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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Legends of Charlemagne, by Thomas Bulfinch
+(#3 in our series by Thomas Bulfinch)
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+Title: Legends of Charlemagne
+
+Author: Thomas Bulfinch
+
+Release Date: January, 2004  [EBook #4927]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on March 27, 2002]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
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+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE ***
+
+
+
+
+Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+BULFINCH'S MYTHOLOGY
+
+THE AGE OF FABLE
+
+THE AGE OF CHIVALRY
+
+LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
+
+BY THOMAS BULFINCH
+
+COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
+
+
+[Editor's Note: The etext contains only LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE]
+
+
+
+
+PUBLISHERS' PREFACE
+
+
+No new edition of Bulfinch's classic work can be considered
+complete without some notice of the American scholar to whose wide
+erudition and painstaking care it stands as a perpetual monument.
+"The Age of Fable" has come to be ranked with older books like
+"Pilgrim's Progress," "Gulliver's Travels," "The Arabian Nights,"
+"Robinson Crusoe," and five or six other productions of world-wide
+renown as a work with which every one must claim some acquaintance
+before his education can be called really complete. Many readers
+of the present edition will probably recall coming in contact with
+the work as children, and, it may be added, will no doubt discover
+from a fresh perusal the source of numerous bits of knowledge that
+have remained stored in their minds since those early years. Yet
+to the majority of this great circle of readers and students the
+name Bulfinch in itself has no significance.
+
+Thomas Bulfinch was a native of Boston, Mass., where he was born
+in 1796. His boyhood was spent in that city, and he prepared for
+college in the Boston schools. He finished his scholastic training
+at Harvard College, and after taking his degree was for a period a
+teacher in his home city. For a long time later in life he was
+employed as an accountant in the Boston Merchants' Bank. His
+leisure time he used for further pursuit of the classical studies
+which he had begun at Harvard, and his chief pleasure in life lay
+in writing out the results of his reading, in simple, condensed
+form for young or busy readers. The plan he followed in this work,
+to give it the greatest possible usefulness, is set forth in the
+Author's Preface.
+
+"Age of Fable," First Edition, 1855; "The Age of Chivalry," 1858;
+"The Boy Inventor," 1860; "Legends of Charlemagne, or Romance of
+the Middle Ages," 1863; "Poetry of the Age of Fable," 1863;
+"Oregon and Eldorado, or Romance of the Rivers,"1860.
+
+In this complete edition of his mythological and legendary lore
+"The Age of Fable," "The Age of Chivalry," and "Legends of
+Charlemagne" are included. Scrupulous care has been taken to
+follow the original text of Bulfinch, but attention should be
+called to some additional sections which have been inserted to add
+to the rounded completeness of the work, and which the publishers
+believe would meet with the sanction of the author himself, as in
+no way intruding upon his original plan but simply carrying it out
+in more complete detail. The section on Northern Mythology has
+been enlarged by a retelling of the epic of the "Nibelungen Lied,"
+together with a summary of Wagner's version of the legend in his
+series of music-dramas. Under the head of "Hero Myths of the
+British Race" have been included outlines of the stories of
+Beowulf, Cuchulain, Hereward the Wake, and Robin Hood. Of the
+verse extracts which occur throughout the text, thirty or more
+have been added from literature which has appeared since
+Bulfinch's time, extracts that he would have been likely to quote
+had he personally supervised the new edition.
+
+Finally, the index has been thoroughly overhauled and, indeed,
+remade. All the proper names in the work have been entered, with
+references to the pages where they occur, and a concise
+explanation or definition of each has been given. Thus what was a
+mere list of names in the original has been enlarged into a small
+classical and mythological dictionary, which it is hoped will
+prove valuable for reference purposes not necessarily connected
+with "The Age of Fable."
+
+Acknowledgments are due the writings of Dr. Oliver Huckel for
+information on the point of Wagner's rendering of the Nibelungen
+legend, and M. I. Ebbutt's authoritative volume on "Hero Myths and
+Legends of the British Race," from which much of the information
+concerning the British heroes has been obtained
+
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE
+
+
+If no other knowledge deserves to be called useful but that which
+helps to enlarge our possessions or to raise our station in
+society, then Mythology has no claim to the appellation. But if
+that which tends to make us happier and better can be called
+useful, then we claim that epithet for our subject. For Mythology
+is the handmaid of literature; and literature is one of the best
+allies of virtue and promoters of happiness.
+
+Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of
+our own language cannot be understood and appreciated. When Byron
+calls Rome "the Niobe of nations," or says of Venice, "She looks a
+Sea-Cybele fresh from ocean," he calls up to the mind of one
+familiar with our subject, illustrations more vivid and striking
+than the pencil could furnish, but which are lost to the reader
+ignorant of mythology. Milton abounds in similar allusions. The
+short poem "Comus" contains more than thirty such, and the ode "On
+the Morning of the Nativity" half as many. Through "Paradise Lost"
+they are scattered profusely. This is one reason why we often hear
+persons by no means illiterate say that they cannot enjoy Milton.
+But were these persons to add to their more solid acquirements the
+easy learning of this little volume, much of the poetry of Milton
+which has appeared to them "harsh and crabbed" would be found
+"musical as is Apollo's lute." Our citations, taken from more than
+twenty-five poets, from Spenser to Longfellow, will show how
+general has been the practice of borrowing illustrations from
+mythology.
+
+The prose writers also avail themselves of the same source of
+elegant and suggestive illustration. One can hardly take up a
+number of the "Edinburgh" or "Quarterly Review" without meeting
+with instances. In Macaulay's article on Milton there are twenty
+such.
+
+But how is mythology to be taught to one who does not learn it
+through the medium of the languages of Greece and Rome? To devote
+study to a species of learning which relates wholly to false
+marvels and obsolete faiths is not to be expected of the general
+reader in a practical age like this. The time even of the young is
+claimed by so many sciences of facts and things that little can be
+spared for set treatises on a science of mere fancy.
+
+But may not the requisite knowledge of the subject be acquired by
+reading the ancient poets in translations? We reply, the field is
+too extensive for a preparatory course; and these very
+translations require some previous knowledge of the subject to
+make them intelligible. Let any one who doubts it read the first
+page of the "Aeneid," and see what he can make of "the hatred of
+Juno," the "decree of the Parcae," the "judgment of Paris," and
+the "honors of Ganymede," without this knowledge.
+
+Shall we be told that answers to such queries may be found in
+notes, or by a reference to the Classical Dictionary? We reply,
+the interruption of one's reading by either process is so annoying
+that most readers prefer to let an allusion pass unapprehended
+rather than submit to it. Moreover, such sources give us only the
+dry facts without any of the charm of the original narrative; and
+what is a poetical myth when stripped of its poetry? The story of
+Ceyx and Halcyone, which fills a chapter in our book, occupies but
+eight lines in the best (Smith's) Classical Dictionary; and so of
+others.
+
+Our work is an attempt to solve this problem, by telling the
+stories of mythology in such a manner as to make them a source of
+amusement. We have endeavored to tell them correctly, according to
+the ancient authorities, so that when the reader finds them
+referred to he may not be at a loss to recognize the reference.
+Thus we hope to teach mythology not as a study, but as a
+relaxation from study; to give our work the charm of a story-book,
+yet by means of it to impart a knowledge of an important branch of
+education. The index at the end will adapt it to the purposes of
+reference, and make it a Classical Dictionary for the parlor.
+
+Most of the classical legends in "Stories of Gods and Heroes" are
+derived from Ovid and Virgil. They are not literally translated,
+for, in the author's opinion, poetry translated into literal prose
+is very unattractive reading. Neither are they in verse, as well
+for other reasons as from a conviction that to translate
+faithfully under all the embarrassments of rhyme and measure is
+impossible. The attempt has been made to tell the stories in
+prose, preserving so much of the poetry as resides in the thoughts
+and is separable from the language itself, and omitting those
+amplifications which are not suited to the altered form.
+
+The Northern mythological stories are copied with some abridgment
+from Mallet's "Northern Antiquities." These chapters, with those
+on Oriental and Egyptian mythology, seemed necessary to complete
+the subject, though it is believed these topics have not usually
+been presented in the same volume with the classical fables.
+
+The poetical citations so freely introduced are expected to answer
+several valuable purposes. They will tend to fix in memory the
+leading fact of each story, they will help to the attainment of a
+correct pronunciation of the proper names, and they will enrich
+the memory with many gems of poetry, some of them such as are most
+frequently quoted or alluded to in reading and conversation.
+
+Having chosen mythology as connected with literature for our
+province, we have endeavored to omit nothing which the reader of
+elegant literature is likely to find occasion for. Such stories
+and parts of stories as are offensive to pure taste and good
+morals are not given. But such stories are not often referred to,
+and if they occasionally should be, the English reader need feel
+no mortification in confessing his ignorance of them.
+
+Our work is not for the learned, nor for the theologian, nor for
+the philosopher, but for the reader of English literature, of
+either sex, who wishes to comprehend the allusions so frequently
+made by public speakers, lecturers, essayists, and poets, and
+those which occur in polite conversation.
+
+In the "Stories of Gods and Heroes" the compiler has endeavored to
+impart the pleasures of classical learning to the English reader,
+by presenting the stories of Pagan mythology in a form adapted to
+modern taste. In "King Arthur and His Knights" and "The
+Mabinogeon" the attempt has been made to treat in the same way the
+stories of the second "age of fable," the age which witnessed the
+dawn of the several states of Modern Europe.
+
+It is believed that this presentation of a literature which held
+unrivalled sway over the imaginations of our ancestors, for many
+centuries, will not be without benefit to the reader, in addition
+to the amusement it may afford. The tales, though not to be
+trusted for their facts, are worthy of all credit as pictures of
+manners; and it is beginning to be held that the manners and modes
+of thinking of an age are a more important part of its history
+than the conflicts of its peoples, generally leading to no result.
+Besides this, the literature of romance is a treasure-house of
+poetical material, to which modern poets frequently resort. The
+Italian poets, Dante and Ariosto, the English, Spenser, Scott, and
+Tennyson, and our own Longfellow and Lowell, are examples of this.
+
+These legends are so connected with each other, so consistently
+adapted to a group of characters strongly individualized in
+Arthur, Launcelot, and their compeers, and so lighted up by the
+fires of imagination and invention, that they seem as well adapted
+to the poet's purpose as the legends of the Greek and Roman
+mythology. And if every well-educated young person is expected to
+know the story of the Golden Fleece, why is the quest of the
+Sangreal less worthy of his acquaintance? Or if an allusion to the
+shield of Achilles ought not to pass unapprehended, why should one
+to Excalibar, the famous sword of Arthur?--
+
+    "Of Arthur, who, to upper light restored,
+     With that terrific sword,
+     Which yet he brandishes for future war,
+     Shall lift his country's fame above the polar star."
+
+[Footnote: Wordsworth]
+
+It is an additional recommendation of our subject, that it tends
+to cherish in our minds the idea of the source from which we
+sprung. We are entitled to our full share in the glories and
+recollections of the land of our forefathers, down to the time of
+colonization thence. The associations which spring from this
+source must be fruitful of good influences; among which not the
+least valuable is the increased enjoyment which such associations
+afford to the American traveller when he visits England, and sets
+his foot upon any of her renowned localities.
+
+The legends of Charlemagne and his peers are necessary to complete
+the subject.
+
+In an age when intellectual darkness enveloped Western Europe, a
+constellation of brilliant writers arose in Italy. Of these, Pulci
+(born in 1432), Boiardo (1434), and Ariosto (1474) took for their
+subjects the romantic fables which had for many ages been
+transmitted in the lays of bards and the legends of monkish
+chroniclers. These fables they arranged in order, adorned with the
+embellishments of fancy, amplified from their own invention, and
+stamped with immortality. It may safely be asserted that as long
+as civilization shall endure these productions will retain their
+place among the most cherished creations of human genius.
+
+In "Stories of Gods and Heroes," "King Arthur and His Knights" and
+"The Mabinogeon" the aim has been to supply to the modern reader
+such knowledge of the fables of classical and mediaeval literature
+as is needed to render intelligible the allusions which occur in
+reading and conversation. The "Legends of Charlemagne" is intended
+to carry out the same design. Like the earlier portions of the
+work, it aspires to a higher character than that of a piece of
+mere amusement. It claims to be useful, in acquainting its readers
+with the subjects of the productions of the great poets of Italy.
+Some knowledge of these is expected of every well-educated young
+person.
+
+In reading these romances, we cannot fail to observe how the
+primitive inventions have been used, again and again, by
+successive generations of fabulists. The Siren of Ulysses is the
+prototype of the Siren of Orlando, and the character of Circe
+reappears in Alcina. The fountains of Love and Hatred may be
+traced to the story of Cupid and Psyche; and similar effects
+produced by a magic draught appear in the tale of Tristram and
+Isoude, and, substituting a flower for the draught, in
+Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." There are many other
+instances of the same kind which the reader will recognize without
+our assistance.
+
+The sources whence we derive these stories are, first, the Italian
+poets named above; next, the "Romans de Chevalerie" of the Comte
+de Tressan; lastly, certain German collections of popular tales.
+Some chapters have been borrowed from Leigh Hunt's Translations
+from the Italian Poets. It seemed unnecessary to do over again
+what he had already done so well; yet, on the other hand, those
+stories could not be omitted from the series without leaving it
+incomplete.
+
+THOMAS BULFINCH.
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
+
+
+Introduction
+The Peers, or Paladins
+The Tournament
+The Siege of Albracca
+Adventures of Rinaldo and Orlando
+The Invasion of France
+The Invasion of France (Continued)
+
+Bradamante and Rogero
+Astolpho and the Enchantress
+The Orc
+Astolpho's Adventures continued, and Isabella's begun.
+Medoro
+Orlando Mad
+Zerbino and Isabella
+Astolpho in Abyssinia
+The War in Africa
+Rogero and Bradamante
+The Battle of Roncesvalles
+Rinaldo and Bayard
+Death of Rinaldo
+Huon of Bordeaux
+Huon of Bordeaux (Continued)
+Huon of Bordeaux (Continued)
+Ogier, the Dane
+Ogier, the Dane (Continued)
+Ogier, the Dane (Continued)
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+
+
+
+
+LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
+
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+Those who have investigated the origin of the romantic fables
+relating to Charlemagne and his peers are of opinion that the
+deeds of Charles Martel, and perhaps of other Charleses, have been
+blended in popular tradition with those properly belonging to
+Charlemagne. It was indeed a most momentous era; and if our
+readers will have patience, before entering on the perusal of the
+fabulous annals which we are about to lay before them, to take a
+rapid survey of the real history of the times, they will find it
+hardly less romantic than the tales of the poets.
+
+In the century beginning from the year 600, the countries
+bordering upon the native land of our Saviour, to the east and
+south, had not yet received his religion. Arabia was the seat of
+an idolatrous religion resembling that of the ancient Persians,
+who worshipped the sun, moon, and stars. In Mecca, in the year
+571, Mahomet was born, and here, at the age of forty, he
+proclaimed himself the prophet of God, in dignity as superior to
+Christ as Christ had been to Moses. Having obtained by slow
+degrees a considerable number of disciples, he resorted to arms to
+diffuse his religion. The energy and zeal of his followers, aided
+by the weakness of the neighboring nations, enabled him and his
+successors to spread the sway of Arabia and the religion of
+Mahomet over the countries to the east as far as the Indus,
+northward over Persia and Asia Minor, westward over Egypt and the
+southern shores of the Mediterranean, and thence over the
+principal portion of Spain. All this was done within one hundred
+years from the Hegira, or flight of Mahomet from Mecca to Medina,
+which happened in the year 622, and is the era from which
+Mahometans reckon time, as we do from the birth of Christ.
+
+From Spain the way was open for the Saracens (so the followers of
+Mahomet were called) into France, the conquest of which, if
+achieved, would have been followed very probably by that of all
+the rest of Europe, and would have resulted in the banishment of
+Christianity from the earth. For Christianity was not at that day
+universally professed, even by those nations which we now regard
+as foremost in civilization. Great part of Germany, Britain,
+Denmark, and Russia were still pagan or barbarous.
+
+At that time there ruled in France, though without the title of
+king, the first of those illustrious Charleses of whom we have
+spoken, Charles Martel, the grandfather of Charlemagne. The
+Saracens of Spain had made incursions into France in 712 and 718,
+and had retired, carrying with them a vast booty. In 725, Anbessa,
+who was then the Saracen governor of Spain, crossed the Pyrenees
+with a numerous army, and took by storm the strong town of
+Carcassone. So great was the terror excited by this invasion, that
+the country for a wide extent submitted to the conqueror, and a
+Mahometan governor for the province was appointed and installed at
+Narbonne. Anbessa, however, received a fatal wound in one of his
+engagements, and the Saracens, being thus checked from further
+advance, retired to Narbonne.
+
+In 732 the Saracens again invaded France under Abdalrahman,
+advanced rapidly to the banks of the Garonne, and laid siege to
+Bordeaux. The city was taken by assault and delivered up to the
+soldiery. The invaders still pressed forward, and spread over the
+territories of Orleans, Auxerre and Sens. Their advanced parties
+were suddenly called in by their chief, who had received
+information of the rich abbey of St. Martin of Tours, and resolved
+to plunder and destroy it.
+
+Charles during all this time had done nothing to oppose the
+Saracens, for the reason that the portion of France over which
+their incursions had been made was not at that time under his
+dominion, but constituted an independent kingdom, under the name
+of Aquitaine, of which Eude was king. But now Charles became
+convinced of the danger, and prepared to encounter it. Abdalrahman
+was advancing toward Tours, when intelligence of the approach of
+Charles, at the head of an army of Franks, compelled him to fall
+back upon Poitiers, in order to seize an advantageous field of
+battle.
+
+Charles Martel had called together his warriors from every part of
+his dominions, and, at the head of such an army as had hardly ever
+been seen in France, crossed the Loire, probably at Orleans, and,
+being joined by the remains of the army of Aquitaine, came in
+sight of the Arabs in the month of October, 732. The Saracens seem
+to have been aware of the terrible enemy they were now to
+encounter, and for the first time these formidable conquerors
+hesitated. The two armies remained in presence during seven days
+before either ventured to begin the attack; but at length the
+signal for battle was given by Abdalrahman, and the immense mass
+of the Saracen army rushed with fury on the Franks. But the heavy
+line of the Northern warriors remained like a rock, and the
+Saracens, during nearly the whole day, expended their strength in
+vain attempts to make any impression upon them. At length, about
+four o'clock in the afternoon, when Abdalrahman was preparing for
+a new and desperate attempt to break the line of the Franks, a
+terrible clamor was heard in the rear of the Saracens. It was King
+Eude, who, with his Aquitanians, had attacked their camp, and a
+great part of the Saracen army rushed tumultuously from the field
+to protect their plunder. In this moment of confusion the line of
+the Franks advanced, and, sweeping the field before it, carried
+fearful slaughter amongst the enemy. Abdalrahman made desperate
+efforts to rally his troops, but when he himself, with the bravest
+of his officers, fell beneath the swords of the Christians, all
+order disappeared, and the remains of his army sought refuge in
+their immense camp, from which Eude and his Aquitanians had been
+repulsed. It was now late, and Charles, unwilling to risk an
+attack on the camp in the dark, withdrew his army, and passed the
+night in the plain, expecting to renew the battle in the morning.
+
+Accordingly, when daylight came, the Franks drew up in order of
+battle, but no enemy appeared; and when at last they ventured to
+approach the Saracen camp they found it empty. The invaders had
+taken advantage of the night to begin their retreat, and were
+already on their way back to Spain, leaving their immense plunder
+behind to fall into the hands of the Franks.
+
+This was the celebrated battle of Tours, in which vast numbers of
+the Saracens were slain, and only fifteen hundred of the Franks.
+Charles received the surname of Martel (the Hammer) in consequence
+of this victory.
+
+The Saracens, notwithstanding this severe blow, continued to hold
+their ground in the south of France; but Pepin, the son of Charles
+Martel, who succeeded to his father's power, and assumed the title
+of king, successively took from them the strong places they held;
+and in 759, by the capture of Narbonne, their capital,
+extinguished the remains of their power in France.
+
+Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, succeeded his father, Pepin, on
+the throne in the year 768. This prince, though the hero of
+numerous romantic legends, appears greater in history than in
+fiction. Whether we regard him as a warrior or as a legislator, as
+a patron of learning or as the civilizer of a barbarous nation, he
+is entitled to our warmest admiration. Such he is in history; but
+the romancers represent him as often weak and passionate, the
+victim of treacherous counsellors, and at the mercy of turbulent
+barons, on whose prowess he depends for the maintenance of his
+throne. The historical representation is doubtless the true one,
+for it is handed down in trustworthy records, and is confirmed by
+the events of the age. At the height of his power, the French
+empire extended over what we now call France, Germany,
+Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and great part of Italy.
+
+In the year 800 Charlemagne, being in Rome, whither he had gone
+with a numerous army to protect the Pope, was crowned by the
+Pontiff Emperor of the West. On Christmas day Charles entered the
+Church of St. Peter, as if merely to take his part in the
+celebration of the mass with the rest of the congregation. When he
+approached the altar and stooped in the act of prayer the Pope
+stepped forward and placed a crown of gold upon his head; and
+immediately the Roman people shouted, "Life and victory to Charles
+the August, crowned by God the great and pacific Emperor of the
+Romans." The Pope then prostrated himself before him, and paid him
+reverence, according to the custom established in the times of the
+ancient Emperors, and concluded the ceremony by anointing him with
+consecrated oil.
+
+Charlemagne's wars were chiefly against the pagan and barbarous
+people, who, under the name of Saxons, inhabited the countries now
+called Hanover and Holland. He also led expeditions against the
+Saracens of Spain; but his wars with the Saracens were not carried
+on, as the romances assert, in France, but on the soil of Spain.
+He entered Spain by the Eastern Pyrenees, and made an easy
+conquest of Barcelona and Pampeluna. But Saragossa refused to open
+her gates to him, and Charles ended by negotiating and accepting a
+vast sum of gold as the price of his return over the Pyrenees.
+
+On his way back, he marched with his whole army through the gorges
+of the mountains by way of the valleys of Engui, Eno, and
+Roncesvalles. The chief of this region had waited upon
+Charlemagne, on his advance, as a faithful vassal of the monarchy;
+but now, on the return of the Franks, he had called together all
+the wild mountaineers who acknowledged him as their chief, and
+they occupied the heights of the mountains under which the army
+had to pass. The main body of the troops met with no obstruction,
+and received no intimation of danger; but the rear-guard, which
+was considerably behind, and encumbered with its plunder, was
+overwhelmed by the mountaineers in the pass of Roncesvalles, and
+slain to a man. Some of the bravest of the Prankish chiefs
+perished on this occasion, among whom is mentioned Roland or
+Orlando, governor of the marches or frontier of Brittany. His name
+became famous in after times, and the disaster of Roncesvalles and
+death of Roland became eventually the most celebrated episode in
+the vast cycle of romance.
+
+Though after this there were hostile encounters between the armies
+of Charlemagne and the Saracens, they were of small account, and
+generally on the soil of Spain. Thus the historical foundation for
+the stories of the romancers is but scanty, unless we suppose the
+events of an earlier and of a later age to be incorporated with
+those of Charlemagne's own time.
+
+There is, however, a pretended history, which for a long time was
+admitted as authentic, and attributed to Turpin, Archbishop of
+Rheims, a real personage of the time of Charlemagne. Its title is
+"History of Charles the Great and Orlando." It is now
+unhesitatingly considered as a collection of popular traditions,
+produced by some credulous and unscrupulous monk, who thought to
+give dignity to his romance by ascribing its authorship to a well-
+known and eminent individual. It introduces its pretended author,
+Bishop Turpin, in this manner:
+
+"Turpin, Archbishop of Rheims, the friend and secretary of Charles
+the Great, excellently skilled in sacred and profane literature,
+of a genius equally adapted to prose and verse, the advocate of
+the poor, beloved of God in his life and conversation, who often
+fought the Saracens, hand to hand, by the Emperor's side, he
+relates the acts of Charles the Great in one book, and flourished
+under Charles and his son Louis, to the year of our Lord eight
+hundred and thirty."
+
+The titles of some of Archbishop Turpin's chapters will show the
+nature of his history. They are these: "Of the Walls of Pampeluna,
+that fell of themselves." "Of the War of the holy Facundus, where
+the Spears grew." (Certain of the Christians fixed their spears in
+the evening, erect in the ground, before the castle; and found
+them, in the morning, covered with bark and branches.) "How the
+Sun stood still for Three Days, and of the Slaughter of Four
+Thousand Saracens."
+
+Turpin's history has perhaps been the source of the marvellous
+adventures which succeeding poets and romancers have accumulated
+around the names of Charlemagne and his Paladins, or Peers. But
+Ariosto and the other Italian poets have drawn from different
+sources, and doubtless often from their own invention, numberless
+other stories which they attribute to the same heroes, not
+hesitating to quote as their authority "the good Turpin," though
+his history contains no trace of them; and the more outrageous the
+improbability, or rather the impossibility, of their narrations,
+the more attentive are they to cite "the Archbishop," generally
+adding their testimonial to his unquestionable veracity.
+
+The principal Italian poets who have sung the adventures of the
+peers of Charlemagne are Pulci, Boiardo, and Ariosto. The
+characters of Orlando, Rinaldo, Astolpho, Gano, and others, are
+the same in all, though the adventures attributed to them are
+different. Boiardo tells us of the loves of Orlando, Ariosto of
+his disappointment and consequent madness, Pulci of his death.
+
+Ogier, the Dane, is a real personage. History agrees with romance
+in representing him as a powerful lord who, originally from
+Denmark and a Pagan, embraced Christianity, and took service under
+Charlemagne. He revolted from the Emperor, and was driven into
+exile. He afterwards led one of those bands of piratical Northmen
+which ravaged France under the reigns of Charlemagne's degenerate
+successors. The description which an ancient chronicler gives of
+Charlemagne, as described by Ogier, is so picturesque, that we are
+tempted to transcribe it. Charlemagne was advancing to the siege
+of Pavia. Didier, King of the Lombards, was in the city with
+Ogier, to whom he had given refuge. When they learned that the
+king was approaching they mounted a high tower, whence they could
+see far and wide over the country. "They first saw advancing the
+engines of war, fit for the armies of Darius or Julius Caesar.
+'There is Charlemagne,' said Didier. 'No,' said Ogier. The Lombard
+next saw a vast body of soldiers, who filled all the plain.
+'Certainly Charles advanced with that host,' said the king. 'Not
+yet,' replied Ogier. 'What hope for us,' resumed the king, 'if he
+brings with him a greater host than that?' At last Charles
+appeared, his head covered with an iron helmet, his hands with
+iron gloves, his breast and shoulders with a cuirass of iron, his
+left hand holding an iron lance, while his right hand grasped his
+sword. Those who went before the monarch, those who marched at his
+side, and those who followed him, all had similar arms. Iron
+covered the fields and the roads; iron points reflected the rays
+of the sun. This iron, so hard, was borne by a people whose hearts
+were harder still. The blaze of the weapons flashed terror into
+the streets of the city."
+
+This picture of Charlemagne in his military aspect would be
+incomplete without a corresponding one of his "mood of peace." One
+of the greatest of modern historians, M. Guizot, has compared the
+glory of Charlemagne to a brilliant meteor, rising suddenly out of
+the darkness of barbarism to disappear no less suddenly in the
+darkness of feudalism. But the light of this meteor was not
+extinguished, and reviving civilization owed much that was
+permanently beneficial to the great Emperor of the Franks. His
+ruling hand is seen in the legislation of his time, as well as in
+the administration of the laws. He encouraged learning; he upheld
+the clergy, who were the only peaceful and intellectual class,
+against the encroaching and turbulent barons; he was an
+affectionate father, and watched carefully over the education of
+his children, both sons and daughters. Of his encouragement of
+learning we will give some particulars.
+
+He caused learned men to be brought from Italy and from other
+foreign countries to revive the public schools of France, which
+had been prostrated by the disorders of preceding times. He
+recompensed these learned men liberally, and kept some of them
+near himself, honoring them with his friendship. Of these the most
+celebrated is Alcuin, an Englishman, whose writings still remain,
+and prove him to have been both a learned and a wise man. With the
+assistance of Alcuin, and others like him, he founded an academy
+or royal school, which should have the direction of the studies of
+all the schools of the kingdom. Charlemagne himself was a member
+of this academy on equal terms with the rest. He attended its
+meetings, and fulfilled all the duties of an academician. Each
+member took the name of some famous man of antiquity. Alcuin
+called himself Horace, another took the name of Augustin, a third
+of Pindar. Charlemagne, who knew the Psalms by heart, and who had
+an ambition to be, according to his conception, A KING AFTER GOD'S
+OWN HEART, received from his brother academicians the name of
+David.
+
+Of the respect entertained for him by foreign nations an
+interesting proof is afforded in the embassy sent to him by the
+Caliph of the Arabians, the celebrated Haroun al Raschid, a prince
+in character and conduct not unlike to Charlemagne. The
+ambassadors brought with them, besides other rich presents, a
+clock, the first that was seen in Europe, which excited universal
+admiration. It had the form of a twelve-sided edifice with twelve
+doors. These doors formed niches, in each of which was a little
+statue representing one of the hours. At the striking of the hour
+the doors, one for each stroke, was seen to open, and from the
+doors to issue as many of the little statues, which, following one
+another, marched gravely round the tower. The motion of the clock
+was caused by water, and the striking was effected by balls of
+brass equal to the number of the hours, which fell upon a cymbal
+of the same metal, the number falling being determined by the
+discharge of the water, which, as it sunk in the vessel, allowed
+their escape.
+
+Charlemagne was succeeded by his son Louis, a well-intentioned but
+feeble prince, in whose reign the fabric reared by Charles began
+rapidly to crumble. Louis was followed successively by two
+Charleses, incapable princes, whose weak and often tyrannical
+conduct is no doubt the source of incidents of that character
+ascribed in the romances to Charlemagne.
+
+The lawless and disobedient deportment of Charles's paladins,
+instances of which are so frequent in the romantic legends, was
+also a trait of the declining empire, but not of that of
+Charlemagne.
+
+THE PEERS, OR PALADINS
+
+The twelve most illustrious knights of Charlemagne were called
+Peers, for the equality that reigned among them; while the name of
+Paladins, also conferred on them, implies that they were inmates
+of the palace and companions of the king. Their names are always
+given alike by the romancers, yet we may enumerate the most
+distinguished of them as follows: Orlando or Roland (the former
+the Italian, the latter the French form of the name), favorite
+nephew of Charlemagne; Rinaldo of Montalban, cousin of Orlando;
+Namo, Duke of Bavaria; Salomon, king of Brittany; Turpin, the
+Archbishop; Astolpho, of England; Ogier, the Dane; Malagigi, the
+Enchanter; and Florismart, the friend of Orlando. There were
+others who are sometimes named as paladins, and the number cannot
+be strictly limited to twelve. Charlemagne himself must be counted
+one, and Ganelon, or Gano, of Mayence, the treacherous enemy of
+all the rest, was rated high on the list by his deluded sovereign,
+who was completely the victim of his arts.
+
+We shall introduce more particularly to our readers a few of the
+principal peers, leaving the others to make their own introduction
+as they appear in the course of our narrative. We begin with
+Orlando.
+
+ORLANDO
+
+Milon, or Milone, a knight of great family, and distantly related
+to Charlemagne, having secretly married Bertha, the Emperor's
+sister, was banished from France, and excommunicated by the Pope.
+After a long and miserable wandering on foot as mendicants Milon
+and his wife arrived at Sutri, in Italy, where they took refuge in
+a cave, and in that cave Orlando was born. There his mother
+continued, deriving a scanty support from the compassion of the
+neighboring peasants; while Milon, in quest of honor and fortune,
+went into foreign lands. Orlando grew up among the children of the
+peasantry, surpassing them all in strength and manly graces. Among
+his companions in age, though in station far more elevated, was
+Oliver, son of the governor of the town. Between the two boys a
+feud arose that led to a fight, in which Orlando thrashed his
+rival; but this did not prevent a friendship springing up between
+the two, which lasted through life.
+
+Orlando was so poor that he was sometimes half naked. As he was a
+favorite of the boys, one day four of them brought some cloth to
+make him clothes. Two brought white and two red; and from this
+circumstance Orlando took his coat-of-arms, or quarterings.
+
+When Charlemagne was on his way to Rome to receive the imperial
+crown he dined in public in Sutri. Orlando and his mother that day
+had nothing to eat, and Orlando coming suddenly upon the royal
+party, and seeing abundance of provisions, seized from the
+attendants as much as he could carry off, and made good his
+retreat in spite of their resistance. The Emperor, being told of
+this incident, was reminded of an intimation he had received in a
+dream, and ordered the boy to be followed. This was done by three
+of the knights, whom Orlando would have encountered with a cudgel
+on their entering the grotto, had not his mother restrained him.
+When they heard from her who she was they threw themselves at her
+feet, and promised to obtain her pardon from the Emperor. This was
+easily effected. Orlando was received into favor by the Emperor,
+returned with him to France, and so distinguished himself that he
+became the most powerful support of the throne and of
+Christianity. [Footnote: It is plain that Shakspeare borrowed from
+this source the similar incident in his "As you Like it." The
+names of characters in the play, Orlando, Oliver, Rowland indicate
+the same thing.]
+
+ROLAND AND FERRAGUS
+
+Orlando, or Roland, particularly distinguished himself by his
+combat with Ferragus. Ferragus was a giant, and moreover his skin
+was of such impenetrable stuff that no sword could make any
+impression upon it. The giant's mode of fighting was to seize his
+adversary in his arms and carry him off, in spite of all the
+struggles he could make. Roland's utmost skill only availed to
+keep him out of the giant's clutches, but all his efforts to wound
+him with the sword were useless. After long fighting Ferragus was
+so weary that he proposed a truce, and when it was agreed upon he
+lay down and immediately fell asleep. He slept in perfect
+security, for it was against all the laws of chivalry to take
+advantage of an adversary under such circumstances. But Ferragus
+lay so uncomfortably for the want of a pillow that Orlando took
+pity upon him, and brought a smooth stone and placed it under his
+head. When the giant woke up, after a refreshing nap, and
+perceived what Orlando had done, he seemed quite grateful, became
+sociable, and talked freely in the usual boastful style of such
+characters. Among other things he told Orlando that he need not
+attempt to kill him with a sword, for that every part of his body
+was invulnerable, except this; and as he spoke, he put his hand to
+the vital part, just in the middle of his breast. Aided by this
+information Orlando succeeded, when the fight was renewed, in
+piercing the giant in the very spot he had pointed out, and giving
+him a death-wound. Great was the rejoicing in the Christian camp,
+and many the praises showered upon the victorious paladin by the
+Emperor and all his host.
+
+On another occasion Orlando encountered a puissant Saracen
+warrior, and took from him, as the prize of victory, the sword
+Durindana. This famous weapon had once belonged to the illustrious
+prince Hector of Troy. It was of the finest workmanship, and of
+such strength and temper that no armor in the world could stand
+against it.
+
+A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER
+
+Guerin de Montglave held the lordship of Vienne, subject to
+Charlemagne. He had quarrelled with his sovereign, and Charles
+laid siege to his city, having ravaged the neighboring country.
+Guerin was an aged warrior, but relied for his defence upon his
+four sons and two grandsons, who were among the bravest knights of
+the age. After the siege had continued two months Charlemagne
+received tidings that Marsilius, king of Spain, had invaded
+France, and, finding himself unopposed, was advancing rapidly in
+the Southern provinces. At this intelligence Charles listened to
+the counsel of his peers, and consented to put the quarrel with
+Guerin to the decision of Heaven, by single combat between two
+knights, one of each party, selected by lot. The proposal was
+acceptable to Guerin and his sons. The names of the four, together
+with Guerin's own, who would not be excused, and of the two
+grandsons, who claimed their lot, being put into a helmet,
+Oliver's was drawn forth, and to him, the youngest of the
+grandsons, was assigned the honor and the peril of the combat. He
+accepted the award with delight, exulting in being thought worthy
+to maintain the cause of his family. On Charlemagne's side Roland
+was the designated champion, and neither he nor Oliver knew who
+his antagonist was to be.
+
+They met on an island in the Rhone, and the warriors of both camps
+were ranged on either shore, spectators of the battle. At the
+first encounter both lances were shivered, but both riders kept
+their seats, immovable. They dismounted, and drew their swords.
+Then ensued a combat which seemed so equal, that the spectators
+could not form an opinion as to the probable issue. Two hours and
+more the knights continued to strike and parry, to thrust and
+ward, neither showing any sign of weariness, nor ever being taken
+at unawares. At length Orlando struck furiously upon Oliver's
+shield, burying Durindana in its edge so deeply that he could not
+draw it back, and Oliver, almost at the same moment, thrust so
+vigorously upon Orlando's breastplate that his sword snapped off
+at the handle. Thus were the two warriors left weaponless.
+Scarcely pausing a moment, they rushed upon one another, each
+striving to throw his adversary to the ground, and failing in
+that, each snatched at the other's helmet to tear it away. Both
+succeeded, and at the same moment they stood bare-headed face to
+face, and Roland recognized Oliver, and Oliver Roland. For a
+moment they stood still; and the next, with open arms, rushed into
+one another's embrace. "I am conquered," said Orlando. "I yield
+me." said Oliver.
+
+The people on the shore knew not what to make of all this.
+Presently they saw the two late antagonists standing hand in hand,
+and it was evident the battle was at an end. The knights crowded
+round them, and with one voice hailed them as equals in glory. If
+there were any who felt disposed to murmur that the battle was
+left undecided they were silenced by the voice of Ogier the Dane,
+who proclaimed aloud that all had been done that honor required,
+and declared that he would maintain that award against all
+gainsayers.
+
+The quarrel with Guerin and his sons being left undecided, a truce
+was made for four days, and in that time, by the efforts of Duke
+Namo on the one side, and of Oliver on the other, a reconciliation
+was effected. Charlemagne, accompanied by Guerin and his valiant
+family, marched to meet Marsilius, who hastened to retreat across
+the frontier.
+
+RINALDO
+
+Rinaldo was one of the four sons of Aymon, who married Aya, the
+sister of Charlemagne. Thus Rinaldo was nephew to Charlemagne and
+cousin of Orlando.
+
+When Rinaldo had grown old enough to assume arms Orlando had won
+for himself an illustrious name by his exploits against the
+Saracens, whom Charlemagne and his brave knights had driven out of
+France. Orlando's fame excited a noble emulation in Rinaldo. Eager
+to go in pursuit of glory, he wandered in the country near Paris,
+and one day saw at the foot of a tree a superb horse, fully
+equipped and loaded with a complete suit of armor. Rinaldo clothed
+himself in the armor and mounted the horse, but took not the
+sword. On the day when, with his brothers, he had received the
+honor of knighthood from the Emperor he had sworn never to bind a
+sword to his side till he had wrested one from some famous knight.
+
+Rinaldo took his way to the forest of Arden, celebrated for so
+many adventures. Hardly had he entered it when he met an old man,
+bending under the weight of years, and learned from him that the
+forest was infested with a wild horse, untamable, that broke and
+overturned everything that opposed his career. To attack him, he
+said, or even to meet him, was certain death. Rinaldo, far from
+being alarmed, showed the most eager desire to combat the animal.
+This was the horse Bayard, afterward so famous. He had formerly
+belonged to Amadis of Gaul. After the death of that hero he had
+been held under enchantment by the power of a magician, who
+predicted that, when the time came to break the spell, he should
+be subdued by a knight of the lineage of Amadis, and not less
+brave than he.
+
+To win this wonderful horse it was necessary to conquer him by
+force or skill; for from the moment when he should be thrown down
+he would become docile and manageable. His habitual resort was a
+cave on the borders of the forest; but woe be to any one who
+should approach him, unless gifted with strength and courage more
+than mortal. Having told this, the old man departed. He was not,
+in fact, an old man, but Malagigi, the enchanter, cousin of
+Rinaldo, who, to favor the enterprises of the young knight, had
+procured for him the horse and armor which he so opportunely
+found, and now put him in the way to acquire a horse unequalled in
+the world.
+
+Rinaldo plunged into the forest, and spent many days in seeking
+Bayard, but found no traces of him. One day he encountered a
+Saracen knight, with whom he made acquaintance, as often happened
+to knights, by first meeting him in combat. This knight, whose
+name was Isolier, was also in quest of Bayard. Rinaldo succeeded
+in the encounter, and so severe was the shock that Isolier was a
+long time insensible. When he revived, and was about to resume the
+contest, a peasant who passed by (it was Malagigi) interrupted
+them with the news that the terrible horse was near at hand,
+advising them to unite their powers to subdue him, for it would
+require all their ability.
+
+Rinaldo and Isolier, now become friends, proceeded together to the
+attack of the horse. They found Bayard, and stood a long time,
+concealed by the wood, admiring his strength and beauty.
+
+A bright bay in color (whence he was called Bayard), with a silver
+star in his forehead, and his hind feet white, his body slender,
+his head delicate, his ample chest filled out with swelling
+muscles, his shoulders broad and full, his legs straight and
+sinewy, his thick mane falling over his arching neck,--he came
+rushing through the forest, regardless of rocks, bushes, or trees,
+rending everything that opposed his way, and neighing defiance.
+
+He first descried Isolier, and rushed upon him. The knight
+received him with lance in rest, but the fierce animal broke the
+spear, and his course was not delayed by it for an instant. The
+Spaniard adroitly stepped aside, and gave way to the rushing
+tempest. Bayard checked his career, and turned again upon the
+knight, who had already drawn his sword. He drew his sword, for he
+had no hope of taming the horse; that, he was satisfied, was
+impossible.
+
+Bayard rushed upon him; fiercely rearing, now on this side, now on
+that. The knight struck him with his sword, where the white star
+adorned his forehead, but struck in vain, and felt ashamed,
+thinking that he had struck feebly, for he did not know that the
+skin of that horse was so tough that the keenest sword could make
+no impression upon it.
+
+Whistling fell the sword once more, and struck with greater force,
+and the fierce horse felt it, and drooped his head under the blow,
+but the next moment turned upon his foe with such a buffet that
+the Pagan fell stunned and lifeless to the earth.
+
+Rinaldo, who saw Isolier fall, and thought that his life was reft,
+darted towards the horse, and, with his fist gave him such a blow
+on the jaws that the blood tinged his mouth with vermilion.
+Quicker than an arrow leaves the bow the horse turned upon him,
+and tried to seize his arm with his teeth.
+
+The knight stepped back, and then, repeating his blow, struck him
+on the forehead. Bayard turned, and kicked with both his feet with
+a force that would have shattered a mountain. Rinaldo was on his
+guard, and evaded his attacks, whether made with head or heels. He
+kept at his side avoiding both; but, making a false step, he at
+last received a terrible blow from the horse's foot, and at the
+shock almost fainted away. A second such blow would have killed
+him, but the horse kicked at random, and a second blow did not
+reach Rinaldo, who in a moment recovered himself. Thus the contest
+continued until by chance Bayard's foot got caught between the
+branches of an oak. Rinaldo seized it and putting forth all his
+strength and address, threw him on the ground.
+
+No sooner had Bayard touched the ground than all his rage
+subsided. No longer an object of terror, he became gentle and
+quiet, yet with dignity in his mildness.
+
+The paladin patted his neck, stroked his breast, and smoothed his
+mane, while the animal neighed and showed delight to be caressed
+by his master. Rinaldo, seeing him now completely subdued, took
+the saddle and trappings from the other horse, and adorned Bayard
+with the spoils.
+
+Rinaldo became one of the most illustrious knights of
+Charlemagne's court,--indeed, the most illustrious, if we except
+Orlando. Yet he was not always so obedient to the Emperor's
+commands as he should have been, and every fault he committed was
+sure to be aggravated by the malice of Gan, Duke of Maganza, the
+treacherous enemy of Rinaldo and all his house.
+
+At one time Rinaldo had incurred the severe displeasure of
+Charlemagne, and been banished from court. Seeing no chance of
+being ever restored to favor, he went to Spain, and entered into
+the service of the Saracen king, Ivo. His brothers, Alardo,
+Ricardo, and Ricciardetto, accompanied him, and all four served
+the king so faithfully that they rose to high favor with him. The
+king gave them land in the mountains on the frontiers of France
+and Spain, and subjected all the country round to Rinaldo's
+authority. There was plenty of marble in the mountains, the king
+furnished workmen, and they built a castle for Rinaldo, surrounded
+with high walls, so as to be almost impregnable. Built of white
+stone, and placed on the brow of a marble promontory, the castle
+shone like a star, and Rinaldo gave it the name of Montalban. Here
+he assembled his friends, many of whom were banished men like
+himself, and the country people furnished them with provisions in
+return for the protection the castle afforded. Yet some of
+Rinaldo's men were lawless, and sometimes the supplies were not
+furnished in sufficient abundance, so that Rinaldo and his
+garrison got a bad name for taking by force what they could not
+obtain by gift; and we sometimes find Montalban spoken of as a
+nest of freebooters, and its defenders called a beggarly garrison.
