Quixote_, II.
iii. 9, etc.; iv. 5 (1615).

AL'TON (_Miss_), _alias_ Miss CLIFFORD, a sweet, modest young lady,
the companion of Miss Alscrip, "the heiress," a vulgar, conceited
_parvenue_. Lord Gayville is expected to marry "the heiress," but
detests her, and loves Miss Alton, her humble companion. It turns out
that L2000 a year of "the heiress's" fortune belongs to Mr. Clifford
(Miss Alton's brother), and is by him settled on his sister. Sir
Clement Flint destroys this bond, whereby the money returns to
Clifford, who marries lady Emily Gayville, and sir Clement settles the
same on his nephew, lord Gayville, who marries Miss Alton.--General
Burgoyne, _The Heiress_ (1781).

AL'TON LOCKE, tailor and poet, a novel by the Rev. Charles Kingsley
(1850). This novel won for the author the title of "The Chartist
Clergyman."

ALVIRA ROBERTS, hired "girl" and faithful retainer of the Fairchild
family. For many years she and Milton Squires, the hired man, have
"kept company." In his prosperity he deserts her. When he is convicted
of murder, she kisses him. "Ef 'twas the last thing I ever done in
my life, I'd dew it. We was--engaged--once't on a time!"--_Seth's
Brother's Wife_, by Harold Frederic (1886).

ALZIR'DO, king of Trem'izen, in Africa, overthrown by Orlando in
his march to join the allied army of Ag'ramant.--Ariosto, _Orlando
Furioso_ (1516).

AM'ADIS OF GAUL, a love-child of king Per'ion and the princess
Elize'na. He is the hero of a famous prose romance of chivalry, the
first four books of which are attributed to Lobeira, of Portugal (died
1403). These books were translated into Spanish in 1460 by Montal'vo,
who added the fifth book. The five were rendered into French by
Herberay, who increased the series to twenty-four books. Lastly,
Gilbert Saunier added seven more volumes, and called the entire series
_Le Roman des Romans_.

Whether Amadis was French or British is disputed. Some maintain
that "Gaul" means _Wales_, not France; that Elizena was princess of
_Brittany_ (Bretagne), and that Perion was king of Gaul (_Wales_), not
Gaul _(France)._

Amadis de Gaul was a tall man, of a fair complexion,
his aspect something between mild and
austere, and had a handsome black beard. He
was a person of very few words, was not easily
provoked, and was soon appeased.--Cervantes,
_Don Quixote_, II. i. 1 (1615).

As Arthur is the central figure of British romance, Charlemagne of
French, and Diderick of German,