Most willingly answered the Knight then throwing his Sword and Sheeld down came and humbled himselfe on both his knees before her whereat Gandales was greatly amazed afterward the Damosell said to the Knight Goe coÌ„mand the Lady vnder the trees that she get her away immediatly vnlesse thou shalt take her head from her shoulders To this charge the Knight yeelded himselfe obedient and to her whom he loued more then himselfe by sudden change from loue to hatred he came and angerly said Trayterous woman I know not how I shall defend my selfe from killing thee presently Well perceiued the poore Lady that her friend was enchanted and that contestation would nothing at all profit her wherefore incontinent she mounted on her palfray and rode away making the most grieuous sorrow that euer was heard and there remained she whom Gandales had defended speaking to him in this manner You haue Sir done so much for me as I shall be beholding to you while I liue and now you may depart at your pleasures for if the knight offended me I haue pardoned him with all my heart As touching your pardon answered Gandales I haue nothing to doe therewith for my selfe I will end the Combate or he shall hold him-selfe vanquished It behoueth that you acquite him said the Damosell seeing that if you were the best Knight in the world easily can I make him ouercome yee Do therein what you can replyed Gandales but I will not acquite him except you first declare to me wherefore euen now you said 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 owne Soule you as my defender albeit constraint cannot make me doe it so taking him aside she said You shall sweare to me as a loyall Knight that no other shall know it by you vntill such time as I command it hereof he made her faithfull promise Know then said the Damosell that he whom you found in the Sea shall one day be the flower of chiualdry and shall cause the very strongest to stoope he shall enterprise and with honor finish what other shall faile off and such deedes of armes shall he doe 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 and pittilesse as also benigne and amiable to the debonaire this Knight most loyally will maintaine loue and shall effect in place answerable to his magnanimitie Moreouer I assure thee Gandales that he is the Sonne of a King and without doubt all this will happen which I haue told thee but if thou keepe it not secret it may returne thee more harme then good Madame answered Gandales I pray ye tell me where I may meete with you hereafter to conferre with you on the affaires of this infant That must you not know by me said 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 coÌ„â—ure me so as you shall know it albeit the thing that most 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 eighteene yeeres became so olde and ouer spent as he meruailed how she could sit on her horse if then he was stricken into admiration you may iudge But when she had beene a prittie while in that state she tooke out of a little bottell which she caryed a certaine vnguent wherewith she rubbed her face right soone recouered her former countenaunce saying to Gandales What iudge ye now Sir thinke you to finde me hereafter against my will vsing all the dilligence you can deuise neuer therefore put your selfe to such
teares into his eyes and altogether 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 meete with his Parents being all this while vnknowne to them As thus they deuised on the fortunes passed the Queene demanded of him if hee had no other name thē that which now he called himselfe by Yes Madame quoth he but it is not fully three daies past since I knew there-of for as I came from the Combat against King Abies a Damosell brought me a Letter which I haue and as she saith was fastened about my neck being wrapped in waxe when I was found in the sea wherein I finde that my name is Amadis and herewithall he shewed the letter to the Queene which she full well knew so soone as she saw it Beleeue me said 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 de Gaule It was not long before the bruite hereof was spread through the city that the good famous knight was sonne to King Perion and the Queen Elisena wherefore if euery one reioyced you must thinke the Prince Agrates was not sorry for they were found to bee Cozin germames Among the rest the Damosell of Deamarke had knowledge here-of wherefore considering what comfort this would bee to the Princesse Oriana she laboured so much as she could to return toward her knowing she would giue her friendly countenance bringing her so good Newes what gracious fortune had happened to him whom aboue all other she loued For this cause she intreated Amadis to dispatch her returne to her Mistresse In that I well perceiue quoth she you can not 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 shedde so many teares These wordes caused the teares to trickle 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 mee entreat your friendly remembrance commanding the vttermost of my endeauours for without your gentle care my life cannot endure withall I finde my selfe so endebted to my gracious Mistresse as I dare not request any thing at her hand Neuerthelesse you may say to her that right soon shall I come to shew my obedience and in like Armor will I be clad as when you saw me combate with the King of Ireland because both she and you may the more easily know me if I cannot compasse the meane to speake with you in this manner departed the Damosel of Denmark On the other side Agrates seeing his Cozin Amadis was to remaine longer in Gaule determined to take his leaue and calling him aside sayd 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 heart will allow me no quiet vntill I be with her who both farre and neere hath power to command 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 dishonour she receiued by him that I should come to her with all conuenient speed and therefore I neither may or dare faile which is the onely cause of my parting with you Now must you note heere-withall that at the time as Don Galuanes brother to the king of Scotland was in the Realme of Norway with Agraies his Cozin this yong 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 tel ye what this Galuanes was he had the name of Galuanes without lād because al the portiō his father left him was onely a poore Castle for the rest he had spent in following armes entertaining Gentle-men whereupon he had the Sirname of without land Such as you haue heard were the speeches Agrates had with Amadis of whō he requested to know where he should finde him at his returne from Norway Cozin qouth Amadis I hope at my departure hence to visite the Court of king Lasuart where I haue heard Chiualrie to be worthily maintained with greater libertie and honour 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 command mein their seruice euē as your self or any other as well in respect of our alliance together as also for the gracious entertainment I had in my youth being by them most carefully educated and esteemed This done Agraies took his leaue beeing Honourably conducted through the Cittie by the King and all the Lords of his Court but so soone as the King entred the fields he saw a Damosell comming toward him who boldly laying hold on the raine of his Horse bridle thus spake Remember thy selfe King Perion what a Damosell some-time sayd vnto thee That when thou didst recouer thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower Thinke now I pray thee whether she sayd true or no thou hast recouered thy Sonne whom 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 Ladie must come who shall by force of Armes cause to be broght thither the tribute of other Countryes and he must die by the hand of him that shall accomplish for her the onely thing of the world which most he loueth And so it hap ned by Marlot of Ireland brother to the Queene of that Countrey whom Tristan of Leonnoys killed on the quarrell of tribute demanded of King Marke of Corne wall his Vncle which Tristan afterward dyed for the loue he bare to Queene Yseul being the onely thing of the world that hee most loued Now must thou be mindefull hereof sayd the Damsel to the King for Vrganda my Mistresse so cōmandeth 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 whom she gaue the Launce commendeth him-selfe to her good grace being now assured in the matter whereof then she spake how with that Launce
so perplexed as he could not answere wherefore Gandalin tooke him by the arme saying My Lord see you not what a great traine maketh toward vs At these words he came to himselfe beginning to sigh and lifting his eyes 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 enemies in the world cannot bring me to such extremity as this ouer ruling passion doth therefore I pray thee talke to me of the felicity 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 esteeme you the victory ouer your selfe so difficult after so many conquests of stout and bold strangers Why do you not think that peraduenture she loueth you well for whom you endure such assaults and happily by as great reason as you loue her your persoage prowesse beauty and nobility of linage can they deserue lesse then the good grace of the most rare and exellent Lady in the world let these humours my Lord repell your desperations Further hee would haue proceeded but Amadis brake him off in anget saying Wretch darest thou blaspheme so much as to say that he who hath merited no conditiō 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 loose my conuersation Well well said Gandalin I pray ye wipe your eyes least those that come hitherward perceiue you haue wept What answered Amadis comes their any body Yea mary quoth Gandalin and now they be at hand here-with he shewed him the Knights the Ladyes who were hard by them by time Amadis was mounted Then as though hee had stayed for their companie hee saluted them and riding among the traine hee beheld a Ladie very comely and beautifull who wept very grieuously where-upon hee left the rest and rode with her saying Madame God comfort yee and giue you ioy In sooth answered the Lady and thereof haue I need in that as now it is very farre from mee which except Heauen fauour me with better grace I am vtterly out of hope euer to see againe And so high a Maiestie said Amadis can prouide therefore when he pleaseth Not-withstanding if you were so contented I gladly would know the cause of your sadnesse Beleeue mee my friend quoth she all that euer I enioy in this world consisteth in the tryall of a Combate By these wordes hee knew this to be the Lady of whom the Damosels had tolde him before wherefore hee enquired further if as yet shee had found a knight on her behalfe No truely sayd the Lady and which greiueth mee most of all to morrow must my delay bee exterminate What will ye then doe answered Amadis What would you that I should doe quoth shee 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 widow Such fortune sayd Amadis shall I pray may befall yee 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 Ladie and Amadis turning bridle rode backe 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 field with full resolution to doe his deuoire And trust me sayd Amadis it was my happe to meet the distressed Lady euen the same whom the case concerneth heere-with hee declared all the talke they had together But now is the houre of quiet come and each 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 worde when Dardan was readie Not so quoth Amadis I will not bee farre behinde yee but let one ride before to aduertise me when Dardan shews himselfe in the field After he was armed they went all to horse-backe and being come to the issue of the Forrest he sayd to the Damosels Now may you goe if you please for I will not depart this place till I heare some newes from you Away they went when Amedis 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 Combate 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 honour also like an amourous Champion to maintaine the quarrell of his beloued who to countenāce him with the greater fauor was queintly led by the reines of his Palfray thē presenting himselfe before the king on his knees he sayd My Lord according to the ordinance by you appointed this Ladie and I humbly beseech ye that the goods may be deliuered her as is no more then reason for if any Knight oppose him selfe against her heere am I readie for the Combate The king then called for the Ladyes defendant but she poore soule appeared alone Why Lady quoth the King are you vnprouided of a Champion that you come without any to defend your right So helpe me God answered she weeping I am my Lord forsake of all except you grant 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 Law In the meane while Dardan who thought no resistāce would come sate downe in the middest of the field attending the third houre which was the time according to the custome when the King would pronounce sentence to the Conquerour but one of the Damosels seeing nowe the needefull time made haste to let Amadis vnderstand what want of his presence was in the field For this cause he immediately mounted on horse-backe and being armed as appertained commanded 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 hee 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 wonder of him The king and his Nobles seeing him come from the Forrest stood somewhat in doubt of him for hee carryed such a gallant and Knightly counteuance as promised a-farre off that his enemie should finde him of hautie disposition which made the King aboue all other desirous to know him and thinking she for whose