+
+Charlemagne's displeasure did not last long, and, at the time our
+history commences, Rinaldo and his brothers were completely
+restored to the favor of the Emperor, and none of his cavaliers
+served him with greater zeal and fidelity than they, throughout
+all his wars with the Saracens and Pagans.
+
+THE TOURNAMENT
+
+It was the month of May, and the feast of Pentecost. Charlemagne
+had ordered magnificent festivities, and summoned to them, besides
+his paladins and vassals of the crown, all strangers, Christian or
+Saracen, then sojourning at Paris. Among the guests were King
+Grandonio, from Spain; and Ferrau, the Saracen, with eyes like an
+eagle; Orlando and Rinaldo, the Emperor's nephews; Duke Namo;
+Astolpho, of England, the handsomest man living; Malagigi, the
+Enchanter; and Gano, of Maganza, that wily traitor, who had the
+art to make the Emperor think he loved him, while he plotted
+against him.
+
+High sat Charlemagne at the head of his vassals and his paladins,
+rejoicing in the thought of their number and their might, while
+all were sitting and hearing music, and feasting, when suddenly
+there came into the hall four enormous giants, having between them
+a lady of incomparable beauty, attended by a single knight. There
+were many ladies present who had seemed beautiful till she made
+her appearance, but after that they all seemed nothing. Every
+Christian knight turned his eyes to her, and every Pagan crowded
+round her, while she, with a sweetness that might have touched a
+heart of stone, thus addressed the Emperor:
+
+"High-minded lord, the renown of your worthiness, and of the valor
+of these your knights, which echoes from sea to sea, encourages me
+to hope that two pilgrims, who have come from the ends of the
+world to behold you, will not have encountered their fatigue in
+vain. And, before I show the motive which has brought us hither,
+learn that this knight is my brother Uberto, and that I am his
+sister Angelica. Fame has told us of the jousting this day
+appointed, and so the prince my brother has come to prove his
+valor, and to say that, if any of the knights here assembled
+choose to meet him in the joust, he will encounter them, one by
+one, at the stair of Merlin, by the Fountain of the Pine. And his
+conditions are these: No knight who chances to be thrown shall be
+allowed to renew the combat, but shall remain prisoner to my
+brother; but if my brother be overthrown he shall depart out of
+the country, leaving me as the prize of the conqueror."
+
+Now it must be stated that this Angelica and her brother, who
+called himself Uberto, but whose real name was Argalia, were the
+children of Galafron, king of Cathay, who had sent them to be the
+destruction of the Christian host; for Argalia was armed with an
+enchanted lance, which unfailingly overthrew everything it
+touched, and he was mounted on a horse, a creature of magic, whose
+swiftness outstripped the wind. Angelica possessed also a ring
+which was a defence against all enchantments, and when put into
+the mouth rendered the bearer invisible. Thus Argalia was expected
+to subdue and take prisoners whatever knights should dare to
+encounter him; and the charms of Angelica were relied on to entice
+the paladins to make the fatal venture, while her ring would
+afford her easy means of escape.
+
+When Angelica ceased sneaking she knelt before the king and
+awaited his answer, and everybody gazed on her with admiration.
+Orlando especially felt irresistibly drawn towards her, so that he
+trembled and changed countenance. Every knight in the hall was
+infected with the same feeling, not excepting old white-headed
+Duke Namo and Charlemagne himself.
+
+All stood for a while in silence, lost in the delight of looking
+at her. The fiery youth Ferrau could hardly restrain himself from
+seizing her from the giants and carrying her away; Rinaldo turned
+as red as fire, while Malagigi, who had discovered by his art that
+the stranger was not speaking truth, muttered softly, as he looked
+at her, "Exquisite false creature! I will play thee such a trick
+for this, as will leave thee no cause to boast of thy visit."
+
+Charlemagne, to detain her as long as possible before him, delayed
+his assent till he had asked her a number of questions, all which
+she answered discreetly, and then the challenge was accepted.
+
+As soon as she was gone Malagigi consulted his book, and found out
+the whole plot of the vile, infidel king, Galafron, as we have
+explained it, so he determined to seek the damsel and frustrate
+her designs. He hastened to the appointed spot, and there found
+the prince and his sister in a beautiful pavilion, where they lay
+asleep, while the four giants kept watch. Malagigi took his book
+and cast a spell out of it, and immediately the four giants fell
+into a deep sleep. Drawing his sword (for he was a belted knight),
+he softly approached the young lady, intending to despatch her at
+once; but, seeing her look so lovely, he paused for a moment,
+thinking there was no need of hurry, as he believed his spell was
+upon her, and she could not wake. But the ring which she wore
+secured her from the effect of the spell, and some slight noise,
+or whatever else it was, caused her at that moment to awake. She
+uttered a great cry, and flew to her brother, and waked him. By
+the help of her knowledge of enchantment, they took and bound fast
+the magician, and, seizing his book, turned his arts against
+himself. Then they summoned a crowd of demons, and bade them seize
+their prisoner and bear him to King Galafron, at his great city of
+Albracca, which they did, and, on his arrival, he was locked up in
+a rock under the sea.
+
+While these things were going on all was uproar at Paris, since
+Orlando insisted upon being the first to try the adventure at the
+stair of Merlin. This was resented by the other pretenders to
+Angelica, and all contested his right to the precedence. The
+tumult was stilled by the usual expedient of drawing lots, and the
+first prize was drawn by Astolpho. Ferrau, the Saracen, had the
+second, and Grandonio the third. Next came Berlinghieri, and Otho;
+then Charles himself, and, as his ill-fortune would have it, after
+thirty more, the indignant Orlando.
+
+Astolpho, who drew the first lot, was handsome, brave, and rich.
+But, whether from heedlessness or want of skill, he was an unlucky
+jouster, and very apt to be thrown, an accident which he bore with
+perfect good-humor, always ready to mount again and try to mend
+his fortune, generally with no better success.
+
+Astolpho went forth upon his adventure with great gayety of dress
+and manner, encountered Argalia, and was immediately tilted out of
+the saddle. He railed at fortune, to whom he laid all the fault;
+but his painful feelings were somewhat relieved by the kindness of
+Angelica, who, touched by his youth and good looks, granted him
+the liberty of the pavilion, and caused him to be treated with all
+kindness and respect.
+
+The violent Ferrau had the next chance in the encounter, and was
+thrown no less speedily than Astolpho; but he did not so easily
+put up with his mischance. Crying out, "What are the emperor's
+engagements to me?" he rushed with his sword against Argalia, who,
+being forced to defend himself, dismounted and drew his sword, but
+got so much the worse of the fight that he made a signal of
+surrender, and, after some words, listened to a proposal of
+marriage from Ferrau to his sister. The beauty, however, feeling
+no inclination to match with such a rough and savage-looking
+person, was so dismayed at the offer, that, hastily bidding her
+brother to meet her in the forest of Arden, she vanished from the
+sight of both by means of the enchanted ring. Argalia, seeing
+this, took to his horse of swiftness, and dashed away in the same
+direction. Ferrau pursued him, and Astolpho, thus left to himself,
+took possession of the enchanted lance in place of his own, which
+was broken, not knowing the treasure he possessed in it, and
+returned to the tournament. Charlemagne, finding the lady and her
+brother gone, ordered the jousting to proceed as at first
+intended, in which Astolpho, by aid of the enchanted lance,
+unhorsed all comers against him, equally to their astonishment and
+his own.
+
+The paladin Rinaldo, on learning the issue of the combat of Ferrau
+and the stranger, galloped after the fair fugitive in an agony of
+love and impatience. Orlando, perceiving his disappearance, pushed
+forth in like manner; and, at length, all three are in the forest
+of Arden, hunting about for her who is invisible.
+
+Now in this forest there were two fountains, the one constructed
+by the sage Merlin, who designed it for Tristram and the fair
+Isoude; [Footnote: See their story in "King Arthur and His
+Knights."] for such was the virtue of this fountain, that a
+draught of its waters produced on oblivion of the love which the
+drinker might feel, and even produced aversion for the object
+formerly beloved. The other fountain was endowed with exactly
+opposite qualities, and a draught of it inspired love for the
+first living object that was seen after tasting it. Rinaldo
+happened to come to the first mentioned fountain, and, being
+flushed with heat, dismounted, and quenched in one draught both
+his thirst and his passion. So far from loving Angelica as before
+he hated her from the bottom of his heart, became disgusted with
+the search he was upon, and, feeling fatigued with his ride,
+finding a sheltered and flowery nook, laid himself down and fell
+asleep.
+
+Shortly after came Angelica, but, approaching in a different
+direction, she espied the other fountain, and there quenched her
+thirst. Then resuming her way, she came upon the sleeping Rinaldo.
+Love instantly seized her, and she stood rooted to the spot.
+
+The meadow round was all full of lilies of the valley and wild
+roses. Angelica, not knowing what to do, at length plucked a
+handful of these, and dropped them, one by one, on the face of the
+sleeper. He woke up, and, seeing who it was, received her
+salutations with averted countenance, remounted his horse, and
+galloped away. In vain the beautiful creature followed and called
+after him, in vain asked him what she had done to be so despised.
+Rinaldo disappeared, leaving her in despair, and she returned in
+tears to the spot where she had found him sleeping. There, in her
+turn, she herself lay down, pressing the spot of earth on which he
+had lain, and, out of fatigue and sorrow, fell asleep.
+
+As Angelica thus lay, fortune conducted Orlando to the same place.
+The attitude in which she was sleeping was so lovely that it is
+not to be conceived, much less expressed. Orlando stood gazing
+like a man who had been transported to another sphere. "Am I on
+earth," he exclaimed, "or am I in Paradise? Surely it is I that
+sleep, and this is my dream."
+
+But his dream was proved to be none in a manner which he little
+desired. Ferrau, who had slain Argalia, came up, raging with
+jealousy, and a combat ensued which awoke the sleeper.
+
+Terrified at what she beheld, she rushed to her palfrey, and,
+while the fighters were occupied with one another, fled away
+through the forest. The champions continued their fight till they
+were interrupted by a messenger, who brought word to Ferrau that
+king Marsilius, his sovereign, was in pressing need of his
+assistance, and conjured him to return to Spain. Ferrau, upon
+this, proposed to suspend the combat, to which Orlando, eager to
+pursue Angelica, agreed. Ferrau, on the other hand, departed with
+the messenger to Spain.
+
+Orlando's quest for the fair fugitive was all in vain. Aided by
+the powers of magic, she made a speedy return to her own country.
+
+But the thought of Rinaldo could not be banished from her mind,
+and she determined to set Malagigi at liberty, and to employ him
+to win Rinaldo, if possible, to make her a return of affection.
+She accordingly freed him from his dungeon, unlocking his fetters
+with her own hands, and restored him his book, promising him ample
+honors and rewards on condition of his bringing Rinaldo to her
+feet.
+
+Malagigi accordingly, with the aid of his book, called up a demon,
+mounted him, and departed. Arrived at his destination, he
+inveigled Rinaldo into an enchanted bark, which conveyed him,
+without any visible pilot, to an island where stood an edifice
+called Joyous Castle. The whole island was a garden. On the
+western side, close to the sea, was the palace, built of marble,
+so clear and polished that it reflected the landscape about it.
+Rinaldo leapt ashore, and soon met a lady, who invited him to
+enter. The house was as beautiful within as without, full of rooms
+adorned with azure and gold, and with noble paintings. The lady
+led the knight into an apartment painted with stories, and opening
+to the garden, through pillars of crystal, with golden capitals.
+Here he found a bevy of ladies, three of whom were singing in
+concert, while another played on an instrument of exquisite
+accord, and the rest danced round about them. When the ladies
+beheld him coming they turned the dance into a circuit round him,
+and then one of them, in the sweetest manner, said, "Sir knight,
+the tables are set, and the hour for the banquet is come;" and,
+with these words, still dancing, they drew him across the lawn in
+front of the apartment, to a table that was spread with cloth of
+gold and fine linen, under a bower of damask roses by the side of
+a fountain.
+
+Four ladies were already seated there, who rose, and placed
+Rinaldo at their head, in a chair set with pearls. And truly
+indeed was he astonished. A repast ensued, consisting of viands
+the most delicate, and wines as fragrant as they were fine, drunk
+out of jewelled cups; and, when it drew towards its conclusion,
+harps and lutes were heard in the distance, and one of the ladies
+said in the knight's ear: "This house and all that you see in it
+are yours; for you alone was it built, and the builder is a queen.
+Happy indeed must you think yourself, for she loves you, and she
+is the greatest beauty in the world! Her name is Angelica."
+
+The moment Rinaldo heard the name he so detested he started up,
+with a changed countenance, and, in spite of all that the lady
+could say, broke off across the garden, and never ceased hastening
+till he reached the place where he landed. The bark was still on
+the shore. He sprang into it, and pushed off, though he saw nobody
+in it but himself. It was in vain for him to try to control its
+movements, for it dashed on as if in fury, till it reached a
+distant shore covered with a gloomy forest. Here Rinaldo,
+surrounded by enchantments of a very different sort from those
+which he had lately resisted, was entrapped into a pit.
+
+The pit belonged to a castle called Altaripa, which was hung with
+human heads, and painted red with blood. As the paladin was
+viewing the scene with amazement a hideous old woman made her
+appearance at the edge of the pit, and told him that he was
+destined to be thrown to a monster, who was only kept from
+devastating the whole country by being supplied with living human
+flesh. Rinaldo said, "Be it so; let me but remain armed as I am,
+and I fear nothing." The old woman laughed in derision. Rinaldo
+remained in the pit all night, and the next morning was taken to
+the place where the monster had his den. It was a court surrounded
+by a high wall. Rinaldo was shut in with the beast, and a terrible
+combat ensued. Rinaldo was unable to make any impression on the
+scales of the monster, while he, on the contrary, with his
+dreadful claws, tore away plate and mail from the paladin. Rinaldo
+began to think his last hour was come, and cast his eyes around
+and above to see if there was any means of escape. He perceived a
+beam projecting from the wall at the height of some ten feet, and,
+taking a leap almost miraculous, he succeeded in reaching it, and
+in flinging himself up across it. Here he sat for hours, the
+hideous brute continually trying to reach him. All at once he
+heard the sound of something coming through the air like a bird,
+and suddenly Angelica herself alighted on the end of the beam. She
+held something in her hand towards him, and spoke to him in a
+loving voice. But the moment Rinaldo saw her he commanded her to
+go away, refused all her offers of assistance, and at length
+declared that, if she did not leave him, he would cast himself
+down to the monster, and meet his fate.
+
+Angelica, saying she would lose her life rather than displease
+him, departed; but first she threw to the monster a cake of wax
+she had prepared, and spread around him a rope knotted with
+nooses. The beast took the bait, and, finding his teeth glued
+together by the wax, vented his fury in bounds and leaps, and,
+soon getting entangled in the nooses, drew them tight by his
+struggles, so that he could scarcely move a limb.
+
+Rinaldo, watching his chance, leapt down upon his back, seized him
+round the neck, and throttled him, not relaxing his gripe till the
+beast fell dead.
+
+Another difficulty remained to be overcome. The walls were of
+immense height, and the only opening in them was a grated window
+of such strength that he could not break the bars. In his distress
+Rinaldo found a file, which Angelica had left on the ground, and,
+with the help of this, effected his deliverance.
+
+What further adventures he met with will be told in another
+chapter.
+
+THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA
+
+At the very time when Charlemagne was holding his plenary court
+and his great tournament his kingdom was invaded by a mighty
+monarch, who was moreover so valiant and strong in battle that no
+one could stand against him. He was named Gradasso, and his
+kingdom was called Sericane. Now, as it often happens to the
+greatest and the richest to long for what they cannot have, and
+thus to lose what they already possess, this king could not rest
+content without Durindana, the sword of Orlando, and Bayard, the
+horse of Rinaldo. To obtain these he determined to war upon
+France, and for this purpose put in array a mighty army.
+
+He took his way through Spain, and, after defeating Marsilius, the
+king of that country, in several battles, was rapidly advancing on
+France. Charlemagne, though Marsilius was a Saracen, and had been
+his enemy, yet felt it needful to succor him in this extremity
+from a consideration of common danger, and, with the consent of
+his peers, despatched Rinaldo with a strong body of soldiers
+against Gradasso.
+
+There was much fighting, with doubtful results, and Gradasso was
+steadily advancing into France. But, impatient to achieve his
+objects, he challenged Rinaldo to single combat, to be fought on
+foot, and upon these conditions: If Rinaldo conquered, Gradasso
+agreed to give up all his prisoners and return to his own country;
+but if Gradasso won the day, he was to have Bayard.
+
+The challenge was accepted, and would have been fought had it not
+been for the arts of Malagigi, who just then returned from
+Angelica's kingdom with set purpose to win Rinaldo to look with
+favor upon the fair princess who was dying for love of him.
+Malagigi drew Rinaldo away from the army by putting on the
+semblance of Gradasso, and, after a short contest, pretending to
+fly before him, by which means Rinaldo was induced to follow him
+into a boat, in which he was borne away, and entangled in various
+adventures, as we have already related.
+
+The army, left under the command of Ricciardetto, Rinaldo's
+brother, was soon joined by Charlemagne and all his peerage, but
+experienced a disastrous rout, and the Emperor and many of his
+paladins were taken prisoners. Gradasso, however, did not abuse
+his victory; he took Charles by the hand, seated him by his side,
+and told him he warred only for honor. He renounced all conquests,
+on condition that the Emperor should deliver to him Bayard and
+Durindana, both of them the property of his vassals, the former of
+which, as he maintained, was already forfeited to him by Rinaldo's
+failure to meet him as agreed. To these terms Charlemagne readily
+acceded.
+
+Bayard, after the departure of his master, had been taken in
+charge by Ricciardetto, and sent back to Paris, where Astolpho was
+in command, in the absence of Charlemagne. Astolpho received with
+great indignation the message despatched for Bayard, and replied
+by a herald that "he would not surrender the horse of his kinsman
+Rinaldo without a contest. If Gradasso wanted the steed he might
+come and take him, and that he, Astolpho, was ready to meet him in
+the field."
+
+Gradasso was only amused at this answer, for Astolpho's fame as a
+successful warrior was not high, and Gradasso willingly renewed
+with him the bargain which he had made with Rinaldo. On these
+conditions the battle was fought. The enchanted lance, in the
+hands of Astolpho, performed a new wonder; and Gradasso, the
+terrible Gradasso, was unhorsed.
+
+He kept his word, set free his prisoners, and put his army on the
+march to return to his own country, renewing his oath, however,
+not to rest till he had taken from Rinaldo his horse, and from
+Orlando his sword, or lost his life in the attempt.
+
+Charlemagne, full of gratitude to Astolpho, would have kept him
+near his person and loaded him with honors, but Astolpho preferred
+to seek Rinaldo, with the view of restoring to him his horse, and
+departed from Paris with that design.
+
+Our story now returns to Orlando, whom we left fascinated with
+the sight of the sleeping beauty, who, however, escaped him while
+engaged in the combat with Ferrau. Having long sought her in vain
+through the recesses of the wood, he resolved to follow her to her
+father's court. Leaving, therefore, the camp of Charlemagne, he
+travelled long in the direction of the East, making inquiry
+everywhere, if, perchance, he might get tidings of the fugitive.
+After many adventures, he arrived one day at a place where many
+roads crossed, and meeting there a courier, he asked him for news.
+The courier replied that he had been despatched by Angelica to
+solicit the aid of Sacripant, king of Circassia, in favor of her
+father Galafron, who was besieged in his city, Albracca, by
+Agrican, king of Tartary. This Agrican had been an unsuccessful
+suitor to the damsel, whom he now pursued with arms. Orlando thus
+learned that he was within a day's journey of Albracca; and,
+feeling now secure of Angelica, he proceeded with all speed to her
+city.
+
+Thus journeying he arrived at a bridge, under which flowed a
+foaming river. Here a damsel met him with a goblet, and informed
+him that it was the usage of this bridge to present the traveller
+with a cup. Orlando accepted the offered cup and drank its
+contents. He had no sooner done so than his brain reeled, and he
+became unconscious of the object of his journey, and of everything
+else. Under the influence of this fascination he followed the
+damsel into a magnificent and marvellous palace. Here he found
+himself in company with many knights, unknown to him and to each
+other, though if it had not been for the Cup of Oblivion of which
+they all had partaken they would have found themselves brothers in
+arms.
+
+Astolpho, proceeding on his way to seek Rinaldo, splendidly
+dressed and equipped, as was his wont, arrived in Circassia, and
+found there a great army encamped under the command of Sacripant,
+the king of that country, who was leading it to the defence of
+Galafron, the father of Angelica. Sacripant, much struck by the
+appearance of Astolpho and his horse, accosted him courteously,
+and tried to enlist him in his service; but Astolpho, proud of his
+late victories, scornfully declined his offers, and pursued his
+way. King Sacripant was too much attracted by his appearance to
+part with him so easily, and having laid aside his kingly
+ornaments, set out in pursuit of him.
+
+Astolpho next day encountered on his way a stranger knight, named
+Sir Florismart, Lord of the Sylvan Tower, one of the bravest and
+best of knights, having as his guide a damsel, young, fair, and
+virtuous, to whom he was tenderly attached, whose name was
+Flordelis. Astolpho, as he approached, defied the knight, bidding
+him yield the lady, or prepare to maintain his right by arms.
+Florismart accepted the contest, and the knights encountered.
+Florismart was unhorsed and his steed fell dead, while Bayard
+sustained no injury by the shock.
+
+Florismart was so overwhelmed with despair at his own disgrace and
+the sight of the damsel's distress, that he drew his sword, and
+was about to plunge it into his own bosom. But Astolpho held his
+hand, told him that he contended only for glory, and was contented
+to leave him the lady.
+
+While Florismart and Flordelis were vowing eternal gratitude King
+Sacripant arrived, and coveting the damsel of the one champion as
+much as the horse and arms of the other, defied them to the joust.
+Astolpho met the challenger, whom he instantly overthrew, and
+presented his courser to Florismart, leaving the king to return to
+his army on foot.
+
+The friends pursued their route, and ere long Flordelis
+discovered, by signs which were known to her, that they were
+approaching the waters of Oblivion, and advised them to turn back,
+or to change their course. This the knights would not hear of,
+and, continuing their march, they soon arrived at the bridge where
+Orlando had been taken prisoner.
+
+The damsel of the bridge appeared as before with the enchanted
+cup, but Astolpho, forewarned, rejected it with scorn. She dashed
+it to the ground, and a fire blazed up which rendered the bridge
+unapproachable. At the same moment the two knights were assailed
+by sundry warriors, known and unknown, who, having no recollection
+of anything, joined blindly in defence of their prison-house.
+Among these was Orlando, at sight of whom Astolpho, with all his
+confidence not daring to encounter him, turned and fled, owing his
+escape to the strength and fleetness of Bayard.
+
+Florismart, meanwhile, overlaid by fearful odds, was compelled to
+yield to necessity, and comply with the usage of the fairy. He
+drank of the cup and remained prisoner with the rest. Flordelis,
+deprived of her two friends, retired from the scene, and devoted
+herself to untiring efforts to effect her lover's deliverance.
+Astolpho pursued his way to Albracca, which Agrican was about to
+besiege. He was kindly welcomed by Angelica, and enrolled among
+her defenders. Impatient to distinguish himself, he one night
+sallied forth alone, arrived in Agrican's camp, and unhorsed his
+warriors right and left by means of the enchanted lance. But he
+was soon surrounded and overmatched, and made prisoner to Agrican.
+
+Relief was, however, at hand; for as the citizens and soldiers
+were one day leaning over their walls they descried a cloud of
+dust, from which horsemen were seen to prick forth, as it rolled
+on towards the camp of the besiegers. This turned out to be the
+army of Sacripant, which immediately attacked that of Agrican,
+with the view of cutting a passage through his camp to the
+besieged city. But Agrican, mounted upon Bayard, taken from
+Astolpho, but not armed with the lance of gold, the virtues of
+which were unknown to him, performed wonders, and rallied his
+scattered troops, which had given way to the sudden and unexpected
+assault. Sacripant, on the other hand, encouraged his men by the
+most desperate acts of valor, having as an additional incentive to
+his courage the sight of Angelica, who showed herself upon the
+city walls.
+
+There she witnessed a single combat between the two leaders,
+Agrican and Sacripant. In this, at length, her defender appeared
+to be overmatched, when the Circassians broke the ring, and
+separated the combatants, who were borne asunder in the rush.
+Sacripant, severely wounded, profited by the confusion, and
+escaped into Albracca, where he was kindly received and carefully
+tended by Angelica.
+
+The battle continuing, the Circassians were at last put to flight,
+and, being intercepted between the enemy's lines and the town,
+sought for refuge under the walls. Angelica ordered the drawbridge
+to be let down, and the gates thrown open to the fugitives. With
+these Agrican, not distinguished in the crowd, entered the place,
+driving both Circassians and Cathayans before him, and the
+portcullis being dropped, he was shut in.
+
+For a time the terror which he inspired put to flight all
+opposers, but when at last it came to be known that few or none of
+his followers had effected an entrance with him, the fugitives
+rallied and surrounded him on all sides. While he was thus
+apparently reduced to the last extremities, he was saved by the
+very circumstance which threatened him with destruction. The
+soldiers of Angelica, closing upon him from all sides, deserted
+their defences; and his own besieging army entered the city in a
+part where the wall was broken down.
+
+In this way was Agrican rescued, the city taken, and the
+inhabitants put to the sword. Angelica, however, with some of the
+knights who were her defenders, among whom was Sacripant, saved
+herself in the citadel, which was planted upon a rock.
+
+The fortress was impregnable, but it was scantily victualled, and
+ill provided with other necessaries. Under these circumstances
+Angelica announced to those blockaded with her in the citadel her
+intention to go in quest of assistance, and, having plighted her
+promise of a speedy return, she set out, with the enchanted ring
+upon her finger. Mounted upon her palfrey, the damsel passed
+through the enemy's lines, and by sunrise was many miles clear of
+their encampment.
+
+It so happened that her road led her near the fatal bridge of
+Oblivion, and as she approached it she met a damsel weeping
+bitterly. It was Flordelis, whose lover, Florismart, as we have
+related, had met the fate of Orlando and many more, and fallen a
+victim to the enchantress of the cup. She related her adventures
+to Angelica, and conjured her to lend what aid she might to rescue
+her lord and his companions. Angelica, accordingly, watching her
+opportunity and aided by her ring, slipped into the castle unseen,
+when the door was opened to admit a new victim. Here she speedily
+disenchanted Orlando and the rest by a touch of her talisman. But
+Florismart was not there. He had been given up to Falerina, a more
+powerful enchantress, and was still in durance. Angelica conjured
+the rescued captives to assist her in the recovery of her kingdom,
+and all departed together for Albracca.
+
+The arrival of Orlando, with his companions, nine in all, and
+among the bravest knights of France, changed at once the fortunes
+of the war. Wherever the great paladin came, pennon and standard
+fell before him. Agrican in vain attempted to rally his troops.
+Orlando kept constantly in his front, forcing him to attend to
+nobody else. The Tartar king at length bethought him of a
+stratagem. He turned his horse, and made a show of flying in
+despair. Orlando dashed after him as he desired, and Agrican fled
+till he reached a green place in a wood, where there was a
+fountain.
+
+The place was beautiful, and the Tartar dismounted to refresh
+himself at the fountain, but without taking off his helmet, or
+laying aside any of his armor. Orlando was quickly at his back,
+crying out, "So bold, and yet a fugitive! How could you fly from a
+single arm and think to escape?"
+
+The Tartar king had leaped on his saddle the moment he saw his
+enemy, and when the paladin had done speaking, he said in a mild
+voice, "Without doubt you are the best knight I ever encountered,
+and fain would I leave you untouched for your own sake, if you
+would cease to hinder me from rallying my people. I pretended to
+fly, in order to bring you out of the field. If you insist upon
+fighting I must needs fight and slay you, but I call the sun in
+the heavens to witness I would rather not. I should be very sorry
+for your death."
+
+The Count Orlando felt pity for so much gallantry, and he said,
+"The nobler you show yourself the more it grieves me to think that
+in dying without a knowledge of the true faith you will be lost in
+the other world. Let me advise you to save body and soul at once.
+Receive baptism, and go your way in peace."
+
+Agrican replied: "I suspect you to be the paladin Orlando. If you
+are I would not lose this opportunity of fighting with you to be
+king of Paradise. Talk to me no more about your things of another
+world, for you will preach in vain. Each of us for himself, and
+let the sword be umpire."
+
+The Saracen drew his sword, boldly advancing upon Orlando, and a
+combat began, so obstinate and so long, each warrior being a
+miracle of prowess, that the story says it lasted from noon till
+night. Orlando then seeing the stars come out was the first to
+propose a respite.
+
+"What are we to do," said he, "now that daylight has left us?"
+
+Agrican answered readily enough, "Let us repose in this meadow,
+and renew the combat at dawn."
+
+The repose was taken accordingly. Each tied up his horse, and
+reclined himself on the grass, not far from the other, just as if
+they had been friends, Orlando by the fountain, Agrican beneath a
+pine. It was a beautiful clear night, and, as they talked together
+before addressing themselves to sleep, the champion of
+Christendom, looking up at the firmament, said, "That is a fine
+piece of workmanship, that starry spectacle; God made it all, that
+moon of silver, and those stars of gold, and the light of day, and
+the sun,--all for the sake of human kind."
+
+"You wish, I see, to talk of matters of faith," said the Tartar.
+"Now I may as well tell you at once that I have no sort of skill
+in such matters, nor learning of any kind. I never could learn
+anything when I was a boy. I hated it so that I broke the man's
+head who was commissioned to teach me; and it produced such an
+effect on others that nobody ever afterwards dared so much as show
+me a book. My boyhood was therefore passed, as it should be, in
+horsemanship and hunting, and learning to fight. What is the good
+of a gentleman's poring all day over a book? Prowess to the
+knight, and preaching to the clergyman, that is my motto."
+
+"I acknowledge," returned Orlando, "that arms are the first
+consideration of a gentleman; but not at all that he does himself
+dishonor by knowledge. On the contrary, knowledge is as great an
+embellishment of the rest of his attainments, as the flowers are
+to the meadow before us; and as to the knowledge of his Maker, the
+man that is without it is no better than a stock or a stone or a
+brute beast. Neither without study can he reach anything of a due
+sense of the depth and divineness of the contemplation."
+
+"Learned or not learned," said Agrican, "you might show yourself
+better bred than by endeavoring to make me talk on a subject on
+which you have me at a disadvantage. If you choose to sleep I wish
+you good night; but if you prefer talking I recommend you to talk
+of fighting or of fair ladies. And, by the way, pray tell me, are
+you not that Orlando who makes such a noise in the world? And what
+is it, pray, that brings you into these parts? Were you ever in
+love? I suppose you must have been; for to be a knight, and never
+to have been in love, would be like being a man without a heart in
+his breast."
+
+The count replied: "Orlando I am, and in love I am. Love has made
+me abandon everything, and brought me into these distant regions,
+and, to tell you all in one word, my heart is in the hands of the
+daughter of King Galafron. You have come against him with fire and
+sword, to get possession of his castles and his dominions; and I
+have come to help him, for no object in the world but to please
+his daughter and win her beautiful hand. I care for nothing else
+in existence."
+
+Now when the Tartar king, Agrican, heard his antagonist speak in
+this manner, and knew him to be indeed Orlando, and to be in love
+with Angelica, his face changed color for grief and jealousy,
+though it could not be seen for the darkness. His heart began
+beating with such violence that he felt as if he should have died.
+"Well," said he to Orlando, "we are to fight when it is daylight,
+and one or other is to be left here, dead on the ground. I have a
+proposal to make to you--nay, an entreaty. My love is so
+excessive for the same lady that I beg you to leave her to me. I
+will owe you my thanks, and give up the siege and put an end to
+the war. I cannot bear that any one should love her, and that I
+should live to see it. Why, therefore, should either of us perish?
+Give her up. Not a soul shall know it."
+
+"I never yet," answered Orlando, "made a promise which I did not
+keep, and nevertheless I own to you that, were I to make a promise
+like that, and even swear to keep it, I should not. You might as
+well ask me to tear away the limbs from my body, and the eyes out
+of my head. I could as well live without breath itself as cease
+loving Angelica."
+
+Agrican had hardly patience to let him finish speaking, ere he
+leapt furiously on horseback, though it was midnight. "Quit her,"
+said he, "or die!"
+
+Orlando seeing the infidel getting up, and not being sure that he
+would not add treachery to fierceness, had been hardly less quick
+in mounting for the combat. "Never," exclaimed he; "I never could
+have quitted her if I would, and now I would not if I could. You
+must seek her by other means than these."
+
+Fiercely dashed their horses together, in the nighttime, on the
+green mead. Despiteful and terrible were the blows they gave and
+took by the moonlight. Agrican fought in a rage, Orlando was
+cooler. And now the struggle had lasted more than five hours, and
+day began to dawn, when the Tartar king, furious to find so much
+trouble given him, dealt his enemy a blow sharp and violent beyond
+conception. It cut the shield in two as if it had been made of
+wood, and, though blood could not be drawn from Orlando, because
+he was fated, it shook and bruised him as if it had started every
+joint in his body.
+
+His body only, however, not a particle of his soul. So dreadful
+was the blow which the paladin gave in return, that not only
+shield, but every bit of mail on the body of Agrican was broken in
+pieces, and three of his ribs cut asunder.
+
+The Tartar, roaring like a lion, raised his sword with still
+greater vehemence than before, and dealt a blow on the paladin's
+helmet, such as he had never yet received from mortal man. For a
+moment it took away his senses. His sight failed, his ears
+tingled, his frightened horse turned about to fly; and he was
+falling from the saddle, when the very action of falling threw his
+head upwards, and thus recalled his recollection.
+
+"What a shame is this!" thought he; "how shall I ever again dare
+to face Angelica! I have been fighting hour after hour with this
+man, and he is but one, and I call myself Orlando! If the combat
+last any longer I will bury myself in a monastery, and never look
+on sword again."
+
+Orlando muttered with his lips closed and his teeth ground
+together; and you might have thought that fire instead of breath
+came out of his nose and mouth. He raised his sword Durindana with
+both his hands, and sent it down so tremendously on Agrican's
+shoulder that it cut through breastplate down to the very haunch,
+nay, crushed the saddle-bow, though it was made of bone and iron,
+and felled man and horse to the earth. Agrican turned as white as
+ashes, and felt death upon him. He called Orlando to come close to
+him, with a gentle voice, and said, as well as he could: "I
+believe on Him who died on the cross. Baptize me, I pray thee,
+with the fountain, before my senses are gone. I have lived an evil
+life, but need not be rebellious to God in death also. May He who
+came to save all the rest of the world save me!" And he shed
+tears, that great king, though he had been so lofty and fierce.
+
+Orlando dismounted quickly, with his own face in tears. He
+gathered the king tenderly in his arms, and took and laid him by
+the fountain, on a marble rim that it had, and then he wept in
+concert with him heartily, and asked his pardon, and so baptized
+him in the water of the fountain, and knelt and prayed to God for
+him with joined hands.
+
+He then paused and looked at him; and when he perceived his
+countenance changed, and that his whole person was cold, he left
+him there on the marble rim of the fountain, all armed as he was,
+with the sword by his side, and the crown upon his head.
+
+ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO
+
+We left Rinaldo when, having overcome the monster, he quitted the
+castle of Altaripa, and pursued his way on foot. He soon met with
+a weeping damsel, who, being questioned as to the cause of her
+sorrow, told him she was in search of one to do battle to rescue
+her lover, who had been made prisoner by a vile enchantress,
+together with Orlando and many more. The damsel was Flordelis, the
+lady-love of Florismart, and Rinaldo promised his assistance,
+trusting to accomplish the adventure either by valor or skill.
+Flordelis insisted upon Rinaldo's taking her horse, which he
+consented to do, on condition of her mounting behind him.
+
+As they rode on through a wood, they heard strange noises, and
+Rinaldo, reassuring the damsel, pressed forward towards the
+quarter from which they proceeded. He soon perceived a giant
+standing under a vaulted cavern, with a huge club in his hand, and
+of an appearance to strike the boldest spirit with dread. By the
+side of the cavern was chained a griffin, which, together with the
+giant, was stationed there to guard a wonderful horse, the same
+which was once Argalia's. This horse was a creature of
+enchantment, matchless in vigor, speed, and form, which disdained
+to share the diet of his fellow-steeds,--corn or grass,--and fed
+only on air. His name was Rabican.
+
+This marvellous horse, after his master Argalia had been slain by
+Ferrau, finding himself at liberty, returned to his native cavern,
+and was here stabled under the protection of the giant and the
+griffin. As Rinaldo approached, the giant assailed him with his
+club. Rinaldo defended himself from the giant's blows, and gave
+him one in return, which, if his skin had not been of the
+toughest, would have finished the combat. But the giant, though
+wounded, escaped, and let loose the griffin. This monstrous bird
+towered in air, and thence pounced down upon Rinaldo, who,
+watching his opportunity, dealt her a desperate wound. She had,
+however, strength for another flight, and kept repeating her
+attacks, which Rinaldo parried as he could, while the damsel stood
+trembling by, witnessing the contest.
+
+The battle continued, rendered more terrible by the approach of
+night, when Rinaldo determined upon a desperate expedient to bring
+it to a conclusion. He fell, as if fainting from his wounds, and,
+on the close approach of the griffin, dealt her a blow which
+sheared away one of her wings. The beast, though sinking, griped
+him fast with her talons, digging through plate and mail; but
+Rinaldo plied his sword in utter desperation, and at last
+accomplished her destruction.
+
+Rinaldo then entered the cavern, and found there the wonderful
+horse, all caparisoned. He was coal-black, except for a star of
+white on his forehead, and one white foot behind. For speed he was
+unrivalled, though in strength he yielded to Bayard. Rinaldo
+mounted upon Rabican, and issued from the cavern.
+
+As he pursued his way he met a fugitive from Agrican's army, who
+gave such an account of the prowess of a champion who fought on
+the side of Angelica, that Rinaldo was persuaded this must be
+Orlando, though at a loss to imagine how he could have been freed
+from captivity. He determined to repair to the scene of the
+contest to satisfy his curiosity, and Flordelis, hoping to find
+Florismart with Orlando, consented to accompany him.
+
+While these things were doing, all was rout and dismay in the
+Tartarian army, from the death of Agrican. King Galafron, arriving
+at this juncture with an army for the relief of his capital,
+Albracca, assaulted the enemy's camp, and carried all before him.
+Rinaldo had now reached the scene of action, and was looking on as
+an unconcerned spectator, when he was espied by Galafron. The king
+instantly recognized the horse Rabican, which he had given to
+Argalia when he sent him forth on his ill-omened mission to Paris.
+Possessed with the idea that the rider of the horse was the
+murderer of Argalia, Galafron rode at Rinaldo, and smote him with
+all his force. Rinaldo was not slow to avenge the blow, and it
+would have gone hard with the king had not his followers instantly
+closed round him and separated the combatants.
+
+Rinaldo thus found himself, almost without his own choice,
+enlisted on the side of the enemies of Angelica, which gave him no
+concern, so completely had his draught from the fountain of hate
+steeled his mind against her.
+
+For several successive days the struggle continued, without any
+important results, Rinaldo meeting the bravest knights of
+Angelica's party, and defeating them one after the other. At
+length he encountered Orlando, and the two knights bitterly
+reproached one another for the cause they had each adopted, and
+engaged in a furious combat. Orlando was mounted upon Bayard,
+Rinaldo's horse, which Agrican had by chance become possessed of,
+and Orlando had taken from him as the prize of victory. Bayard
+would not fight against his master, and Orlando was getting the
+worse of the encounter, when suddenly Rinaldo, seeing Astolpho,
+who for love of him had arrayed himself on his side, hard beset by
+numbers, left Orlando to rush to the defence of his friend. Night
+prevented the combat from being renewed; but a challenge was given
+and accepted for their next meeting.
+
+But Angelica, sighing in her heart for Rinaldo, was not willing
+that he should be again exposed to so terrible a venture. She
+begged a boon of Orlando, promising she would be his if he would
+do her bidding. On receiving his promise, she enjoined him to set
+out without delay to destroy the garden of the enchantress
+Falerina, in which many valiant knights had been entrapped, and
+were imprisoned.
+
+Orlando departed on his horse Brigliadoro, leaving Bayard in
+disgrace for his bad deportment the day before. Angelica, to
+conciliate Rinaldo, sent Bayard to him; but Rinaldo remained
+unmoved by this as by all her former acts of kindness.
+
+When Rinaldo learned Orlando's departure, he yielded to the
+entreaties of the lady of Florismart, and prepared to fulfil his
+promise, and rescue her lover from the power of the enchantress.
+Thus both Rinaldo and Orlando were bound upon the same adventure,
+but unknown to one another.
+
+The castle of Falerina was protected by a river, which was crossed
+by a bridge, kept by a ruffian, who challenged all comers to the
+combat; and such was his strength that he had thus far prevailed
+in every encounter, as appeared by the arms of various knights
+which he had taken from them, and piled up as a trophy on the
+shore. Rinaldo attacked him, but with as bad success as the rest,
+for the bridge-ward struck him so violent a blow with an iron mace
+that he fell to the ground. But when the villain approached to
+strip him of his armor, Rinaldo seized him, and the bridge-ward,
+being unable to free himself, leapt with Rinaldo into the lake,
+where they both disappeared.
+
+Orlando, meanwhile, in discharge of his promise to Angelica,
+pursued his way in quest of the same adventure. In passing through
+a wood he saw a cavalier armed at all points, and mounted, keeping
+guard over a lady who was bound to a tree, weeping bitterly.
+Orlando hastened to her relief, but was exhorted by the knight not
+to interfere, for she had deserved her fate by her wickedness. In
+proof of which he made certain charges against her. The lady
+denied them all, and Orlando believed her, defied the knight,
+overthrew him, and, releasing the lady, departed with her seated
+on his horse's croup.
+
+While they rode another damsel approached on a white palfrey, who
+warned Orlando of impending danger, and informed him that he was
+near the garden of the enchantress. Orlando was delighted with the
+intelligence, and entreated her to inform him how he was to gain
+admittance. She replied that the garden could only be entered at
+sunrise and gave him such instructions as would enable him to gain
+admittance. She gave him also a book in which was painted the
+garden and all that it contained, together with the palace of the
+false enchantress, where she had secluded herself for the purpose
+of executing a magic work in which she was engaged. This was the
+manufacture of a sword capable of cutting even through enchanted
+substances The object of this labor, the damsel told him, was the
+destruction of a knight of the west, by name Orlando, who she had
+read in the book of Fate was coming to demolish her garden. Having
+thus instructed him, the damsel departed.
+
+Orlando, finding he must delay his enterprise till the next
+morning, now lay down and was soon asleep. Seeing this, the base
+woman whom he had rescued, and who was intent on making her escape
+to rejoin her paramour, mounted Brigliadoro, and rode off,
+carrying away Durindana.
+
+When Orlando awoke, his indignation, as may be supposed, was great
+on the discovery of the theft; but, like a good knight and true,
+he was not to be diverted from his enterprise. He tore off a huge
+branch of an elm to supply the place of his sword; and, as the sun
+rose, took his way towards the gate of the garden, where a dragon
+was on his watch. This he slew by repeated blows, and entered the
+garden, the gate of which closed behind him, barring retreat.
+Looking round him, he saw a fair fountain, which overflowed into a
+river, and in the centre of the fountain a figure, on whose
+forehead was written:
+
+    "The stream which waters violet and rose,
+     From hence to the enchanted palace goes."
+
+Following the banks of this flowing stream, and rapt in the
+delights of the charming garden, Orlando arrived at the palace,
+and entering it, found the mistress, clad in white, with a crown
+of gold upon her head, in the act of viewing herself in the
+surface of the magic sword. Orlando surprised her before she could
+escape, deprived her of the weapon, and holding her fast by her
+long hair, which floated behind, threatened her with immediate
+death if she did not yield up her prisoners, and afford him the
+means of egress. She, however, was firm of purpose, making no
+reply, and Orlando, unable to move her either by threats or
+entreaties, was under the necessity of binding her to a beech, and
+pursuing his quest as he best might.
+
+He then bethought him of his book, and, consulting it, found that
+there was an outlet to the south, but that to reach it a lake was
+to be passed, inhabited by a siren, whose song was so entrancing
+as to be quite irresistible to whoever heard it; but his book
+instructed him how to protect himself against this danger.
