BY ROBERT SOUTHEY 1872.  eantime [1] had Galaor grown large-limbed
and strong of body, and he read books which
the old man gave him, discoursing of the old
deeds which knights in arms had wrought, so that by
this, as well as by nature, he became desirous to be
knighted, nevertheless he knew not whether by right
such honour appertained to him. Very earnestly he
questioned thereon with the hermit; but he who knew
that so soon as the Child received the order he
should combat against the giant Albadan, would say
to him in tears, My son, better were it for you to
chuse some other way safer for your soul. Father,
replied Galaor, badly should I follow that which I
took against my will; and in this which I have chosen,
by God's good pleasure I will advance his service ;
but without it I care not to live. The good man, who
saw his grounded resolution, replied, Certes, if you
fail not for yourself, you will not for your lineage, for
you are son of a king and queen; but let not the giant know that I told ye this. And fearing lest
Galaor should privately depart, he sent to tell the
giant that his scholar was now of fit age and eager to
be knighted. Forthwith the giant rode to the hermitage, and finding Galaor very comely and strong above
his years, he said to him, I understand, son, that you
are desirous to be knighted; come with me, and I will
see that it shall be done greatly to your honour. But
before he departed, Galaor knelt before the hermit,
and begged that he would remember him. The good
man wept, and kissed him many times, and gave him.
his blessing. So he rode to the giant's castle who
gave him arms to his measure, and made him ride and
throw the cane, and appointed him two masters to
practise him with the sword and shield, and to teach
him all things convenient for a knight, so that in a
year's space he was grown marvellous perfect. When the year was compleat, Galaor said to the giant, Now, father, let me be made a knight! and he who saw that it was time, enquired of him by whom he chose to be knighted. By King Lisuarte, said he, of whom the fame runs. The giant was well pleased, and on the third day, having prepared all things, they departed. In two days they came near a strong castle, which was by a salt water. The castle was called Bradoyd, and it was the goodliest in all that land. It stood upon a rock; on one side was the water, and on the other a marsh, and from the side of the water it was not possible to enter without a bark; but, across the marsh there was a causey, being so broad that two cars might pass each other, and at the entrance of the causey was a draw-bridge, and the water under it was very deep. Facing the bridge there grew two goodly elms, whereunder the giant and Galaor saw two damsels and a squire, and a knight mounted on a white courser, and bearing lions in his shield, who, because he could pass no further, called with a loud voice to those of the castle. Then Galaor said to the giant, Let us see what the knight will do. Anon there came from the castle two armed knights and ten fellows on foot, who came and demanded of the knight what he would ? I would enter in, quoth he. That, said the other, cannot be, unless you first combat with us. Then lower the bridge, and come on ! This presently they did, and he who was first, ran fiercely against the knight, who sent him man and horse to the ground. He met the second on the bridge ; their lances failed in the attaint, and they encountered so rudely with their bodies, that the knight of the castle fell into the water and was drowned. Then the conquerors past on towards the castle, and the villains drew up the bridge after him. At this the damsels cried aloud to him, and he turned; but there came against him three knights, well armed, who said to him, In an evil hour camest thou here, for thou shalt die in this water, as he has done who was better than thee. All three then ran at him, and smote him so firmly that his horse knelt and was like to fall, and their lances broke, and by two of them he was wounded; nevertheless, one of them he met in such order that the lance entered at one side, and came out at the other beyond the iron. This done, he drew his sword, and addressed himself to the other twain, and seeing it was for death manfully he bestirred himself, and smote off the right arm of one, who galloped away, and cried out, Help, help, they are killing our lord ! When he of the lions heard that he with whom he must yet deal was the lord of the castle, he delivered him such a rigorous blow on the helmet that he lost his stirrups, and staggered and fell upon the horse's neck. The knight then seized his helmet and plucked it off, and got between him and the castle lest he should escape like the other, and cried, Yield thyself or thou art dead. Mercy, quoth he, good knight, and I am your prisoner! But he of the lions, who now saw knights and villains coming from the castle to succour their lord, held him by the shield, and placing the sword to his face, bade him to command his men to return, and make the bridge be lowered: which when he had done he crossed the bridge, taking his prisoner with him. when the knight of the castle saw the damsels, he knew that one of them was Urganda the unknown ; and cried out, Ah ! Sir knight, if you save me not from that damsel I am but dead ! As God shall help me, he replied, that shall I not do, but do with you what she commands. Then calling to Urganda, he said, Here is the lord of the castle, what would ye that I do unto him? Smite off his head, quoth she, if he will not release my friend whom he keepeth in prison, and