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

CHAPTER 32.

Nasciano, the holy man who had brought up Esplandian, heard of the great discord between the Kings, and what danger they were in, whether by a special revelation of God, or by rumour that reached him is not known, for the hermitage wherein he had dwelt forty years, was in so remote a part of the forest, that scarcely ever traveller passed that way. He being sick, besought God to give him strength, that he might go to the Firm Island, to obtain Oriana's consent, without which it could not be done, that he might reveal the secret of her love to Amadis, which he might safely do, she being not in her father's power, and whereby he trusted to bring about peace. So being somewhat recovered, though still very weak and infirm, he mounted his ass, and took with him two men of the village where his sister dwelt, and with much labour and slow travelling, arrived at the Firm Island, when King Perion and the army had left it to give battle, whereat he was greatly grieved. Being arrived, he sent word to Oriana of his coming, at which she greatly rejoiced, being desirous to consult with him respecting her conscience; and she sent the Damsel of Denmark to bring him to her. So soon as he came within the doors, she fell upon her knees before him, and wept bitterly, and said, O holy man, give your blessing to the unhappy and sinful woman who, for her own misfortune and the mischief of so many others, was born into this world! The tears came into the Hermit's eyes, and he raised his hands and blessed her, saying, That God who is the helper of all and almighty, bless you and remedy all your troubles! He then took her by the hand and raised her up, and said, My good lady and dear daughter, I am come hither with much toil to speak with you; and when you are so pleased, hear me, for I cannot tarry, neither is it befitting my habit and manner of life. Oriana, who could not answer him for sobs, then led him into her chamber, and gave order that they should be left alone.

When the Hermit saw he could speak safely, he said, My good lady, I have heard all this news in my hermitage, and have therefore taken this journey, because I knew the secret of your conscience, and the great danger of your person and fame, if the marriage which the King your father designeth, should take place. Now, my dear daughter, having learnt this from you in confession, I am not at liberty to apply the remedy to all this evil; but it is now a greater sin to keep it silent, than to reveal it; I therefore come, my beloved daughter, that you may be persuaded that your father should be informed of what has passed, and how he cannot lawfully give you any other husband than the one you already have; for while he thinks he may justly dispose of you in marriage, he will persist in his determination to the great destruction of so many; and at last it will be discovered, for the Gospel sayeth, that all hidden things shall be made known. Oriana who had now somewhat recovered, took his hands and forcibly kissed them oftentimes, and said, O holy man and servant of God, I commit my cares to you, that you may do what is most for the good of my soul and the service of God; and I beseech him to direct you, not as I, sinner as I am, have deserved, but as he in his infinite goodness, hath oftentimes been pleased to deal with those who, like me, with their whole hearts implore his mercy. Put your trust in him, replied the good man; and I must without delay depart, for great evil might arise if I made any tarriance. God be with you, said Oriana; I beseech you, if you return here, bring with you the child who is indebted to you, under God, for his life.

The holy man then took his leave; but so infirm was he, that not being able to travel in any other manner than upon his ass, he did not arrive at the camp of King Lisuarte till these two battles had been fought, and they were employed in burying the dead. This sight greatly troubled him, and he besought God to prosper him, that he might be the means of ending this destructive quarrel, and without any delay he rode straight to the King's tent, and there alighted from his ass and went in. When the King saw him he knew him immediately, and marvelled at his coming; for he thought that by reason of his great age he could not go from his hermitage; and he presently judged, that so holy a man was not come without great cause; and he went to meet him and fell upon his knees before him, and said, Father Nasciano, my friend, and the servant of God, give me your blessing! The Hermit raised his hands, and said, That God whom I and all are bound to revere, protect you and give you such understanding, that your soul may one day enjoy the glory and repose for which it was created, if by your own fault it be not lost. He then gave him his blessing, and raised him up, and knelt in his turn to kiss his hand; but Lisuarte embraced him. The King then gave orders that food should be brought him; and after he had eat, he led the holy man into a recess of the tent and asked him the cause of his coming, saying, that he marvelled how so recluse a man and one of so great age should have travelled so far from his habitation. The Hermit made answer, Certes, Sir, according to my years, and condition, and inclination, I am now only fit to go from my cell to the altar; but it behoves all those who would serve our Lord Jesus Christ, and would follow his example, for no trouble or toil to turn aside. I learnt, Sir, in my hermitage, of this cruel war, and that the cause thereof was, that you were resolved to give your daughter in marriage to the Emperor of Rome. Now, this I knew could not be done, not for the reason which the Chiefs and People of your realm with good cause assigned, because she is your lawful inheritrix, which ought in conscience to have prevailed; but for another cause which is unknown to you and all your people, and which, according to all laws, divine and human, makes it impossible; which is, that your daughter is already joined in marriage to the husband whom it hath pleased our Lord Christ to appoint for his service.

