evils may by slight remedies be removed. But in great wrongs that afflict us greatly, more especially when they concern our honour, it is far otherwise, the feeling expressed must be little and the severity of vengeance great. To come to the point, You Queen have felt the loss of your daughter, according to the custom of mothers, and you have shown what you have felt, as others do at such marriages, and I rejoice that you have so soon taken consolation. But this which hath followed is of such a nature that little grief must be shown, but heavy amends earnestly and heartily sought. The Romans who departed with our daughter have been with all their fleet destroyed, or taken, or slain with their Prince Salustanquidio, and she herself with all her Dames and Damsels made prisoner by Amadis and the Knights of the Firm Island, where they have carried them with triumphs and rejoicings; so signal a thing as this hath never before been perpetrated in the memory of man. Now therefore it behoves us, you prudently as a woman, and I strenuously as a King and Knight, to remedy our honour by deeds and not by idle resentment of sorrow.
When Queen Brisena heard this she remained for awhile silent, for she was one of the women in
the world who best loved her husband, and was aware in such a case as this and with such men, it was far better to make peace than to encourage discord. Therefore she replied, Sir, greatly as you must needs feel this, yet when you judge it you should recollect the time when you yourself were an Errant Knight. You know what complaints and lamentations Oriana and all her Damsels made for so long time, so that it was every where known, and all men believed great force was done her. It is not to be wondered at that these Knights as men whose profession it is to succour all distressed damsels, should have dared attempt what they have atchieved. But Sir, tho' she be your daughter, yet as you have delivered her up to the Embassadors of the Emperor, the injury is to him, and it behoves you to act now with moderation lest you should appear to be chiefly wronged, for if you do otherwise the offence can no ways be dissembled. The King answered, bear now in mind Dame what becomes your honour as I said before! For me, by God's help I shall take such amends as will become your rank and mine.
Then King Lisuarte went to his palace and called for King Arban of North Wales and Don
Grumedan and Guilan the Pensive, who was now recovered from his sickness, and being apart with these he told them all that had befallen, for these three Knights were they in whom he chiefly trusted: and he besought them to consider what was the course best befitting his honour, and to take due deliberation before they advised him. The King also remained some days pondering what he should do. But Queen Brisena remained full of sorrow for the great rigour of the King her husband: and because he had now for his enemies these Knights who would rather die than lose one jot of honour; this also she knew was her husband's temper, and therefore she thought all other dangers that ever heretofore had threatened him were light to this. While she was in this trouble, revolving what remedy might be devised, there came in one to say that Durin the brother of the Damsel of Denmark was arrived from the Firm Island and would speak to her. The Queen gave order that he should be admitted, so he entered and knelt before her, and kissed her hand, and gave her a letter from Oriana her daughter. But when the Queen took it the tears came into her eyes for the loss of her child, and for the thought that she could never again recover her unless it
pleased the mercy of God to remedy this evil, and she could not speak, nor ask any thing of Durin till she had read the letter.
CHAPTER 14.
The letter was in this fashion. Most high and mighty Queen Brisena, my Lady Mother, I the sorrowful and unhappy Oriana, your daughter, send with all humility to kiss your feet and hands. My good Lady, you know how my ill fortune being to me more contrary and evil-minded than to all other women that ever have lived or will be, made me be banished from my own country with exceeding cruelty on the part of the King my father, and on my part with such grief and agony of heart that I myself marvel how I could have lived through it a single day. But that fortune prepared for me a remedy more cruel than the wretched sufferings which I had expected; for in the first state I should have died, and that would only have been the death of an unhappy wretch, for whom death was more desireable than life.