CHAP. XXXIX.-How King Perion and his troops returned to the Firm Island, and of what they did before King Lisuarte arrived. HE history saith, that King Perion and his companions returned in good array, as they had come; the emperor always lodged in the same tent with Amadis, and slept in the same bed; and all his people, and tents, and accoutrements, were under the care of Brondajel of the Rock, as his High Steward, as he had been to the Emperor Patin. When they arrived at the Firm Island, they found Oriana and all her company in the garden, so fair, and so richly attired, that it was a wonder to behold, and you would have thought that they did not look like earthly persons, but as if God had made them in heaven and sent them there. The joy that they then had to see themselves met together again, in safety, and being now certain of peace, cannot in any manner be expressed. King Perion went first, and they whom it behoved humbly saluted him, and the others kissed his hand. Amadis led the emperor to Oriana. Agrayes, and Florestan, and Quadragante, and Don Brian of Monjaste, went to Queen Sardamira, and Olinda, and Grasinda; Don Bruneo to his beloved Lady Melicia; and the other knights to the other princesses and damsels. Then Amadis took Gastiles the nephew of the Greek Emperor, and Grasandor the son of the King of Bohemia, and led them to his cousin Mabilia, and said, My good lady, take these princes and honour them and she with that took them by the hand, and seated herself between them. At this was Grasandor 17 : VOL. III. greatly pleased; for as we have told you, on the first day that he saw her his heart was disposed to her love, Thus were all the knights conversing with the damsels as it pleased them, except Amadis, who greatly desired to speak with Oriana, and could not, by reason of the emperor. So he took Queen Briolania by the hand, and led her towards him, and said to him, Sir, speak to this lady and keep her company. The emperor then looked round, for till now he had not taken his eyes from Oriana, and when he saw the queen how fair she was, and also those other ladies, how excellent above all others that ever he had seen, he said to Amadis, Truly, sir, I believe that these ladies were not born into the world like other women, but that the wise Apolidon made them by his great art, and left them here in this island, where you found them; I cannot think but that either they or I must be enchanted, for if you should seek such another company in the whole world, it could not be found. Amadis at this embraced him laughingly, and asked him if he had seen no such company in any court? Certes, he replied, neither have I, nor has any other one, except it were in the Court of Heaven. At this time King Perion, who had been talking with the fair Grasinda, came up, and taking Queen Briolania by the hand, said to the emperor, Good sir, if it please you, let you and I be with this fair queen, and Amadis talk with Oriana, which I believe will be greatly to his pleasure. So Amadis then full joyfully went to his lady, and seating himself with her apart, said, O lady, with what services can I requite you, that by your consent our loves are now made known? Oriana answered, It is now, sir, no longer time that you should proffer such courtesies, or that I should receive them. I am now to follow and observe your will with that obedience which wife owes to husband, and henceforward I desire to know the great love which you bear me, only by being treated by you, my lord, as reason requires, and no otherwise. Of this, then, no more; how is my father? and how does he brook all this? Your father, replied Amadis, hath a great heart, and though in secret he may feel otherwise, he appears well satisfied. You know he is to come hither with the queen and your sister. Oriana answered, I cannot tell you the pleasure which my heart feels, and may it please God that all may be fulfilled as it has been agreed; for you may well believe, my lord, that next to yourself there is no other person whom I love so well as him, notwithstanding his cruelty. But tell me, what think you of Esplandian? Esplandian, replied Amadis, in his manners and appearance is your son, and more cannot be said. I wished that the holy man Nasciano might have brought him hither, for he will soon be here, not chusing to come in so great a company, but the king your father desired he might be left with the queen, and said that they would bring him with them. Thus they remained talking of many things till it was the hour of supper; then King Perion rose and took the emperor by the hand, and they went to Oriana, and said, Lady, it is time that we should retire. She bade them do as it pleased them; so they all departed, and Oriana and her company remained wonderfully happy. That night all these knights supped in the lodgings of King Perion; and when they had supped, the Joculars came in and made all manner of sports for them, till it was time to sleep, and then they all retired, except Amadis, with whom the king his father would speak. So when they twain were together in the king's chamber, Perion said, Beloved son, since this danger is so happily over, it now remains that as you have shown yourself diligent in procuring the help of all these honourable knights, so you should now display your sense of their services; and as you have now a wife, procure wives for them also, that they may partake the same happiness as they have partaken the same perils; for this end I leave my daughter Melicia at your disposal, that you may give her conformably to her virtue and great beauty; the same you may do with your cousin Mabilia, and I well know that Queen Briolania will follow no will but yours; with these there is your friend Grasinda, and Queen Sardamira, for the emperor is here who may command them, if they chuse to marry in this land, where there is no lack of knights, their equals in lineage and lordship. But remember that our brethren are now disposed to wive, that they may leave a generation to keep up the life and remembrance of their name; let this be done soon, for good works lose their worth by delay. On the morrow Amadis assembled all the knights, and said to them, Good sirs, reasonable it is, that after the great perils you have undergone, and the great renown which ye have won, ye should now take your rest; it hath pleased God that by your help I have obtained what I most desired in this world, and so I would that ye should obtain what ye desire, if it be any way in my power. Therefore, sirs, do not hesitate to tell me your loves and wishes, if there be any of these ladies here whom you would have to wife, for as for their cause ye have endured so many wounds and dangers, it is reasonable now that ye should enjoy the lordships which they possess. For this they all thanked Amadis, and without delay Agrayes said he would take his Lady Olinda. Don Bruneo of Bonamar said, Amadis knew all his hopes were in Melicia. Grasandor said, that he had never surrendered his heart to any woman except the Princess Mabilia, and that he loved her, and desired her for his wife. Good sir, quoth Don Quadragante, time and youth have hitherto prevented me from repose, and from any other care than for my horse and arms, but now reason and age invite me to another manner of life; if it please Grasinda to marry in this land, I will take her to wife. Then Florestan spake, It was my desire, quoth he, when these wars were over, to go into Germany, whereof on my mother's side I am a native, and see all my kinsmen there, whom I should now scarcely know; yet if I can win the good will of Queen Sardamira I may change my purpose. The other knights replied that their hearts were free, and that being young men they had not yet acquired enow honour, they therefore besought Amadis to divide the conquests among the good knights who were now about to enjoy a life of more repose, and let them go seek adventures. Amadis then made answer, I trust in God, sirs, that what ye thus determine is for his service, and will have his blessing; I will therefore thus allot the conquests. You Don Quadragante, who are son and brother to a king, and have no lands equal to your birth and deserts, shall have the lordship of San |