falleth it out with â—ee by thy maister whom fortune hath euer kept mee furthest from but God knowes my good wil hath alway beene with him and gladly would I prouide for his griefs and mine owne if I were able to compasse the meanes Doe 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 know how hee shall behaue him-selfe in this Countrey Oriana then shewed him a Garden which was vnder the window where they talked saying Returne to thy master and tell him that this night he must secertly come to the place thou seâ—st remember this withall how the chamber vnder where we stand is the same that Mabila and Hodge in and there is a crosse barred window neere the ground where-through we may easily discerne ech other and talk together for his Cozin is acquainted with mine affaires nor is it necessarie they should bee concealed from her Then taking a costly Ring off her finger shee thus proceeded Deliuer him this token from mee as the onely Iewell I most esteem and ere thou goest thou shalt see the Princesse Mabila who is so wise and discreet as she will easily vnderstand thee yet thou must say some-what loud to her that thou hast brought her tydings from her mother Here-upon Oriana called her to talke with the Squire whom the Queene of Scots her mother had sent to her but when she saw it was Gandalin she then suspected how matters went wherefore Oriana went to the Queene leauing them in deepe 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 Queene of Scots by him Madame answered Oriana the chiefe cause of his comming into this Countrey was to seeke for the good Knight Amadis Son to the King of Gaule of whom you haue heard such famous report And where is he said the Queen The Squiâ—e saith quoth Oriana it is more then ten moneths since hee heard that he was heere and now he maruaileth to misse of him in this Court. Now trust me answered the Queene right glad would I be to see 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 Countres wherefore I assure ye if he doe come hither hee shall finde here such honourable entertainment as he shal haue no cause to depart in haste Of his Prowesse Madame replyed Oriana I know little but what common bruite hath blazed abroad but heereof I am certaine how hee was one of the most braue yong Gentle-men that euer I saw when in the King of Scots Court he serued Mabila and me All this while Mabila continued with Gandalin enquiring if his master were as yet arriued Yea Madame answered Gandalin the same was he that vanquished Dardan and expresse charge hee gaue me to salue you on his behalfe The name of Heauen be for euer praysed quoth shee hauing preserued our Kins-man from such exceeding danger and now sent him hither so honourably Ah Madam said Gandalin hee were happy indeed if the force of loue made him not in worse case then dead for Gods sake therefore doe you assist him being thus fully perswaded that if he finde 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 hee cannot with greater desire employ mee then I haue to doe him pleasure and will him not to faile in what the Princesse hath commanded him as for thy selfe being iudged to come from the Queene my mother thou mayest come and speak with vs at al 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 extreams as hee had scant force enough to support himselfe for the short sight hee had of his Ladie at the Combate encreased such a desire in him to see her at more libertie as euery houre seemed to him longer then a yeare When hee saw that Gandalin was returned in hope of happy newes hee came and embraced him not daring to demaund any thing of him fearing least matters should not fall out to his contentation but Gandalin with a cheerfull couÌ„tenance told him that he brought no fadde tydings and rushing into the matter at first said My Lord God make yee as constant as you haue cause to be conteut for if you haue that vertue you are the most happy and accomplished Knight in the world Ouer-whelmed 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 know that they are prouided for you if you hinder it not your self Ah Gandalin quoth Amadis iest not with me but tell me the very trueth Then Gandalin declared word by word how euery thing happened first of the counterfeit Letter and next the appointed meeting at the window and by the way reported some part of his owne speeches moouing a change of conntenance 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 hee 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 the other seemed insatiable in the end Amadis thus spake My faithfull Companion I thought my self altogether indebted to thy Father who saued me from the daunger of drowning in the Sea but I confesse that duty belongs more necessarily to thee because by thy diligence and discretion thou hast giuen me a better life then he preferued But tell me now didst thou take good marke of the place to which she commuanded me Assure your selfe thereof quoth Gandalin for she her self shewed it me Ah God sayd Amadis how shall I deserue the great good she doth for me Away from me now all sorrowe and complaining Yet this is not all my Lord quoth Gandalin See here a token she hath sent ye as a testimonie of her honourable loue to you so he gaue him the Ring which came from Oriana and after he had long beheld it kissing it a thousand times put it on his finger saying Faire Ring that hast beene so happy as to be caried and accounted deere 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 â—…re hers and she doth compasse my heart hith greater force theÌ„ thou canst possibly binde in my finger Let vs leaue this talk answered Gandalin and returne to the
Damosels who tarry for vs in the Tents but you must dissemble conningly for if they see you altered from your wonted mellanchollie it may be some hinderance to your determination So they brake off coÌ„munication and went into the Pauillion where Amadis notwithstanding Gandalins councell could not but shew himselfe pleasantly disposed whereat the Damosels were verie glad because such behauiour better beseemed him then his former pensiuenes When the houre of rest was come each one went to his accusttomed lodging and soone after Amadis seeing the time commodious for his enterprise arose and found Gandalin who had already prepared for their iourney wherefore being armed they mounted on horse-backe 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 tied their horsses at a tuft of trees nere adioyning afterward they went through a hole which a water-course had made in the Garden wall and approched the window where Oriana lay faire and softly did Amadis knock thereon with his finger she not yet sleeping who expected his comming and when she heard the louing signall of her friend she awaked Mabila saying Sweete sister I thinke your cosin knocketh at the window My cosin answered Mabila it may be so but you haue greater intrest 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 hec was attended If they were then well pleased it were folly to inquire for all the contentments in the world might not be compared to the ioy of seeing each other And without question they had two inducing reasons thereto for beside the nourishment they receiued together in their yonger yeeres and their first amity continued by the rememberance and good opinion they had of each other their beauty and perfections were so correspondent as if they had neuer seene one another till that very instant yet had they cause enough to loue together Oriana had on such braue attire beseeming the night as set the heart of her loue on fire for vnder a fine dainty 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 flowerts as it might beseeme the greatest Maiestie in the world And for her selfe a thing more faire was impossible to be found the inward conceite of her present comfort decked her face with such a heauenly beauty as it seemed that nature in pride of her art made this piece to excell all other in perfection I will leaue you then to consider on the iudgement of Amadis who when she was nothing so glorious in fairenes thought her worthy the loue of the best Knight in the world now if he stood 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 liberty contrary to my duty and custome to see me in this place at an houre so vnfitting you must commit the offence to the security which our former nurturing together loyally promised and likewise to the good opinion of your great vertues siâ—ce that time encreased which hath conquered no lesse fauour in me then honor and renowne in all other places Amadis to auoide further silence thought it better to let his speeches passe at aduenture then by holding his peace to be reputed vnworthy 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 very highest tipe of grace she could affoord me nor do I feele my selfe so beholding to my vertues as I rest double bound to theÌ„ that report so wel 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 wheÌ„ you shall allow me more ample courtesie it may command a stricter bond of duty but not affection for that is already 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 seemely for a man to coÌ„fesse the extremities he hath infinite times endured by this passion the very least griefe I receiued hath beene the losse of rest and banishment of sleepe froÌ„ mine eyes and yet to afflict me with greater torment my spirit hath seene in a dreame what it vncessantly desired How many times hath it happened to me in thinking on you to be so coÌ„founded that such as haue seene me reputed me not only depriued of common since but euen of very life it selfe What moman what child well beaten hath euer powred forth so many teares as I poore Knight haue done yea my very chiefest enterprises huae I sprinckled withall for your sake not as feeling my selfe a happy subiect in loue but rather too little merit of my selfe and much lesse hope This fauour proceeding froÌ„ you in deigning to heare me is greater then euer I durst hope for and so farre doth it surmount my passions as I cannot expresse the least part of my ioy my tongue likewise seemeth as vnprofitable ignorant of his office hauing bin so long from seruing me to you But aboue all this impuissance in speech shall on my behalfe testifie to you what all the words in the world cannot deliuer with sufficient truth for as all other beauty in coÌ„parison of yours is nothing so before mine affection al the other habilities of my soule vanish away and become of no reckoning Will you theÌ„ good madame with your courtesie supply my insufficiencie and with pittie giue me both life and my selfe and conserue that which else cannot be vnlesse it be yours onely 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 moued to compassion thus answered I make no doubt deere friend but you loue me in respect of the pains you haue taken for me as also by what you haue now tolde me and though I should haue no signe thereof by speech or ought else yet am I â—…ent to beleeue because my heart hath no other deâ—…e but heerein concerneth greatest contentment And yet the torment I see you in with impacience troubleth my quiet for you being assured by sufficient proues and especially this that I loue ye me thinks 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 feele no lesse then you do your selfe If you will not appease them for your owne sake I pray ye let it be done for mine the rather that we may the oftner meete if you please publiquely when such sadnes will but discouer what wee most willingly would keepe vnknowne whereby may arise two great inconueniences and be a meane to hinder the thing we chiefest desire Sweete Lady answered Amadis I haue such felicitie in seeing 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 pâ—…siuenes which makes me wonder that I cannot dye heere in this solace If then I haue offended you by this transportation pardon it in your owne selfe who brought me to this happy mis-fortune and likewise gaue me this hurtfull medicine suffer me then yet longer to vse it that in the assurance of your grace I may by little and little learne to support it and attaine the knowledge of liuing content excusing my apprenti-shood in this felicity being yet scant skilfull enough how to vse it Loue is sicknesse and be it fauourable or contrary it cannot be without passion working the like affect in other which you reproue in me Well haue you said my friend answered Oriana how you are as yet but an Apprentise and so you shew very well by your words prouing that loue cannot be without passion I hope to see the time when you attaining greater and more perfect knowledge therein then yet you haue shall be in higher tranquility 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 farre more lesse account but by the fruition of the thing wherein felicity consisteth the knowledge whereof vniteth and lifteth the spirits so high as heauen And albeit I am yet so yong 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 merry contented Ah Madame said Amadis the hope of that happy day shall make mee passe this mournfull life in patience supporting for your honor my inward paines so couertly as I can bearing the outward with what courage possible I may but I beseech ye do me the fauour as to tell mee when it will be Well perceiued Oriana that he had not thorowly vnderstood her meaning wherefore in smiling she said It is already begun but the dazling of your eyes will not let you see it Heere-with Amadis became very pensiue holding his eyes stedfastly fixed on her and she to change his sadnes tooke 〈◊〉 by the hand thorow the window which Amadis kissed a thousand times without any word passing betweene them and Mabila 〈…〉 she came to them saying 〈◊〉 you forgot your selues Amadis lifting vp his head courteously saluted her she doing the like to him and after sundry speeches of wellcome as also how long they desired to see him Mabila demaÌ„ded what length of time he intended to stay in the Court So long as it shall please Madame Oriana answered Amadis It must be thâ—â— continually quoth Oriana and you shall grant it if the King request it Sweete Madame answered Amadis if it please his Maiestie so much to honor me I will obey both him and you yet will I dissemble strangnes a while All the better replied Mabila and in the meane time I pray ye visit vs often Longer they would haue continued in talke but Gandalin gaue them warning how the day appeared wherefore he said to Amadis My Lord me thinkes you are importunate but then you must needs accuse the day Amadis gaue no eare to him for he proceeded on still with his deuise but Oriana perceiuing Gandalin said 〈◊〉 thus spake to Amadis Now goe my Lord if you please for it is 〈◊〉 forget not your promise Then taking her by the hand and kissing it he went to horse-backe returning to the wood where he left the Damosels who had by entreaty earnestly perswaded him to goe deliuer their cosin that the King held captiue vntill such time shee presented her Champion as you haue heard wherefore after they had â—ested till morning they returned to the Towne in the greatest fauour and expectation of the world CHAP. XVI How Amadis made himselfe knowne to King Lisuart as also the Princes and Lords of his Court of whom he was honorably receiued and feasted EArely the next morning Amadis armed himselfe and mounting on horse backe rode presently to the Towne accompanied with the two 〈◊〉 where being arriued they â—…ght him to their cosins lodging when the good Lady knowing her worthy â—…pion falling on her knees before him sayd My Lord all the goods I haue you gaue me for of you I hold them and no other dispose therefore of them as you please â—ut Amadis brake her off in this maner Come Lady let vs goe before the King to the end he may acquit you and I returne where vrgent affaires call me so taking off his Helmet hee rode on to the Pallace with the three Ladyes The people knowing him to be the man that ouer came Dardan made such thronging in the streetes to see him as the king was giuen to vnderstand thereof and he reioycing at his comming honored him so much as he came to meete and receiue him on the way thus speaking to him Worthy knight hither are you so wel-come as may be deuised because we haue beene very desirous to see you Amadis noting this gracious entertainment setting his knee 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 wordes enforced Amadis to blush yet he replyed in this manner My Lord to desire the Ladyes discharge whom you caused to be detained I am bold to come before your Highnesse and seeing she hath answered the Law according to your appointment hereafter I hope she may enioy her libertie yet till this present she knew not who maintained her quarrell against Dardan While the King Amadis thus conferred together a great number of people gathered about theÌ„ some commending his beautie other his gallant youth and all in generall his famous Chiualrie in that hee being so young had the power to vanquish Dardan who was redoubted feared through all Brittaine By this time sundry speeches past betweene him and the King where-among he dissembled his speedie departure to prouoke a desire in him to stay him and thus spake Amadis Dread Lord seeing the Ladie is free I desire leaue for my returne againe but if in ought
