Chivalry -- Fiction; Knights and knighthood -- Fiction; Romances, Spanish -- Translations into English
they asked was a reasonable and becoming thing, and just. But because
his will was perverted he answered as one who had no inclination to
consent, He is not wise who asks for what he cannot have. I say this
with respect to you, for you ask that which five days ago I promised
the Queen for her daughter Leonoreta; this answer he made to excuse
himself, not because it was true. At this Gandandel and Brocadan were
well pleased, and made signs to him that he had said well, but Agrayes,
whose heart was warm, when he heard with how little courtesy the
King had refused them would not keep silence. You make us feel Sir,
quoth he, that our services will profit us little here; if my advice
be taken, our lives shall be differently employed. Nephew, exclaimed
Galvanes, services are worth little when they are done to those who
know not how to reward them: men should look where they bestow them.
Sirs, quoth Amadis, do not complain that the King cannot give you
what he hath already promised to another. I will ask the King to give
you Madasima and let him keep the land, and I will give you the Firm
Island till the King shall have something else to bestow upon you. The
King answered, Madasima is in my prison in hostage for her lands, and
if they be not surrendered I will have her head cut off. Then Amadis
replied, of a truth Sir you should have answered us more courteously,
and you would not have committed this wrong if you had known us better.
If I do not know you, said Lisuarte, the world is wide enough; go
through it, and look for those who may know you better. Certes Sir,
quoth Amadis, till now I thought there was no King in the world who had
wisdom such as yours; but seeing how strangely different you are from
what I believed, since you are in this new mood we must seek a new way
of life. Lisuarte answered, Do your own will as I shall mine, and he
rose angrily and went to the Queen.
Gandandel and Brocadan commended him much for what he had done in thus
dismissing such dangerous enemies, and he told Brisena all that had
passed, and how he rejoiced thereat. But she told him that what he
rejoiced at was to her cause for sorrow, for Amadis and his friends had
ever served him faithfully and well; and that other Knights seeing how
they were recompensed would have great reason to seek one who would
know and reward them better. Say no more, cried he, I know what I am
doing, and remember to say what I tell you, that you asked that Island
for Leonoreta, and that I have given it her. I will do as you command
me, replied Brisena, but God grant that it come to good!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account