+According to its directions, while pursuing his path, he gathered
+abundance of flowers, which sprung all around, and filled his
+helmet and his ears with them; then listened if he heard the birds
+sing. Finding that, though he saw the gaping beak, the swelling
+throat, and ruffled plumes, he could not catch a note, he felt
+satisfied with his defence, and advanced toward the lake. It was
+small but deep, and so clear and tranquil that the eye could
+penetrate to the bottom.
+
+He had no, sooner arrived upon the banks than the waters were seen
+to gurgle, and the siren, rising midway out of the pool, sung so
+sweetly that birds and beasts came trooping to the water-side to
+listen. Of this Orlando heard nothing, but, feigning to yield to
+the charm, sank down upon the bank. The siren issued from the
+water with the intent to accomplish his destruction. Orlando
+seized her by the hair, and while she sang yet louder (song being
+her only defence) cut off her head. Then, following the directions
+of the book, he stained himself all over with her blood.
+
+Guarded by this talisman, he met successively all the monsters set
+for defence of the enchantress and her garden, and at length found
+himself again at the spot where he had made captive the
+enchantress, who still continued fastened to the beech. But the
+scene was changed. The garden had disappeared, and Falerina,
+before so haughty, now begged for mercy, assuring him that many
+lives depended upon the preservation of hers. Orlando promised her
+life upon her pledging herself for the deliverance of her
+captives.
+
+This, however, was no easy task. They were not in her possession,
+but in that of a much more powerful enchantress, Morgana, the Lady
+of the Lake, the very idea of opposing whom made Falerina turn
+pale with fear. Representing to him the hazards of the enterprise,
+she led him towards the dwelling of Morgana. To approach it he had
+to encounter the same uncourteous bridge-ward who had already
+defeated and made captive so many knights, and last of all,
+Rinaldo. He was a churl of the most ferocious character, named
+Arridano. Morgana had provided him with impenetrable armor, and
+endowed him in such a manner that his strength always increased in
+proportion to that of the adversary with whom he was matched. No
+one had ever yet escaped from the contest, since, such was his
+power of endurance, he could breathe freely under water. Hence,
+having grappled with a knight, and sunk with him to the bottom of
+the lake, he returned, bearing his enemy's arms in triumph to the
+surface.
+
+While Falerina was repeating her cautions and her counsels Orlando
+saw Rinaldo's arms erected in form of a trophy, among other spoils
+made by the villain, and, forgetting their late quarrel,
+determined upon revenging his friend. Arriving at the pass, the
+churl presuming to bar the way, a desperate contest ensued, during
+which Falerina escaped. The churl finding himself overmatched at a
+contest of arms, resorted to his peculiar art, grappled his
+antagonist, and plunged with him into the lake. When he reached
+the bottom Orlando found himself in another world, upon a dry
+meadow, with the lake overhead, through which shone the beams of
+our sun, while the water stood on all sides like a crystal wall.
+Here the battle was renewed, and Orlando had in his magic sword an
+advantage which none had hitherto possessed. It had been tempered
+by Falerina so that no spells could avail against it. Thus armed,
+and countervailing the strength of his adversary by his superior
+skill and activity, it was not long before he laid him dead upon
+the field.
+
+Orlando then made all haste to return to the upper air, and,
+passing through the water, which opened a way before him (such was
+the power of the magic sword), he soon regained the shore, and
+found himself in a field as thickly covered with precious stones
+as the sky is with stars.
+
+Orlando crossed the field, not tempted to delay his enterprise by
+gathering any of the brilliant gems spread all around him. He next
+passed into a flowery meadow planted with trees, covered with
+fruit and flowers, and full of all imaginable delights.
+
+In the middle of this meadow was a fountain, and fast by it lay
+Morgana asleep; a lady of a lovely aspect, dressed in white and
+vermilion garments, her forehead well furnished with hair, while
+she had scarcely any behind.
+
+While Orlando stood in silence contemplating her beauty he heard a
+voice exclaim: "Seize the fairy by the forelock, if thou hopest
+fair success." But his attention was arrested by another object,
+and he heeded not the warning. He saw on a sudden an array of
+towers, pinnacles and columns, palaces with balconies and windows,
+extended alleys with trees, in short a scene of architectural
+magnificence surpassing all he had ever beheld. While he stood
+gazing in silent astonishment the scene slowly melted away and
+disappeared. [Footnote: This is a poetical description of a
+phenomenon which is said to be really exhibited in the strait of
+Messina, between Sicily and Calabria. It is called Fata Morgana,
+or Mirage.]
+
+When he had recovered from his amazement he looked again toward
+the fountain. The fairy had awaked and risen, and was dancing
+round its border with the lightness of a leaf, timing her
+footsteps to this song:
+
+    "Who in this world would wealth and treasure share,
+     Honor, delight, and state, and what is best,
+     Quick let him catch me by the lock of hair
+     Which flutters from my forehead; and be blest.
+
+    "But let him not the proffered good forbear,
+     Nor till he seize the fleeting blessing rest;
+     For present loss is sought in vain to-morrow,
+     And the deluded wretch is left in sorrow."
+
+The fairy, having sung thus, bounded off, and fled from the
+flowery meadow over a high and inaccessible mountain. Orlando
+pursued her through thorns and rocks, while the sky gradually
+became overcast, and at last he was assailed by tempest,
+lightning, and hail.
+
+While he thus pursued, a pale and meagre woman issued from a cave,
+armed with a whip, and, treading close upon his steps, scourged
+him with vigorous strokes. Her name was Repentance, and she told
+him it was her office to punish those who neglected to obey the
+voice of Prudence, and seize the fairy Fortune when he might.
+
+Orlando, furious at this chastisement, turned upon his tormentor,
+but might as well have stricken the wind. Finding it useless to
+resist, he resumed his chase of the fairy, gained upon her, and
+made frequent snatches at her white and vermilion garments, which
+still eluded his grasp. At last, on her turning her head for an
+instant, he profited by the chance, and seized her by the
+forelock. In an instant the tempest ceased, the sky became serene,
+and Repentance retreated to her cave.
+
+Orlando now demanded of Morgana the keys of her prison, and the
+fairy, feigning a complacent aspect, delivered up a key of silver,
+bidding him to be cautious in the use of it, since to break the
+lock would be to involve himself and all in inevitable
+destruction; a caution which gave the Count room for long
+meditation, and led him to consider
+
+    How few amid the suitors who importune
+    The dame, know how to turn the keys of Fortune.
+
+Keeping the fairy still fast by the forelock, Orlando proceeded
+toward the prison, turned the key, without occasioning the
+mischiefs apprehended, and delivered the prisoners.
+
+Among these were Florismart, Rinaldo, and many others of the
+bravest knights of France. Morgana had disappeared, and the
+knights, under the guidance of Orlando, retraced the path by which
+he had come. They soon reached the field of treasure. Rinaldo,
+finding himself amidst this mass of wealth, remembered his needy
+garrison of Montalban, and could not resist the temptation of
+seizing part of the booty. In particular a golden chain, studded
+with diamonds, was too much for his self-denial, and he took it
+and was bearing it off, notwithstanding the remonstrances of
+Orlando, when a violent wind caught him and whirled him back, as
+he approached the gate. This happened a second and a third time,
+and Rinaldo at length yielded to necessity, rather than to the
+entreaties of his friends, and cast away his prize.
+
+They soon reached the bridge and passed over without hindrance to
+the other side, where they found the trophy decorated with their
+arms. Here each knight resumed his own, and all, except the
+paladins and their friends, separated as their inclinations or
+duty prompted. Dudon, the Dane, one of the rescued knights,
+informed the cousins that he had been made prisoner by Morgana
+while in the discharge of an embassy to them from Charlemagne, who
+called upon them to return to the defence of Christendom. Orlando
+was too much fascinated by Angelica to obey this summons, and,
+followed by the faithful Florismart, who would not leave him,
+returned towards Albracca. Rinaldo, Dudon, Iroldo, Prasildo, and
+the others took their way toward the west.
+
+THE INVASION OF FRANCE
+
+Agramant, King of Africa, convoked the kings, his vassals, to
+deliberate in council. He reminded them of the injuries he had
+sustained from France, that his father had fallen in battle with
+Charlemagne, and that his early years had hitherto not allowed him
+to wipe out the stain of former defeats. He now proposed to them
+to carry war into France.
+
+Sobrino, his wisest councillor, opposed the project, representing
+the rashness of it; but Rodomont, the young and fiery king of
+Algiers, denounced Sobrino's counsel as base and cowardly,
+declaring himself impatient for the enterprise. The king of the
+Garamantes, venerable for his age and renowned for his prophetic
+lore, interposed, and assured the King that such an attempt would
+be sure to fail, unless he could first get on his side a youth
+marked out by destiny as the fitting compeer of the most puissant
+knights of France, the young Rogero, descended in direct line from
+Hector of Troy. This prince was now a dweller upon the mountain
+Carena, where Atlantes, his foster-father, a powerful magician,
+kept him in retirement, having discovered by his art that his
+pupil would be lost to him if allowed to mingle with the world. To
+break the spells of Atlantes, and draw Rogero from his retirement,
+one only means was to be found. It was a ring possessed by
+Angelica, Princess of Cathay, which was a talisman against all
+enchantments. If this ring could be procured all would go well;
+without it the enterprise was desperate.
+
+Rodomont treated this declaration of the old prophet with scorn,
+and it would probably have been held of little weight by the
+council, had not the aged king, oppressed by the weight of years,
+expired in the very act of reaffirming his prediction. This made
+so deep an impression on the council that it was unanimously
+resolved to postpone the war until an effort should be made to win
+Rogero to the camp.
+
+King Agramant thereupon proclaimed that the sovereignty of a
+kingdom should be the reward of whoever should succeed in
+obtaining the ring of Angelica. Brunello the dwarf, the subtlest
+thief in all Africa, undertook to procure it.
+
+In prosecution of this design, he made the best of his way to
+Angelica's kingdom, and arrived beneath the walls of Albracca
+while the besieging army was encamped before the fortress. While
+the attention of the garrison was absorbed by the battle that
+raged below he scaled the walls, approached the Princess
+unnoticed, slipped the ring from her finger, and escaped
+unobserved. He hastened to the seaside, and, finding a vessel
+ready to sail, embarked, and arrived at Biserta, in Africa. Here
+he found Agramant impatient for the talisman which was to foil the
+enchantments of Atlantes and to put Rogero into his hands. The
+dwarf, kneeling before the king, presented him with the ring, and
+Agramant, delighted at the success of his mission, crowned him in
+recompense King of Tingitana.
+
+All were now anxious to go in quest of Rogero. The cavalcade
+accordingly departed, and in due time arrived at the mountain of
+Carena.
+
+At the bottom of this was a fruitful and well-wooded plain,
+watered by a large river, and from this plain was descried a
+beautiful garden on the mountain-top, which contained the mansion
+of Atlantes; but the ring, which discovered what was before
+invisible, could not, though it revealed this paradise, enable
+Agramant or his followers to enter it. So steep and smooth was the
+rock by nature, that even Brunello failed in every attempt to
+scale it. He did not, for this, despair of accomplishing the
+object; but, having obtained Agramant's consent, caused the
+assembled courtiers and knights to celebrate a tournament upon the
+plain below. This was done with the view of seducing Rogero from
+his fastness, and the stratagem was attended with success.
+
+Rogero joined the tourney, and was presented by Agramant with a
+splendid horse, Frontino, and a magnificent sword. Having learned
+from Agramant his intended invasion of France, he gladly consented
+to join the expedition.
+
+Rodomont, meanwhile, was too impatient to wait for Agramant's
+arrangements, and embarked with all the forces he could raise,
+made good his landing on the coast of France, and routed the
+Christians in several encounters. Previously to this, however,
+Gano, or Ganelon (as he is sometimes called), the traitor, enemy
+of Orlando and the other nephews of Charlemagne, had entered into
+a traitorous correspondence with Marsilius, the Saracen king of
+Spain, whom he invited into France. Marsilius, thus encouraged,
+led an army across the frontiers, and joined Rodomont. This was
+the situation of things when Rinaldo and the other knights who had
+obeyed the summons of Dudon set forward on their return to France.
+
+When they arrived at Buda in Hungary they found the king of that
+country about despatching his son, Ottachiero, with an army to the
+succor of Charlemagne. Delighted with the arrival of Rinaldo, he
+placed his son and troops under his command. In due time the army
+arrived on the frontiers of France, and, united with the troops of
+Desiderius, king of Lombardy, poured down into Provence. The
+confederate armies had not marched many days through this gay
+tract before they heard a crash of drums and trumpets behind the
+hills, which spoke the conflict between the paynims, led by
+Rodomont, and the Christian forces. Rinaldo, witnessing from a
+mountain the prowess of Rodomont, left his troops in charge of his
+friends, and galloped towards him with his lance in rest. The
+impulse was irresistible, and Rodomont was unhorsed. But Rinaldo,
+unwilling to avail himself of his advantage, galloped back to the
+hill, and having secured Bayard among the baggage, returned to
+finish the combat on foot.
+
+During this interval the battle had become general, the Hungarians
+were routed, and Rinaldo, on his return, had the mortification to
+find that Ottachiero was wounded, and Dudon taken prisoner. While
+he sought Rodomont in order to renew the combat a new sound of
+drums and trumpets was heard, and Charlemagne, with the main body
+of his army, was descried advancing in battle array.
+
+Rodomont, seeing this, mounted the horse of Dudon, left Rinaldo,
+who was on foot, and galloped off to encounter this new enemy.
+
+Agramant, accompanied by Rogero, had by this time made good his
+landing, and joined Rodomont with all his forces. Rogero eagerly
+embraced this first opportunity of distinguishing himself, and
+spread terror wherever he went, encountering in turn and
+overthrowing many of the bravest knights of France. At length he
+found himself opposite to Rinaldo, who, being interrupted, as we
+have said, in his combat with Rodomont, and unable to follow him,
+being on foot, was shouting to his late foe to return and finish
+their combat. Rogero also was on foot, and seeing the Christian
+knight so eager for a contest, proffered himself to supply the
+place of his late antagonist. Rinaldo saw at a glance that the
+Moorish prince was a champion worthy of his arm, and gladly
+accepted the defiance. The combat was stoutly maintained for a
+time; but now fortune declared decisively in favor of the infidel
+army, and Charlemagne's forces gave way at all points in
+irreparable confusion. The two combatants were separated by the
+crowd of fugitives and pursuers, and Rinaldo hastened to recover
+possession of his horse. But Bayard, in the confusion, had got
+loose, and Rinaldo followed him into a thick wood, thus becoming
+effectually separated from Rogero.
+
+Rogero, also seeking his horse in the medley, came where two
+warriors were engaged in mortal combat. Though he knew not who
+they were, he could distinguish that one was a paynim and the
+other a Christian; and moved by the spirit of courtesy he
+approached them and exclaimed, "Let him of the two who worships
+Christ pause, and hear what I have to say. The army of Charles is
+routed and in flight, so that if he wishes to follow his leader he
+has no time for delay." The Christian knight, who was none other
+than Bradamante, a female warrior, in prowess equal to the best of
+knights, was thunderstruck with the tidings, and would gladly
+leave the contest undecided, and retire from the field; but
+Rodomont, her antagonist, would by no means consent. Rogero,
+indignant at his discourtesy, insisted upon her departure, while
+he took up her quarrel with Rodomont.
+
+The combat, obstinately maintained on both sides, was interrupted
+by the return of Bradamante. Finding herself unable to overtake
+the fugitives, and reluctant to leave to another the burden and
+risk of a contest which belonged to herself, she had returned to
+reclaim the combat. She arrived, however, when her champion had
+dealt his enemy such a blow as obliged him to drop both his sword
+and bridle. Rogero, disdaining to profit by his adversary's
+defenceless situation, sat apart upon his horse, while that of
+Rodomont bore his rider, stunned and stupefied, about the field.
+
+Bradamante approached Rogero, conceiving a yet higher opinion of
+his valor on beholding such an instance of forbearance. She
+addressed him, excusing herself for leaving him exposed to an
+enemy from his interference in her cause; pleading her duty to her
+sovereign as the motive. While she spoke Rodomont, recovered from
+his confusion, rode up to them. His bearing was, however, changed;
+and he disclaimed all thoughts of further contest with one who, he
+said, "had already conquered him by his courtesy." So saying, he
+quitted his antagonist, picked up his sword, and spurred out of
+sight.
+
+Bradamante was now again desirous of retiring from the field, and
+Rogero insisted on accompanying her, though yet unaware of her
+sex.
+
+As they pursued their way, she inquired the name and quality of
+her new associate; and Rogero informed her of his nation and
+family. He told her that Astyanax, the son of Hector of Troy,
+established the kingdom of Messina in Sicily. From him were
+derived two branches, which gave origin to two families of renown.
+From one sprang the royal race of Pepin and Charlemagne, and from
+the other, that of Reggio, in Italy. "From that of Reggio am I
+derived," he continued. "My mother, driven from her home by the
+chance of war, died in giving me life, and I was taken in charge
+by a sage enchanter, who trained me to feats of arms amidst the
+dangers of the desert and the chase."
+
+Having thus ended his tale, Rogero entreated a similar return of
+courtesy from his companion, who replied, without disguise, that
+she was of the race of Clermont, and sister to Rinaldo, whose fame
+was perhaps known to him. Rogero, much moved by this intelligence,
+entreated her to take off her helmet, and at the discovery of her
+face remained transported with delight.
+
+While absorbed in this contemplation, an unexpected danger
+assailed them. A party which was placed in a wood, in order to
+intercept the retreating Christians, broke from its ambush upon
+the pair, and Bradamante, who was uncasqued, was wounded in the
+head. Rogero was in a fury at this attack; and Bradamante,
+replacing her helmet, joined him in taking speedy vengeance on
+their enemies. They cleared the field of them, but became
+separated in the pursuit, and Rogero, quitting the chase, wandered
+by hill and vale in search of her whom he had no sooner found than
+lost.
+
+While pursuing this quest he fell in with two knights, whom he
+joined, and engaged them to assist him in the search of his
+companion, describing her arms, but concealing, from a certain
+feeling of jealousy, her quality and sex.
+
+It was evening when they joined company, and having ridden
+together through the night the morning was beginning to break,
+when one of the strangers, fixing his eyes upon Rogero's shield,
+demanded of him by what right he bore the Trojan arms. Rogero
+declared his origin and race, and then, in his turn, interrogated
+the inquirer as to his pretensions to the cognizance of Hector,
+which he bore. The stranger replied, "My name is Mandricardo, son
+of Agrican, the Tartar king, whom Orlando treacherously slew. I
+say treacherously, for in fair fight he could not have done it. It
+is in search of him that I have come to France, to take vengeance
+for my father, and to wrest from him Durindana, that famous sword,
+which belongs to me, and not to him." When the knights demanded to
+know by what right he claimed Durindana, Mandricardo thus related
+his history:
+
+"I had been, before the death of my father, a wild and reckless
+youth. That event awakened my energies, and drove me forth to seek
+for vengeance. Determined to owe success to nothing but my own
+exertions, I departed without attendants or horse or arms.
+Travelling thus alone, and on foot, I espied one day a pavilion,
+pitched near a fountain, and entered it, intent on adventure. I
+found therein a damsel of gracious aspect, who replied to my
+inquiries that the fountain was the work of a fairy, whose castle
+stood beyond a neighboring hill, where she kept watch over a
+treasure which many knights had tried to win, but fruitlessly,
+having lost their life or liberty in the attempt. This treasure
+was the armor of Hector, prince of Troy, whom Achilles
+treacherously slew. Nothing was wanting but his sword, Durindana,
+and this had fallen into the possession of a queen named
+Penthesilea, from whom it passed through her descendants to
+Almontes, whom Orlando slew, and thus became possessed of the
+sword. The rest of Hector's arms were saved and carried off by
+Aeneas, from whom this fairy received them in recompense of
+service rendered. 'If you have the courage to attempt their
+acquisition,' said the damsel, 'I will be your guide.'"
+
+Mandricardo went on to say that he eagerly embraced the proposal,
+and being provided with horse and armor by the damsel, set forth
+on his enterprise, the lady accompanying him.
+
+As they rode she explained the dangers of the quest. The armor was
+defended by a champion, one of the numerous unsuccessful
+adventurers for the prize, all of whom had been made prisoners by
+the fairy, and compelled to take their turn, day by day, in
+defending the arms against all comers. Thus speaking they arrived
+at the castle, which was of alabaster, overlaid with gold. Before
+it, on a lawn, sat an armed knight on horseback, who was none
+other than Gradasso, king of Sericane, who, in his return home
+from his unsuccessful inroad into France, had fallen into the
+power of the fairy, and was held to do her bidding. Mandricardo,
+upon seeing him, dropt his visor, and laid his lance in rest. The
+champion of the castle was equally ready, and each spurred towards
+his opponent. They met one another with equal force, splintered
+their spears, and, returning to the charge, encountered with their
+swords. The contest was long and doubtful, when Mandricardo,
+determined to bring it to an end, threw his arms about Gradasso,
+grappled with him, and both fell to the ground. Mandricardo,
+however, fell uppermost, and, preserving his advantage, compelled
+Gradasso to yield himself conquered. The damsel now interfered,
+congratulating the victor, and consoling the vanquished as well as
+she might.
+
+Mandricardo and the damsel proceeded to the gate of the castle,
+which they found undefended. As they entered they beheld a shield
+suspended from a pilaster of gold. The device was a white eagle on
+an azure field, in memory of the bird of Jove, which bore away
+Ganymede, the flower of the Phrygian race. Beneath was engraved
+the following couplet:
+
+    "Let none with hand profane my buckler wrong
+     Unless he be himself as Hector strong."
+
+The damsel, alighting from her palfrey, made obeisance to the
+arms, bending herself to the ground. The Tartar king bowed his
+head with equal reverence; then advancing towards the shield,
+touched it with his sword. Thereupon an earthquake shook the
+ground, and the way by which he had entered closed. Another and an
+opposite gate opened, and displayed a field bristling with stalks
+and grain of gold. The damsel, upon this, told him that he had no
+means of retreat but by cutting down the harvest which was before
+him, and by uprooting a tree which grew in the middle of the
+field. Mandricardo, without replying, began to mow the harvest
+with his sword, but had scarce smitten thrice when he perceived
+that every stalk that fell was instantly transformed into some
+poisonous or ravenous animal, which prepared to assail him.
+Instructed by the damsel, he snatched up a stone and cast it among
+the pack. A strange wonder followed; for no sooner had the stone
+fallen among the beasts, than they turned their rage against one
+another, and rent each other to pieces. Mandricardo did not stop
+to marvel at the miracle, but proceeded to fulfil his task, and
+uproot the tree. He clasped it round the trunk, and made vigorous
+efforts to tear it up by the roots. At each effort fell a shower
+of leaves, that were instantly changed into birds of prey, which
+attacked the knight, flapping their wings in his face, with horrid
+screeching. But undismayed by this new annoyance, he continued to
+tug at the trunk till it yielded to his efforts. A burst of wind
+and thunder followed, and the hawks and vultures flew screaming
+away.
+
+But these only gave place to a new foe; for from the hole made by
+tearing up the tree issued a furious serpent, and, darting at
+Mandricardo, wound herself about his limbs with a strain that
+almost crushed him. Fortune, however, again stood his friend, for,
+writhing under the folds of the monster, he fell backwards into
+the hole, and his enemy was crushed beneath his weight.
+
+Mandricardo, when he was somewhat recovered, and assured himself
+of the destruction of the serpent, began to contemplate the place
+into which he had fallen, and saw that he was in a vault,
+incrusted with costly metals, and illuminated by a live coal. In
+the middle was a sort of ivory bier, and upon this was extended
+what appeared to be a knight in armor, but was in truth an empty
+trophy, composed of the rich and precious arms once Hector's, to
+which nothing was wanting but the sword. While Mandricardo stood
+contemplating the prize a door opened behind him, and a bevy of
+fair damsels entered, dancing, who, taking up the armor piece by
+piece, led him away to the place where the shield was suspended;
+where he found the fairy of the castle seated in state. By her he
+was invested with the arms he had won, first pledging his solemn
+oath to wear no other blade but Durindana, which he was to wrest
+from Orlando, and thus complete the conquest of Hector's arms.
+
+THE INVASION OF FRANCE (Continued)
+
+Mandricardo, having completed his story, now turned to Rogero, and
+proposed that arms should decide which of the two was most worthy
+to bear the symbol of the Trojan knight.
+
+Rogero felt no other objection to this proposal than the scruple
+which arose on observing that his antagonist was without a sword.
+Mandricardo insisted that this need be no impediment, since his
+oath prevented him from using a sword until he should have
+achieved the conquest of Durindana.
+
+This was no sooner said than a new antagonist started up in
+Gradasso, who now accompanied Mandricardo. Gradasso vindicated his
+prior right to Durindana, to obtain which he had embarked (as was
+related in the beginning) in that bold inroad upon France. A
+quarrel was thus kindled between the kings of Tartary and
+Sericane. While the dispute was raging a knight arrived upon the
+ground, accompanied by a damsel, to whom Rogero related the cause
+of the strife. The knight was Florismart, and his companion
+Flordelis. Florismart succeeded in bringing the two champions to
+accord, by informing them that he could bring them to the presence
+of Orlando, the master of Durindana.
+
+Gradasso and Mandricardo readily made truce, in order to accompany
+Florismart, nor would Rogero be left behind.
+
+As they proceeded on their quest they were met by a dwarf, who
+entreated their assistance in behalf of his lady, who had been
+carried off by an enchanter, mounted on a winged horse. However
+unwilling to leave the question of the sword undecided, it was not
+possible for the knights to resist this appeal. Two of their
+number, Gradasso and Rogero, therefore accompanied the dwarf.
+Mandricardo persisted in his search for Orlando, and Florismart,
+with Flordelis, pursued their way to the camp of Charlemagne.
+
+Atlantes, the enchanter, who had brought up Rogero, and cherished
+for him the warmest affection, knew by his art that his pupil was
+destined to be severed from him, and converted to the Christian
+faith through the influence of Bradamante, that royal maiden with
+whom chance had brought him acquainted. Thinking to thwart the
+will of Heaven in this respect, he now put forth all his arts to
+entrap Rogero into his power. By the aid of his subservient demons
+he reared a castle on an inaccessible height, in the Pyrenean
+mountains, and to make it a pleasant abode to his pupil, contrived
+to entrap and convey thither knights and damsels many a one, whom
+chance had brought into the vicinity of his castle. Here, in a
+sort of sensual paradise, they were but too willing to forget
+glory and duty, and to pass their time in indolent enjoyment
+
+It was by the enchanter that the dwarf had now been sent to tempt
+the knights into his power.
+
+But we must now return to Rinaldo, whom we left interrupted in his
+combat with Rodomont. In search of his late antagonist and intent
+on bringing their combat to a decision he entered the forest of
+Arden, whither he suspected Rodomont had gone. While engaged on
+this quest he was surprised by the vision of a beautiful child
+dancing naked, with three damsels as beautiful as himself. While
+he was lost in admiration at the sight the child approached him,
+and, throwing at him handfuls of roses and lilies, struck him from
+his horse. He was no sooner down than he was seized by the
+dancers, by whom he was dragged about and scourged with flowers
+till he fell into a swoon. When he began to revive one of the
+group approached him, and told him that his punishment was the
+consequence of his rebellion against that power before whom all
+things bend; that there was but one remedy to heal the wounds that
+had been inflicted, and that was to drink of the waters of Love.
+Then they left him.
+
+Rinaldo, sore and faint, dragged himself toward a fountain which
+flowed near by, and, being parched with thirst, drank greedily and
+almost unconsciously of the water, which was sweet to the taste,
+but bitter to the heart. After repeated draughts he recovered his
+strength and recollection, and found himself in the same place
+where Angelica had formerly awakened him with a rain of flowers,
+and whence he had fled in contempt of her courtesy.
+
+This remembrance of the scene was followed by the recognition of
+his crime; and, repenting bitterly his ingratitude, he leaped upon
+Bayard, with the intention of hastening to Angelica's country, and
+soliciting his pardon at her feet.
+
+Let us now retrace our steps, and revert to the time when the
+paladins having learned from Dudon the summons of Charlemagne to
+return to France to repel the invaders, had all obeyed the command
+with the exception of Orlando, whose passion for Angelica still
+held him in attendance on her. Orlando, arriving before Albracca,
+found it closely beleaguered. He, however, made his way into the
+citadel, and related his adventures to Angelica, from the time of
+his departure up to his separation from Rinaldo and the rest, when
+they departed to the assistance of Charlemagne. Angelica, in
+return, described the distresses of the garrison, and the force of
+the besiegers; and in conclusion prayed Orlando to favor her
+escape from the pressing danger, and escort her into France.
+Orlando, who did not suspect that love for Rinaldo was her secret
+motive, joyfully agreed to the proposal, and the sally was
+resolved upon.
+
+Leaving lights burning in the fortress, they departed at
+nightfall, and passed in safety through the enemy's camp. After
+encountering numerous adventures they reached the sea-side, and
+embarked on board a pinnace for France. The vessel arrived safely,
+and the travellers, disembarking in Provence, pursued their way by
+land. One day, heated and weary, they sought shelter from the sun
+in the forest of Arden, and chance directed Angelica to the
+fountain of Disdain, of whose waters she eagerly drank.
+
+Issuing thence, the Count and damsel encountered a stranger-
+knight. It was no other than Rinaldo, who was just on the point of
+setting off on a pilgrimage in search of Angelica, to implore her
+pardon for his insensibility, and urge his new found passion.
+Surprise and delight at first deprived him of utterance, but soon
+recovering himself, he joyfully saluted her, claiming her as his,
+and exhorting her to put herself under his protection. His
+presumption was repelled by Angelica with disdain, and Orlando,
+enraged at the invasion of his rights, challenged him to decide
+their claims by arms.
+
+Terrified at the combat which ensued, Angelica fled amain through
+the forest, and came out upon a plain covered with tents. This was
+the camp of Charlemagne, who led the army of reserve destined to
+support the troops which had advanced to oppose Marsilius. Charles
+having heard the damsel's tale, with difficulty separated the two
+cousins, and then consigned Angelica, as the cause of quarrel, to
+the care of Namo, Duke of Bavaria, promising that she should be
+his who should best deserve her in the impending battle.
+
+But these plans and hopes were frustrated. The Christian army,
+beaten at all points, fled from the Saracens; and Angelica,
+indifferent to both her lovers, mounted a swift palfrey and
+plunged into the forest, rejoicing, in spite of her terror, at
+having regained her liberty. She stopped at last in a tufted
+grove, where a gentle zephyr blew, and whose young trees were
+watered by two clear runnels, which came and mingled their waters,
+making a pleasing murmur. Believing herself far from Rinaldo, and
+overcome by fatigue and the summer heat, she saw with delight a
+bank covered with flowers so thick that they almost hid the green
+turf, inviting her to alight and rest. She dismounted from her
+palfrey, and turned him loose to recruit his strength with the
+tender grass which bordered the streamlets. Then, in a sheltered
+nook tapestried with moss and fenced in with roses and hawthorn-
+flowers, she yielded herself to grateful repose.
+
+She had not slept long when she was awakened by the noise made by
+the approach of a horse. Starting up, she saw an armed knight who
+had arrived at the bank of the stream. Not knowing whether he was
+to be feared or not, her heart beat with anxiety. She pressed
+aside the leaves to allow her to see who it was, but scarce dared
+to breathe for fear of betraying herself. Soon the knight threw
+himself on the flowery bank, and leaning his head on his hand fell
+into a profound reverie. Then arousing himself from his silence he
+began to pour forth complaints, mingled with deep sighs. Rivers of
+tears flowed down his cheeks, and his breast seemed to labor with
+a hidden flame. "Ah, vain regrets!" he exclaimed; "cruel fortune!
+others triumph, while I endure hopeless misery! Better a thousand
+times to lose life, than wear a chain so disgraceful and so
+oppressive!"
+
+Angelica by this time had recognized the stranger, and perceived
+that it was Sacripant, king of Circassia, one of the worthiest of
+her suitors. This prince had followed Angelica from his country,
+at the very gates of the day, to France, where he heard with
+dismay that she was under the guardianship of the Paladin Orlando,
+and that the Emperor had announced his decree to award her as the
+prize of valor to that one of his nephews who should best deserve
+her.
+
+As Sacripant continued to lament, Angelica, who had always opposed
+the hardness of marble to his sighs, thought with herself that
+nothing forbade her employing his good offices in this unhappy
+crisis. Though firmly resolved never to accept him as a spouse,
+she yet felt the necessity of giving him a gleam of hope in reward
+for the service she required of him. All at once, like Diana, she
+stepped forth from the arbor. "May the gods preserve thee," she
+said, "and put far from thee all hard thoughts of me!" Then she
+told him all that had befallen her since she parted with him at
+her father's court, and how she had availed herself of Orlando's
+protection to escape from the beleaguered city. At that moment the
+noise of horse and armor was heard as of one approaching; and
+Sacripant, furious at the interruption, resumed his helmet,
+mounted his horse, and placed his lance in rest. He saw a knight
+advancing, with scarf and plume of snowy whiteness. Sacripant
+regarded him with angry eyes, and, while he was yet some distance
+off, defied him to the combat. The other, not moved by his angry
+tone to make reply, put himself on his defence. Their horses,
+struck at the same moment with the spur, rushed upon one another
+with the impetuosity of a tempest. Their shields were pierced each
+with the other's lance, and only the temper of their breastplates
+saved their lives. Both the horses recoiled with the violence of
+the shock; but the unknown knight's recovered itself at the touch
+of the spur; the Saracen king's fell dead, and bore down his
+master with him. The white knight, seeing his enemy in this
+condition, cared not to renew the combat, but, thinking he had
+done enough for glory, pursued his way through the forest, and was
+a mile off before Sacripant had got free from his horse.
+
+As a ploughman, stunned by a thunder-clap which has stricken dead
+the oxen at his plough, stands motionless, sadly contemplating his
+loss, so Sacripant stood confounded and overwhelmed with
+mortification at having Angelica a witness of his defeat. He
+groaned, he sighed, less from the pain of his bruises than for the
+shame of being reduced to such a state before her. The princess
+took pity on him, and consoled him as well as she could. "Banish
+your regrets, my lord," she said, "this accident has happened
+solely in consequence of the feebleness of your horse, which had
+more need of rest and food than of such an encounter as this. Nor
+can your adversary gain any credit by it, since he has hurried
+away, not venturing a second trial." While she thus consoled
+Sacripant they perceived a person approach, who seemed a courier,
+with bag and horn. As soon as he came up, he accosted Sacripant,
+and inquired if he had seen a knight pass that way, bearing a
+white shield and with a white plume to his helmet. "I have,
+indeed, seen too much of him," said Sacripant, "it is he who has
+brought me to the ground; but at least I hope to learn from you
+who that knight is." "That I can easily inform you," said the man;
+"know then that, if you have been overthrown, you owe your fate to
+the high prowess of a lady as beautiful as she is brave. It is the
+fair and illustrious Bradamante who has won from you the honors of
+victory."
+
+At these words the courier rode on his way, leaving Sacripant more
+confounded and mortified than ever. In silence he mounted the
+horse of Angelica, taking the lady behind him on the croup, and
+rode away in search of a more secure asylum. Hardly had they
+ridden two miles when a new sound was heard in the forest, and
+they perceived a gallant and powerful horse, which, leaping the
+ravines and dashing aside the branches that opposed his passage,
+appeared before them, accoutred with a rich harness adorned with
+gold.
+
+"If I may believe my eyes, which penetrate with difficulty the
+underwood," said Angelica, "that horse that dashes so stoutly
+through the bushes is Bayard, and I marvel how he seems to know
+the need we have of him, mounted as we are both on one feeble
+animal." Sacripant, dismounting from the palfrey, approached the
+fiery courser, and attempted to seize his bridle, but the
+disdainful animal, turning from him, launched at him a volley of
+kicks enough to have shattered a wall of marble. Bayard then
+approached Angelica with an air as gentle and loving as a faithful
+dog could his master after a long separation. For he remembered
+how she had caressed him, and even fed him, in Albracca. She took
+his bridle in her left hand, while with her right she patted his
+neck. The beautiful animal, gifted with wonderful intelligence,
+seemed to submit entirely. Sacripant, seizing the moment to vault
+upon him, controlled his curvetings, and Angelica, quitting the
+croup of the palfrey, regained her seat.
+
+But, turning his eyes toward a place where was heard a noise of
+arms, Sacripant beheld Rinaldo. That hero now loves Angelica more
+than his life, and she flies him as the timid crane the falcon.
+
+The fountain of which Angelica had drunk produced such an effect
+on the beautiful queen that, with distressed countenance and
+trembling voice, she conjured Sacripant not to wait the approach
+of Rinaldo, but to join her in flight.
+
+"Am I, then," said Sacripant, "of so little esteem with you that
+you doubt my power to defend you? Do you forget the battle of
+Albracca, and how, in your defence, I fought single-handed against
+Agrican and all his knights?"
+
+Angelica made no reply, uncertain what to do; but already Rinaldo
+was too near to be escaped. He advanced menacingly to the
+Circassian king, for he recognized his horse.
+
+"Vile thief," he cried, "dismount from that horse, and prevent the
+punishment that is your due for daring to rob me of my property.
+Leave, also, the princess in my hands; for it would indeed be a
+sin to suffer so charming a lady and so gallant a charger to
+remain in such keeping."
+
+The king of Circassia, furious at being thus insulted, cried out,
+"Thou liest, villain, in giving me the name of thief, which better
+belongs to thyself than to me. It is true, the beauty of this lady
+and the perfection of this horse are unequalled; come on, then,
+and let us try which of us is most worthy to possess them."
+
+At these words the king of Circassia and Rinaldo attacked one
+another with all their force, one fighting on foot, the other on
+horseback. You need not, however, suppose that the Saracen king
+found any advantage in this; for a young page, unused to
+horsemanship, could not have failed more completely to manage
+Bayard than did this accomplished knight. The faithful animal
+loved his master too well to injure him, and refused his aid as
+well as his obedience to the hand of Sacripant, who could strike
+but ineffectual blows, the horse backing when he wished him to go
+forward, and dropping his head and arching his back, throwing out
+with his legs, so as almost to shake the knight out of the saddle.
+Sacripant, seeing that he could not manage him, watched his
+opportunity, rose on his saddle, and leapt lightly to the earth;
+then, relieved from the embarrassment of the horse, renewed the
+combat on more equal terms. Their skill to thrust and parry were
+equal; one rises, the other stoops; with one foot set firm they
+turn and wind, to lay on strokes or to dodge them. At last
+Rinaldo, throwing himself on the Circassian, dealt him a blow so
+terrible that Fusberta, his good sword, cut in two the buckler of
+Sacripant, although it was made of bone, and covered with a thick
+plate of steel well tempered. The arm of the Saracen was deprived
+of its defence, and almost palsied with the stroke. Angelica,
+perceiving how victory was likely to incline, and shuddering at
+the thought of becoming the prize of Rinaldo, hesitated no longer.
+Turning her horse's head, she fled with the utmost speed; and, in
+spite of the round pebbles which covered a steep descent, she
+plunged into a deep valley, trembling with the fear that Rinaldo
+was in pursuit. At the bottom of this valley she encountered an
+aged hermit, whose white beard flowed to his middle, and whose
+venerable appearance seemed to assure his piety.
+
+This hermit, who appeared shrunk by age and fasting, travelled
+slowly, mounted upon a wretched ass. The princess, overcome with
+fear, conjured him to save her life; and to conduct her to some
+port of the sea, whence she might embark and quit France, never
+more to hear the odious name of Rinaldo.
+
+The old hermit was something of a wizard. He comforted Angelica,
+and promised to protect her from all peril. Then he opened his
+scrip, and took from thence a book, and had read but a single page
+when a goblin, obedient to his incantations, appeared, under the
+form of a laboring man, and demanded his orders. He received them,
+transported himself to the place where the knights still
+maintained their conflict, and boldly stepped between the two.
+
+"Tell me, I pray you," he said, "what benefit will accrue to him
+who shall get the better in this contest? The object you are
+contending for is already disposed of; for the Paladin Orlando,
+without effort and without opposition, is now carrying away the
+princess Angelica to Paris. You had better pursue them promptly;
+for if they reach Paris you will never see her again."
+
+At these words you might have seen those rival warriors
+confounded, stupefied, silently agreeing that they were affording
+their rival a fair opportunity to triumph over them. Rinaldo,
+approaching Bayard, breathes a sigh of shame and rage, and swears
+a terrible oath that, if he overtakes Orlando, he will tear his
+heart out. Then mounting Bayard and pressing his flanks with his
+spurs, he leaves the king of Circassia on foot in the forest.
+
+Let it not appear strange that Rinaldo found Bayard obedient at
+last, after having so long prevented any one from even touching
+his bridle; for that fine animal had an intelligence almost human;
+he had fled from his master only to draw him on the track of
+Angelica, and enable him to recover her. He saw when the princess
+fled from the battle, and Rinaldo being then engaged in a fight on
+foot, Bayard found himself free to follow the traces of Angelica.
+Thus he had drawn his master after him, not permitting him to
+approach, and had brought him to the sight of the princess. But
+Bayard now, deceived like his master with the false intelligence
+of the goblin, submits to be mounted and to serve his master as
+usual, and Rinaldo, animated with rage, makes him fly toward
+Paris, more slowly than his wishes, though the speed of Bayard
+outstripped the winds. Full of impatience to encounter Orlando, he
+gave but a few hours that night to sleep. Early the next day he
+saw before him the great city, under the walls of which the
+Emperor Charles had collected the scattered remains of his army.
+Foreseeing that he would soon be attacked on all sides, the
+Emperor had caused the ancient fortifications to be repaired, and
+new ones to be built, surrounded by wide and deep ditches. The
+desire to hold the field against the enemy made him seize every
+means of procuring new allies. He hoped to receive from England
+aid sufficient to enable him to form a new camp, and as soon as
+Rinaldo rejoined him he selected him to go as his ambassador into
+England, to plead for auxiliaries. Rinaldo was far from pleased
+with his commission, but he obeyed the Emperor's commands, without
+giving himself time to devote a single day to the object nearest
+his heart. He hastened to Calais, and lost not a moment in
+embarking for England, ardently desiring a hasty despatch of his
+commission, and a speedy return to France.
+
+BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO
+
+Bradamante, the knight of the white plume and shield, whose
+sudden appearance and encounter with Sacripant we have already
+told, was in quest of Rogero, from whom chance had separated her,
+almost at the beginning of their acquaintance. After her encounter
+with Sacripant Bradamante pursued her way through the forest, in
+hopes of rejoining Rogero, and arrived at last on the brink of a
+fair fountain.
+
+This fountain flowed through a broad meadow. Ancient trees
+overshadowed it, and travellers, attracted by the sweet murmur of
+its waters, stopped there to cool themselves. Bradamante, casting
+her eyes on all sides to enjoy the beauties of the spot,
+perceived, under the shade of a tree, a knight reclining, who
+seemed to be oppressed with the deepest grief
+
+Bradamante accosted him, and asked to be informed of the cause of
+his distress. "Alas! my lord," said he, "I lament a young and
+charming friend, my affianced wife, who has been torn from me by a
+villain,--let me rather call him a demon,--who, on a winged horse,
+descended from the air, seized her, and bore her screaming to his
+den. I have pursued them over rocks and through ravines till my
+horse is no longer able to bear me, and I now wait only for
+death." He added that already a vain attempt on his behalf had
+been made by two knights, whom chance had brought to the spot.
+Their names were Gradasso, king of Sericane, and Rogero, the Moor.
+Both had been overcome by the wiles of the enchanter, and were
+added to the number of the captives, whom he held in an
+impregnable castle, situated on the height of the mountain. At the
+mention of Rogero's name Bradamante started with delight, which
+was soon changed to an opposite sentiment when she heard that her
+lover was a prisoner in the toils of the enchanter. "Sir Knight,"
+she said, "do not surrender yourself to despair; this day may be
+more happy for you than you think, if you will only lead me to the
+castle which enfolds her whom you deplore."
+
+The knight responded, "After having lost all that made life dear
+to me I have no motive to avoid the dangers of the enterprise, and
+I will do as you request; but I forewarn you of the perils you
+will have to encounter. If you fall impute it not to me."
+
+Having thus spoken, they took their way to the castle, but were
+overtaken by a messenger from the camp, who had been sent in quest
+of Bradamante to summon her back to the army, where her presence
+was needed to reassure her disheartened forces, and withstand the
+advance of the Moors.
