How King Lisuarte went to Windsor, and how he and How King Perion and his troops returned to the Firm How Don Bruneo of Bonamar and Angriote of Estravaus and Branfil went to Gaul for Queen Elisena and Don Of what happened to Don Bruneo of Bonamar and An- How King Lisuarte and Queen Brisena and the Princess AMADIS OF GAUL. Book the Third. CHAP. XIII.-How Queen Sardamira arrived in Great Britain with the other Embassadors whom the Emperor of Rome had sent to bring Oriana, and of what happened to them in a forest with a Knight Errant whom they treated with rude words, and the payment which he gave them for their discourtesy. HE embassadors of the Emperor Patin having arrived in Lombardy took ship and passed over to Great Britain, and landed at Fenusa, where King Lisuarte honourably welcomed them, and gave order that they should be well lodged and served with all things fitting. There were many good men with the king at this season, and he waited for others with whom to take counsel upon this matter of his daughter's marriage; and he told the embassadors that they should be answered in a month's time, giving them good hope that the reply would be such as they wished; he resolved also, that Queen Sardamira should go to Miraflores, that she might relate to Oriana the greatness of Rome, and the great state whereto this marriage would exalt her: and this he did knowing how averse his daughter was to the proposal, and in the hope that Queen Sardamira, who was a discreet woman, might bring her to consent; for Oriana at this VOL. III. 1. time was in exceeding distress, thinking that her father would give her up to El Patin, and thus destroy both her and Amadis. Queen Sardamira therefore set forth for Miraflores, and Don Grumeɗan went with her by the king's command, and many knights of Rome and Sardinia, whereof she was queen, for her guard. ye Now it so happened that, arriving in a green and flowery meadow by the river side, they resolved to wait there till the heat of the noon was past, and therefore pitched their tents; and the knights of Sardamira, who were five in number, placed their shields without; whereon Don Grumedan said to them, Sirs, ye should place your shields within the tents, unless wish to maintain the custom of the country, which is, that every knight who places shield or lance without side of the tent or house or hut wherein he himself is, must joust with whatsoever knight requires the combat. We know the custom they replied, and for that very reason have so placed our shields; God send that some knight may claim it before we depart ! In God's name, quoth Grumedan, many knights pass this way, and we may perhaps see your prowess. Long they had not tarried before the good knight Don Florestan came by, full of heaviness, for he had been traversing many lands in quest of his brother Amadis, and now having heard that these knights of Rome were at the court of Lisuarte was going thither to see if they knew aught concerning him. He, when he saw the tents, went towards them, and coming up to that where the queen was, he beheld her sitting on the estrado, and that she was one of the fair women of the world; the wings of the tent were open, and he rode nearer, even within the cords, that he might look at her. Presently there came a damsel to him and said, : you are not over courteous sir knight, to sit on horseback and look at so good a queen and ladies of so high birth as are there; it would become you better to look at those shields that are inviting you, and their • owners. Certes my good lady, replied Florestan, you say truth; but my eyes, desirous to regard so fair a queen, led me into this fault. I beseech pardon of her and those other ladies, and will make the atonement ye require. The damsel answered, you say well, but the atonement must come before the pardon. That, quoth Florestan, will I, if I can, perform, but on this condition that I shall not be required to desist from doing what I ought against those shields, or that they be placed within the tents. Sir knight, said she, before those shields be removed, the shields of all who pass this way will be won, their owner's names written on the rim, that they may be carried to Rome and there preserved in proof that the Roman knights exceed all others. If you wish not to fall into shame turn back, or else your own shield and name will be carried away also. Damsel, quoth he, I do not trust your love enough to follow your counsel; but for those shields, I design to carry them to the Firm Island. Then he addressed Sardamira-God preserve you lady, and give you as much happiness as beauty! and with that he went toward the shields. Don Grumedan hearing this was well pleased, and because the knight spake of the Firm Island he weened that he was of the good lineage of Amadis, and able to perform what he had said; and though he did not know that he was Florestan, he saw that he was well armed, and sat well upon his horse, and he wished him good success. Florestan, who knew Grumedan, and that no knight was a better judge of chivalry, |