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I should have abridged from the English translation had it been accurate, that the character of the language might have assimilated better with the work. But the English version, which bears date as late as 1618, a century after the publication of the book in Spain, has been made from the French; every trait of manners which were foreign to D'Herberay, or obsolete in his time, is accordingly omitted, and all the foolish anachronisms and abominable obscenities of the Frenchman are retained. I kept my eye upon it as I proceeded, for the purpose of preserving its language where it was possible. A modern style would have altered the character of the book; as far as was in my power I have avoided that fault, not by intermixing obsolete words, but by rendering the original structure of sentence as literally as was convenient, and by rejecting modern phraseology and forms of period. It cannot be supposed that I have uniformly succeeded in this attempt: the old wine must taste of the new cask.

The names which have a meaning in the original have not been translated. I have used Beltenebros instead of the Beautiful Darkling, or the Fair Forlorn; Florestan instead of Forester; El Patin instead of the Emperor Gosling; as we speak of Barbarossa, not Red-Beard; Bocanegra, not Black Muzzle; St. Peter, not Stone the Apostle.

The praise of accuracy is all to which I lay claim for the present work; and that I claim con

fidently. Perhaps others may not see the beauties which I perceive; the necessity of dwelling upon every sentence has produced in me a love for the whole. The reader will pass rapidly where I have lingered and loitered; he who drives post through a country sees not the same beauties as the foottraveller. But the merit of the work itself is not now to be ascertained, the verdict of ages has decided that. Amadis of Gaul is among prose, what Orlando Furioso is among metrical romances, not the oldest of its kind, but the best.

CONTENTS.

Book the First.

CHAPTER I.

The Introduction and Beginning of this History

CHAPTER II.

How Amadis was begotten and born

CHAPTER III.

How King Perion went to his own country, and of what

befell him. And how Urganda met Don Gandales
and of that which she said to him

CHAPTER IV.

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

CHAPTER V.

How King Lisuarte sailing towards Great Britain took port in the kingdom of Scotland, and how the Child of the Sea was made Knight by King Perion, without their knowing each other.

Page

1

6

12

21

26

CHAPTER VI.

How Urganda gave the lance to the Child of the Sea, and how he delivered King Perion from those who would have slain him

35

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