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

CHAPTER 30.

King Lisuarte placed in the van King Arban of North Wales, and Norandel, and Don Guilan the Pensive, and those other Knights of whom you have heard. He and King Cildadan came behind with their division to support them, and in the rear was the Emperor with all his force. King Perion gave the front to his nephew Don Brian of Monjaste; he himself and Gastiles supported him with the banner of the Emperor of Constantinople; and then came the other divisions, so arranged, that they who had borne least part of yesterday's battle, should now bear the brunt of this. When the ten armies drew nigh, the trumpet sounded, and the hosts of Don Brian and King Arban encountered with such a shock, that more than five hundred Knights were thrown, and their horses ran loose over the field. Don Brian and King Arban met; they brake their lances, and then fell to with their swords, as men who well knew their business. Norandel and Don Guilan kept together, and made great havock among their foes, and worse they would have made it, had it not been for Fileno, a kinsman of Don Brian, who, collecting a body of Spanish Knights, charged so hotly in that part where they fought, that, maugre all their efforts, they made them give back, and then the tumult became so great, that King Arban and Don Brian were separated by the throng. Each of those Knights then did his best; but the Spaniards being more in number, and better horsed, had soon so greatly the advantage, that their enemies would all have been cut off, if King Lisuarte and King Cildadan had not advanced to help them: their coming retrieved the loss. King Perion, who saw the wrath with which Lisuarte advanced, then said to Gastiles, Now, my good Sir, let us go on, and let us alway look to the standard, and then they made their onset. King Lisuarte received them like a man whose heart never failed; you may believe, that, without doubt, there was no Knight in his time who more bravely adventured his person whenever his honour was concerned, as you have seen throughout this great history.

Who can tell the feats of chivalry that were now wrought, when so many were engaged together. Certes it would be impossible for any one who would speak the truth. For so many good Knights were now slain and wounded, that the horses could not set foot to ground without trampling on them. King Lisuarte, like a man who esteemed his life as nothing, thrust so bravely among his enemies, that there was scarcely any man who would dare abide him. King Perion in another part, as he was doing wonders, encountered King Cildadan; but they, because they knew each other, would not engage, but past on, each felling down his opponents. So great was the uproar, that the Emperor thought his friends were in danger, and gave orders to his troops to make their attack. Upon that all the remainder of the army came up, at the same time the rest of King Perion's army advanced, and then the whole of both hosts were engaged, and now were they all so intermingled, that no one could attend to his leader. They were so thronged that there was no room to strike, not even with the sword, but by force of hand they plucked their enemies down, and in that affray they who were trampled to death under the horses' feet, were more in number than they who perished by the sword. The uproar and noise were so great, as well of voices as of the din of arms, that all the vallies of the mountain rung, and it seemed as if the whole world were there assembled in arms; and of a truth you may believe, not that the whole world, but that the most part and the flower of Christendom was there, which that day suffered so great a loss, that it did not for long time recover therefrom. This should be a warning to all Christian Princes to take heed how for their errors they make the innocent perish thus; for peradventure, because of their innocence, they who are slain go to a happy place, and a worse and more perilous death remains for those who caused the destruction, though at the time they escape.

