Transcriber's Notes: The Table of Contents is at the end of this volume.A complete list of corrections as well as other notes follows the text.
Amadis of Gaul,
by
IN FOUR VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
Printed by N. Biggs, Crane-court, Fleet-street,
FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND O. REES, PATERNOSTER
ROW.
1803.
Amadis and Galaor were within two leagues of London when they sawArdian the Dwarf coming towards them as fast as horse could gallop.Never trust me, quoth Amadis, if he comes not with the news of somegreat mishap to seek us. Presently the Dwarf came up and related allhis tidings, and how Oriana was carried away. Holy Mary, help me! criedAmadis: which way did they take her?—By the city is the nearest road.Amadis immediately spurred his horse, and gallopped amain towardsLondon, so confounded with the terror of this news that he never spokeword to Galaor, who followed him full speed. They passed close by thetown without stopping a minute, only Amadis enquired of all he sawwhich way the Princess had been taken; but as Gandalin passed under thewindows where the Queen and [2]her Ladies were, the Queen called him,and threw the King's sword to him, which was the best sword that everKnight girded on; take it to your Master, quoth she, and God speed himwith it! and tell Galaor that the King went from hence with a Damselthis morning, and is not yet returned, and we know not where she hasled him. Gandalin took the sword and rode as fast as he could afterAmadis, who coming to a brook missed the bridge in his hurry, andforcing the horse to leap the tired animal fell short into the mud;then Gandalin came up to him and gave him the sword, and the horsewhich he himself rode. Presently they turned aside from the road tofollow the track of horsemen, and there they saw some woodmen, whoasked them if they came from London, for if a Knight and a Damsel bemissing there, said they, we have seen an adventure; and then theytold them what they had beheld. Who is it that has taken them? quothAmadis; for he knew it was Lisuarte by the description. They answered,the Damsel who led the Knight here called loudly for Arcalaus. LordGod! quoth Amadis: let me but find that traitor!—The woodmen then toldthem how the party had separated, and said that one of the five Knightswho went with the Damsel was the biggest Knight they had ever seen.Amadis knew that that was [3]Arcalaus; and bidding Galaor follow wherethe King went, he spurred on after Oriana. By sunset the horse couldcarry him no farther, and he being greatly distressed, saw a little tothe right of the road a Knight lying dead, and a Squire by him holdinghis horse. Who slew that Knight? cried Amadis. A traitor that passedby, carrying the fairest Damsel in the world by force, and he slew mymaster only for asking who they were, and here is no one to help meto remove the body.—My Squire shall help you: give me your master'shorse: I promise to give you two better in return. He told Gandalin tofollow him after the body was disposed of, and gallopped on. Towardsday-break he came to a h