CHAP. 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.

IFTEEN days Galaor abode in the monastery

before his wounds were healed; then he

departed, and rode where chance guided him. About midday he came to a fountain in a valley, and by the fountain was an armed knight, having no horse, nor other beast. Marvelling thereat, Galaor said to him, Sir knight, how came you thus afoot? The knight answered, in riding toward my castle I fell in with fellows who slew my horse, so that I must walk home, though sorely tired, for my people know not my case. Not so, replied Galaor, you shall have my squire's beast. I thank you, sir, quoth the knight; but, before we depart hence, you shall know the virtue of this fountain, which is such that no poison, however strong, hath any force against the water. Beasts that have been poisoned immediately recover by drinking here, and all the people of the district come hither, and find relief for their infirmities. In sooth you tell me wonders, said Galaor, and I will alight and taste it. The knight replied, Good reason you should, being near that which. you ought to seek from afar.

Galaor dismounted, and bade his squire alight and drink as he did, and he placed his arms against a tree. Go and drink, said the knight, and I will hold your horse; and while they were drinking, he put on Galaor's helmet, took his lance, and mounted and rode away, saying, Farewell, sir knight, you must stay here till you trick another as I have tricked you. knave, quoth Galaor, thou shalt repent this! You

Ah,

must provide yourself with horse and arms first, said the traitor.

So

Gone is the knight so fast as he could gallop, and Galaor in great wrath followed in the same tract upon the squire's palfrey. At length he came to a double way, and knowing not which to take, stood still in perplexity. Presently there came up a damsel, riding more than apace, of whom he demanded if she had seen a knight on a bay horse, bearing a white shield with a vermilion flower.-And what would you with him? I would recover my horse and arms which he has stolen; and he told her what had happened. How, said she, would you recover them being disarmed? Only let me find him! quoth Galaor.-Well, grant me a boon, and I will bring you to him. she rode on, and Galaor after her; but the damsel was foremost, for Galaor's palfrey could not keep up with her, carrying both him and his squire, and they rode three leagues without seeing her. Then they met her returning, for the false knight was her paramour, and she had been advising with him how he might spoil Galaor of his armour. So she led Galaor to a tent, where the knight was ready to kill him without danger. Galaor alighted; the knight stood at the entrance of the tent, and exclaimed, Give me now the rest of your armour or I will slay thee! Certes, quoth Galaor, I cannot fear such a knave as thou art; and, avoiding his blow, he smote him so manfully upon the head as made him put knee to earth, and then griped his helmet and plucked it off; and the knight cried aloud to his leman for help. She hastily drawing nigh, called to Galaor to hold, for that was the boon which she required; but she spoke too late, for Galaor in his anger had already made him in

a state that needed no surgeon. Wretch that I am! said she, in beguiling another I have deceived myself, An ill death kill thee, knight! I will claim thy boon so that thou shalt die for it; and, if thou shouldst refuse to grant it, I will every where proclaim thee and shame thee. Damsel, said Galaor, you spoke too late, else would I have spared him, though he well deserved death. Then mounting, he rode on. After some time he looked and saw that she was following him whither go you? said he.--In your company, which I will not leave, till I have found opportunity to demand my boon, and make thee die an evil death. -Lady, you had better choose some other atonement. -Nothing but thy life for his. So they rode on for three days; the damsel perpetually reviling him, and then they entered the forest of Angaduza.

After Amadis had taken leave of Urganda's damsels, about noon he left the forest, and came out upon a plain, wherein there was a goodly castle, and in the plain there was a chariot, the richest that ever he saw, drawn by twelve palfreys, and covered with crimson sattin, so that he could see nothing within. The chariot was guarded by eight knights on each side. As Amadis approached to see what it might be, one of the knights bade him keep off. I have no ill intent, said Amadis. Be that as it may, quoth the knight, you shall not approach. You are not such that you ought to see what goes there; and if you persist you must do battle with us. Each singly would be enough, how much more altogether! Then he of Gaul took his arms, and sped so well that there soon remained only one enemy to deal with; his helmet he smote off, and when Amadis saw under it the face of an old man, and the grey hairs, he drew back. Sir

knight, quoth he, you should now leave this pursuit, for if you have not before won honour, your age excuses you now. Nay, friend, replied the old knight, the young must fight to obtain renown, and the old to preserve what they have won. Your words, sir knight, are wiser than mine, said Amadis; and he advanced to the chariot, and lifted up the hangings : within it he saw a marble monument, having the figure of a crowned king thereon in royal robes, but the crown was cleft to the head, and the head down to the neck. There was also a dame sitting on a couch, and by her a young maiden of most excellent beauty. I pray ye tell me, madam, said he, what figure is this. She seeing that he was not of her company, replied, who gave thee permission to look here?—None other than my desire thus to do.—And my knights, what did they? More harm to me than good, said Amadis. Then the lady in years lifted the curtain and saw her knights, some laying dead, some endeavouring to catch their horses, and she was greatly moved, and said to Amadis, Cursed be the hour in which thou, who hast done such devilries, wert born! Lady, he replied, your knights attacked me. I beseech you tell me the meaning of this.-As God shall help me, you shall never learn it from me whom you have so injured. And when Amadis beheld how wroth she was, he departed and went his way.

The knights of the lady then placed their dead comrades in the chariot, and went towards the castle with great shame. Amadis meantime rode on, and when he had gone about a league, he saw the old knight riding after him, who called to him to stop. The lady whom you saw, said he, sends to you, and requests you will lodge in her castle to-night, that she

may make amends for her discourtesy. Gentle sir, quoth Amadis, she was so moved that meseems my presence should cause her more wrath than pleasure. Believe me, answered the knight, she will rejoice in your return. Amadis seeing the knight was of an age that should not lie, and won by his manner, turned back with him. On the way he asked the meaning of the figure, but the knight would not resolve him; and when they drew near the castle, the old man rode on to inform his lady of her guest. Amadis slowly followed to the gate, over which there was a tower, and he saw the lady and the young damsel at one of the tower windows, and the lady said to him, Enter, sir knight, for we greatly rejoice at your coming. He answered, Lady, I rejoice to obey rather than displease you; and entered the castle. Presently there was a great stir within, and many knights and armed men came out and beset him, crying, yield or thou art dead! Certes, quoth he, I will not willingly enter the prison of such false ones! and with that he laced his helm; but his shield he could not take, because of the press there was upon him. They struck at him on all sides; he nevertheless worthily defended himself so long as his horse could stand, felling at his feet all whom he could reach with a fair blow; but his horse being slain, and he himself sorely prest, he made toward a shed which was in the court, and there by the wall defended himself to better advantage. Gandalin and the dwarf were taken in his sight, which the more inflamed him; but his enemies were so many, and laid on such heavy load, that sometimes he was upon his knees, and he saw no way of escaping death, and they would shew him no mercy, because he had slain and grievously