his horse was fastened^ and he said^ Sir I believe



you, that you will protect the child as it has pleased
God to protect him ! he then told him how he
had found the chilJ, and of the letters on his
breast. You tell me such wonders, replied Lisu-
arte, as I never heard till now : it must needs be
that the Lioness found him near this place. I
cannot say, said Nasciano, nor let us seek to know
more of this than pleases God. Then said the
King, I beseech you come and eat with me to*
morrov/ at the Fountain of the Seven Beech
Trees, where you will tind the Queen and our
company, and bring with you Esplandian and the
Lioness, andyour nephew, to whom I ought to show
favour for tlie sake of Sargii his father, who was a
good Knight, and served the King my brother
well.

The King then returned to his pavilion, he reached
it two hours after noon, and there he found Don
Galaor and Norandel, and Guilan the Pensive,
who had just arrived with two deer, with whorr>
he talked and made merry, but of his own adven-
ture he said nothing ; then bade he the cloths
be spread, but Don Grumedan came up and said.
Sir, the Queen hath not yet eat, and she requests
to speak with you first, for so it bchoveth. Im-
mediately he rose and went to her, and she showed



161

him a letter sealed witli an emerald, through
â– wliich threads of gold were passed, and there were
letters round about it saying, (his is the seal of Ur-
gauda the Unknown. Sir, quoth she, as I came
along the road a Damsel met us, richly attired upon
a palfrey, and a Dwarf with her upon a good
horse. She rode by all my company, and close by
my daughter, without vouchsafing a word to
them, but when I came up she said. Queen, take
this letter, and read it with the King before you
dine, and then she and the Dwarf spurred away
so fast tliat there was no time to ask her any thing.
The King then opened the letter and read tlius :

To the most high and honoured King Lisuarte.

I Urganda the Unknown, who love you, advise
you to your benefit, that at the time when the
fair boy who has been nursed by three nurses shall
appear you love him and cherish him well, for
great joy shall he bring to you, and shall deliver
you from the greatest danger wherein ever you
were placed. He is of high lineage, and know
O King that from the milk of his first nurse he
shall be so strong and fierce of heart that his great
feats in arms shall obscure all the worthies o{ his
own time, and from his second nurse he shall be
gentle and courteous, and humble, and of all goo<i



I Gil

qualities, and from his third nurse prudent and of
good understanding, and right catholic, and of
fair speech ; therefore will he be beloved by all,
and no Knight shall equal him. And his great
deeds in arms shall all be employed in the service
of the Most High God, despising that which other
Knights of these days follow more for the honour
and vain glory of this world than for the sake of
conscience, so that he shall have God on his right
hand and his Lady on his left. And I tell thee
moreover good King that this child shall make
peace between thee and Amadis and his lineage,
which shall last all thy days, and which none
other could do.

"When he had read this, the King blessed himself
and said, the wisdom of this woman can neither be
imagined nor expressed ! I have this day found
the child of whom she speaks ! and with that he
told the Queen what had happened, and how Nas-
ciano and the boy would be with them on the
morrow. Right joyful was Brisena to think she
should see that child, and talk with that holy man
about her conscience. The King then bade Jier
say nothing of all this, and he returned to his tent
to take food, there he told his Knights not to go
liuut the next day for lie had a letter to read ta.



16



t-^



them from Urganda the Unknown, and he order-
ed the huntsmen to drive all the beasts into a shel-
tered valley and keep them there all the day : tliis
did he that they might not be frightened by the
Lioness. So thus as you hear they passed the day
regaling themselves in that meadow which was
full of flowers and of fresh green grass.

Oa the morrow they all assembled in the King's
tent and tliere heard mass. Lisuarte then took
them to tlie Queen's Pavilion, which was pitched
beside a fountain in a fresh meadow, for it was
the month of AI ay. The curtains of tlie pavilion
were open, so that the Princesses and Dames and
Damsels of high parentage were all seen seated on
the estrados, and there tlie high-bom Knights
went and conversed with them. The King then
had the letter of Urganda read, whereat they were
all greatly amazed, marvelling what fortunate
child it might be, but most of all Oriana mused
tliereon and sighed for her son, thinking that per-
haps this might be he whom she had lost. What
think ye of this letter ? said the King. Certe^
Sir, replied Don Galaor, I doubt not that what she
saith will come to pass, as it ever hath done, and
how much soever others may rejoice when the
child shall appear, with reasoa shall 1 above all



