beauty and grace of her daughter Florida, who was then only twelve years
old, he thought to himself that she was the fairest maiden he had ever
seen, and that if he could win her favour it would give him greater
satisfaction than all the wealth and pleasure he might obtain from
another. After looking at her for a long time he resolved to love her,
although his reason told him that what he desired was impossible by
reason of her lineage as well as of her age, which was such that she
could not yet understand any amorous discourse. In spite of this, he
fortified himself with hope, and reflected that time and patience might
bring his efforts to a happy issue. And from that moment the kindly
love, which of itself alone had entered Amadour's heart, assured him of
all favour and the means of attaining his end.

To overcome the greatest difficulty before him, which consisted in the
remoteness of his own home and the few opportunities he would have of
seeing Florida again, he resolved to get married. This was contrary
to what he had determined whilst with the ladies of Barcelona and
Perpignan, in which places he was in such favour that little or nothing
was refused him; and, indeed, by reason of the wars, he had dwelt so
long on the frontiers that, although he was born near Toledo, he seemed
rather a Catalan than a Castillan. He came of a rich and honourable
house, but being a younger son, he was without patrimony; and thus it
was that Love and Fortune, seeing him neglected by his kin, determined
to make him their masterpiece, endowing him with such qualities as
might obtain what the laws of the land had refused him. He was of
much experience in the art of war, and was so beloved by all lords
and princes that he refused their favours more frequently than he had
occasion to seek them.

The Countess, of whom I have spoken, arrived then at Saragossa and was