The Knights Errant

7/24/2019 The Knights Errant

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ThE night had no sooner spread her sable mantle over the earth, than there

arrived on the banks of the Tagus a knight in black arinour: his helmet was

adorned with a plume of black and white feathers, and under his visor, which

was half lifted up, there appeared a beautiful face, whereon sorrow and grief

seemed to be painted. On his arm he bore a shield of burnished steel, on

which was gured a rose-bud broken oil the stalk, and a pomegranate treethrown down to the ground, with this device, Hith the same stroke. His horse

was black as et, but of so statel! a carriage, that he was an addition to the

good mien of his master. This knight, after having followed the course of the

river for some paces, then forced himself into the thickest part of a wood

which stood on his right hand, and there alighting otf his horse, and giving his

helmet to his es"uire, he laid himself down on the giass to think on his

misfortunes, and how he might revenge himself on him that had been the

cause of them# when he heard a voice, which obliged him to make a truce

with his re$ection%. &forbear, 'delinda,& said that voice, &to persuade me to

live and -seek relief, since ( can hope for none but from m! despair.&

These tender words no sooner reached the ears of our knight, but he took his

helmet from his es"uire, and went into the thickest of those bushes which

prevented his seemg the person who complained# but scarcel! had he gone

twent! steps before he perceived two women seated on the grass, one of

whom, who seemed not to be above the age of fted), was a beaut! that

could not have been e*ceeded, in this knight&s e!es, but b! the lad! he

regretted ever! moment he breathed. &+adam, & said he,& the complaints

have heard from !our fair mouth give me no room to doubt of the great

misfortunes wherewith !ou are oppressed: should think m!self happ!, if

could, before the end of this m! miserable life.destro! !our enemies# and, tooblige !ou to entertain the more condence of m! sincere intentions, must

tell !ou that am Elmedorus of ranada, night of the /atal 0word, so well

known throughout all 0pain for the love bear the incomparable 'i1a!da.&

&0ir,& said the unknown lad!, raising herself up as soon as Elmedorus had

spoken,&!our name is so much celebrated in the world, that it is enough to

hear it, to be persuaded that nothing is impossible for !our arm to e*ecute.

2ou will pardon me, if the dreadful misfortunes wherewith am persecuted

force me to accept of the generous o3ers !ou make me# and that !ou ma! be

the better informed of m! enemies, gi4e me leave to tell !ou m! adventures.&

THE H0TO52

THE 6578E00 9'+E' '7 THE 6578E ';+'79O7.

% '+ daughter to 9amut, king of /e1, and th< =ueen 9amara. The man!

!ears the! were without children, made them look upon me as a gift of

Heaven, for whom the! could not have too great a tenderness: and as the

people generall! follow the e*amples of their sovereigns, became the


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delight of the whole court. The small stock of beaut! was mistress of, and

the crown of /e1, to which was heir, engaged most of the princes of 'frica to

come and la! themselves at m! feet. The! neglected nothing that might

please: the court of /es never was so splendid before# not a da! passed

without either horse-races, tournaments, or other diversions, in which

alwa!s gave the pri1e. 'mong this great number of knights and princes, the6rince of +aroc, surnamed the Terrible for his e*traordinar! si1e and erce

look, was the person for whom the king m! father designed me, and to whom

he promised his consent if he could obtain mine. These $attering promises

made 9oroaster, which was his name, redouble his cares# but the more 1eal

he showed for m! service, the more hated him. The king&s friendship for him

was a great grief to me# and often told the "ueen m! mother, from whom

concealed nothing, that would sooner die than marr! him.

% 't that time 9oroaster, to celebrate m! birthda!, published a tournament,

and sent challenges to all the courts of 0pain and 'frica, for all knights to

come and confess the princess of /e1 to be the greatest beaut! in the world.

0o great and bold a contempt of princesses, adored b! so man! illustrious

knights, brought great numbers to /e1 on the da! appointed# when the king,

"ueen, and m!self were placed on sca3olds, built on purpose, and covered

with tapestries and velvet embroidered with gold, with the whole court,

magnicentl! dressed, at our feet. 's soon as the udges of the eld had

opened the rail, 9oroaster entered the lists in gold armour, beset with

emeralds# his helmet was covered with green and rose-coloured. feathers,

and on his shield, which was the same as his armour, he bore the

representation of a >enus presenting me a golden apple, with this device, To

her !ield.

&'fter having passed b! the king, and saluted us with a erce and loft! air, he

placed himself at the end of the career, to wait for those who would dispute

the pri1e with him. n less than a "uarter of an hour a knight presented

himself, wnose maestic mien drew ever! one&s e!es upon him# but his arm

did not correspond with his statel! carriage, for 9oroaster soon rid himself of

that eaem!. and several others, and never doubted but he should carr! the

pri1e, which was m! picture set round with dwmouds, when a confused noise

that was heard among the crowd gave us new attention: it was occasioned b!

a !oung knight who asked to enter the lists. ?ut, O heavens@ how fatal was

that sight to me@ and what tears has that da! cost me@ That amiablestranger&s aimour was silver enamelled with blue, with a large plume of blue

and white feati.ers on his helmet# his shield, which was the same as ns

breast-piece, in the middle had a large rub! shaped like a heart, and this

device under it, lor the fairest.& His horse was white as snow, and so proud of

having the most charming of men upon his back, that he made the ground

tremble under him. The whole court could not but admire this handsome


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stranger# and for m! part, must confess never before conceived so much

trouble, nor more o!, than when saw him, m the second career, throw the

terrible 9oroaster to the ground. Ever! bod! said he deserved the pri1e# and

the udges of the eld, desiring him to dismounted him to the king&s sca3old,

who ordered me to give him m! picture, which he received after so noble a

manner, that he appeared more lovel! in m! e!es.

&The tournaments being thus ended, returned with the "ueen m! mother to

the palace# where, in the evening, there was a ne ball, at which all the

knights were present but 9oroaster, who was so bruised b! his fall that he

was forced to keep his bed for several da!s. The stranger, whom we knew

afterwards to be the 6rince of Tunis, sur. named the night of the 0un,

because he alwa!s bore the gure of that bright light on his shield till that

da!, was most magnicentl! dressed and drew on him the e!es of the

assembl! a second time# and as he appeared to us in the tournament the god

of war, in this ne dress we took him for the god of love. +! heart, though

armed with all the pride was mistress of, could not resist so man! charms,

but was forced to !ield to this !oung hero# m! e!es made the same

impression on his soul, for during the ball he regarded nothing but me and

knew with pleasure that the same dame kmdled in his breast.

&0everal da!s had passed after his arrival, in which he never spoke to me but

b! tender looks and sighs# till one afternoon, when none were b! but m!

women, he said, +adam, this heart, which has been reserved till now for the

fairest, has found at last what it has sought: the 6rincess 9amea cannot have

rivals who dare dispute with her the pri1e of beaut!# but have reason to fear

lest this poor present should be refused, which will make me the most

unfortunate of all men@ t is so agreeable, replied , smiling, to obtain the

glorious pri1e !ou o3er, that !ou had no need to fear being reected. f am

so happ!, replied 'lman1on, as to have m! vows and passion received,

swear, m! princess, that never knight shall love with more ronstanc!, and

that will emplo! ever! moment of m! life to show m! acknowledgment. The

not reecting !our homage, replied , in a serious air, is not accepting !our

love# princesses, like me, cannot receive a knight, but who is presented to

them b! those who have a right of disposing of them: !ou must merit their

choice, without e*pecting an! more from me than a blind obedience to their

commands. ask !our pardon, madam, answered 'lman1on, for e*plaining

!our words too favourabl!# ( ought to have known, that so charming aconfession merited, at least, !ears of pain and miser!. 0ir, answered , rising

to go to the "ueen, who had sent for me, telling !ou to engage the king to bid

me receive !ou, is suAcient to inform !ou should be glad of that permission#

and if that is not enough to make !ou happ!, &tis at least all can do for !ou.

% then was so nigh the "ueen&s apartment when spoke, that 'lman1on

could answer me but b! a low bow he made in letting go m! hand. went into


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the "ueen&s closet with so great a disorder in m! face, that she might have

perceived it easil!, hut that the news she had to tell me troubled her too

much to observe me. 9amea, said she, the king, notwithstanding all could

sa!, orders me to prepare !ou to marr! the 6rince of +aroc within eight da!s#

he has given his word, and ever! thing is making read! to consummate that

fatal marriage. Budge, generous knight, that if feared this marriage when had no grounds for m! aversion, how great m! despair was, at a time when

m! heart could nd none but 'lman1on worth! of m! tenderness. made m!

grief no secret to the "ueen m! mother, who sighed along with me, and told

me she could not prevail with m! father, but that must resolve to obe! him.

'fter these cruel words retired to m! own apartment, and sent 'delinda to

tell the 6rince of Tunis the news, and that he might do what he thought t to

preserve me for his love. That knight, overcome with passion, went to the

king and declared his love for me. 9amut received him ver! graciousl!, but

told him he had given his word to 9oroaster, and could not receive the honour

he intended him. Chen 'delinda returned with this shocking answer, it

increased m! sorrows: passed the night hi bewailing m! fate# and in the

morning was informed that the 6rinee of Tunis, having challenged his rival,

after a long and blood! duel, had wounded 9oroaster dangerousl! and

disarmed him# that he himself got a little hurt in his shoulder, and was retired

a small distance from /e1# that the king had taken a great deal of care of

6rince +aroc, and was so enraged against 'lman1on, that he had sent to

forbid him the court.

