say, and he could not but believe that God himself had made them with his own hand. And albeit that except Melicia, who was not there present, there was not one who equalled the beauty of Oriana, and Queen Briolania and Olinda, yet was he so pleased with the gaiety and grace, and good humour of Mabilia, that from that hour was he never inclined so to love and serve any other woman; and thus his heart was taken, and the more he looked at her, the greater his affection grew, as is usual in such occasions. He being thus disturbed, like a young man who had never before been out of his father's kingdom, now desired Agrayes for courtesy to tell him the names of those ladies who were with Oriana. Agrayes named them all to him, and told him the greatness of their rank. He then asked who Mabilia was, for she was talking with King Perion. Agrayes replied she was his sister, and he did not believe there was a woman in the world of better nature, nor more beloved by all who knew her. Grasandor upon this was silent, and thought in his heart assuredly what Agrayes said was true, and so in very deed it was, for all who knew the Princess Mabilia loved her for her gentleness and gaiety.
Thus as they were all conversing chearfully in the hope to chear Oriana, who could feel no joy, Queen Briolania said to Agrayes, Good Sir, and my great friend, I have occasion to speak with Don Quadragante and Don Brian of Monjaste before you; I beseech you let them come hither before you depart. Immediately Agrayes sent to call them, and when they came the Queen led them apart with Agrayes, and said, Ye know from what imminent peril I was delivered by you, under God, and how ye gave my cousin Trion into my power whom I now hold prisoner. I have been pondering much how to deal with him; for on the one hand, he is the son of Abiseos my uncle who so treacherously slew my father, and the seed of so bad a man ought to perish lest other like treasons spring up from it; on the other hand, I remember our nearness of kin, and that children often differ greatly from their fathers, and that this attack which he made upon me was committed like a young man, whom evil counsellors had advised. I have not therefore known how to determine, and beseech you, as persons whose prudence always knows what ought to be done, to tell me your judgment. To this Don Brian of Monjaste replied, My
good Lady, your discretion hath so aptly urged all that can be said on this case, that there remains nothing to advise, except it be to remind you that one of the causes for which great princes are most praised, and by which their persons and dominions are most secured, is clemency: by using which, they obey the command of him whose ministers they are, and to whom, doing their duty, they ought to refer the consequence. It would be well for the deciding one of your doubts, to call him here, Lady; by speaking with him you may perhaps form some judgment of what cannot be known in his absence. Briolania then requested King Perion not to depart till she had decided with those Knights upon a point which nearly concerned her. Then was Trion brought in; he appeared before the Queen with much humility, yet with such a presence as well showed the great lineage of which he came. Trion, said the Queen to him, whether I have cause to pardon you, or Amadis to execute vengeance for the wrong you have done, you yourself know; you also well know what your father did to mine; howbeit, as these things are past, and as I know that you are the nearest of my blood, I am moved not only to have pity upon your youth,
you having that sense of your fault which you ought to have, but also to place you in that rank and honour, that, instead of an enemy you should become my friend and servant. Speak therefore before these Knights what is your choice, and let there come nothing from your lips but that truth which beseems one of such lineage. Trion, who had not expected this, replied, Lady, as to what toucheth my father, I am, by reason of my tender years at the time, acquitted; for myself, certain it is, that by my own good will, as well as the counsel of others, I would have placed you in such straits, and myself in such honour, that I might have obtained the rank suitable to my birth; but Fortune, as she was to my father and brethren, even so hath she shown herself contrary to me. There remains therefore nothing for my remedy but to acknowledge that you are the rightful inheritrix of the kingdom of our forefathers; and also to acknowledge your great mercy and favour towards me, that so I may, by my services and your good pleasure, obtain what my heart sought to gain by force. The Queen answered, If you, Trion, will do as you say, and be my loyal vassal, I will be to you not as a cousin but even as a sister, and you
shall receive such favour from me as shall fully satisfy your honour. Then Trion bent his knee before her, and kissed her hand, and from that time forward he bore himself so loyally in all things, that his authority in the kingdom was almost like her own. You are free then, said she, and I require you to take charge of these my people who are here, and to obey the orders of Amadis. Greatly did the Knights praise this action of the fair Queen, and greatly did they honour Trion, as in truth he well deserved.
King Perion and the Knights now took leave, and returned to the camp; they found that Balays of Carsante had just arrived with twenty Knights of his lineage, all good men and well armed, to serve Amadis. This Balays was one of those whom Amadis had delivered from the cruel prison of Arcalaus the Enchanter, and he it was who cut off the head of the Damsel that had engaged Amadis and Galaor in fight to destroy each other; and certes had it not been for this action of Balays, the one or both would then have died. He brought tidings that King Lisuarte was encamped near Windsor, and that, by what he could hear, he had about six
thousand horsemen with him, besides foot-soldiers; and that the Emperor of Rome had arrived with a great fleet, and had landed and pitched his camp near the King's. Gasquilan King of Sweden also had brought eight hundred good Knights, and King Cildadan two hundred; but he believed they would not advance for fifteen days, because they were all weary with the voyage. All this Balays of Carsante could well learn, for he held a good castle in the Lordship of King Lisuarte, and it was so situated that he could with little trouble learn news of his forces.
Early on the following morning Master Helisabad arrived in the haven with Grasandor's succour, five hundred Knights and Archers. When Amadis knew his arrival he went with Angriote and Don Bruneo to receive them; the forces were encamped, and Libeo the Master's nephew with them as their Captain. They then took the Master and led him to King Perion, and told who he was, and how he had saved Amadis from death after the combat with the Endriago, and that at this season there could not have been any person whose coming would so profit them. The King courteously welcomed him and said, Good friend, after the
battle we must decide the question to whom Amadis is most indebted, to me who under God produced him from nothing, or to you who from death recovered him to life. The Master kissed his hand, and then said pleasantly, Let it be so, Sir, I will not yield the advantage to you till the question has been searched. Then he told the King that he was certainly informed how the Emperor of Rome had set out with his fleet, carrying ten thousand horsemen; and that Gastiles nephew of the Emperor of Constantinople was now on the sea with eight thousand horsemen in aid of Amadis, and would he believed arrive now in three days.