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

CHAPTER 14.

The letter was in this fashion. Most high and mighty Queen Brisena, my Lady Mother, I the sorrowful and unhappy Oriana, your daughter, send with all humility to kiss your feet and hands. My good Lady, you know how my ill fortune being to me more contrary and evil-minded than to all other women that ever have lived or will be, made me be banished from my own country with exceeding cruelty on the part of the King my father, and on my part with such grief and agony of heart that I myself marvel how I could have lived through it a single day. But that fortune prepared for me a remedy more cruel than the wretched sufferings which I had expected; for in the first state I should have died, and that would only have been the death of an unhappy wretch, for whom death was more desireable than life. But in this which has happened, unless you, under God have compassion upon me; not I alone but numberless others who have no fault herein, must miserably end their lives. For it has pleased God, who knew the wrong and cruelty that have been done me, that the Knights of the Firm Island met and destroyed the Roman fleet, and carried me and all my Dames and Damsels to the Firm Island, where I am now treated with the same reverence and decorum, as if I was in your royal house. And because they are about to send certain Knights to the King my father, with intention to procure peace, if any concession may be made in my favour, I have thought it well to write thus before they can arrive, beseeching you by the tears which I now am shedding and do perpetually shed, that you will in goodness intreat the King my father to have pity on me, and consider the service of God more than the glories and honours of this world, and not put his own fortunes upon hazard, for he knows better than any other, the great force and injustice that he has done to me, nothing deserving it.

Having read this letter the Queen told Durin not to return till she gave him an answer, but that she must first speak to the King. And Durin then told her that the Princesses and Dames and Damsels who were in her Lady's company, all sent to kiss her hands. Brisena then sent to request the King to come alone to her chamber, that she might speak with him. So soon as he entered she fell on her knees before him, weeping, and said, Sir, read this letter which your daughter Oriana has sent, and have mercy upon her and upon me. The King raised her up by the hand; and took the letter and read it, and then that he might give her some contentment he said, since Oriana writes that these Knights are about to send Embassadors to me, peradventure the Embassy may be such as to satisfy for the wrong received. If it should prove otherwise, you must consider that it is better to support our honour with danger, than by avoiding danger, to suffer that it should be tarnished. He then entreated her to put her trust in God and cease to afflict herself, and having said this, left the apartment.

The Queen then called for Durin, and said to him, friend Durin go tell my daughter that till these Knights arrive and their embassy be known, I can give no answer, for the King her father can come to no resolution, but if any means of peace can be found out, I will with all my power labour to procure it, and greet her lovingly from me; and greet from me likewise all her Dames and Damsels. Tell her also, that now is the time when she must show what she is, chiefly by regarding her own good fame, without which nothing to be valued would be left her, and also by enduring affliction as becomes one of her high rank; for where God hath bestowed rank there also hath he allotted cares and troubles proportionately greater. I pray God to protect her, and restore her to me with honour. So Durin kissed her hand and departed; but little profit came of this journey, nor did Oriana receive any hope from her mother's message.

Now the history saith that one day when King Lisuarte having heard mass, was preparing to eat with his chiefs in the palace hall; there came in a Squire and presented a letter of credence to him. The King took and read, and then asked him what he would have, and from whom he came? Sir he replied, I am the Squire of Don Quadragante of Ireland, and come to you with his bidding. Lisuarte answered, say then what you would have, and I shall willingly listen. The Squire made answer, Sir, Don Quadragante and Don Brian of Monjaste are come into your kingdom with the bidding of Amadis and the other Princes and Knights who are with him in the Firm Island, this they send to notify to you, before they enter your court; if they may safely appear before you, they will come and deliver their embassy, but if not, they will publish it abroad, and return thither from whence they came. Therefore Sir, give me answer as it may please you, that they may not be delayed. Having heard this King Lisuarte remained awhile without replying, as every great man ought to do, that he may have time to consider; but reflecting that no inconvenience could follow from receiving an embassy from his enemies and that it would discover little moderation if he refused, he said to the Squire, tell these Knights that they may come to my court, with full security; and that I will listen to what they have to say.

With this answer the Squire returned. Don Quadragante and Don Brian hearing this landed from their vessel, being armed in goodly arms, and on the third day they reached the town wherein the King then sojourned, at such time as he had finished his meal. As they rode through the streets great was the concourse of people to look at them, for they knew them well, and said to each other. Cursed be the traitors whose villainy hath made our Lord the King lose these good Knights and so many others from his company. But some among them who knew better how it had been, laid all the fault upon the King, because he submitted his prudence to the counsel of scandalous and envious men. Thus they rode along, and having entered the outer court of the Palace they there dismounted, and went in where the King was, and courteously accosted him, and he on his part received them with courteous demeanour.