% 't this melanchol! account fell into the arms of m! women in a swoon: the

"ueen, informed of this accident, ran to me, and b! her tears and cries

brought me to life again# and at the same time had herself like to have fallendowu in the same condition at seeing me so miserable. 0oon after, 9amut

came into m! chamber, and, nding me all in tears% said, won&t believe but

9oroaster&s wounds are the cause of this !our grief# for it cannot enter into

m! thoughts that !ou should be so ill ac"uainted with !our dut! and m! will,

as to shed those tears for the 6rince of Tunis. Heaven will restore us the

6rince of +aroc, whom will have !ou marr! before the other leaves this king,

dom, to punish him for the trouble his fatal valour has given us. 'fter these

cruel words, the king left me and the "ueen, who sta!ed the rest of the da! to

comfort me. n the evening she sent pri

vatel! to the 6rince 'lman1on to know how he did# at the same time senthim a compliment. That prince, charmed with the "ueen&s goodness, wrote to

her, begging leave to come to the palace the ne*t da! disguised, since his

wound was but slight. The "ueen consented, with the design to persuade him

to leave the kingdom, for fear 9oroaster should have him assassinated.

&'lman1on came at the hour appointed. Ce informed him, after a "uarter of

an hour, which we spent in complaining of our hard fortune, that an


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enchanter, a friend of the 6rince of +aroc, had perfectl! healed his wounds#

but that the king, fearing a second duel, had set a guard upon him till he

should be married, which was to be within three da!s. 'fter this, the "ueen,

without giving him time to repl!, told him, that if he had an! regard for me,

he ought to leave /e1, and not e*pose me to the mortal chagrin of being the

cause of his death. +adam, answered 'lman1on, if the princess consents tomarr! m! rival, ( shall do what !ou advise me, not to preserve m! life, but to

put an end to it, where her e!es ma! not be witnesses of it. will never

consent, replied , to marr! 9oroaster# !et !ou will not be the more happ!,

since cannot bestow m!self on !ou without the king and "ueen&s consent.

?ut if 9amut, said he, should force !ou to this marriage, how will !ou prevent

itD ?! death, cried , if tears cannot prevail. 'h@ madam, said he to the "ueen,

kneeling, what mischiefs ma! !ou prevent, if !ou would give me leave to

carr! o3 this charming princess@ promise, upon the word of a knight, that (

will place the crown of Tunis upon her head as soon as we shall arrive there,

and to have all m! life an entire obedience to !our commands.& The "ueen,

ama1ed at so bold a proposal, at rst refused it with anger, but at last was

a3ected b! our tears. 'lman1on was read! to die for o! at the change of our

fortunes# and, after having pro% tested to the "ueen that she never should

have cause to repent of her kindness, retired to prepare ever! thing for our

departure.

&The ne*t da! he came at the hour appointed, when it was with no small grief

that parted from so good a princess and mother# but love prevailing over

nature, followed 'lman1on, attended onl! b! 'delinda. 't the gate of the

palace we found the prince&s es"uire with horses, which we mounted, and

passed through the kingdom of /e1 without an! remarkable adventure: whenone da!, going through a dark forest, we heard somebod! com. plaining in

the thickest part of the wood, whither 'lman1on rode, and saw a beautiful

woman, who seemed ver! much aicted. enerous knight, laid she, as soon

as she discerned him, come and deliver a princess out of the hands of a

monstrous giant, who keeps her a prisoner in a castle a mile o3, where she

endures the most insupportable torments: the gods have reserved this

terrible adventure for !our arm, and the +agnicent /air! foretold it. Bust as

this woman nished these last words came up to them, and did all could to

dissuade 'lman1on from this enterprise, but the desire of gaining a victor!

prevailed over m! en. treaties: he desired me to sta! a little, and then went

along with that woman. followed, uotwith. standing, and saw, as soon as he

was over the ditches that surrounded the castle, the bridges draw up, the

gates open, and that unhapp! prince go in with the strange woman, and then

shut again. 7ever grief e"ualled mine, when saw 'lman1on no more# called

him all the remaining da!, and all night long, but all in vain, for neither tears

nor cries were heard. 'll that 'delinda and the prmce&s es"uire could sa!,

could not induce me to leave that fatal place, till, in the morning, saw a


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kuight who told me should nd no end to mine and 'lman1on&s misfortunes

but on the banks of the Tagus, and after these words disappeared.

followed his advice, and left that fatal castle, where left all that could make

me desire life, to come hither. have been here a !ear, without having seen

an! thing like the e*ecution of that stranger&s promise: would to Heaven,generous knight, !ou were the person reserved for this adventure.& % Chether

am or not,& replied Elmedorus, & shall not fail to attempt it when !ou shall

desire me# and should think m!self too happ!, charming 9amea, if ( could

restore to !ou so accomplished a prince, who is so deserving of !our

tenderness.& &To-morrow morning,& replied the 6rincess of /e1, & will carr! !ou

to the place of the miserable 'lman1on&s abode# but to-night come with me,

and take a slight refreshment and a little rest, in a hut which have made m!

palace since the loss of m! dear prince.& Elmedorus durst not refuse 9amea#

and, for the rst time since the death of 'l1a!da, la! in a bed, where his

mortal sorrows gave him no respite, but kept him awake till the morning#

when, ashamed to nd himself in a bed, he got up, put on his armour, and,

being informed that the 6rincess 9amea was read!, he went and helped her

to mount her horse. The! travelled all that da! without baiting# but as their

horses could not hold out answerable to the impatience of the riders, the!

stopped in a pleasant meadow watered b! a purling brook# but had not been

there an hour before the! perceived a knight, whom 9amea knew to be

9oroaster. The fear of falling into his power made her shriek out, which

Elmedorus asking the reason of, and the princess naming the terrible knight,

he immediatel! mounted his horse, and taking his helmet and lance from his

es"uire, went to meet the 6rince of +aroc,who was making towards the

beautiful 9amea. &night,& said Elmedorus, % come to tell !ou, !ou no longerdeserve that name, since !ou use force to possess a princess who loves !ou

not.& &Cho are !ou,& answered the proud 9oroaster, &who take the part of a

false princess, whom seek after to punish for her crimes > % f am victor,&

replied the 6rince of ranada, % &ll tell !ou : but let us not waste our time in

discourse. & Then Elmedorus pushed at him with his lance, which shivered in a

thousand pieces# and 9oroaster, at the same time, broke his against his

enem!# and after that, both brandished their glittering swords in the air.

9amea, trembling for her defender, o3ered up her pra!ers to Heaven# when

9oroaster, pierced with wounds, fell at the feet of the night of the /atal

0word, and eased her of her fears. 9aniea ran to the prince to ask him if he

was hurt, and seeing some blood trickling down from a wound in his right

arm, bound it up# and began to hope, from what she had seen him perform,

that he would spon deliver her beloved 'lman1on.

The! left the care of the 6rince of +aroc&s bod! to his es"uire, of whom the

princess, before their departure, would know how the "ueen her mother did,

and what the king said after her $ight. &Chen the king, madam,& said the


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es"uire, & understood that !ou was gone, and not doubting but that !our

mother, through the aversion she alwa!s had for m! master, was priv! to it,

he confmed her in her own apartment, and made use of all stratagems to

make her confess where !ou was gone with the 6rince of Tunis. That princess

seeing that she could not conceal !our $ight with the 6rince 'lman1on, and

fearing a pursuit, said that !ou was gone to take sanctuar! with the =ueen ofranada, !our aunt. 9amut believed it, and sent out parties on the road to

ranada, to bring !ou back to /ee. 9oroaster, in despair, and without sta!ing

for the return of those who were sent after !ou, set out also# and within this

!ear we have travelled through 0pain twice or thrice, till at last m! master&s

ill fate brought him into this meadow, where this invincible knight put an end

to all his misfortunes.& The princess could not forbear cr!ing at the troubles

her mother had undergone upon her account# but the prince assuring her that

she should ,Foon see her dear 'lman1on again, she mounted her horse and

sat forwards. The motion of riding set Elmedorus&s arm bleeding afresh, which

9amea stopped with an herb she applied# and obliged him to alight at a little

town there +as on the road, and sent his es"uire for a surgeon, who, having

e*amined the wound, told him he must keep his bed at least three da!s,

notwithstanding the wound was but slight. The princess had much ado to get

the knight to take a little rest, who, after he had promised her he would go to

bed, retired to her own chamber. The ne*t morning, being told that the prince

was asleep, she waited in her chamber till she was informed he was awake#

when going to his bed-side, and asking him how he did, he answered, & am

too well, madam, for an unhapp! wretch: 'l1a!da,during that small sleep into

which m! loss of blood cast me, has been to reproach me# saw her in a

chamber of the same castle 'lman1on is conned in# she seemed to me to be

covered with a veil of black gan1e, and to reproach me for the little care hadtaken to revenge her death. would have thrown m!self at her feet, and told

her that the oath had made to punish her enemies prevented m! following

her, and that had not neglected one moment to nd them out# but the e3ort

made to embrace her knees awakened me.& &This dream,& replied the

princess, &is ver! m!sterious# 'l1a!da is not dead, but is, without dispute, in

the same prison with m! dear prince.& &'h@ madam, & said Etmedorus, letting

fall tears, & cannot doubt of the veracit! of Talmut m! es"uire, who saw her

d!ing, and who has told me her d!ing words.& &f knew !our histor!,& replied

the princess, &and !ou could put the same condence in me as have done in

!ou, could speak with the more certaint!: Talmdt ma! tell it me while !ourwound is dressing.& Elmedorus could not refuse 9amea, the surgeon came at

that instant, and she went out with Talmut and 'delinda, leaving 'lman1on&s

es"uire to attend the prince. The! went into a little wood behind the house,

and having sought out a shad! place, the princess and 'delinda sat down on

the grass, with Talmut at their feet, who began the histor! of his master&s life

in these words.