+
+The mournful knight, whose name was Pinabel, thus became aware
+that Bradamante was a scion of the house of Clermont, between
+which and his own of Mayence there existed an ancient feud. From
+this moment the traitor sought only how he might be rid of the
+company of Bradamante, from whom he feared no good would come to
+him, but rather mortal injury, if his name and lineage became
+known to her. For he judged her by his own base model, and,
+knowing his ill deserts, he feared to receive his due.
+
+Bradamante, in spite of the summons to return to the army, could
+not resolve to leave her lover in captivity, and determined first
+to finish the adventure on which she was engaged. Pinabel leading
+the way, they at length arrived at a wood, in the centre of which
+rose a steep, rocky mountain. Pinabel, who now thought of nothing
+else but how he might escape from Bradamante, proposed to ascend
+the mountain to extend his view, in order to discover a shelter
+for the night, if any there might be within sight. Under this
+pretence he left Bradamante, and advanced up the side of the
+mountain till he came to a cleft in the rock, down which he
+looked, and perceived that it widened below into a spacious
+cavern. Meanwhile Bradamante, fearful of losing her guide, had
+followed close on his footsteps, and rejoined him at the mouth of
+the cavern. Then the traitor, seeing the impossibility of escaping
+her, conceived another design. He told her that before her
+approach he had seen in the cavern a young and beautiful damsel,
+whose rich dress announced her high birth, who with tears and
+lamentations implored assistance; that before he could descend to
+relieve her a ruffian had seized her, and hurried her away into
+the recesses of the cavern.
+
+Bradamante, full of truth and courage, readily believed this lie
+of the Mayencian traitor. Eager to succor the damsel, she looked
+round for the means of facilitating the descent, and seeing a
+large elm with spreading branches she lopped off with her sword
+one of the largest, and thrust it into the opening. She told
+Pinabel to hold fast to the larger end, while, grasping the
+branches with her hands, she let herself down into the cavern.
+
+The traitor smiled at seeing her thus suspended, and, asking her
+in mockery, "Are you a good leaper?" he let go the branch with
+perfidious glee, and saw Bradamante precipitated to the bottom of
+the cave. "I wish your whole race were there with you," he
+muttered, "that you might all perish together."
+
+But Pinabel's atrocious design was not accomplished. The twigs and
+foliage of the branch broke its descent, and Bradamante, not
+seriously injured, though stunned with her fall, was reserved for
+other adventures.
+
+As soon as she recovered from the shock Bradamante cast her eyes
+around and perceived a door, through which she passed into a
+second cavern, larger and loftier than the first. It had the
+appearance of a subterranean temple. Columns of the purest
+alabaster adorned it, and supported the roof; a simple altar rose
+in the middle; a lamp, whose radiance was reflected by the
+alabaster walls, cast a mild light around.
+
+Bradamante, inspired by a sense of religious awe, approached the
+altar, and, falling on her knees, poured forth her prayers and
+thanks to the Preserver of her life, invoking the protection of
+his power. At that moment a small door opened, and a female issued
+from it with naked feet, and flowing robe and hair, who called her
+by her name, and thus addressed her: "Brave and generous
+Bradamante, know that it is a power from above that has brought
+you hither. The spirit of Merlin, whose last earthly abode was in
+this place, has warned me of your arrival, and of the fate that
+awaits you. This famous grotto," she continued, "was the work of
+the enchanter Merlin; here his ashes repose. You have no doubt
+heard how this sage and virtuous enchanter ceased to be. Victim of
+the artful fairy of the lake, Merlin, by a fatal compliance with
+her request, laid himself down living in his tomb, without power
+to resist the spell laid upon him by that ingrate, who retained
+him there as long as he lived. His spirit hovers about this spot,
+and will not leave it, until the last trumpet shall summon the
+dead to judgment. He answers the questions of those who approach
+his tomb, where perhaps you may be privileged to hear his voice."
+
+Bradamante, astonished at these words, and the objects which met
+her view, knew not whether she was awake or asleep. Confused, but
+modest, she cast down her eyes, and a blush overspread her face.
+"Ah, what am I," said she, "that so great a prophet should deign
+to speak to me!" Still, with a secret satisfaction, she followed
+the priestess, who led her to the tomb of Merlin. This tomb was
+constructed of a species of stone hard and resplendent like fire.
+The rays which beamed from the stone sufficed to light up that
+terrible place, where the sun's rays never penetrated; but I know
+not whether that light was the effect of a certain phosphorescence
+of the stone itself, or of the many talismans and charms with
+which it was wrought over.
+
+Bradamante had hardly passed the threshold of this sacred place
+when the spirit of the enchanter saluted her with a voice firm and
+distinct: "May thy designs be prosperous, O chaste and noble
+maiden, the future mother of heroes, the glory of Italy, and
+destined to fill the whole world with their fame. Great captains,
+renowned knights, shall be numbered among your descendants, who
+shall defend the Church and restore their country to its ancient
+splendor. Princes, wise as Augustus and the sage Numa, shall bring
+back the age of gold. [Footnote: This prophecy is introduced by
+Ariosto in this place to compliment the noble house of Este, the
+princes of his native state, the dukedom of Ferrara.] To
+accomplish these grand destinies it is ordained that you shall wed
+the illustrious Rogero. Fly then to his deliverance, and lay
+prostrate in the dust the traitor who has snatched him from you,
+and now holds him in chains!"
+
+Merlin ceased with these words, and left to Melissa, the
+priestess, the charge of more fully instructing the maiden in her
+future course. "To-morrow," said she, "I will conduct you to the
+castle on the rock where Rogero is held captive. I will not leave
+you till I have guided you through this wild wood, and I will
+direct you on your way so that you shall be in no danger of
+mistaking it."
+
+The next morning Melissa conducted Bradamante between rocks and
+precipices, crossing rapid torrents, and traversing intricate
+passes, employing the time in imparting to her such information as
+was necessary to enable her to bring her design to a successful
+issue.
+
+"Not only would the castle, impenetrable by force, and that winged
+horse of his baffle your efforts, but know that he possesses also
+a buckler whence flashes a light so brilliant that the eyes of all
+who look upon it are blinded. Think not to avoid it by shutting
+your eyes, for how then will you be able to avoid his blows, and
+make him feel your own? But I will teach you the proper course to
+pursue.
+
+"Agramant, the Moorish prince, possesses a ring stolen from a
+queen of India, which has power to render of no avail all
+enchantments. Agramant, knowing that Rogero is of more importance
+to him than any one of his warriors, is desirous of rescuing him
+from the power of the enchanter, and has sent for that purpose
+Brunello, the most crafty and sagacious of his servants, provided
+with his wonderful ring, and he is even now at hand, bent on this
+enterprise. But, beautiful Bradamante, as I desire that no one but
+yourself shall have the glory of delivering from thraldom your
+future spouse, listen while I disclose the means of success.
+Following this path which leads by the seashore, you will come ere
+long to a hostelry, where the Saracen Brunello will arrive shortly
+before you. You will readily know him by his stature, under four
+feet, his great disproportioned head, his squint eyes, his livid
+hue, his thick eyebrows joining his tufted beard. His dress,
+moreover, that of a courier, will point him out to you.
+
+"It will be easy for you to enter into conversation with him,
+announcing yourself as a knight seeking combat with the enchanter,
+but let not the knave suspect that you know anything about the
+ring. I doubt not that he will be your guide to the castle of the
+enchanter. Accept his offer, but take care to keep behind him till
+you come in sight of the brilliant dome of the castle. Then
+hesitate not to strike him dead, for the wretch deserves no pity,
+and take from him the ring. But let him not suspect your
+intention, for by putting the ring into his mouth he will
+instantly become invisible, and disappear from your eyes."
+
+Saying thus, the sage Melissa and the fair Bradamante arrived near
+the city of Bordeaux, where the rich and wide river Garonne pours
+the tribute of its waves into the sea. They parted with tender
+embraces. Bradamante, intent wholly on her purpose, hastened to
+arrive at the hostelry, where Brunello had preceded her a few
+moments only. The young heroine knew him without difficulty. She
+accosted him, and put to him some slight questions, to which he
+replied with adroit falsehoods. Bradamante, on her part, concealed
+from him her sex, her religion, her country, and the blood from
+whence she sprung. While they talk together, sudden cries are
+heard from all parts of the hostelry. "O queen of heaven!"
+exclaimed Bradamante, "what can be the cause of this sudden
+alarm?" She soon learned the cause. Host, children, domestics,
+all, with upturned eyes, as if they saw a comet or a great
+eclipse, were gazing on a prodigy which seemed to pass the bounds
+of possibility. She beheld distinctly a winged horse, mounted with
+a cavalier in rich armor, cleaving the air with rapid flight. The
+wings of this strange courser were wide extended, and covered with
+feathers of various colors. The polished armor of the knight made
+them shine with rainbow tints. In a short time the horse and rider
+disappeared behind the summits of the mountains.
+
+"It is an enchanter," said the host, "a magician who often is seen
+traversing the air in that way. Sometimes he flies aloft as if
+among the stars, and at others skims along the land. He possesses
+a wonderful castle on the top of the Pyrenees. Many knights have
+shown their courage by going to attack him, but none have ever
+returned, from which it is to be feared they have lost either
+their life or their liberty."
+
+Bradamante, addressing the host, said, "Could you furnish me a
+guide to conduct me to the castle of this enchanter?" "By my
+faith," said Brunello, interrupting, "that you shall not seek in
+vain; I have it all in writing, and I will myself conduct you."
+Bradamante, with thanks, accepted him for her guide.
+
+The host had a tolerable horse to dispose of, which Bradamante
+bargained for, and the next day, at the first dawn of morning, she
+took her route by a narrow valley, taking care to have the Saracen
+Brunello lead the way.
+
+They reached the summit of the Pyrenees, whence one may look down
+on France, Spain, and the two seas. From this height they
+descended again by a fatiguing road into a deep valley. From the
+middle of this valley an isolated mountain rose, composed of rough
+and perpendicular rock, on whose summit was the castle, surrounded
+with a wall of brass. Brunello said, "Yonder is the stronghold
+where the enchanter keeps his prisoners; one must have wings to
+mount thither; it is easy to see that the aid of a flying horse
+must be necessary for the master of this castle, which he uses for
+his prison and for his abode."
+
+Bradamante, sufficiently instructed, saw that the time had now
+come to possess herself of the ring; but she could not resolve to
+slay a defenceless man. She seized Brunello before he was aware,
+bound him to a tree, and took from him the ring which he wore on
+one of his fingers. The cries and entreaties of the perfidious
+Saracen moved her not. She advanced to the foot of the rock
+whereon the castle stood, and, to draw the magician to the combat,
+sounded her horn, adding to it cries of defiance.
+
+The enchanter delayed not to present himself, mounted on his
+winged horse. Bradamante was struck with surprise mixed with joy
+when she saw that this person, described as so formidable, bore no
+lance nor club, nor any other deadly weapon. He had only on his
+arm a buckler, covered with a cloth, and in his hand an open book.
+As to the winged horse, there was no enchantment about him. He was
+a natural animal, of a species which exists in the Riphaean
+mountains. Like a griffin, he had the head of an eagle, claws
+armed with talons, and wings covered with feathers, the rest of
+his body being that of a horse. This strange animal is called a
+Hippogriff.
+
+The heroine attacked the enchanter on his approach, striking on
+this side and on that, with all the energy of a violent combat,
+but wounding only the wind; and after this pretended attack had
+lasted some time dismounted from her horse, as if hoping to do
+battle more effectually on foot. The enchanter now prepares to
+employ his sole weapon, by uncovering the magic buckler which
+never failed to subdue an enemy by depriving him of his senses.
+Bradamante, confiding in her ring, observed all the motions of her
+adversary, and, at the unveiling of the shield, cast herself on
+the ground, pretending that the splendor of the shield had
+overcome her, but in reality to induce the enchanter to dismount
+and approach her.
+
+It happened according to her wish. When the enchanter saw her
+prostrate he made his horse alight on the ground, and,
+dismounting, fixed the shield on the pommel of his saddle, and
+approached in order to secure the fallen warrior. Bradamante, who
+watched him intently, as soon as she saw him near at hand, sprang
+up, seized him vigorously, threw him down, and, with the same
+chain which the enchanter had prepared for herself, bound him
+fast, without his being able to make any effectual resistance.
+
+The enchanter, with the accents of despair, exclaimed, "Take my
+life, young man!" but Bradamante was far from complying with such
+a wish. Desirous of knowing the name of the enchanter, and for
+what purpose he had formed with so much art this impregnable
+fortress, she commanded him to inform her.
+
+"Alas!" replied the magician, while tears flowed down his cheeks,
+"it is not to conceal booty, nor for any culpable design that I
+have built this castle; it was only to guard the life of a young
+knight, the object of my tenderest affection, my art having taught
+me that he is destined to become a Christian, and to perish,
+shortly after, by the blackest of treasons.
+
+"This youth, named Rogero, is the most beautiful and most
+accomplished of knights. It is I, the unhappy Atlantes, who have
+reared him from his childhood. The call of honor and the desire of
+glory led him from me to follow Agramant, his prince, in his
+invasion of France, and I, more devoted to Rogero than the
+tenderest of parents, have sought the means of bringing him back
+to this abode, in the hope of saving him from the cruel fate that
+menaces him.
+
+"For this purpose I have got him in my possession by the same
+means as I attempted to employ against you; and by which I have
+succeeded in collecting a great many knights and ladies in my
+castle. My purpose was to render my beloved pupil's captivity
+light, by affording him society to amuse him, and keep his
+thoughts from running on subjects of war and glory. Alas! my cares
+have been in vain! Yet, take, I beseech you, whatever else I have,
+but spare me my beloved pupil. Take this shield, take this winged
+courser, deliver such of your friends as you may find among my
+prisoners, deliver them all if you will, but leave me my beloved
+Rogero; or if you will snatch him too from me, take also my life,
+which will cease then to be to me worth preserving."
+
+Bradamante replied: "Old man, hope not to move me by your vain
+entreaties. It is precisely the liberty of Rogero that I require.
+You would keep him here in bondage and in slothful pleasure, to
+save him from a fate which you foresee. Vain old man! how can you
+foresee his fate when you could not foresee your own? You desire
+me to take your life. No, my aim and my soul refuse the request."
+This said, she required the magician to go before, and guide her
+to the castle. The prisoners were set at liberty, though some, in
+their secret hearts, regretted the voluptuous life which was thus
+brought to an end. Bradamante and Rogero met one another with
+transports of joy.
+
+They descended from the mountain to the spot where the encounter
+had taken place. There they found the Hippogriff, with the magic
+buckler in its wrapper, hanging to his saddle-bow. Bradamante
+advanced to seize the bridle; the Hippogriff seemed to wait her
+approach, but before she reached him he spread his wings and flew
+away to a neighboring hill, and in the same manner, a second time,
+eluded her efforts. Rogero and the other liberated knights
+dispersed over the plain and hilltops to secure him, and at last
+the animal allowed Rogero to seize his rein. The fearless Rogero
+hesitated not to vault upon his back, and let him feel his spurs,
+which so roused his mettle that, after galloping a short distance,
+he suddenly spread his wings, and soared into the air. Bradamante
+had the grief to see her lover snatched away from her at the very
+moment of reunion. Rogero, who knew not the art of directing the
+horse, was unable to control his flight. He found himself carried
+over the tops of the mountains, so far above them that he could
+hardly distinguish what was land and what water. The Hippogriff
+directed his flight to the west, and cleaved the air as swiftly as
+a new-rigged vessel cuts the waves, impelled by the freshest and
+most favorable gales.
+
+ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS
+
+In the long flight which Rogero took on the back of the Hippogriff
+he was carried over land and sea, unknowing whither. As soon as he
+had gained some control over the animal he made him alight on the
+nearest land. When he came near enough to earth Rogero leapt
+lightly from his back, and tied the animal to a myrtle-tree. Near
+the spot flowed the pure waters of a fountain, surrounded by
+cedars and palm-trees. Rogero laid aside his shield, and, removing
+his helmet, breathed with delight the fresh air, and cooled his
+lips with the waters of the fountain. For we cannot wonder that he
+was excessively fatigued, considering the ride he had taken. He
+was preparing to taste the sweets of repose when he perceived that
+the Hippogriff, which he had tied by the bridle to a myrtle-tree,
+frightened at something, was making violent efforts to disengage
+himself. His struggle shook the myrtle-tree so that many of its
+beautiful leaves were torn off, and strewed the ground.
+
+A sound like that which issues from burning wood seemed to come
+from the myrtle-tree, at first faint and indistinct, but growing
+stronger by degrees, and at length was audible as a voice which
+spoke in this manner: "O knight, if the tenderness of your heart
+corresponds to the beauty of your person, relieve me, I pray you,
+from this tormenting animal. I suffer enough inwardly without
+having outward evils added to my lot."
+
+Rogero, at the first accents of this voice, turned his eyes
+promptly on the myrtle, hastened to it, and stood fixed in
+astonishment when he perceived that the voice issued from the tree
+itself. He immediately untied his horse, and, flushed with
+surprise and regret, exclaimed, "Whoever thou art, whether mortal
+or the goddess of these woods, forgive me, I beseech you, my
+involuntary fault. Had I imagined that this hard bark covered a
+being possessed of feeling, could I have exposed such a beautiful
+myrtle to the insults of this steed? May the sweet influences of
+the sky and air speedily repair the injury I have done! For my
+part, I promise by the sovereign lady of my heart to do everything
+you wish in order to merit your forgiveness."
+
+At these words the myrtle seemed to tremble from root to stem, and
+Rogero remarked that a moisture as of tears trickled down its
+bark, like that which exudes from a log placed on the fire. It
+then spoke:
+
+"The kindness which inspires your words compels me to disclose to
+you who I once was, and by what fatality I have been changed into
+this shape. My name was Astolpho, cousin of Orlando and Rinaldo,
+whose fame has filled the earth. I was myself reckoned among the
+bravest paladins of France, and was by birth entitled to reign
+over England, after Otho, my father. Returning from the distant
+East, with Rinaldo and many other brave knights, called home to
+aid with our arms the great Emperor of France, we reached a spot
+where the powerful enchantress Alcina possessed a castle on the
+borders of the sea. She had gone to the water-side to amuse
+herself with fishing, and we paused to see how, by her art,
+without hook or line, she drew from the water whatever she would.
+
+"Not far from the shore an enormous whale showed a back so broad
+and motionless that it looked like an island. Alcina had fixed her
+eyes on me, and planned to get me into her power. Addressing us,
+she said: 'This is the hour when the prettiest mermaid in the sea
+comes regularly every day to the shore of yonder island. She sings
+so sweetly that the very waves flow smoother at the sound. If you
+wish to hear her come with me to her resort.' So saying, Alcina
+pointed to the fish, which we all supposed to be an island. I, who
+was rash, did not hesitate to follow her; but swam my horse over,
+and mounted on the back of the fish. In vain Rinaldo and Dudon
+made signs to me to beware; Alcina, smiling, took me in charge,
+and led the way. No sooner were we mounted upon him than the whale
+moved off, spreading his great fins, and cleft rapidly the waters.
+I then saw my folly, but it was too late to repent. Alcina soothed
+my anger, and professed that what she had done was for love of me.
+Ere long we arrived at this island, where at first everything was
+done to reconcile me to my lot, and to make my days pass happily
+away. But soon Alcina, sated with her conquest, grew indifferent,
+then weary of me, and at last, to get rid of me, changed me into
+this form, as she had done to many lovers before me, making some
+of them olives, some palms, some cedars, changing others into
+fountains, rocks, or even into wild beasts. And thou, courteous
+knight, whom accident has brought to this enchanted isle, beware
+that she get not the power over thee, or thou shalt haply be made
+like us, a tree, a fountain, or a rock."
+
+Rogero expressed his astonishment at this recital. Astolpho added
+that the island was in great part subject to the sway of Alcina.
+By the aid of her sister Morgana, she had succeeded in
+dispossessing a third sister, Logestilla, of nearly the whole of
+her patrimony, for the whole isle was hers originally by her
+father's bequest. But Logestilla was temperate and sage, while the
+other sisters were false and voluptuous. Her empire was divided
+from theirs by a gulf and chain of mountains, which alone had thus
+far prevented her sister from usurping it.
+
+Astolpho here ended his tale, and Rogero, who knew that he was the
+cousin of Bradamante, would gladly have devised some way for his
+relief; but, as that was out of his power, he consoled him as well
+as he could, and then begged to be told the way to the palace of
+Logestilla, and how to avoid that of Alcina. Astolpho directed him
+to take the road to the left, though rough and full of rocks. He
+warned him that this road would present serious obstacles; that
+troops of monsters would oppose his passage, employed by the art
+of Alcina to prevent her subjects from escaping from her dominion.
+Rogero thanked the myrtle, and prepared to set out on his way.
+
+He at first thought he would mount the winged horse, and scale the
+mountain on his back; but he was too uncertain of his power to
+control him to wish to encounter the hazard of another flight
+through the air, besides that he was almost famished for the want
+of food. So he led the horse after him, and took the road on foot,
+which for some distance led equally to the dominions of both the
+sisters.
+
+He had not advanced more than two miles when he saw before him the
+superb city of Alcina. It was surrounded with a wall of gold,
+which seemed to reach the skies. I know that some think that this
+wall was not of real gold, but only the work of alchemy; it
+matters not; I prefer to think it gold, for it certainly shone
+like gold.
+
+A broad and level road led to the gates of the city, and from this
+another branched off, narrow and rough, which led to the mountain
+region. Rogero took without hesitation the narrow road; but he had
+no sooner entered upon it than he was assailed by a numerous troop
+which opposed his passage.
+
+You never have seen anything so ridiculous, so extraordinary, as
+this host of hobgoblins were. Some of them bore the human form
+from the neck to the feet, but had the head of a monkey or a cat;
+others had the legs and the ears of a horse; old men and women,
+bald and hideous, ran hither and thither as if out of their
+senses, half clad in the shaggy skins of beasts; one rode full
+speed on a horse without a bridle, another jogged along mounted on
+an ass or a cow; others, full of agility, skipped about, and clung
+to the tails and manes of the animals which their companions rode.
+Some blew horns, others brandished drinking-cups; some were armed
+with spits, and some with pitchforks. One, who appeared to be the
+captain, had an enormous belly and a gross fat head; he was
+mounted on a tortoise, that waddled, now this way, now that,
+without keeping any one direction.
+
+One of these monsters, who had something approaching the human
+form, though he had the neck, ears, and muzzle of a dog, set
+himself to bark furiously at Rogero, to make him turn off to the
+right, and reenter upon the road to the gay city; but the brave
+chevalier exclaimed, "That will I not, so long as I can use this
+sword,"--and he thrust the point directly at his face. The monster
+tried to strike him with a lance, but Rogero was too quick for
+him, and thrust his sword through his body, so that it appeared a
+hand's breadth behind his back. The paladin, now giving full vent
+to his rage, laid about him vigorously among the rabble, cleaving
+one to the teeth, another to the girdle; but the troop were so
+numerous, and in spite of his blows pressed around him so close,
+that, to clear his way, he must have had as many arms as Briareus.
+
+If Rogero had uncovered the shield of the enchanter, which hung at
+his saddle-bow, he might easily have vanquished this monstrous
+rout; but perhaps he did not think of it, and perhaps he preferred
+to seek his defence nowhere but in his good sword. At that moment,
+when his perplexity was at its height, he saw issue from the city
+gate two young beauties, whose air and dress proclaimed their rank
+and gentle nurture. Each of them was mounted on a unicorn, whose
+whiteness surpassed that of ermine. They advanced to the meadow
+where Rogero was contending so valiantly against the hobgoblins,
+who all retired at their approach. They drew near, they extended
+their hands to the young warrior, whose cheeks glowed with the
+flush of exercise and modesty. Grateful for their assistance, he
+expressed his thanks, and, having no heart to refuse them,
+followed their guidance to the gate of the city.
+
+This grand and beautiful entrance was adorned by a portico of four
+vast columns, all of diamond. Whether they were real diamond or
+artificial I cannot say. What matter is it, so long as they
+appeared to the eye like diamond, and nothing could be more gay
+and splendid.
+
+On the threshold, and between the columns, was seen a bevy of
+charming young women, who played and frolicked together. They all
+ran to receive Rogero, and conducted him into the palace, which
+appeared like a paradise.
+
+We might well call by that name this abode, where the hours flew
+by, without account, in ever-new delights. The bare idea of
+satiety, want, and, above all, of age, never entered the minds of
+the inhabitants. They experienced no sensations except those of
+luxury and gayety; the cup of happiness seemed for them ever-
+flowing and exhaustless. The two young damsels to whom Rogero owed
+his deliverance from the hobgoblins conducted him to the apartment
+of their mistress. The beautiful Alcina advanced, and greeted him
+with an air at once dignified and courteous. All her court
+surrounded the paladin, and rendered him the most flattering
+attentions. The castle was less admirable for its magnificence
+than for the charms of those who inhabited it. They were of either
+sex, well matched in beauty, youth, and grace; but among this
+charming group the brilliant Alcina shone, as the sun outshines
+the stars. The young warrior was fascinated. All that he had heard
+from the myrtle-tree appeared to him but a vile calumny. How could
+he suspect that falsehood and treason veiled themselves under
+smiles and the ingenuous air of truth? He doubted not that
+Astolpho had deserved his fate, and perhaps a punishment more
+severe; he regarded all his stories as dictated by a disappointed
+spirit, and a thirst for revenge. But we must not condemn Rogero
+too harshly, for he was the victim of magic power.
+
+They seated themselves at table, and immediately harmonious lyres
+and harps waked the air with the most ravishing notes. The charms
+of poetry were added in entertaining recitals; the magnificence of
+the feast would have done credit to a royal board. The traitress
+forgot nothing which might charm the paladin, and attach him to
+the spot, meaning, when she should grow tired of him, to
+metamorphose him as she had done others. In the same manner passed
+each succeeding day. Games of pleasant exercise, the chase, the
+dance, or rural sports, made the hours pass quickly; while they
+gave zest to the refreshment of the bath, or sleep.
+
+Thus Rogero led a life of ease and luxury, while Charlemagne and
+Agramant were struggling for empire. But I cannot linger with him
+while the amiable and courageous Bradamante is night and day
+directing her uncertain steps to every spot where the slightest
+chance invites her, in the hope of recovering Rogero.
+
+I will therefore say that, having sought him in vain in fields and
+in cities, she knew not whither next to direct her steps. She did
+not apprehend the death of Rogero. The fall of such a hero would
+have reechoed from the Hydaspes to the farthest river of the West;
+but, not knowing whether he was on the earth or in the air, she
+concluded, as a last resource, to return to the cavern which
+contained the tomb of Merlin, to ask of him some sure direction to
+the object of her search.
+
+While this thought occupied her mind, Melissa, the sage
+enchantress, suddenly appeared before her. This virtuous and
+beneficent magician had discovered by her spells that Rogero was
+passing his time in pleasure and idleness, forgetful of his honor
+and his sovereign. Not able to endure the thought that one who was
+born to be a hero should waste his years in base repose, and leave
+a sullied reputation in the memory of survivors, she saw that
+vigorous measures must be employed to draw him forth into the
+paths of virtue. Melissa was not blinded by her affection for the
+amiable paladin, like Atlantes, who, intent only on preserving
+Rogero's life, cared nothing for his fame. It was that old
+enchanter whose arts had guided the Hippogriff to the isle of the
+too charming Alcina, where he hoped his favorite would learn to
+forget honor, and lose the love of glory.
+
+At the sight of Melissa joy lighted up the countenance of
+Bradamante, and hope animated her breast. Melissa concealed
+nothing from her, but told her how Rogero was in the toils of
+Alcina. Bradamante was plunged in grief and terror; but the kind
+enchantress calmed her, dispelled her fears, and promised that
+before many days she would lead back the paladin to her feet.
+
+"My daughter," she said, "give me the ring which you wear, and
+which possesses the power to overcome enchantments. By means of it
+I doubt not but that I may enter the stronghold where the false
+Alcina holds Rogero in durance, and may succeed in vanquishing her
+and liberating him." Bradamante unhesitatingly delivered her the
+ring, recommending Rogero to her best efforts. Melissa then
+summoned by her art a huge palfrey, black as jet, excepting one
+foot, which was bay. Mounted upon this animal, she rode with such
+speed that by the next morning she had reached the abode of
+Alcina.
+
+She here transformed herself into the perfect resemblance of the
+old magician Atlantes, adding a palm-breadth to her height, and
+enlarging her whole figure. Her chin she covered with a long
+beard, and seamed her whole visage well with wrinkles. She assumed
+also his voice and manner, and watched her chance to find Rogero
+alone. At last she found him, dressed in a rich tunic of silk and
+gold, a collar of precious stones about his neck, and his arms,
+once so rough with exercise, decorated with bracelets. His air and
+his every motion indicated effeminacy, and he seemed to retain
+nothing of Rogero but the name; such power had the enchantress
+obtained over him.
+
+Melissa, under the form of his old instructor, presented herself
+before him, wearing a stern and serious visage. "Is this, then,"
+she said, "the fruit of all my labors? Is it for this that I fed
+you on the marrow of bears and lions, that I taught you to subdue
+dragons, and, like Hercules, strangle serpents in your youthful
+grasp, only to make you, by all my cares, a feeble Adonis? My
+nightly watchings of the stars, of the yet warm fibres of animals,
+the lots I have cast, the points of nativity that I have
+calculated, have they all falsely indicated that you were born for
+greatness? Who could have believed that you would become the slave
+of a base enchantress? O Rogero, learn to know this Alcina, learn
+to understand her arts and to countervail them. Take this ring,
+place it on your finger, return to her presence, and see for
+yourself what are her real charms."
+
+At these words, Rogero, confused, abashed, cast his eyes upon the
+ground, and knew not what to answer. Melissa seized the moment,
+slipped the ring on his finger, and the paladin was himself again.
+What a thunderclap to him! Overcome by shame, he dared not to
+encounter the looks of his instructor. When at last he raised his
+eyes he beheld not that venerable form, but the priestess Melissa,
+who in virtue of the ring now appeared in her true person. She
+told him of the motives which had led her to come to his rescue,
+of the griefs and regrets of Bradamante, and of her unwearied
+search for him. "That charming Amazon," she said, "sends you this
+ring, which is a sovereign antidote to all enchantments. She would
+have sent you her heart in my hands, if it would have had greater
+power to serve you."
+
+It was needless for Melissa to say more. Rogero's love for Alcina,
+being but the work of enchantment, vanished as soon as the
+enchantment was withdrawn, and he now hated her with an equal
+intensity, seeing no longer anything in her but her vices, and
+feeling only resentment for the shame that she had put upon him.
+
+His surprise when he again beheld Alcina was no less than his
+indignation. Fortified by his ring from her enchantments, he saw
+her as she was, a monster of ugliness. All her charms were
+artificial, and, truly viewed, were rather deformities. She was,
+in fact, older than Hecuba or the Sibyl of Cumae; but an art,
+which it is to be regretted our times have lost, enabled her to
+appear charming, and to clothe herself in all the attractions of
+youth. Rogero now saw all this, but, governed by the counsels of
+Melissa, he concealed his surprise, assumed under some pretext his
+armor, long neglected, and bound to his side Belisarda, his trusty
+sword, taking also the buckler of Atlantes, covered with its veil.
+
+He then selected a horse from the stables of Alcina, without
+exciting her suspicions; but he left the Hippogriff, by the advice
+of Melissa, who promised to take him in charge, and train him to a
+more manageable state. The horse he took was Rabican, which
+belonged to Astolpho. He restored the ring to Melissa.
+
+Rogero had not ridden far when he met one of the huntsmen of
+Alcina, bearing a falcon on his wrist, and followed by a dog. The
+huntsman was mounted on a powerful horse, and came boldly up to
+the paladin, demanding, in a somewhat imperious manner, whither he
+was going so rapidly. Rogero disdained to stop or to reply;
+whereupon the huntsman, not doubting that he was about making his
+escape, said, "What if I, with my falcon, stop your ride?" So
+saying, he threw off the bird, which even Rabican could not equal
+in speed. The huntsman then leapt from his horse, and the animal,
+open-mouthed, darted after Rogero with the swiftness of an arrow.
+The huntsman also ran as if the wind or fire bore him, and the dog
+was equal to Rabican in swiftness. Rogero, finding flight
+impossible, stopped and faced his pursuers; but his sword was
+useless against such foes. The insolent huntsman assailed him with
+words, and struck him with his whip, the only weapon he had; the
+dog bit his feet, and the horse drove at him with his hoofs. At
+the same time the falcon flew over his head and over Rabican's and
+attacked them with claws and wings, so that the horse in his
+fright began to be unmanageable. At that moment the sound of
+trumpets and cymbals was heard in the valley, and it was evident
+that Alcina had ordered out all her array to go in pursuit. Rogero
+felt that there was no time to be lost, and luckily remembered the
+shield of Atlantes, which he bore suspended from his neck. He
+unveiled it, and the charm worked wonderfully. The huntsman, the
+dog, the horse, fell flat; the trembling wings of the falcon could
+no longer sustain her, and she fell senseless to the ground.
+Rogero, rid of their annoyances, left them in their trance, and
+rode away.
+
+Meanwhile Alcina, with all the force she could muster, sallied
+forth from her palace in pursuit. Melissa, left behind, took
+advantage of the opportunity to ransack all the rooms, protected
+by the ring. She undid one by one all the talismans and spells
+which she found, broke the seals, burned the images, and untied
+the hagknots. Thence, hurrying through the fields, she
+disenchanted the victims changed into trees, fountains, stones, or
+brutes; all of whom recovered their liberty, and vowed eternal
+gratitude to their deliverer. They made their escape, with all
+possible despatch, to the realms of the good Logestilla, whence
+they departed to their several homes.
+
+Astolpho was the first whom Melissa liberated, for Rogero had
+particularly recommended him to her care. She aided him to recover
+his arms, and particularly that precious golden-headed lance which
+once was Argalia's. The enchantress mounted with him upon the
+winged horse, and in a short time arrived through the air at the
+castle of Logestilla, where Rogero joined them soon after.
+
+In this abode the friends passed a short period of delightful and
+improving intercourse with the sage Logestilla and her virtuous
+court; and then each departed, Rogero with the Hippogriff, ring,
+and buckler; Astolpho with his golden lance, and mounted on
+Rabican, the fleetest of steeds. To Rogero Logestilla gave a bit
+and bridle suited to govern the Hippogriff; and to Astolpho a horn
+of marvellous powers, to be sounded only when all other weapons
+were unavailing.
+
+THE ORC
+
+We left the charming Angelica at the moment when, in her flight
+from her contending lovers, Sacripant and Rinaldo, she met an aged
+hermit. We have seen that her request to the hermit was to furnish
+her the means of gaining the sea-coast, eager to avoid Rinaldo,
+whom she hated, by leaving France and Europe itself. The pretended
+hermit, who was no other than a vile magician, knowing well that
+it would not be agreeable to his false gods to aid Angelica in
+this undertaking, feigned to comply with her desire. He supplied
+her a horse, into which he had by his arts caused a subtle devil
+to enter, and, having mounted Angelica on the animal, directed her
+what course to take to reach the sea.
+
+Angelica rode on her way without suspicion, but when arrived at
+the shore, the demon urged the animal headlong into the water.
+Angelica in vain attempted to turn him back to the land; he
+continued his course till, as night approached, he landed with his
+burden on a sandy headland.
+
+Angelica, finding herself alone, abandoned in this frightful
+solitude, remained without movement, as if stupefied, with hands
+joined and eyes turned towards heaven, till at last, pouring forth
+a torrent of tears, she exclaimed: "Cruel fortune, have you not
+yet exhausted your rage against me? To what new miseries do you
+doom me? Alas! then finish your work! Deliver me a prey to some
+ferocious beast, or by whatever fate you choose bring me to an
+end. I will be thankful to you for terminating my life and my
+misery." At last, exhausted by her sorrows, she fell asleep, and
+sunk prostrate on the sand.
+
+Before recounting what next befell, we must declare what place it
+was upon which the unhappy lady was now thrown. In the sea that
+washes the coast of Ireland there is an island called Ebuda, whose
+inhabitants, once numerous, had been wasted by the anger of
+Proteus till there were now but few left. This deity was incensed
+by some neglect of the usual honors which he had in old times
+received from the inhabitants of the land, and, to execute his
+vengeance, had sent a horrid sea-monster, called an Orc, to devour
+them. Such were the terrors of his ravages that the whole people
+of the isle had shut themselves up in the principal town, and
+relied on their walls alone to protect them. In this distress they
+applied to the Oracle for advice, and were directed to appease the
+wrath of the sea-monster by offering to him the fairest virgin
+that the country could produce.
+
+Now it so happened that the very day when this dreadful oracle was
+announced, and when the fatal mandate had gone forth to seek among
+the fairest maidens of the land one to be offered to the monster,
+some sailors, landing on the beach where Angelica was, beheld that
+beauty as she lay asleep.
+
+O blind Chance! whose power in human affairs is but too great,
+canst thou then abandon to the teeth of a horrible monster those
+charms which different sovereigns took arms against one another to
+possess? Alas! the lovely Angelica is destined to be the victim of
+those cruel islanders.
+
+Still asleep, she was bound by the Ebudians, and it was not until
+she was carried on board the vessel that she came to a knowledge
+of her situation. The wind filled the sails and wafted the ship
+swiftly to the port, where all that beheld her agreed that she was
+unquestionably the victim selected by Proteus himself to be his
+prey. Who can tell the screams, the mortal anguish of this unhappy
+maiden, the reproaches she addressed even to the heavens
+themselves, when the dreadful information of her cruel fate was
+made known to her? I cannot; let me rather turn to a happier part
+of my story.
+
+Rogero left the palace of Logestilla, careering on his flying
+courser far above the tops of the mountains, and borne westward by
+the Hippogriff, which he guided with ease, by means of the bridle
+that Melissa had given him. Anxious as he was to recover
+Bradamante, he could not fail to be delighted at the view his
+rapid flight presented of so many vast regions and populous
+countries as he passed over in his career. At last he approached
+the shores of England, and perceived an immense army in all the
+splendor of military pomp, as if about to go forth flushed with
+hopes of victory. He caused the Hippogriff to alight not far from
+the scene, and found himself immediately surrounded by admiring
+spectators, knights and soldiers, who could not enough indulge
+their curiosity and wonder. Rogero learned, in reply to his
+questions, that the fine array of troops before him was the army
+destined to go to the aid of the French Emperor, in compliance
+with the request presented by the illustrious Rinaldo, as
+ambassador of King Charles, his uncle.
+
+By this time the curiosity of the English chevaliers was partly
+gratified in beholding the Hippogriff at rest, and Rogero, to
+renew their surprise and delight, remounted the animal, and,
+slapping spurs to his sides, made him launch into the air with the
+rapidity of a meteor, and directed his flight still westwardly,
+till he came within sight of the coasts of Ireland. Here he
+descried what seemed to be a fair damsel, alone, fast chained to a
+rock which projected into the sea. What was his astonishment when,
+drawing nigh, he beheld the beautiful princess Angelica! That day
+she had been led forth and bound to the rock, there to wait till
+the sea-monster should come to devour her. Rogero exclaimed as he
+came near, "What cruel hands, what barbarous soul, what fatal
+chance can have loaded thee with those chains?" Angelica replied
+by a torrent of tears, at first her only response; then, in a
+trembling voice, she disclosed to him the horrible destiny for
+which she was there exposed. While she spoke, a terrible roaring
+was heard far off on the sea. The huge monster soon came in sight,
+part of his body appearing above the waves and part concealed.
+Angelica, half dead with fear, abandoned herself to despair.
+
+Rogero, lance in rest, spurred his Hippogriff toward the Orc, and
+gave him a thrust. The horrible monster was like nothing that
+nature produces. It was but one mass of tossing and twisting body,
+with nothing of the animal but head, eyes, and mouth, the last
+furnished with tusks like those of the wild boar. Rogero's lance
+had struck him between the eyes; but rock and iron are not more
+impenetrable than were his scales. The knight, seeing the
+fruitlessness of the first blow, prepared to give a second. The
+animal, beholding upon the water the shadow of the great wings of
+the Hippogriff, abandoned his prey, and turned to seize what
+seemed nearer. Rogero took the opportunity, and dealt him furious
+blows on various parts of his body, taking care to keep clear of
+his murderous teeth; but the scales resisted every attack. The Orc
+beat the water with his tail till he raised a foam which enveloped
+Rogero and his steed, so that the knight hardly knew whether he
+was in the water or the air. He began to fear that the wings of
+the Hippogriff would be so drenched with water that they would
+cease to sustain him. At that moment Rogero bethought him of the
+magic shield which hung at his saddle-bow; but the fear that
+Angelica would also be blinded by its glare discouraged him from
+employing it. Then he remembered the ring which Melissa had given
+him, the power of which he had so lately proved. He hastened to
+Angelica and placed it on her finger. Then, uncovering the
+buckler, he turned its bright disk full in the face of the
+detestable Orc. The effect was instantaneous. The monster,
+deprived of sense and motion, rolled over on the sea, and lay
+floating on his back. Rogero would fain have tried the effect of
+his lance on the now exposed parts, but Angelica implored him to
+lose no time in delivering her from her chains before the monster
+should revive. Rogero, moved with her entreaties, hastened to do
+so, and, having unbound her, made her mount behind him on the
+Hippogriff. The animal, spurning the earth, shot up into the air,
+and rapidly sped his way through it. Rogero, to give time to the
+princess to rest after her cruel agitations, soon sought the earth
+again, alighting on the shore of Brittany. Near the shore a thick
+wood presented itself, which resounded with the songs of birds. In
+the midst, a fountain of transparent water bathed the turf of a
+little meadow. A gentle hill rose near by. Rogero, making the
+Hippogriff alight in the meadow, dismounted, and took Angelica
+from the horse.
+
+When the first tumults of emotion had subsided Angelica, casting
+her eyes downward, beheld the precious ring upon her finger, whose
+virtues she was well acquainted with, for it was the very ring
+which the Saracen Brunello had robbed her of. She drew it from her
+finger and placed it in her mouth, and, quicker than we can tell
+it, disappeared from the sight of the paladin.
+
+Rogero looked around him on all sides, like one frantic, but soon
+remembered the ring which he had so lately placed on her finger.
+Struck with the ingratitude which could thus recompense his
+services, he exclaimed: "Thankless beauty, is this then the reward
+you make me? Do you prefer to rob me of my ring rather than
+receive it as a gift? Willingly would I have given it to you, had
+you but asked it." Thus he said, searching on all sides with arms
+extended like a blind man, hoping to recover by the touch what was
+lost to sight; but he sought in vain. The cruel beauty was already
+far away.
+
+Though sensible of her obligations to her deliverer, her first
+necessity was for clothing, food, and repose. She soon reached a
+shepherd's hut, where, entering unseen, she found what sufficed
+for her present relief. An old herdsman inhabited the hut, whose
+charges consisted of a drove of mares. When recruited by repose
+Angelica selected one of the mares from the flock, and, mounting
+the animal, felt the desire revive in her mind of returning to her
+home in the East, and for that purpose would gladly have accepted
+the protection of Orlando or of Sacripant across those wide
+regions which divided her from her own country. In hopes of
+meeting with one or the other of them she pursued her way.
+
+Meanwhile Rogero, despairing of seeing Angelica again, returned to
+the tree where he had left his winged horse, but had the
+mortification to find that the animal had broken his bridle and
+escaped. This loss, added to his previous disappointment,
+overwhelmed him with vexation. Sadly he gathered up his arms,
+threw his buckler over his shoulders, and, taking the first path
+that offered, soon found himself within the verge of a dense and
+widespread forest.
+
+He had proceeded for some distance when he heard a noise on his
+right, and, listening attentively, distinguished the clash of
+arms. He made his way toward the place whence the sound proceeded,
+and found two warriors engaged in mortal combat. One of them was a
+knight of a noble and manly bearing, the other a fierce giant. The
+knight appeared to exert consummate address in defending herself
+against the massive club of the giant, evading his strokes, or
+parrying them with sword or shield. Rogero stood spectator of the
+combat, for he did not allow himself to interfere in it, though a
+secret sentiment inclined him strongly to take part with the
+knight. At length he saw with grief the massive club fall directly
+on the head of the knight, who yielded to the blow, and fell
+prostrate. The giant sprang forward to despatch him, and for that
+purpose unlaced his helmet, when Rogero, with dismay, recognized
+the face of Bradamante. He cried aloud, "Hold, miscreant!" and
+sprang forward with drawn sword. Whereupon the giant, as if he
+cared not to enter upon another combat, lifted Bradamante on his
+shoulders, and ran with her into the forest.
