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grant that she may find him there! When he heard the house of King Lisuarte mentioned, and that the lady was sick of love, the tears came into his eyes, and he said, I pray you, ladies, tell me the name of the knight whom she loves. They answered, He is not of this country, but is one of the best knights in the world, excepting only two who are of the greatest renown. By the faith you owe to God, I beseech you tell his name, and the name of those other two.-We will tell you, on condition that you in return tell us if you be a knight, as you seem by every thing, and likewise what is your name. I am content, said he, that I may know what I ask.-Know then, the knight whom our lady loveth, is Don Florestan, brother to the good knight Amadis of Gaul, and to Don Galaor, and son of King Perion of Gaul and the Countess of Selandria. Now, quoth he, you tell me truly of his goodness, for you cannot say so much good of him as he deserveth. Do you then know him?—It is not long since I saw him in the house of Briolania, for I saw the battle there of Amadis and his cousin Agrayes against Abiseos and his sons; after which Florestan arrived there, and I heard Don Galaor speak great things of his prowess, for they say he fought with him. Yes, replied the damsels, it was in that battle they knew each other, and then Florestan went away. -What is this the lady of the island where that battle was fought ?-The same. Her name is Corisanda. I do not now grieve for her so much, for he is so gentle and of such disposition, that well I know he will do whatever is her pleasure. Now then, said the damsels, tell us who you are. Gentle damsels, replied he, I am a knight who have had more pleasure in the vanities of the world than falls to my lot now,

for which I am now suffering, and my name is Beltenebros. God's mercy upon you! said they: we must now go play to our lady.

After they had sung to her awhile, they told her what Beltenebros had said of Florestan. Ah, call him here, cried she, he must be some good man, since he knows Don Florestan. They brought him to her. These damsels, said she, tell me that you have seen and that you love Don Florestan: by the faith you owe to God, tell me all you know concerning him. Beltenebros then related how he had gone with his brethren and Agrayes to the Firm Island, and that he had not seen him since. Tell me, said Corisanda, are you akin to him, for you seem to love him much? Lady, I love him for his great valour, and because his father knighted me, wherefore I am greatly bound to him and his sons; but I am very sad for the tidings which I heard of Amadis before my coming here.What are they?—I met a damsel in a forest by the way side, singing a sweet song, and I asked her who had made it. She answered, A knight, to whom God give more comfort than he had when that was made, for by the words it seemed he had suffered great wrong in love, and complained heavily. I stayed two days with the damsel till I had learnt it. She told me that Amadis did show it her, and that he wept at the time and was in great misery. I beseech you, quoth Corisanda, teach it to my damsels, that they may sing and play it to me. That will I, said he, for your own sake, and for his sake whom you love; albeit that is no time for singing, nor for aught that is matter of joy. He then went with the damsels to the chapel, and showed them the song which he had made his voice was of rare sweetness, and now his

melancholy made it more soft and in unison; and the damsels learnt the song, and did sing it to their lady, who took great pleasure to hear them. Corisanda remained there four days; on the fifth she took leave of the hermit, and asked Beltenebros if he should remain there long? Lady, till I die, he replied. Then she entered her ship, and made voyage to London.

Lisuarte and the queen received her in a manner suitable to her high rank, and lodged her in the palace, and the queen asked her if she had any suit to Lisuarte, that, if so, she might further it. My lady, said Corisanda, I thank you for the favour; but my coming is to seek Don Florestan, and because tidings from all parts reach this court; I will remain here some time till I hear news of him. Good friend, replied Brisena, that may you do so long as you think good; at present we have no other news of him, than that he is gone in search of his brother Amadis, who is lost, we know not for what cause; and she then related how Guilan had found the arms. Hearing this, she began to weep, and say, O Lord God, what will become of my lord and friend, Don Florestan! for he so loves that brother, that, if he finds him not, he also will become desperate, and I shall never see him more! The queen having great pity, consoled her, and Oriana, who was by, hearing the love she bore to the brother of Amadis, had the greater desire to honour her, and accompanied her to her chamber, and learnt from her all her love. Thus talking with her and Mabilia of sundry things, Corisanda related how she had been upon the Poor Rock, and found a knight there doing hard penance, who had taught her damsels a song made by Amadis in his affliction, and the words, she said, were very sad. My good friend

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and lady, quoth Mabilia, beseech you let your damsels sing it! I desire much to hear it, seeing it was made by that knight, my cousin. The damsels then sung the song, which it was a pleasure to hear, and yet so sorrowful that it made those sad who heard it. But Oriana, who understood the complaint, could no longer abide there for the shame of the tears that she felt flowing, and she went to her chamber. Mabilia therefore said to Corisanda, I see Oriana is unwell; she hath for courtesy remained here longer than she should I must go and assist her; but tell me what manner of man was he whom you saw upon the Poor Rock of the Hermitage, and what did he know concerning Amadis? She then told her how they had found him, that she had never seen a man so comely. in grief and being wasted, nor one of such manners in poverty, nor a man so young of such discourse and reason. Mabilia forthwith went joyfully to her friend's chamber. He who asks news, said she, sometimes learns more than he expects: the melancholy man who lives upon the Poor Rock, and calls himself Beltenebros, by all that I can learn from Corisanda, must be Amadis. Oriana lifted up her hands, O Lord of the world, grant that it be true! Dear friend, tell me what to do, for I have neither sense nor judgment: unfortunate wretch, who by my own folly and intemperate passion have lost all my happiness! Mabilia turned away her face, that the tears might not be seen: We must wait for the damsel's return, said she; if she should not find him, leave it to me: I am sure he is this Beltenebros.

END OF VOL. I.

BILLING, PRInter, guildford, Surrey.

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