his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies will ye not see your sister whom you loue so deerly Yes Madam quoth he â—o it please you to giue me lâ—… with he arose and came 〈…〉 who stepping forward to meet him you must think Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcoÌ„med him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia louing him as you haue heard ouermastring her will with reason as a most wise well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand a while asunder from all the rest Yet did Agrates keep 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 answere to his sister She being 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 suddaine mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with each others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauor them with more libery feigning a desire to speake with her Vnckle Galuanes which she prettily coloured in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Vnckle may come hither because it is long time since I saw him and I haue some that to acquaint him with all secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agrates whereupon he went to the Queene thus spake Madam if you could spare mine vnckle a little you might doe his Neece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good said the Queene at which words Galuanes went with him which Mabila seeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Fayre Neece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye do you like Scotland or this Countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the window because I haue many things to tell ye which were needelesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they being of such importance as they are These words shee vttered smiling and with a marueilous good grace cheefely because her brother might court his friend alone And well said Neece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes bee kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes whereof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone When the Prince perceiuing hee had liberty to speake trembling in aboundance of affection he began thus Madam to accomplish your commandement when you parted from mee as also to satisfie my heart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gratious contentment conueyed thereto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my Faith that being neere your person my spirits feele themselues viuified in such sort as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therefore I desire ye if it bee your pleasure to limit mee some better hap hereafter in place where I may often see and doe you seruice And as hee would haue proceeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the griefe you endure we being absent one from another as no other proofe is required then what mine owne heart doth plainely testifie smothering a displeasure worse then death it selfe whereto oftentimes I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerefull hope rebacke this despaire how one day our loue shall meet together with happy contentation And perswade your selfe that I daily trauaile in remeÌ„brance of our mutuall loue meane while sweete friend remporize and dismay not Mistresse sayde Agrates you haue already so bouÌ„d me to you as I must in duty temporize till time you please but I desire yee to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortifie mee withall so that if you continue your graces to me as you haue begun I shall haue strength to serue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer will I faile yee be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteeme yee whereby I may striue to loue you more then any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine onely And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioy therein for it cannot bee without recital of your haughty courage chiualry yet my heart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer bold venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare himselfe so praised vayled his lookes and shee loath to offend him altred her speech demanding what hee was determined to doe On my faith Madam quoth he I wil do nothing but what you please to coÌ„mand me I will then sayd Oliuia that hence-forth you keep company with your Cosen Amadis for I knowe hee loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to bee one of this Court deny it not Beleeue me Madam answered Agrayes both you and such good counselling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I wil more credite with mine affaires then my honourable Cosen Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing hnowledge of him in her fathers kingdome of Denmark where hee performed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with her the Queene remembred Galuanes of her auncient acquaintance at which instant the Princesse Oriana came to them wherefore Agraies arose to salute her leauing Galuanes with the Queene and setled himselfe to conferre with Oriana who entertayned him maruailous kindely as well for Amadis sake whom hee loued as also the curtesie hee shewed her in Scotland when king Lisuart left her there at his returne from Denmarke as you haue heard before declared the Princesse thus speaking to Agraies Cosen we haue daily desired your presence heere especially your sister who not many dayes since was in great grief by false newes that came hither of Amadis death your kinseman as truly you would haue wondered therat Good reason had she Madam quoth Agraies to be sorrowful and not she alone but all the rest of his linage were bound to no lesse knowing when our Cosen dyeth the chiefe and most excellent of vs all dyeth yea the best Knight that euer bare Armour on his body and you must thinke his death would haue
a proffer to smite off his heade which Grouenesa seeing cryed Ah gentle Knight haue pittie on him and mee together With aboundance of teares trickling downe her cheekes shee came and fell at the feete of Amadis shewing the affection of her request and her inwarde griefe to beholde her Vncles death all which Amadis well noting feigned himselfe more willing to kill him then before saying If your suite were reasonable I would consent thereto but hee hath so wronged mee and without occasion as I cannot bee satisfied but with the losse of his head Alas my Lord quoth shee for Gods sake demand some other satisfaction for I will doe whatsoeuer you please to redeeme his life Lady answered Amadis there be but two things which may saue his life first the deliuerance of the Damosell againe to mee secondly that you sweare to me as a loyall Lady to meet me at the first open Court held by king Lisuart and there to graunt a boone I shall desire of you Gasinan beholding the danger of his life saide to her Faire Niece suffer me not thorough your default to die but take compassion on mee and promise the knight faithfully what he shall demand which shee presently did wherefore Amadis permitted him to arise said to the Lady I assure yee Madame the suite I must obtayne of you gaine-saith nothing of my promise coÌ„cerning Amadis for I will accomplish it to my vttermost see then no default bee made on your behalfe In sooth my Lord quoth shee I will performe my duty effectually knowing well such men ought to bee honoured for vertue in whom so singular prowesse is apparant much lesse then neede any doubt be made of any thing preiudiciall tomy vnstayned report Be bolde thereof sayd Amadis then was the Damosell sent for and shee being come Amadis demanded if shee would accompany him any further Worthy Sir answered the Damosell I will doe what you please to command mee in respect I haue beene so painefull to you as while I liue I am yours in all obedience But were it your liking considering the affection Gasinan beares mee as hee would rather hazard the combate then deliuer mee albeit by treachery hee carried mee away I gladly could afford to stay with him By heauen faire Damosell replyed Gasinan most true and sincere is my affection towarde you and as I request yee not to forsake mee so doe I desire your good opinion You haue chosen Damosell one of the best knights in the worlde sayd Amadis and seeing you like each other so well with all my heart I leaue yee together They both thanked him very humbly intreating hee would rest himselfe there certaine dayes but hee would returne to his brother Galaor whom hee left vnder the tree by the dead knight by meanes whereof he excused his departure and mounting on horse-backe commanded Gandalin to carry the broken peeces of his sword with him By hap Gasinan ouer-heard him wherefore hee presented him with his sworde which hee accepted and a Launce that Grâ—â—enesa gaue him then leauing the Castle hee tooke the way againe toward the tree where hee hoped to finde Galaor and Balays CHAP. XXIX How Balays behaued himselfe in his enterprise pursuing the Knight that made Galaor lose his horse BAlays of Carsaâ—ta offended as you haue heard with the Knightes iniurious pranckes to Galaors horse followed him so fast as possibly hee could but the other had gotten so farre before as Balays heard no tydings of him neuerthelesse hee rode on till about mid-night when hee heard a voyce a long by a Riuers side And shaping his course thither hee found there fiue theeues well armed with Croslets and Hatchets who villainously would force a Damosell one of them dradging her by the hayre of the head in a straite way on the mountaine and the other beating her forwarde with great staues Balays seeing them vilely abuse her entred among them saying Trayterous murderers dare you so boldly lay holde on a Damosell let her alone else shall you die according to your deserts Then running fiercely at one of them his Launce passed quite thorow his body so that he fell downe dead without any mouing Wherupon the other foure would reuenge their companions death altogether inuironed Balays with such sharp assaults as one of them smote downe his horse vnder him yet Balays dismayed nothing thereat but beeing couragiously resolued quickely recouered footing and drawing his sworde layde so fiercely about him that another of them fell downe headlesse at his feet In briefe two more of them accompanied their fellowes in like fortune when the last seeing hee could not preuent like doome fell on his knees before Balays saying Good my Lord haue compassion on me for if I die in this wicked life I haue so long vsed vndoubtedly both body and soule will perish together Since thou doest answered Balays so willingly acknowledge thy fault thy life I giue thee to the ende thy repentance hereafter may make amends for al faithfully hee kept promise with Balays for soone after he became a religious Hermit spending the rest of his dayes in great deuotion But now returneth Balays to the Damosell who being not a little glad she was so happily deliuered gaue him thankes for the succour shee found in such necessity and hee requesting to know how shee happened into this daunger shee thus begun Hauing occasion Sir to trauell in these parts in the narrow way on the mountaine they staied mee it beeing the common place for their theeuish assaults and after they had slaine my seruants they brought mee into this place all of them swearing to force me one after another but God and you haue graciously deliuered me Her modest behauiour in speech and comely beauty made Balays to waxe somewhat enamoured which made him thus to interrupt her In sooth faire Damosell I perceiue they haue dealt with ye vngently for they were very loath to parte with yee but seeing fortune hath allowed such a conuenient meeting euen where wee may lay a foundation of loue let me request this fauourable kindnesse that wee may not lose so good an oportunitie I know not Sir quoth shee how you are minded but had they compelled mee to their lasciuious desires both God and the worlde might holde mee excused contrariwife if I should willingly grant you such an vnhonourable request what excuse might then serue either you or me Hitherto you haue shewed your selfe a well disposed knight let mee intreate yee to accompany chiualrie with continence and vertue as by duty you are bound When Balays heard her answere so soberly hee repented that hee had offered her such vndecent wordes saying With reason faire virgin you haue fully satisfied mee yet pardon me for attempting so bad a suite in respect it is no lesse seemely for knights to moue Ladies with loue then for them modestly to deny as you haue done And albeit at the first we imagine it a great conquest to obtayne of them what