+
+Rogero plunged after him, but the long legs of the giant carried
+him forward so fast that the paladin could hardly keep him in
+sight. At length they issued from the wood, and Rogero perceived
+before him a rich palace, built of marble, and adorned with
+sculptures executed by a master hand. Into this edifice, through a
+golden door, the giant passed, and Rogero followed; but, on
+looking round, saw nowhere either the giant or Bradamante. He ran
+from room to room, calling aloud on his cowardly foe to turn and
+meet him; but got no response, nor caught another glimpse of the
+giant or his prey. In his vain pursuit he met, without knowing
+them, Ferrau, Florismart, King Gradasso, Orlando, and many others,
+all of whom had been entrapped like himself into this enchanted
+castle. It was a new stratagem of the magician Atlantes to draw
+Rogero into his power, and to secure also those who might by any
+chance endanger his safety. What Rogero had taken for Bradamante
+was a mere phantom. That charming lady was far away, full of
+anxiety for her Rogero, whose coming she had long expected.
+
+The Emperor had committed to her charge the city and garrison of
+Marseilles, and she held the post against the infidels with valor
+and discretion. One day Melissa suddenly presented herself before
+her. Anticipating her questions, she said, "Fear not for Rogero;
+he lives, and is as ever true to you; but he has lost his liberty.
+The fell enchanter has again succeeded in making him a prisoner.
+If you would deliver him, mount your horse and follow me." She
+told her in what manner Atlantes had deceived Rogero, in deluding
+his eyes with the phantom of herself in peril. "Such," she
+continued, "will be his arts in your own case, if you penetrate
+the forest and approach that castle. You will think you behold
+Rogero, when, in fact, you see only the enchanter himself. Be not
+deceived, plunge your sword into his body, and trust me when I
+tell you that, in slaying him, you will restore not only Rogero,
+but with him many of the bravest knights of France, whom the
+wizard's arts have withdrawn from the camp of their sovereign."
+
+Bradamante promptly armed herself, and mounted her horse. Melissa
+led her by forced journeys, by field and forest, beguiling the way
+with conversation on the theme which interested her hearer most.
+When at last they reached the forest, she repeated once more her
+instructions, and then took her leave, for fear the enchanter
+might espy her, and be put on his guard.
+
+Bradamante rode on about two miles when suddenly she beheld
+Rogero, as it appeared to her, hard pressed by two fierce giants.
+While she hesitated she heard his voice calling on her for help.
+At once the cautions of Melissa lost their weight. A sudden doubt
+of the faith and truth of her kind monitress flashed across her
+mind. "Shall I not believe my own eyes and ears?" she said, and
+rushed forward to his defence. Rogero fled, pursued by the giants,
+and Bradamante followed, passing with them through the castle
+gate. When there, Bradamante was undeceived, for neither giant nor
+knight was to be seen. She found herself a prisoner, but had not
+the consolation of knowing that she shared the imprisonment of her
+beloved. She saw various forms of men and women, but could
+recognize none of them; and their lot was the same with respect to
+her. Each viewed the others under some illusion of the fancy,
+wearing the semblance of giants, dwarfs, or even four-footed
+animals, so that there was no companionship or communication
+between them.
+
+ASTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED, AND ISABELLA'S BEGUN
+
+When Astolpho escaped from the cruel Alcina, after a short abode
+in the realm of the virtuous Logestilla, he desired to return to
+his native country. Logestilla lent him the best vessel of her
+fleet to convey him to the mainland. She gave him at parting a
+wonderful book, which taught the secret of overcoming all manners
+of enchantments, and begged him to carry it always with him, out
+of regard for her. She also gave him another gift, which surpassed
+everything of the kind that mortal workmanship can frame; yet it
+was nothing in appearance but a simple horn.
+
+Astolpho, protected by these gifts, thanked the good fairy, took
+leave of her, and set out on his return to France. His voyage was
+prosperous, and on reaching the desired port he took leave of the
+faithful mariners, and continued his journey by land. As he
+proceeded over mountains and through valleys he often met with
+bands of robbers, wild beasts, and venomous serpents, but he had
+only to sound his horn to put them all to flight.
+
+Having landed in France, and traversed many provinces on his way
+to the army, he one day, in crossing a forest, arrived beside a
+fountain, and alighted to drink. While he stooped at the fountain
+a young rustic sprang from the copse, mounted Rabican, and rode
+away. It was a new trick of the enchanter Atlantes. Astolpho,
+hearing the noise, turned his head just in time to see his loss;
+and, starting up, pursued the thief, who, on his part, did not
+press the horse to his full speed, but just kept in sight of his
+pursuer till they both issued from the forest; and then Rabican
+and his rider took shelter in a castle which stood near. Astolpho
+followed, and penetrated without difficulty within the court-yard
+of the castle, where he looked around for the rider and his horse,
+but could see no trace of either, nor any person of whom he could
+make inquiry. Suspecting that enchantment was employed to
+embarrass him, he bethought him of his book, and on consulting it
+discovered that his suspicions were well founded. He also learned
+what course to pursue. He was directed to raise the stone which
+served as a threshold, under which a spirit lay pent, who would
+willingly escape, and leave the castle free of access. Astolpho
+applied his strength to lift aside the stone. Thereupon the
+magician put his arts in force. The castle was full of prisoners,
+and the magician caused that to all of them Astolpho should appear
+in some false guise--to some a wild beast, to others a giant, to
+others a bird of prey. Thus all assailed him, and would quickly
+have made an end of him, if he had not bethought him of his horn.
+No sooner had he blown a blast than, at the horrid larum, fled the
+cavaliers and the necromancer with them, like a flock of pigeons
+at the sound of the fowler's gun. Astolpho then renewed his
+efforts on the stone, and turned it over. The under face was all
+inscribed with magical characters, which the knight defaced, as
+directed by his book; and no sooner had he done so, than the
+castle, with its walls and turrets, vanished into smoke.
+
+The knights and ladies set at liberty were, besides Rogero and
+Bradamante, Orlando, Gradasso, Florismart, and many more. At the
+sound of the horn they fled, one and all, men and steeds, except
+Rabican, which Astolpho secured, in spite of his terror. As soon
+as the sound had ceased Rogero recognized Bradamante, whom he had
+daily met during their imprisonment, but had been prevented from
+knowing by the enchanter's arts. No words can tell the delight
+with which they recognized each other, and recounted mutually all
+that had happened to each since they were parted. Rogero took
+advantage of the opportunity to press his suit, and found
+Bradamante as propitious as he could wish, were it not for a
+single obstacle, the difference of their faiths. "If he would
+obtain her in marriage," she said, "he must in due form demand her
+of her father, Duke Aymon, and must abandon his false prophet, and
+become a Christian." The latter step was one which Rogero had for
+some time intended taking, for reasons of his own. He therefore
+gladly accepted the terms, and proposed that they should at once
+repair to the abbey of Vallombrosa, whose towers were visible at
+no great distance. Thither they turned their horses' heads, and we
+will leave them to find their way without our company.
+
+I know not if my readers recollect that at the moment when Rogero
+had just delivered Angelica from the voracious Orc that scornful
+beauty placed her ring in her mouth, and vanished out of sight. At
+the same time the Hippogriff shook off his bridle, soared away,
+and flew to rejoin his former master, very naturally returning to
+his accustomed stable. Here Astolpho found him, to his very great
+delight. He knew the animal's powers, having seen Rogero ride him,
+and he longed to fly abroad over all the earth, and see various
+nations and peoples from his airy course. He had heard
+Logestilla's directions how to guide the animal, and saw her fit a
+bridle to his head. He therefore was able, out of all the bridles
+he found in the stable, to select one suitable, and, placing
+Rabican's saddle on the Hippogriff's back, nothing seemed to
+prevent his immediate departure. Yet before he went he bethought
+him of placing Rabican in hands where he would be safe, and whence
+he might recover him in time of need. While he stood deliberating
+where he should find a messenger, he saw Bradamante approach. That
+fair warrior had been parted from Rogero on their way to the abbey
+of Vallombrosa, by an inopportune adventure which had called the
+knight away. She was now returning to Montalban, having arranged
+with Rogero to join her there. To Bradamante, therefore, his fair
+cousin, Astolpho committed Rabican, and also the lance of gold,
+which would only be an incumbrance in his aerial excursion.
+Bradamante took charge of both; and Astolpho, bidding her
+farewell, soared in air.
+
+Among those delivered by Astolpho from the magician's castle was
+Orlando. Following the guide of chance, the paladin found himself
+at the close of day in a forest, and stopped at the foot of a
+mountain. Surprised to discern a light which came from a cleft in
+the rock, he approached, guided by the ray, and discovered a
+narrow passage in the mountain-side, which led into a deep grotto.
+
+Orlando fastened his horse, and then, putting aside the bushes
+that resisted his passage, stepped down from rock to rock till he
+reached a sort of cavern. Entering it, he perceived a lady, young
+and handsome, as well as he could discover through the signs of
+distress which agitated her countenance. Her only companion was an
+old woman, who seemed to be regarded by her young partner with
+terror and indignation. The courteous paladin saluted the women
+respectfully, and begged to know by whose barbarity they had been
+subjected to such imprisonment.
+
+The younger lady replied, in a voice often broken with sobs:
+
+"Though I know well that my recital will subject me to worse
+treatment by the barbarous man who keeps me here, to whom this
+woman will not fail to report it, yet I will not hide from you the
+facts. Ah! why should I fear his rage? If he should take my life,
+I know not what better boon than death I can ask.
+
+"My name is Isabella. I am the daughter of the king of Galicia, or
+rather I should say misfortune and grief are my parents. Young,
+rich, modest, and of tranquil temper, all things appeared to
+combine to render my lot happy. Alas! I see myself to-day poor,
+humbled, miserable, and destined perhaps to yet further
+afflictions. It is a year since, my father having given notice
+that he would open the lists for a tournament at Bayonne, a great
+number of chevaliers from all quarters came together at our court.
+Among these Zerbino, son of the king of Scotland, victorious in
+all combats, eclipsed by his beauty and his valor all the rest.
+Before departing from the court of Galicia he testified the wish
+to espouse me, and I consented that he should demand my hand of
+the king, my father. But I was a Mahometan, and Zerbino a
+Christian, and my father refused his consent. The prince, called
+home by his father to take command of the forces destined to the
+assistance of the French Emperor, prevailed on me to be married to
+him secretly, and to follow him to Scotland. He caused a galley to
+be prepared to receive me, and placed in command of it the
+chevalier Oderic, a Biscayan, famous for his exploits both by land
+and sea. On the day appointed, Oderic brought his vessel to a
+seaside resort of my father's, where I embarked. Some of my
+domestics accompanied me, and thus I departed from my native land.
+
+"Sailing with a fair wind, after some hours we were assailed by a
+violent tempest. It was to no purpose that we took in all sail; we
+were driven before the wind directly upon the rocky shore. Seeing
+no other hopes of safety, Oderic placed me in a boat, followed
+himself with a few of his men, and made for land. We reached it
+through infinite peril, and I no sooner felt the firm land beneath
+my feet, than I knelt down and poured out heartfelt thanks to the
+Providence that had preserved me.
+
+"The shore where we landed appeared to be uninhabited. We saw no
+dwelling to shelter us, no road to lead us to a more hospitable
+spot. A high mountain rose before us, whose base stretched into
+the sea. It was here the infamous Oderic, in spite of my tears and
+entreaties, sold me to a band of pirates, who fancied I might be
+an acceptable present to their prince, the Sultan of Morocco. This
+cavern is their den, and here they keep me under the guard of this
+woman, until it shall suit their convenience to carry me away."
+
+Isabella had hardly finished her recital when a troop of armed men
+began to enter the cavern. Seeing the prince Orlando, one said to
+the rest, "What bird is this we have caught, without even setting
+a snare for him?" Then addressing Orlando, "It was truly civil in
+you, friend, to come hither with that handsome coat of armor and
+vest, the very things I want." "You shall pay for them, then,"
+said Orlando; and seizing a half-burnt brand from the fire, he
+hurled it at him, striking his head, and stretching him lifeless
+on the floor.
+
+There was a massy table in the middle of the cavern, used for the
+pirates' repasts. Orlando lifted it and hurled it at the robbers
+as they stood clustered in a group toward the entrance. Half the
+gang were laid prostrate, with broken heads and limbs; the rest
+got away as nimbly as they could.
+
+Leaving the den and its inmates to their fate, Orlando, taking
+Isabella under his protection, pursued his way for some days,
+without meeting with any adventure.
+
+One day they saw a band of men advancing, who seemed to be
+guarding a prisoner, bound hand and foot, as if being carried to
+execution. The prisoner was a youthful cavalier, of a noble and
+ingenuous appearance. The band bore the ensigns of Count Anselm,
+head of the treacherous house of Maganza. Orlando desired Isabella
+to wait, while he rode forward to inquire the meaning of this
+array. Approaching, he demanded of the leader who his prisoner
+was, and of what crime he had been guilty. The man replied that
+the prisoner was a murderer, by whose hand Pinabel, the son of
+Count Anselm, had been treacherously slain. At these words the
+prisoner exclaimed, "I am no murderer, nor have I been in any way
+the cause of the young man's death." Orlando, knowing the cruel
+and ferocious character of the chiefs of the house of Maganza,
+needed no more to satisfy him that the youth was the victim of
+injustice. He commanded the leader of the troop to release his
+victim, and, receiving an insolent reply, dashed him to the earth
+with a stroke of his lance; then by a few vigorous blows dispersed
+the band, leaving deadly marks on those who were slowest to quit
+the field.
+
+Orlando then hastened to unbind the prisoner, and to assist him to
+reclothe himself in his armor, which the false Magencian had dared
+to assume. He then led him to Isabella, who now approached the
+scene of action. How can we picture the joy, the astonishment,
+with which Isabella recognized in him Zerbino, her husband, and
+the prince discovered her whom he had believed overwhelmed in the
+waves! They embraced one another, and wept for joy. Orlando,
+sharing in their happiness, congratulated himself in having been
+the instrument of it. The princess recounted to Zerbino what the
+illustrious paladin had done for her, and the prince threw himself
+at Orlando's feet, and thanked him as having twice preserved his
+life.
+
+While these exchanges of congratulation and thankfulness were
+going on, a sound in the underwood attracted their attention, and
+caused the two knights to brace their helmets and stand on their
+guard. What the cause of the interruption was we shall record in
+another chapter.
+
+MEDORO
+
+France was at this time the theatre of dreadful events. The
+Saracens and the Christians, in numerous encounters, slew one
+another. On one occasion Rinaldo led an attack on the infidel
+columns, broke and scattered them, till he found himself opposite
+to a knight whose armor (whether by accident or by choice, it
+matters not) bore the blazon of Orlando. It was Dardinel, the
+young and brave prince of Zumara, and Rinaldo remarked him by the
+slaughter he spread all around. "Ah," said he to himself, "let us
+pluck up this dangerous plant before it has grown to its full
+height."
+
+As Rinaldo advanced, the crowd opened before him, the Christians
+to let his sword have free course, the Pagans to escape its sweep.
+Dardinel and he stood face to face. Rinaldo exclaimed, fiercely,
+"Young man, whoever gave you that noble buckler to bear made you a
+dangerous gift; I should like to see how you are able to defend
+those quarterings, red and white. If you cannot defend them
+against me, how pray will you do so when Orlando challenges them?"
+Dardinel replied: "Thou shalt learn that I can defend the arms I
+bear, and shed new glory upon them. No one shall rend them from me
+but with life." Saying these words, Dardinel rushed upon Rinaldo
+with sword uplifted. The chill of mortal terror filled the souls
+of the Saracens when they beheld Rinaldo advance to attack the
+prince, like a lion against a young bull. The first blow came from
+the hand of Dardinel, and the weapon rebounded from Mambrino's
+helmet without effect. Rinaldo smiled, and said, "I will now show
+you if my strokes are more effectual." At these words he thrust
+the unfortunate Dardinel in the middle of his breast. The blow was
+so violent that the cruel weapon pierced the body, and came out a
+palm-breadth behind his back. Through this wound the life of
+Dardinel issued with his blood, and his body fell helpless to the
+ground.
+
+As a flower which the passing plough has uprooted languishes, and
+droops its head, so Dardinel, his visage covered with the paleness
+of death, expires, and the hopes of an illustrious race perish
+with him.
+
+Like waters kept back by a dike, which, when the dike is broken,
+spread abroad through all the country, so the Moors, no longer
+kept in column by the example of Dardinel, fled in all directions.
+Rinaldo despised too much such easy victories to pursue them; he
+wished for no combats but with brave men. At the same time, the
+other paladins made terrible slaughter of the Moors. Charles
+himself, Oliver, Guido, and Ogier the Dane, carried death into
+their ranks on all sides.
+
+The infidels seemed doomed to perish to a man on that dreadful
+day; but the wise king, Marsilius, at last put some slight degree
+of method into the general rout. He collected the remnant of the
+troops, formed them into a battalion, and retreated in tolerable
+order to his camp. That camp was well fortified by intrenchments
+and a broad ditch. Thither the fugitives hastened, and by degrees
+all that remained of the Moorish army was brought together there.
+
+The Emperor might perhaps that night have crushed his enemy
+entirely; but not thinking it prudent to expose his troops,
+fatigued as they were, to an attack upon a camp so well fortified,
+he contented himself with encompassing the enemy with his troops,
+prepared to make a regular siege. During the night the Moors had
+time to see the extent of their loss. Their tents resounded with
+lamentations. This warrior had to mourn a brother, that a friend;
+many suffered with grievous wounds, all trembled at the fate in
+store for them.
+
+There were two young Moors, both of humble rank, who gave proof at
+that time of attachment and fidelity rare in the history of man.
+Cloridan and Medoro had followed their prince, Dardinel, to the
+wars of France. Cloridan, a bold huntsman, combined strength with
+activity. Medoro was a mere youth, his cheeks yet fair and
+blooming. Of all the Saracens, no one united so much grace and
+beauty. His light hair was set off by his black and sparkling
+eyes. The two friends were together on guard at the rampart. About
+midnight they gazed on the scene in deep dejection. Medoro, with
+tears in his eyes, spoke of the good prince Dardinel, and could
+not endure the thought that his body should be cast out on the
+plain, deprived of funeral honors. "O my friend," said he, "must
+then the body of our prince be the prey of wolves and ravens?
+Alas! when I remember how he loved me, I feel that if I should
+sacrifice my life to do him honor, I should not do more than my
+duty. I wish, dear friend, to seek out his body on the
+battlefield, and give it burial, and I hope to be able to pass
+through King Charles's camp without discovery, as they are
+probably all asleep. You, Cloridan, will be able to say for me, if
+I should die in the adventure, that gratitude and fidelity to my
+prince were my inducements."
+
+Cloridan was both surprised and touched with this proof of the
+young man's devotion. He loved him tenderly, and tried for a long
+time every effort to dissuade him from his design; but he found
+Medoro determined to accomplish his object or die in the endeavor.
+
+Cloridan, unable to change his purpose, said, "I will go with you,
+Medoro, and help you in this generous enterprise. I value not life
+compared with honor, and if I did, do you suppose, dear friend,
+that I could live without you? I would rather fall by the arms of
+our enemies than die of grief for the loss of you."
+
+When the two friends were relieved from their guard duty they went
+without any followers into the camp of the Christians. All there
+was still; the fires were dying out; there was no fear of any
+attempt on the part of the Saracens, and the soldiers, overcome by
+fatigue or wine, slept secure, lying upon the ground in the midst
+of their arms and equipage. Cloridan stopped, and said, "Medoro, I
+am not going to quit this camp without taking vengeance for the
+death of our prince. Keep watch, be on your guard that no one
+shall surprise us; I mean to mark a road with my sword through the
+ranks of our enemies." So saying, he entered the tent where
+Alpheus slept, who a year before had joined the camp of Charles,
+and pretended to be a great physician and astrologer. But his
+science had deceived him, if it gave him hope of dying peacefully
+in his bed at a good old age; his lot was to die with little
+warning. Cloridan ran his sword through his heart. A Greek and a
+German followed, who had been playing late at dice: fortunate if
+they had continued their game a little longer; but they never
+reckoned a throw like this among their chances. Cloridan next came
+to the unlucky Grillon, whose head lay softly on his pillow. He
+dreamed probably of the feast from which he had but just retired;
+for when Cloridan cut off his head wine flowed forth with the
+blood.
+
+The two young Moors might have penetrated even to the tent of
+Charlemagne; but knowing that the paladins encamped around him
+kept watch by turns, and judging that it was impossible they
+should all be asleep, they were afraid to go too near. They might
+also have obtained rich booty; but, intent only on their object,
+they crossed the camp, and arrived at length at the bloody field,
+where bucklers, lances, and swords lay scattered in the midst of
+corpses of poor and rich, common soldier and prince, horses and
+pools of blood. This terrible scene of carnage would have
+destroyed all hope of finding what they were in search of until
+dawn of day, were it not that the moon lent the aid of her
+uncertain rays.
+
+Medoro raised his eyes to the planet, and exclaimed, "O holy
+goddess, whom our fathers have adored under three different
+forms,--thou who displayest thy power in heaven, on earth, and in
+the underworld,--thou who art seen foremost among the nymphs
+chasing the beasts of the forest,--cause me to see, I implore
+thee, the spot where my dear master lies, and make me all my life
+long follow the example which thou dost exhibit of works of
+charity and love."
+
+Either by accident, or that the moon was sensible of the prayer of
+Medoro, the cloud broke away, and the moonlight burst forth as
+bright as day. The rays seemed especially to gild the spot where
+lay the body of Prince Dardinel; and Medoro, bathed in tears and
+with bleeding heart, recognized him by the quarterings of red and
+white on his shield.
+
+With groans stifled by his tears, and lamentations in accents
+suppressed, not from any fear for himself, for he cared not for
+life, but lest any one should be roused to interrupt their pious
+duty while yet incomplete, he proposed to his companion that they
+should together bear Dardinel on their shoulders, sharing the
+burden of the beloved remains.
+
+Marching with rapid strides under their precious load, they
+perceived that the stars began to grow pale, and that the shades
+of night would soon be dispersed by the dawn. Just then Zerbino,
+whose extreme valor had urged him far from the camp in pursuit of
+the fugitives, returning, entered the wood in which they were.
+Some knights in his train perceived at a distance the two
+brothers-in-arms. Cloridan saw the troop, and, observing that they
+dispersed themselves over the plain as if in search of booty, told
+Medoro to lay down the body, and let each save himself by flight.
+He dropped his part, thinking that Medoro would do the same; but
+the good youth loved his prince too well to abandon him, and
+continued to carry his load singly as well as he might, while
+Cloridan made his escape. Near by there was a part of the wood
+tufted as if nothing but wild animals had ever penetrated it. The
+unfortunate youth, loaded with the weight of his dead master,
+plunged into its recesses.
+
+Cloridan, when he perceived that he had evaded his foes,
+discovered that Medoro was not with him. "Ah!" exclaimed he, "how
+could I, dear Medoro, so forget myself as to consult my own safety
+without heeding yours?" So saying, he retraced the tangled passes
+of the wood toward the place from whence he had fled. As he
+approached he heard the noise of horses, and the menacing voices
+of armed men. Soon he perceived Medoro, on foot, with the
+cavaliers surrounding him. Zerbino, their commander, bade them
+seize him. The unhappy Medoro turned now this way, now that,
+trying to conceal himself behind an oak or a rock, still bearing
+the body, which he would by no means leave. Cloridan not knowing
+how to help him, but resolved to perish with him, if he must
+perish, takes an arrow, fits it to his bow, discharges it, and
+pierces the breast of a Christian knight, who falls helpless from
+his horse. The others look this way and that, to discover whence
+the fatal bolt was sped. One, while demanding of his comrades in
+what direction the arrow came, received a second in his throat,
+which stopped his words, and soon closed his eyes to the scene.
+
+Zerbino, furious at the death of his two comrades, ran upon
+Medoro, seized his golden hair, and dragged him forward to slay
+him. But the sight of so much youth and beauty commanded pity. He
+stayed his arm. The young man spoke in suppliant tones. "Ah!
+signor," said he, "I conjure you by the God whom you serve,
+deprive me not of life until I shall have buried the body of the
+prince, my master. Fear not that I will ask you any other favor;
+life is not dear to me; I desire death as soon as I shall have
+performed this sacred duty. Do with me then as you please. Give my
+limbs a prey to the birds and beasts; only let me first bury my
+prince." Medoro pronounced these words with an air so sweet and
+tender that a heart of stone would have been moved by them.
+Zerbino was so to the bottom of his soul. He was on the point of
+uttering words of mercy, when a cruel subaltern, forgetting all
+respect to his commander, plunged his lance into the breast of the
+young Moor. Zerbino, enraged at his brutality, turned upon the
+wretch to take vengeance, but he saved himself by a precipitate
+flight.
+
+Cloridan, who saw Medoro fall, could contain himself no longer. He
+rushed from his concealment, threw down his bow, and, sword in
+hand, seemed only desirous of vengeance for Medoro, and to die
+with him. In a moment, pierced through and through with many
+wounds, he exerts the last remnant of his strength in dragging
+himself to Medoro, to die embracing him. The cavaliers left them
+thus to rejoin Zerbino, whose rage against the murderer of Medoro
+had drawn him away from the spot.
+
+Cloridan died; and Medoro, bleeding copiously, was drawing near
+his end when help arrived.
+
+A young maiden approached the fallen knights at this critical
+moment. Her dress was that of a peasant-girl, but her air was
+noble, and her beauty celestial; sweetness and goodness reigned in
+her lovely countenance. It was no other than Angelica, the
+Princess of Cathay.
+
+When she had recovered that precious ring, as we have before
+related, Angelica, knowing its value, felt proud in the power it
+conferred, travelled alone without fear, not without a secret
+shame that she had ever been obliged to seek protection in her
+wanderings of the Count Orlando and of Sacripant. She reproached
+herself too as with a weakness that she had ever thought of
+marrying Rinaldo; in fine, her pride grew so high as to persuade
+her that no man living was worthy to aspire to her hand.
+
+Moved with pity at the sight of the young man wounded, and melted
+to tears at hearing the cause, she quickly recalled to remembrance
+the knowledge she had acquired in India, where the virtues of
+plants and the art of healing formed part of the education even of
+princesses. The beautiful queen ran into the adjoining meadow to
+gather plants of virtue to staunch the flow of blood. Meeting on
+her way a countryman on horseback seeking a strayed heifer, she
+begged him to come to her assistance, and endeavor to remove the
+wounded man to a more secure asylum.
+
+Angelica, having prepared the plants by bruising them between two
+stones, laid them with her fair hand on Medoro's wound. The remedy
+soon restored in some degree the strength of the wounded man, who,
+before he would quit the spot, made them cover with earth and turf
+the bodies of his friend and of the prince. Then surrendering
+himself to the pity of his deliverers, he allowed them to place
+him on the horse of the shepherd, and conduct him to his cottage.
+It was a pleasant farmhouse on the borders of the wood, bearing
+marks of comfort and competency. There the shepherd lived with his
+wife and children. There Angelica tended Medoro, and there, by the
+devoted care of the beautiful queen, his sad wound closed over,
+and he recovered his perfect health.
+
+O Count Rinaldo, O King Sacripant! what availed it you to possess
+so many virtues and such fame? What advantage have you derived
+from all your high deserts? O hapless king, great Agrican! if you
+could return to life, how would you endure to see yourself
+rejected by one who will bow to the yoke of Hymen in favor of a
+young soldier of humble birth? And thou, Ferrau, and ye numerous
+others who a hundred times have put your lives at hazard for this
+cruel beauty, how bitter will it be to you to see her sacrifice
+you all to the claims of the humble Medoro!
+
+There, under the low roof of a shepherd, the flame of Hymen was
+lighted for this haughty queen. She takes the shepherd's wife to
+serve in place of mother, the shepherd and his children for
+witnesses, and marries the happy Medoro.
+
+Angelica, after her marriage, wishing to endow Medoro with the
+sovereignty of the countries which yet remained to her, took with
+him the road to the East. She had preserved through all her
+adventures a bracelet of gold enriched with precious stones, the
+present of the Count Orlando. Having nothing else wherewith to
+reward the good shepherd and his wife, who had served her with so
+much care and fidelity, she took the bracelet from her arm and
+gave it to them, and then the newly-married couple directed their
+steps toward those mountains which separate France and Spain,
+intending to wait at Barcelona a vessel which should take them on
+their way to the East.
+
+ORLANDO MAD
+
+Orlando, on the loss of Angelica, laid aside his crest and arms,
+and arrayed himself in a suit of black armor expressive of his
+despair. In this guise he carried such slaughter among the ranks
+of the infidels that both armies were astonished at the
+achievements of the stranger knight. Mandricardo, who had been
+absent from the battle, heard the report of these achievements and
+determined to test for himself the valor of the knight so
+extolled. He it was who broke in upon the conference of Zerbino
+and Isabella, and their benefactor Orlando, as they stood occupied
+in mutual felicitations, after the happy reunion of the lovers by
+the prowess of the paladin.
+
+Mandricardo, after contemplating the group for a moment, addressed
+himself to Orlando in these words: "Thou must be the man I seek.
+For ten days and more I have been on thy track. The fame of thy
+exploits has brought me hither, that I may measure my strength
+with thine. Thy crest and shield prove thee the same who spread
+such slaughter among our troops. But these marks are superfluous,
+and if I saw thee among a hundred I should know thee by thy
+martial bearing to be the man I seek."
+
+"I respect thy courage," said Orlando; "such a design could not
+have sprung up in any but a brave and generous soul. If the desire
+to see me has brought thee hither, I would, if it were possible,
+show thee my inmost soul. I will remove my visor, that you may
+satisfy your curiosity; but when you have done so I hope that you
+will also try and see if my valor corresponds to my appearance."
+"Come on," said the Saracen, "my first wish was to see and know
+thee; I will not gratify my second."
+
+Orlando, observing Mandricardo was surprised to see no sword at
+his side, nor mace at his saddle-bow. "And what weapon hast thou,"
+said he, "if thy lance fail thee?"
+
+"Do not concern yourself about that," said Mandricardo; "I have
+made many good knights give ground with no other weapon than you
+see. Know that I have sworn an oath never to bear a sword until I
+win back that famous Durindana that Orlando, the paladin, carries.
+That sword belongs to the suit of armor which I wear; that only is
+wanting. Without doubt it was stolen, but how it got into the
+hands of Orlando I know not. But I will make him pay dearly for it
+when I find him I seek him the more anxiously that I may avenge
+with his blood the death of King Agrican, my father, whom he
+treacherously slew. I am sure he must have done it by treachery,
+for it was not in his power to subdue in fair fight such a warrior
+as my father."
+
+"Thou liest," cried Orlando; "and all who say so lie. I am
+Orlando, whom you seek; yes, I am he who slew your father
+honorably. Hold, here is the sword: you shall have it if your
+courage avails to merit it. Though it belongs to me by right, I
+will not use it in this dispute. See, I hang it on this tree; you
+shall be master of it, if you bereave me of life; not else."
+
+At these words Orlando drew Durindana, and hung it on one of the
+branches of a tree near by.
+
+Both knights, boiling with equal ardor, rode off in a semicircle;
+then rushed together with reins thrown loose, and struck one
+another with their lances. Both kept their seats, immovable. The
+splinters of their lances flew into the air, and no weapon
+remained for either but the fragment which he held in his hand.
+Then those two knights, covered with iron mail, were reduced to
+the necessity of fighting with staves, in the manner of two
+rustics, who dispute the boundary of a meadow, or the possession
+of a spring.
+
+These clubs could not long keep whole in the hands of such sturdy
+smiters, who were soon reduced to fight with naked fists. Such
+warfare was more painful to him that gave than to him that
+received the blows. They next clasped, and strained each his
+adversary, as Hercules did Antaeus. Mandricardo, more enraged than
+Orlando, made violent efforts to unseat the paladin, and dropped
+the rein of his horse. Orlando, more calm, perceived it. With one
+hand he resisted Mandricardo, with the other he twitched the
+horse's bridle over the ears of the animal. The Saracen dragged
+Orlando with all his might, but Orlando's thighs held the saddle
+like a vise. At last the efforts of the Saracen broke the girths
+of Orlando's horse; the saddle slipped; the knight, firm in his
+stirrups, slipped with it, and came to the ground hardly conscious
+of his fall. The noise of his armor in falling startled
+Mandricardo's horse, now without a bridle. He started off in full
+career, heeding neither trees nor rocks nor broken ground. Urged
+by fright, he ran with furious speed, carrying his master, who,
+almost distracted with rage, shouted and beat the animal with his
+fists, and thereby impelled his flight. After running thus three
+miles or more, a deep ditch opposed their progress. The horse and
+rider fell headlong into it, and did not find the bottom covered
+with feather-beds or roses. They got sadly bruised; but were lucky
+enough to escape without any broken limbs.
+
+Mandricardo, as soon as he gained his feet, seized the horse by
+his mane with fury; but, having no bridle, could not hold him. He
+looked round in hopes of finding something that would do for a
+rein. Just then fortune, who seemed willing to help him at last,
+brought that way a peasant with a bridle in his hand, who was in
+search of his farm horse that had strayed away.
+
+Orlando, having speedily repaired his horse's girths, remounted,
+and waited a good hour for the Saracen to return. Not seeing him,
+he concluded to go in search of him. He took an affectionate leave
+of Zerbino and Isabella, who would willingly have followed him;
+but this the brave paladin would by no means permit. He held it
+unknightly to go in search of an enemy accompanied by a friend,
+who might act as a defender. Therefore, desiring them to say to
+Mandricardo, if they should meet him, that his purpose was to
+tarry in the neighborhood three days, and then repair to the camp
+of Charlemagne, he took down Durindana from the tree, and
+proceeded in the direction which the Saracen's horse had taken.
+But the animal, having no guide but its terror, had so doubled and
+confused its traces that Orlando, after two days spent in the
+search, gave up the attempt.
+
+It was about the middle of the third day when the paladin arrived
+on the pleasant bank of a stream which wound through a meadow
+enamelled with flowers. High trees, whose tops met and formed an
+arbor, over-shadowed the fountain; and the breeze which blew
+through their foliage tempered the heat. Hither the shepherds used
+to resort to quench their thirst, and to enjoy the shelter from
+the midday sun. The air, perfumed with the flowers, seemed to
+breathe fresh strength into their veins. Orlando felt the
+influence, though covered with his armor. He stopped in this
+delicious arbor, where everything seemed to invite to repose. But
+he could not have chosen a more fatal asylum. He there spent the
+most miserable moments of his life.
+
+He looked around, and noted with pleasure all the charms of the
+spot. He saw that some of the trees were carved with inscriptions
+--he drew near, and read them, and what was his surprise to find
+that they composed the name of Angelica! Farther on he found the
+name of Medoro mixed with hers. The paladin thought he dreamed. He
+stood like one amazed--like a bird that, rising to fly, finds its
+feet caught in a net.
+
+Orlando followed the course of the stream, and came to one of its
+turns where the rocks of the mountain bent in such a way as to
+form a sort of grotto. The twisted stems of ivy and the wild vine
+draped the entrance of this recess, scooped by the hand of nature.
+
+The unhappy paladin, on entering the grotto, saw letters which
+appeared to have been lately carved. They were verses which Medoro
+had written in honor of his happy nuptials with the beautiful
+queen. Orlando tried to persuade himself it must be some other
+Angelica whom those verses celebrated, and as for Medoro, he had
+never heard his name. The sun was now declining, and Orlando
+remounted his horse, and went on his way. He soon saw the roof of
+a cottage whence the smoke ascended; he heard the barking of dogs
+and the lowing of cattle, and arrived at a humble dwelling which
+seemed to offer an asylum for the night. The inmates, as soon as
+they saw him, hastened to tender him service. One took his horse,
+another his shield and cuirass, another his golden spurs. This
+cottage was the very same where Medoro had been carried, deeply
+wounded,--where Angelica had tended him, and afterwards married
+him. The shepherd who lived in it loved to tell everybody the
+story of this marriage, and soon related it, with all its details,
+to the miserable Orlando.
+
+Having finished it, he went away, and returned with the precious
+bracelet which Angelica, grateful for his services, had given him
+as a memorial. It was the one which Orlando had himself given her.
+
+This last touch was the finishing stroke to the excited paladin.
+Frantic, exasperated, he exclaimed against the ungrateful and
+cruel princess who had disdained him, the most renowned, the most
+indomitable of all the paladins of France,--him, who had rescued
+her from the most alarming perils,--him, who had fought the most
+terrible battles for her sake,--she to prefer to him a young
+Saracen! The pride of the noble Count was deeply wounded.
+Indignant, frantic, a victim to ungovernable rage, he rushed into
+the forest, uttering the most frightful shrieks.
+
+"No, no!" cried he, "I am not the man they take me for! Orlando is
+dead! I am only the wandering ghost of that unhappy Count, who is
+now suffering the torments of hell!"
+
+Orlando wandered all night, as chance directed, through the wood,
+and at sunrise his destiny led him to the fountain where Medoro
+had engraved the fatal inscription. The frantic paladin saw it a
+second time with fury, drew his sword, and hacked it from the
+rock.
+
+Unlucky grotto! you shall no more attract by your shade and
+coolness, you shall no more shelter with your arch either shepherd
+or flock. And you, fresh and pure fountain, you may not escape the
+rage of the furious Orlando! He cast into the fountain branches,
+trunks of trees which he tore up, pieces of rocks which he broke
+off, plants uprooted, with the earth adhering, and turf and
+brushes, so as to choke the fountain, and destroy the purity of
+its waters. At length, exhausted by his violent exertions, bathed
+in sweat, breathless, Orlando sunk panting upon the earth, and lay
+there insensible three days and three nights.
+
+The fourth day he started up and seized his arms. His helmet, his
+buckler, he cast far from him; his hauberk and his clothes he rent
+asunder; the fragments were scattered through the wood. In fine,
+he became a furious madman. His insanity was such that he cared
+not to retain even his sword. But he had no need of Durindana, nor
+of other arms, to do wonderful things. His prodigious strength
+sufficed. At the first wrench of his mighty arm he tore up a pine-
+tree by the roots. Oaks, beeches, maples, whatever he met in his
+path, yielded in like manner. The ancient forest soon became as
+bare as the borders of a morass, where the fowler has cleared away
+the bushes to spread his nets. The shepherds, hearing the horrible
+crashing in the forest, abandoned their flocks to run and see the
+cause of this unwonted uproar. By their evil star, or for their
+sins, they were led thither. When they saw the furious state the
+Count was in, and his incredible force, they would fain have fled
+out of his reach, but in their fears lost their presence of mind.
+The madman pursued them, seized one and rent him limb from limb,
+as easily as one would pull ripe apples from a tree. He took
+another by the feet, and used him as a club to knock down a third.
+The shepherds fled; but it would have been hard for any to escape,
+if he had not at that moment left them to throw himself with the
+same fury upon their flocks. The peasants, abandoning their
+ploughs and harrows, mounted on the roofs of buildings and
+pinnacles of the rocks, afraid to trust themselves even to the
+oaks and pines. From such heights they looked on, trembling at the
+raging fury of the unhappy Orlando. His fists, his teeth, his
+nails, his feet, seize, break, and tear cattle, sheep, and swine;
+the most swift in flight alone being able to escape him.
+
+When at last terror had scattered everything before him, he
+entered a cottage which was abandoned by its inhabitants, and
+there found that which served for food. His long fast had caused
+him to feel the most ravenous hunger. Seizing whatever he found
+that was eatable, whether roots, acorns, or bread, raw meat or
+cooked, he gorged it indiscriminately.
+
+Issuing thence again, the frantic Orlando gave chase to whatever
+living thing he saw, whether men or animals. Sometimes he pursued
+the deer and hind, sometimes he attacked bears and wolves, and
+with his naked hands killed and tore them, and devoured their
+flesh.
+
+Thus he wandered, from place to place, through France, imperilling
+his life a thousand ways, yet always preserved by some mysterious
+providence from a fatal result. But here we leave Orlando for a
+time, that we may record what befell Zerbino and Isabella after
+their parting with him.
+
+The prince and his fair bride waited, by Orlando's request, near
+the scene of the battle for three days, that, if Mandricardo
+should return, they might inform him where Orlando would give him
+another meeting. At the end of that time their anxiety to know the
+issue led them to follow Orlando's traces, which led them at last
+to the wood where the trees were inscribed with the names of
+Angelica and Medoro. They remarked how all these inscriptions were
+defaced, and how the grotto was disordered, and the fountain
+clogged with rubbish. But that which surprised them and distressed
+them most of all was to find on the grass the cuirass of Orlando,
+and not far from it his helmet, the same which the renowned
+Almontes once wore.
+
+Hearing a horse neigh in the forest, Zerbino turned his eyes in
+that direction, and saw Brigliadoro, with the bridle yet hanging
+at the saddle-bow. He looked round for Durindana, and found that
+famous sword, without the scabbard, lying on the grass. He saw
+also the fragments of Orlando's other arms and clothing scattered
+on all sides over the plain.
+
+Zerbino and Isabella stood in astonishment and grief, not knowing
+what to think, but little imagining the true cause. If they had
+found any marks of blood on the arms or on the fragments of the
+clothing, they would have supposed him slain, but there were none.
+While they were in this painful uncertainty they saw a young
+peasant approach. He, not yet recovered from the terror of the
+scene, which he had witnessed from the top of a rock, told them
+the whole of the sad events.
+
+Zerbino, with his eyes full of tears, carefully collected all the
+scattered arms. Isabella also dismounted to aid him in the sad
+duty. When they had collected all the pieces of that rich armor
+they hung them like a trophy on a pine; and to prevent their being
+violated by any passers-by, Zerbino inscribed on the bark this
+caution: "These are the arms of the Paladin Orlando."
+
+Having finished this pious work, he remounted his horse, and just
+then a knight rode up, and requested Zerbino to tell him the
+meaning of the trophy. The prince related the facts as they had
+happened; and Mandricardo, for it was that Saracen knight, full of
+joy, rushed forward, and seized the sword, saying, "No one can
+censure me for what I do; this sword is mine; I can take my own
+wherever I find it. It is plain that Orlando, not daring to defend
+it against me, has counterfeited madness to excuse him in
+surrendering it."
+
+Zerbino vehemently exclaimed, "Touch not that sword. Think not to
+possess it without a contest. If it be true that the arms you wear
+are those of Hector, you must have got them by theft, and not by
+prowess."
+
+Immediately they attacked one another with the utmost fury. The
+air resounded with thick-falling blows. Zerbino, skilful and
+alert, evaded for a time with good success the strokes of
+Durindana; but at length a terrible blow struck him on the neck.
+He fell from his horse, and the Tartar king, possessed of the
+spoils of his victory, rode away.
+
+ZERBINO AND ISABELLA
+
+Zerbino's pain at seeing the Tartar prince go off with the sword
+surpassed the anguish of his wound; but now the loss of blood so
+reduced his strength that he could not move from where he fell.
+Isabella, not knowing whither to resort for help, could only
+bemoan him, and chide her cruel fate. Zerbino said, "If I could
+but leave thee, my best beloved, in some secure abode, it would
+not distress me to die; but to abandon thee so, without
+protection, is sad indeed." She replied, "Think not to leave me,
+dearest; our souls shall not be parted; this sword will give me
+the means to follow thee." Zerbino's last words implored her to
+banish such a thought, but live, and be true to his memory.
+Isabella promised, with many tears, to be faithful to him so long
+as life should last.
+
+When he ceased to breathe, Isabella's cries resounded through the
+forest, and reached the ears of a reverend hermit, who hastened to
+the spot. He soothed and calmed her, urging those consolations
+which the word of God supplies; and at last brought her to wish
+for nothing else but to devote herself for the rest of life wholly
+to religion.
+
+As she could not bear the thoughts of leaving her dead lord
+abandoned, the body was, by the good hermit's aid, placed upon the
+horse, and taken to the nearest inhabited place, where a chest was
+made for it, suitable to be carried with them on their way. The
+hermit's plan was to escort his charge to a monastery, not many
+days' journey distant, where Isabella resolved to spend the
+remainder of her days. Thus they travelled day after day, choosing
+the most retired ways, for the country was full of armed men. One
+day a cavalier met them, and barred their way. It was no other
+than Rodomont, king of Algiers, who had just left the camp of
+Agramant, full of indignation at the treatment he had received
+from Doralice. At sight of the lovely lady and her reverend
+attendant, with their horse laden with a burden draped with black,
+he asked the meaning of their journey. Isabella told him her
+affliction, and her resolution to renounce the world and devote
+herself to religion, and to the memory of the friend she had lost.
+Rodomont laughed scornfully at this, and told her that her project
+was absurd; that charms like hers were meant to be enjoyed, not
+buried, and that he himself would more than make amends for her
+dead lover. The monk, who promptly interposed to rebuke this
+impious talk, was commanded to hold his peace; and still
+persisting was seized by the knight and hurled over the edge of
+the cliff, where he fell into the sea, and was drowned.