1(34

others be glad, seeing that through him shall be
accomplished the thing I most desire, which is to
see my brother Amadis and his kinsmen in your
love and service once more, as t ey were hereto-
fore wont to be. Lisuarte answered, all this
is in the hand of God, he will do his service, and
we must be contented. While they were thus
communing they beheld the hermit coming and his
boys with him, Esplandian came first, leadino-
the Lioness in a slender leash and the two Spaniels
coupled, and behind him was the holy man Nas-
ciano ; then came Esplandian's foster brother
Sargil, and two bowmen who had taught Esplan-
dian in the mountain, and they brought upon one
beast the stags whom Lisuarte had seen the
Lioness slay, and on another two roe-bucks, and
hares, and rabbits whom the boys and they had
killed with thrir arrows. When they in the tents
beheld such a company, and that great and terri-
ble Lioness, they rose hastily and went to place
themselves before the King, but he held out a
wand and bade them remain in their places, saying
that he who led this Lioness- would defend them.
It may be so, replied Don Galaor, but methinks
we should have a weak defender in the huntsman-
who leads her if she should grow angry ; this is a



man'ellous thing to see !



155



The boys and the archers now stopt to let the good
man go forward. Friends, said Lisuarte, this is
the holy man Nasciano who dwells iia the moun-
tain, let us go to him that he may give us his
blessing. They then went and knelt before him,
and the King said, servant of God and happy map
give us your blessing ! he raised his hand and re-
plied, receive it in his name as from a sinner !
The King dien led him to Brisena ; but when the
women beheld that fierce Lioness lookina: at
them and rolling her eyes round, her red tongue
lolling out, and her teeth showing so sharp and
strong they were greatly affrighted. The Queen
and her daughter and all well welcomed Nasciano,
and they were all amazed at the great beauty of
the child, who went to the Queen saying. Lady,
we have brought you this game. My good boy,
said the King, divide it as you like, and this he
said to see what he would do. The boy answer-
ed, tlie game is yours, do you dispose of it. Nay,
quoth the King, you shall divide it j the boy was
abashed, and there came a colour like a rose into
his cheek. Sir, said he, take you tlie stag for your-
selves and your companions. He then went to
the Queen, who was talking with Nasciano, and
kneeling down kissed Iter hands and gave her the



\66

roe-bucks j then looking on his right he thought
that none whom he saw appeared more worthy to
be honoured than Oriana his own mother whom
he did not know, and he gave her the partridges
and rabbits, saying, Lady we have slain no other
game than this with our arrows. Fair child, re-
plied Oriana, God speed you in your sport and in
all else. The King then called him, and Galaor
and Norandel took him in their arms and em-
braced him as if the force of kin were working in
them. Lisuaite commanded silence and said to
the good man, father and friend of God, say now
before all these what you related to me concerning
this child. The good man then related how he
had met the Lioness with this child in her mouth,
carrying him home to her whelps, and how by
God's mercy she laid the babe at his feet. And
how richly he was clothed, and how the Lioness
had suckled him first, and then a ewe-sheep, till
he had given him to a nurse, all as the history
hath related it. But when Oriana and Mabilia and
the Damsel of Denmark heard this they looked at
each otlier, and tlieir flesh trembled for exceed-
ing joy, for they knew of a truth that this child
was the son of Amadis, whom the Damsel had
lost. But when the hermit told of the letters oh



167

ills breast, and uncovered his breast that all might
see, then were they certain tliat this was he, and
the delight of their hearts was so great that it can-
not be expressed, and above all that of Oriana to
behold the child whom she had lost.

Ilien Lisuarte asked the boys of Nasciano that he
might have them brought up, to the wiiich the
good man assented, seeing that God had made
them more for such a life than for one he could
give them, yet was it with great grief of heart
that he consented, and knowing tlie loneliness he
should feel in losing them, for he loved Esplan-
dian dearly. When the King had tliem thus at
his disposal he gave Esplandian to the Queen to
seiTe her, and she soon gave him to her daughter
Griana, greatly rejoiced thereat as slie who had
brought him forth. Thus was that child placed
under his mother's care, he who had been in the
Lioness's moutli. These are the wonders of tlie
Most High God the preserver of us all ! other sons
of princes are lapt in silks, and nursed with all
blandishments and delicacies, and so carefully that
they who tend them must neither sleep nor rest,
and yet witli little hurt and slight ailing they are
taken out of the world ; for so God willsj and



168

fathers aiiJ moihers must receive his allotments as
what is just, and thank him for doing his own
will, which cannot err like ours.

