Full well did Lisuarte remember this, and the ring confirmed that Norandel was his son. Howbeit, though the young Knight promised so fairly by his fair appearance, he resolved to conceal the truth till he should have given proof of his valour. He then went to the chace, and, returning with plenty of game, went to the tent where King Cildadan and Galaor lodged, being attended by all the best Knights of his court, all richly clad, and before all he praised them for their great feats of arms as they deserved, and for the great help he hoped from them in this war, which he now waged against the best Knights in the world. Then chearfully he told them of his sport, and said merrily that he would give them none of his game; and he sent it all to Oriana and the Princesses, but he bade them divide it with Cildadan and Galaor. So there he ate with them. After the clothes were removed, he took Galaor aside under the trees, and leaning on his shoulder, said, My good friend, Galaor, how I esteem and love you God knows, for your courage and your counsel have always profited me, and I have full confidence in your faith, so much, that I would not say to my own heart the thing which I would conceal from you. Look now what hath happened! and he gave him the letter. Glad thereof was
Galaor, seeing that Norandel was the King's son, and he said, if you, Sir, went thro' this toil and peril to deliver that Princess, she well repaid you by so fair a son. As God shall help me, I think he will be as good as he is fair; and however desirous you now are to conceal his birth, you will hereafter be more so to acknowledge him. If it please you, let him be my comrade for a year: thus will somewhat of my great desire to serve you be accomplished. Much do I thank you, replied the King, yet shall I give you a boy for your companion, who may prove we know not what? howbeit, as it pleases you, let it be so, for as nothing will be secret, whatever honour is done to him, is done to me. So after they had returned to the tents awhile, Galaor said to the King, Sir, you well know it is the custom of your house, and of the whole kingdom of London, that the first boon which Knight or Damsel shall require from a new made Knight, ought to be granted. Truly so is the custom, replied the King. I am a Knight, rejoined Galaor, and I ask a boon of Norandel: it is that we keep company together for one whole year, being true to each other, and that nothing but death or captivity separate us. Norandel marvelled greatly when he heard this, and full joyful was he, for he saw how the King honoured
Galaor among so many good and esteemed Knights, and he knew his fame, how except Amadis there was none who surpassed him in arms. My Lord Sir Galaor, quoth he, it is plain by your great worth and my littleness, that you have said thus more for your goodness than my deserts; but I grant it, and thank you for it, as the thing in the world which next to the service of the King most rejoices me.
The King then told them how he would put to sea on the third day, for, according to the tidings he received from the Island of Mongaza, his going was necessary. In God's name, said King Cildadan, and we will serve you in all things that may be to your honour. Sir, quoth Galaor, since you have the hearts of your people so fully, fear you none but God. Even so, replied the King; great as your prowess is, your love and affection maketh me more secure. The following day after mass they set out to return to the town, and the King told Galaor he might inform Oriana of Norandel's birth, but in secrecy. So Galaor took her bridle, whereat well pleased was she for the love her father bore him, and because being the brother of Amadis, it was to her a comfort to see him. In the course of their talk they spake of
Norandel. Do you know any thing of this Knight, said Oriana, for he came with you, and you have asked him to be your companion in arms; for one of your prowess, this should not be done unless you knew something of his worth, for all who know you say there is no one equal to you, except only your brother Amadis. My Lady, replied Galaor, so equal is my prowess to that of Amadis as earth is to heaven; and fool would he be who thought to equal his! for God has gifted him above all others in the world in hardihood, and in all good customs that beseem a Knight. Oriana became thoughtful, and a feeling came upon her,—if ever thou shouldst be without the love of this Amadis! and without this fame of arms and of beauty! but she felt joy and pride, that he who had no peer was her own. But for Norandel, added Galaor, it surely seems that he will be a good man, and I know that of him which will surprize all whenever it comes to be known. So I believed, replied Oriana, that not without great cause you took him for your companion in arms: if it may fairly be told, I should willingly know it. That would be a dear secret, quoth he, which you wished to know, and I should withhold, but no other must know it: he is son to the King your father! and then he told her all. You have
made me right glad, cried Oriana, and I truly thank you, for the near tie between us: if he be good by nature, you will make him more so; and if otherwise, your example will amend him. Thus they went on till they reached the town; there Oriana went with her mother, and Galaor took his comrade Norandel to his lodging.
On the following day, the ships being manned, Lisuarte commanded that his dinner should be prepared on board, and he, with Galaor, Norandel, and King Cildadan, took leave of the Queen and his daughter, and went to the fort of Jafoque, where his fleet lay, and sailed for the Island of Mongaza. In five days they reached the port of the town from whence the Island took its name, and there they found King Arban of North Wales strongly encamped, and learnt from him what had past. There had been a great battle with the Knights who held the town, and his men had been defeated, and would all have been lost, if King Arban had not taken advantage of some rocks and retired among them; that brave King Gasquilan, of Sweden, had been sorely wounded by Don Florestan, and his people had carried him away by sea to be healed. Brian of Monjaste had advanced too far to attack King Arban, and was
made prisoner. From that time King Arban's army had never ventured to stir from the rocks where Lisuarte found them, and though the enemy had often attempted, they were never able to attack them. Lisuarte was incensed against the Knights of the Island, hearing this, and he landed all his men and stores, and pitched his camp.
In good time for Oriana had King Lisuarte departed. She felt her pains coming, and dismissing all her other Damsels, went with only Mabilia and the Damsel of Denmark to her chamber, and there till midnight in great fear and agony she endured, suppressing all cries, till it pleased God, the Reliever of all, that she was delivered of a fair son, who was forthwith wrapt in rich garments; and Oriana bade them bring him to her bed, and she took him in her arms and kissed him many times. Do you see, said the Damsel to Mabilia, what the child has upon its breast? No, quoth she, I was too busy to look. Certainly, cried the Damsel, he has something upon his breast which other infants have not. They then lit a candle, and uncovered him, and saw that under the right nipple there were letters as white as snow, and, under the left, seven letters as red as live coals; but neither one nor the other could read them,
for the white letters were Latin and very difficult, and the red ones were Greek. Presently, as they had agreed, the Damsel privately went out and came round under the chamber-window with Durin on horseback. Mabilia had laid the child in a basket, and lowered it to them by a string, and they rode toward Miraflores, where the child was to be brought up as the Damsel's own. But soon leaving the right road, they struck into a bye-path through the forest, to go more secretly. They came at last to a fountain, near which was a deep valley, so thick with underwood that none could enter it, where lions and other wild beasts bred. Above this valley there was an old hermitage, where dwelt the Hermit Nasciano, who was a holy man: it was the opinion of the neighbouring peasantry, that he was sometimes regaled with heavenly food; and when he went out to beg provision, neither lion nor any wild beast would harm him, but, when they met him on his ass, seemed to fawn to him. Near this hermitage there was a cave in the rock, where a lioness had whelped, and the good man often went in and fed her cubs, and would play with them after he had said his prayers. Now when the Damsel came to this fountain she was athirst, and she said to her brother, let us alight, and take the child, for I must