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6578E E;+EO5G0 '7 THE 6578E00 ';9'2'.

&2ou know, without doubt, madam, said Talmut, that m! master is the son of

the ing of ranada and his =ueen Ermendina, whose beaut! and virtue were

the delight of the whole court. The prince was named Elmedorus# and since,

for his glorious e*ploits, the night of the /atal 0word. He began to be knownb! that name in a war the king his father made against the 8astilian +oors,

where he performed acts e*ceeding common courage# so that he was looked

upon as the author of that peace those people were forced to sue for,

&'fter this war, he asked leave of the king to travel incognito throughout

0pain, which was given him# but the "ueen, who doted on him, opposed it

ver! much, because a magician, her friend, called 9amat, had told her the

prince would run great dangers in his travels, but to secure him gave the

"ueen an enchanted ring of a rub!, cut in the shape of a heart, which had the

power to destro! all enchantments wheu the point was turned upwards. The

"ueen seemg she could not dissuade her son from going, gave him this ring,and made him promise to wear it alwa!s as the magician had told her , which

Elmedorus promised, and left ranada, attended onl! b! me. 'fter havmg

spent a !ear in visiting several courts, we arrived at ;eon o a da! a great

horse race was to be run, wherein the princess was to give the pri1e, being a

sword set with rubies of great value# which m! prince won with so great an

address, that he was admired b! the whole court, and afterwards went to

receive it from the hands of the charming 'l1a!da. f had not seen !ou,

madam,& continued Talmut, & ( should sa! that the 6rincess of ;eon was the

most beautiful lad! in all 0pain# never was maest! accompanied with more

sweetness of temper: her hair was of a light brown, and her comple*ion so

ne and livel!, that nothing could e*ceed it but her brilliant e!es: in short, her

whole person abounded in charms.&

&Elmedorus, ravished with so much beaut!, was lost in thought# and if the

king, to whom he had told his name, had not ust then made him a

compliment, to which he was obliged to repl!, it would have been some time

before he would have got out of that pleasing trance. Chen the races were

over the king returned to the palace, and having forced m! prince to accept

of an apartment, he went and changed his habit, and returned to pass the

evening with the "ueen, and had the happiness of talking above two hours

with the princess. ?ut what new charms did he discover in that conversation@Her wit surpassed her beaut!# and a sweetness, attended with a strict

modest!, reigned in all her actions# the which, though it inspired him with

love, !et would not allow him to complain. Elmedorus was but too sensible of

this t!rannic power, and retired to his apartment the most in love that man

could be: ever! da! after strengthened his chains, and rendered them as

invincible as those of death.


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% 't the same time became ac"uainted with a !oung maid of the princess&s

retinue, named 0anchea, for -whom had some esteem# and was informed b!

her, that that admirable princess conceived an inclination towards m!

master, which she opposed in vain# and, notwithstanding her severe virtue,

she was not displeased to see the con"uest her e!es had made, but

concealed her sentiments so well, that Elmedorus, perceiving no more than abare civilit!, doubted whether she knew how much he adored her. 0ometimes

he would sa!, softl!, and looking full upon her, ivine 'l1a!da, is it possible

that m! sighs and languishing looks should not inform !ou how much am in

love, and that m! passion e*ceeds all othersD 8an so pure a $ame o3end -

'nd at those times was ust read! to declare his love# but his respect, and the

fear of being banished that lovel! princess&s presence, prevented him. 't this

time the 6rince of 'sturias declared war against the ing of ;eon, who, that

he might not be surprised b! his enem!, assembled his troops, put himself at

the head of them, and marched, with Elmedorus, who would accompan! him,

to the frontiers. +! prince could not take his leave of the princess but in the

"ueen&s presence, where she was afraid she should not be mistress enough of

herself to hide her grief at his going to a war, which it was thought b! all

persons would be ver! blood!. 'nd the 6rince of ranada, for his part, was

ver! much concerned that he could not tell her, that, to show how much his

life was consecrated to her, he was going to ght against her father&s

enemies. Chen we arrived ou the frontiers, where the general rende1vous of

the arm! was, the ing of ;eon would have given the 6rince of ranada a

command# but he refused it, sa!ing that he would have the honour of ghting

near his person. Ce were some time before we could have an opportunit! of

coming to a general engagement, till the prince, whose arm! was larger than

ours, presented one. ?oth armies fought with e"ual courage and conduct, andvictor! seemed to declare for o!r enemies# when m! prince changed the

scene of the battle b! killing the /rince of 'sturias, whose troops, instead of

revenging his death, thought onl! of $ight, and left us the eld of battle.

% This victor! put aft end to the campaign: the enem! retired to their

frontiers# and the king, after giving m! master a thousand thanks, returned to

;eon. The "ueen and princess came to meet us# the roads were crowded with

people, who said aloud, that the onl! wa! to see the ing of ;eon master of

great part of 0pain was to marr! the 6rince of ranada with the 6rincess

'l1a!da. Elmedorus, nding the occasion favourable to speak of his love,

went up to 'l1a!da&s chariot, with whom there was none but 0anchea, and

said to her, +adam, the gods sometimes e*plain themselves b! the mouths

of the people # shall dare to presume that this oracle ma! not o3end the

divine 'l1a!daD +! heart, in$amed b! the rst glance of !our e!es with the

most respectful passion, has waited long for this happ! moment to declare

itself: &tis in !our power, charming princess, to condemn m! love to an eternal

silence, or to permit me to call m!self !our knight. 0ir, replied 'l1a!da,


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blushing, if it is the will of the gods to unite the crowns of ;eon and ranada,

it would be in vain for me to resist it# but let me wait till the! declare

themselves b! voices less tumultuous# and give me leave till then to doubt of

their profound decrees, and not force me to forget the victor! we owe !ou, to

remember the crime !ou commit in speaking to me of love, which ought not

to listen to without the consent of the king and "ueen. ( have no reason tobelieve the! will refuse me it, answered the prince# but as cannot doubt,

madam, but have the misfortune to displease !ou, shall punish this rash

heart, which harbours a guilt! $ame too much, since it is disowned b! the

lad! who rst gave it birth. The king, who then came up to 'l1a!da&s chariot,

prevented her making Elmedorus an! repl!# but whatever constraint she put

herself under to conceal the regard she had for him, she made him a sign to

retire with so sweet and obliging a look, that

he forgot all the severe things she said before. /rom that da! Elmedorus

began to hope, and redoubled his cares and love with so much respect and

tenderness, that the beautiful 'l1a!da declared she should not oppose his

passion if the king her father approved it.

&'t that time, madam,& continued the es"uire, &the 6rince of +aroc&s challenge

was brought to court, and m! master asked the king&s and princess&s consent

to go to maintain her charms. 'l1a!da refused him with a modest! that

rendered her more deserving of the care Elmedorus would take to gain the

>ictor! for her# but the king, who loved her tenderl!, and who was pleased to

nd that the 6rince of ranada had an inclination for his daughter, cave him

leave to go and call himself her knight, and obliged the princess to give him a

scarf she wore that da! to hang the sword on he won at the horse-races. The

princess obe!ed with so obliging a blush, that m! prince never disputed but

that with these marks of his happiness he should overcome 9oroaster, and all

the knights in the world# and taking his leave of the king, "ueen, and 'l1a!da,

set forward on his ourne! to /e1.

