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. But in this which has happened, unless you, under God have compassion upon me; not I alone but numberless others who have no fault herein, must miserably end their lives. For it has pleased God, who knew the wrong and cruelty that have been done me, that the Knights of the Firm Island met and destroyed the Roman fleet, and carried me and all my Dames and Damsels to the Firm Island, where I am now treated with the same reverence and decorum, as if I was in your royal house. And because they are about to send certain Knights to the King my father, with intention to procure peace, if any concession may be made in my favour, I have thought it well to write thus before