When the wedding festivities of Marinell and Florimell were over, Sir
Artegall left the Castle of the Strand, to follow his first quest; and
the only person who went with him to help him was his servant Talus, the
Iron Man.
As he passed along the sea-shore he chanced to come where two comely
squires were having an angry quarrel. They were brothers, but were just
now stirred up by some matter of debate. Two good-looking damsels stood
beside them, trying by every means to soothe their ire—now by fair
words, but words did little good—now by threats, but threats only made
them angrier. Before them stood a strong coffer, fast bound on every
side with iron bands, but seeming to have received much injury either by
being wrecked upon the shore, or by being carried far from foreign
lands. It appeared as if it were for this coffer the squires were
fighting; and though the ladies kept interfering to prevent their
furious encounter, yet they were firmly resolved to try their rights by
dint of sword. Thus they both stood ready to meet in cruel combat when
Sir Artegall, happily arriving, stopped for awhile their greedy
bickering till he had inquired the cause of their dispute. To whom the
elder made this answer:—
“You must know, sir, we are two brothers, to whom our father, Milesio by
name, equally bequeathed his land, two islands, which you see there
before you, not far off in the sea. Of these the one appears but like a
little mount, of small size, yet it was as great and wide, not many
years ago, as that other island, which is now so much larger.
“But the course of time, which destroys everything, and this devouring
sea, which spares nothing, have washed away the greater part of my land,
and thrown it up to my brother’s share, so his is increased but mine is
lessened. Before which time I loved, as it happened, the maid over
there, called Philtera the Fair, with whom I should have received a
goodly dower, and to whom I was to have been married.
“At that time my younger brother, Amidas, loved the other damsel—Lucy—to
whom but little dower was allotted. Her virtue was the dowry that
delighted—and what better dowry can a lady possess? But now when
Philtera saw my lands decay, and my former livelihood fail, she left me,
and went over to my brother, who, taking her from me, completely
deserted his own love.
“Lucy, seeing herself forsaken, in despair flung herself into the sea,
thinking to take away her grief by death. But see how her purpose was
foiled! Whilst beaten to and fro amidst the billows, hovering between
life and death, she chanced unawares to light upon this coffer, which
offered to her, in her danger, hope of life.
“The wretched maiden, who had formerly desired death, now that she had
had a taste of it began to repent that she had been so foolish, and
caught hold of the sea-beaten chest, which after long tossing in the
rough waves, at last rested on my island. Here I, wandering by chance on
the shore, espied her, and with some difficulty helped to save her from
the jaws of death, which threatened to swallow her up. In recompense for
this she then bestowed on me those goods which fortune had given her,
together with herself, a free gift—both goodly portions, but herself the
better of the two.
[Illustration: A man carrying a woman in his arms through shallow water
near a shoreline.]
“In this coffer which she brought with her we found great treasure,
which we took as our own, and so considered it. But this other damsel,
Philtera, my brother’s wife, pretends now that the treasure belongs to
herself, that she transported the same by sea, to bring it to her newly
made husband, but suffered shipwreck by the way. Whether it be so or not
I cannot say. But whether it indeed be so or not, this I do say, that
whatsoever good or ill Providence or fortune throws to me, not purposely
wronging any one else, I hold as my own, and will so hold it still. And
though Amidas first won away my land, and then my love (though now that
matters little), yet he shall not also make prey of my good luck, but I
will defend it as long as ever I can.”
Bracidas, the elder brother, having thus spoken, the younger one
followed on.
“It is quite true what my brother here has declared to you about the
land; but the dispute between us is not for that, but for this treasure,
thrown upon his shore, which I can prove, as shall appear by trial, to
belong to this lady, to whom I am married. It is well known by good
marks and perfect witnesses, and therefore it ought to be rendered to
her without denial.”