you can finde him in one whole yeere vnlesse you be 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 know any thing thereof I meane not to tell it you for neuer will I iniurie so good a Knight Damosell replied Galaor by the affection you beare to the thing you most loue in the World tell vs I pray ye what you know in this matter You coniure me in vaine quoth she for neuer will I discouer his affaires except you deliuer me some good present Demand 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 mee your names and afterward each of you grant me a boone at what time I shall demand them of you With all our hearts quoth Amadis as for our names the one is Galaor the other Agraies and my selfe am Amadis When the Damosell heard this shee 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 shee when time serueth but do you not remember the combate which you promised to performe for the king of Sobradisaes daughter when shee succoured you by meanes of the Lyons Yes that I doe sayde 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 beeing neerer then you weene She saith very well my Lord answered Galaor doe you therefore and Agraies proceede on your iourney and I will seeke the knight with this Damosell for neuer shal I rest til I haue found him if it be possible I will be with you before you deale with Abiseos Be it so replied Amadis but she promised vs to tell his name where we may find 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 doe such deedes of armes as without fight thereof I would neuer haue credited but where he is now I can conduct him thither that will goe with me It is all I request answered Galaor Follow mee then quoth she so taking their leaue they seperated themselues Thus Amadis and Agraies hold on their way arriuing within fewe dayes after at the Castle of Torin where they sound the faire Brtolania with the ancient Lady but when Amadis beheld her he found her maruailously changed for if shee were faire when hee first sawe her she now seemed of such excellent perfection 25 except Oriana he reputed her the most beautifull creature in the world whereupon he sayde to Agraies If nature was desirous to expresse her cunning in a creature in this Lady she hath most sufficiently accomplished it My Lord quoth she full long haue we expected your comming for in you consisteth our onely hope Madame answered Amadis by the helpe of God I trust you shall recouer your losse and we will doe our vttermost therein As thus they deuised they entred a faire chamber where mantles were brought to wrap about them and Briolania holp to vnarme Amadis for she could not be satisfied with beholding him because she counted him the fairest knight that euer was seene being now but twenty yeeres of age And so piercingly did hee regard her as long time after she waved amourous so that when she had recouered her Kingdome she wished him sole Lord of her and her countrye together as shall heereafter be declared But Amadis was else-where addicted and gaue sufficient proofe to her that the extreame anguishes hee endured for his Oriana were manifest examples of his stedfastloyalty Neuerthelesse the young Lord of Portugall pitrying faire Brtolania would disguise this historie in another manner describing farre otherwise the loue of her Amadis which report is worthy of no credit For he saith that Brtolania being restored into her Kingdome prouiding for the health of Amadis and Agraics who were wounded she cōtinuing euermore amorous of Amadis seeing by no means shee could winne him to bee her friend tooke aside the Damosell to whome Amadis Galaor and Agraies made the seuerall promises at what time she conducted Galaor to the knight that iousted with them in the Forrest and discouering the chiefest secrets of her Heart to her with aboundance of teares and affectionate sighes requested her counsell and remedy in these amorous passions The Damosell compassionate on her Ladies sicknesse promised to giue her redresse for it whereupon she said to Amadis that the boone she would desire of him was his entrance into the Tower from whence he should not depart vntill he had begotten of Briolania a Sonne or a Daughter Amadis willing to keepe promise with the Damosel yeelded therto yet without any will to touch Briolania whereby he grew into such melancholly as he refused all bodily sustenance and fell into such danger of his person as euery houre he expected death Which being heard in the Court of king Lisuart as also his deadly dangerous extreamitie Oriana loth to lose him sent him word and licence that he should do what the Lady requested Whereupon Amadis considering hee might no way else escape and his gracious Mistresse pittyed him so much he begat a Sonne and a daughter of Briolania whereof she was deliuered of at one labour but this History is altogether false and faigned It might be that Amadis was prisoner in the Tower and Briolania beheld his daily pining away but she desired the Damosell to remit him this boone on condition he should not depart till his brother Galaor returned as willing to comfort her selfe with the sight of him while she attended his brothers ariuall for Galaor espoused her afterward as you shall reade in the fourth booke of this History Let it then suffice at this time that Amadis and Agraies soiourne certain daies in the Castle while all needfull things were ready for their combat CHAP. XLII How Galaor went with the Damosell after the Knight that dismounted him and his companions in the Forrest whom when he found they combated together and afterward in the sharpest point of their combat they knew each other Four daies together rode Galaor with the Damosell seeking the Knight that vnhorsed him in the Forrest for which he was so ouercome with anger as euery knight hee met withall deerely felt it because in combat many receiued their death Then espying a faire Castle on the top of a high mountaine the Damosell told him there was no other place neere where they might lodge that night wherfore he being glad to accept there-of they came to the Castle finding many Gentlemen and Ladies sporting together among whom was a Knight aged about threescore yeares who taking Galaor by the hand did him all the honour might be deuised My
ended his song hee alighted vnder a tusted tree planted by the high way side thinking there to passe the rest of the night but worse happened to him then he hoped for Gandalin which had heard what hee sayde of Oriana doubting that Amadis had not marked it because his minde was otherwise occupied sayde vnto Durin It were best for mee to goe to my Master to know what hee intendeth to doe Then came hee forth of the bush where he was hidden beheld Amadis that sought for his horse to depart frō thence who as he looked here there he espied Gandalin When not knowing him at the first he cryed Who art thou that commest to surprise me speake and hide thy selfe no longer My Lord answered he I an Gandalin who will helpe you to finde your horse if so it please you When Amadis heard this Ah said hee how durst you persume to follow me hauing so expresly forbidyou beleeue mee thou hast greatly displeased mee let mee see thee no more but depart or else be sure thou shalt die My Lord answered Gandalin mee thinkes you should forget this manner of behauiour and bethinke you how to reuenge the foolish speeches which euen now were vttered by a knight who is not yet far from you for they are greatly to your disaduantage This sayde Gandalin to pacifie his displeasure towardes him that hee might bee the more incensed against the other I did heare him as well as you sayd he and therefore am I content to seeke rest else-where and to depart from hence where all misfortune doth follow me What sayd Gandalin is this all that you are determined to doe What wouldst thou more said he That you fight with him answered Gandalin to make him confesse his presumption I beleeue sayd hee thou wouldest say otherwise seeing thou knowest very well that I neither haue spirit heart not any force hauing lost all in losing her who gaue me life so as now I am no better then a dead man neither is there in Great Brittaine any knight so cowardly that could not easily ouercome mee if I should combate with him so haplesse and hopelsse am I. Trust me answered Gandalin you are in a great errour thus to suffer your heart to saint to let your courage faile euen whē it should most serue you to aduance the honour of her who so neerely toucheth you What report will Durin make here of thinke you who hath heard and seene all and is greatly abshed that now you behaue your selfe no better How sayd Amadis is Durin here I truely sayd Gandalin wee came both together and I beleeue hee followeth you thus to declare your manner of behauiour vnto her that sent him vnto you Get thee gone sayd Amadis thou vrgest mee too much Yet when hee thought that Durin should returne to Oriana his heart was so inflamed that hee called for his armes and mounting on his horse he went toward the knight whom hee found layd vnder the tree holding his horse by the bridle Then Amadis in a great rage sayde vnto him Sir knight who so greatly extollest thy fortune in loue I beleeue that against all right thou hast receined that good that loue hath doue for thee if good it may be tearmed and that thou neuer deseruedst it the which I wil proue with the losse of thy head What art thou answered the other that speakest so audaciously dost thou think that I am fauoured of the fairest Lady in the worlde for any other cause but onely for my valour and high knighthood wherewith I will make thee presently confesse that loue hath reason to fauour me and that it is not for thee to speake thereof It is but thy opinion sayde Amadis but thou must knowe that in despight of thee I am hee who hath least occasion to praise loue because hee hath so vildely deceiued me that I wil neuer dayes in my life put any trust in him knowing how falsely and treacherously he commonly vseth those that most faithfully do serue him And because I haue sufficiently prooued it I will maintaine that he can neuer be so faithfull as I haue found him false That it is so let vs see whether hee hath gained more in thee then he hath lost in me Then the knight mounted on his horse and beeing ready to fight he answered Vnhappy knight depriued of all good and banisht iustly from loue beeing vnworthy of his fauor get thee from my presence for I should commit a most horrible fact to lay my hands vpon such a vild miserable fellow So saying he turned his horse to haue fled away if Amadis had not staied him in calling him Villaine wilt thou then defend thy loue which so highly thou prisest onely with thy countenance and so get thee gone because thou wouldest fly the combat Trust me answered the other thou art in a right opinion for it is true that I haue no desire to proue my selfe against a person of so small desert but seeing thou wouldest that I should breake thy head I am content and if thy heart will serue defend it if thou canst Herewithall they ran one against the other with such force as their Lances flew to shiuers pearcing their shields quite thorough neuerthelesse their armour being good strong staied the stroke yet the knight fell to the ground carrying the raines of his horse with him wherefore he rose again lightly The which Amadis beholding he said vnto him Truely knight if the right which you pretend in so faire a friend bee not better maintained with your sword then it hath beene with your staffe Loue hath made but a bad choyce of you for a valiant champion your Lady a far worser match in lighting vpon such a carpet knight He made no account at all of these reproaches but boldly drew out his sword and comming neere to Amadis laid at him so lustily that hee had beene wounded if with his shield hee had not well warded himselfe wherein his sword was so farre entred that he could not pul it forth again but was forced to let go his holde leauing it sticking fast in the shield of Amadis Who lifted himselfe vp in his stirrops hitting him so sound a blow vpon his head-peece that it pearced euen vnto the quick the blow gliding downe it lighted vpon his horse neck wounded him to the death falling downe in the place and his master vnder him all astonied But Amadis seeing him arise said vnto him Gentle louer I am of the minde that Cupid henceforth should erect a trophie for the high prowesse which you haue shewed in his seruice that as long as you liue you should not cease to sing his praises declare those benefits which vpon you hee hath bestowed As for mee I will goe secke my fortune else where So he set spurres to his horse as he departed he beheld Gandalin Durin when cōming neere them he tooke Durin by the hand and sayd vnto him Friend