The Queen then confessed to that holy man :
Oriana did the same, and told him the secret of
her love, and how that child was hers, and by
what adventure she had lost him, a thing which
till then she had never communicated, and she be-
sought him to remember it in his prayers; much
did the good man marvel to hear of such love in
one of so high degree, who was above all others
bound to give a good example, and he reproved
her sharply, bidding her give over so great an
error, else he would not absolve her, and her soul
would be in great peril. But she weeping told
him how when Amadis released her from Arca-
laus she had received his pledged word as husband,
as it ought to be ; then was the hermit full glad,
and he was the means whereby many were deli-
vered from cruel death that awaited them, as
shall be seen hereafter. Then he absolved her,
and appointed such penance as was convenient.
He then took Esplandian to the King, and em-
braced the boy and wept, saying, child of God,
whom he gave me to bring up, may he guard and



m

protect thee, and make thee a good man for his
holy service ! then he kissed him and gave him
his blessing, and delivered him to the Kingj and
taking his leave he returned with the archers and
the Lioness to his hermitage.



VOL. liU H



170



CHAPTER 9.



You have heard how the Green Sword Knight re-
solved to go through tlie Islands of Romania : there
he went, redressing the oppressed, and quelling the
proud, and passing through great perils combating
Knights and Giants, and suffering wounds and
sickness at times, gaining great renown, yet neither
danger nor toil abating the mortal grief which he
endured for Oriana's sake. Thus as he wandered,
having no rest either of body or mind, he came to
a sea-port called Sadiana, opposite Greece ; the
city was fairly situate at the extremity of the land,
with gardens and high towers. Now because the
day was yet before him he did not enter the city,
but went about beholding it, for it was a goodly
pises, and he delighted to look at the sea, which
he had not seen since he left Gaul, now more than
two years agone. Presently he saw a great com-



tri

paiiy of Knights and Dames and Damsels going-
along shore towards the town. Among them was
a Lady most richly garmented, over whom they
carried a rich cloth upon four rods, to defend her
from the sun. The Knight of the Green Sword,
who toolv little pleasure in beholding company,
but rather in going alone, and thinking upon his
Lady, turned aside that he might not meet them.
Presently there came a Knight towards him upou
a strong horse, well armed and shaking a lance as
if he would have broken it ; he was strong of
body, and large limbed, and a good horseman, and
with him came a Damsel of tliat company in rich
attire. When he of the Green Sword saw that
they made towards him he stopt, the Damsel came
up and said, Sii", the Lady my mistress commands
you to come before her at her pleasure, and this
she tells you for your profit. He, though the
Damsel spake German, understood her well, for
it was always his custom to learn the language of
the countries which he passed through. Damsel,
he replied, may God rant honour to your Lady
and you, but tell me hat yonder Knight would
have ? That matters not, she answered, do what I
tell you. — That shall I not till you reply. — I must
then answer against my will. When my Lady
saw you and the Dwarf with you she thought you

h2



172

might be the strange Kniglit who has gone tlirongli
this country, dohig such wonders in arms as had
never till now been witnessed, she therefore wish-
ed to honour yon, and to disclose to you a secret
-which hath hitherto been known to none. When
yonder Knight understood her pleasure he said he
would make you come to her command whether
you would or no, which he can well do, being ike
mightiest man in arms of all this land. I there-
fore counsel you to leave him alone and come
with me. Damsel, quoth he, I am ashamed not
to obey the command of your Lady, but I chuse
that you should see whether he can do as he hath
said. She replied, I am sorry at this, fur your
courtesy hath much pleased me,

1'hen she departed and he of the Green Sword
rode on as before, with that the other Knight cried
out in a loud voice, you Sir Good-for-nothing who
will not go with the Damsel ! alight directly, and
v.'ith your shield reversed get up the wrong way
upon your horse, and take the tail for a bridle, and
present yourself in that manner before yonder Lady,
unless ycu chuse to lose your head ; — take your
choice ! Certes Knight, replied he, it is not my in-
tention to chuse either of these things : I rather
chuse you should have the one. Quoth be, I shalj



