had bred up, and whom God had given him by great miracle. What! quoth King Perion, is this the child whom the lioness suckled? of whom Urganda prophesied such wonders, and wrote to King Lisuarte that he should one day bring about peace between him and Amadis? This is he, said the good man Nasciano, and if you have reason to love him now, much more will you have when you know more concerning him: Son, said he, kiss the King's hand; but Perion then embraced him, and asked Nasciano if he knew whose child he was. God's child, the good man replied, though born of mortal man and woman; but it is manifest that God loved him like a child, and it will please him that before long you shall know more concerning him. He then led the King aside, and said, I am come hither, King, being thus aged and infirm as you see me, hoping that the Lord my God will enable me to put an end to this strife. I have spoken with King Lisuarte, who, as one who serves God, is well disposed for peace, so it may be concluded to the honour of both parties; and I have spoken with your son Amadis, who says that he will obey your will; so that now peace or war is at your choice. But all know how greatly you are bound to serve the Lord, who hath so blessed you with
all the good things of this life, your kingdom, and your wife, and your sons; and now will it be seen in what manner you acknowledge his goodness, and are desirous to serve him. God is my witness, replied the King, that I would willingly have avoided this great discord; but King Lisuarte would listen to no reason, thinking, that as he had the Emperor of Rome on his part, the whole world were to be subject to him, and what hath ensued from this presumption all men now behold. But if he will now show that reason which hitherto he hath not shown, I trust that these Knights, who are on our part, will easily follow my inclination, which is to put a stop to this slaughter. And farther, that you may know for how slight a demand he is thus obstinate, if he would but come to some terms for his daughter Oriana, that would remedy all. My good Lord, replied Nasciano, God will give this remedy, and I in his place; do you then speak with your Knights, and appoint certain of them who are desirous of the common good; King Lisuarte will do the same; and I, as the soldier of God, will be with them to close and repair the breach that has been made. The good man then went away with a joyful heart to the camp of King Lisuarte.
King Perion then called together his principal Knights, and said, Noble Princes and Knights, even as we are bound to expose ourselves to all danger to defend our honours and estates, and to maintain justice, so are we to lay aside all anger and resentment, and listen to reason when it is proffered to us. The holy servant and friend of God, Nasciano the Hermit, has come hither to say, that our enemies are desirous of peace, more conformable to good conscience than to points of honour, and he only requires that persons on both sides be appointed to meet and consult together: this I thought right that you should know, that your opinion may be taken and followed. At this they were all silent for a while, till Angriote arose and said, since none else adventures, I will speak, Sir; we chose you for your great worth to be our Chief in this war, knowing that neither favour nor affection would induce you to swerve from what was right: so also am I assured that whatever you shall determine, there is none here who would gainsay, for your single power is sufficient to decide; howbeit, since you are pleased to ask our judgment, I will tell you mine; it would be great folly in us, having so encreased our honour, to deny peace when our enemies are desirous of it; as Don Quadragante and Don Brian
of Monjaste were deputed before, they should be again appointed, as men whose discretion and virtue will justly decide whether for peace or war. So thus it was determined that these two Knights should consult with King Perion, and resolve accordingly.
CHAPTER 33.
The good man Nasciano returned to King Lisuarte, and told him how well he had sped: and as the King was now determined no longer to give way to the Wicked One, as he had done to the occasion of so great evil, he replied, peace shall not be prevented by my fault, as you shall see; do you therefore remain here in my tent, and I will go and speak with those Knights who have undergone such danger to support my honour. Then he went to the tent of King Gasquilan, who lay in his bed still from his encounter with Amadis, and there he sent for King Cildadan, and the chief of the Romans and of his own army, and told them what the good man Nasciano had done, reserving only what related to Amadis and
his daughter, for that he would not have known as yet; and he besought them to deliver their opinion, in particular the Romans, for the great loss which they had sustained in losing their Emperor, bound him to follow their will, even though it were different from his own. King Cildadan in like manner requested the Romans to state their opinion; and upon that the good Knight Arquisil arose and said, if my Lord the Emperor were living, his opinion ought to be followed, because this quarrel was his; but he being dead, we may say that what he was bound to do died with him, and we, who are his kinsmen and vassals, are now no more a part, than as we are bound to follow you, King Lisuarte, which we will do while a man of us remains alive; to you, therefore, as the person whom this most nearly concerns, we leave the decision. Much was the King pleased at the speech of this Knight, which was as prudent as it was courageous: so returning to his tent, he appointed King Arban of North Wales, and Don Guilan the Pensive, to treat on his part; and he said to the Hermit, as things are in this state, I hold it advisable that you should return to King Perion, and tell him that I have chosen these Knights, and that as there always are delays in such matters, it would be well if we both raised