Amadis of Gaul, Vol. 4

by Vasco de Lobeira

up as fast as he could, he looked over the plain, and presently saw the fires; he then called the guide, and pointed them out, and asked him if he could lead the way thither; the man answered that he could. Then they hastened back to Amadis and told him this; lead on then, said he, as fast as possible, for the night is far spent. So they moved forward, and at length came within sight of the fires of Aravigo's camp. If that pleased them need not be said, but especially the brave Amadis, who never in his life was so desirous to fulfil adventure, that King Lisuarte might know, how under God, he it was who helped and supported him in all his dangers; for he knew the King could not escape death or captivity without his aid, and had resolved, after having saved him, to return without seeing or speaking to him. The morning now began to break, and they were yet a league from the town.

Now when it was day light, King Aravigo and all his Knights prepared joyfully for the contest, and went up to the battlements. Lisuarte and his people bravely defended themselves, but at length, the enemy being so many, and encouraged by success, and these on the King's side few, and

for the most part wounded and disheartened, they could not prevent them from entering the town with a mighty shout. Then was the uproar great in the streets, where the King and his Knights obstinately defended themselves; and the women and children, and they who could no way else assist, helped them from the windows. The sword-strokes fell so fast, and the arrows and stones flew about so, and such an outcry was there, as none could have beheld without dismay. As King Lisuarte and his Knights saw that they were lost, and feared more to be taken than slain, no one can tell the feats they performed, and the blows they dealt about; and their enemies dared not come near them, but prest on them with lances and stones. On the other side, where King Cildadan, and Arquisil, and Flamineo, and Norandel were opposed to King Aravigo, you may well assure yourself they were not idle; and there was a brave battle, till at length Aravigo and Arcalaus, and the six Knights of the Sagittary Island, made good the entrance. Two of these Knights King Aravigo sent by a traverse through the streets, to help the division of Barsinan and the Duke of Bristol. He went with the other four against Cildadan, saying to them, now my friends is the time to satisfy your wrath, and

revenge the death of the noble Knight Brontaxar Danfania, for here you see those who slew him: fall on them for they can make no defence! These four Knights then drew their large swords, and furiously advanced through their own people, striking them down to clear the way, till they came up to King Cildadan and his comrades. He, brave and resolute as he was, could not chuse but fear, seeing how huge and terrible they were, and he said to his friends, fall on Sirs, we shall die worthily here, but in such sort, that if we can, these shall go before us. With that they made at each other like men who were determined to slay or be slain. One of the four Knights made at King Cildadan, and struck at his helmet, thinking to cleave his head in twain. The King saw the blow, and raised his shield, the sword went through the rim, and pierced so deep, that when the Knight attempted to draw it out, he plucked away the shield with it. King Cildadan who was used to such danger, lost neither his courage nor his thought, but gave it him on the arm, which, by reason of the weight of the shield hanging from his sword, he could not so speedily draw back; it was such a blow as cut through the mail and the whole arm, and left it dangling by a bit of flesh: the sword fell at his feet, and the Knight

drew back like a maimed man. The King then went to help his companions, who were bravely combating the other three, and by his coming, and the sight of that blow which he had given, the enemy were somewhat dismayed: and they defended the street so well, that they received little hurt there, though King Aravigo was calling out not to leave a man alive.

The other two Knights were now come up to the other battle; when they arrived, King Lisuarte and his Knights were retiring to the crossing of a street, where some of his people were standing idle, because the street itself was so narrow, that they could not find room to fight; there at the crossing they stopt, but all was in vain, for so few were they, and their arms so hacked away, and they themselves so wounded, that in less than half an hour they must all have been killed or taken, if it had not pleased God to help them by the coming of Amadis. Amadis had spurred on from day-break; when he came up and saw the enemy in the town, and others still without the walls, he charged them, and beat all who came in his way, and he through one gate, and Quadragante through the other, entered with their people, shouting out, Gaul! Gaul! Ireland! Ireland!

The enemy were unprepared and without order, so that a great slaughter was made among them, and many took refuge in the houses. They who were fighting in the front heard the uproar, and the war-cries, and immediately they thought that King Lisuarte was succoured; and they were dismayed, and knew not what to do, whether to continue the battle where they were, or to turn back and help their people. King Lisuarte also hearing this, and seeing how his enemies waxed faint, took heart, and began to hearten his comrades; and they bestirred themselves so bravely, that they made their enemies give ground till they met those who were flying before Amadis, and then they had no remedy but to place themselves back to back, and defend themselves. King Aravigo and Arcalaus, seeing how the day was lost, got into a house, for they had not courage to die in battle, and they were soon taken. Amadis was now dealing about such blows, that none dared meet him, except the two Knights of the Sagittary Island, who advanced against him. He, though he saw what mighty men they were, was nothing dismayed, but raised his good sword, and gave the one such a blow upon the helmet, that strong as he was, he came on both his knees; Amadis thrust him backward and passed by him; and

seeing how Florestan and Angriote had overthrown the other, he left him to the care of his people, and they three went on towards Barsinan and the Duke of Bristol, who were now so hardly prest by King Lisuarte, that seeing nothing but death before them, the one ran to Amadis, and the Duke of Bristol to Florestan, crying for mercy. These chiefs being thus taken, Amadis looked and saw King Lisuarte, and that there was no farther resistance there; so with his prisoners he turned back to aid Quadragante, but on the way he learnt that that Knight had already done his work, and had taken King Aravigo and Arcalaus; and then he said to Gandalin, go tell Don Quadragante, that I am leaving town, and that as he has finished too, we should depart without seeing King Lisuarte: and he took horse himself, and made his people mount.

When Lisuarte saw how his life had been saved, and that his enemies were destroyed or taken, he was so astonished that he knew not what to say, and he called to Don Guilan who was near him and said, How is all this, and who are these who have done us so much good? Who can it be, sir, replied Guilan, but the same as usual? No other than Amadis of Gaul, for you heard his