173

make thee^ and with that he spurred his Iiorse^
thinking at tlie first encounter to bear him from
the saddle, as he had done many others, for he was
the best jouster far or near. The Knight of the
Dwarf had taken his arms, and now went towards
him being \^ell covered with his- shield. That
joust was decided at the first meeting, for the
lances brake, and the threatening Knight was borne
to the gi;ound j he of the Green Sword had his
shield and mail pierced, and the lance iron wound-
ed his throat, so' that he felt he should suffer much
therefrom. He turned upon Brandasidel, for so
was that Knight called, and seeing that he lay like
one dead, bade Gandalin take off his helmet and
see if he was slain. Pie did accordingly, and then
the Knight breathed and attempted to recover, but
he could not. But then that other placed tiie
point of the Green Sword at his fiice, You Sir
Knight, who threaten and despise those whom
you do not know, shall now either lose your head
or pass tlirough your own law ! He recovered his
senses better with the fear of death, and hung down
his head. — Will you not speak — I shall ofi^ with
thy head ? Then he cried. Ah Knight, mercy ! I
will rather obey you than die in such a state as to
lose my soul. — Be it done then forthwith ! Bran-
dasidel then called his Squires and they placed him

H.'i



174

backward upon his horse, and reversed li'u shield
round his neck, and put the tail in his hand for a
bridle, and in this plight they led him before tliat
fair Lady, and tliTongh the town that all might see
him, and that he might be an example to those
who insult and despise those whom they do not
know. Greatly did that Lady and her company
and all the townsmen marvel at his overthrow, and
the more therefore they praised his conqueror,
believing now the wonders which they had heard
epokenofhim. -

This being done the Green Sword Knight went to
the Damsel who had witnessed all, and said, now
Lady Damsel, if it pleases you I will obey your
mistress. It does please me, quoth she^^and so it
will please my Lady Grasinda. So they went to-
gether, and when he beheld that Lady he thought
that since he had left his sister Melicia he had seen
none so fair, and she thought him the comeliest
Knight that ever she had beheld. Sir, quoth she,
I have heard of your great prowess, for by your
Dwarf and your Green Sword I perceive that you
are he who served King Tafinor of Bohemia so
well, and who have since atchieved such wonders
in arms ; now I see you are wounded, and beseech
you to be my guest here in this very town that you



175

may be healed 5 you will not in all this p; evince be
so well lodged elsewhere. Lady, quotli he, see-
ing your good will I would obey you in a thing of
toil and danger, how much more in this which
is to me so necessary !

They then went toward the town ; an old Knight
who led her bridle gave it to him of the Green
Sword to lead, and he rode forward to prepare the
stranger's lodging, for he was that Lady's steward.
When they entered the gates the doors and win-
dows were all filled with people crowding to see
this Lady, who was greatly beloved, and this Knight
of whom they had heard so much ; they thought
him the handsomest and best made whom they
had ever seen, and deemed that he had performed
never greater exploit than in discomfiting Bran-
dasidel, so much had he been feared. Thus they
arrived at the palace, and there was he lodged in a
rich chamber, such as became the dwelling of such
a Lady, and was disarmed, and his hands and face
washed from the dust, and they gave him a rose-
coloured mantle. When Grasinda saw him thus
attired she thought him more beautiful than she
had believed mortal man could be, and she sent
for a master to heal his wounds, the best and skil-
fullest in all those parts. He looked at the wound

H 4



176

in his throat and said. Knight you are hurt in a
dangerous part, and you must rest, otherwise you
\\ ill be in great pain and danger. The Knight an-
swered. Master, I beseech you by the faith you
owe-to God and to this your Lady, that, as soon as
I am in a state to ride, you let me know it, for it
doth not befit me to rest or be at ease, till it shall
please God to bring me there where my heait de-
sires to be. And when he said this he could not
restrain his tears, whereat he was ashamed, and
wiped them hastily away, and made semblance of
mirth. The Master then drest his wound and gave
him food such as was fitting. Then said Grasinda,
rest now Sir and sleep, and we will go to our meal ;
â– we will see you when it is time, and do you- bid
your Squire ask freely for whatever is wanted ;
with that they left him, and he remained thinking
of Oriana, for in that thought was all his pleasure
and delight though mingled with such pain.