put the damsel in my power for whom he is detained. He besure made no delay to send for them, and when they came, he of the lions said to the knight, There is your lady and great cause you have to love her for the pains she hath taken to deliver you from thraldom, and I do love her, quoth he, more than ever! and then Urganda embraced him. Afterwards the conqueror asked what should be done with the damsel ? She shall die, said Urganda, I have long borne with her; and then she made a spell, so that the damsel ran all trembling to throw herself into the water. Lady, cried the knight of the lions, let her not die for the love of God, since by me she was taken. For your sake then I forgive her, but let her take heed how she again offend me. Hearing that the lord of the castle took heart, and said, Sir knight, I have performed with what hath been commanded, I beseech you to deliver me from Urganda. I release you, replied Urganda herself, for his sake. The knight of the lions then asked the damsel why she was going to throw herself into the water. Sir, quoth she, it seemed that there were lighted torches burning me on all sides, and I ran to save myself in the water. Thereat he smiled. Certes damsel, your folly is overgreat to provoke her who can so well avenge herself. Galaor seeing all this said to the giant, I will be knighted by him, for if King Lisuarte is so renowned, it is for his greatness but his knight deserves to be so for his great hardihood. Go then and ask him, said the giant, and if he will not do it, it will be to his own harm. Then Galaor took with him four squires and two damsels, and went towards the knight of the lions, who was sitting under the elms, and saluted him and said, Sir knight, grant me a boon. He who thought him the goodliest person he had ever seen, took him by the hand and said, Let it be lawful and I grant it.Then I beg you of your courtesy make me a knight, and you will spare me the journey to King Lisuarte. Great wrong should you do yourself, replied he of the lions, to leave receiving that honour from the best king in the world, and take it from a poor knight like me. Sir, quoth Galaor, the greatness of King Lisuarte can put no courage in me like that which I have seen you do therefore, so please you, fulfil your promise. Gentle squire, I shall be better content to grant anything than this which befits not me, and is to you little honour. At this time Urganda came up as one who had heard nothing of their talk, and asked him what he thought of the Child. Truly a fairer have I never seen ; but he asks a thing of me neither for himself nor me convenient; and then he related what had passed. Certes, said Urganda, I advise him to insist upon the promise, and you to fulfil it; and I tell you that knighthood will be better employed in him than in any other in all the Isles of the Sea, except only one. Since it is so, said the knight, in God's name let us go to some church to perform the vigil. It is not necessary, answered Galaor, for I have this day heard mass, and seen the real body of God. It sufficeth then, said he of the lions, and having fastened on his spur, he kissed him, and said, now are you a knight, and may receive the sword from whom it pleaseth you. That, said Galaor, must be only from you; and he called a squire to bring the sword which was ready. Not that, then cried Urganda, but this which hangs in a tree. They all looked up, and saw nothing. She laughed thereat;- Ten years hath it hung there, and no passenger ever saw it, and now it shall be seen by all! They looked again, and there hung the sword from a bough, a fair sword and fresh, as if it were just hung there, and the scabbard was richly wrought with silk and gold. He of the lions took it down, and girding it on Galaor said, So fair a sword beseemeth so fair a knight, and whoso has kept it there for you so long, bears you besure no ill will. Then was Galaor well contented; Sir, quoth he, I must needs go to a place whence I cannot be excused; but I desire your company above that of any other in the world, and if it please ;you tell me where I may find you?- At the house of King Lisuarte, where I hope to win honour, and where it is right that you should go for the same cause. At this was Galaor right joyful, and turning to Urganda he said, Damsel, my lady, I thank you for this sword which you have given, and I pray you account me for your knight. Then taking leave he returned to the giant, who had remained concealed under the river-bank. This while had one of Galaor's damsels learnt from the damsel of Urganda that the knight of the lions was Amadis, whom Urganda had brought thither to deliver her friend by force of arms; for her skill availed not, because the lady of the castle, who was learned in the same art, had first enchanted him. The damsel who had beguiled him there was the lady's niece, and she it was who had been about to drown herself. After Galaor was departed, Urganda demanded of Amadis if he knew to whom he had given the order of knighthood. No, said he. There is great reason that you should know him, quoth she, for he is of like heart with yourself, and if ever ye should encounter without knowledge of each other, it would be great unhappiness. He is your own brother, whom the giant took away in childhood, and for your sake and his I have so long kept the sword for him, wherewith he shall make the best beginning of chivalry that ever did knight yet in Great Britain. Then came tears of joy over the eyes of Amadis,- Ah, lady, tell me where I shall find him!You need not seek him now, he must go where it is ordained. Shall