OTHER ROMANCES OF CHIVALRY.--LEPOLEMO.--TRANSLATIONS FROM THE FRENCH.--RELIGIOUS ROMANCES.--CAVALLERÍA CELESTIAL.--PERIOD DURING WHICH ROMANCES OF CHIVALRY PREVAILED.--THEIR NUMBER.--THEIR FOUNDATION IN THE STATE OF SOCIETY.--THE PASSION FOR THEM.--THEIR FATE. Although the Palmerins failed as rivals of the great family of Amadis, they were not without their influence and consideration. Like the other works of their class, and more than most of them, they helped to increase the passion for fictions of chivalry in general, which, overbearing every other in the Peninsula, was now busily at work producing romances, both original and translated, that astonish us alike by their number, their length, and their absurdities. Of those originally Spanish, it would not be difficult, after setting aside the two series belonging to the families of Amadis and Palmerin, to collect the names of about forty; all produced in the course of the sixteenth century. Some of them are still more or less familiar to us, by their names at least, such as “Belianis of Greece” and “Olivante de Laura,” which are found in Don Quixote’s library, and “Felixmarte of Hircania,” which was once, we are told, the summer reading of Dr. Johnson.[384] But, in general, like “The Renowned Knight Cifar” and “The Bold Knight Claribalte,” their very titles sound strangely to our ears, and excite no interest when we hear them repeated. Most of them, it may be added,--perhaps all,--deserve the oblivion into which they have fallen; though some have merits which, in the days of their popularity, placed them near the best of those already noticed. [384] Bishop Percy says that Dr. Johnson read “Felixmarte of Hircania” quite through, when at his parsonage-house, one summer. It may be doubted whether the book has been read through since by any Englishman. Boswell’s Life, ed. Croker, London, 1831, 8vo, Vol. I. p. 24. Among the latter is “The Invincible Knight Lepolemo, called the Knight of the Cross and Son of the Emperor of Germany”; a romance, which was published as early as 1525, and, besides drawing a continuation after it, was reprinted thrice in the course of the century, and translated into French and Italian.[385] It is a striking book among those of its class, not only from the variety of fortunes through which the hero passes, but, in some degree, from its general tone and purpose. In his infancy Lepolemo is stolen from the shelter of the throne to which he is heir, and completely lost for a long period. During this time he lives among the heathen; at first in slavery, and afterwards as an honorable knight-adventurer at the court of the Soldan. By his courage and merit he rises to great distinction, and, while on a journey through France, is recognized by his own family, who happen to be there. Of course he is restored, amidst a general jubilee, to his imperial estate.