&Ce travelled several da!s without an! adventure befalling us, till we came to

the sea-side, which we were to cross to 'frica, and where we went on board a

vessel that we found there ust going o3# but, madam, we were no sooner out

at sea but a sudden sleepiness sei1ed us that we could not resist. Chen we

awoke, we found ourselves in a magnicent palace, built on an island in the

'tlantic Ocean. 'll that could be desired to make a place agreeable was foundhere, whether for the nobleness of the buildings, the riclmess of the furniture,

or the beaut! of the gardens, and ne fountains and canals. The woods about

abounded with arbours of essamine, and ne walks of orange and

pomegranate trees, where the birds, b! their sweet harmonious

concerts,ravished the senses# in short, a perpetual spring reigned in this

heavenl! abode. Elmedorus was ver! much surprised to nd himself in so

beautiful a palace# and while he was re% $eeting how he came there, he saw


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a beautiful lad! enter, followed b! a great man! lovel! n!mphs. Elmedorus,

said the lad! to him, the gods, to whom the lives of heroes are alwa!s dear,

informed me that the tournament at /e1 would be fatal to !ou# therefore be

not displeased with me for preventing !our going to a place so fatal to !our

life. 7o lad! can dispute with 'l1a!da the pri1e of beaut!# and 9oroaster&s

challenge cannot a3ect her charms. 's soon as the time of this dangerousdiversion is passed, the same vessel that brought !ou hither shall carr! !ou a

much shorter wa! to the charming 6rincess of ;eon, if nothing here can

detain !ou. 7othing can keep me from m! princess, interrupted the prince, in

a passion# and, though see here all that is most perfect in nature, should

have been better pleased if the gods would have permitted me to have died

ghting for, and maintaining the charms of the divine 'l1a!da, than to

languish out m! da!s at this distance from her bright e!es. Cell, said the

lad!, presenting him her hand to lead him into the garden, time will perhaps

make !ou change !our mind. &'fter two or three turns in the $ower-garden,

where there were ver! beautiful statues, she proposed to him to run with one

of her n!mphs in a long alle! of orange-trees# telling him, that all the knights

whom fortune brought thither were obliged to tr! their swiftness with ;iriopa,

which was the name of the n!mph. Elmedorus, unwilling to be the rst that

should break through that custom, though he knew not the m!ster! of it, set

out at the same time with that n!mph, and was at the end of the alle! above

twent! !ards before her# but he found himself so dr! with that e*ercise, that

he drank plentifull! at a fountain which stood at the end of the race, though

the water was of a blackish colour and disagreeable taste. He had no sooner

swallowed this water but he thought of never leaving this place # 'l1a!da was

blotted out of his heart, and his passion decreasing, when, void of the

remembrance of the person, he believed the fair! esideria to be the obect#and, approaching her, received the compliments she made him for

van"uishing ;iriopa with so tender an air, that the fair! applauded herself for

her success. Chen it was night we returned to the palace, where we had a

delicious supper, and after it a charming concert of music, which concluded

the evening# then the prince retired to his apartment, where he- slept all the

night, without thinking of the beautiful 'l1a!da.

% have been since informed, that the enchanted fountain, which made such

a prodigious change in Elmedorus, took its rise from the river 0t!*# and that

the fair!% b! an e*traordinar! charm, had added to its natural virtue that of

rendering herself the obect of the knight&s love. was told, moreover, b! one

of her n!mphs, that esideria passing one da! through ;eon, to gather some

herbs on the mountains which surrounded that kingdom, and seeing the

6rince of ranada, she conceived a violent passion for him, and resolved to

get him to her island# that the opportunit! of the tournament seemed

favourable to her# and that she laid that fatal vessel on the coast which

brought us to her palace. The prince, charmed with the bounties of the


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fairies, passed his time ver! happil!: he could wish for nothing but he had it#

and the fair! amused him agreeabl! b! a thousand new diversions.

0ometimes these two lovers, accompanied b! n!mphs nel! drest, were

drawn in chariots of ebon! b! white unicorns to the sea-side, where the sh,

in obedience to the enchantments of esideria, hung themselves on the

hooks which the prince threw out for them : some%

times, on horses as swift as deer, the! hunted the most savage beasts, which

could not avoid the fatal darts which Elmedorus threw at thetn, but fell before

him# and sometimes !ielding to softer pleasures, the! diverted themselves in

seeing the shepherds and shepherdesses dancing on the $ower! meads# but

more often pleased themselves in tender 8onversations, without an!

witnesses to their loves, and passed whole da!s in the most dark and shad!

parts of the wood, where the! could be the most retired.

&One da!, when the prince, impatient to see his beautiful fair!, whom he

could not rind in her apartment, was looking for her in a grove of m!rtle,where she%often went, he was accosted b! a man of a maestic presence,

who, imprinting on him respect and fear, said to him, Chat dost thou here,

unhapp! ElmedorusD Thou languishest in a soft idleness, while the crnel

'smonadus, having con"uered the kingdom of ;eon, keeps th! princess a

prisoner. ost not thou remember the love which thou hast sworn to the

divine 'l1a!daD 0ee if the fair! has an! thing comes nigh her beaut!. 'nd,

sa!ing these words, gave him her picture. Elmedorus, ashamed at these

reproaches, and struck with those features which he had so long adored,

remained for some time distracted. Throw o3 this enchantment, which makes

thee a slave, continued this stranger: wh! hast thou forgot to make use of the

ring which the "ueen th! mother gave thee when at ranadaD Turn it up on

that side on which it bears its fatalit!, and behold its divine virtue.

&Elmedorus, commg to himself at this discourse of the enchanter 9amat,

looked on his nger, and saw that his ring was turned with the point

downwards# and,.following the advice of this wise magician, found himself to

be the same as when he was at ;eon. He blushed with rage and anger for the

time he had wasted with the fair! esideria# and being about to ask 9amat

how he should get out of that island, could not nd him.& n haste to go and

deliver the princess, he rau to the palace, and ordered me to get the horses

read!. Bust as we were going, the fair!, informed of bis intent, came to stophim# but, without being moved b! her words or tears, we left her palace and

the enchanted isle. Ce found a vessel in the port read! to sail, and soon

reached the continent again# where, mounting our horses, we pursued our

ourne!. One morning, as we were coming out of a thick forest, we saw a

knight armed cap-a-pee, mounted on a statel! courser, who came and

accosted m! prince. Elmedorus, said he, am the knight, the revenger of

indelities# and that thou hast been guilt! of towards the fair! esideria


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cannot be repaired but b! th! death. am her brother, and am as well skilled

in enchantments# but believing m!self able, b! m! courage, to make thee

repent of the inur! thou hast done her, shall onl! make use of m! sword.

;et us see, then, said Elmedorus, drawing his, if it is as dangerous as th!

charms, and if can nd a mortal place in enchanters as well as in other

knights. n sa!ing these words he turned his horse half about, and attackedthe knight with a surprising valour. The! both fought desperatel!# but the

prince, seeing that he bled, redoubled his fur!, and threw his enem! to the

ground# and, setting his foot upon his throat, he said to him, Thou must own

that th! enchantments would have been of more service to thee than th!

sword. confess, said the knight, that m! life is in !our power. 5ise then, said

Elmedorus, give it thee, to ac"uit m!self of what owe to esideria# and,

helping him to get up and mount his horse, left him full of shame and rage. n

the mean time we were forced to stop at the rst house we could come at, to

stop the bleeding of m! prince&s wounds# and putting him to bed,

notwithstanding his e*treme desire to see his priacess, went for a surgeon,

who told me that his wounds were ver! dangerous. declare, madam, that at

this news was sensibl! concerned# but the gods, who reserved this unhapp!

prince for greater aictions, sent us a succour which could not e*pect.

Chile the surgeon was probing the wounds, the master of the cottage where

we had taken up our "uarters came in, and seeing the wounds, went out, and

returned with his hands full of herbs, which he bruised, and dipping

compresses in the uice, applied them, and assured m! master he should be

perfectl! cured in two da!s. +! prince found his host&s words to be ver! true#

and, after having recompensed him for his charit!, set forward for ;eon. n

our wa! we were informed b! a person whom we met of all the changes that

had happened during our absence: that 'smonadus, 6rince of Estramadura, acruel and wicked magician, falling in love with the princess, and being

refused b! the good king her father, to revenge himself laid siege to ;eon,

which he found defenceless, and made himself master of it, and put the king

and "ueen to death. That he kept the princess a prisoner in the palace, and,

b! his seeming respect and presents, endeavoured to make her forget his

crimes# but that generous princess, despising his love as much as his hatred,

spent her da!s in sorrow and aiction: and that for the last fortnight s5e had

been ver! ill. This melanchol! news had a terrible e3ect on the heart of

Elmedorus, who fell into a swoon. His wounds broke open again, and were

attended b! a violent fever, which brought him almost to death&s door. Hisuneasiness for the misfortunes of the princess made him send me directl!

awa! to ;eon. found the palace all in confusion, no sentries at the gates,

and went into 'l1a!da&s apartment without hinderance: but, when came into

her own chamber, O heavens@ what a sight did ( behold@ Her face was as

pale as death, her e!es half shut, and her mouth half open: in short, there

appeared no signs of life in her. +! surprise and grief were so great that

could not help cr!ing out, which made 0anchea, who sat b! that d!ing beaut!