+
+Rodomont, when he had got rid of the hermit, again applied to the
+sad lady, heartless with affright, and, in the language used by
+lovers, said, "she was his very heart, his life, his light."
+Having laid aside all violence, he humbly sued that she would
+accompany him to his retreat, near by. It was a ruined chapel from
+which the monks had been driven by the disorders of the time, and
+which Rodomont had taken possession of. Isabella, who had no
+choice but to obey, followed him, meditating as she went what
+resource she could find to escape out of his power, and keep her
+vow to her dead husband, to be faithful to his memory as long as
+life should last. At length she said, "If, my lord, you will let
+me go and fulfil my vow, and my intention, as I have already
+declared it, I will bestow upon you what will be to you of more
+value than a hundred women's hearts. I know an herb, and I have
+seen it on our way, which, rightly prepared, affords a juice of
+such power, that the flesh, if laved with it, becomes impenetrable
+to sword or fire. This liquor I can make, and will, to-day, if you
+will accept my offer; and when you have seen its virtue you will
+value it more than if all Europe were made your own."
+
+Rodomont, at hearing this, readily promised all that was asked, so
+eager was he to learn a secret that would make him as Achilles was
+of yore. Isabella, having collected such herbs as she thought
+proper, and boiled them, with certain mysterious signs and words,
+at length declared her labor done, and, as a test, offered to try
+its virtue on herself. She bathed her neck and bosom with the
+liquor, and then called on Rodomont to smite with all his force,
+and see whether his sword had power to harm. The pagan, who during
+the preparations had taken frequent draughts of wine, and scarce
+knew what he did, drew his sword at the word, and struck across
+her neck with all his might, and the fair head leapt sundered from
+the snowy neck and breast.
+
+Rude and unfeeling as he was, the pagan knight lamented bitterly
+this sad result. To honor her memory he resolved to do a work as
+unparalleled as her devotion. From all parts round he caused
+laborers to be brought, and had a tower built to enclose the
+chapel, within which the remains of Zerbino and Isabella were
+entombed. Across the stream which flowed near by he built a
+bridge, scarce two yards wide, and added neither parapet nor rail.
+On the top of the tower a sentry was placed, who, when any
+traveller approached the bridge, gave notice to his master.
+Rodomont thereupon sallied out, and defied the approaching knight
+to fight him upon the bridge, where any chance step a little aside
+would plunge the rider headlong in the stream. This bridge he
+vowed to keep until a thousand suits of armor should be won from
+conquered knights, wherewith to build a trophy to his victim and
+her lord.
+
+Within ten days the bridge was built, and the tower was in
+progress. In a short time many knights, either seeking the
+shortest route, or tempted by a desire of adventure, had made the
+attempt to pass the bridge. All, without exception, had lost
+either arms or life, or both; some falling before Rodomont's
+lance, others precipitated into the river. One day, as Rodomont
+stood urging his workmen, it chanced that Orlando in his furious
+mood came thither, and approached the bridge. Rodomont halloed to
+him, "Halt, churl; presume not to set foot upon that bridge; it
+was not made for such as you!" Orlando took no notice, but pressed
+on. Just then a gentle damsel rode up. It was Flordelis, who was
+seeking her Florismart. She saw Orlando, and, in spite of his
+strange appearance, recognized him. Rodomont, not used to have his
+commands disobeyed, laid hands on the madman, and would have
+thrown him into the river, but to his astonishment found himself
+in the gripe of one not so easily disposed of. "How can a fool
+have such strength?" he growled between his teeth. Flordelis
+stopped to see the issue, where each of these two puissant
+warriors strove to throw the other from the bridge. Orlando at
+last had strength enough to lift his foe with all his armor, and
+fling him over the side, but had not wit to clear himself from
+him, so both fell together. High flashed the wave as they together
+smote its surface. Here Orlando had the advantage; he was naked,
+and could swim like a fish. He soon reached the bank, and,
+careless of praise or blame, stopped not to see what came of the
+adventure. Rodomont, entangled with his armor, escaped with
+difficulty to the bank. Meantime, Flordelis passed the bridge
+unchallenged.
+
+After long wandering without success she returned to Paris, and
+there found the object of her search; for Florismart, after the
+fall of Albracca, had repaired thither. The joy of meeting was
+clouded to Florismart by the news which Flordelis brought of
+Orlando's wretched plight. The last she had seen of him was when
+he fell with Rodomont into the stream. Florismart, who loved
+Orlando like a brother, resolved to set out immediately, under the
+guidance of the lady, to find him, and bring him where he might
+receive the treatment suited to his case. A few days brought them
+to the place where they found the Tartar king still guarding the
+bridge. The usual challenge and defiance was made, and the knights
+rode to encounter one another on the bridge. At the first
+encounter both horses were overthrown; and, having no space to
+regain their footing, fell with their riders into the water.
+Rodomont, who knew the soundings of the stream, soon recovered the
+land; but Florismart was carried downward by the current, and
+landed at last on a bank of mud where his horse could hardly find
+footing. Flordelis, who watched the battle from the bridge, seeing
+her lover in this piteous case, exclaimed aloud, "Ah! Rodomont,
+for love of her whom dead you honor, have pity on me, who love
+this knight, and slay him not. Let it suffice he yields his armor
+to the pile, and none more glorious will it bear than his." Her
+prayer, so well directed, touched the pagan's heart, though hard
+to move, and he lent his aid to help the knight to land. He kept
+him a prisoner, however, and added his armor to the pile.
+Flordelis, with a heavy heart, went her way.
+
+We must now return to Rogero, who, when we parted with him, was
+engaged in an adventure which arrested his progress to the
+monastery whither he was bound with the intention of receiving
+baptism, and thus qualifying himself to demand Bradamante as his
+bride. On his way he met with Mandricardo, and the quarrel was
+revived respecting the right to wear the badge of Hector. After a
+warm discussion both parties agreed to submit the question to King
+Agramant, and for that purpose took their way to the Saracen camp.
+Here they met Gradasso, who had his controversy also with
+Mandricardo. This warrior claimed the sword of Orlando, denying
+the right of Mandricardo to possess it in virtue of his having
+found it abandoned by its owner. King Agramant strove in vain to
+reconcile these quarrels, and was forced at last to consent that
+the points in dispute should be settled by one combat, in which
+Mandricardo should meet one of the other champions, to whom should
+be committed the cause of both. Rogero was chosen by lot to
+maintain Gradasso's cause and his own. Great preparations were
+made for this signal contest. On the appointed day it was fought
+in the presence of Agramant, and of the whole army. Rogero won it;
+and Mandricardo, the conqueror of Hector's arms, the challenger of
+Orlando, and the slayer of Zerbino, lost his life. Gradasso
+received Durindana as his prize, which lost half its value in his
+eyes, since it was won by another's prowess, not his own.
+
+Rogero, though victorious, was severely wounded, and lay helpless
+many weeks in the camp of Agramant, while Bradamante, ignorant of
+the cause of his delay, expected him at Montalban. Thither he had
+promised to repair in fifteen days, or twenty at furthest, hoping
+to have obtained by that time an honorable discharge from his
+obligations to the Saracen commander. The twenty days were passed,
+and a month more, and still Rogero came not, nor did any tidings
+reach Bradamante accounting for his absence. At the end of that
+time, a wandering knight brought news of the famous combat, and of
+Rogero's wound. He added, what alarmed Bradamante still more, that
+Marphisa, a female warrior, young and fair, was in attendance on
+the wounded knight. He added that the whole army expected that, as
+soon as Rogero's wounds were healed, the pair would be united in
+marriage.
+
+Bradamante, distressed by this news, though she believed it but in
+part, resolved to go immediately and see for herself. She mounted
+Rabican, the horse of Astolpho, which he had committed to her
+care, and took with her the lance of gold, though unaware of its
+wonderful powers. Thus accoutred, she left the castle, and took
+the road toward Paris and the camp of the Saracens.
+
+Marphisa, whose devotion to Rogero in his illness had so excited
+the jealousy of Bradamante, was the twin sister of Rogero. She,
+with him, had been taken in charge when an infant by Atlantes, the
+magician, but while yet a child she had been stolen away by an
+Arab tribe. Adopted by their chief, she had early learned
+horsemanship and skill in arms, and at this time had come to the
+camp of Agramant with no other view than to see and test for
+herself the prowess of the warriors of either camp, whose fame
+rang through the world. Arriving at the very moment of the late
+encounter, the name of Rogero, and some few facts of his story
+which she learned, were enough to suggest the idea that it was her
+brother whom she saw victorious in the single combat. Inquiry
+satisfied the two of their near kindred, and from that moment
+Marphisa devoted herself to the care of her new-found and much-
+loved brother.
+
+In those moments of seclusion Rogero informed his sister of what
+he had learned of their parentage from old Atlantes. Rogero, their
+father, a Christian knight, had won the heart of Galaciella,
+daughter of the Sultan of Africa, and sister of King Agramant,
+converted her to the Christian faith, and secretly married her.
+The Sultan, enraged at his daughter's marriage, drove her husband
+into exile, and caused her with her infant children, Rogero and
+Marphisa, to be placed in a boat and committed to the winds and
+waves, to perish; from which fate they were saved by Atlantes. On
+hearing this, Marphisa exclaimed, "How can you, brother, leave our
+parents unavenged so long, and even submit to serve the son of the
+tyrant who so wronged them?" Rogero replied that it was but lately
+he had learned the full truth; that when he learned it he was
+already embarked with Agramant, from whom he had received
+knighthood, and that he only waited for a suitable opportunity
+when he might with honor desert his standard, and at the same time
+return to the faith of his fathers. Marphisa hailed this
+resolution with joy, and declared her intention to join with him
+in embracing the Christian faith.
+
+We left Bradamante when, mounted on Rabican and armed with
+Astolpho's lance, she rode forth, determined to learn the cause of
+Rogero's long absence. One day, as she rode, she met a damsel, of
+visage and of manners fair, but overcome with grief. It was
+Flordelis, who was seeking far and near a champion capable of
+liberating and avenging her lord. Flordelis marked the approaching
+warrior, and, judging from appearances, thought she had found the
+champion she sought. "Are you, Sir Knight," she said, "so daring
+and so kind as to take up my cause against a fierce and cruel
+warrior who has made prisoner of my lord, and forced me thus to be
+a wanderer and a suppliant?" Then she related the events which had
+happened at the bridge. Bradamante, to whom noble enterprises were
+always welcome, readily embraced this, and the rather as in her
+gloomy forebodings she felt as if Rogero was forever lost to her.
+
+Next day the two arrived at the bridge. The sentry descried them
+approaching, and gave notice to his lord, who thereupon donned his
+armor and went forth to meet them. Here, as usual, he called on
+the advancing warrior to yield his horse and arms an oblation to
+the tomb. Bradamante replied, asking by what right he called on
+the innocent to do penance for his crime. "Your life and your
+armor," she added, "are the fittest offering to her tomb, and I, a
+woman, the fittest champion to take them." With that she couched
+her spear, spurred her horse, and ran to the encounter. King
+Rodomont came on with speed. The trampling sounded on the bridge
+like thunder. It took but a moment to decide the contest. The
+golden lance did its office, and that fierce Moor, so renowned in
+tourney, lay extended on the bridge. "Who is the loser now?" said
+Bradamante; but Rodomont, amazed that a woman's hand should have
+laid him low, could not or would not answer. Silent and sad, he
+raised himself, unbound his helm and mail, and flung them against
+the tomb; then, sullen and on foot, left the ground; but first
+gave orders to one of his squires to release all his prisoners.
+They had been sent off to Africa. Besides Florismart, there were
+Sansonnet and Oliver, who had ridden that way in quest of Orlando,
+and had both in turn been overthrown in the encounter.
+
+Bradamante after her victory resumed her route, and in due time
+reached the Christian camp, where she readily learned an
+explanation of the mystery which had caused her so much anxiety.
+Rogero and his fair and brave sister, Marphisa, were too
+illustrious by their station and exploits not to be the frequent
+topic of discourse even among their adversaries, and all that
+Bradamante was anxious to know reached her ear, almost without
+inquiry.
+
+We now return to Gradasso, who by Rogero's victory had been made
+possessor of Durindana. There now only remained to him to seek the
+horse of Rinaldo; and the challenge, given and accepted, was yet
+to be fought with that warrior, for it had been interrupted by the
+arts of Malagigi. Gradasso now sought another meeting with
+Rinaldo, and met with no reluctance on his part. As the combat was
+for the possession of Bayard, the knights dismounted and fought on
+foot. Long time the battle lasted. Rinaldo, knowing well the
+deadly stroke of Durindana, used all his art to parry or avoid its
+blow. Gradasso struck with might and main, but wellnigh all his
+strokes were spent in air, or if they smote they fell obliquely
+and did little harm.
+
+Thus had they fought long, glancing at one another's eyes, and
+seeing naught else, when their attention was arrested perforce by
+a strange noise. They turned, and beheld the good Bayard attacked
+by a monstrous bird. Perhaps it was a bird, for such it seemed;
+but when or where such a bird was ever seen I have nowhere read,
+except in Turpin; and I am inclined to believe that it was not a
+bird, but a fiend, evoked from underground by Malagigi, and
+thither sent on purpose to interrupt the fight. Whether a fiend or
+a fowl, the monster flew right at Bayard, and clapped his wings in
+his face. Thereat the steed broke loose, and ran madly across the
+plain, pursued by the bird, till Bayard plunged into the wood, and
+was lost to sight.
+
+Rinaldo and Gradasso, seeing Bayard's escape, agreed to suspend
+their battle till they could recover the horse, the object of
+contention. Gradasso mounted his steed, and followed the foot-
+marks of Bayard into the forest. Rinaldo, never more vexed in
+spirit, remained at the spot, Gradasso having promised to return
+thither with the horse, if he found him. He did find him, after
+long search, for he had the good fortune to hear him neigh. Thus
+he became possessed of both the objects for which he had led an
+army from his own country, and invaded France. He did not forget
+his promise to bring Bayard back to the place where he had left
+Rinaldo, but only muttering, "Now I have got him, he little knows
+me who expects me to give him up; if Rinaldo wants the horse let
+him seek him in India, as I have sought him in France,"--he made
+the best of his way to Arles, where his vessels lay; and in
+possession of the two objects of his ambition, the horse and the
+sword, sailed away to his own country.
+
+ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA
+
+When we last parted with the adventurous paladin Astolpho, he was
+just commencing that flight over the countries of the world from
+which he promised himself so much gratification. Our readers are
+aware that the eagle and the falcon have not so swift a flight as
+the Hippogriff on which Astolpho rode. It was not long, therefore,
+before the paladin, directing his course toward the southeast,
+arrived over that part of Africa where the great river Nile has
+its source. Here he alighted, and found himself in the
+neighborhood of the capital of Abyssinia, ruled by Senapus, whose
+riches and power were immense. His palace was of surpassing
+splendor; the bars of the gates, the hinges and locks, were all of
+pure gold; in fact, this metal, in that country, is put to all
+those uses for which we employ iron. It is so common that they
+prefer for ornamental purposes rock crystal, of which all the
+columns were made. Precious stones of different kinds, rubies,
+emeralds, sapphires, and topazes were set in ornamental designs,
+and the walls and ceilings were adorned with pearls.
+
+It is in this country those famous balms grow of which there are
+some few plants in that part of Judaea called Gilead. Musk,
+ambergris, and numerous gums, so precious in Europe, are here in
+their native climate. It is said the Sultan of Egypt pays a vast
+tribute to the monarch of this country to hire him not to cut off
+the source of the Nile, which he might easily do, and cause the
+river to flow in some other direction, thus depriving Egypt of the
+source of its fertility.
+
+At the time of Astolpho's arrival in his dominions, this monarch
+was in great affliction. In spite of his riches and the precious
+productions of his country, he was in danger of dying of hunger.
+He was a prey to a flock of obscene birds called Harpies, which
+attacked him whenever he sat at meat, and with their claws
+snatched, tore, and scattered everything, overturning the vessels,
+devouring the food, and infecting what they left with their filthy
+touch. It was said this punishment was inflicted upon the king
+because when young, and filled with pride and presumption, he had
+attempted to invade with an army the terrestrial paradise, which
+is situated on the top of a mountain whence the Nile draws its
+source. Nor was this his only punishment. He was struck blind.
+
+Astolpho, on arriving in the dominions of this monarch, hastened
+to pay him his respects. King Senapus received him graciously, and
+ordered a splendid repast to be prepared in honor of his arrival.
+While the guests were seated at table, Astolpho filling the place
+of dignity at the king's right hand, the horrid scream of the
+Harpies was heard in the air, and soon they approached, hovering
+over the tables, seizing the food from the dishes, and overturning
+everything with the flapping of their broad wings. In vain the
+guests struck at them with knives and any weapons which they had,
+and Astolpho drew his sword and gave them repeated blows, which
+seemed to have no more effect upon them than if their bodies had
+been made of tow.
+
+At last Astolpho thought of his horn. He first gave warning to the
+king and his guests to stop their ears; then blew a blast. The
+Harpies, terrified at the sound, flew away as fast as their wings
+could carry them. The paladin mounted his Hippogriff, and pursued
+them, blowing his horn as often as he came near them. They
+stretched their flight towards the great mountain, at the foot of
+which there is a cavern, which is thought to be the mouth of the
+infernal abodes. Hither those horrid birds flew, as if to their
+home. Having seen them all disappear in the recess, Astolpho cared
+not to pursue them farther, but alighting, rolled huge stones into
+the mouth of the cave, and piled branches of trees therein, so
+that he effectually barred their passage out, and we have no
+evidence of their ever having been seen since in the outer air.
+
+After this labor Astolpho refreshed himself by bathing in a
+fountain whose pure waters bubbled from a cleft of the rock.
+Having rested awhile, an earnest desire seized him of ascending
+the mountain which towered above him. The Hippogriff bore him
+swiftly upwards, and landed him on the top of the mountain, which
+he found to be an extensive plain.
+
+A splendid palace rose in the middle of this plain, whose walls
+shone with such brilliancy that mortal eyes could hardly bear the
+sight. Astolpho guided the winged horse towards this edifice, and
+made him poise himself in the air while he took a leisurely survey
+of this favored spot and its environs. It seemed as if nature and
+art had striven with one another to see which could do the most
+for its embellishment.
+
+Astolpho, on approaching the edifice, saw a venerable man advance
+to meet him. This personage was clothed in a long vesture as white
+as snow, while a mantle of purple covered his shoulders, and hung
+down to the ground. A white beard descended to his middle, and his
+hair, of the same color, overshadowed his shoulders. His eyes were
+so brilliant that Astolpho felt persuaded that he was a blessed
+inhabitant of the heavenly mansions.
+
+The sage, smiling benignantly upon the paladin, who from respect
+had dismounted from his horse, said to him: "Noble chevalier, know
+that it is by the Divine will you have been brought to the
+terrestrial paradise. Your mortal nature could not have borne to
+scale these heights and reach these seats of bliss if it were not
+the will of Heaven that you should be instructed in the means to
+succor Charles, and to sustain the glory of our holy faith. I am
+prepared to impart the needed counsels; but before I begin let me
+welcome you to our sojourn. I doubt not your long fast and distant
+journey have given you a good appetite."
+
+The aspect of the venerable man filled the prince with admiration;
+but his surprise ceased when he learned from him that he was that
+one of the Apostles of our Lord to whom he said, "I will that thou
+tarry till I come."
+
+St. John, conducting Astolpho, rejoined his companions. These were
+the patriarch Enoch and the prophet Elijah; neither of whom had
+yet seen his dying day, but, taken from our lower world, were
+dwelling in a region of peace and joy, in a climate of eternal
+spring, till the last trumpet shall sound.
+
+The three holy inhabitants of the terrestrial paradise received
+Astolpho with the greatest kindness, carried him to a pleasant
+apartment, and took great care of the Hippogriff, to whom they
+gave such food as suited him, while to the prince they presented
+fruits so delicious that he felt inclined to excuse our first
+parents for their sin in eating them without permission.
+
+Astolpho, having recruited his strength, not only by these
+excellent fruits, but also by sweet sleep, roused himself at the
+first blush of dawn, and as soon as he left his chamber met the
+beloved Apostle coming to seek him. St. John took him by the hand,
+and told him many things relating to the past and the future.
+Among others, he said, "Son, let me tell you what is now going on
+in France. Orlando, the illustrious prince who received at his
+birth the endowment of strength and courage more than mortal,
+raised up as was Samson of old to be the champion of the true
+faith, has been guilty of the basest ingratitude in leaving the
+Christian camp when it most needed the support of his arm, to run
+after a Saracen princess, whom he would fain marry, though she
+scorns him. To punish him his reason has been taken away, so that
+he runs naked through the land, over mountains and through
+valleys, without a ray of intelligence. The duration of his
+punishment has been fixed at three months, and that time having
+nearly expired, you have been brought hither to learn from us the
+means by which the reason of Orlando may be restored. True, you
+will be obliged to make a journey with me, and we must even leave
+the earth, and ascend to the moon, for it is in that planet we are
+to seek the remedy for the madness of the paladin. I propose to
+make our journey this evening, as soon as the moon appears over
+our head."
+
+As soon as the sun sunk beneath the seas, and the moon presented
+its luminous disk, the holy man had the chariot brought out in
+which he was accustomed to make excursions among the stars, the
+same which was employed long ago to convey Elijah up from earth.
+The saint made Astolpho seat himself beside him, took the reins,
+and giving the word to the coursers, they bore them upward with
+astonishing celerity.
+
+At length they reached the great continent of the Moon. Its
+surface appeared to be of polished steel, with here and there a
+spot which, like rust, obscured its brightness. The paladin was
+astonished to see that the earth, with all its seas and rivers,
+seemed but an insignificant spot in the distance.
+
+The prince discovered in this region so new to him rivers, lakes,
+plains, hills, and valleys. Many beautiful cities and castles
+enriched the landscape. He saw also vast forests, and heard in
+them the sound of horns and the barking of dogs, which led him to
+conclude that the nymphs were following the chase.
+
+The knight, filled with wonder at all he saw, was conducted by the
+saint to a valley, where he stood amazed at the riches strewed all
+around him. Well he might be so, for that valley was the
+receptacle of things lost on earth, either by men's fault, or by
+the effect of time and chance. Let no one suppose we speak here of
+kingdoms or of treasures; they are the toys of Fortune, which she
+dispenses in turning her wheel; we speak of things which she can
+neither give nor take away. Such are reputations, which appear at
+one time so brilliant, and a short time after are heard of no
+more. Here, also, are countless vows and prayers for unattainable
+objects, lovers' sighs and tears, time spent in gaming, dressing,
+and doing nothing, the leisure of the dull and the intentions of
+the lazy, baseless projects, intrigues, and plots; these and such
+like things fill all the valley.
+
+Astolpho had a great desire to understand all that he saw, and
+which appeared to him so extraordinary. Among the rest, he
+observed a great mountain of blown bladders, from which issued
+indistinct noises. The saint told him these were the dynasties of
+Assyrian and Persian kings, once the wonder of the earth, of which
+now scarce the name remains.
+
+Astolpho could not help laughing when the saint said to him, "All
+these hooks of silver and gold that you see are the gifts of
+courtiers to princes, made in the hope of getting something better
+in return." He also showed him garlands of flowers in which snares
+were concealed; these were flatteries and adulations, meant to
+deceive. But nothing was so comical as the sight of numerous
+grasshoppers which had burst their lungs with chirping. These, he
+told him, were sonnets, odes, and dedications, addressed by venal
+poets to great people.
+
+The paladin beheld with wonder what seemed a lake of spilled milk.
+"It is," said the saint, "the charity done by frightened misers on
+their death-beds." It would take too long to tell all that the
+valley contained: meanness, affectations, pretended virtues, and
+concealed vices were there in abundance.
+
+Among the rest Astolpho perceived many days of his own lost, and
+many imprudent sallies which he had made, and would have been glad
+not to have been reminded of. But he also saw among so many lost
+things a great abundance of one thing which men are apt to think
+they all possess, and do not think it necessary to pray for,--
+good sense. This commodity appeared under the form of a liquor,
+most light and apt to evaporate. It was therefore kept in vials,
+firmly sealed. One of these was labelled, "The sense of the
+Paladin Orlando."
+
+All the bottles were ticketed, and the sage placed one in
+Astolpho's hand, which he found was his own. It was more than half
+full. He was surprised to find there many other vials which
+contained almost the whole of the wits of many persons who passed
+among men for wise. Ah, how easy it is to lose one's reason! Some
+lose theirs by yielding to the sway of the passions; some in
+braving tempests and shoals in search of wealth; some by trusting
+too much to the promises of the great; some by setting their
+hearts on trifles. As might have been expected, the bottles which
+held the wits of astrologers, inventors, metaphysicians, and above
+all, of poets, were in general the best filled of all.
+
+Astolpho took his bottle, put it to his nose, and inhaled it all;
+and Turpin assures us that he was for a long time afterwards as
+sage as one could wish; but the Archbishop adds that there was
+reason to fear that some of the precious fluid afterwards found
+its way back into the bottle. The paladin took also the bottle
+which belonged to Orlando. It was a large one, and quite full.
+
+Before quitting the planetary region Astolpho was conducted to an
+edifice on the borders of a river. He was shown an immense hall
+full of bundles of silk, linen, cotton, and wool. A thousand
+different colors, brilliant or dull, some quite black, were among
+these skeins. In one part of the hall an old woman was busy
+winding off yarns from all these different bundles. When she had
+finished a skein another ancient dame took it and placed it with
+others; a third selected from the fleeces spun, and mingled them
+in due proportions. The paladin inquired what all this might be.
+"These old women," said the saint, "are the Fates, who spin,
+measure, and terminate the lives of mortals. As long as the thread
+stretches in one of those skeins, so long does the mortal enjoy
+the light of day; but nature and death are on the alert to shut
+the eyes of those whose thread is spun."
+
+Each one of the skeins had a label of gold, silver, or iron,
+bearing the name of the individual to whom it belonged. An old
+man, who, in spite of the burden of years, seemed brisk and
+active, ran without ceasing to fill his apron with these labels,
+and carried them away to throw them into the river, whose name was
+Lethe. When he reached the shore of the river the old man shook
+out his apron, and the labels sunk to the bottom. A small number
+only floated for a time, hardly one in a thousand. Numberless
+birds, hawks, crows, and vultures hovered over the stream, with
+clamorous cries, and strove to snatch from the water some of these
+names; but they were too heavy for them, and after a while the
+birds were forced to let them drop into the river of oblivion. But
+two beautiful swans, of snowy whiteness, gathered some few of the
+names, and returned with them to the shore, where a lovely nymph
+received them from their beaks, and carried them to a temple
+placed upon a hill, and suspended them for all time upon a sacred
+column, on which stood the statue of Immortality.
+
+Astolpho was amazed at all this, and asked his guide to explain
+it. He replied, "The old man is Time. All the names upon the
+tickets would be immortal if the old man did not plunge them into
+the river of oblivion. Those clamorous birds which make vain
+efforts to save certain of the names are flatterers, pensioners,
+venal rhymesters, who do their best to rescue from oblivion the
+unworthy names of their patrons; but all in vain; they may keep
+them from their fate a little while, but ere long the river of
+oblivion must swallow them all.
+
+"The swans, that with harmonious strains carry certain names to
+the temple of Eternal Memory, are the great poets, who save from
+oblivion worse than death the names of those they judge worthy of
+immortality. Swans of this kind are rare. Let monarchs know the
+true breed, and fail not to nourish with care such as may chance
+to appear in their time."
+
+THE WAR IN AFRICA
+
+When Astolpho had descended to the earth with the precious phial,
+St. John showed him a plant of marvellous virtues, with which he
+told him he had only to touch the eyes of the king of Abyssinia to
+restore him to sight. "That important service," said the saint,
+"added to your having delivered him from the Harpies, will induce
+him to give you an army wherewith to attack the Africans in their
+rear, and force them to return from France to defend their own
+country." The saint also instructed him how to lead his troops in
+safety across the great deserts, where caravans are often
+overwhelmed with moving columns of sand. Astolpho, fortified with
+ample instructions, remounted the Hippogriff, thanked the saint,
+received his blessing, and took his flight down to the level
+country.
+
+Keeping the course of the river Nile, he soon arrived at the
+capital of Abyssinia, and rejoined Senapus. The joy of the king
+was great when he heard again the voice of the hero who had
+delivered him from the Harpies. Astolpho touched his eyes with the
+plant which he had brought from the terrestrial paradise, and
+restored their sight. The king's gratitude was unbounded. He
+begged him to name a reward, promising to grant it, whatever it
+might be. Astolpho asked an army to go to the assistance of
+Charlemagne, and the king not only granted him a hundred thousand
+men, but offered to lead them himself.
+
+The night before the day appointed for the departure of the troops
+Astolpho mounted his winged horse, and directed his flight towards
+a mountain, whence the fierce South-wind issues, whose blast
+raises the sands of the Nubian desert, and whirls them onward in
+overwhelming clouds. The paladin, by the advice of St. John, had
+prepared himself with a leather bag, which he placed adroitly,
+with its mouth open, over the vent whence issues this terrible
+wind. At the first dawn of morning the wind rushed from its cavern
+to resume its daily course, and was caught in the bag, and
+securely tied up. Astolpho, delighted with his prize, returned to
+his army, placed himself at their head, and commenced his march.
+The Abyssinians traversed without danger or difficulty those vast
+fields of sand which separate their country from the kingdoms of
+Northern Africa, for the terrible South-wind, taken completely
+captive, had not force enough left to blow out a candle.
+
+Senapus was distressed that he could not furnish any cavalry, for
+his country, rich in camels and elephants, was destitute of
+horses. This difficulty the saint had foreseen, and had taught
+Astolpho the means of remedying. He now put those means in
+operation. Having reached a place whence he beheld a vast plain
+and the sea, he chose from his troops those who appeared to be the
+best made and the most intelligent. These he caused to be arranged
+in squadrons at the foot of a lofty mountain which bordered the
+plain, and he himself mounted to the summit to carry into effect
+his great design. Here he found vast quantities of fragments of
+rock and pebbles. These he set rolling down the mountain's side,
+and, wonderful to relate, as they rolled they grew in size, made
+themselves bodies, legs, necks, and long faces. Next they began to
+neigh, to curvet, to scamper on all sides over the plain. Some
+were bay, some roan, some dapple, some chestnut. The troops at the
+foot of the mountain exerted themselves to catch these new-created
+horses, which they easily did, for the miracle had been so
+considerate as to provide all the horses with bridles and saddles.
+Astolpho thus suddenly found himself supplied with an excellent
+corps of cavalry, not fewer (as Archbishop Turpin asserts) than
+eighty thousand strong. With these troops Astolpho reduced all the
+country to subjection, and at last arrived before the walls of
+Agramant's capital city, Biserta, to which he laid siege.
+
+We must now return to the camp of the Christians, which lay before
+Arles, to which city the Saracens had retired after being defeated
+in a night attack led on by Rinaldo. Agramant here received the
+tidings of the invasion of his country by a fresh enemy, the
+Abyssinians, and learned that Biserta was in danger of falling
+into their hands. He took counsel of his officers, and decided to
+send an embassy to Charles, proposing that the whole quarrel
+should be submitted to the combat of two warriors, one from each
+side, according to the issue of which it should be decided which
+party should pay tribute to the other, and the war should cease.
+Charlemagne, who had not heard of the favorable turn which affairs
+had taken in Africa, readily agreed to this proposal, and Rinaldo
+was selected on the part of the Christians to sustain the combat.
+
+The Saracens selected Rogero for their champion. Rogero was still
+in the Saracen camp, kept there by honor alone, for his mind had
+been opened to the truth of the Christian faith by the arguments
+of Bradamante, and he had resolved to leave the party of the
+infidels on the first favorable opportunity, and to join the
+Christian side. But his honor forbade him to do this while his
+former friends were in distress; and thus he waited for what time
+might bring forth, when he was startled by the announcement that
+he had been selected to uphold the cause of the Saracens against
+the Christians, and that his foe was to be Rinaldo, the brother of
+Bradamante.
+
+While Rogero was overwhelmed with this intelligence Bradamante on
+her side felt the deepest distress at hearing of the proposed
+combat. If Rogero should fall she felt that no other man living
+was worthy of her love; and if, on the other hand, Heaven should
+resolve to punish France by the death of her chosen champion,
+Bradamante would have to deplore her brother, so dear to her, and
+be no less completely severed from the object of her affections.
+
+While the fair lady gave herself up to these sad thoughts, the
+sage enchantress, Melissa, suddenly appeared before her. "Fear
+not, my daughter," said she, "I shall find a way to interrupt this
+combat which so distresses you."
+
+Meanwhile Rinaldo and Rogero prepared their weapons for the
+conflict. Rinaldo had the choice, and decided that it should be on
+foot, and with no weapons but the battle-axe and poniard. The
+place assigned was a plain between the camp of Charlemagne and the
+walls of Arles.
+
+Hardly had the dawn announced the day appointed for this memorable
+combat, when heralds proceeded from both sides to mark the lists.
+Erelong the African troops were seen to advance from the city,
+Agramant at their head; his brilliant arms adorned in the Moorish
+fashion, his horse a bay, with a white star on his forehead.
+Rogero marched at his side, and some of the greatest warriors of
+the Saracen camp attended him, bearing the various parts of his
+armor and weapons. Charlemagne, on his part, proceeded from his
+intrenchments, ranged his troops in semicircle, and stood
+surrounded by his peers and paladins. Some of them bore portions
+of the armor of Rinaldo, the celebrated Ogier, the Dane, bearing
+the helmet which Rinaldo took from Mambrino. Duke Namo of Bavaria
+and Salomon of Bretagne bore two axes, of equal weight, prepared
+for the occasion.
+
+The terms of the combat were then sworn to with the utmost
+solemnity by all parties. It was agreed that if from either part
+any attempt was made to interrupt the battle both combatants
+should turn their arms against the party which should be guilty of
+the interruption; and both monarchs assented to the condition that
+in such case the champion of the offending party should be
+discharged from his allegiance, and at liberty to transfer his
+arms to the other side.
+
+When all the preparations were concluded the monarchs and their
+attendants retired each to his own side, and the champions were
+left alone. The two warriors advanced with measured steps towards
+each other, and met in the middle of the space. They attacked one
+another at the same moment, and the air resounded with the blows
+they gave. Sparks flew from their battle-axes, while the velocity
+with which they managed their weapons astonished the beholders.
+Rogero, always remembering that his antagonist was the brother of
+his betrothed, could not aim a deadly wound; he strove only to
+ward off those levelled against himself. Rinaldo, on the other
+hand, much as he esteemed Rogero, spared not his blows, for he
+eagerly desired victory for his own sake, and for the sake of his
+country and his faith.
+
+The Saracens soon perceived that their champion fought feebly, and
+gave not to Rinaldo such blows as he received from him. His
+disadvantage was so marked that anxiety and shame were manifest on
+the countenance of Agramant. Melissa, one of the most acute
+enchantresses that ever lived, seized this moment to disguise
+herself under the form of Rodomont, that rude and impetuous
+warrior, who had now for some time been absent from the Saracen
+camp. Approaching Agramant, she said, "How could you, my lord,
+have the imprudence of selecting a young man without experience to
+oppose the most redoubtable warrior of France? Surely you must
+have been regardless of the honor of your arms, and of the fate of
+your empire! But it is not too late. Break without delay the
+agreement which is sure to result in your ruin." So saying, she
+addressed the troops who stood near, "Friends," said she, "follow
+me; under my guidance every one of you will be a match for a score
+of those feeble Christians." Agramant, delighted at seeing
+Rodomont once more at his side, gave his consent, and the
+Saracens, at the instant, couched their lances, set spurs to their
+steeds, and swept down upon the French. Melissa, when she saw her
+work successful, disappeared.
+
+Rinaldo and Rogero, seeing the truce broken, and the two armies
+engaged in general conflict, stopped their battle; their martial
+fury ceased at once, they joined hands, and resolved to act no
+more on either side until it should be clearly ascertained which
+party had failed to observe its oath. Both renewed their promise
+to abandon forever the party which had been thus false and
+perjured.
+
+Meanwhile, the Christians, after the first moment of surprise, met
+the Saracens with courage redoubled by rage at the treachery of
+their foes. Guido the Wild, brother and rival of Rinaldo, Griffon
+and Aquilant, sons of Oliver, and numerous others whose names have
+already been celebrated in our recitals, beat back the assailants,
+and at last, after prodigious slaughter, forced them to take
+shelter within the walls of Arles.
+
+We will now return to Orlando, whom we last heard of as furiously
+mad, and doing a thousand acts of violence in his senseless rage.
+One day he came to the borders of a stream which intercepted his
+course. He swam across it, for he could swim like an otter, and on
+the other side saw a peasant watering his horse. He seized the
+animal, in spite of the resistance of the peasant, and rode it
+with furious speed till he arrived at the sea-coast, where Spain
+is divided from Africa by only a narrow strait. At the moment of
+his arrival a vessel had just put off to cross the strait. She was
+full of people who, with glass in hand, seemed to be taking a
+merry farewell of the land, wafted by a favorable breeze.
+
+The frantic Orlando cried out to them to stop and take him in; but
+they, having no desire to admit a madman to their company, paid
+him no attention. The paladin thought this behavior very uncivil;
+and by force of blows made his horse carry him into the water in
+pursuit of the ship. The wretched animal soon had only his head
+above water; but as Orlando urged him forward, nothing was left
+for the poor beast but either to die or swim over to Africa.
+
+Already Orlando had lost sight of the bark; distance and the swell
+of the sea completely hid it from his sight. He continued to press
+his horse forward, till at last it could struggle no more, and
+sunk beneath him. Orlando, nowise concerned, stretched out his
+nervous arms, puffing the salt water from before his mouth, and
+carried his head above the waves. Fortunately they were not rough,
+scarce a breath of wind agitated the surface; otherwise, the
+invincible Orlando would then have met his death. But fortune,
+which it is said favors fools, delivered him from this danger, and
+landed him safe on the shore of Ceuta. Here he rambled along the
+shore till he came to where the black army of Astolpho held its
+camp.
+
+Now it happened, just before this time, that a vessel filled with
+prisoners which Rodomont had taken at the bridge had arrived, and,
+not knowing of the presence of the Abyssinian army, had sailed
+right into port, where of course the prisoners and their captors
+changed places, the former being set at liberty and received with
+all joy, the latter sent to serve in the galleys. Astolpho thus
+found himself surrounded with Christian knights, and he and his
+friends were exchanging greetings and felicitations, when a noise
+was heard in the camp, and seemed to increase every moment.
+
+Astolpho and his friends seized their weapons, mounted their
+horses, and rode to the quarter whence the noise proceeded.
+Imagine their astonishment when they saw that the tumult was
+caused by a single man, perfectly naked, and browned with dirt and
+exposure, but of a force and fury so terrible that he overturned
+all that offered to lay hands on him.
+
+Astolpho, Dudon, Oliver, and Florimart gazed at him with
+amazement. It was with difficulty they knew him. Astolpho, who had
+been warned of his condition by his holy monitor, was the first to
+recognize him. As the paladins closed round Orlando, the madman
+dealt one and another a blow of his fist, which, if they had not
+been in armor, or he had had any weapon, would probably have
+despatched them; as it was, Dudon and Astolpho measured their
+length on the sand. But Florimart seized him from behind,
+Sansonnet and another grasped his legs, and at last they succeeded
+in securing him with ropes. They took him to the water-side and
+washed him well, and then Astolpho, having first bandaged his
+mouth so that he could not breathe except through his nose,
+brought the precious phial, uncorked it, and placed it adroitly
+under his nostrils, when the good Orlando took it all up in one
+breath. O marvellous prodigy! The paladin recovered in an instant
+all his intelligence. He felt like one who had awakened from a
+painful dream, in which he had believed that monsters were about
+to tear him to pieces. He seemed prostrated, silent, and abashed.
+Florismart, Oliver, and Astolpho stood gazing upon him, while he
+turned his eyes around and on himself. He seemed surprised to find
+himself naked, bound, and stretched on the sea-shore. After a few
+moments he recognized his friends, and spoke to them in a tone so
+tender that they hastened to unbind him, and to supply him with
+garments. Then they exerted themselves to console him, to diminish
+the weight with which his spirits were oppressed, and to make him
+forget the wretched condition into which he had been sunk.
+
+Orlando, in recovering his reason, found himself also delivered
+from his insane attachment to the queen of Cathay. His heart felt
+now no further influenced by the recollection of her than to be
+moved with an ardent desire to retrieve his fame by some
+distinguished exploit. Astolpho would gladly have yielded to him
+the chief command of the army, but Orlando would not take from the
+friend to whom he owed so much the glory of the campaign; but in
+everything the two paladins acted in concert, and united their
+counsels. They proposed to make a general assault on the city of
+Biserta, and were only waiting a favorable moment, when their plan
+was interrupted by new events.
+
+Agramant, after the bloody battle which followed the infraction of
+the truce, found himself so weak that he saw it was in vain to
+attempt to remain in France. So, in concert with Sobrino, the
+bravest and most trusted of his chiefs, he embarked to return to
+his own country, having previously sent off his few remaining
+troops in the same direction. The vessel which carried Agramant
+and Sobrino approached the shore where the army of Astolpho lay
+encamped before Biserta, and having discovered this fact before it
+was too late, the king commanded the pilot to steer eastward, with
+a view to seek protection of the King of Egypt. But the weather
+becoming rough, he consented to the advice of his companions, and
+sought harbor in an island which lies between Sicily and Africa.
+There he found Gradasso, the warlike king of Sericane, who had
+come to France to possess himself of the horse Bayard and the
+sword Durindana; and having procured both these prizes was
+returning to his own country.
+
+The two kings, who had been companions in arms under the walls of
+Paris, embraced one another affectionately. Gradasso learned with
+regret the reverses of Agramant, and offered him his troops and
+his person. He strongly deprecated resorting to Egypt for aid.
+"Remember the great Pompey," said he, "and shun that fatal shore.
+My plan," he continued, "is this: I mean to challenge Orlando to
+single combat. Possessed of such a sword and steed as mine, if he
+were made of steel or bronze, he could not escape me. He being
+removed, there will be no difficulty in driving back the
+Abyssinians. We will rouse against them the Moslem nations from
+the other side of the Nile, the Arabians, Persians, and Chaldeans,
+who will soon make Senapus recall his army to defend his own
+territories."
+
+Agramant approved this advice except in one particular. "It is for
+me," said he, "to combat Orlando; I cannot with honor devolve that
+duty on another."
+
+"Let us adopt a third course," said the aged warrior Sobrino. "I
+would not willingly remain a simple spectator of such a contest.
+Let us send three squires to the shore of Africa to challenge
+Orlando and any two of his companions in arms to meet us three in
+this island of Lampedusa."
+
+This counsel was adopted; the three squires sped on their way; and
+now presented themselves, and rehearsed their message to the
+Christian knights.
+
+Orlando was delighted, and rewarded the squires with rich gifts.
+He had already resolved to seek Gradasso and compel him to restore
+Durindana, which he had learned was in his possession. For his two
+companions the Count chose his faithful friend Florismart and his
+cousin Oliver.
+
+The three warriors embarked, and sailing with a favorable wind,
+the second morning showed them, on their right, the island where
+this important battle was to be fought. Orlando and his two
+companions, having landed, pitched their tent. Agramant had placed
+his opposite.
+
+Next morning, as soon as Aurora brightened the edges of the
+horizon, the warriors of both parties armed themselves and mounted
+their horses. They took their positions, face to face, lowered
+their lances, placed them in rest, clapped spurs to their horses,
+and flew to the charge. Orlando met the charge of Gradasso. The
+paladin was unmoved, but his horse could not sustain the terrible
+shock of Bayard. He recoiled, staggered, and fell some paces
+behind. Orlando tried to raise him, but, finding his efforts
+unavailing, seized his shield, and drew his famous Balisardo.
+Meanwhile Agramant and the brave Oliver gained no advantage, one
+or the other; but Florismart unhorsed the King Sobrino. Having
+brought his foe to the ground, he would not pursue his victory,
+but hastened to attack Gradasso, who had overthrown Orlando.