But when Grasinda had eaten and retired to her
chamber, and was in her bed, she thought upon
the beauty of the Green Sword Kniglit, and of the
great feats which he had performed in arms ; and
tliovigh she was of such high degree, being niece to
King Tafinor of Bohemia, and widow of a great
Knight, with whom sh.c hvA lived only one year.



177

ha\iag no issue^ and though she believed him to bi?
only an Errant Knight, she resolved to have him
for her husband. But while she was devising how
this might be brought about, she recollected how
she had seen him weep, and thought that that
could only have been because of some woman
whom he loved and could not obtain. This made
her pause and resolve to learn more concerning
him. So hearing he was awake she went with
her Ladies to visit him, as well to show him ho-
nour as for the great pleasure she took in beholding
him^ and talking with him, nor had he less though
for a very different cause. Thus she continued to
be in his company, devising for him every pleasure
that could be, till one day being unable to endiare
this longer she took Gandalin aside and said. Good
Squire, whom God bless and make happy, tell nie
one thing if you know it, and I promise you it
shall never be by me discovered. Do you know
any woman whom your master dearly and affec-
tionately loves ? Lady, replied Gandalin, I and this
Dwarf have lived with him but a short time, serv-
ing him for the great renown which we had heard
of his great feats, and he told us never to enquire
his name, nor any thing concerning him, unless
we chose directly to be dismissed. But since we
have been with him we have seen enough to be as-

h5



178

sured that he is the best Knight in the world : I
know nothing more. The Dame then iiung down
her head and mused greatly, Gandahn beheld her,
and suspecting that she loved his master wished to
relieve her from a wish which never could be sjra-
titied, and he said to her. Lady, I often see him
weep, and that so bitterly that it can only be for
extreme love, for tliat is an evil which neither
strength nor courage can overcome. As God
shall save me, she replied, I believe you, and
thank you for what you have told me ; go to him
now, and God help him in his \\ishes ! She then
went to her woman resolving no longer to encou-
rage those thoughts, for seeing how stedfast he was
in his words and actions she believed he was not
one who would be changed.

Thus as you hear was he of the Green Sword at-
tended in the house of that great Lady the fair and
rich Grasinda, as though she had known him, in-
stead of a poor Errant Knight, as he seemed to be,
son of a great King, as in truth he was. Now
when he felt himself able to bear arms he ordered
Gandalin to prepare for their departure, aad he
answered that all was ready. But while they
were speaking Grasinda with fuur Damsels entered
the apartment. He rose and led her to an tstrado,



179

which was covered with a cloth of silk and gold,
and said to her, my Lady, I am now in a state to
travel ; if any service of mine can afford you
pleasure, willingly will I put it in action, for the
great honour which I have received at your hands.
— Certes Sir Knight of the Green Sword I believe
what you say, and when I ask a return for the
pleasure and service you have received here, if any
it have been, then will I without hesitation or
shame disclose to you that which hath hitherto
been known to none : meantime tell me I pray you
whitherward you design to go. — Toward Greece
if it please God, to see the manner of life among '
the Greeks and their Emperotj of whom I have
heard good things —Then I must help you in your
voyage ; I will give you a ship manned with good
mariners to be at your command, and victualled
for a year 3 and I will give you Master Helisabad
who cured your wounds, for such another in his
art cannot be found far or near, on coi:>dition that
if you be at your own disposal you will be in this
town with me within a year. The Knight was
right glad of this good offer ; my Lady, quoth he,
if I cannot serve you for all these favours I shall
hold myself the unhappiest Knight in the world, and
so in like manner if I should know that you hesitate

H 6



180

or shame to ask uhat you desire. Sir, she replied,
when God shall bring you back from this voyage I
-will demand that which my heart hath long desired,
and which will be to the advancement of your ho-
nour, albeit with some peril. — Be it so: audi trust \n
your wisdom that you will ask notJiing which I
may not rightfully perform. Do you then rest five
days, said she, while every thing is prepared. At
the end of that time the ship was ready, and the
Knight embarked with Master Helisabad, in whom
next to God he trusted for his safety. So they
set sail, not straight to Constantinople, but to those M