Agrayes, who alway was seeking King Lisuarte, now saw that he had just broke his lance in overthrowing Dragonis, whom he was about to strike with the sword. Upon this Agrayes cries out, At me! at me! King Lisuarte! for I am the man who most hateth thee. The King turned, and seeing him, they made at each other with such fury, that they met too closely to strike. Agrayes then let his sword hang by the chain, and grappled with him. Now, as you have heard heretofore, Agrayes was the most impetuous Knight, and of the best heart of any that lived in his time; and if his strength had been equal to his courage, there would not have been a better Knight in the world, and as it was he was one of the good men. So they grappled then, and struggled each to overthrow the other; and Agrayes would have found himself in danger, for the King was of greater stature and strength than he, if King Perion had not come up, and with him Florestan, and Landin, and Enil, and many other Knights. They came to help Agrayes, and on the other side Don Guilan and Norandel, and Brandoyuas, and Giontes, who always kept a watchful eye upon the King. Sword in hand they all came up, for their lances had long been broken, both parties striving to succour their friends; but the King and Agrayes grappled so closely that they could not separate them, neither could the one overthrow the other, for both were upheld by their comrades. As the press of the battle was now round about them, the uproar brought thither many Knights on both sides; among others Don Quadragante came up, and seeing what it was, he forced his way through. He would not strike at the King, lest the blow should wound Agrayes, but he laid hold on him, and plucked so smartly, that he had well nigh overthrown both, and though the Knights of Lisuarte laid on him a heavy load of blows, yet would he not loose his hold. At this time King Arban, came up, who till now had been with the Emperor, and seeing the King's danger, he was greatly dismayed, but he thrust forward and seized Quadragante forcibly in his arms; and thus they were all four entangled, and round about them King Perion and his Knights and Norandel and Don Guilan and their comrades all fiercely battling. While they were in this tumult the Emperor and King Cildadan came up with three thousand Knights, and Galtines and Grasandor with a great company on the other side; all these came on with such force, and the press became so great, that they who were struggling and clasped together were fain to release each other, and all four remounted on horseback, though so exhausted that they could scarcely keep their seats. But now so great a multitude thronged to the succour of King Lisuarte, that the day would have been lost, if it had not been for the great worth of King Perion and Don Quadragante and Don Florestan and the Knights with them, who valiantly bore the brunt of that assault. At this time Amadis came from the right wing of the battle, where he had slain Constancio with one blow, and broken the enemy; his sword was bloody up to the hilt, and he rode a fresh horse which he had just taken from one of the pages. Count Galtines and Gandalin and Trion came with him; and when he saw so many attacking his father, and the Emperor pushing on like a man who thought the day his own, he spurred his horse, and made so fierce an assault, that it was marvellous to behold him. Floyan knew his arms, and being fearful that if he encountered the Emperor, all his people would not be able to save him, thrust forward, adventuring his own life to save his master's. Don Florestan placed himself by the side of Amadis, and seeing Floyan, encountered him with such blows that he beat him from his horse, and what with the wound and with the crowd who trampled on him, Floyan was there slain. Amadis mean-time had set his eyes upon the Emperor and his heart upon killing him, he made at him through the throng, and maugre all resistance forced his way up to him, and dealt him a blow that made him drop his sword and reel in the saddle; before he fell, Amadis drove down the sword a second time, it came upon the shoulder, and cut through armour and flesh and bone, slicing down, so that the whole quarter hung loose, and the Emperor fell and was dead presently.