Don Quadragante then thus addrest him, it becomes great Princes patiently and without passion to hear the Messengers who are sent to them, for if the Embassy should content them, then will they have reason to rejoice that they received it graciously, and if otherwise the remedy is to be found in a courageous heart and brave resolution, not in angry words. It becomes Embassadors also respectfully to deliver what they have in charge without fear of any danger that may on that account betide them. The cause of our coming to you King Lisuarte, is by order and request of Amadis of Gaul and the other good Knights who are in the Firm Island. They send to tell you, that they seeking adventures abroad to uphold the right and redress wrong, did hear from many, that you, following your own will instead of reason and justice, and regarding neither the serious admonition of your nobles, nor the tears of your people, and not having your duty to God before your eyes, determined to disinherit your daughter Oriana, the lawful successor to these your kingdoms after your decease, that you might give them to your younger daughter in her stead. Moreover not regarding her intreaties and lamentations, that you without mercy delivered her up to the Romans, to be wife to the Emperor, against all right and against her own consent, and against the inclination of all your people. But as things like these are notorious to God, and he it is who gives the remedy, it pleased him that we should hear of this wrong, and that we should redress it, with no will or design to commit injury ourselves, but seeking to remedy what wrong had been committed, which without shame we could not have forborne to do. We therefore having vanquished the Romans, have carried the Princess your daughter to the Firm Island, with the reverence and respect due to her nobleness and royal birth, and there we have left her in the company of many noble Ladies and Knights of high degree. Now therefore as our intention was only to serve God and uphold the right, these Knights send to exhort you, that you will appoint some means whereby this noble Princess may be secured from any farther such manifest wrong, and restored to your love as heretofore. If peradventure you bear any resentment against us for what we have done, let that remain for its season. For it is not reasonable the certain right of her cause should be confounded with our quarrel.

When Don Quadragante had finished his speech, the King answered him after this manner, Knight because angry words and severe answers, neither increase courage, nor make the weak heart strong, my answer shall be brief, and given with more patience than your demand deserves. Ye have done that which in your judgement was most for your honour, with overweening pride and with arrogant strength, for little glory is it to rob and conquer those who were voyaging securely as they thought, and with no fear. Ye did not bear in memory that I, being God's Lieutenant, am accountable to him and to none other for my actions. When amends shall have been taken for this, it will be time enough to talk of the accord which you propose; farther speech would be useless now. Don Brian of Monjaste then answered, nothing more then remains, now that we know your will, but that each of us prepare for that which behoves our honour. With that they took their leave, and went to horse, and Don Grumedan with them whom the King had commanded to accompany them out of the town.

When Grumedan saw that he was out of the King's presence, he said to these Knights, my good Sirs, I am greatly grieved at this which I have witnessed, for knowing the prudence of the King and the noble nature of Amadis and of all ye, I had good hope that this might have come to good end; but it is all clean contrary to what I hoped, and so must be till it please God to bring about peace and concord. But I pray you tell me how comes it that Amadis is now in the Firm Island, for it is long since any tidings have been known of him, though his friends were perilously seeking him in foreign lands. Don Brian made answer, I need not say much to you Don Grumedan concerning our quarrel with the King, certes, we should rejoice if setting that aside, some means might be found to right the Princess Oriana, but since he will proceed according to his anger rather than his reason, he shall find the upshot more difficult than the commencement. But as for what my good Sir, you ask concerning Amadis, you must know that till he came to this court calling himself the Greek Knight in the company with that Lady for whom he vanquished the Romans, and won the crown of the Damsels, we none of us knew tidings concerning him. Saint Mary help me! quoth Grumedan, was that Greek Knight Amadis?—Without doubt he was. Now then, replied the old man I will tell you that I think myself a man of poor understanding, for I ought to have known that he who performed such feats in arms could be no other than Amadis. And I beseech you, who were the two Knights whom he left to help me against the Romans?—Your friends Angriote of Estravaus, and Don Bruneo of Bonamar.—God-a-mercy! if I had known that, I should not have feared the battle as I did. In truth then I gained but little honour there, for with such helpers, I should not think it much to conquer twice the number of such foes. I believe by your courage Don Grumedan, said Quadragante, that you alone would have been sufficient. Be I what I may, replied the old man, ye have my love and true good will with ye, and God grant that this business may yet end well.

By this they had gone out of the town and some little beyond it, then as Grumedan was about to bid them farewell, the fair Child Esplandian came up to them returning from his sport, and with him Ambor, the son of Angriote of Estravaus. He rode upon a goodly palfrey and well caparisoned, which Queen Brisena had given him, and he was richly clad, for the King and Queen liberally provided him with all things, both by reason of his great beauty, and also because of what Urganda the Unknown had written concerning him; and he carried upon his fist a goshawk. So coming up they gave each to other the good-day! and Don Brian asked of Grumedan who the fair Child was. He is called Esplandian, and was reared in a marvellous manner, said the old Knight, and strange things hath Urganda prophecied concerning him. Is this he? quoth Quadragante, we in the Firm Island have heard much talk of this child, I pray you call him back. Don Grumedan then called to him for he was passing on. Come hither said he, and send some bidding to the Greek Knight, who in courtesy to you spared the lives of the Romans. Esplandian turned back and answered, right glad should I be to learn tidings of that noble Knight and know where I could send my thanks, as you say, and as he truly deserves.—These Knights, are going whether he now is. He tells you truth, said Don Quadragante; we will carry your bidding to him, who when he was here was called the Greek Knight: but is now called Amadis. What, cried Esplandian, is he the Amadis of whom all men speak so highly?—Even so—In truth highly ought he to be esteemed! and his gentleness and courtesy are not less worthy praise than his valour. I went up to him when he was in wrath, and yet he did not for that do me the less honour, nor refuse to grant me the lives of those Knights who had greatly incensed him. I thank him truly, and would to God there may come a time, when I may with the like honour requite him for it. Much were those Knights pleased to hear how well the Child spake. God make you a good man, quoth Don Bruneo, as good fair Child, as he hath made you fair. I thank you, the Child replied. But if God hath reserved any worth for me; I would it were in me now that I might be able to serve my Lord the King, who now needs the service of all his people. God be with you Sirs! so he and Don Grumedan took their leave, and those Knights proceeded to their ships.