Note 24 — Chapter V · The Grateful Dead and The Ransomed Woman.
Reading edition
The Two Friends is the chief motive of Amis and Amiloun, which in its various forms24 is the mediaeval epic of ideal friendship. Its essential feature, as far as the present study is concerned, is the sacrifice of his two sons by Amis to cure the leprosy of Amiloun. They are actually slain, but are miraculously brought to life again by the power of God. This story, which exercised a powerful influence on the imagination of European peoples, easily became connected with the sacrifice of his wife by the hero of The Grateful Dead.