Such speed did Don Guilan the Pensive make, that in twenty days after his departure from Great Britain he arrived at Rome. He found the Emperor Patin ready with a great train, and great preparations to receive Oriana, whom he every day expected, for his cousin Salustanquidio and Brondajel of the Rock had written to inform him they were dispatched, so that he had made ready for her reception, and marvelled much at their long delay. Don Guilan armed as he was at all points, except his head and hands, entered the Palace, and knelt before the Emperor and kissed his hand, and gave him the letter which he had brought. The Emperor knew him well, having often seen him in the house of King Lisuarte, at what time he returned there badly wounded, with the stroke which Amadis had given him by night in the forest, as you have heard in the second book of this history; and he said to him, you are welcome Don Guilan, I suppose you are come with your Lady Oriana, tell me where she and all my people tarry? Sir, replied the Knight she and your people are in a place neither befitting them nor you! read this letter and then I will tell you more than you expect to hear. When the Emperor had read the letter, being impatient by nature, he exclaimed, now tell me before all these what you have to say, for I can have patience no longer. But when Don Guilan had finished his speech he exclaimed, O wretched Emperor of Rome, if thou dost not chastise this, thou deservest not to live another hour in this world! and then he turned to the Knight and said, is it certain that Oriana is taken away and my cousin slain? Certain beyond all doubt, replied Don Guilan, all has passed as I have told you. Go back again Knight, then said the Emperor, and tell the King your Master, that I take upon myself this injury and the vengeance due: and that he need do nothing more than look on and behold what I will do, for if I wished to be allied with him, it was not to give him care or trouble, but to revenge him in any wrong that might be wrought him. Sir, said Don Guilan, you make answer like a mighty Prince as you are, and a Knight of great courage, yet you will have to do with such men that all King Lisuarte's force will be needed as well as yours. The King my Master hath ever till now taken full satisfaction from those who have wronged him, and so he will continue to do. Since you have given me so good a dispatch I will return without delay, and see that all things needful be made ready. With that he took his leave and went his way, not well content in heart, for he was a right noble and well-conditioned Knight, and when he saw how arrogantly, and with how little thought that Emperor spake, it grieved him to the heart to see the King his Master allied with such a man, from whose company, unless by great good fortune, nothing but shame and loss of honour was to be expected. And many times he lamented as he went along, the great loss