Amelia is perhaps the only book of which, being printed off betimes one morning, a new edition was called for before night.  The character of Amelia is the most pleasing heroine of all the romances.—­Dr. Johnson.

Ame’lia, in Thomson’s Seasons, a beautiful, innocent young woman, overtaken by a storm while walking with her troth-plight lover, Cel’adon, “with equal virtue formed, and equal grace.  Hers the mild lustre of the blooming morn, and his the radiance of the risen day.”  Amelia grew frightened, but Celadon said, “’Tis safety to be near thee, sure;” when a flash of lightning struck her dead in his arms.—­“Summer” (1727).

Amelia, in Schiller’s tragedy of The Robbers.

  Or they will learn how generous worth sublimes
  The robber Moor, and pleads for all his crimes;
  How poor Amelia kissed with many a tear
  His hand, blood-stained, but ever, ever dear.

Campbell, Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799).

Amelia Bailey, ambitious woman with “literary tastes,” who in pursuit of a suitable sphere, marries a rich Californian, and “shines with the diamonds her husband has bought, and makes a noise, but it is the blare of vulgar ostentation,”—­William Henry Rideing, A Little Upstart (1885).

AMELOT (2 syl.), the page of sir Damian de Lacy.—­Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

AM’GIAD, son of Camaralzaman and Badoura, and half-brother of Assad (son of Camaralzaman and Haiatal’nefous).  Each of the two mothers conceived a base passion for the other’s son, and when the young princes revolted at their advances, accused them to their father of designs upon their honor.  Camaralzaman ordered his emir Giondar to put them both to death, but as the young men had saved him from a lion he laid no hand on them, but told them not to return to their father’s dominions.  They wandered on for a time, and then parted, but both reached the same place, which was a city of the Magi.  Here, by a strange adventure Amgiad was made vizier, while Assad was thrown into a dungeon, where he was designed as a sacrifice to the fire-god.  Bosta’na, a daughter of the old man who imprisoned Assad, released him, and Amgiad out of gratitude made her his wife.  After which, the king, who was greatly advanced in years, appointed him his successor, and Amgiad used his best efforts to abolish the worship of fire and establish “the true faith.”—­Arabian Nights ("Amgiad and Assad").

AM’YAS, a squire of low degree, beloved by Aemylia.  They agreed to meet at a given spot, but on their way thither both were taken captives—­Amyas by Corflambo, and Aemylia by a man monster.  Aemylia was released by Belphoebe (3 syl.), who slew “the caitiff;” and Amyas by prince Arthur, who slew Corflambo.  The two lovers were then brought together by the prince “in peace and joyous blis.”—­Spenser, Faery Queen, iv. 7, 9 (1596).