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CHAP. IV.-How King Languines took with him Amadis, who was called the Child of the Sea, and Gandalin the son of Don Gandales.

T this time the king and Gandales entered, and the queen asked their host if that fair child was his? he answered, yes. Why, then, said she, is he called the Child of the Sea ?-Because he was born on the sea, when I returned from Brittany. Truly* he is but little like you, said the queen; and this she said because the child was beautiful to a wonder, and Gandales was more good than handsome. The king, who was looking at him likewise, bade Gandales call him, for I will take him with me, said he, and have him brought up. So let it be, said Gandales, but he is not yet of an age that he should leave his mother: then he went and brought him, and said, Child of the Sea, will you go with the king my master? Wherever you bid me, he replied, and my brother shall go with me. And I, quoth Gandalin, will not stay without him. Gandales then looked at the king; I believe, sire, you must take them both. I am the better pleased, answered the king, and calling Agrayes, my son I would have you love these boys as well as I love their father.

When Gandales saw that the Child of the Sea was placed in the hands of another, the tears came into his eyes, and he said within himself, Fair son, thou art a little one to begin to go into adventure and danger! and now I see thee in the service of those who may one day serve thee. God guard thee, and fulfil what the wise Urganda foretold, and let me live to see the great wonders which in arms are promised thee. When the king saw that his eyes were full, he said, I did not

* Por Dios is the original affirmation.

hear me.

think thou hadst been so foolish. Nor am I, answered Gandales, but if it please you, do you and the queen The rest then withdrew, and he told them how he had found the child; and he would have told what he knew from Urganda, but for his promise; and now, said he, deal ye with the child as ye ought, for as God shall save me by the way in which he came to me, I believe he is of great lineage. Then the queen said, he should be her's so long as he was of an age to obey women; and the next morning they departed, taking the children with them. Now I tell you that the queen brought up the Child of the Sea as carefully as if he had been her own son; and the trouble she took with him was not in vain, for such was his talent and so noble his nature, that better and more quickly than any besides he learnt every thing. And he was so fond of the chace, that if they would have let him, he would have been always shooting with the bow, or training the dogs. And the queen loved him so that she would scarce suffer him to be out of her sight.

Now King Perion, after consulting the clerks, abode in his kingdom, and many times he thought upon the words which the damsel had spoken, yet could he not understand them. After some time, he being in his palace, there came a damsel and gave him a letter from Elisena his love, whereby she gave him to know that her father was dead, and she was unprotected, and for this cause he should pity her, for the queen of Scotland her sister was coming with her husband to take possession of the land. King Perion though he was sorrowful for Garinter's death, yet rejoiced to think that he should go for his mistress whom he never ceased to love; and he said to the damsel, Return and tell your lady that without delaying a single day, I

shall speedily be with her; and the damsel returned joyfully. The king then collecting a suitable retinue, set forth, and journied till he came to the lesser Britain, where he found news that Languines was in mastery of all the land, except those towns which her father had left to Elisena. So hearing that she was at a town called Arcarte he went there, and if he was well received need not be said, and she also by him who so dearly loved her. The king told her to call together all her friends and kindred, for he would take her to wife, the which Elisena did with great joy, for in that consisted the end of all her wishes. Now when King Languines knew the coming of King Perion, and how he would marry Elisena, he summoned all the noblemen of the land, and went with them to meet him, and when the marriage and the feasts were concluded, the kings agreed to return into their own dominions.

Perion returning with Elisena his wife, came to a river side where he would rest that night, and while the tents were erecting, he rode alone along the banks, thinking how he might learn something from Elisena about the child of whom Ungan the Picard had told him. So long went he on in this mood till he came to a hermitage, and fastening his horse to a tree, he went in to say his prayers. There was an old man within in the habit of his order, who asked him, Knight is it true that King Perion has married the daughter of our king? yea verily, answered the king. Praised be God! said the good hermit, for I know certainly that she loved him with all her heart.-How know you that? By her own mouth, said he. The king then thinking to hear of him the thing he most desired to know, made himself known, and besought the hermit to tell him all he had heard from her. Truly, sir,

answered the good man, therein should I greatly fault, and you would hold me for a heretic if I should divulge what was said in confession: suffice what I tell you, that she loves you with true and loyal love. But I would have you know what a damsel, who seemed very wise, said to me at the time when you came first into this country, and I could not understand her : That from the Lesser Britain should come two dragons, who should hold their sway in Gaul, and their hearts in Great Britain; and from hence they should go to devour the beasts of other countries, and against some they should be so fierce and furious, and against others so gracious and mild, as if they had neither talons nor hearts. The king wondered at this, which he could not understand, but there came a time when he knew the prophecy was true. So he returned to his tents. When they were in bed together, he told the queen what had been interpreted of his dream, and asked her if she had brought forth a son. The queen hearing him, had so great shame that she wished herself dead; and she altogether denied it, so that at this time the king could not learn what he desired. They continued their journey till they arrived in Gaul, and those of the land were well pleased with their queen, who was a most noble lady, and the king had by her a son and a daughter, whom he called Galaor and Melicia.

When the boy was two years and a half old, it so was, that the king his father sojourned at a town called Bangil, which was near the sea. The king was looking from a window towards the gardens, where the queen and her ladies were solacing themselves, and the child with them, who then began to walk. They saw enter through a postern-door, that went out to the sea, a giant, with a huge mace in his hand, so large

and mismade that never man saw him without affright. The women ran, some among the trees, and others fell down and shut their eyes that they might not see him. But he went straight to the child, who was left alone, and, taking him in his arms, he laughed, and said, The damsel told me true. And with that he went

out by the same way, and, entering into a bark, put to sea. The queen, who saw him carry away the child, shrieked loudly, but it nothing availed, and her grief was so great, that though the king was greatly afflicted for the loss of his son, whom he could not succour, yet, seeing there was no remedy, he went to console Elisena, who was as it were, destroying herself with excess of grief, remembering the first son that she had exposed upon the sea, and now that she saw this gone also, she made the greatest raving in the world. But Perion took her with him to their chamber; and, when she was somewhat calmed, he said to her, Now I know that what the wise men told me was true, for this was 'the last heart: so tell me all the truth, for, considering the state in which you were, you ought not to be blamed. And then the queen, though with great shame, related to him all; and he comforted her, and bade her live in hope to hear good tidings of both their sons, whom it had pleased God to take away.

This giant, who carried away the child, was a native of Leonis, and he had two castles in an island, and his name was Gandalac. He was not so wicked

as other giants, but of a gentle and good demeanour, except when he was enraged, and then would he do great cruelties. He sailed on till he came to the cape of an island, where there was a hermit: now the giant had peopled that island with Christians, and ordered alms to be given him for his support. Friend,

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