When the King heard this, he thought either that the good man's senses were impaired by his great age, or else that some one had deceived him with false tales, and he replied, Nasciano, my good friend, my daughter Oriana neither now has, nor ever has had any other husband than that Emperor to whom I gave her; and God is my witness that I did not that for the sake of disinheriting her to give my kingdom to my other daughter, as some have supposed, but in order by this alliance with the Roman Empire, to increase his holy Catholic faith. If I had foreseen the great evils which have occurred, I would gladly have changed my purpose; but as my designs were just and good, I cannot think that what has ensued can be imputed to my account. The good man replied, I told you, Sir, that the cause was unknown to you, but I know it. On that day, Sir, when by your command, I brought Child Esplandian to your tent in the Forest, the Queen and Oriana spake with me concerning the state of their conscience, and then I learnt from your daughter Oriana, that when Amadis of Gaul delivered her from Arcalaus and the four Knights who were carrying her away, that day when you were decoyed away by the Damsel, and in danger of losing your kingdom and your life, unless you had been helped by Galaor, she then, in recompence for the service which he had done her, and still more for what his brother had done for you, promised marriage to that noble Knight, who is the flower and mirror of all chivalry; and from this marriage it has pleased God that Esplandian should be born, whom he has thought fit so to distinguish above all others that live. You know, Sir, better than I, what the wise Urganda the Unknown said concerning him; and now I would see if the great wisdom wherewith God has endowed you be well bestowed, and the great power wherewith he has entrusted you; for since he hath done for you so much more than you deserve, you ought not to think much of following what his holy destinies point out.

When the King heard this he was greatly astonished, and said, O Father Nasciano, is it true that my daughter is married to Amadis? He replied, it is certainly true that he is the husband of your daughter, and that Child Esplandian is your grandson. Holy Mary! quoth the King, how ill done was it to keep this secret from me so long. If I had known or guessed it, so many would not have been slain for no fault of their own! My good friend, I wish you had informed me in time to have prevented this evil! That, Sir, could not be, replied the holy man, for what is revealed in confession must never be divulged; and it is with the consent of the Princess that I come. I trust in God that if the present be remedied, as it may, he will with little penitence forgive the past, in which the action hath been worse than the will. King Lisuarte made no answer, he sate musing upon the great worth of Amadis and the services he had received from him, and he thought also upon his love to Galaor, and above all to Esplandian, and what Urganda had prophesied. At length he said, Father Nasciano, the friend of God, subject as my heart hath been to pride, and though I had resolved either to receive death or to inflict it, your holy words have such virtue, that they have prevailed; and if peace be not now brought, you shall witness before God that the fault is not mine. Do you, therefore, speak with Amadis, without letting him know my intention, and learn what he would have done in this case, and let us see how all can be settled to the advantage and honour of both parties. Nasciano, weeping for pure joy, knelt before him, and exclaimed, O fortunate King! may he who came to save us thank you for this! I have not power to do it. So he prepared to depart without delay, that all might be settled before the truce expired. But as he was going forth from the tent, Esplandian and Sargil came in, whom Queen Brisena had sent to learn tidings of the King her Lord. When the good man saw how he was grown, and that he was almost approaching to the stature of manhood, who can tell the joy and delight that he felt? certes, it is impossible to express it, and being as he was with the King, he went towards him as fast as he could to embrace him. Esplandian, though he had not for a long time seen him, knew him immediately, and knelt down to kiss his hand, and the old man embraced him and kissed him many times with exceeding joy, saying, O my dear son, blessed be the hour wherein thou wert born, and blessed and praised be the Lord, who by such miracle preserved thy life, and hath made thee what I now behold. All they who beheld the exceeding love which the good man manifested were greatly moved, but he who felt the most, though he did not show the pleasure which he felt, was King Lisuarte; for well as he had loved the Child heretofore for his beauty, and the hope there was of him, that love was without the knowledge that he was in very truth his grandson, and such force had this love, that all the hatred and enmity which he had so long harboured gave way, and his old feelings towards Amadis returned, such as they were when Amadis was most in his favour, and now he knew that what Urganda had said was true, how that Child should bring about peace between him and Amadis.

