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Amadis, what manner of behaviour is this? what would ye do with the damsels ?-Make them our mistresses! So lightly think ye to win them? said he, and took his helm and shield and lance ;- -now release them! The one knight met him bravely, and broke his lance; but Amadis gave him such an attaint that he lay with his heels upwards. The second came on, and pierced through his arms, and slightly wounded Amadis. He on his part failed with his lance, but shields and horses met, and Amadis seized him and plucked him from the saddle, and dashed him down, and then rode on* with the damsels.

When at length they came near Windsor, Amadis said, fair friends, I would remain in secret here till such time as the knight come to the combat, and, when the hour is, let your squire bring me hither tidings thereof. Sir, quoth the damsel, if it please you we will remain with you; so they pitched their tents apart from the road, by the river-side. Meanwhile Amadis went upon a little eminence to look at the town, and there he sate under a tree, and looked toward the towers and the high walls, and he said in his heart, ah, God! the flower of the world is there! and thou city containest now the lady that hath no peer for goodness and beauty; and who is more loved. than all others that are loved, and that would I prove upon the best knight in the world. And in these thoughts the tears trilled down his cheeks, and he sat heedless of every thing about him. But Gandalin, who saw a troop of knights and ladies coming up, called to him, and asked if he did not see that company? he neither heard nor answered. With that

* A sword combat with the same knights, who followed to revenge themselves, is omitted.

Gandalin took him by the arm,-So help me God, sir, you afflict yourself more than need is; take courage as you do in other things! Ah, Gandalin, quoth he, you had better counsel me to die, than to endure this hopeless sorrow! Then could not the squire refrain from lamenting. This excessive love is a great misfortune; as God shall help me, I do not think that there is any one, how good and beautiful soever she may be, who can equal your worth, or whom you might not have. At this was Amadis greatly enraged: Go, idiot! said he, how dare you talk so madly? if ever you again repeat such thoughts, you shall go no farther with me. Dry your eyes, said Gandalin, and let not them who are coming see you thus! It was the lady coming to her trial, weeping and lamenting as she went, for there was none to defend her right.

On the day of the trial the damsels rose at dawn, and told Amadis that they would go before to the town, and send him word when it was time to appear. He rode with them to the edge of the forest, and there awaited. By this it was sunrise, and King Lisuarte with a goodly company went out to the field which was between the city and the forest; and there came Dardan, well armed and on a fair courser, leading the bridle of his lady, who was as richly adorned as she could be; and thus they stopped before King Lisuarte. And Dardan said, Sir, command that this lady have. that which is her own delivered to her; or, if there be a knight to gainsay it, I am ready to combat him. Lisuarte then called the dame, and asked her if she was provided with a champion. She answered, No; and wept; and the king greatly pitied her, for she was a virtuous lady. So Dardan entered the lists, to remain there till the hour of tierce; by which time,

if no champion appeared, the king was to pronounce judgment in his favour, according to the custom. Then one of the damsels hastened to call Amadis, and he took his arms and told the damsels and Gandalin that if he sped well he would return to them in the tents, and with that he rode on, on his white courser. When the king saw the knight approach, how firmly he rode and his arms how fair they were and his horse how goodly a one, he marvelled who he might be, and asked the dame, who was brought to trial, if she knew the knight who came to defend her cause. I never saw him before, quoth she, nor know I who he is. By this, Amadis entered the lists and rode up to his enemy, Dardan, defend your lady's cause, as I shall maintain and acquit the promise which I made thee ! And what didst thou promise me? quoth Dardan.— To fight thee, and that was when thou toldest me thy name, and hadst dealt with me villainously. I make the less account of thee now, said Dardan; And I, said Amadis, care less for thy words, for I am about to have vengeance. Let the dame then, replied Dardan, accept thee for her champion, and avenge thyself if thou canst. The king then came up; the dame was asked if she would admit that knight for her defender. She replied, Yes, and God reward him! Lisuarte saw that the shield of Amadis was pierced in many places, and that the rim had many sword cuts, and he said, if the knight demanded another shield, he could lawfully give him one; but Amadis was in no temper for delay, for he remembered the insults he had received. They ran their course, both lances pierced through shield and armour and shivered, but without wounding; their horses and shields met, and Dardan was thrown, but he held the rein fast, and sprung readily

upon the horse again, and drew his sword, and they attacked each other so fiercely that all who beheld them were astonished. The town's people were on the towers and on the wall and wherever else they could see the combat, and the windows of the queen's palace, which were above the wall, were full of dames and damsels, all marvelling at the valour of the combatants, for the fire flew from their helmets as if they were all ablaze, and plates and splinters fell on all sides from their shields and mail, and neither a whit abated of his courage. King Lisuarte had been himself in many a hard conflict and seen many a one, but all appeared nothing to this. This is the bravest combat, said he, that ever man hath seen, and I will have the conqueror's image placed over my palace gate, that all who are desirous to gain honour may behold it.

But before the hour of tierce it was evident that Dardan's force failed, though Amadis was nothing abated of his strength, only his horse was faint, and Dardan's also stumbled, and he, thinking to have the advantage on foot, said to Amadis, Knight, our horses fail us for fatigue: if we were on foot I should soon conquer thee. This he said so loud that the king and all with him could hear; and Amadis, somewhat ashamed at the threat, answered, Alight then! though a knight should never leave his horse while he can sit on it. Then alighting they both took what of their shields remained, and assailed each other more fiercely than before; but Amadis now prest on him, and Dardan retreated and staggered, and sometimes bent his knees, so that all the beholders said he had committed a great folly in proposing to fight on foot; and he still giving back from the sword of Amadis, came under the queen's window, and there was a cry there, "Holy

Mary, Dardan is slain !" and Amadis heard among them the voice of the damsel of Denmark. Then he looked up, and saw his lady Oriana at the window, and the damsel by her: that sight so overcame him that the sword hung loose in his hand, and he continued looking up regardless of his situation. Dardan, recovering by this respite, noticed his confusion and took heart again; and, lifting the sword with both hands, smote him on the helmet so that it was twisted on his head. Amadis did not return the blow, he only placed his helmet right again, and with that Dardan laid on him at all parts, and he feebly defended himself, and Dardan's courage increased. Then cried the damsel of Denmark, In an ill minute did that knight look up and see one here who made him forget himself when his enemy was at the point of death! Certes such a knight ought not to fail in such a time! At these words Amadis had such shame that willingly would he have been dead lest his lady should suspect there was any cowardice in him, and he struck a blow at Dardan that brought him down; and plucked his helmet off, and held the sword to his face,-Dardan, you are dead, unless you yield the cause! Mercy, knight quoth he, and I yield it. Then the king came up; but Amadis, for the shame of what had befallen him, would make no tarriance, but sprung to his horse, and rode the fastest that he could into the forest.

The mistress of Dardan, who saw him so rudely handled, came up to him now and said, Seek now, Dardan, some other mistress, for I will neither love thee nor any other than that good knight who overcame thee! What! said Dardan, have I been so wounded and conquered in your quarrel, and now you

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