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all in tears, turn her head towards me. 0anchea, said , what, have !ou forgot

meD 'h@ Talmut, replied she, the 6rince of ranada is happ! in death, if he

alwa!s loved this unfortunate princess. +! prince is not dead, answered , but

would have been here, had not the news of the princess&s illness put him in

danger of his life. Bust heavens@ cried 0anchea, what fatalit! hangs over the

unhapp! house of ;eon@ The princess, continued that maid, had courageenough to resist all the cruelties of 'smonadus# but she could not bear the

loss of Elmedorus, whom that perdious t!rant told her was killed in a duel#

and from that moment she has shown no token of life: in vain conure her to

give me some signs that she knows me, but can get nothing from her but

deep sighs. 'smonadus, pleased with her despair, shows a malicious o!,

which increases her grief. ?ut let us tr! if the news !ou bring can recall her to

life: go to her, and speak to her as from the prince. +adam, said to the

princess, taking up one of her fair hands, and s"uee1ing it to awaken her,

Elmedorus is not dead, he lives for !ou# will !ou forsake himD 't this name, so

dear to her, she opened her e!es, aud, turning them towards me, she

seemed as if she wanted to know who was. ( am, madam, continued ,

Talmut, whom the 6rince of ranada has sent to let !ou know how much he

can assure !ou of his respectful passion. Talmut, said she, have no share in

this life# but tell !our master, that, as die for him, would have him live to

revenge me: and on nishing these words, which could but ust hear, she fell

into her former letharg!. 'smonadus then coming in retired# but was no

sooner on the stairs than heard a cr!, The princess is dead. Cith grief

returned to the prince, and not daring to let him know the truth, told him

that 'l1a!da was better# but he seeing in m! face the marks of the tears

which ( had shed, no longer doubted of his misfortune.

% 'll that rage could inspire and invent this miserable prince said and did# and

if had not told him the commands of that d!ing princess, he would not have

survived her death a moment. 2es, too unhapp! 'l1a!da, said he, !ou shall

be revenged# swear, b! all the love owe !our dear shade, will preserve

this life till have appeased !our angr! ghost. 'fter this resolution he was

obliged to take care of his health, that he might the sooner follow the

commands of his dear princess, and within fteen da!s was able to get out of

bed# and, allowing himself time to bear the fatigue of riding, sent me again to

;eon to know what was become of the princess&s bod!, and where

'smonadus was. could learn nothing but that the t!rant had taken the

corpse along with him, which 0anchea could not be persuaded to leave, and

that the palace was shut up. thought it to no purpose to make an! further

in"uir!, but returned to tell m! master that 'smonadus was gone from ;eon,

which increased that unhapp! prince&s grief the more. However, resolved to

fmd him out, we set forward for Estramadura, believing that, for fear of the

people&s rising at the sight of their princess&s bod!, he was gone to bur! her

in his own dominions# but there we could not nd him. 0ince then, the


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unfortunate Elmedorus has travelled through all 0pain to nd his enem!, and

for this !ear has passed his nights in the forest, and his da!s in places where

he hoped to satisf! his revenge.&

& could not have believed.& said the 6rincess 9amea, after the es"uire had

made an end of his relation, &that could have been sensible of an! otherperson&s misfortunes after m! own, but the 6rince of ranada&s are ver!

moving# let us g< and comfort him.& 't the same time the princess got up,

and returned to the house# and then going into Elmedorus&s chamber, said, %

ndeed, sir, !our misfortunes are able to draw tears from other e!es besides

!our own# and, for m! part, could not refrain.& &+adam,& replied the prince, &

should tell !ou, that the compassion of so great a princess as !ourself softens

them# but, amiable 9amea, mine are of such a nature as to admit of no

comfort but from death.& hope for a happier end, & answered the 6rincess of

/e1, &since have heard !our histor!, and doubt not but the admirable

'l1a!da is !et living. 'smonadus, knowing of !our return, and fearing !our

presence, certainl! took the 6rincess of ;eon awa! in that swoon which made

!our es"uire believe she was dead# and, to conceal her, keeps her a

prisoner, as told !ou this morning, in that fatal castle from whence !ou are

to deliver the 6rince of Tunis. &Tis what the enchanter 9aniat would have !ou

to understand b! the dream# and we have no occasion for an! thing but !our

health, and the ring he gave !ou, to put an end to all our calamities.& % 'las@

madam,& replied the prince, if our happiness depends on that fatal ring, it is

ver! uncertain, since lost it in the ght with esideria&s brother, and the

/ates have deprived me of that friendl! assistance.& &2our courage,& answered

the princess, & will stand us instead of all: think onl! of !our health.& 'nd after

these words, 9amea, fearing she should discompose him b! too long adiscourse, retired.

The ne*t da! the princess took a walk in the same wood again, attended b!

'delinda and the 6rince of Tunis&% es"uire, where, after some turns, she sat

down in the same shad! place that Talmut had given her the histor! of his

master&s life in. 0he had not been long seated before she heard a person

talking loud, sa!ing, & must own, madam, the inconstanc! of the 6rince

'lin1or deserves all !our hatred# but would have !ou moderate it, and return

to the 8anar! slands.& &7o, 6henisa,& replied another person, &hope not to see

the happ! 8anar! sles till have punished the 6rince of 7umidia for his

indelit!. The +agnicent /air! told me that should nd an end of m!troubles in the kingdom of ranada: we are not far o3# and will never return

till have washed awa! the mortal inur! he has done me in his blood.&

9amea, curious to see this stranger, in the sound of whose voice there was

something ver! moving, got up, and, advancing forwards, saw two !oung

knights sitting on the grass# and not doubting, b! what she had heard, of the

reason that obliged this stranger to conceal her se*, and charmed with her


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!outh and beaut!, ran to her with open arms, and said, &;ovel! princess, be

not displeased that chance has let me know that can give !ou such tender

proofs of friendship as none that see !ou can refuse. am an unhapp!

princess,& continued 9amea, & used to bewail m! sorrows: let us complain

together# it ma! help to comfort us.& &Chatever reason ma! have to be

angr! that am known,& replied the 6rincess of the 8anaries, & ( have nocause to be displeased at the happ! opportunit! of mingling tears with so

illustrious a person, which ma! contribute to assuage great aictions. ?ut the

misfortune !ou heard me complain of is certainl! so inurious, that nothing

but the death of him who was the cause of it can make an atonement.& &The

death of an enem! who once was dear to us,& answered 9amea, & and who

sometimes remains so, though we don&t think it, is not alwa!s a certain

remed!. ?ut, m! princess,& continued she, % it is not now a proper time to

dispute about !our revenge# some da!s ac"uaintance ma! gain me more of

!our friendship, and then ma! convince !ou. ;et us think now of a little

refreshment, after !our fatigues, in a small habitation, where the wounds of a

great prince keep me some da!s.& This piece of friendship of the beautiful

9amea the 6rincess of the 8anaries could not resist, but went with her to the

cottage.

The 6rince of ranada was surprised to see so beautiful a knight with the

6rincess of /e1: but the charming 9amea having told him the adventure, he

o3ered the 6rincess of the 8anaries hia arm and sword to revenge her. & have

no need of an! other hand but m! own, generous knight,& said she, &to punish

the false wretch# for should another spill his blood, his death would cost me

tears.& & told !ou, madam,& replied 9amea, % that this ungrateful man was

dearer to !ou than !ou believed: !ou are afraid of trusting !our revenge intotoo sure hands.& &Budge not so ill of m! hatred,& answered the 6rincess of the

8anaries# &if ever !ou felt that cruel passion, !ou must grant that the pleasure

of revenging an inur! one&s self is ver! sensible.& & can see nothing in all !ou

sa!, fair princess,& said 9amea, & but a disguised love# and, if the too happ!

'lin1or was to appear at !our feet, his sighs and repentance would sooner

abate !our passion than his death.& The surgeon coming to dress the prince&s

wounds, the princesses retired to their own chamber, where their charming

conversation cultivated an e*traordinar! love and friendship. The 6rincess

9amea having obliged the 6rincess of the 8anaries to promise not to go

without her, since the! were both to go to ranada, desired her the ne*t da!

to inform her of 'lin1or&s indelities, which the lovel! 6rincess of the 8anaries

did in these words.

THE H0TO52

6578E00 9';+'2' '7 THE 6578E O/ 7G+'.

% 2ou know alread!, madam,& said 9alma!da,


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% that am the princess of the 8anar! slands, but ma! be ignorant that m!

mother died in childbed of me, and that m! father did not survive her man!

!ears. was left under the care of the princess 9antilla, m! mother&s sister#

and during m! infanc!, m! father committed the government of m!

dominions to the prince of the 0ummer slands, who was a prudent prince,

and ver! t to govern so headstrong a people as m! subects: but love,unhappil! for me, made him think that the greatest of all blessings was to be

beloved b! me. The princess 9antilla used all her power with me, and

represented continuall!, that a sceptre was too weight! for me to hold# and

that the 8anarians, used to the government of 9enorus, which was his name,

would be pleased to see m! crown upon his head. 'll her arguments were of

no force with me, could not like 9enorus# and the -reputation he had of

being a great sorcerer, gave me such an aversion to him could never

overcome# though he has served me after such a manner, that ought to

have all the obligation in the world to him.