The Child now knelt to the King, and gave him a letter from Queen Brisena, in which she besought him to make peace, if it could be done to his honour. The good man then said, Sir, it would be a great comfort to me if you would permit Esplandian to go with me, that I may have leisure to look at him and talk with him. Let him go, replied the King, and I charge him not to leave you till it be your pleasure. For this the good man thanked the King much, and he said, my good and happy son, come with me since the King commands it. The Child replied, Good Sir, and my true father, I am well pleased to go with you, for I have long desired to see you. So he went out from the tent and mounted his ass, and Esplandian and Sargil rode each his palfrey, and with this company the good man proceeded to the other camp, and rode directly to the tent of Amadis. Amadis, for he had never seen him, knew him not, and could not divine for what so old and infirm a man should come thither; and he knew Esplandian as little, for though he had spared the Roman Knights at his intreaty, yet had he then seen him for so short a time, that he had forgotten him; but so fair was the Child, that he could scarce believe such beauty could be in a mortal man. But Don Quadragante knew him, and went up to him, saying, I must embrace you, my good friend! Don Brian of Monjaste and I gave the Greek Knight your bidding! then he turned to Amadis, This, Sir, is fair Child Esplandian. When Amadis heard that name, whether or no he was pleased need not be said; for he was so overpowered with joy that he could hardly answer, and did not recollect himself, and if any one had looked at him they would have seen his agitation: but there was none who suspected the truth, for they all believed that only Urganda knew the father of the Child.

Then Amadis would have embraced him while Don Quadragante was still holding him by the hand, but Child Esplandian said, Good Sir, do honour first to the holy man Nasciano, who is come to seek you. When the Knights heard that this was Nasciano, the fame of whose holiness and rigorous life was spread abroad in all parts, they all humbly drew nigh, and knelt before him, and asked his blessing. The Hermit then said, I beseech my Lord Jesus Christ, if the blessing of such a sinner as I am can be of any avail, that it may abate the pride and anger of your hearts, and give you such understanding, that forgetting the vain things of this world, ye may follow the true things of the true one; and then he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

Amadis then embraced Esplandian, who made obeisance and reverence, not as to his father, but as to the best Knight in the world, whom he had long desired to see, and from whom he could now hardly take off his eyes. Amadis seeing how earnestly the Child looked at him, suspected that he knew something of the truth; but the good Hermit beholding them both how fair they were, as they were thus embracing, he was as happy as if he had been in Paradise, and in his heart he prayed to God for them, and besought him that for his service he would be pleased to enable him to make peace between these Knights, who were the flower of the world. He then said to Don Quadragante, Sir, I have something to say to Amadis; while I speak with him, be pleased to take with you this Child, since you better than any other of these Knights know him. He then took Amadis by the hand, and when they were sufficiently retired, he said, my son, before I open to you the principal cause of my coming, I would have you call to mind how much more than all other living men you ought to be thankful to the Lord our God, for at the hour of your birth you were shut up in an ark, and cast into the sea, and the Redeemer of the world had pity on you. He hath made you the fairest Knight in the world, and the strongest, and most well-beloved, and seeing that he hath done so much for you, what ought not you to do for him? I am come hither, son, with great toil and pain, to see if I can bring about peace, and having spoken with King Lisuarte, and found him disposed to obey God, as every good King who is the servant of God should do, I would now, my good Sir, learn, whether you have most regard to him who created you, or to the vain glory of the world. You may speak to me without reserve, for I have been to the Firm Island, and have undertaken this charge with the permission of the Princess Oriana, the secret of whose heart I have learnt in confession. Amadis well believed that this was true, because this was a holy man, who would not speak an untruth; he made answer, friend of God, and holy Hermit, I should be the most fortunate Knight that ever lived, if I could discharge what I owe to our Lord Christ for the benefits wherewith he has favoured me; but I am a sinful man, who every day offend him, and right glad shall I be if, by your coming, I may be taught how to make atonement for the past. O my fortunate son! exclaimed the good man, how have you comforted my heart, that was so disconsolate at beholding so great destruction! that Lord who is to save you give you the recompense which I cannot! Now without fear I will tell you what I have already done. Then he told him how, by Oriana's consent, he had revealed the secret to King Lisuarte, and with what patience the King had learnt it; and since, by God's help they were in this state, he besought him to devise how, by his marriage with the Princess, peace might be established.

