The Project Gutenberg eBook of Amadis of Gaul, Vol. IV. of IV., by Vasco Lobeira.

CHAPTER 27.

Now Arcalaus the Enchanter, had, as you have heard, stirred up King Aravigo, and Barsinan, Lord of Sansuena, and the King of the Deep Island, who had escaped from the battle of the Seven Kings, and all the lineage of Dardan the Proud, and when he knew that Amadis and King Lisuarte had collected their forces, he dispatched a Knight called Garin, who was the son of Grumen one of the Enchanter's kinsmen, whom Amadis slew when he rescued Oriana. Him he bade rest neither day nor night till he had borne the intelligence to all those Chiefs. Meantime he himself assembled the kinsmen of Dardan and all his own forces. This Garin came to King Aravigo, whom he found in Araviga the chief city of all his realm; from which all the Kings thereof were called Aravigos, because great part of their dominions lay in the land of Arabia. The King at this news without delay assembled all his forces, and they pitched their tents in the plains near Califan, which was a principal town in Sansuena. Twelve thousand Knights were they in number; there they prepared their fleet, and stored it with food in abundance, as men who were going against a strange land; and from thence they put to sea, and with a fair wind in eight days they arrived at a port in Great Britain where Arcalaus had a strong castle. Arcalaus had with him six thousand good Knights, who all hated King Lisuarte and Amadis for having hunted down and slain many of their chiefs and put them to flight themselves, like evil doers as they were. I cannot tell you the joy there was at this meeting. So as Arcalaus had learnt from his spies, that the King and Amadis were advancing to meet each other, he set forth without delay. Barsinan led the van; he was a young Knight and strong, eager to revenge the deaths of his father and of his brother Gandalot, and to show his own prowess. He had under him archers and cross-bowmen and two thousand Knights. Arcalaus, who, as you may well believe, was not inferior to him in great strength and courage, led the second division. Though half his right hand was lopt off, yet could there hardly be found a better Knight in arms, if his ill deeds had not taken away all the renown which his hardihood gained. He led on six hundred Knights, and two thousand four hundred whom King Aravigo gave him. King Aravigo himself and that other King of the Deep Island, led the third detachment with all the other forces, and they had with them six Knights all akin to Brontaxar Danfania, whom Amadis slew in the battle of the Seven Kings, as is recorded in the third book of this history. These six Knights came from the Sagittary Island, where it is said the Sagittaries at first made their habitation; and they were huge in body, and strong, like those who were descended in a right line from the hugest and most valiant giants that were ever in this world. These Knights when they heard of such great preparations, came by their own good will to revenge the death of that Brontaxar, who was the chief of all their lineage; and also to prove themselves against those Knights of whom such renown was gone abroad. For these causes they came to King Aravigo, who greatly rejoiced at their coming, and besought them to go in his division, the which they promised, though against their will; for it was their wish to have been in the front of the battle.

At this time the Duke of Bristol arrived: he, though he had been required by Arcalaus, would not at first engage, thinking what he said was rash and ill advised; but when he saw so great a power assembled, he then thought it his wisest course to join them, that he might revenge the death of his father, whom Don Galvanes and Agrayes and Olivas slew; and also that he might recover the lands which had been forfeited by his father's death. He had conceived that if Lisuarte was put to the worst, he should regain his inheritance; but if Amadis was defeated, then should he be revenged upon those who had so injured him. When King Aravigo and the other chiefs knew who he was, they were more joyful of his coming, because he was a native of the land, and had towns and castles therein, than they would have been if a foreigner had joined them with a greater force. King Aravigo gave him five hundred Knights in addition to his own force; and in this array they set forward, marching by bye ways, that they might be the more secure.