% The court of the 8anaries was in this condition, when had a great desire to

go to the temple of iana, which stood upon the continent. The princess

9antilla could not undertake this vo!age, b! reason of an indisposition she la!

under# and 9enorus waI gone to "uell an insurrection in his own dominions.

embarked onl! with this maid !ou see with me, and some slaves, b! reason

had a mind to perform this pilgrimage incognito. Ce landed, after a pleasant

vo!age, at the nearest seaport to the temple, from whence ( went in a

chariot to some ne long shaded walks, which led directl! to the temple&s

great gates. Chen the sacrices began, went in# and during the ceremonies,

observed over-against me a !oung knight of an admirable shape, who looked

at me so earnestl!, that he made me blush: but discovering in his face athousand charms, m! thoughts were more intent to watch him than on the

h!mns that were sung to the honour of the goddess. Chen the sacrices

were over, went out of the temple, and was followed through all the walks

b! this knight like m! shadow: wherever went, he was near me, and. his

e!es alwa!s meeting mine: we kindled in each other&s breast a pure and

everlasting $ame. This e3ect of s!mpath! was so e*traordinar!, that this

knight, who was the prince of 7umidia, could not forbear speaking to me, and

o3ering me his hand to help me into m! chariot# and , in the perple*it! of

thought whether or no should accept of the assistance of a stranger, could

not tell how to refuse him. +adam, said he, must be well beloved b! the

goddess we worship in this place, to have inspired her vestal not to o3er m!

sacrices till to-morrow, since b! this dela! she has shown me the most

admirable person the gods ever formed. 8ertainl! that lad! was not in the

temple, replied , unwilling to take so $attering a speech to m!self# for saw

no woman that attracted m! e!es. The reason is, madam, replied the bold

'lin1or, !ou saw not !ourself, since !ou knew not !ourself in that beautiful

person, whose t!rannic power feel. 0ir, said , with a serious air, the customs


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of !our countr! are undoubtedl! di3erent from those of mine# for cannot

believe that so accomplished a knight would otherwise be wanting in the

respect that is due to m! se* and rank. f the laws of some nations admit of

silence near the adorable obect of their passion, replied 'lin1or, must

confess, the 7umidians, whose sovereign am, are of so violent and

passionate a nature, that 0a! also, and so inconstant, replied , laughing.ndeed, said 'lin1or, that horrible crime is laid to our charge: but, charming

stranger, !our e!es can give no chains but what are lasting# therefore !ou

need not fear this sable hue of m! countr!. am more afraid of !our ma*ims,

replied # and for the short time that we are together, let us forget them,

beseech !ou, for have no mind to change laws with !ou# but as a knight, !ou

ought to follow mine. Cith all m! heart, replied the prince# swear b! !our

fair hands to. have no other. ?egin then, answered , from this instant# let me

get into m! chariot, and be content with this short ac"uaintance, without

accompan!ing me an! farther. own, madam, should have been ver! sorr!

if he had obe!ed me, and that was ver! well pleased to nd him at m!

chariotdoor, when came to alight. made him some reproaches, but the!

were so faintl! spoken, as to be no hinderance to his leading me into m!

apartment# where, growing bolder, surve!ed all his charms. f, fair princess,

!ou knew that lovel! traitor, !ou would e*cuse so odd a conduct in one of m!

age: and if sparkling black e!es, nel! cut, and full of re, a maestic

forehead, a mouth of white teeth set within rub! lips, a delicate and noble

shape, wit which rendered his conversation bewitching, are charms suAcient

for an e*cuse, am undoubtedl! innocent: but nothing can e*cuse me, but

that s!mpath! which unites hearts in an inevitable chain, notwithstanding all

the e3orts of reason. 'nd this fatal inclination engaged me to sta! the

remaining part of that da! and the ne*t, to be witness of the sacrice he wasto o3er to iana.

&The ne*t morning, he met me in the walks leading to the temple# and as he

had been told b! 6henisa that designed to go awa! after the ceremon!, he

came armed, to be read! to follow me. His helmet was shaded with red and

white feathers# Or his arm he bore a light shield, on which there was the

representation of the lightning breaking out of a cloud, and drawing after it a

8upid, and these words:

& am no sooner born but die.&

% 's soon as he saw me, he came to me, and presenting me his hand, led me

into the temple, where he was more intent upon ga1ing at me than imploring

the assistance of the goddess he invoked# for which reproached him after

the ceremon! was over, and to which he answered, +adam, when came

here, ( wanted to consult the goddess# but m! fate is since changed# !ou are

m! altar and m! goddess, and !our e!es the oracles ought to consult.

5eproach me not for the neglect of ;atona&s daughter, since !ou can sooner


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pronounce . m! fate# and it is in !our power to make me happ! or miserable.

f !our fate depends on me, replied , would tr! if could not create a love in

!our heart that would not die so soon. 'h-@ madam, cried he, Jgoing to

scratch out that device, but that would not let him), !ou have created a

passion which shall never be subect to death: m! $ame is as immortal as the

beaut!&s that gave it birth, and shall burn for ever. ?ut that it ma! live withpleasure, !ou must not, charming 9alma!da, be angr! that !ou gave it being.

Cell, said , laughing, to have the glor! of rendering a 7umidian faithful, will

grant !ou !our re"uest: but take care, 'lineor, lest e*perience before sun-

set that the light, ning trinmphs over love.

&'lin1or swore a thousand times that nothing -should ever make him change

his sentiments# and, trusting to oaths as inconstant as the 7umidian sands,

let him know all the tenderness had for him before we arrived at the port

where we were to part# for would not permit him to go along with me to the

8anaries, for fear the princess 9antilBa should not approve m! conduct. ?ut

unable to be long separated from him, bid him come to our island the da!

we celebrated the feast of the sun. 'lin1or received this command with grief#

for when he had led me on board m! vessel, saw him turn about to hide his

tears# and when we were sailing out of the harbour, saw him, with his hands

lifted up to heaven, fall into his es"uire&s arms. 0uch marks of his love full!

persuaded me that the prince of umidia was onl! worth! of m! tenderness#

and, possessed with this passion, arrived at the 8anaries much changed

from what was when left them. The princess m! aunt and 9enorus came to

receive me with a tender and obliging 1eal, which answered onl! b! broken

words and sighs. 9antilla took no notice, or did not observe me# but 9enorus,

b! his science, knew that he had a rival beloved, and that that rival was theprince of 7umidia# and seemed so grieved, that though he attended me to

m! palace, he said nothing to me.

% passed m! time most commonl! with 6henisa in reckoning how long it

would be to the feast of the sun, and in inventing such dresses as might set

o3 that small stock of beaut! the gods had blessed me with: and it ma! not,

madam, & continued 9alma!da, & be displeasing to be informed of the custom

of this feast. On the rst da! of summer, the ladies, all richl! dressed, place

themselves on sca3olds erected for that purpose, along a large walk of

orange-trees that leads to the temple of the sun, where there is a statue

adorned with ewels placed on an altar of white marble. 't the gate of thetemple there stands a wonderful tree, the leaves of which produce continuall!

a gentle and agreeable dew, which dropping into great vessels of porph!r!,

serves to water all the lands and gardens, and makes amends, after a

wonderful manner, for the cruelt! of nature, which refuses us those gentle

-showers the rest of the world eno!. This feast is made to obtain this

necessar! li"uor# and that !ear the lot fell upon me to present the o3erings:


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when, -pleased with the thoughts of appearing that da! in so e*traordinar! a

dress, neglected nothing that could give a lustre to m! natural charms.

&'s soon as it was da! came from m! palace, representing the goddess /lora

in a chariot adorned with festoons of $owers, aud drawn b! si* white horses.

+! habit was a silver gan1e, worked full of all sorts of $owers in the mostnatural and livel! colours# m! breast was stuck full of essamine and roses,

and m! hair plaited with lilies and orange-$owers. On m! head ( had a crown

of pomegranates and tuberoses, and behind me there hung down a veil of

the same with m! habit, and fastened at the bottom to the left side of m!

gown# and in m! hands carried a basket of $owers. The attendants of the

goddess represented followed me, and 6omona and >ertumnus carried

noble baskets of the nest fruits in season. n this order, accompanied with

bands of ne music clothed gallantl! like shepherds, we arrived at the sacred

tree, where alighted out of m! chariot, and la!ing m! nosega! upon an altar

built for that -purpose, left it to be refreshed b! that divine water, 6omona

and >ertumnus doing the same. Then -taking up our baskets again, we went

into the temple, where we made a sacrice of our $owers and fruits upou a

little altar of cr!stal set in gold, b! setting re to the incense which was upon

a pile of sweet-scented woods, which perfumed the temple with a ravishing

odour. uring this ceremon!, a h!mn was sung to the sun, to accept our vows

and o3erings, and to continue that heavenl! dew. 'fter

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this, we returned back in the same order we came, but not without m!

observing whether the prince of 7umidia was there. was ver! uneas! not to

nd him there# but thought to see him at a tournament 9enorus made uponm! account. waited with impatience for the hour when this diversion was to

begin, and, believe, made all the ladies angr!, for keeping them so long on

the sca3olds before the lists were opened. 't last, the udges of the eld

having opened the rail, saw a knight enter, who, b! his shape and air,

seemed ver! like the false 'lin1or# and never doubted but that it was he,

when saw him victor. made m!self read! to give him a scarf of blue and

gold, which had worn that da! with all the pleasure imaginable: but when he

kneeled before me, and lifted ed his visor, and ( found it was not 'lin1or,

had scarce strength enough to. give him the pri1e. returned to m! palace in

a violent rage and passion. 6henisa endeavoured to make me think that theprince of 7umidia was not so guilt! as believed# but that some important

a3air had detained him against his will.

