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

CHAPTER 35.

King Aravigo might have overtaken Lisuarte, if it had not been for the advice of Arcalaus, and the night came on so dark now that they could not see each other: so they continued their march all night, Esclavor and the ten with him, and forty others whom his uncle had sent to strengthen them, being as it were mingled with the rear of Lisuarte's army. Thus they proceeded till the day dawned, and then they saw that they were near each other, and at little distance from the town. Then King Lisuarte, like a brave prince as he was, halted, and divided his men into two bodies; the one he gave to King Cildadan, and with him were Norandel, and King Arban of North Wales, and Don Guilan, and Cendil of Ganota, and about two thousand Knights: in the other, Arquisil and Flamineo with the Romans, and Giontes, and Brandoyuas, and about six thousand Knights. If these two divisions had been well armed, and their horses fresh, they would not have had much to fear from their enemies; but it was otherwise, for their arms were broken in the former battle, and their horses spent, as well with their former fatigue as with the present, having now travelled day and night with little respite.

King Aravigo had placed Barsinan in the van with two thousand Knights, and as soon as it was light enough the two armies attacked each other, with so fierce an encounter that many were overthrown. Barsinan broke his lance, and laid hand to his sword, and dealt his blows around like a brave man who was in great anger. Norandel who was among the foremost met an uncle of Barsinan who had governed the land during his minority, and he smote him so rudely that the lance went through shield and breast-plate and came out between his shoulders, and he fell dead. King Cildadan also and Don Guilan and King Arban played their part so well, that the host of Barsinan would have been discomfited if Arcalaus had not advanced to their succour. Though he had lost half of his right hand by a stroke which Amadis had given him when he was called Beltenebros, he had now by practice learnt to use the left as well; and at his coming Barsinan and his company took heart again, and many of King Lisuarte's Knights were slain, or badly wounded, or overthrown. Great deeds in arms did Arcalaus then atchieve, like one who was valiant and strong, and at that hour you might have seen wonders done by King Cildadan, and Norandel, and Don Guilan, and Cendil of Ganota; for they were the shield and rampart of the army; but all would have been of no avail, for the enemies were so many and fresh, if King Lisuarte, who never in any danger, how great soever, failed to do his duty, had not advanced; he, desirous rather to die than fail in his devoir, pricked forward before his men. The first man whom he met was brother to that Alumas, the cousin of Dardan, whom Florestan slew by the Fountain of the Elms; him he thrust through with his lance; and his Knights in like manner gave the enemy so hot a charge as made them give back. The King laid hand to sword, and gave such blows that no man who received one of them full had ever need of a surgeon. In that hour he was so enraged, that having no regard to danger, he thrust himself among the thickest of the enemy. Arcalaus had before procured information of what arms he wore, that he might know him in the field and do him the worst hurt he could, for this was his custom; and when he saw him advanced thus far before his men, he went to Barsinan, and said, Your enemy is before you, if you slay him the business is done; do you not see what King Lisuarte is doing? Barsinan then took ten Knights, and crying out to Arcalaus, Now have at him! and he or we shall perish! they beset the King on all sides, and beat him from his horse. Now Filispinel and the twenty Knights who had gone with him to spy the enemy, had promised to keep company in the battle, and he seeing the King fall, exclaimed, O Sirs, now is the time to die with the King! They forced their way up to him, and found that two Knights were grappling with him, who had thrown themselves on him before he could rise, and that they had forced his sword from him. At this they assailed Arcalaus and his men so fiercely, that they made them fall back; but so many of the enemy collected at the call of Arcalaus, that the King would certes have been slain, if the good Knight King Cildadan, and Arquisil, and Norandel, and Brandoyuas, with a good company of Knights, had not come up. Norandel, seeing in what danger the King was, dismounted, and smiting at those who still held the King, recovered for him his good sword, and placing it in his hand, said, mount my horse, Sir! This the King did, but he would not move from thence till Brandoyuas had gotten another horse for Norandel, and then they joined their men, who fought so well, that the enemy began to give way, and Arcalaus called to one of his Knights, ask King Aravigo why he would suffer me to be slain?

