The Project Gutenberg eBook of Amadis of Gaul, Vol. IV. of IV., by Vasco Lobeira.

CHAPTER 7.

Meantime Amadis went to the apartment of Grasinda whom he greatly loved and esteemed not only for her own merits, but for the honours and good offices which he had received at her hands, so having seated himself on the estrado beside her, he said, If Lady you are not now served as I earnestly desire and wish to serve you, let your goodness pardon, for the time, as you see, is in fault. And of this as your judgment will perceive it to be so, I shall say nothing more, but instead, I am come to learn what may be your pleasure and farther will; it is now long since you have been absent from your own country, and I know not if peradventure that may trouble you; but whatsoever you may will, that shall I labour to perform. Grasinda answered, Sir, if I did not feel that from your company and friendship I have acquired greater honour than could by any other fortune have befallen me; and that whatever service I may have been able to render you in my own country has been well satisfied and repaid, I might well be held the most thankless person in the world. But this is known and evident to all; and therefore Sir, I will explain to you my whole desire. I see how many Knights and Princes are assembled in aid of this Princess; and I perceive that you my good Sir are he to whom they all look up, so that all their hope and confidence of success is in your courage and wisdom; and you cannot, considering your good heart and high renown, but feel yourself the Chief and Leader in this danger; perforce therefore must you call upon your friends and all who are beholden to you, for their succour, and as one of them do I account myself. This therefore is my will, that master Helisabad should forthwith return to my country, and summon all my friends and vassals to make ready, and come with a great fleet to serve you Sir, when and where it may please you to appoint. Meantime I will remain in the company and service of this Lady, and not leave her or you, till the end of this business shall shall show me what course I then ought to pursue.

When Amadis heard her speak thus, he embraced her with a cheerful countenance and said. Truly I believe that if all other virtue and nobleness should perish from out of the world, it might from you my good Lady be reproduced. Since it pleases you, let it be so; and as Master Helisabad is thus going on your bidding, albeit it will be to him much toil, yet shall he bear my bidding to the Emperor of Constantinople. For considering the gracious proffers which he made me, and the little reason which as I then learnt, he has to be satisfied with the Emperor of Rome; with whom my quarrel principally lies; I hold myself assured that he will willingly send to succour me as though I had done him good service. Grasinda approved of this design, observing that Master Helisabad would think little of any toil undertaken in his behalf. Then Amadis said, since it is your pleasure Lady to abide here with this Princess, it is reasonable that as the other Ladies and Princesses are lodged with her, so also should you, that you may receive from her those courtesies and honours which you so well deserve. Upon this he called his fosterer Don Gandales and bade him tell Oriana of the great desire which Grasinda had to serve her, and request her to receive her on his part. But Oriana gladly received her with all due thankfulness, not so much for her present services, as for the good offices she had formerly rendered Amadis, and for the preservation of her own life, when she preserved his by giving him Master Helisabad for a companion.

This being done and Master Helisabad being ready with a good will to depart, Amadis wrote thus to the Emperor of Constantinople. Most high Emperor, the Knight of the Green Sword who by his own proper name is called Amadis of Gaul, sends to kiss your hands, and to remind you of what more by reason of your own nobleness and goodness than of his deserts, you were pleased to offer him; for a time is now come wherein I need the help of your highness and of all my friends and well-wishers who desire to follow reason and justice. Upon this Master Helisabad is instructed fully. I beseech you give ear to his embassy, and let it have that effect on which I rely. Having finished this, and delivered his formal letters of credence to Master Helisabad, the Master took his leave of Amadis and of his Lady Grasinda, and set sail.