&The princess 9antilla was surprised at m! grief, and could not imagine what

troubled me# but 9enorus, knowing that he should never be able to dispose

me to marr! him so long as loved 'lin1or, endeavoured to engage me to

make him the condant of m! passion. +adam, said he to me one da!, if


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saw that m! rival was deserving of !our love, should forbear m!

remonstrances: but to su3er the most beautiful person in the world to sigh for

a false prince, who, not content with forgetting the princess he has adored,

prefers another Jnot mistress of half her charms) before her#

is . 'h@ 9enorus, cried , without giving

him time to make an end of what he was going to sa!, if !ou can make me

sensible that the prince of 7umidia is inconstant, promise !ou to hate him

as much as love him. t shall be !our own fault, madam, answered 9enorus,

if those bright e!es of !ours see him not this da! at the feet of one of the

beauties of his court. 2ou ma! believe, m! princess, & continued 9alma!da, &

that could not refuse an o3er so agreeable to m! ealous!. 's soon as it was

night, the prince of the 0ummer slands took me and 6henisa with him in his

chariot, drawn b! $!ing dragons, who cutting the air with a surprising

swiftness, alighted in the gardens of 'lhi1or&s palace, which were lighted b!

vast numbers of lamps# where 'lin1or, regardless of a ne concert of musicthat was pla!ing, was laid at the feet of a !oung 7umidian, who in m! e!es

seemed to have- nothing engaging in her person. 0truck at this sight, would

have called out to him, but 9enorus would not give me time# the chariot $ew

awa!, and all ( could do, was to drop m! picture as nigh the false prince of

7umidia as possibl! could.

&'s soon as we got to the 8anaries again, shut up m!self and 6henisa in m!

closet, and spent all that night in complaining of 'lin1or. This piece of service

that the prince of the 0ummer slands had done me contributed in no wise to

his happiness# on the contrar!, all that hatred which should have

entertained for 'lin1or fell to his share. &Tis !ou, said to him one da!, whohave been the cause of all m! sorrows: had been ignorant of m!

misfortunes, should have been less unhapp!. 9enorus made no answer to

these reproaches but b! sighs, and endeavoured b! his complaisance all that

he could imagine to please me. One evening, after having spent the da! in

m! complaints, took a walk in m! gardens, followed onl! b! 6henisa, who

was the onl! person whose compan! could bear. 't the turning of an alle!,

saw a man laid on the grass, and looking on a picture he held in his hand with

great attention# but the little curiosit! had for an! thing but m! passion,

made me to take no great notice of him, but to turn another wa!. The noise

we made b! our walking roused this stranger, who seeing me, ran after me,cr!ing out, Chither do !ou $!, m! princessD This voice, so dear to me, and

which knew so well, made me turn m! head about, when saw 'lin1or throw

himself at m! feet, who held me a long time before ( could get from him. +!

dear 9alma!da, said he, am then permitted to see !ou again, and the gods

at last have been moved b! m! tears.

&'ll the love he showed in his actions and discourse seemed to me to agree


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so little with what had seen of his inconstanc!, that could not recover

m!.surprise: but at last, being persuaded that the perdious wretch came

again to deceive me the more, said to him, Chat can bring !ou hereD 8an

!ou believe that am ignorant of all !our indelities# and that am still so

weak as to a3ord !ou an! marks of a tenderness !ou are so ill deserving ofD @

7o, 'lin1or, m! heart cannot be the pri1e of so base a return, which is owingto the picture which let fall, to put !ou in mind of what !ou have lost. o,

and leave me to forget !ou# and come not, with that cruelt! so unworth! of a

koight, to oppose m! eternal "uiet. f was not afraid of being interrupted in

what am going to sa!, replied 'lin1or, would ustif! m!self so clearl!, that

!ou should rather pit! than accuse me. ?ut, too ungrateful princess, !ou do

all this to make me forget how much !ou prefer the prince of the 0ummer

slands before me# which is what !ou cannot den!: and if !ou will give me an

hour&s audience in !our closet, will show !ou tnat fatal order which did forbid

m! coming to the feast of the sun. 2ou tell me things so remote from truth,

replied , leaving him, because saw 9antilla and 9enorus coming towards

me# but to oblige !ou to confess !our levit!, give m! con. sent that 6henisa

conducts !ou into m! apartment when ever! bod! is retired: but be gone

from mF presentl!, and be not seen. 'nd after these words went to meet m!

aunt, but in so great a disorder, that she might have easil! observed it.

&The impatience to see whether m! faithless 'lin1or would make good what

he told me, caused me to retire sooner than ordinar!. The sight of him had so

enlivened the vivacit! of m! sentiments, that believed so accomplished a

prince could not be inconstant, though had seen it with m! own e!es: and to

second m! impatience, sent 6henisa to the place bid him come to, where

she waited the greatest part of the night in vain# and peine unable to sta!an! longer, returned to let me know m! misfortnne. ?ut, heavens@ what a

condition was in, when saw her come in alone, and she told me he came

not to the rende1vousD ;ove, rage, and ealous!, attacking me all at the same

time, threw me into a swoon, which was attended afterwards b! so violent a

fever, that became delirious, and talked to all that came near me as if the!

had been the perdious prince of 7umidia. 9enorus, in despair for m! illness,

and in fear for m! life, gave me so e*cellent a drink, that it not onl! cured m!

fever, but calmed the transports of m! mind, and was capable, though was

alwa!s grieved at the indelit! of 'lin1or, to resolve to strive to forget him.

9antilla advised me not to value so ckle a lover, and, willing to hasten the

establishment of m! health b! change of air, persuaded me to go for some

time to the 0ummer slands# to which at last consented.

&9enorus, pleased to see me in a countr! where he was sovereign, made

magnicent entertainments ever! da! to divert me. Ever! thing he did

seemed to bespeak his love and constanc!, and no lover ever knew better

how to make use of whatever might make him be beloved: but all his


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endeavours could not force the ungrateful 'lin1or from m! heart. ndeed,

when m! grief rendered m! reason

stronger, was sometimes capable of wishing might be sensible for the

prince of the 0ummer sles# but that was all could do to recompense his

love. The trial had made of his art made me ask him again to discover moreof m! knight&s falsehood, as the onl! means to cure m! passion. ?ut the fruits

of his rst complaisance made him apprehend that the presence of 'lin1or

would serve onl! to increase both m! love and despair. How cruel are !ou,

madam, said he, when pressed him to do me that favour, to force me to

strengthen M !our fettersD on&t !ou remember how much !our hatred was

augmented towards me when !ou returned from 7umidiaD Ch!, inhuman

princess, will !ou punish me for the fault of m! too happ! rivalD f !our rival,

replied , in a passion, was false, !ou would not be so much afraid of giving

rae such proofs of his inconstanc! as might complete m! cure: but

undoubtedl! !ou know that he loves, and fear, with reason, that being

convinced of his love, should prefer him before !ou. Cell, madam, said

9enorusN since must give that melanchol! satisfaction !ou ask, remember,

unust 9alma!da, that !ou force me to it. 'nd after these words he left me.

&'t night, when ever! bod! was retired, we went in the same chariot again#

and after crossing seas, and passing over great mountains and valle!s, we

stopped at the island of the fair! esideria. O heavens@ what beauties did m!

e!es there beholdD 'nd if m! thoughts had not been so intent upon nding

the deceitful 'lin1or, should have taken great pleasure in admiring this

charming abode. ?ut pressing 9enorus to show me the prince of -umidia, he

stopped ust over a ne parterre of the choicest $owers, where a n!mph of a

charming livel! beaut! was making a garland of the nest $owers, and

showing it to one of her companions, said, would have 'lin1or&s love as

lasting as this garland, which have bound up with gold thread, to endue it

with the durableness of that metal. 'nd after these words, she perceiving the

perdious 7innii.lia.il at the end of the garden, 8ome, prince, said she, and

receive this new mark of m! tenderness. 'lin1or, transported with this

charming rival, came and threw himself at her feet# and the n!mph, putting

the garland upon his head, told him of the e3ect she desired# v hile the

treacherous 'lin1or kissed her hand, and swore that nothing could destro! his

passion. Budge then, m! dear princess, of m! condition. ( begged of 9enorus

a thousand tunes to let me alight out of the chariot, to disturb b! m!presence those their happ! moments: but he, ine*orable to m! entreaties,

hurried me awa! from the fatal place, and brought me back again to m!

apartment. 'll the sense had of the rst time of m! knowing the inconstanc!

of 'Bin*or, came nothing nigh what ( su3ered at this second proof of m!

misfortunes: but fearing lest 9enorus would do me no more of these cruel

services, concealed m! despair, and showed him th% more complaisance#


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who, charmed with the hopes of curing me of a passion that was so great an

obstacle to his own, entertained me continuall! with fresh diversions. 't last,

tired with them, and not being able to support the chagrin of being in a place

where could not refuse them, returned to the 8anaries# where, abandoning

m!self to the most cruel ealous!, passed m! nights in the place where (

met the inconstant prinoe of Bsurcidia.