+Seeing him thus engaged, Orlando would not interfere, but ran with
+sword upraised upon Sobrino, and with one blow deprived him of
+sense and motion. Believing him dead, he next turned to aid his
+beloved Florismart. That brave paladin, neither in horse nor arms
+equal to his antagonist, could but parry and evade the blows of
+the terrible Durindana. Orlando, eager to succor him, was delayed
+for a moment in securing and mounting the horse of the King
+Sobrino. It was but an instant, and with sword upraised, he rushed
+upon Gradasso who, noways disconcerted at the onset of this second
+foe, shouted his defiance, and thrust at him with his sword, but,
+having miscalculated the distance, scarcely reached him, and
+failed to pierce his mail. Orlando, in return, dealt him a blow
+with Balisardo, which wounded as it fell face, breast, and thigh,
+and, if he had been a little nearer, would have cleft him in
+twain. Sobrino, by this time recovered from his swoon, though
+severely wounded, raised himself on his legs, and looked to see
+how he might aid his friends. Observing Agramant hard pressed by
+Oliver, he thrust his sword into the bowels of the latter's horse,
+which fell, and bore down his master, entangling his leg as he
+fell, so that Oliver could not extricate himself. Florismart saw
+the danger of his friend, and ran upon Sobrino with his horse,
+overthrew him, and then turned to defend himself from Agramant.
+They were not unequally matched, for though Agramant, mounted on
+Brigliadoro, had an advantage over Florismart, whose horse was but
+indifferent, yet Agramant had received a serious wound in his
+encounter with Oliver.
+
+Nothing could exceed the fury of the encounter between Orlando and
+Gradasso. Durindana, in the hands of Gradasso, clove asunder
+whatever it struck; but such was the skill of Orlando, who
+perfectly knew the danger to which he was exposed from a stroke of
+that weapon, it had not yet struck him in such a way as to inflict
+a wound. Meanwhile, Gradasso was bleeding from many wounds, and
+his rage and incaution increased every moment. In his desperation
+he lifted Durindana with both hands, and struck so terrible a blow
+full on the helmet of Orlando, that for a moment it stunned the
+paladin. He dropped the reins, and his frightened horse scoured
+with him over the plain. Gradasso turned to pursue him, but at
+that moment saw Florismart in the very act of striking a fatal
+blow at Agramant, whom he had unhorsed. While Florismart was
+wholly intent upon completing his victory, Gradasso plunged his
+sword into his side. Florismart fell from his horse, and bathed
+the plain with his blood.
+
+Orlando recovered himself just in time to see the deed. Whether
+rage or grief predominated in his breast, I cannot tell; but,
+seizing Balisardo with fury, his first blow fell upon Agramant,
+who was nearest to him, and smote his head from his shoulders. At
+this sight Gradasso for the first time felt his courage sink, and
+a dark presentiment of death came over him. He hardly stood on his
+defence when Orlando cast himself upon him, and gave him a fatal
+thrust. The sword penetrated his ribs, and came out a palm's
+breadth on the other side of his body.
+
+Thus fell beneath the sword of the most illustrious paladin of
+France the bravest warrior of the Saracen host. Orlando then, as
+if despising his victory, leaped lightly to the ground, and ran to
+his dear friend Florismart, embraced him, and bathed him with his
+tears. Florismart still breathed. He could even command his voice
+to utter a few parting words: "Dear friend, do not forget me,--
+give me your prayers,--and oh! be a brother to Flordelis." He died
+in uttering her name.
+
+After a few moments given to grief Orlando turned to look for his
+other companion and his late foes. Oliver lay oppressed with the
+weight of his horse, from which he had in vain struggled to
+liberate himself. Orlando extricated him with difficulty; he then
+raised Sobrino from the earth, and committed him to his squire,
+treating him as gently as if he had been his own brother. For this
+terrible warrior was the most generous of men to a fallen foe. He
+took Bayard and Brigliadoro, with the arms of the conquered
+knights; their bodies and their other spoils he remitted to their
+attendants.
+
+But who can tell the grief of Flordelis when she saw the warriors
+return, and found not Florismart as usual after absence hasten to
+her side. She knew by the aspect of the others that her lord was
+slain. At the thought, and before the question could pass her
+lips, she fell senseless upon the ground. When life returned, and
+she learned the truth of her worst fears, she bitterly upbraided
+herself that she had let him depart without her. "I might have
+saved him by a single cry when his enemy dealt him that
+treacherous blow, or I might have thrown myself between and given
+my worthless life for his. Or if no more, I might have heard his
+last words, I might have given him a last kiss." So she lamented,
+and could not be comforted.
+
+ROGERO AND BRADAMANTE
+
+After the interruption of the combat with Rinaldo, as we have
+related, Rogero was perplexed with doubts what course to take. The
+terms of the treaty required him to abandon Agramant, who had
+broken it, and to transfer his allegiance to Charlemagne; and his
+love for Bradamante called him in the same direction; but
+unwillingness to desert his prince and leader in the hour of
+distress forbade this course. Embarking, therefore, for Africa, he
+took his way to rejoin the Saracen army; but was arrested midway
+by a storm which drove the vessel on a rock. The crew took to
+their boat, but that was quickly swamped in the waves, and Rogero
+with the rest were compelled to swim for their lives. Then while
+buffeting the waves Rogero bethought him of his sin in so long
+delaying his Christian profession, and vowed in his heart that, if
+he should live to reach the land, he would no longer delay to be
+baptized. His vows were heard and answered; he succeeded in
+reaching the shore, and was aided and relieved on landing by a
+pious hermit, whose cell overlooked the sea. From him he received
+baptism, having first passed some days with him, partaking his
+humble fare, and receiving instruction in the doctrines of the
+Christian faith.
+
+While these things were going on, Rinaldo, who had set out on his
+way to seek Gradasso and recover Bayard from him, hearing on his
+way of the great things which were doing in Africa, repaired
+thither to bear his part in them. He arrived too late to do more
+than join his friends in lamenting the loss of Florismart, and to
+rejoice with them in their victory over the Pagan knights. On the
+death of their king the Africans gave up the contest, Biserta
+submitted, and the Christian knights had only to dismiss their
+forces, and return home. Astolpho took leave of his Abyssinian
+army, and sent them back laden with spoil to their own country,
+not forgetting to intrust to them the bag which held the winds, by
+means of which they were enabled to cross the sandy desert again
+without danger, and did not untie it till they reached their own
+country.
+
+Orlando now, with Oliver, who much needed the surgeon's care, and
+Sobrino, to whom equal attention was shown, sailed in a swift
+vessel to Sicily, bearing with him the body of Florismart, to be
+laid in Christian earth. Rinaldo accompanied them, as did
+Sansonnet and the other Christian leaders. Arrived at Sicily, the
+funeral was solemnized with all the rites of religion, and with
+the profound grief of those who had known Florismart, or had heard
+of his fame. Then they resumed their course, steering for
+Marseilles. But Oliver's wound grew worse instead of better, and
+his sufferings so distressed his friends that they conferred
+together, not knowing what to do. Then said the pilot, "We are not
+far from an isle where a holy hermit dwells alone in the midst of
+the sea. It is said none seek his counsel or his aid in vain. He
+hath wrought marvellous cures, and if you resort to that holy man
+without doubt he can heal the knight." Orlando bade him steer
+thither, and soon the bark was laid safely beside the lonely rock;
+the wounded man was lowered into their boat, and carried by the
+crew to the hermit's cell. It was the same hermit with whom Rogero
+had taken refuge after his shipwreck, by whom he had been
+baptized, and with whom he was now staying, absorbed in sacred
+studies and meditations.
+
+The holy man received Orlando and the rest with kindness, and
+inquired their errand; and being told that they had come for help
+for one who, warring for the Christian faith, was brought to
+perilous pass by a sad wound, he straightway undertook the cure.
+His applications were simple, but they were seconded by his
+prayers. The paladin was soon relieved from pain, and in a few
+days his foot was perfectly restored to soundness. Sobrino, as
+soon as he perceived the holy monk perform that wonder, cast aside
+his false prophet, and with contrite heart owned the true God, and
+demanded baptism at his hands. The hermit granted his request, and
+also by his prayers restored him to health, while all the
+Christian knights rejoiced in his conversion almost as much as at
+the restoration of Oliver. More than all Rogero felt joy and
+gratitude, and daily grew in grace and faith.
+
+Rogero was known by fame to all the Christian knights, but not
+even Rinaldo knew him by sight, though he had proved his prowess
+in combat. Sobrino made him known to them, and great was the joy
+of all when they found one whose valor and courtesy were renowned
+through the world no longer an enemy and unbeliever, but a convert
+and champion of the true faith. All press about the knight; one
+grasps his hand, another locks him fast in his embrace; but more
+than all the rest, Rinaldo cherished him, for he more than any
+knew his worth.
+
+It was not long before Rogero confided to his friend the hopes he
+entertained of a union with his sister, and Rinaldo frankly gave
+his sanction to the proposal. But causes unknown to the paladin
+were at that very time interposing obstacles to its success.
+
+The fame of the beauty and worth of Bradamante had reached the
+ears of the Grecian Emperor, Constantine, and he had sent to
+Charlemagne to demand the hand of his niece for Leo, his son, and
+the heir to his dominions. Duke Aymon, her father, had only
+reserved his consent until he should first have spoken with his
+son Rinaldo, now absent.
+
+The warriors now prepared to resume their voyage. Rogero took a
+tender farewell of the good hermit who had taught him the true
+faith. Orlando restored to him the horse and arms which were
+rightly his, not even asserting his claim to Balisarda, that sword
+which he himself had won from the enchantress.
+
+The hermit gave his blessing to the band, and they reembarked. The
+passage was speedy, and very soon they arrived in the harbor of
+Marseilles.
+
+Astolpho, when he had dismissed his troops, mounted the
+Hippogriff, and at one flight shot over to Sardinia, thence to
+Corsica, thence, turning slightly to the left, hovered over
+Provence, and alighted in the neighborhood of Marseilles. There he
+did what he had been commanded to do by the holy saint; he
+unbridled the Hippogriff, and turned him loose to seek his own
+retreats, never more to be galled with saddle or bit. The horn had
+lost its marvellous power ever since the visit to the moon.
+
+Astolpho reached Marseilles the very day when Orlando, Rinaldo,
+Oliver, Sobrino, and Rogero arrived there. Charles had already
+heard the news of the defeat of the Saracen kings, and all the
+accompanying events. On learning the approach of the gallant
+knights, he sent forward some of his most illustrious nobles to
+receive them, and himself, with the rest of his court, kings,
+dukes, and peers, the queen, and a fair and gorgeous band of
+ladies, set forward from Arles to meet them.
+
+No sooner were the mutual greetings interchanged, than Orlando and
+his friends led forward Rogero, and presented him to the Emperor.
+They vouch him son of Rogero, Duke of Risa, one of the most
+renowned of Christian warriors, by adverse fortune stolen in his
+infancy, and brought up by Saracens in the false faith, now by a
+kind Providence converted, and restored to fill the place his
+father once held among the foremost champions of the throne and
+Church.
+
+Rogero had alighted from his horse, and stood respectfully before
+the Emperor. Charlemagne bade him remount and ride beside him; and
+omitted nothing which might do him honor in sight of his martial
+train. With pomp triumphal and with festive cheer the troop
+returned to the city; the streets were decorated with garlands,
+the houses hung with rich tapestry, and flowers fell like rain
+upon the conquering host from the hands of fair dames and damsels,
+from every balcony and window. So welcomed, the mighty Emperor
+passed on till he reached the royal palace, where many days he
+feasted, high in hall, with his lords, amid tourney, revel, dance,
+and song.
+
+When Rinaldo told his father, Duke Aymon, how he had promised his
+sister to Rogero, his father heard him with indignation, having
+set his heart on seeing her united to the Grecian Emperor's son.
+The Lady Beatrice, her mother, also appealed to Bradamante herself
+to reject a knight who had neither title nor lands, and give the
+preference to one who would make her Empress of the wide Levant.
+But Bradamante, though respect forbade her to refuse her mother's
+entreaty, would not promise to do what her heart repelled, and
+answered only with a sigh, until she was alone, and then gave a
+loose to tears.
+
+Meanwhile Rogero, indignant that a stranger should presume to rob
+him of his bride, determined to seek the Prince of Greece, and
+defy him to mortal combat. With this design he donned his armor,
+but exchanged his crest and emblazonment, and bore instead a white
+unicorn upon a crimson field. He chose a trusty squire, and,
+commanding him not to address him as Rogero, rode on his quest.
+Having crossed the Rhine and the Austrian countries into Hungary,
+he followed the course of the Danube till he reached Belgrade.
+There he saw the imperial ensigns spread, and white pavilions,
+thronged with troops, before the town. For the Emperor Constantine
+was laying siege to the city to recover it from the Bulgarians,
+who had taken it from him not long before.
+
+A river flowed between the camp of the Emperor and the Bulgarians,
+and at the moment when Rogero approached, a skirmish had begun
+between the parties from either camp, who had approached the
+stream for the purpose of watering. The Greeks in that affray were
+four to one, and drove back the Bulgarians in precipitate rout.
+Rogero, seeing this, and animated only by his hatred of the
+Grecian prince, dashed into the middle of the flying mass, calling
+aloud on the fugitives to turn. He encountered first a leader of
+the Grecian host in splendid armor, a nephew of the Emperor, as
+dear to him as a son. Rogero's lance pierced shield and armor, and
+stretched the warrior breathless on the plain. Another and another
+fell before him, and astonishment and terror arrested the advance
+of the Greeks, while the Bulgarians, catching courage from the
+cavalier, rally, change front, and chase the Grecian troops, who
+fly in their turn. Leo, the prince, was at a distance when this
+sudden skirmish rose, but not so far but that he could see
+distinctly, from an elevated position which he held, how the
+changed battle was all the work of one man, and could not choose
+but admire the bravery and prowess with which it was done. He knew
+by the blazonry displayed that the champion was not of the
+Bulgarian army, though he furnished aid to them. Although he
+suffered by his valor, the prince could not wish him ill, for his
+admiration surpassed his resentment. By this time the Greeks had
+regained the river, and crossing it by fording or swimming, some
+made their escape, leaving many more prisoners in the hands of the
+Bulgarians. Rogero, learning from some of the captives that Leo
+was at a point some distance down the river, rode thither with a
+view to meet him, but arrived not before the Greek prince had
+retired beyond the stream, and broken up the bridge. Day was
+spent, and Rogero, wearied, looked round for a shelter for the
+night. He found it in a cottage, where he soon yielded himself to
+repose. It so happened, a knight who had narrowly escaped Rogero's
+sword in the late battle also found shelter in the same cottage,
+and, recognizing the armor of the unknown knight, easily found
+means of securing him as he slept, and next morning carried him in
+chains and delivered him to the Emperor. By him he was in turn
+delivered to his sister Theodora, mother of the young knight, the
+first victim of Rogero's spear. By her he was cast into a dungeon,
+till her ingenuity could devise a death sufficiently painful to
+satiate her revenge.
+
+Bradamante, meanwhile, to escape her father's and mother's
+importunity, had begged a boon of Charlemagne, which the monarch
+pledged his royal word to grant; it was that she should not be
+compelled to marry any one unless he should first vanquish her in
+single combat. The Emperor therefore proclaimed a tournament in
+these words: "He that would wed Duke Aymon's daughter must contend
+with the sword against that dame, from the sun's rise to his
+setting; and if, in that time, he is not overcome the lady shall
+be his."
+
+Duke Aymon and the Lady Beatrice, though much incensed at the
+course things had taken, brought their daughter to court, to await
+the day appointed for the tournament. Bradamante, not finding
+there him whom her heart required, distressed herself with doubts
+what could be the cause of his absence. Of all fancies, the most
+painful one was that he had gone away to learn to forget her,
+knowing her father's and her mother's opposition to their union,
+and despairing to contend against them. But oh, how much worse
+would be the maiden's woe, if it were known to her what her
+betrothed was then enduring!
+
+He was plunged in a dungeon where no ray of daylight ever
+penetrated, loaded with chains, and scantily supplied with the
+coarsest food. No wonder despair took possession of his heart, and
+he longed for death as a relief, when one night (or one day, for
+both were equally dark to him) he was roused with the glare of a
+torch and saw two men enter his cell. It was the Prince Leo, with
+an attendant, who had come as soon as he had learned the wretched
+fate of the brave knight whose valor he had seen and admired on
+the field of battle. "Cavalier," said he, "I am one whom thy valor
+hath so bound to thee, that I willingly peril my own safety to
+lend thee aid." "Infinite thanks I owe you," replied Rogero, "and
+the life you give me I promise faithfully to render back upon your
+call, and promptly to stake it at all times for your service." The
+prince then told Rogero his name and rank, at hearing which a tide
+of contending emotions almost overwhelmed Rogero. He was set at
+liberty, and had his horse and arms restored to him.
+
+Meanwhile, tidings arrived of King Charles' decree that whoever
+aspired to the hand of Bradamante must first encounter her with
+sword and lance. This news made the Grecian prince turn pale, for
+he knew he was no match for her in fight. Communing with himself,
+he sees how he may make his wit supply the place of valor, and
+employ the French knight, whose name was still unknown to him, to
+fight the battle for him. Rogero heard the proposal with extreme
+distress; yet it seemed worse than death to deny the first request
+of one to whom he owed his life. Hastily he gave his assent "to do
+in all things that which Leo should command." Afterward, bitter
+repentance came over him; yet, rather than confess his change of
+mind, death itself would be welcome. Death seems his only remedy;
+but how to die? Sometimes he thinks to make none but a feigned
+resistance, and allow her sword a ready access, for never can
+death come more happily than if her hand guide the weapon. Yet
+this will not avail, for, unless he wins the maid for the Greek
+prince, his debt remains unpaid. He had promised to maintain a
+real, not a feigned encounter. He will then keep his word, and
+banish every thought from his bosom except that which moved him to
+maintain his truth.
+
+The young prince, richly attended, set out, and with him Rogero.
+They arrived at Paris, but Leo preferred not to enter the city,
+and pitched his tents without the walls, making known his arrival
+to Charlemagne by an embassy. The monarch was pleased, and
+testified his courtesy by visits and gifts. The prince set forth
+the purpose of his coming, and prayed the Emperor to dispatch his
+suit--"to send forth the damsel who refused ever to take in
+wedlock any lord inferior to herself in fight; for she should be
+his bride, or he would perish beneath her sword."
+
+Rogero passed the night before the day assigned for the battle
+like that which the felon spends, condemned to pay the forfeit of
+his life on the ensuing day. He chose to fight with sword only,
+and on foot, for he would not let her see Frontino, knowing that
+she would recognize the steed. Nor would he use Balisarda, for
+against that enchanted blade all armor would be of no avail, and
+the sword that he did take he hammered well upon the edge to abate
+its sharpness. He wore the surcoat of Prince Leo, and his shield,
+emblazoned with a golden, double-headed eagle. The prince took
+care to let himself be seen by none.
+
+Bradamante, meanwhile, prepared herself for the combat far
+differently. Instead of blunting the edge of her falchion she
+whets the steel, and would fain infuse into it her own acerbity.
+As the moment approached she seemed to have fire within her veins,
+and waited impatiently for the trumpet's sound. At the signal she
+drew her sword, and fell with fury upon her Rogero. But as a well-
+built wall or aged rock stands unmoved the fury of the storm, so
+Rogero, clad in those arms which Trojan Hector once wore,
+withstood the strokes which stormed about his head and breast and
+flank. Sparks flew from his shield, his helm, his cuirass; from
+direct and back strokes, aimed now high, now low, falling thick
+and fast, like hailstones on a cottage roof; but Rogero, with
+skilful ward, turns them aside, or receives them where his armor
+is a sure protection, careful only to protect himself, and with no
+thought of striking in return. Thus the hours passed away, and, as
+the sun approached the west, the damsel began to despair. But so
+much the more her anger increases, and she redoubles her efforts,
+like the craftsman who sees his work unfinished while the day is
+wellnigh spent. O miserable damsel! didst thou know whom thou
+wouldst kill,--if, in that cavalier matched against thee thou
+didst but know Rogero, on whom thy very life-threads hang, rather
+than kill him thou wouldst kill thyself, for he is dearer to thee
+than life.
+
+King Charles and the peers, who thought the cavalier to be the
+Grecian prince, viewing such force and skill exhibited, and how
+without assaulting her the knight defended himself, were filled
+with admiration, and declared the champions well matched, and
+worthy of each other.
+
+When the sun was set Charlemagne gave the signal for terminating
+the contest, and Bradamante was awarded to Prince Leo as a bride.
+Rogero, in deep distress, returned to his tent. There Leo unlaced
+his helmet, and kissed him on both cheeks. "Henceforth," said he,
+"do with me as you please, for you cannot exhaust my gratitude."
+Rogero replied little, laid aside the ensigns he had worn, and
+resumed the unicorn, then hasted to withdraw himself from all
+eyes. When it was midnight he rose, saddled Frontino, and sallied
+from his tent, taking that direction which pleased his steed. All
+night he rode absorbed in bitter woe, and called on Death as alone
+capable of relieving his sufferings. At last he entered a forest,
+and penetrated into its deepest recesses. There he unharnessed
+Frontino, and suffered him to wander where he would. Then he threw
+himself down on the ground, and poured forth such bitter wailings
+that the birds and beasts, for none else heard him, were moved to
+pity with his cries.
+
+Not less was the distress of the lady Bradamante, who, rather than
+wed any one but Rogero, resolved to break her word, and defy
+kindred, court, and Charlemagne himself; and, if nothing else
+would do, to die. But relief came from an unexpected quarter.
+Marphisa, sister of Rogero, was a heroine of warlike prowess equal
+to Bradamante. She had been the confidante of their loves, and
+felt hardly less distress than themselves at seeing the perils
+which threatened their union. "They are already united by mutual
+vows," she said, "and in the sight of Heaven what more is
+necessary?" Full of this thought she presented herself before
+Charlemagne, and declared that she herself was witness that the
+maiden had spoken to Rogero those words which they who marry
+swear; and that the compact was so sealed between the pair that
+they were no longer free, nor could forsake the one the other to
+take another spouse. This her assertion she offered to prove, in
+single combat, against Prince Leo, or any one else.
+
+Charlemagne, sadly perplexed at this, commanded Bradamante to be
+called, and told her what the bold Marphisa had declared.
+Bradamante neither denied nor confirmed the statement, but hung
+her head, and kept silence. Duke Aymon was enraged, and would fain
+have set aside the pretended contract on the ground that, if made
+at all, it must have been made before Rogero was baptized, and
+therefore void. But not so thought Rinaldo, nor the good Orlando,
+and Charlemagne knew not which way to decide, when Marphisa spoke
+thus:
+
+"Since no one else can marry the maiden while my brother lives,
+let the prince meet Rogero in mortal combat, and let him who
+survives take her for his bride."
+
+This saying pleased the Emperor, and was accepted by the prince,
+for he thought that, by the aid of his unknown champion, he should
+surely triumph in the fight. Proclamation was therefore made for
+Rogero to appear and defend his suit; and Leo, on his part, caused
+search to be made on all sides for the knight of the Unicorn.
+
+Meanwhile Rogero, overwhelmed with despair, lay stretched on the
+ground in the forest night and day without food, courting death.
+Here he was discovered by one of Leo's people, who, finding him
+resist all attempts to remove him, hastened to his master, who was
+not far off, and brought him to the spot. As he approached he
+heard words which convinced him that love was the cause of the
+knight's despair; but no clew was given to guide him to the object
+of that love. Stooping down, the prince embraced the weeping
+warrior, and, in the tenderest accents, said: "Spare not, I
+entreat you, to disclose the cause of your distress, for few such
+desperate evils betide mankind as are wholly past cure. It grieves
+me much that you would hide your grief from me, for I am bound to
+you by ties that nothing can undo. Tell me, then, your grief, and
+leave me to try if wealth, art, cunning, force, or persuasion
+cannot relieve you. If not, it will be time enough after all has
+been tried in vain to die."
+
+He spoke in such moving accents that Rogero could not choose but
+yield. It was some time before he could command utterance; at last
+he said, "My lord, when you shall know me for what I am, I doubt
+not you, like myself, will be content that I should die. Know,
+then, I am that Rogero whom you have so much cause to hate, and
+who so hated you that, intent on putting you to death, he went to
+seek you at your father's court. This I did because I could not
+submit to see my promised bride borne off by you. But, as man
+proposes and God disposes, your great courtesy, well tried in time
+of sore need, so moved my fixed resolve, that I not only laid
+aside the hate I bore, but purposed to be your friend forever. You
+then asked of me to win for you the lady Bradamante, which was all
+one as to demand of me my heart and soul. You know whether I
+served you faithfully or not. Yours is the lady; possess her in
+peace; but ask me not to live to see it. Be content rather that I
+die; for vows have passed between myself and her which forbid that
+while I live she can lawfully wive with another."
+
+So filled was gentle Leo with astonishment at these words that for
+a while he stood silent, with lips unmoved and steadfast gaze,
+like a statue. And the discovery that the stranger was Rogero not
+only abated not the good will he bore him, but increased it, so
+that his distress for what Rogero suffered seemed equal to his
+own. For this, and because he would appear deservedly an Emperor's
+son, and, though in other things outdone, would not be surpassed
+in courtesy, he says: "Rogero, had I known that day when your
+matchless valor routed my troops that you were Rogero, your virtue
+would have made me your own, as then it made me while I knew not
+my foe, and I should have no less gladly rescued you from
+Theodora's dungeon. And if I would willingly have done so then,
+how much more gladly will I now restore the gift of which you
+would rob yourself to confer it upon me. The damsel is more due to
+you than to me, and though I know her worth, I would forego not
+only her, but life itself, rather than distress a knight like
+you."
+
+This and much more he said to the same intent; till at last Rogero
+replied, "I yield, and am content to live, and thus a second time
+owe my life to you."
+
+But several days elapsed before Rogero was so far restored as to
+return to the royal residence, where an embassy had arrived from
+the Bulgarian princes to seek the knight of the unicorn, and
+tender to him the crown of that country, in place of their king,
+fallen in battle.
+
+Thus were things situated when Prince Leo, leading by the hand
+Rogero, clad in the battered armor in which he had sustained the
+conflict with Bradamante, presented himself before the king.
+"Behold," he said "the champion who maintained from dawn to
+setting sun the arduous contest; he comes to claim the guerdon of
+the fight." King Charlemagne, with all his peerage, stood amazed;
+for all believed that the Grecian prince himself had fought with
+Bradamante. Then stepped forth Marphisa, and said, "Since Rogero
+is not here to assert his rights, I, his sister, undertake his
+cause, and will maintain it against whoever shall dare dispute his
+claim." She said this with so much anger and disdain that the
+prince deemed it no longer wise to feign, and withdrew Rogero's
+helmet from his brow, saying, "Behold him here!" Who can describe
+the astonishment and joy of Marphisa! She ran and threw her arms
+about her brother's neck, nor would give way to let Charlemagne
+and Rinaldo, Orlando, Dudon, and the rest, who crowded round,
+embrace him, and press friendly kisses on his brow. The joyful
+tidings flew fast by many a messenger to Bradamante, who in her
+secret chamber lay lamenting. The blood that stagnated about her
+heart flowed at that notice so fast, that she had wellnigh died
+for joy. Duke Aymon and the Lady Beatrice no longer withheld their
+consent, and pledged their daughter to the brave Rogero before all
+that gallant company.
+
+Now came the Bulgarian ambassadors, and, kneeling at the feet of
+Rogero, besought him to return with them to their country, where,
+in Adrianople, the crown and sceptre were awaiting his acceptance.
+Prince Leo united his persuasions to theirs, and promised, in his
+royal father's name, that peace should be restored on their part.
+Rogero gave his consent, and it was surmised that none of the
+virtues which shone so conspicuously in him so availed to
+recommend Rogero to the Lady Beatrice as the hearing her future
+son-in-law saluted as a sovereign prince.
+
+THE BATTLE OF RONCESVALLES
+
+After the expulsion of the Saracens from France Charlemagne led
+his army into Spain, to punish Marsilius, the king of that
+country, for having sided with the African Saracens in the late
+war. Charlemagne succeeded in all his attempts, and compelled
+Marsilius to submit, and pay tribute to France. Our readers will
+remember Gano, otherwise called Gan, or Ganelon, whom we mentioned
+in one of our early chapters as an old courtier of Charlemagne,
+and a deadly enemy of Orlando, Rinaldo, and all their friends. He
+had great influence over Charles, from equality of age and long
+intimacy; and he was not without good qualities: he was brave and
+sagacious, but envious, false, and treacherous. Gan prevailed on
+Charles to send him as ambassador to Marsilius, to arrange the
+tribute. He embraced Orlando over and over again at taking leave,
+using such pains to seem loving and sincere, that his hypocrisy
+was manifest to every one but the old monarch. He fastened with
+equal tenderness on Oliver, who smiled contemptuously in his face,
+and thought to himself, "You may make as many fair speeches as you
+choose, but you lie." All the other paladins who were present
+thought the same, and they said as much to the Emperor, adding
+that Gan should on no account be sent ambassador to the Spaniards.
+But Charles was infatuated.
+
+Gan was received with great honor by Marsilius. The king, attended
+by his lords, came fifteen miles out of Saragossa to meet him, and
+then conducted him into the city with acclamations. There was
+nothing for several days but balls, games, and exhibitions of
+chivalry, the ladies throwing flowers on the heads of the French
+knights, and the people shouting, "France! Mountjoy and St.
+Denis!"
+
+After the ceremonies of the first reception the king and the
+ambassador began to understand one another. One day they sat
+together in a garden on the border of a fountain. The water was so
+clear and smooth it reflected every object around, and the spot
+was encircled with fruit-trees which quivered with the fresh air.
+As they sat and talked, as if without restraint, Gan, without
+looking the king in the face, was enabled to see the expression of
+his countenance in the water, and governed his speech accordingly.
+Marsilius was equally adroit, and watched the face of Gan while he
+addressed him. Marsilius began by lamenting, not as to the
+ambassador, but as to the friend, the injuries which Charles had
+done him by invading his dominions, charging him with wishing to
+take his kingdom from him and give it to Orlando; till at length
+he plainly uttered his belief that if that ambitious paladin were
+but dead good men would get their rights.
+
+Gan heaved a sigh, as if he was unwillingly compelled to allow the
+force of what the king said; but unable to contain himself long he
+lifted up his face, radiant with triumphant wickedness, and
+exclaimed: "Every word you utter is truth; die he must, and die
+also must Oliver, who struck me that foul blow at court. Is it
+treachery to punish affronts like these? I have planned
+everything,--I have settled everything already with their
+besotted master. Orlando will come to your borders--to
+Roncesvalles--for the purpose of receiving the tribute. Charles
+will await him at the foot of the mountains. Orlando will bring
+but a small band with him: you, when you meet him, will have
+secretly your whole army at your back. You surround him, and who
+receives tribute then?"
+
+The new Judas had scarcely uttered these words when his exultation
+was interrupted by a change in the face of nature. The sky was
+suddenly overcast, there was thunder and lightning, a laurel was
+split in two from head to foot, and the Carob-tree under which Gan
+was sitting, which is said to be the species of tree on which
+Judas Iscariot hung himself, dropped one of its pods on his head.
+
+Marsilius, as well as Gan, was appalled at this omen; but on
+assembling his soothsayers they came to the conclusion that the
+laurel-tree turned the omen against the Emperor, the successor of
+the Caesars, though one of them renewed the consternation of Gan
+by saying that he did not understand the meaning of the tree of
+Judas, and intimating that perhaps the ambassador could explain
+it. Gan relieved his vexation by anger; the habit of wickedness
+prevailed over all other considerations; and the king prepared to
+march to Roncesvalles at the head of all his forces.
+
+Gan wrote to Charlemagne to say how humbly and submissively
+Marsilius was coming to pay the tribute into the hands of Orlando,
+and how handsome it would be of the Emperor to meet him half-way,
+and so be ready to receive him after the payment at his camp. He
+added a brilliant account of the tribute, and the accompanying
+presents. The good Emperor wrote in turn to say how pleased he was
+with the ambassador's diligence, and that matters were arranged
+precisely as he wished. His court, however, had its suspicion
+still, though they little thought Gan's object in bringing Charles
+into the neighborhood of Roncesvalles was to deliver him into the
+hands of Marsilius, after Orlando should have been destroyed by
+him.
+
+Orlando, however, did as his lord and sovereign desired. He went
+to Roncesvalles, accompanied by a moderate train of warriors, not
+dreaming of the atrocity that awaited him. Gan, meanwhile, had
+hastened back to France, in order to show himself free and easy in
+the presence of Charles, and secure the success of his plot; while
+Marsilius, to make assurance doubly sure, brought into the passes
+of Roncesvalles no less than three armies, which were successively
+to fall on the paladin in case of the worst, and so extinguish him
+with numbers. He had also, by Gan's advice, brought heaps of wine
+and good cheer to be set before his victims in the first instance;
+"for that," said the traitor, "will render the onset the more
+effective, the feasters being unarmed. One thing, however, I must
+not forget," added he; "my son Baldwin is sure to be with Orlando;
+you must take care of his life for my sake."
+
+"I give him this vesture off my own body," said the king; "let him
+wear it in the battle, and have no fear. My soldiers shall be
+directed not to touch him."
+
+Gan went away rejoicing to France. He embraced the sovereign and
+the court all round with the air of a man who had brought them
+nothing but blessings, and the old king wept for very tenderness
+and delight.
+
+"Something is going on wrong, and looks very black," thought
+Malagigi, the good wizard; "Rinaldo is not here, and it is
+indispensably necessary that he should be. I must find out where
+he is, and Ricciardetto too, and send for them with all speed."
+
+Malagigi called up by his art a wise, terrible, and cruel spirit,
+named Ashtaroth. "Tell me, and tell me truly, of Rinaldo," said
+Malagigi to the spirit. The demon looked hard at the paladin, and
+said nothing. His aspect was clouded and violent.
+
+The enchanter, with an aspect still cloudier, bade Ashtaroth lay
+down that look, and made signs as if he would resort to angrier
+compulsion; and the devil, alarmed, loosened his tongue, and said,
+"You have not told me what you desire to know of Rinaldo."
+
+"I desire to know what he has been doing, and where he is."
+
+"He has been conquering and baptizing the world, east and west,"
+said the demon, "and is now in Egypt with Ricciardetto."
+
+"And what has Gan been plotting with Marsilius?" inquired
+Malagigi; "and what is to come of it?"
+
+"I know not," said the devil. "I was not attending to Gan at the
+time, and we fallen spirits know not the future. All I discern is
+that by the signs and comets in the heavens something dreadful is
+about to happen--something very strange, treacherous, and bloody;
+and that Gan has a seat ready prepared for him in hell."
+
+"Within three days," cried the enchanter, loudly, "bring Rinaldo
+and Ricciardetto into the pass of Ronces-Valles. Do it, and I
+hereby undertake to summon thee no more."
+
+"Suppose they will not trust themselves with me?" said the spirit.
+
+"Enter Rinaldo's horse, and bring him, whether he trust thee or
+not."
+
+"It shall be done," returned the demon.
+
+There was an earthquake, and Ashtaroth disappeared.
+
+Marsilius now made his first movement towards the destruction of
+Orlando, by sending before him his vassal, King Blanchardin, with
+his presents of wines and other luxuries. The temperate but
+courteous hero took them in good part, and distributed them as the
+traitor wished; and then Blanchardin, on pretence of going forward
+to salute Charlemagne, returned, and put himself at the head of
+the second army, which was the post assigned him by his liege-
+lord. King Falseron, whose son Orlando had slain in battle, headed
+the first army, and King Balugante the third. Marsilius made a
+speech to them, in which he let them into his design, and
+concluded by recommending to their good will the son of his friend
+Gan, whom they would know by the vest he had sent him, and who was
+the only soul amongst the Christian they were to spare.
+
+This son of Gan, meanwhile, and several of the paladins, who
+distrusted the misbelievers, and were anxious at all events to be
+with Orlando, had joined the hero in the fatal valley; so that the
+little Christian host, considering the tremendous valor of their
+lord and his friends, were not to be sold for nothing. Rinaldo,
+alas! the second thunderbolt of Christendom, was destined not to
+be there in time to meet the issue. The paladins in vain begged
+Orlando to be on his guard against treachery, and send for a more
+numerous body of men. The great heart of the Champion of the Faith
+was unwilling to harbor suspicion as long as he could help it. He
+refused to summon aid which might be superfluous; neither would he
+do anything but what his liege-lord had directed. And yet he could
+not wholly repress a misgiving. A shadow had fallen on his heart,
+great and cheerful as it was. The anticipations of his friends
+disturbed him, in spite of the face with which he met them.
+Perhaps by a certain foresight he felt his death approaching; but
+he felt bound not to encourage the impression. Besides, time
+pressed; the moment of the looked-for tribute was at hand, and
+little combinations of circumstances determine often the greatest
+events.
+
+King Marsilius was to arrive early next day with the tribute, and
+Oliver, with the morning sun, rode forth to reconnoitre, and see
+if he could discover the peaceful pomp of the Spanish court in the
+distance. He rode up the nearest height, and from the top of it
+beheld the first army of Marsilius already forming in the passes.
+"O devil Gan," he exclaimed, "this then is the consummation of thy
+labors!" Oliver put spurs to his horse, and galloped back down the
+mountain to Orlando.
+
+"Well," cried the hero, "what news?"
+
+"Bad news," said his cousin, "such as you would not hear of
+yesterday. Marsilius is here in arms, and all the world is with
+him."
+
+The paladins pressed round Orlando, and entreated him to sound his
+horn, in token that he needed help. His only answer was to mount
+his horse, and ride up the mountain with Sansonetto.
+
+As soon, however, as he cast forth his eyes, and beheld what was
+round about him, he turned in sorrow, and looked down into
+Roncesvalles, and said, "O miserable valley! the blood shed in
+thee this day will color thy name forever."
+
+Orlando's little camp were furious against the Saracens. They
+armed themselves with the greatest impatience. There was nothing
+but lacing of helmets and mounting of horses, while good
+Archbishop Turpin went from rank to rank exhorting and encouraging
+the warriors of Christ. Orlando and his captains withdrew for a
+moment to consultation. He fairly groaned for sorrow, and at first
+had not a word to say, so wretched he felt at having brought his
+people to die in Roncesvalles. Then he said: "If it had entered
+into my heart to conceive the king of Spain to be such a villain
+never would you have seen this day. He has exchanged with me a
+thousand courtesies and good words; and I thought that the worse
+enemies we had been before, the better friends we had become now.
+I fancied every human being capable of this kind of virtue on a
+good opportunity, saving, indeed, such base-hearted wretches as
+can never forgive their very forgivers; and of these I did not
+suppose him to be one. Let us die, if die we must, like honest and
+gallant men, so that it shall be said of us it was only our bodies
+that died. The reason why I did not sound the horn was partly
+because I thought it did not become us, and partly because our
+liege lord could hardly save us, even if he heard it." And with
+these words Orlando sprang to his horse, crying, "Aways against
+the Saracens!" But he had no sooner turned his face than he wept
+bitterly, and said, "O Holy Virgin, think not of me, the sinner
+Orlando, but have pity on these thy servants!"
+
+And now with a mighty dust, and an infinite sound of horns and
+tambours, which came filling the valley, the first army of the
+infidels made its appearance, horses neighing, and a thousand
+pennons flying in the air. King Falseron led them on, saying to
+his officers: "Let nobody dare to lay a finger on Orlando. He
+belongs to myself. The revenge of my son's death is mine. I will
+cut the man down that comes between us." "Now, friends," said
+Orlando, "every man for himself, and St. Michael for us all! There
+is not one here that is not a perfect knight." And he might well
+say it, for the flower of all France was there, except Rinaldo and
+Ricciardetto--every man a picked man, all friends and constant
+companions of Orlando.
+
+So the captains of the little troop and of the great army sat
+looking at one another, and singling one another out as the latter
+came on, and then the knights put spear in rest, and ran for a
+while two and two in succession, one against the other.
+
+Astolpho was the first to move. He ran against Arlotto of Sorio,
+and thrust his antagonist's body out of the saddle, and his soul
+into the other world. Oliver encountered Malprimo, and, though he
+received a thrust which hurt him, sent his lance right through the
+heart of Malprimo.
+
+Falseron was daunted at this blow. "Truly," thought he, "this is a
+marvel." Oliver did not press on among the Saracens, his wound was
+too painful; but Orlando now put himself and his whole band in
+motion, and you may guess what an uproar ensued. The sound of the
+rattling of blows and helmets was as if the forge of Vulcan had
+been thrown open. Falseron beheld Orlando coming so furiously,
+that he thought him a Lucifer who had burst his chain, and was
+quite of another mind than when he purposed to have him all to
+himself. On the contrary, he recommended himself to his gods, and
+turned away, meaning to wait for a more auspicious season of
+revenge. But Orlando hailed him with a terrible voice, saying, "O
+thou traitor! was this the end to which old quarrels were made
+up?" Then he dashed at Falseron with a fury so swift, and at the
+same time with a mastery of his lance so marvellous, that, though
+he plunged it in the man's body so as instantly to kill him, and
+then withdrew it, the body did not move in the saddle. The hero
+himself, as he rushed onwards, was fain to see the end of a stroke
+so perfect, and turning his horse back, touched the carcass with
+his sword, and it fell on the instant!
+
+When the infidels beheld their leader dead such fear fell upon
+them that they were for leaving the field to the paladins, but
+they were unable. Marsilius had drawn the rest of his forces round
+the valley like a net, so that their shoulders were turned in
+vain. Orlando rode into the thick of them, and wherever he went
+thunderbolts fell upon helmets. Oliver was again in the fray, with
+Walter and Baldwin, Avino and Avolio, while Arch-bishop Turpin
+had changed his crosier for a lance, and chased a new flock before
+him to the mountains.
+
+Yet what could be done against foes without number? Marsilius
+constantly pours them in. The paladins are as units to thousands.
+Why tarry the horses of Rinaldo and Ricciardetto?
+
+The horses did not tarry, but fate had been quicker than
+enchantment. Ashtaroth had presented himself to Rinaldo in Egypt,
+and, after telling his errand, he and Foul-mouth, his servant,
+entered the horses of Rinaldo and Ricciardetto, which began to
+neigh, and snort, and leap with the fiends within them, till off
+they flew through the air over the pyramids and across the desert,
+and reached Spain and the scene of action just as Marsilius
+brought up his third army. The two paladins on their horses
+dropped right into the midst of the Saracens, and began making
+such havoc among them that Marsilius, who overlooked the fight
+from a mountain, thought his soldiers had turned against one
+another. Orlando beheld it, and guessed it could be no other but
+his cousins, and pressed to meet them. Oliver coming up at the
+same moment, the rapture of the whole party is not to be
+expressed. After a few hasty words of explanation they were forced
+to turn again upon the enemy, whose numbers seemed perfectly
+without limit.
+
+Orlando, making a bloody passage towards Marsilius, struck a youth
+on the head, whose helmet was so strong as to resist the blow, but
+at the same time flew off, Orlando prepared to strike a second
+blow, when the youth exclaimed, "Hold! you loved my father; I am
+Bujaforte!" The paladin had never seen Bujaforte, but he saw the
+likeness to the good old man, his father, and he dropped his
+sword. "O Bujaforte," said he, "I loved him indeed; but what does
+his son do here fighting against his friends?"
+
+Bujaforte could not at once speak for weeping. At length he said:
+"I am forced to be here by my lord and master, Marsilius; and I
+have made a show of fighting, but have not hurt a single
+Christian. Treachery is on every side of you. Baldwin himself has
+a vest given him by Marsilius, that everybody may know the son of
+his friend Gan, and do him no harm."
+
+"Put your helmet on again," said Orlando, "and behave just as you
+have done. Never will your father's friend be an enemy to the
+son."
+
+The hero then turned in fury to look for Baldwin, who was
+hastening towards him at that moment, with friendliness in his
+looks.
+
+"'Tis strange," said Baldwin, "I have done my duty as well as I
+could, yet nobody will come against me. I have slain right and
+left, and cannot comprehend what it is that makes the stoutest
+infidels avoid me."
+
+"Take off your vest," said Orlando, contemptuously, "and you will
+soon discover the secret, if you wish to know it. Your father has
+sold us to Marsilius, all but his honorable son."
+
+"If my father," said Baldwin, impetuously tearing off the vest,
+"has been such a villain, and I escape dying, I will plunge this
+sword through his heart. But I am no traitor, Orlando, and you do
+me wrong to say it. Think not I can live with dishonor."
+
+Baldwin spurred off into the fight, not waiting to hear another
+word from Orlando, who was very sorry for what he had said, for he
+perceived that the youth was in despair.
+
+And now the fight raged beyond all it had done before; twenty
+pagans went down for one paladin, but still the paladins fell.
+Sansonetto was beaten to earth by the club of Grandonio, Walter
+d'Amulion had his shoulder broken, Berlinghieri and Ottone were
+slain, and at last Astolpho fell, in revenge of whose death
+Orlando turned the spot where he died into a lake of Saracen
+blood. The luckless Bujaforte met Rinaldo, and before he could
+explain how he seemed to be fighting on the Saracen side received
+such a blow upon the head that he fell, unable to utter a word.
