Amadis of Gaul, an ancient Spanish or Portuguese romance, comparable with the British tales of Arthur and his Round Table Knights. It is thought to have taken form in the hands of a Portuguese writer, himself a knight, about a hundred years before the discovery of America. For the story itself, it is impossible to give a summary of it--the plot being too disconnected; but he who has read one such tale, or even a few chapters of one, may have a general impression of all--hacking and hewing in every page, knights always at war and seeking adventures, giants in the path, lions in the forest, damsels in durance, castles to be attacked, wizards and witches with hate in their hearts, kings everywhere plentiful as blackberries, and lovely ladies abounding in tenderness.--Southey.