Durin I see my misfortune so strange and my sorrow so intollerable as of force I must die which God grant it may be without delay for death onely will giue rest and ease to this torture which vexeth mee Salute from me the Princesse Mabila and thy good sister the Damosell of Denmarke vnto whom thou mayst declare my cruel death which I suffer with as great wrōg as euer any knight suffered Before the which I would to God I had the meanes to doe them any seruice in recompence of the duty I doe owe them for all the good they haue done and the fauours they haue purchased for mee Then hee beganne his moane weeping so bitterly as Durin therewith had his heart so stopped with woe that hee was not able to answer one word Wherfore Amadis embraced him and committed him to God At that instant began the day to appeare when Amadis perceiuing that Gandalin followed him hee sayd vnto him if thou determinest to come with me take heede vpon thy life that thou turne me not from any thing which I shall say or doe otherwise I pray thee forthwith to turne another way that I may see thee no more Beleeue me Sir sayd Gandalin I wil do whatsoeuer shal please you Then Amadis deliuered him his armor to bear cōmanding him to pul the sword forth of his shield to cary it to the amorous knight CHAP. V. Who was the Knight vanquished by Amadis and what happened vnto him before he fought with him SEeing that it falleth out so fit I will declare vnto you before I passe any further the estate of the amorous Knight of whom wee spake euen now You must knowe that hee was called Patin brother to Don Sidon the Emperor of Rome and hee was the best knight that was to be found in all Romania By meanes whereof he was feared and famous through all the Empire chiefly because hee was to succeed in his brothers dignitie for there was none more neare the same then hee and the Emperour was already so olde that hee neuer hoped to haue any heire Now this Patin was one day talking with the Queene of Sardinia named Sardamira one of the fairest Ladies in the world whom hee loued extreamely And as hee gaue her to vnderstand what feruency and torment hee endured in ouer-louing her she answered him My Lord I assuredly beleeue that which you tell mee and the better to witnesse the same I let you know that there is no prince liuing for whō I would do more then for you nor whom I would more willingly take for husband because I know your good parts and the high knight-hood where withall you are so famoused These speeches bred so great presumption in the heart of Patin as besides that hee was by nature one of the proudest Gentlemen in the world hee entred into such glory that he answered her Madame I haue heard that King Lisuart hath a daughter esteemed the fairest Princesse in the worlde but for the loue of you I will goe into Great Brittaine there to mainteine against all men that her beauty is not cōparable to yours the which I alone will prooue in combate against two of the best knights that dare say the contrary whom if I cannot ouercome I will that King Lisuart doe cause my head to bee cut off In good faith my Lord answered the Queene I am of a contrary opinion for if the Princesse haue any beauty in her it nothing impaireth that which God hath bestowed vpon mee if any beauty there bee and me thinks that you haue other means more fit to make known your prowesse in all places Hap what may hap answered hee I will doe it for your loue to the end that euery one may knowe that as you are the fairest Lady in the world so you are beloued of the valiantest Knight aliue Hereupon continuing in this minde within a while after hee tooke leaue of the Queene and passed into Great Brittaine accompanied onely with two Esquires Then hee enquired where he might find King Lisuart vnto whose Court he shortly after came and because hee was more richly armed then wandering knights were accustomed to bee the King thought him to be some great personage For this cause hee receiued him most honourably appointing him into a chamber to shift himselfe When he was vnarmed hee returned to the King who stayed for him marching with such grauity as those that beheld seeing his comely stature iudged him to bee of great courage But the King tooke him by the hand and conferring together hee sayde vnto him gentle friend I pray you thinke it not strange if I desire to know who you are because I may the more honor you in my Court It may please your Maiesty answered Patin I am not come into this countrey to hide mee but rather to make my selfe knowne as well vnto your Highnesse as vnto all others I am that Patin brother to the Emperour which humbly beseecheth you to enquire no further of my affaire vntill I haue seen my Lady Oriana your daughter When the King heard that he embraced him and in excusing his ignorance he sayd to him My good Cosen I am maruailous glad of the honour that you haue done me In cōming thus to visit me in my owne countrey assuring you that since you are desirous to see my daughter she shall not onely be shewed vnto you but likewise the Queene and all her trayne And so long they continued their talke vntill they had couered for supper Then the King caused him to sit next vnto him where hee found himselfe compassed with so great a number of knights as hee much marualled thereat and began to despise the Court of the Emperour his brother as also of all other Princes in respect of this which hee saw After the tables were taken vp it being time to goe to rest the King cōmanded Don Grumedan to bring Patin to his lodging and to shew him all the honor and good entertainment hee could So for that night they departed vntill the next morning that hee came and found the King hearing diuine seruice after the which hee was conducted to the Ladies who receiued him curteously for at his comming the Queen took him by the hand praying him to sit betweene her her daughter Oriana whom at that instant he beheld with such an eye as the loue which before he did beare vnto the Queene Sardamira was wholly changed vnto her beeing captiuated with her excellent beauty and goodly grace You may iudge then how he would haue esteemed her if he had seene her in the time of her perfect health which was now much decaied by reason of this new iealousie which she had conceiued against Amadis which made her looke leane pale and wan but these defaults could nothing quench the heate of the fire already kindled in the heart of Patin who was so far beside him-selfe that hee determined to beseech the king to bestow her vpon him in
a great blemish Therefore my Lords I beseech you in performing the duty of a brother a friend and a companion to begin his search a fresh without sparing therein at all either time or toile This perswasioÌ„ did Gandalin make in weeping so extreamly that it greatly putied the three knights to behold him so as they concluded after they had beene in the Court if they heard not news of Amadis to begin a new pursuit to compasse the whole world about till they had found him and vpon this determination after they had heard diuine seruice they departed from the hermitage and tooke the way towards London But as they approched nere vnto the Cittie they were ware of the King who was already in the fields accompanied with many noble men and valiant knights for hee celebrated that day with all magnificence because that vpon the same he was crowned peaceable king of great Brittaine which was the principall occasion that many knights came to serue him Who beholding Galaor and his fellowes comming towards them shewed the king thereof and they in the mean season were hard at hand But because Florestan had neuer before seene such an assembly Galaor said vnto him Brother behold the king Now had they all three their head-pieces off wherefore some in the company did know them all forth-with except Flotestan the King imbraced them demanding how they fared Then Florestan 〈◊〉 to kisse his hands the which he refused And because he was the Gentleman that did most of all resemble Amadis and that heretofore he had heard speaking of him he began to suspect that it was his brother and therefore he saide vnto Galaor I beleeue that this is your brother Florestan It is he indeede if it please your Maiestie who hath a great desire to doe you seruice Ah said the king I would Amadis were now heere that I might see you all three together what saide Galaor hath your grace heard 〈◊〉 newes of him No saide the king but what haue you heard It may please your Maiestie answered he wee haue all three sought him a whole yeere yet haue we done no good but lost our labour and we did thinke to haue found him here in your Court wherefore seeing your grace hath certified me to the contrary I am in worse hope of his recouery then before So am not I saide the king for I am perswaded the heauens haue not endued him with such perfections to forsake him after this manner which maketh me to beleeue that we shall very shortly heare some tidings of him WheÌ„ they had ended their talke they entred into the Cittie where the Queene and the other Ladies were incontinently aduertised of their arriuall wherewith they were as glad as might bee especially Olinda the friend to Agraies who very lately was aduertised that he had passed vnder the arch of faithfull louers and shee expected his comming with as great deuotion as Corisanda did the arriuall of Florestan Then Mâ—… imagining to do Orianâ— a pleasure 〈◊〉 to aduertise her but she 〈◊〉 â—wordh-drawn iâ—to â—…er where shee sawe her â—…ing her head vpon one of hâ—r hâ—â—ds and reading in a booke to whom she saide Madame will you please to come downe to see Galaor Agrâ—… and Florestan who are now newely heere arriued WheÌ„ she heard her speake nothing of Amadis a new feare strook at her heart so that she knew not what to doe and the teares distilled from her eyes in such aboundance that her speech failed Neuerthelesse in the end not beeing able to dissemble her griefe shee answered Mabila my cosin and sweet friend how would you haue me to go see them in good sooth I haue not my minde so well setled that I may dissemble or hide that which in their presence I ought to doe Moreouer mine eyes are ouerswollen with much weeping and that which worse is it is impossible for to behold those whom I did neuer see but in the company of your cosin whom I haue so highly offended Heerewithall her heart was likely to haue left her sorrowfull body and she cryed My God how doe you permit mee wretched woman to liue being so worthy of death Ah my deere loue I doe now feele a double griefe for your absence seeing Galaor the rest to returne without you whome you loued as deere as your selfe who knowing the iniury and wicked act that I haue coÌ„mitted against you shall haue iust cause to procure my ruine whereunto I consent with a good will seeing that so vnaduisedly I haue beene the meanes of your losse Herewithall she had fallen downe all along if Mabila who streight espied it had not staied her vp saying vnto her Madame will you alwaies continue these strange passions I know well that in the end you will publish that to your shame which we doe most desire should be kept secret Is this the constancy which you ought to haue especially seeing that day by day we expect to heare good newes by the Damosell of Denmarke Alas answered shee you speake at your pleasure is it possible that shee may finde him hauing the charge but to seek him onely in Scotland seeing that his brethren haue in a manner compassed all the West without hearing any newes at all of him You abuse your selfe saide Mabila it may bee that they had found him but that hee kept himselfe secret from them the which he wil neuer do froÌ„ your Gentlewoman knowing that she is priuie to both your loues And therefore be of good cheere vntill her returne and then doe as you shall thinke good and for this time let vs goe if it please you towards the Queene who demandeth for you Well answered Oriana I am content to doe what you will Then shee dried her eyes and went in the Queenes chamber into the which the three knights were already entred who seeing her comming did their duty vnto her at the same time the King held Galaor by the hand vnto whom he said behold I pray you how your good friend Oriana is impaired since you did last see her In good faith answered Galaor your Maiestie saith true and I would with all my heart that I might doe her any pleasure that might purchase her former health Herewithall Oriana smiled saying vnto Galaor God is the only comforter of all men so that when his pleasure is my health shall bee restored and your losses recouered which no doubt are great for so deere a brother Amadis was vnto you And I would that the trauell which you haue taken to seeke him in farre countries had brought some fruit as well for the good of you and yours as also for the seruice of the King my father vnto the which hee was wholly adicted Madame answered Galaor I trust that wee shall very shortly heare some newes of him because he is the knight that I haue euermore seene most valiantly to resist all extremities God grant it said Oriana but I pray you cause Don Florestan to
pleasure that wee might heare such speedy newes from him as might giue vs cause to reioyce And as they talked together Gandalin cast his eye vpon Florestan who was talking with Corisanda whome Gandalin knew not but hee thought her to be one of the fairest Ladies that euer he had seene therefore hee beseeched the Queen to tell him who shee was the which shee did and the occasion wherefore shee was come into great Brittaine as also the loue which she did beare vnto Florestan for whose sake she staied at the Court if she doe loue him said Gandalin shee may well vaunt that her loue is imployed vpon him in whome all bounty remaineth and he is such a one that hardly may his equal be found in all the world and moreouer Madame I assure you that if your grace did know him so well as I you would not esteeme any knight more then he for he is of a most valiant heart and high resolution He seemeth to be such a one answered the Queen further-more hee is of so good a grace and alied to so many good knights that it is impossible but that hee should bee such a gentle knight as thou hast reported him to be In the meane season Florestan entertained his Lady and Mistris whom he loued most feruently not without a cause for shee was passing faire a rich Lady and alied to the noblest houses in all great Brittaine Who hauing remained yet some few dayes in the Court after his returne shee determined to depart and taking her leaue of the king and Queene she took her iourney toward her own countrey Two whole daies together did Florestan accompany her who promised her that so soone as he heard any newes of Amadis and that the battaile was past betwixt the two Kings Lisuart and Cildadan if he remained aliue hee would come vnto her to tarry with her a long time then taking his leaue of her hee returned vnto the Court But you must vnderstand that Oriana who had not forgotten her determination of going to Mirefleur departed the next morning with her traine where shee had not long remained but that she perceiued the amendment of her health and with the same her hope increased to see him whom shee so greatly desired And because that the king had appointed that during her aboade in that place of Mirefleur the gate should continually bee kept and that no body should enter thereinn Oriana foreseeing for the great desire shee had that it should be so the comming of Amadis shee sent to tell the Abbesse that shee should send vnto her the keyes of the Nunnerie gardens to walke thither sometimes for her recreation the which shee accomplished which were hard adioyning to the Castle but yet inclosed with very high walles And one day as Oriana walked there accompanied onely with Mabila seeing the place fauourable and fit for her purpose as if Amadis were returned she began to