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.

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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.

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

CHAPTER VII.

Of the battle which the Child of the Sea had with Galpano and his people.....

CHAPTER VIII.

How the three Knights came to the court of King Languines, and the other Knight in the litter, and his traitorous Wife, by command of Amadis

CHAPTER IX.

How King Lisuarte sent to the house of King Languines for his daughter Oriana, and he sent her, and with her his daughter Mabilia; and how the Child of the Sea and Agrayes went to succour King Perion of Gaul...

CHAPTER X.

Of the battle which the Child of the Sea had with King Abies, and how he conquered him, whereby the war between King Abies and King Perion was concluded

CHAPTER XI.

How King Perion and Queen Elisena knew the Child of the Sea to be their son Amadis

CHAPTER XII.

How Don Galaor was made a knight by Amadis of Gaul

his brother

CHAPTER XIII.

How Don Galaor fought the Giant of the Rock of Gal

How Amadis came to the castle of Darden the Proud,

and of the words which he had with him, and of the
battle which he had with him in the court of King
Lisuarte

CHAPTER XV.

Of the funeral which King Lisuarte gave Dardan and his
Mistress, and what Amadis did meanwhile..........

CHAPTER XVI.

How Amadis made himself known to King Lisuarte, and the other knights of his court

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95

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the things which happened to Agrayes after the war

of Gaul

CHAPTER XVIII.

Of the news which Amadis had of Don Galaor his brother, and how he departed from the court of King Lisuarte to go in quest of him

CHXPTER XIX.

How Amadis fought with Angriote of Estravaus and his brother, and conquered them

CHAPTER XX.

Of the battle which Amadis had with Arcalaus the Enchanter, and how he escaped from his enchantment.

CHAPTER XXI.

How Arcalaus carried tidings to the court of King Lisuarte that Amadis was slain, and of the lamentations that were made for him

CHAPTER XXII.

Of the trick which a Knight put upon Don Galaor and
how he revenged himself; and of what happened to
Amadis in the Castle where was the fair child
Briolania

CHAPTER XXIII.

Of the cruel and hard battle between Amadis and Don
Galaor, and how they knew each other

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122

127

131

141