When King Aravigo heard this message, he replied, I saw that he needed succour, but waited till the enemy should advance farther from the town; howbeit, as he desires it, let us go on. The trumpets then sounded, and he advanced with all his people, and with the six Knights from the Sagittary Island. He found King Lisuarte's men so weary and heated, that he made his attack safely and with great slaughter; and the six Knights did wonders, in slaying and beating down all whom they encountered; so that by reason of their prowess, and of the great force which Aravigo brought, Lisuarte's troops could no longer sustain the attack, but began to yield the field like people who were defeated. King Lisuarte himself, who saw that the day was lost, and that it could no way be recovered, took with him King Cildadan, and Norandel, and Don Guilan, and Arquisil, and certain other the best Knights, and stood forward before the rest of the army, whom he ordered to retreat into the town. What shall I say? in this flight and defeat the King exerted himself so to defend his people, that never had his prowess been so manifested since he was made Knight, as it was that day: and all those Knights that were with him did their devoir well; but at length with great loss, many being slain, many taken, and others wounded, they were driven to the gates of the town, and there, as they crowded to get through, and the enemy pressed upon them in pursuit, a greater slaughter was made. King Arban and Don Grumedan with the banner of the King, were both beaten from their horses, and taken there, and so also would King Lisuarte himself have been, if some of his people had not held him fast, and dragged him per force within the gates, and then the gates were shut; but they who escaped were very few.

The enemies fell back, for they within shot at them with bows and arbalists, and they carried with them King Arban of North Wales, and Don Grumedan, with Lisuarte's banner. Arcalaus was for putting them without delay to death; but King Aravigo said, let us wait till we have taken King Lisuarte and the rest, and then with your accord and the advice of these other Chiefs, we will bring them all to justice; he then set a guard upon them to keep them carefully. Thus, as you have heard, was King Lisuarte conquered, and the greater part of his army slain or taken, and he and the remainder blocked up in that weak town, where he expected nothing but death. King Aravigo now took counsel with the Chiefs of his army how they should proceed; then were there many opinions, as is usual after such victories, when the success is so good, that the conquerors know not how to make good, better. Some said, it would be well now to make preparations for the attack of the town, and mean time set guards around, that Lisuarte might not escape. Others were for an immediate attack, before they within could make any preparations for defence, saying, That being now defeated and disheartened, they could easily be destroyed. When King Aravigo had heard these opinions, they all looked for his which they would follow, because he was the chief and head of the enterprise. Good Sirs, and honourable Knights, said he, I have always heard that men ought to follow up good fortune when it comes; therefore let Barsinan and the Duke of Bristol go with their people to the other side of the town, and I, and Arcalaus, and the King of the Deep Island, will remain with our forces here, and let us all attack the enemy without delay, before the darkness comes on, for we shall have but two hours more of the Sun. If we do not carry the city in this attack, we will fall back, and the army may take their rest till day-break, and then we will again assail; but I myself promise to you all, that I will never take enjoyment till I have them in my power; on the word of a King I promise, that his death or mine shall befal to-morrow. At this were all those Lords greatly encouraged and rejoiced; and as King Aravigo had sworn, even so also did they swear: forthwith they ordered food to be dealt, and made their men eat and drink, and told them that now they were on the point of becoming rich and fortunate, if their own want of courage did not prevent them. This done, Barsinan, and the Duke of Bristol, with half the army, went to the other side of the town, and the other half remained, and they all alighted now, and at the sound of the trumpet prepared for the assault.

King Lisuarte, when he escaped into the town, took no rest, for he saw his destruction was at hand, yet, though he knew that the place could not long be defended, he determined to do his best till his ill fortune was fulfilled, and die like a Knight, rather than fall into the hands of his mortal enemies. The townsmen brought food to him and his soldiers, and when he had ate, he placed his Knights and all the people of the town on such parts of the wall as were weakest, telling them, that, under God, their safety and lives were in their own hands and hearts; but such men were they, that they needed no one to make them do their duty, for every one expected to die like the King his master. Presently the enemy came fiercely on, like conquerors, covered with their shields, with lances they who had them unbroken, others sword in hand, and the archers and cross-bowmen behind. They within received them with stones, and arrows from their bows and arbalists; the wall was low, and in some places broken, so that they joined battle almost as though they had been in the plain. Yet, what with the little defence the place afforded, and more with the great courage of the besieged, the assailants soon lost their first confidence, and fell back; but others kept up the assault. King Aravigo and all the other captains, who were still on horseback, ceased not to urge their people on, and they themselves rode up to the walls, and with their lances thrust at those who were on the bulwarks; so that King Lisuarte's place of refuge would soon have been entered, if it had not pleased God that the night came on with great darkness. Then the assailants withdrew as they were commanded, the wounded were dressed; and the enemy placed themselves all round the town, setting strict watch, and surely they thought that the first assault at day-break would end the enterprize.