thinke of him in such sort and vpon the pleasure she should receiue by his presence that in speaking to herselfe she sayd Ah my onely hope my sollace and my intire refuge wherefore art thou not beere with mee seeing at this present I haue the meanes both to giue vnto thee and also to receiue of thee such case and contentment as we haue so oftentimes desired to receiue one of another At the least I wil not depart from hence vntil I haue wholy satisfied the hurt which by my ouer-great folly I haue procured vnto you but I will here attend your comming And if Fates or fortune doe permit mee to beholde you here shortly I promise you sweete loue to giue you the sure contentment that your seruent loue hath promised vnto you a long time but if my misfortune shall bee an hinderance vnto your speedy returne your only absence shall bee the meanes to hasten my end wherefore I beseech you to take pitty on this my weakenesse and to succour mee for I liue and yet languish in extreame bitternesse And seeing that euer hitherto you haue beene obedient vnto mee without contradicting me in any sort now the necessity beeing such I pray you by that power which you haue giuen mee ouer you that you would come to deliuer mee from death which I feele to approach and tarry not otherwise your delay will cause you ouer late to repent my vnhappy end In this sort did she speak as if Amadis had beene present when Mabila brake off her thought and Oriana changing her talke sayd to her Cosen seeing that wee haue the keyes of this place it were best that Gandalin should make some other like vnto them to the ende that your Cosen beeing returned may goe and come hither when as often as hee shall please It is wel aduised answered Mabila And as they were consulting there was one of the Porters sayd to Mabila Madam Gandalin is without who desireth to speake with you Let him come in answered Oriana for he hath beene brought vp with vs a long time and also he is foster brother vnto Amadis whom God preserue God so doe sayde the Porter it were a great damage that so good vertuous a knight should sustaine any hurt Then went he forth to goe seeke Gandalin and in the meane time Oriana said vnto Mabila I pray you see how your Cosen is beloued and esteemed of all men yea euen of the basest sort of people that are in a manner voyde of all vertue it is true answered Mabila Then Oriana sayde what would you haue mee doe but die hauing beene the onely cause of the ruine of him who is more worth then all the men in the world and who did better loue me then his owne selfe Ah accursed be the houre wherein I was borne seeing that by my folly and light suspition I haue done vnto him so great and so much wrong Madame answered Mabila I pray you forget these imaginations and onely arme you with hope for all this which you both say and doe serueth in no sort to ease your dolour Herewithall Gandalin entred in whom Oriana caused to sit downe by her and after some conference which they had together she recited how she had sent the Damosell of Denmark to seeke Amadis vnto whom shee had written a Letter containing that which you haue heard and what words also she had giuen her in charge to say vnto him therefore said the Princesse in thy opinion doest thou thinke that he will pardon me Madame answered Gandalin Me thinks you are little acquainted with his heart for I am sure for the least word that is in the letter hee will teare himselfe into an hundreth peeces for you if you do but onely command him by more likelyhood may you imagin whether he will be glad to come see you yea or no. And be you assured that seeing the Damosel of Denmarke hath vndertaken the charge to finde him that she will sooner accomplish the same then all the persons in the world
the horse of Quedragant instead of his owne that was dead deliuered his shield vnto Enil and followed on his way vpon the which hee behelde foure young Gentlewomen that were flying with a Marlin who had both seene the Combate and heard all the talke of the two Knights and for the same cause they spake vnto the Faire Forlorne earnestly entreating to come and lodge in their Castle where hee should bee entertained with all the honor that might bee deuised for King Lisuart his sake vnto whose seruice hee had shewed himselfe so affectionate The which offer of theirs hee refused not for hee was weary with the great trauail he had sustained al the day And as soon as he was come into his lodging they themselues vnarmed him to see if hee were in any sort dangerously wounded but hee had no other hurt then that vpon his brest which was a matter of nothing Three whole daies together did the Faire Forlorne tarry there and then departed riding all day long without finding any aduenture and the night following he lodged in a little Inne that stood on the way from whence he departed the next morning very early and about mid-day hee came vnto the top of a small hill from whence he might behold the citty of London and the castle of Mirefleur where his Lady Oriana remained Heere withall he was surprised with exceeding ioy neuerthelesse hee fained as though he knew not the Countrey where hee remained and demanded of Enil if he did know it Yea very well my Lord answered Enil beholde yonder is the citie of London where King Lisuart at this present remaineth In faith saide the Faire Forlorne I would be very sorry that either he or any other should know mee vntill my deedes deserue it and that by my deedes of Armes I might be thought worthy to be in such an assembly Therefore goe thou to see the Esquire Gandalin from whom Durin did of late bring the commendations and see that thou doest wisely enquire what euery one saith of me as lso when the battaile of King Cildadan shall be performed What answered Enil shall I leaue you all alone Care not thou for that sayd he I haue beene many times accustomed to go in that sort yet before that thou doest depart let vs espy together a fit place where thou maist find meat thy returne Then they rode on a little further when vpon a sudden they beheld close by the side of a riuer two pauillions armed in the midst of them a most faire tent Before the which were many knights Ladies sporting and ten other knights armed for their guard and there was neuer a pauillion that had not fiue shields hanged vp and as many Lances standing before it Here-withall the Faire Forlorne fearing to bee disturbed of his enterprise would auoid the combate took his way vpon the left hand The which the knights perceiuing called vnto him saying that he must needes giue one stroke with the Launce for the loue of the Ladies But he answered them that at that instant hee had no desire thereunto For sayd he you are fresh and many and I alone and very wearie Beleeue me sayd one of them I thinke rather that you feare to lose your horse And why should I lose him sayd the Faire Forlorne Because sayd the knight hee must haue him that doth throwe you downe I am sure that your losse were more certaine then the gaine that you should get vpon vs. Seeing it is so answered hee I had rather depart then come into any such danger which said he passed on Truly sayd the knights in our iudgements your armes are defended more with faire wordes then valiant deeds so that they may euer bee sound enough to place ouer your Tombe when you are dead yea although you should liue one hundred yeares and more You may thinke of mee what you please answered the Faire Forlorne yet cannot that in any sort deminish my reputation I would it were your pleasure sayd one that stepped somewhat before his fellowes that you would breake onely one staffe with mee I would be accounted a traytor or not in one whole yeare to mount vpon a horse if you departed not by and by to seeke your lodging without yours Sir answered hee it is that which I doe feare and which caused mee to turue out of the high way At this they all began to laugh and to scoffe him saying behold the valiant champion that spareth himselfe against a battaile yet for all this the Faire Forlorne made no account but followed on his way vntill he came vnto a riuer side but as hee would haue passed ouer he heard a voyce that cryed stay knight stay Then he turned his head and looked backe to 〈◊〉 who it was and perceiued aâ—…tlewoman in very goodâ—… mouÌ„ted vpon a Palfrey coâ—… towardes him who at her arriâ—… said vnto him Leonor daughter to King Lisuart together with her Gentlewómen doe all desire you to maintain the Iousts against these knights and to shew that you will doe something for the loue of Ladies How answered hee the daughter of the King is she there I truely answered the Gentlewoman Beleeue me sayde the Faire Forlorne I should be very sory to haue a quarrell with any of her knights for sooner would I doe them seruice for the honour of so faire a Lady Notwithstanding seeing that it is her pleasure that I should otherwise do I am coÌ„tent vpon this condition that they require no more then the Ioust only Hereupon he tooke his shield and Lance and rode straight vnto the should finde him at his returne from London And as they were in this sorte discoursing together they perceiued vpon the same way a cart which was drawne with twelue horses and guided by two Dwarffes within the which were many armed knights inchained their shields were hanged all along the sides thereof and amongst them were Ladies Gentlewomen that cryed out wept most pitifully before whom marched a Gyant armed with plates of fine steele hauing vpon his head a marueilous bright shining helme But hee seemed to bee so great that it would haue feared any man to behold him he rode vpoÌ„ a mighty black horse holding in his right hand a Bore-speare the head whereof was more then a cubit in length and there followed behinde the cart another Gyant farre more monstrous then the first of whom the Damosels of the fountaine were so much afraid as they fled to hide them amongst the bushes At the same instant the Gyant which marched before seeing how the Ladies that were in the cart did teare the hairs from their heads for it seemed by their furious behauiours that they very willingly would haue procured their owne death sayde vnto the Dwarffes If you cause not these girles to hold their peace by loue you villaines I will make a thousand peeces of your entrails for I would haue them charily kept to sacrifice them vnto the God that
the which doe flie very lightly by reason of their long wings but they are so infectious that euery one shun them so much as they possible may Notwithstanding when a man findeth any one of them hee esteemeth of him as a thing much worth because they are profitable for diuerse medicines and these Serpents haue a bone that reacheth from the neck to the tayle the which is so great that vpon the same is formed al the whole body which is greene as you see by this scabberd and furniture for as much as they are bred vp as I haue said in this burning sea no heate of any other fire may hurt them Thus hath your Maiesty heard the strangenesse of this sword and of the scabberd now I will tell you of the floures of this kertchiefe In the same Countrie of Tartarie there is also an Island enuironed with the most strange and dangerous gulfe that is in any part of all the Sea By meanes whereof although the floures of these two branches are rare pretious yet there is no maÌ„ so valiant that dare goe to gather them but if it so chance that any one be so madde as to aduenture himselfe therein and if hee may bring them away assure your Maiesty he selleth them at as great a price as he pleaseth for amongst other singular vertues that they haue this is one that whosoeuer doth charily keepe them they doe neuer leaue their greenenesse and liuely colour as you may behold in this kertchiefe And seeing that I haue declared vnto you the excellency of these Iewels it may please your Maiesty likewise to vnderstand who I am and after what sort I came by these thinges I beleeu that you haue many times heard speaking of Apolidon who in his time was one of the best Princes of the Earth he it was that did beautifie the firme Island with many rare and singular things as euery one knoweth my Father was his Brother and king of Ganor who being in loue with the daughter of the king of Canonia did beget me of her And when I was of sufficient age to bee made knight my father commanded me seeing I had been coÌ„ceiued with far more perfect and loyall loue then euer was any other prince that I would not in like sort receiue knight-hood but by the hand of the most faithful louer that might be found in all the World neyther to take armes but from that Lady or Damosell who should loue her husband or friend with the like constancy as the knight doth The which I both promised and swore vnto him to performe thinking to accomplish his will very easily only in going to mine Vncle Apolidon and Grimanesa his wiâ—e towards whom I went neuertheles my misfortune was such that I found Grimanesa dead wherefore Apolidon knowing the cause of my comming was very sorrowfull For Grimanesa being deceassed else where very hardly might I finde as he told me that which I had promised vnto my Father the succession oâ— whose Crowne was denied vnto mee except I were a knight as by the statute and ordinance of his Realme was appointed and therefore mine Vncle willed me to returne vnto Ganor and that within one yeere following I should come againe vnto him during which time hee would endeauour to finde some remedy for the foolish enterprise which I had vndertaken and according to his appointment I returned Then he gaue me this Sword and kerchief by the which I might know those whom I was to finde telling mee that seeing had beene so rash in my promise therefore I should from thenceforth trauaile so long vntil that I finding such a constant knight and Lady had accomplished whatsoeuer my Father was commanded And thus your Maiesty may see the reason of my long trauaile and search therefore if it like your Highnesse you may trie the Sword first and your knights afterward And in like sort the Queene and her Ladies may prooue what shall bee the euent of the kerchiefe and he or she that shall finish these aduentures shall possesse the Iewels as their owne I gaine rest thereby where-of I shal reape the profit and your Maiesty honour and renowne amongst all other Kings and Princes hauing found that in your Court of the which I haue fayled in all other Countries Thus the old man hauing ended his discourse there was not