When the Romans saw their Emperor slain, they set up such a cry, that all who heard turned thither, and among the rest Arquisil and Flamineo came with many other Knights and beset Amadis and Florestan. But then Count Galtines and Gandalin and Trion called out to Don Bruneo and Angriote to join them, and they five made way to their succour. King Perion mean-time and Agrayes and Quadragante were engaged against King Lisuarte and King Cildadan, and then was the hottest fight that had been seen that day and the greatest slaughter. But now Don Brian of Monjaste and Don Gandales, who had collected about six hundred horse, made so fierce a charge in that part where Amadis was fighting, that the enemies perforce were driven back. At the great outcries which were then heard, King Arban turned his head, and seeing how the Romans were losing the field, he said to Lisuarte, Retire, Sir, or you are lost. When the King heard this, he looked round and saw that it was true; he then bade King Cildadan help him to withdraw his men in good order, that they might not be destroyed; and thus they retreated, still facing their enemies, and making head against them, till they had fallen back as far as the Romans, and then they all halted and stood their ground, for Norandel, and Don Guilan, and Cendil of Ganota, and Ladasin, and many other Knights, went to assist the Romans, they being the weakest; but all was in vain, for the battle was lost. Amadis now saw that Lisuarte had utterly lost the day, and that if he pursued his victory it would be no longer in his power to save the King, nor his own good friends who were on that side: but above all, he remembered that he was the father of Oriana, and called to mind the favours which he and his lineage had once received at his hands, and he knew that forbearance now would be to his glory and attributed to exceeding virtue, not to lack of strength, for the Romans were carrying their Emperor from the field with great lamentations, and scattered in confusion. The night was now at hand, and he resolved, though with danger of some shame, to try if he could now serve his Lady. So taking with him Count Galtines, he rode between the two armies with great peril, for his own people, now knowing their advantage, pressed so upon the foe, that none except Lisuarte, and Cildadan, and the best Knights, could now make any defence. They rode up to King Perion, and Amadis said to him, Sir, night comes on so fast that we shall soon not be able to distinguish one another, and if the battle be continued there is danger lest we slay friends as well as enemies; we had better call back the troops, the enemies have received such loss, that I believe they will not dare abide us on the morrow. The King, who was grieved in his heart to see so many perish who had no fault, replied, Let it be, son, as you have said, that there may be no farther slaughter; God, who knows all things, sees that we forbear for his sake, for they are all at our mercy. Agrayes, whom Amadis did not see, was near King Perion, and heard all that was said: how, Sir Cousin, quoth he, now that you have conquered your enemies, and are now on the point of becoming the most honourable Prince in the world, would you stay and spare them now? Amadis replied, Sir Cousin, I would spare our own people, lest in the darkness they should slay one another; as for the enemy, I hold them as conquered, for they can make no defence. But Agrayes, who well knew what was his intention, exclaimed, Since you will not conquer, you ought not to command, and you deserve always to be an Errant Knight, since at such a time you suffer compassion to overcome you; but do as you please! Then King Perion on one side, with Don Quadragante, who was nothing sorry for the resolution, because of King Cildadan, with whom he was so nearly connected, and whom he loved so well; and Amadis, and Gastiles, on the other side, began to recall the troops, which they did with little difficulty, for it was now night. King Lisuarte, who had no hope of recovering the field, and was resolved to die rather than be conquered, was greatly astonished to see these Knights withdraw their troops, and well knew that this was not done without some great cause, and he stood still to see what would come of it. Now when King Cildadan beheld what the enemies were about, he said to Lisuarte, I believe these people do not pursue us that they may do us honour; since it is so, let us secure our retreat, and go to rest, for it is time. This accordingly they did, for King Arban of North Wales, and Don Guilan the Pensive, and Arquisil, and Flamineo, brought off the Romans; and thus then this great battle ended, as you have heard.

Now because the beginning of all this great history was founded upon the love of King Perion and Queen Elisena, by whom this Knight Amadis was begotten, from whose love for his Lady Oriana all this great outcry hath proceeded, although it may appear somewhat from the purpose, yet reasonable it is, that for this reason, and for the excuse of those who love like them, it should be said how the strength of love is above the strength of all other things; seeing that in such an affair as this, so famous in all the world, where so many nations were assembled, and there was so great slaughter, and the honour of victory was so great, love had such power above anger and rage, and pride, and old hatred, that this Knight forewent the glory of the greatest victory in the world, whereby his enemies were saved, as you have heard, for, beyond all doubt, the destruction of King Lisuarte and all his people was then in the hand of Amadis. But it is not reasonable that this should be attributed to any other than that Lord who is the helper of all things; and we may well believe, that it was permitted by him for the sake of the great peace and concord which ensued after this great enmity, as you shall hear.

The armies being thus separated, and having retired to their camps, truce was made for two days, because the dead were so many. What trouble there was in burying them, and what mourning was made, I may be excused from relating, because the death of the Emperor made all other losses be, as it were, forgotten, and because it would be tedious.