Chivalry -- Fiction; Knights and knighthood -- Fiction; Romances, Spanish -- Translations into English
Meantime Lisuarte had secured the enemies fleet that nothing might
escape, taking prisoners all who were not slain in battle. He now came
up to Amadis, and the Knights that were weeping with him, and when he
heard their lamentation was for the loss of Galaor, he was grieved at
heart, for Galaor had faithfully and affectionately served him from the
hour wherein he became his Knight; then he dismounted, his armour being
all stained with blood, and embraced Amadis, and bade him take comfort,
for God would not suffer such a man as his brother to perish. They
all then went to the tent of King Cildadan, and there took food, and
he ordered that all the Knights who had fallen on his side should be
buried in a monastery that was at the foot of a near mountain, and he
ordered the due service for their souls, and assigned rents for masses
for them. Moreover he ordered a stately chapel to be built there, and
rich monuments therein for them, and that their names should all be
engraved upon their tombs. Messengers were sent to inform Queen Brisena
of his good fortune, and he and his Knights then went to Ganota, a
town four leagues off, and there they remained till their wounds were
healed.
While this battle was expected Queen Briolania went to visit Oriana
at Miraflores. Oriana had her apartments hung with rich hangings to
receive a guest whom she so greatly desired to see. When they met both
were somewhat abashed, for neither the proof of the Enchanted Arch,
nor of the Green Sword, could keep Oriana's heart so calm, but that it
beat fast with fear, thinking that no affection, how true soever, could
resist such beauty as she saw before her. And Briolania, who had seen
the tears and thoughtfulness of Amadis, and knew what proof of love he
had given at the Firm Island, presently concluded it could be only for
this Princess, before whom she felt her own beauty even as nothing. So
as they were freely communing together, Briolania related at length all
that Amadis had done for her, and said how in her heart she loved him.
Oriana then willing to learn farther, asked her why, as they were of
equal rank, and she at her own disposal, she did not make him master of
herself and her own dominions? Friend and Lady, replied Briolania, much
as you have seen him, I think you know him not. Do you not believe I
should think myself the happiest woman in the world if this could be?
But you shall know all—and keep it I pray you secret, as one like you
should do. I ventured upon this proposal, and it shames me whenever I
remember it, but he replied, that he could neither bear affection to
me nor to any other; the which I then believed, for unlike all other
Knights, I never heard him speak of woman. You tell me wonders, quoth
Oriana, glad at heart of what she heard; but unless Amadis loved some
one he could not have passed under the Arch of True Lovers, which yet
showed him more honour than ever any other had received. He may love,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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