&One da!, when more troubled than, ordinar!, would go to o3er up a

sacrice to the sun, to e*tinguish a $ame foresaw would consume me# as

was entering into the temple, heard somebod! call &henisa: but taking little

or no regard, pursued m! design# and when m! pra!ers were done, returned

to the palace. ' little afcer, 6henisa came to me when was in m! closet,

with a disorder in her face that surprised me. Chat is the matter with !ou i

said # and who was that called !ou this morning suing into the temple& (

don&t Binow, madam, answered the maid, whether dare tell !ou, after the

knowledge !ou have had of the prince of 7umidia&s indelities. Chat&s that

!ou tell meD said , blushing# what has the prioce to do with what ask !ouD

+ore than !ou think for, madam, replied she. 6henisa, said , in a terrible

.agitation, tell me this m!ster!, without provoking me an! farther. Cell then,

said she, since must obe! !ou, !ou must know, that as followed !ou this

morning, heard m!self called ust as !ou was got out of the walk of orange-

trees# and being curious to know who it was, turned m! head about, and saw

'iin1or. stole awa! from the rest of !our attendants as !ou was entering the

temple, and followed the prince under the trees, where he stopped. 6henisa,

said he, the anger of !our princess prevents m! appearing before her in

public, for fear of displeasing her: but cannot Bive if she refuses to hear me a

moment in private. Obtain me that favour, dear 6henisa, and if cannot recallin her soul the remembrance of that bount! she showed me at the temple of

iana, promise !ou to deliver her from m! hateful presence b! a death

which shall appease her rage. ir, replied , the princess has go much cause

to complain of !ou, that cannot promise !ou to persuade lier to see !ou# but

will inform her of what !ou re"uest. ?e !ou in the lab!rinth at sun-set, and

will let !ou know her pleasure. Then, continued 6henisa, parted from the

prince in haste to reoin !ou, and am now come to ask !ou, what !ou please

to have me do. 'las@ 6henisa, said , can know m!selfD am too well

convinced of 'lin1or&s perdiousness# m! own e!es, which cannot deceive

me, have been witnesses of it# and notwithstanding such certain proofs,

cannot refuse m!self the sad pleasure of reproaching him. 2es, 6henisa, will

go to the lab!rinth, and perhaps ma! make him repent the wearing of an!

other&s chains but mine.&

% /lattered b! this foolish hope, and guided b! m! evil genins, went with

6henisa to the place of rende1vous# but had not gone far in a path that led b!

the park-gate to the lab!rinth, before saw the 6rince of 7umidia gallop b!,


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mounted on a ne horse, with a beautiful !oung lad! behind him: at which

dismal sight shrieked out, and he, without so much as turning his head, rode

through the gate. 6rovoked b! rage and ealous!, ran after him to the sea-

side, which was ust b!, and without being able to hinder him, saw him go on

board a vessel which waited onl! for his arrival to set sail. 't this certain sign

of 'lin1or&s disdain, fell into a swoon# and 6henisa getting me brought backto the palace, la! great part of the night without giving an! token of life, till

some demon, an enem! to m! repose, brought me to life again, that might

abandon m!self to the most ine*pressible despair. was no longer mistress of

m! reason to moderate m! transports# disguised m!self like a knight, and

obliging m! condant to do the same, notwithstanding she begged of me to

desist from a resolution so little agreeable to m! birth and age, ( left the

palace and island without being discovered b! an! one, to search after the

6rince of 7umidia, to make his life atone for what had endured. ?ut that

might know where to nd him, went to consult the +agnicent /air!, who,

moved b! m! misfortunes, told me, that should nd an end to m! troubles

in the kingdom of ranada# whither bent m! course, placing m! greatest

happiness in the destruction of the faithless 7umidian prince, without making

use of an! other place of refreshment than forests and shepherds& huts.

2esterda! camP into this( little wood, where /ortune, to give# me a proof

how much she was appeased, made me so happ! as to meet with !ou.& & am

the more obliged to her,& replied the 6rincess of /e1, embracing the beautiful

9alma!da,& for doing me the pleasure of knowing the 6rincess of the

8anaries# and am so sensible of !our miserable condition, that should wish

'lin1or all manner of mischief if he was capable of loving an! other beaut!

but !ourself.& % 2ou know b! m! histor!, & replied the 6rincess of the 8anaries,

% that that prince never loved me, but took a cruel pleasure in rendering methe most unhapp! of m! se*.& % nstead of thinking him criminal,& answered

9amea,& believe him to be innocent# for his conduct is so e*traordinar!, that

cannot help suspecting 9enorus to be the more guilt! of the two.& % 'h@

madam,& interrupted 9alma!da, &the 6rince of the 0ummer sles has served

me too well to believe him to have a good understanding with his rival.& &?ut,&

replied 9amea, &he might, without having a correspondence with 'lin1or,

have forced him to appear to !ou so culpable. The 6rince of ranada was

carried into the island of esideria, and passed awa! a long time at the feet

of that fair!, without being false to the beautiful and unhapp! 6rincess of

;eon# and !our lover, b! the same fatalit!, ma! have been forced to forget!ou, without being guilt! of inconstanc!.& & comprehend so little what !ou tell

me,& replied 9alma!da, & that cannot conceive can nd 'lin1or&s

ustication in that which makes his crime, and which appears to be ver!

great in what !ou mention about the 6rince of ranada.& &Chen shall have

that great prince&s leave to inform !ou of his misfortunes,& answered the

6rincess of /e1, &!ou will nd that !ou will have more reason to pit! the fate of

the 6rince of 7umidia, if it is the same as the 6rince of ranada&s, than to


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accuse him.&

'delinda, who came in that moment, interrupted the two princesses to tell

them that it was late, and that the 6rince of ranada being informed b! his

surgeon that he should be able to get on horseback in three da!s& time, sent

to let them know so much. The two princesses, as soon as the! bad adustedthemselves, went into the prince&s chamber, where, after a slight repast, the!

spent the rest of the da! in ac"uainting the 6rincess of the 8anaries with the

important adventures of Elmedorus# but more especiall! of those which gave

9amea room to take the 6rince of 7umidia&s part. 9alma!da, constant to her

hatred, would not listen to what the 6rincess of /e1 said to mitigate her

sorrows# and it was as much as the charming princess could do to persuade

her to sta! for her, so impatient was she to end her aictions b! the death of

her inconstant lover. The 6rince of ranada, as earnest to be gone as both

these unfortunate princesses, to nish the adventure of the castle, the 6rince

of Tunis&s prison, got out of bed that afternoon, and two da!s afterwards

mounted on horseback, followed b! 9amea and the 6rincess of the 8anaries.

The! travelled all that da! without an! accident# but in the evening, as the!

were entering upon the ing of ranada&s territories, the! saw, in a valle!,

two knights ghting with great animosit!. Elmedorus spurred on his horse to

part them# but before he could get to them, one of them, whose plume was

red and green feathers, had thrown his enem! to the ground, and going to

him, and putting the point of his sword to his throat, said, &9enorus, thou

traitor, tell me what thou hast done with m! princess.& & seek her as well as

!ou,& answered the 6rince of the 0ummer slands, &but cannot get an!

intelligence of her.& % Here am,& cried 9alma!da Jdarting at him a avelin she

had in her hand, and which pierced his cuirass), % and am come to take awa!

th! life, to punish thee for all th! crimes.& The 6rince of 7umidia, surprised at

the sight and fur! of this princess, and weakened b! his wound, fell senseless

b! his enem!,# while the enraged 9alma!da, believing she had killed this

lovel! impostor, wast

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in despair that her revenge had succeeded so well.

Chile 9amea was emplo!ed in comforting the 6rincess of the 8anaries, the

6rince of ranada and his es"uire looked to see if an! signs of life appearedin the unfortunate 'lin1or# and in the mean time the princesses& maids did all

the! could to stop the bleeding of the miserable 9enorus&s wounds. % /orbear

to save m! life,& said he to them, & m! crimes are too great to escape

punishment# and all ask of the gods is, time to confess them.& 't that instant

the 6rince of 7umidia, coming to himself, sought his lovel! enem! with e!es

where death seemed to be painted. ?ut the princess&s hate reviving as the


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prince gained strength, she.would fain have left the place where she was

divided b! two such terrible passions# when the 6rince of the 0ummer sles

raising himself half up to stop her, said, with a weak voice,& 0ta!, madam,

sta!, and know to whom all !our hatred is due: alone have been the cause

of all the misfortunes of !our life# and if love ma! serve for an e*cuse, now

am going to give up m! accounts to the ust gods, that passion was the causeof m! guilt. Bealous of m! rival&s happiness, sent to him as if from !ou, to

forbid his coming to the feast of the sun : and when !our picture reminded

him of !our charms, transported him into the island of the fair! esideria,

where forcing him to be false, showed him to !ou under that hateful

appearance. ?ut the last and worst of all m! crimes was that which obliged

!ou to seek a revenge so contrar! to !our nature, b! raising a phantom in

!our shape when !ou went to give the 6rince 'lin1or a meeting, and thought

!ourself out of m! power. Heaven has this da! punished me for all m!

deceits, b! the hand of that prince have so cruell! o3ended. ;ive both of

!ou happil!# the gods, satised with this miserable victim, will crown !ou with

bless

ings, and, for m! greater punishment, make me declare !our felicit!.& n

making an end of these words, 9enorus

The Knights Errant

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Transcript of The Knights Errant