any that were present who did not generally desire to see the matter in proofe and although the king was as desirous to see the triall there-of as any other yet did he defer it off vntil the fift day following vpon the which day was the feast of Saint Iames to be celebrated and the more to make it manifest he sent for a great number of his knights For the more full my Court is said the king the more is the likely-hood to haue this aduenture throughly tryed Vnto the which determination euery one agreed all this discourse did Gandalin heare who by good fortuÌ„e was not 1. houre before arriued at Lon. But so soone as the Conclusion was agreed vpon he got againe to horse-back and rode forthwith to Mireflure where he found the faire Forlorne playing at Chests with Oriana who seeing him returne so suddainly shee demanded of him what new euent was chanced in the Court Madam answered he I am sure that you will bee wonderfull glad to vnderstand what it is And what is it said Ortana then Gandalin recited all the whole discourse of the olde Gentleman with the strangenesse of the sword and kerchiefe as also how the king had put off the proofe thereof vntill the feast day of Saint Iames next ensuing During all this long discourse the Faire Forlorne became more pensiue then hee was accustomed to bee which Oriana straight perceiued neuerthelesse she made no shew thereof vntill Gandalin and the company were departed and that shee came and sat downe vpon the knees of the faire Forlorne Then shee kissing him and hanging about his neck said vnto him My loue I pray you tell mee whereupon you mused whilst Gandalin declared vnto vs the newes at London In faith Madam answered the faire Forlorne if my will were to my wish you and I should all our life time after liue in more rest and contentment then hitherto we haue done for the kerchiefe should be yours and the sword mine and so all suspition and iealousie should neuer more raigne betwixt vs. What sweete loue said she do you doubt that I would not gaine the Kerchiefe if it were by firme loue to be gained No Madame answered he but I did feare because the tryall is to bee made in the king your Father his Court that you would make it difficult to enterprise the same and yet I know that I am able both to carrie you thither and bring you back againe if it please you so that none that doe see vs shall know who we are My Lord said she you know that I will obey you all my life long and that you
he it is not to bee counted a presumption to trie that wherein all others haue failed vntill this present because they were not faire enough and you which are one of the most excellent creatures in the earth should doe so much amisse to deserre this singularity as your feare might turne you greatly vnto blame in not performing your endeuour Amadis did suddainly perceiue by her countenance that Oriana was not greatly pleased with this discourse and although hee thought that hee had said nothing but what might redound vnto her honor yet did it greatly repēt him that he had spoken so much for he had seene the old image of Grimanesa was in no sort equall vnto her in beauty therefore could she not attaine vnto that glory the which hee made no doubt at all in Oriana But Oriana iudged farre otherwise for shee imagined that there was not any thing in the world that Briolania might not accomplish if by beauty it might bee conquered and dissembling before her the malice that she now had cōceiued against her shee praied her that if shee entred into the forbidden chāber that she would vouchsafe to send her news thereof Then shee rose vp and went to seeke out Mabila whom whē she had found she recited all the conference that had passed betwixt Amadis and Briolania in her presence saying vnto her By my faith your Cosin doth very often giue mee the like alarmes although hee bee assured that I take no pleasure at all in any thing but onely in that wherein I may best please and obey him without respect of mine honour feare of God or obedience to my parents But he knoweth that hee hath ful power ouer me which causeth him now to dispise me for the which I may onely blame that priuate familiarity which I haue shewed vnto him thinking that I had done all for the best In vttering these her supposed wrongs aboundance of teares fell from her eyes which Mabila perceiuing as being very discreete she bethought her of a present Antidote to expell this poison And therefore faining to bee exceeding angry with the iniury that Oriana offered vnto Amadis she answered her very sharply and shrewdly Madame I doe greatly wonder at you and your manner of behauiour for so soon as one mischiefe hath forsaken you another doth presently follow you and you ought methinkes to take better regarde vnto that which you say of my cosin and not to bee perswaded that he hath spoken either one thing or another to anger you seeing that you may be assured that he neuer imagined to offer you any offence either in word or deede And heereof sufficient witnesse you haue in the proofes triall that he hath made as well in your presence as in your absence but I see well what your meaning is you would haue mee know being weary of my company that you would put mee away vnder the coullour that my cofin is so wholly yours abusing your selfe with the bondage wherein he is subiected vnto you Neuerthelesse when you shall haue forsaken me it will be no great matter so that your Amadis for your may I call him be not worsse vsed For you know very well and I also that the least displeasure he shall take at your griefe will bee sufficient to cause his death therefore I maruaile what pleasure you take to torment him so often hee aduenturing himselfe for you as much as is possible to bee done for any other Lady liuing Doe you not consider that Apolidon willed the proofe of the forbidden chamber should be cōmon to all the world What a great error should my Cosin then commit to diswade Briolania that shee should not doe as much as others Tuely I beleeue that neither you nor she are yet faire enough to performe that which all the fairest during these hundred yeeres could neuer obtaine Therefore I am throughly assured that this new iealousie proceedeth not from any fault which he hath committed whose minde is wholly adicted to obey you Moreouer his mis-fortune hath so much ouer-maistered him that to please you hee hath not onely forgotten himselfe but also regarded none but you hee hath quite disdayned all his kindred and hath accounted them as meere strangers not knowing them at all nor any other but you whom hee adoreth as his God and yet you would by your folly procure his ouer-throw Ay mee the dangers and euident perill wherein hee and his haue oftentimes beene brought vnto for your sake as well against Arcalaus as in this last battaile are very ill acknowledged by you seeing that now in satisfaction there-of you desire the destruction of the chiefe and principallest of my kindred Is this the fauour and recompence for the seruices that I haue done vnto you Truely my hope is now greatly deceiued seeing before mine eyes a complot is layd for the ruine and fall of a wight whom I doe most loue in the world and hee that is yours more then his owne notwithstanding if it please God it shall not be so nor shall such a misfortune happen so neere vnto mee For I will intreate my brother Agraies and my Vncle Galuanes to carry mee into Scotland whereby they shall doe mee a great pleasure to take me away from your company who are so vngratefull Herewithall shee wept so extreamely as though shee would haue drowned her selfe with teares Alas sayd she God grant that the cruelty which you commit against your Amadis light not vpon your owne head to satisfie all his kindred who shall not lose so much in his lacke as you alone shall doe although it should be the greatest misfortune that could happen vnto vs. When Oriana did heare Mabila speake in such choller her heart was so ouercharged that her speech failed vntill shee had a little while rested her when bursting out into teares shee mainely cryed out ah mee poore soule aboue all desolate and sorrowfull women most wretched who would euer haue imagined this which you haue now made manifest vnto mee could euer haue proceeded forth of your heart Alas I haue disclosed my secrets vnto you hauing about me no other worthy to vnderstand my sorrowes to haue counsel comfort at your hands but you discomfort mee and vse mee worse then I haue deserued reputing me to be farre otherwise then I am or euer shall be so long as breath remayneth within my sorrowfull heart which maketh mee to presume that nought but my misfortune hath brought vpon mee this vnhappy vsage seeing that you haue taken in such ill part that which I did tell you for the best And let God neuer helpe mee if I did thinke dayes of my life vpon that wherewith you doe blame and accuse mee for I haue so great confidence in your Cosen that I study vpon nothing so much as how to content him yet thus much I must tell you that I had rather die then any other but my selfe should gaine the honour of the forbidden Chamber Iudge you
went to 〈◊〉 his masters Armour And as hee would haue taken it downe he perceiued that some one had stoln his good sword forth of the scabberd which had almost made him the for anger seeing the fault that hee had done vnto Amadis towardes whom he ranne and at one beside himself he cryed My Lord I haue so much so grieuously offended you that you haue great reasoâ—… kill me forthwith Why â—answered Amadis art thou foolish or mad My Lord said â—…lin it had beene 〈◊〉 for you that I had died ten yeerâ— ago so much I haue deceiued you in your neede for I haue let your good sword to bee lost the which some body hath stolne since yesterday leauing only the scabbard where it did hang. Is this all thou makest this great stir for answered Amadis beleeue me I â—hought in hearing thee rage in this sort that some body had beene carrying thy Father to his graue Go go neuer care thou for I care not so much for the goodnesse thereof but onely because I did win it so honourably as euery one knoweth and by the meanes of my constancy in loue Yet see thou tell no body thereof but go vnto the Queene and tell her that I intreate her grace if shee haue yet that sword which Guillan found at the fountaine with my armour that she will bee pleased to send it vnto me And if thou meetest Oriana by chance tell her also that I desire her to set her selfe in such a place where I may behold her at my ease when I shall bee in fighting for I shall receiue by her â—ight more force by far theÌ„ she being absent I should So Gandalin departed who did wisely accomplish all that his master had commanded him And as he returned vnto him he met with the Queene Briolania together with Olinda who called him and said vnto him friend Gandalin what doest thou thinke thy master will doe against this deuil that will fight with him what answered he my Ladies doe you doubt that he shall not do wel enough with him I am sure that I haue seene him escape far greater dangers then this which now hee vndertaketh God grant hee may said the Ladies Herewithall hee came vnto Amadis that stayed for him who hauing the Sword that the Queene did send vnto him and being throughly well armed he mounted on horseback And as hee would haue entred into the field the king met him and said vnto him how now my most deer friend this day doe I hope to see some part of your courage to the cost of Ardan Canila In faith if it like your Maiesty answered hee there is a great mischance happened vnto me some one hath robbed me of the best sword that euer knight did weare Is it possible said the king Who hath done you this shrewd turne I know not answered Amadis but whosoeuer hath done it sure I am he is not my friend Truly said the king that is likely but take you no thought therefore for although that I haue made an oath neuer to lend mine in any combat that is made by two knights in my court yet am I content for this time to stretch my conscience so far as to giue it you Nay if it like your Maiesty God forbid that the oath of the best king in the world should be broaken for my sake What will you then do said the king The Queen answered Amadis hath done so much for me as to keep that sword which I left at the fountaine of the plaine field the which Guillan did bring with the rest of my Armour when I became a Hermit And it is the very selfe same which I had when I was cast into the Sea which is so fit for the scabbard of the other which is stolne that it seemeth to bee the very same By the faith that I owe vnto God answered the king I am very glad for by the vertue of this scabbard that is left you shall bee both defended from ouermuch heat or too great cold neuerthelesse the difference is great betweene the two blades but God shall supply this default if it be his pleasure And because it is already very late and that the night approacheth it were better to deferre the combate vntill to morrow morning I will sayde Amadis doe whatsoeuer shall please your Maiesty so that Ardan bee content I will goe send vnto him answered the King whereunto Ardan did easily agree and returned vnto his tents to vnarme himselfe afterwards he caused diuerse sorts of instrumens of musicke to bee brought all the night long both he and his neuer ceased from dancing feasting royalting But all that while was Amadis in the Church deuoutly praying After hee had like a Christian confessed his sinnes he beseeched God to assist and succour him in such sort continued hee vntill about day breake when he withdrew him to his lodging where shortly after the King came vnto him with a great troop of knights Who after they had bidden him good morrow they armed him and brought him with great triumph vnto the Cathedrall Church to heare seruice at his returne from thence Florestan presented him with an excellent faire courser which Corisanda had sent vnto him not long before Then euery one got to horsebacke to accompanie him to the field And Florestan carried Amadis his Launee Bruneo his helmet and Agraies his shield before theÌ„ did the King ride with a white truncheon in his hand he rode on a Spanish Iennet beeing as fine a made horse as proudly paced as any could be seene The Inhabitants of the City and many strangers were already standing all along the barriers the gentlewomen and Damosels placed in the windowes In this sort did Amadis enter into the field into the which he was no sooner come but that he did his dutie vnto the Ladies and amongst them all he spied out Oriana who the more to encrease his courage did put her head forth of the window And smiling kindely vpon him she made a signe vnto him that he should somethings do for her loue wherwith Amadis did imagine that all the force in the world was at that instant placed round about his heart and hee thought that Ardan Canila stayed too long before hee came In the meane time he buckled on his helmet retyred to that part of the field where they appointed Iudges were seated which were Don Grumedan Quedragant Brandoinas And shortly after came Ardan in richly armed mounted vpon a great strong horse and hee had about his neck a shield of fine steele shining as bright as burning glasse At his side did hang the good sworde of Amadis holding in his hand a great huge Launce the which he weelded so strongly that notwithstanding the thicknesse thereof hee shaked it with such force that he made it double in his fist Whereat Oriana Mabila and the other Ladies beholding the sterne countenance of Ardan as it often happeneth in those