At this the heart and all the flesh of Amadis trembled for exceeding joy, to think that, by the consent of his Lady Oriana, the secret of their love was now made known. My good Sir, he replied, if King Lisuarte is in this disposition, and will accept me to be his son, I will acknowledge him for my Lord and Father, and serve him in whatsoever shall be to his honour. How then, quoth the Hermit, shall I proceed to bring this about before there be farther mischief? Amadis made answer, methinks you should speak with the King, my father, and tell him wherefore you are come hither, and request him to incline to peace, if King Lisuarte should now accord to what Don Quadragante and Don Brian heretofore demanded, with regard to his daughter Oriana. I trust in his virtue that you will speed with him, as you desire; tell him that you have communed with me, but that I refer every thing to his pleasure. The good man incontinently went to the tent of King Perion, taking with him Sargil and Child Esplandian. King Perion, knowing who the good man was, received him with much love, and looking at Esplandian, whom he had never before seen, he marvelled to behold so fair a creature, and asked the Hermit who he was. The holy man replied, That he was one whom he had bred up, and whom God had given him by great miracle. What! quoth King Perion, is this the child whom the lioness suckled? of whom Urganda prophesied such wonders, and wrote to King Lisuarte that he should one day bring about peace between him and Amadis? This is he, said the good man Nasciano, and if you have reason to love him now, much more will you have when you know more concerning him: Son, said he, kiss the King's hand; but Perion then embraced him, and asked Nasciano if he knew whose child he was. God's child, the good man replied, though born of mortal man and woman; but it is manifest that God loved him like a child, and it will please him that before long you shall know more concerning him. He then led the King aside, and said, I am come hither, King, being thus aged and infirm as you see me, hoping that the Lord my God will enable me to put an end to this strife. I have spoken with King Lisuarte, who, as one who serves God, is well disposed for peace, so it may be concluded to the honour of both parties; and I have spoken with your son Amadis, who says that he will obey your will; so that now peace or war is at your choice. But all know how greatly you are bound to serve the Lord, who hath so blessed you with all the good things of this life, your kingdom, and your wife, and your sons; and now will it be seen in what manner you acknowledge his goodness, and are desirous to serve him. God is my witness, replied the King, that I would willingly have avoided this great discord; but King Lisuarte would listen to no reason, thinking, that as he had the Emperor of Rome on his part, the whole world were to be subject to him, and what hath ensued from this presumption all men now behold. But if he will now show that reason which hitherto he hath not shown, I trust that these Knights, who are on our part, will easily follow my inclination, which is to put a stop to this slaughter. And farther, that you may know for how slight a demand he is thus obstinate, if he would but come to some terms for his daughter Oriana, that would remedy all. My good Lord, replied Nasciano, God will give this remedy, and I in his place; do you then speak with your Knights, and appoint certain of them who are desirous of the common good; King Lisuarte will do the same; and I, as the soldier of God, will be with them to close and repair the breach that has been made. The good man then went away with a joyful heart to the camp of King Lisuarte.

King Perion then called together his principal Knights, and said, Noble Princes and Knights, even as we are bound to expose ourselves to all danger to defend our honours and estates, and to maintain justice, so are we to lay aside all anger and resentment, and listen to reason when it is proffered to us. The holy servant and friend of God, Nasciano the Hermit, has come hither to say, that our enemies are desirous of peace, more conformable to good conscience than to points of honour, and he only requires that persons on both sides be appointed to meet and consult together: this I thought right that you should know, that your opinion may be taken and followed. At this they were all silent for a while, till Angriote arose and said, since none else adventures, I will speak, Sir; we chose you for your great worth to be our Chief in this war, knowing that neither favour nor affection would induce you to swerve from what was right: so also am I assured that whatever you shall determine, there is none here who would gainsay, for your single power is sufficient to decide; howbeit, since you are pleased to ask our judgment, I will tell you mine; it would be great folly in us, having so encreased our honour, to deny peace when our enemies are desirous of it; as Don Quadragante and Don Brian of Monjaste were deputed before, they should be again appointed, as men whose discretion and virtue will justly decide whether for peace or war. So thus it was determined that these two Knights should consult with King Perion, and resolve accordingly.