I see him soon? Yes ; but he will not be as easily known as you imagine. So she and her friend departed, and Amadis and Gandalin took the way to Windsor. When Galaor returned to the giant, he cried out to him, Father, I am a knight! thanks to God and the good knight who has made me ! Thereof am I right glad, quoth he, and now grant me a boon.With a good will, so be that you withhold me not from seek ing honour. By God's good pleasure it shall be to the advancement of your honour. Son, you have heard me tell how Albadan the Giant slew my father by treason, and took the rock of Galtares, which should be mine. I demand of you to right me, for none but you can do it: remember how I have brought you up, and that I would give my body to death for your sake. This, said Galaor, is what I ought to ask, not you; for, while life lasts, I am ready to do whatever is to your profit and honour: let us go there! In the name of God. said the giant. So as they rode toward the rock of Galtares they met Urganda, and courteously saluted. Know you, said she, who knighted you? Yes, quoth he, the best knight in the world. That is true, and he is yet better than you think; but you must know who he is. She then said to the Giant, Gandalac, dost thou not know that this knight whom thou hast nourished is the son of King Perion and Queen Elisena, whom because of my words you carried away ? The giant answered that it was true. Know then, my son, said she, that he who made thee knight is thine own brother, and elder than thee by two years: honour him as the best knight in the world, and strive to imitate him in all hardihood and goodness. Is all this true? said Galaor, then is my life in the greater danger, since it becomes me now to be like him. Of a certainty it is true, said Urganda; and with that she went her way. As they rode on, the giant told Galaor that the damsel with whom they spake was Urganda. In this discourse they came to a river side, where by reason of heat they erected their tent; they had not been there long before they saw two damsels coming by different ways who met before the tent. So soon as they espied the giant they would have fled, but Galaor went out and courteously caused them to return, and asked them whither they travelled. I go, quoth one of them, by command of my mistress, to see a strange battle which one only knight hath undertaken against the mighty giant of the rock of Galtares, to the end that I may bring her true tidings thereof. When the other damsel heard her, she replied, I marvel that any knight dare venture with such folly, and, though my road lie otherwise, yet will I go with you and see a thing so out of reason. Hereupon they would have left Galaor, but he said to them, make no haste, fair damsels, for we are going to this battle, and will bear ye company. They lightly consented, and took great pleasure to behold him how fair he was in that dress of a new knight. So they all ate together, and made good cheer, and Galaor took the giant apart, and requested that he would remain where he was till the battle was over: this he did that the damsels might not suspect it was he who was to do the battle; whereto Gandalac, though unwillingly, accorded. So Galaor proceeded with the damsels and three squires, whom the giant sent to carry his armour and what else was needful. So far they went that they arrived within two leagues of the rock of Galtares, and there passed the night in the dwelling of a hermit, to whom, because he was ordained, Galaor confessed. But when he revealed that he came for that combat, the good hermit was greatly astonished, and asked who had advised him to such madness:- There are not any ten such knights in all the country who would encounter him, so fierce and terrible is he, and without mercy; and you who are so young would adventure yourself to the loss of body and soul, for such as wilfully seek the death which they might avoid, are very self-murderers. Father, said Galaor, God will do his will with me, but I shall not forego the battle. Then the good man began to lament God help thee and strengthen thee, quoth he, since thou art so obstinate ; but I am glad to find thy life has been so good. Good father; said Galaor, remember me in your prayers. The next morning after mass, Galaor armed himself, and rode to the rock which he saw before him : it was very lofty and with many towers, so that the castle was so goodly that it was a wonder to behold. The damsel asked Galaor if he knew the knight who should perform the combat. I think I have seen him, said he ; and then he asked the damsel who her lady was that had sent her to see the battle. That, quoth she, must be told to none but the knight himself. By this time they had reached the castle, and found the gate shut. Galaor called, and two men then appeared over the gate, to whom he said, tell the giant that here is a knight who comes from Gandalac to defy him, and if he will not come out, there shall no man either enter or leave the castle. The men mocked at him: this heat will soon cool; thou wilt either fly or lose thy head; and they went to the giant. But when the damsels heard that Galaor himself was the champion, they prayed God to help him ; and said they durst not abide to see the giant. Fair friends, said he, stay and see that for which ye are come, or else return to the hermitage, and if I live I will join ye there. Then they took courage, and retiring from the castle stood at the edge of a forest, thinking to escape there if the knight should not speed well. [1] This first paragraph is transposed from the middle of Chapter 6. |