things which one feareth to to lose they beganne to bee in doubt of him whom they all fauoured so as Oriana sayd Alas if God take not pittie vpon Amadis this day will be his last But Mabila presently reproued her saying Madam if you shew not a pleasant countenance vnto my Cosen hee shall be easily vanquished although Ardan strike neuer a stroke Hereupon the trumpets sounded Then Amadis beholding Oriana set spurres vnto his horse and they both met so rudely that their Launces were broken into shiuers encountring together with their shieldes bodies so forcibly that Ardan his horse fell down dead in the place and the other of Amadis had his shoulder broken neuerthelesse Amadis with great lightnesse rose vp although the truncheon of his enemies Lance remained sticking in his vambraces the which hee presently pulled forth and drawing out his sword hee valiantly marched against Ardan Canila who in like sort with great paine was risen vp And as hee stayed to mend his helmet which was some-what shaken with his fall seeing his enemy approach hee made head against him and there began betweene them so cruell an encounter as there was not any man present that did not greatly wonder thereat for with the sparkles of fire which preceeded by their strokes from their helmets they seemed to bee all on fire and by their waighty blowes which with great prowesse were bestowed they mainfested the hate which they did beare vnto each other for there was not one blowe smitten but the blood followed neuerthelesse it seemed that Ardan had the aduantage ouer his enemy as well because of the shield of steele which he had as also for the hurt which hee did with the sword of Amadis which the iniurious Damosell had giuen him But yet Amadis followed him so neare as oftentimes hee brought him out of breath wherewith Ardan was much abashed and hee verly thought that in all his life hee had not found a knight that handled him so rudely especially hee imagined his enemies force to bee redoubled when most of all his impaired Whereat as it were disdaining that hee should so long continue couering him with his shield hee ran vpon Amadis who had all his armour and shield in such sort hacked and broken that he could not wel tel wherewith to defend him any more because that Ardan neuer fastened blowe vpon him but that his flesh fâ—lt it whereby euery one iudged that he would carry away the victory Then was Madasima very sorry hereat for she was a woman of so stout a heart that she would rather haue lost her land and herselfe then to marry him and so long these two knights maintained the combate that euery one did maruaile how they were able to continue But Oriana seeing the pittious estate of Amadis and the danger whereunto hee was brought by the reason that his armour was so broken she was likely to haue sounded she became very pale and out of heart vntill Mabila perceiuing it sayd vnto her Madame it is no time now to leaue Amadis in this perill seeing that if you turne your backe you hasten his end and depriue him of his victory at the least if you cannot beholde him turne your face quite from him At that time was Amadis so sorely pressed by Ardan that Brandoinas one of the iudges sayd vnto Grumenan and Quedragant Truely my Lord Amadis is in great necessity for want of good armour see how his shield is hacked his haubert so broken that in a maner he hath not where-withall to defend one blowe Trust mee you say true answered Grumedan and I am very sorry for it Of my faith sayd Quedragant I haue prooued Amadis when I fought with him but the longer he fighteth the stronger and more inuincible hee waxeth so that it seemeth each houre his force increaseth the which is not so with Ardan as by proofe you may now see by his vnweeldinesse more shall you see before the battaile be ended This speech was heard by Oriana and Mabila where-with they were greatly comforted and because he had seene Oriana almost ready to depart from the window not daining any longer to behold him hee thought shee was displeased for that hee deferred so long to get the victorie of his enemy Whereat hee was so grieued that griping his sworde fast in his fist hee stroke so sound a blow vpon the helmet of Ardan that hee made him bowe one knee to the ground but by mischance his sword broke in three peeces the least whereof remained in his hand Then did hee thinke his life in very great danger there was not any of the beholders that did not suppose him vanquished and Ardan victor who began to lift vp his arme saying so loud that euery one did heare behold Amadis the good sworde which with wrong thou gottest by the which thou shalt receiue a shamefull death See gentle Ladies see look forth of your windowes to behold my Lady Madasima reuenged and say whether I am not worthy of her loue When Madasima heard Ardan make this bragge and seeing that without doubt fortune fauoured him so as according to the promise which her mother had made vnto him she should be constrained to take him for her husband shee came and cast herselfe at the feete of the Queene beseeching her most humbly that it would please her grace to hinder this marriage the which she might iustly doe because that Ardan had sayd vnto her that if hee got not the victory of Amadis in lesse space then the best lackie in the world could run halfe a league that he was coÌ„tent that she should neuer loue him so long as she liued and that now it was more then foure houres since the combate began Gentle Lady answered the Queen I will doe that which shall be reasonable In the meane time Amadis was much astonished and seeing that hee had no meanes to defend himselfe he began to remember that which Vrganda had foretold him which was that if hee were Lord of halfe the world hee would giue it vpon condition that his sworde were in the bottom of some deepe lake Moreouer looking vp towards Oriana he perceiued that to encourage 〈◊〉 shee was come againe to the â—…dow whom when hee had behelâ—… hee thought that hee had recouâ—…ed new force and helpe By meanes whereof hee either determined to die speedily or to be reuenged vppon his enemy suddenly and the better to execute his determination hee leaped vnto his enemy so lightly that before Ardan could strike him hee pulled the shield from his necke and then stepping alittle aside he took vp a truncheon of a Lance that lay in the field and hee thought to haue thrust it thorough the sight of Ardan his helmet but hee went backe and lifting vp his sworde hee stroke so streat a blowe within the shield which Amadis did hold that alalthough it was of fine steele yet did it enter therein more then a great hand
or shee that loueth as constantly as Grimanesa and Apolidon that made this enchantment And they must of necessity enter in both together for the first time otherwise let them be assured to die most cruelly and this enchauntment shall last and all the rest of this Island vntill that the knight Lady who do surpasse in loyalty those that made the defences of the forbidden Chamber bee entred in and there haue taken their pleasure Hereupon my Lady caused Isania to be called and tolde him she was glad that she had seen these wonders but shee would yet see the Arch of loyall Louers and the chamber so renowned and in the meane season she desired him to tell her what was meant by the Hart Serpent Dogs and Lions Madame answered Isania I know no other thing thereof but that euery day at those houres and places that you did see them the combats of the beasts are made and the Hart doth alwaies leape downe from the window and the Dogs after who pursue him into a Lake not far from hence where they are hidden and seene no more vntill the next day and houre that the chase beginneth againe as you haue seene it this night past But thus much you shall know that if you were one whole yeere in this Island yet should you not haue time enough to see all the wonderfull things which there are For this cause my Lady and her company mounted on horseback and we came vnto the Palace of Apolidon to see the arch of loyall Louers and the forbidden Chamber Whereunto my Lady was no sooner come but she alighted and approched vnto the Image of copper as she that had neuer falsified her loue and passing vnder there was heard the most sweete and melodious tune in all the world and the Queene passed through euen vnto the place where the portraitures of Apolidon and Grimanesi were which seemed vnto her as though they had been aliue And from thence shee came vnto the piller of Iasper where she saw written these wordes Briolania the daughter to Tagadan king of Sobradisa is the third Damosell that did euerenter into this place But seruice all vpon one occasion and therefore it is reason that all of vs should succor him that hath most need of helpe And although wee had no desire to aide Don Galuanes heere present yet are wee bound to fauour Ladies in all that we can and amongst other Madasima and hers assuring you that through my fault they shall neither haue hurt nor displeasure By my faith said Quedragant you speak vertuously and according to good reason for doing otherwise we should be vnworthy of the name of knights and although I were my selfe alone yet would I seeke aide to execute that which you haue determined knowing that the poore Madasima forsaken of euery one hath freely yeelded her selfe into the King his prisons not by her owne will but by the dutifull obedience which shee desired to shew vnto her mother For which cause if the king pretend any right vnto the lands of the Isle of Mongaza I say hee doth wrong My Lords answered Amadis those things which are debated by sound deliberation doe assuredly come vnto good end you need not doubt that enterprising this which you determine you shall performe it vnto your honour yea although it were more dangerous and difficult then it is neuerthelesse if it please you I will declare what I thinke thereof You doe all conclude so farre as I see to set at liberty the twelue Damosels now prisoners with king Lisuart Therefore I am of the opinion that twelue of you without any more should vndertake this enterprise so euery one of you shall haue one of them and the twelue gentlewomen shall bee particularly bound vnto twelue knights and the rest of this company shall spare themselues and tarry heere to preuent such inconueniencies as may happen Mee thinkes that Galuanes vnto whom this matter doth chiefly appertaine deserueth well to be the first man that shall be named next Agrates his nephewe Florestan my brother Palomir Dragonis Brian Nicoran Orlandid Garnat Imosil brother to the Duke of Burgoine Madansil and Eaderin You twelue are such valiant knights as you may answere twelue others whatsoeuer they bee and King Lisuart cannot deny the combate although it should bee against the chiefest of his Realme considering the houses from which you are descended This counsaile was so well allowed of all that about mid-night following the twelue knights mounted on horse-backe taking their way vnto the Citie of Thassillana in the which the King soiourned CHAP. XXII How Oriana remayned in great perplexity not onely for the departure of Amadis but also because she felt her selfe great with childe and of that which happened to the twelue Knights that were departed from the Firme-Island to deliuer Madasima and her Damosels A Little before it hath beene tolde vnto you how Amadis remained eight daies in Mirefleur with Oriana contenting their affections and desires to the full in such sort as two moneths after or there about the Princesse doubted that she was with childe neuerthelesse for the little experience that she had in such matters she made no account thereof vntill after the departure of Amadis whē the liuely coulour in her face beganne to fade and decay and her stomack waxed very bad and weake so that this doubt was turned into a certaintie wherefore shee determined to acquaint Mabila and the Damosell of Denmarke therewith as vnto those whom she esteemed the true treasurers of her secrets For which cause beeing one day withdrawne into her closet hauing her eyes full of teares and her heart oppressed with griefe shee sayd vnto them Alas my deare friends and louing counsellors I do now well perceiue that Fortune wil wholy work my ruine and ouerthrowe You haue seene what inconuenience hath happened of late vnto the person whom I doe most loue in the world and now that which is worst of all the thing which I haue most feared and doubted is lighted vpon mee For certainely I am with child and I know not what I shall doe that I be not discouered and vndone Much abashed were these two Damosels at this neuerthelesse as those which were wise well aduised they dissembled that which they thought thereof And Mabila answered Oriana Take no care Madame God shall prouide well enough for you if it please him but by my faith said shee in smiling I alwaies doubted that vnto such a Saint such an offering would be brought Oriana smiled to see with what a prettie grace Mabila deliuered this pleasant speech answered her For the honour of God doe you both aduise to giue mee some remedy and then you shall see if I cannot requite your frumps As for mee I thinke it best that wee find the meanes to retyre vnto Mirefleur or elsewhere frō the Court staying the time vntill it shall please God to regard me in pitty for I feele my belly to rise