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

CHAPTER 33.

The good man Nasciano returned to King Lisuarte, and told him how well he had sped: and as the King was now determined no longer to give way to the Wicked One, as he had done to the occasion of so great evil, he replied, peace shall not be prevented by my fault, as you shall see; do you therefore remain here in my tent, and I will go and speak with those Knights who have undergone such danger to support my honour. Then he went to the tent of King Gasquilan, who lay in his bed still from his encounter with Amadis, and there he sent for King Cildadan, and the chief of the Romans and of his own army, and told them what the good man Nasciano had done, reserving only what related to Amadis and his daughter, for that he would not have known as yet; and he besought them to deliver their opinion, in particular the Romans, for the great loss which they had sustained in losing their Emperor, bound him to follow their will, even though it were different from his own. King Cildadan in like manner requested the Romans to state their opinion; and upon that the good Knight Arquisil arose and said, if my Lord the Emperor were living, his opinion ought to be followed, because this quarrel was his; but he being dead, we may say that what he was bound to do died with him, and we, who are his kinsmen and vassals, are now no more a part, than as we are bound to follow you, King Lisuarte, which we will do while a man of us remains alive; to you, therefore, as the person whom this most nearly concerns, we leave the decision. Much was the King pleased at the speech of this Knight, which was as prudent as it was courageous: so returning to his tent, he appointed King Arban of North Wales, and Don Guilan the Pensive, to treat on his part; and he said to the Hermit, as things are in this state, I hold it advisable that you should return to King Perion, and tell him that I have chosen these Knights, and that as there always are delays in such matters, it would be well if we both raised our camp, because while we are here, neither can the wounded be well looked to, nor the armies supplied with food for men and beasts; he therefore should fall back a day's journey, and I to the town of Lubayna, to see that my wounded men be taken care of, and to send off the Emperor to his own country. Our mediators will know how to proceed, and you shall be present; and if need be, he and I may see each other, where we may think good. This pleased the Hermit well; for though all was not yet settled, he knew the danger would be farther removed, when the armies were farther apart; for though this good man was in orders, and led so strict a life in so remote a part, he had in his time been a right good Knight in the court of King Lisuarte's father, and after of King Falangris, so that though he was perfect in things divine, he was also well versed in things temporal. Sir, said he to the King, it only remains to appoint a certain day when your Ambassadors shall meet here, which will be mid-way between the two armies; and by God's blessing I trust they will so agree that you and King Perion may meet. I will go without delay, and send to tell you at what hour to break up your camp. So he went to King Perion, who, with the consent of the two chosen Knights, was well content that the armies should remove on the morrow. King Lisuarte was advised thereof, and in the morning the trumpets were sounded, and the tents raised, and the two armies joyfully separated, each going to the place appointed.