+Orlando, cutting his way to a spot where there was a great
+struggle and uproar, found the poor youth Baldwin, the son of Gan,
+with two spears in his breast. "I am no traitor now," said
+Baldwin, and those were the last words he said. Orlando was
+bitterly sorry to have been the cause of his death, and tears
+streamed from his eyes. At length down went Oliver himself. He had
+become blinded with his own blood, and smitten Orlando without
+knowing him. "How now, cousin," cried Orlando, "have you too gone
+over to the enemy?" "O my lord and master," cried the other, "I
+ask your pardon. I can see nothing; I am dying. Some traitor has
+stabbed me in the back. If you love me, lead my horse into the
+thick of them, so that I may not die unavenged."
+
+"I shall die myself before long," said Orlando, "out of very toil
+and grief; so we will go together."
+
+Orlando led his cousin's horse where the press was thickest, and
+dreadful was the strength of the dying man and his tired
+companion. They made a street through which they passed out of the
+battle, and Orlando led his cousin away to his tent, and said,
+"Wait a little till I return, for I will go and sound the horn on
+the hill yonder."
+
+"'Tis of no use," said Oliver, "my spirit is fast going and
+desires to be with its Lord and Saviour."
+
+He would have said more, but his words came from him imperfectly,
+like those of a man in a dream, and so he expired.
+
+When Orlando saw him dead he felt as if he was alone on the earth,
+and he was quite willing to leave it, only he wished that King
+Charles, at the foot of the mountains, should know how the case
+stood before he went. So he took up the horn and blew it three
+times, with such force that the blood burst out of his nose and
+mouth. Turpin says that at the third blast the horn broke in two.
+
+In spite of all the noise of the battle, the sound of the horn
+broke over it like a voice out of the other world. They say that
+birds fell dead at it, and that the whole Saracen army drew back
+in terror. Charlemagne was sitting in the midst of his court when
+the sound reached him, and Gan was there. The Emperor was the
+first to hear it.
+
+"Do you hear that?" said he to his nobles. "Did you hear the horn
+as I heard it?"
+
+Upon this they all listened, and Gan felt his heart misgive him.
+The horn sounded a second time.
+
+"What is the meaning of this?" said Charles.
+
+"Orlando is hunting," observed Gan, "and the stag is killed."
+
+But when the horn sounded yet a third time, and the blast was one
+of so dreadful a vehemence, everybody looked at the other, and
+then they all looked at Gan in a fury. Charles rose from his seat.
+
+"This is no hunting of the stag," said he. "The sound goes to my
+very heart. O Gan! O Gan! Not for thee do I blush, but for myself.
+O foul and monstrous villain! Take him, gentleman, and keep him in
+close prison. Would to God I had not lived to see this day!"
+
+But it was no time for words. They put the traitor in prison and
+then Charles, with all his court, took his way to Roncesvalles,
+grieving and praying.
+
+It was afternoon when the horn sounded, and half an hour after it
+when the Emperor set out; and meantime Orlando had returned to the
+fight that he might do his duty, however hopeless, as long as he
+could sit his horse. At length he found his end approaching, for
+toil and fever, and rode all alone to a fountain where he had
+before quenched his thirst. His horse was wearier than he, and no
+sooner had his master alighted than the beast, kneeling down as if
+to take leave, and to say, "I have brought you to a place of
+rest," fell dead at his feet. Orlando cast water on him from the
+fountain, not wishing to believe him dead; but when he found it to
+no purpose, he grieved for him as if he had been a human being,
+and addressed him by name with tears, and asked forgiveness if he
+had ever done him wrong. They say that the horse, at these words,
+opened his eyes a little, and looked kindly at his master, and
+then stirred never more. They say also that Orlando then summoning
+all his strength, smote a rock near him with his beautiful sword
+Durindana, thinking to shiver the steel in pieces, and so prevent
+its falling into the hands of the enemy, but though the rock split
+like a slate, and a great cleft remained ever after to astonish
+the eyes of pilgrims, the sword remained uninjured.
+
+And now Rinaldo and Ricciardetto came up, with Turpin, having
+driven back the Saracens, and told Orlando that the battle was
+won. Then Orlando knelt before Turpin and begged remission of his
+sins, and Turpin gave him absolution. Orlando fixed his eyes on
+the hilt of his sword as on a crucifix, and embraced it, and he
+raised his eyes and appeared like a creature seraphical and
+transfigured, and bowing his head, he breathed out his pure soul.
+
+And now King Charles and his nobles came up. The Emperor, at sight
+of the dead Orlando, threw himself, as if he had been a reckless
+youth, from his horse, and embraced and kissed the body, and said:
+"I bless thee, Orlando; I bless thy whole life, and all that thou
+wast, and all that thou ever didst, and the father that begat
+thee; and I ask pardon of thee for believing those who brought
+thee to thine end. They shall have their reward, O thou beloved
+one! But indeed it is thou that livest, and I who am worse than
+dead."
+
+Horrible to the Emperor's eyes was the sight of the field of
+Roncesvalles. The Saracens indeed had fled, conquered; but all his
+paladins but two were left on it dead, and the whole valley looked
+like a great slaughter-house, trampled into blood and dirt, and
+reeking to the heat. Charles trembled to his heart's core for
+wonder and agony. After gazing dumbly on the place he cursed it
+with a solemn curse, and wished that never grass might grow in it
+again, nor seed of any kind, neither within it nor on any of its
+mountains around, but the anger of Heaven abide over it forever.
+
+Charles and his warriors went after the Saracens into Spain. They
+took and fired Saragossa, and Marsilius was hung to the carob-tree
+under which he had planned his villainy with Gan; and Gan was hung
+and drawn and quartered in Roncesvalles, amidst the execrations of
+the country.
+
+RINALDO AND BAYARD
+
+CHARLEMAGNE was overwhelmed with grief at the loss of so many of
+his bravest warriors at the disaster of Roncesvalles, and bitterly
+reproached himself for his credulity in resigning himself so
+completely to the counsels of the treacherous Count Gan. Yet he
+soon fell into a similar snare when he suffered his unworthy son,
+Charlot, to acquire such an influence over him, that he constantly
+led him into acts of cruelty and injustice that in his right mind
+he would have scorned to commit. Rinaldo and his brothers, for
+some slight offence to the imperious young prince, were forced to
+fly from Paris, and to take shelter in their castle of Montalban;
+for Charles had publicly said, if he could take them he would hang
+them all. He sent numbers of his bravest knights to arrest them,
+but all without success. Either Rinaldo foiled their efforts and
+sent them back, stripped of their armor and of their glory, or,
+after meeting and conferring with him, they came back and told the
+king they could not be his instruments for such a work.
+
+At last Charles himself raised a great army, and went in person to
+compel the paladin to submit. He ravaged all the country round
+about Montalban, so that supplies of food should be cut off, and
+he threatened death to any who should attempt to issue forth,
+hoping to compel the garrison to submit for want of food.
+
+Rinaldo's resources had been brought so low that it seemed useless
+to contend any longer. His brothers had been taken prisoners in a
+skirmish, and his only hope of saving their lives was in making
+terms with the king.
+
+So he sent a messenger, offering to yield himself and his castle
+if the king would spare his and his brothers' lives. While the
+messenger was gone Rinaldo, impatient to learn what tidings he
+might bring, rode out to meet him. When he had ridden as far as he
+thought prudent he stopped in a wood, and alighting, tied Bayard
+to a tree. Then he sat down, and, as he waited, he fell asleep.
+Bayard meanwhile got loose, and strayed away where the grass
+tempted him. Just then came along some country people, who said to
+one another, "Look, is not that the great horse Bayard that
+Rinaldo rides? Let us take him, and carry him to King Charles, who
+will pay us well for our trouble." They did so, and the king was
+delighted with his prize, and gave them a present that made them
+rich to their dying day.
+
+When Rinaldo woke he looked round for his horse, and, finding him
+not, he groaned, and said, "O unlucky hour that I was born! how
+fortune persecutes me!" So desperate was he that he took off his
+armor and his spurs, saying, "What need have I of these, since
+Bayard is lost?" While he stood thus lamenting, a man came from
+the thicket, seemingly bent with age. He had a long beard hanging
+over his breast, and eyebrows that almost covered his eyes. He
+bade Rinaldo good day. Rinaldo thanked him, and said, "A good day
+I have hardly had since I was born." Then said the old man,
+"Signor Rinaldo, you must not despair, for God will make all
+things turn to the best." Rinaldo answered, "My trouble is too
+heavy for me to hope relief. The king has taken my brothers, and
+means to put them to death. I thought to rescue them by means of
+my horse Bayard, but while I slept some thief has stolen him." The
+old man replied, "I will remember you and your brothers in my
+prayers. I am a poor man, have you not something to give me?"
+Rinaldo said, "I have nothing to give," but then he recollected
+his spurs. He gave them to the beggar, and said, "Here, take my
+spurs. They are the first present my mother gave me when my
+father, Count Aymon, dubbed me knight. They ought to bring you ten
+pounds."
+
+The old man took the spurs, and put them into his sack, and said,
+"Noble sir, have you nothing else you can give me?" Rinaldo
+replied, "Are you making sport of me? I tell you truly if it were
+not for shame to beat one so helpless, I would teach you better
+manners." The old man said, "Of a truth, sir, if you did so you
+would do a great sin. If all had beaten me of whom I have begged I
+should have been killed long ago, for I ask alms in churches and
+convents, and wherever I can." "You say true," replied Rinaldo,
+"if you did not ask, none would relieve you." The old man said,
+"True, noble sir, therefore I pray if you have anything more to
+spare, give it me." Rinaldo gave him his mantle, and said, "Take
+it, pilgrim. I give it you for the love of Christ, that God would
+save my brothers from a shameful death, and help me to escape out
+of King Charles's power."
+
+The pilgrim took the mantle, folded it up, and put it into his
+bag. Then a third time he said to Rinaldo, "Sir, have you nothing
+left to give me that I may remember you in my prayers?" "Wretch!"
+exclaimed Rinaldo, "do you make me your sport?" and he drew his
+sword, and struck at him; but the old man warded off the blow with
+his staff, and said, "Rinaldo, would you slay your cousin,
+Malagigi?" When Rinaldo heard that he stayed his hand, and gazed
+doubtingly on the old man, who now threw aside his disguise, and
+appeared to be indeed Malagigi. "Dear cousin," said Rinaldo, "pray
+forgive me. I did not know you. Next to God, my trust is in you.
+Help my brothers to escape out of prison, I entreat you. I have
+lost my horse, and therefore cannot render them any assistance."
+Malagigi answered, "Cousin Rinaldo, I will enable you to recover
+your horse. Meanwhile, you must do as I say."
+
+Then Malagigi took from his sack a gown, and gave it to Rinaldo to
+put on over his armor, and a hat that was full of holes, and an
+old pair of shoes to put on. They looked like two pilgrims, very
+old and poor. Then they went forth from the wood, and after a
+little while saw four monks riding along the road. Malagigi said
+to Rinaldo, "I will go meet the monks, and see what news I can
+learn."
+
+Malagigi learned from the monks that on the approaching festival
+there would be a great crowd of people at court, for the prince
+was going to show the ladies the famous horse Bayard that used to
+belong to Rinaldo. "What!" said the pilgrim; "is Bayard there?"
+"Yes," answered the monks; "the king has given him to Charlot,
+and, after the prince has ridden him the king means to pass
+sentence on the brothers of Rinaldo, and have them hanged." Then
+Malagigi asked alms of the monks, but they would give him none,
+till he threw aside his pilgrim garb, and let them see his armor,
+when, partly for charity and partly for terror, they gave him a
+golden cup, adorned with precious stones that sparkled in the
+sunshine.
+
+Malagigi then hastened back to Rinaldo, and told him what he had
+learned.
+
+The morning of the feast-day Rinaldo and Malagigi came to the
+place where the sports were to be held. Malagigi gave Rinaldo his
+spurs back again, and said, "Cousin, put on your spurs, for you
+will need them." "How shall I need them," said Rinaldo, "since I
+have lost my horse?" Yet he did as Malagigi directed him.
+
+When the two had taken their stand on the border of the field
+among the crowd the princes and ladies of the court began to
+assemble. When they were all assembled the king came also, and
+Charlot with him, near whom the horse Bayard was led, in the
+charge of grooms, who were expressly enjoined to guard him safely.
+The king, looking round on the circle of spectators, saw Malagigi
+and Rinaldo, and observed the splendid cup that they had, and said
+to Charlot, "See, my son, what a brilliant cup those two pilgrims
+have got. It seems to be worth a hundred ducats." "That is true,"
+said Charlot; "Let us go and ask where they got it." So they rode
+to the place where the pilgrims stood, and Charlot stopped Bayard
+close to them.
+
+The horse snuffed at the pilgrims, knew Rinaldo, and caressed his
+master. The king said to Malagigi, "Friend, where did you get that
+beautiful cup?" Malagigi replied, "Honorable sir, I paid for it
+all the money I have saved from eleven years' begging in churches
+and convents. The Pope himself has blessed it, and given it the
+power that whosoever eats or drinks out of it shall be pardoned of
+all his sins." Then said the king to Charlot, "My son, these are
+right holy men; see how the dumb beast worships them."
+
+Then the king said to Malagigi, "Give me a morsel from your cup,
+that I may be cleared of my sins." Malagigi answered, "Illustrious
+lord, I dare not do it, unless you will forgive all who have at
+any time offended you. You know that Christ forgave all those who
+had betrayed and crucified him." The king replied, "Friend, that
+is true; but Rinaldo has so grievously offended me, that I cannot
+forgive him, nor that other man, Malagigi, the magician. These two
+shall never live in my kingdom again. If I catch them I will
+certainly have them hanged. But tell me, pilgrim, who is that man
+who stands beside you?" "He is deaf, dumb, and blind," said
+Malagigi. Then the king said again, "Give me to drink of your cup,
+to take away my sins." Malagigi answered, "My lord king, here is
+my poor brother, who for fifty days has not heard, spoken, nor
+seen. This misfortune befell him in a house where we found
+shelter, and the day before yesterday we met with a wise woman,
+who told him the only hope of a cure for him was to come to some
+place where Bayard was to be ridden, and to mount and ride him;
+that would do him more good than anything else." Then said the
+king, "Friend, you have come to the right place, for Bayard is to
+be ridden here to-day. Give me a draught from your cup, and your
+companion shall ride upon Bayard." Malagigi, hearing these words,
+said, "Be it so." Then the king, with great devotion, took a
+spoon, and dipped a portion from the pilgrim's cup, believing that
+his sins should be thereby forgiven.
+
+When this was done, the king said to Charlot, "Son, I request that
+you will let this sick pilgrim sit on your horse, and ride if he
+can, for by so doing he will be healed of all his infirmities."
+Charlot replied, "That will I gladly do." So saying, he
+dismounted, and the servants took the pilgrim in their arms, and
+helped him on the horse.
+
+Wher Rinaldo was mounted, he put his feet in the stirrups, and
+said, "I would like to ride a little." Malagigi, hearing him
+speak, seemed delighted, and asked him whether he could see and
+hear also. "Yes," said Rinaldo, "I am healed of all my
+infirmities." When the king heard it he said to Bishop Turpin, "My
+lord bishop, we must celebrate this with a procession, with
+crosses and banners, for it is a great miracle."
+
+When Rinaldo remarked that he was not carefully watched, he spoke
+to the horse, and touched him with the spurs. Bayard knew that his
+master was upon him, and he started off upon a rapid pace, and in
+a few moments was a good way off. Malagigi pretended to be in
+great alarm. "O noble king and master," he cried, "my poor
+companion is run away with; he will fall and break his neck." The
+king ordered his knights to ride after the pilgrim, and bring him
+back, or help him if need were. They did so, but it was in vain.
+Rinaldo left them all behind him, and kept on his way till he
+reached Montalban. Malagigi was suffered to depart, unsuspected,
+and he went his way, making sad lamentation for the fate of his
+comrade, who he pretended to think must surely be dashed to
+pieces.
+
+Malagigi did not go far, but having changed his disguise, returned
+to where the king was, and employed his best art in getting the
+brothers of Rinaldo out of prison. He succeeded; and all three got
+safely to Montalban, where Rinaldo's joy at the rescue of his
+brothers and the recovery of Bayard was more than tongue can tell.
+
+DEATH OF RINALDO
+
+THE distress in Rinaldo's castle for want of food grew more severe
+every day, under the pressure of the siege. The garrison were
+forced to kill their horses, both to save the provision they would
+consume, and to make food of their flesh. At last all the horses
+were killed except Bayard, and Rinaldo said to his brothers,
+"Bayard must die, for we have nothing else to eat." So they went
+to the stable and brought out Bayard to kill him. But Alardo said,
+"Brother, let Bayard live a little longer; who knows what God may
+do for us?"
+
+Bayard heard these words, and understood them as if he was a man,
+and fell on his knees, as if he would beg for mercy. When Rinaldo
+saw the distress of his horse his heart failed him, and he let him
+live.
+
+Just at this time Aya, Rinaldo's mother, who was the sister of the
+Emperor, came to the camp, attended by knights and ladies, to
+intercede for her sons. She fell on her knees before the king, and
+besought him that he would pardon Rinaldo and his brothers: and
+all the peers and knights took her side, and entreated the king to
+grant her prayer. Then said the king, "Dear sister, you act the
+part of a good mother, and I respect your tender heart, and yield
+to your entreaties. I will spare your sons their lives if they
+submit implicitly to my will."
+
+When Charlot heard this he approached the king and whispered in
+his ear. And the king turned to his sister and said, "Charlot must
+have Bayard, because I have given the horse to him. Now go, my
+sister, and tell Rinaldo what I have said."
+
+When the Lady Aya heard these words she was delighted, thanked God
+in her heart, and said, "Worthy king and brother, I will do as you
+bid me." So she went into the castle, where her sons received her
+most joyfully and affectionately, and she told them the king's
+offer. Then Alardo said, "Brother, I would rather have the king's
+enmity than give Bayard to Charlot, for I believe he will kill
+him." Likewise said all the brothers. When Rinaldo heard them he
+said, "Dear brothers, if we may win our forgiveness by giving up
+the horse, so be it. Let us make our peace, for we cannot stand
+against the king's power." Then he went to his mother, and told
+her they would give the horse to Charlot, and more, too, if the
+king would pardon them, and forgive all that they had done against
+his crown and dignity. The lady returned to Charles and told him
+the answer of her sons.
+
+When the peace was thus made between the king and the sons of
+Aymon, the brothers came forth from the castle, bringing Bayard
+with them, and, falling at the king's feet, begged his
+forgiveness. The king bade them rise, and received them into favor
+in the sight of all his noble knights and counsellors, to the
+great joy of all, especially of the Lady Aya, their mother. Then
+Rinaldo took the horse Bayard, gave him to Charlot, and said, "My
+lord and prince, this horse I give to you; do with him as to you
+seems good." Charlot took him, as had been agreed on. Then he made
+the servants take him to the bridge, and throw him into the water.
+Bayard sank to the bottom, but soon came to the surface again and
+swam, saw Rinaldo looking at him, came to land, ran to his old
+master, and stood by him as proudly as if he had understanding,
+and would say, "Why did you treat me so?" When the prince saw that
+he said, "Rinaldo, give me the horse again, for he must die."
+Rinaldo replied, "My lord and prince, he is yours without
+dispute," and gave him to him. The prince then had a millstone
+tied to each foot, and two to his neck, and made them throw him
+again into the water. Bayard struggled in the water, looked up to
+his master, threw off the stones, and came back to Rinaldo.
+
+When Alardo saw that, he said, "Now must thou be disgraced
+forever, brother, if thou give up the horse again." But Rinaldo
+answered, "Brother, be still. Shall I for the horse's life provoke
+the anger of the king again?" Then Alardo said, "Ah, Bayard! what
+a return do we make for all thy true love and service!" Rinaldo
+gave the horse to the prince again, and said, "My lord, if the
+horse comes out again I cannot return him to you any more, for it
+wrings my heart too much." Then Chariot had Bayard loaded with the
+stones as before, and thrown into the water; and commanded Rinaldo
+that he should not stand where the horse would see him. When
+Bayard rose to the surface he stretched his neck out of the water
+and looked round for his master, but saw him not. Then he sunk to
+the bottom.
+
+Rinaldo was so distressed for the loss of Bayard that he made a
+vow to ride no horse again all his life long, nor to bind a sword
+to his side, but to become a hermit. He resolved to betake himself
+to some wild wood, but first to return to his castle, to see his
+children, and to appoint to each his share of his estate.
+
+So he took leave of the king and of his brothers, and returned to
+Montalban, and his brothers remained with the king. Rinaldo called
+his children to him, and he made his eldest born, Aymeric, a
+knight, and made him lord of his castle and of his land. He gave
+to the rest what other goods he had, and kissed and embraced them
+all, commended them to God, and then departed from them with a
+heavy heart.
+
+He had not travelled far when he entered a wood, and there met
+with a hermit, who had long been retired from the world. Rinaldo
+greeted him, and the hermit replied courteously, and asked him who
+he was and what was his purpose. Rinaldo replied, "Sir, I have led
+a sinful life; many deeds of violence have I done, and many men
+have I slain, not always in a good cause, but often under the
+impulse of my own headstrong passions. I have also been the cause
+of the death of many of my friends, who took my part, not because
+they thought me in the right, but only for love of me. And now I
+come to make confession of all my sins, and to do penance for the
+rest of my life, if perhaps the mercy of God will forgive me." The
+hermit said, "Friend, I perceive you have fallen into great sins,
+and have broken the commandments of God, but his mercy is greater
+than your sins; and if you repent from your heart, and lead a new
+life, there is yet hope for you that he will forgive you what is
+past." So Rinaldo was comforted, and said, "Master, I will stay
+with you, and what you bid ane I will do." The hermit replied,
+"Roots and vegetables will be your food; shirt or shoes you may
+not wear; your lot must be poverty and want if you stay with me."
+Rinaldo replied, "I will cheerfully bear all this, and more." So
+he remained three whole years with the hermit, and after that his
+strength failed, and it seemed as if he was like to die.
+
+One night the hermit had a dream, and heard a voice from heaven,
+which commanded him to say to his companion that he must without
+delay go to the Holy Land, and fight against the heathen. The
+hermit, when he heard that voice, was glad, and calling Rinaldo,
+he said, "Friend, God's angel has commanded me to say to you that
+you must without delay go to Jerusalem, and help our fellow-
+Christians in their struggle with the Infidels." Then said
+Rinaldo, "Ah! master, how can I do that? It is over three years
+since I made a vow no more to ride a horse, nor take a sword or
+spear in my hand." The hermit answered, "Dear friend, obey God,
+and do what the angel commanded." "I will do so," said Rinaldo,
+"and pray for me, my master, that God may guide me right." Then he
+departed, and went to the seaside, and took ship and came to
+Tripoli in Syria.
+
+And as he went on his way his strength returned to him, till it
+was equal to what it was in his best days. And though he never
+mounted a horse, nor took a sword in his hand, yet with his
+pilgrim's staff he did good service in the armies of the
+Christians; and it pleased God that he escaped unhurt, though he
+was present in many battles, and his courage inspired the men with
+the same. At last a truce was made with the Saracens, and Rinaldo,
+now old and infirm, wishing to see his native land again before he
+died, took ship and sailed for France. When he arrived he shunned
+to go to the resorts of the great, and preferred to live among the
+humble folk, where he was unknown. He did country work, and lived
+on milk and bread, drank water, and was therewith content. While
+he so lived he heard that the city of Cologne was the holiest and
+best of cities, on account of the relics and bodies of saints who
+had there poured out their blood for the faith. This induced him
+to betake himself thither. When the pious hero arrived at Cologne
+he went to the monastery of St. Peter, and lived a holy life,
+occupied night and day in devotion. It so happened that at that
+time in the next town to Cologne there raged a dreadful
+pestilence. Many people came to Rinaldo, to beg him to pray for
+them, that the plague might be stayed. The holy man prayed
+fervently, and besought the Lord to take away the plague from the
+people, and his prayer was heard. The stroke of the pestilence was
+arrested, and all the people thanked the holy man and praised God.
+
+Now there was at this time at Cologne a bishop, called Agilolphus,
+who was a wise and understanding man, who led a pure and secluded
+life, and set a good example to others. This bishop undertook to
+build the Church of St. Peter, and gave notice to all stonemasons
+and other workmen round about to come to Cologne, where they
+should find work and wages. Among others came Rinaldo; and he
+worked among the laborers and did more than four or five common
+workmen. When they went to dinner he brought stone and mortar so
+that they had enough for the whole day. When the others went to
+bed he stretched himself out on the stones. He ate bread only, and
+drank nothing but water; and had for his wages but a penny a day.
+The head workman asked him his name, and where he belonged. He
+would not tell, but said nothing and pursued his work. They called
+him St. Peter's workman, because he was so devoted to his work.
+
+When the overseer saw the diligence of this holy man he chid the
+laziness of the other workmen, and said, "You receive more pay
+than this good man, but do not do half as much work." For this
+reason the other workmen hated Rinaldo, and made a secret
+agreement to kill him. They knew that he made it a practice to go
+every night to a certain church to pray and give alms. So they
+agreed to lay wait for him, with the purpose to kill him. When he
+came to the spot, they seized him, and beat him over the head till
+he was dead. Then they put his body into a sack, and stones with
+it, and cast it into the Rhine, in the hope the sack would sink to
+the bottom, and be there concealed. But God willed not that it
+should be so, but caused the sack to float on the surface, and be
+thrown upon the bank. And the soul of the holy martyr was carried
+by angels, with songs of praise, up to the heavens.
+
+Now at that time the people of Dortmund had become converted to
+the Christian faith; and they sent to the Bishop of Cologne, and
+desired him to give them some of the holy relics that are in such
+abundance in that city. So the Bishop called together his clergy
+to deliberate what answer they should give to this request. And it
+was determined to give to the people of Dortmund the body of the
+holy man who had just suffered martyrdom.
+
+When now the body with the coffin was put on the cart, the cart
+began to move toward Dortmund without horses or help of men, and
+stopped not till it reached the place where the church of St.
+Rinaldo now stands. The Bishop and his clergy followed the holy
+man to do him honor, with singing of hymns, for a space of three
+miles. And St. Rinaldo has ever since been the patron of that
+place, and many wonderful works has God done through him, as may
+be seen in the legends.
+
+HUON OF BORDEAUX
+
+WHEN Charlemagne grew old he felt the burden of government become
+heavier year by year, till at last he called together his high
+barons and peers to propose to abdicate the empire and the throne
+of France in favor of his sons, Charlot and Lewis.
+
+The Emperor was unreasonably partial to his eldest son; he would
+have been glad to have had the barons and peers demand Charlot for
+their only sovereign; but that prince was so infamous, for his
+falsehood and cruelty, that the council strenuously opposed the
+Emperor's proposal of abdicating, and implored him to continue to
+hold a sceptre which he wielded with so much glory.
+
+Amaury of Hauteville, cousin of Ganelon, and now head of the
+wicked branch of the house of Maganza, was the secret partisan of
+Charlot, whom he resembled in his loose morals and bad
+dispositions. Amaury nourished the most bitter resentment against
+the house of Guienne, of which the former Duke, Sevinus, had often
+rebuked his misdeeds. He took advantage of this occasion to do an
+injury to the two young children whom the Duke Sevinus had left
+under the charge of the Duchess Alice, their mother; and at the
+same time, to advance his interest with Charlot by increasing his
+wealth and power. With this view he suggested to the prince a new
+idea.
+
+He pretended to agree with the opinion of the barons; he said that
+it would be best to try Charlot's capacity for government by
+giving him some rich provinces before placing him upon the throne;
+and that the Emperor, without depriving himself of any part of his
+realm, might give Charlot the investiture of Guienne. For although
+seven years had passed since the death of Sevinus, the young Duke,
+his son, had not yet repaired to the court of Charlemagne to
+render the homage due to his lawful sovereign.
+
+We have often had occasion to admire the justice and wisdom of the
+advice which on all occasions the Duke Namo of Bavaria gave to
+Charlemagne, and he now discountenanced, with indignation, the
+selfish advice of Amaury. He represented to the Emperor the early
+age of the children of Sevinus, and the useful and glorious
+services of their late father, and proposed to Charlemagne to send
+two knights to the Duchess at Bordeaux, to summon her two sons to
+the court of the Emperor, to pay their respects and render homage.
+
+Charlemagne approved this advice, and sent two chevaliers to
+demand the two young princes of their mother. No sooner had the
+Duchess learned the approach of the two knights, than she sent
+distinguished persons to receive them; and as soon as they entered
+the palace she presented herself before them, with her elder and
+younger sons, Huon and Girard.
+
+The deputies, delighted with the honors and caresses they
+received, accompanied with rich presents, left Bordeaux with
+regret and on their return represented to Charlemagne that the
+young Duke Huon seemed born to tread in the footsteps of his brave
+father, informing him that in three months the young princes of
+Guienne would present themselves at his court.
+
+The Duchess employed the short interval in giving her sons her
+last instructions. Huon received them in his heart, and Girard
+gave as much heed to them as could be expected from one so young.
+
+The preparations for their departure having been made, the Duchess
+embraced them tenderly, commending them to the care of Heaven, and
+charged them to call, on their way, at the celebrated monastery of
+Cluny, to visit the Abbot, the brother of their father. This
+Abbot, worthy of his high dignity, had never lost an opportunity
+of doing good, setting an example of every excellence, and making
+virtue attractive by his example.
+
+He received his nephews with the greatest magnificence; and, aware
+how useful his presence might be to them with Charlemagne, whose
+valued counsellor he was, he took with them the road to Paris.
+
+When Amaury learned what reception the two deputies of Charlemagne
+had received at Bordeaux, and the arrangements made for the visit
+of the young princes to the Emperor's court, he suggested to
+Charlot to give him a troop of his guards, with which he proposed
+to lay wait for the young men in the wood of Montlery, put them to
+death, and thereby give the prince Charlot possession of the duchy
+of Guienne.
+
+A plan of treachery and violence agreed but too well with
+Charlot's disposition. He not only adopted the suggestion of
+Amaury, but insisted upon taking a part in it. They went out
+secretly, by night, followed by a great number of attendants, all
+armed in black, to lie in ambuscade in the wood where the brothers
+were to pass.
+
+Girard, the younger of the two, having amused himself as he rode
+by flying his hawk at such game as presented itself, had ridden in
+advance of his brother and the Abbot of Cluny. Charlot, who saw
+him coming, alone and unarmed, went forth to meet him, sought a
+quarrel with him, and threw him from his horse with a stroke of
+his lance. Girard uttered a cry as he fell; Huon heard it, and
+flew to his defence, with no other weapon than his sword. He came
+up with him, and saw the blood flowing from his wound. "What has
+this child done to you, wretch!" he exclaimed to Charlot. "How
+cowardly to attack him when unprepared to defend himself!" "By my
+faith," said Charlot, "I mean to do the same by you. Know that I
+am the son of Duke Thierry of Ardennes, from whom your father,
+Sevinus, took three castles; I have sworn to avenge him, and I
+defy you." "Coward," answered Huon, "I know well the baseness that
+dwells in your race; worthy son of Thierry, use the advantage that
+your armor gives you; but know that I fear you not." At these
+words Charlot had the wickedness to put his lance in rest, and to
+run upon Huon, who had barely time to wrap his arm in his mantle.
+With this feeble buckler he received the thrust of the lance. It
+penetrated the mantle, but missed his body. Then, rising upon his
+stirrups, Sir Huon struck Charlot so terrible a blow with his
+sword that the helmet was cleft asunder, and his head too. The
+dastardly prince fell dead upon the ground.
+
+Huon now perceived that the wood was full of armed men. He called
+the men of his suite, and they hastily put themselves in order,
+but nobody issued from the wood to attack him. Amaury, who saw
+Charlot's fall, had no desire to compromit himself; and, feeling
+sure that Charlemagne would avenge the death of his son, he saw no
+occasion for his doing anything more at present. He left Huon and
+the Abbot of Cluny to bind up the wound of Girard, and, having
+seen them depart and resume their way to Paris, he took up the
+body of Charlot, and, placing it across a horse, had it carried to
+Paris, where he arrived four hours after Huon.
+
+The Abbot of Cluny presented his nephew to Charlemagne, but Huon
+refrained from paying his obeisance, complaining grievously of the
+ambush which had been set for him, which he said could not have
+been without the Emperor's permission. Charlemagne, surprised at a
+charge which his magnanimous soul was incapable of meriting, asked
+eagerly of the Abbot what were the grounds of the complaints of
+his nephew. The Abbot told him faithfully all that had happened,
+informing him that a coward knight, who called himself the son of
+Thierry of Ardennes, had wounded Girard, and run upon Huon, who
+was unarmed; but by his force and valor he had overcome the
+traitor, and left him dead upon the plain.
+
+Charlemagne indignantly disavowed any connection with the action
+of the infamous Thierry, congratulated the young Duke upon his
+victory, himself conducted the two brothers to a rich apartment,
+stayed to see the first dressing applied to the wound of Girard,
+and left the brothers in charge of Duke Namo of Bavaria, who,
+having been a companion in arms of the Duke Sevinus, regarded the
+young men almost as if they were his own sons.
+
+Charlemagne had hardly quitted them when, returning to his
+chamber, he heard cries, and saw through the window a party of
+armed men just arrived. He recognized Amaury, who bore a dead
+knight stretched across a horse; and the name of Charlot was heard
+among the exclamations of the people assembled in the court-yard.
+
+Charles's partiality for this unworthy son was one of his
+weaknesses. He descended in trepidation to the court-yard, ran to
+Amaury, and uttered a cry of grief on recognizing Charlot. "It is
+Huon of Bordeaux," said the traitor Amaury, "who has massacred
+your son before it was in my power to defend him." Charlemagne,
+furious at these words, seized a sword, and flew to the apartment
+of the two brothers to plunge it into the heart of the murderer of
+his son. Duke Namo stopped his hand for an instant, while Charles
+told him the crime of which Huon was accused. "He is a peer of the
+realm," said Namo, "and if he is guilty, is he not here in your
+power, and are not we peers the proper judges to condemn him to
+death? Let not your hand be stained with his blood." The Emperor,
+calmed by the wisdom of Duke Namo, summoned Amaury to his
+presence. The peers assembled to hear his testimony, and the
+traitor accused Huon of Bordeaux of having struck the fatal blow
+without allowing Charlot an opportunity to defend himself, and
+though he knew that his opponent was the Emperor's eldest son.
+
+The Abbot of Cluny, indignant at the false accusation of Amaury,
+advanced, and said, "By Saint Benedict, sire, the traitor lies in
+his throat. If my nephew has slain Charlot it was in his own
+defence, and after having seen his brother wounded by him, and
+also in ignorance that his adversary was the prince. Though I am a
+son of the Church," added the good Abbot, "I forget not that I am
+a knight by birth. I offer to prove with my body the lie upon
+Amaury, if he dares sustain it, and I shall feel that I am doing a
+better work to punish a disloyal traitor, than to sing lauds and
+matins."
+
+Huon to this time had kept silent, amazed at the black calumny of
+Amaury; but now he stepped forth, and, addressing Amaury, said:
+"Traitor! darest thou maintain in arms the lie thou hast uttered?"
+Amaury, a knight of great prowess, despising the youth and slight
+figure of Huon, hesitated not to offer his glove, which Huon
+seized; then, turning again to the peers, he said: "I pray you let
+the combat be allowed me, for never was there a more legitimate
+cause." The Duke Namo and the rest, deciding that the question
+should be remitted to the judgment of Heaven, the combat was
+ordained, to which Charlemagne unwillingly consented. The young
+Duke was restored to the charge of Duke Namo, who the next morning
+invested him with the honors of knighthood, and gave him armor of
+proof, with a white shield. The Abbot of Cluny, delighted to find
+in his nephew sentiments worthy of his birth, embraced him, gave
+him his blessing, and hastened to the church of St. Germains to
+pray for him, while the officers of the king prepared the lists
+for the combat.
+
+The battle was long and obstinate. The address and agility of Huon
+enabled him to avoid the terrible blows which the ferocious Amaury
+aimed at him. But Huon had more than once drawn blood from his
+antagonist. The effect began to be perceived in the failing
+strength of the traitor; at last he threw himself from his horse,
+and kneeling, begged for mercy. "Spare me," he said, "and I will
+confess all. Aid me to rise, and lead me to Charlemagne." The
+brave and loyal Huon, at these words, put his sword under his left
+arm, and stretched out his right to raise the prostrate man, who
+seized the opportunity to give him a thrust in the side. The
+hauberk of Huon resisted the blow, and he was wounded but
+slightly. Transported with rage at this act of baseness, he forgot
+how necessary for his complete acquittal the confession of Amaury
+was, and without delay dealt him the fatal blow.
+
+Duke Namo and the other peers approached, had the body of Amaury
+dragged forth from the lists, and conducted Huon to Charlemagne.
+The Emperor, however, listening to nothing but his resentment and
+grief for the death of his son, refused to be satisfied; and under
+the plea that Huon had not succeeded in making his accuser retract
+his charge seemed resolved to confiscate his estates and to banish
+him forever from France. It was not till after long entreaties on
+the part of Duke Namo and the rest that he consented to grant Huon
+his pardon, under conditions which he should impose.
+
+Huon approached, and knelt before the Emperor, rendered his
+homage, and cried him mercy for the involuntary killing of his
+son. Charlemagne would not receive the hands of Huon in his own,
+but touched him with his sceptre, saying, "I receive thy homage,
+and pardon thee the death of my son, but only on one condition.
+You shall go immediately to the court of the Sultan Gaudisso; you
+shall present yourself before him as he sits at meat; you shall
+cut off the head of the most illustrious guest whom you shall find
+sitting nearest to him; you shall kiss three times on the mouth
+the fair princess, his daughter, and you shall demand of the
+Sultan, as token of tribute to me, a handful of the white hair of
+his beard, and four grinders from his mouth."
+
+These conditions caused a murmur from all the assembly. "What!"
+said the Abbot of Cluny; "slaughter a Saracen prince without first
+offering him baptism?" "The second condition is not so hard," said
+the young peers, "but the demand that Huon is bound to make of the
+old Sultan is very uncivil, and will be hard to obtain."
+
+The Emperor's obstinacy when he had once resolved upon a thing is
+well known. To the courage of Huon nothing seemed impossible. "I
+accept the conditions," said he, silencing the intercessions of
+the old Duke of Bavaria; "my liege, I accept my pardon at this
+price. I go to execute your commands, as your vassal and a peer of
+France."
+
+The Duke Namo and Abbot of Cluny, being unable to obtain any
+relaxation of the sentence passed by Charlemagne, led forth the
+young Duke, who determined to set out at once on his expedition.
+All that the good Abbot could obtain of him was, that he should
+prepare for this perilous undertaking by going first to Rome, to
+pay his homage to the Pope, who was the brother of the Duchess
+Alice, Huon's mother, and from him demand absolution and his
+blessing. Huon promised it, and forthwith set out on his way to
+Rome.
+
+HUON OF BORDEAUX (Continued)
+
+HUON, having traversed the Apennines and Italy, arrived at the
+environs of Rome, where, laying aside his armor, he assumed the
+dress of a pilgrim. In this attire he presented himself before the
+Pope, and not till after he had made a full confession of his sins
+did he announce himself as his nephew. "Ah! my dear nephew,"
+exclaimed the Holy Father, "what harder penance could I impose
+than the Emperor has already done? Go in peace, my son," he added,
+absolving him, "I go to intercede for you with the Most High."
+Then he led his nephew into his palace, and introduced him to all
+the Cardinals and Princes of Rome as the Duke of Guienne, son of
+the Duchess Alice, his sister.
+
+Huon, at setting out, had made a vow not to stop more than three
+days in a place. The Holy Father took advantage of this time to
+inspire him with zeal for the glory of Christianity, and with
+confidence in the protection of the Most High. He advised him to
+embark for Palestine, to visit the Holy Sepulchre, and to depart
+thence for the interior of Asia.
+
+Loaded with the blessings of the Holy Father, Huon, obeying his
+counsels, embarked for Palestine, arrived, and visited with the
+greatest reverence the holy places. He then departed, and took his
+way toward the east.
+
+But, ignorant of the country and of the language, he lost himself
+in a forest, and remained three days without seeing a human
+creature, living on honey and wild fruits which he found on the
+trees. The third day, seeking a passage through a rocky defile, he
+beheld a man in tattered clothing, whose beard and hair covered
+his breast and shoulders. This man stopped on seeing him, observed
+him, and recognized the arms and bearing of a French knight. He
+immediately approached, and exclaimed, in the language of the
+South of France, "God be praised! Do I indeed behold a chevalier
+of my own country, after fifteen years passed in this desert
+without seeing the face of a fellow-countryman?"
+
+Huon, to gratify him still more, unlaced his helmet, and came
+towards him with a smiling countenance. The other regarded him
+with more surprise than at first. "Good Heaven!" he exclaimed,
+"was there ever such a resemblance? Ah, noble sir," he added,
+"tell me, I beseech you, of what country and race you come?" "I
+require," replied Huon, "before telling you mine, that you first
+reveal your own; let it suffice you at present to know that I am a
+Christian, and that in Guienne I was born." "Ah! Heaven grant that
+my eyes and my heart do not deceive me," exclaimed the unknown;
+"my name is Sherasmin; I am brother to Guire, the Mayor of
+Bordeaux. I was taken prisoner in the battle where my dear and
+illustrious master, Sevinus, lost his life. For three years I
+endured the miseries of slavery; at length I broke my chains and
+escaped to this desert, where I have sustained myself in solitude
+ever since. Your features recall to me my beloved sovereign, in
+whose service I was from my infancy till his death." Huon made no
+reply but by embracing the old man, with tears in his eyes. Then
+Sherasmin learned that his arms enfolded the son of the Duke
+Sevinus. He led him to his cabin, and spread before him the dry
+fruits and honey which formed his only aliment.
+
+Huon recounted his adventures to Sherasmin, who was moved to tears
+at the recital. He then consulted him on means of conducting his
+enterprise. Sherasmin hesitated not to confess that success seemed
+impossible; nevertheless he swore a solemn oath never to abandon
+him. The Saracen language, which he was master of, would be
+serviceable to them when they should leave the desert, and mingle
+with men.
+
+They took the route of the Red Sea, and entered Arabia. Their way
+lay through a region which Sherasmin described as full of terrors.
+It was inhabited by Oberon, King of the Fairies, who made captive
+such knights as were rash enough to penetrate into it, and
+transformed them into Hobgoblins. It was possible to avoid this
+district at the expense of somewhat lengthening their route; but
+no dangers could deter Huon of Bordeaux; and the brave Sherasmin,
+who had now resumed the armor of a knight, reluctantly consented
+to share with him the dangers of the shorter route.
+
+They entered a wood, and arrived at a spot whence alleys branched
+off in various directions. One of them seemed to be terminated by
+a superb palace, whose gilded roofs were adorned with brilliant
+weathercocks covered with diamonds. A superb chariot issued from
+the gate of the palace, and drove toward Huon and his companion,
+as if to meet them half-way. The prince saw no one in the chariot
+but a child apparently about five years old, very beautiful, and
+clad in a robe which glittered with precious stones. At the sight
+of him, Sherasmin's terror was extreme. He seized the reins of
+Huon's horse, and turned him about, hurrying the prince away, and
+assuring him that they were lost if they stopped to parley with
+the mischievous dwarf, who, though he appeared a child, was full
+of years and of treachery. Huon was sorry to lose sight of the
+beautiful dwarf, whose aspect had nothing in it to alarm; yet he
+followed his friend, who urged on his horse with all possible
+speed. Presently a storm began to roar through the forest, the
+daylight grew dim, and they found their way with difficulty. From
+time to time they seemed to hear an infantine voice, which said,
+"Stop, Duke Huon; listen to me: it is in vain you fly me!"
+
+Sherasmin only fled the faster, and stopped not until he had
+reached the gate of a monastery of monks and nuns, the two
+communities of which were assembled at that time in a religious
+procession. Sherasmin, feeling safe from the malice of the dwarf
+in the presence of so many holy persons and the sacred banners,
+stopped to ask an asylum, and made Huon dismount also. But at that
+moment they were joined by the dwarf, who blew a blast upon an
+ivory horn which hung from his neck. Immediately the good
+Sherasmin, in spite of himself, began to dance like a young
+collegian, and seizing the hand of an aged nun, who felt as if it
+would be her death, they footed it briskly over the grass, and
+were imitated by all the other monks and nuns, mingled together,
+forming the strangest dancing-party ever beheld. Huron alone felt
+no disposition to dance; but he came near dying of laughter at
+seeing the ridiculous postures and leaps of the others.
+
+The dwarf, approaching Huon, said, in a sweet voice, and in Huon's
+own language, "Duke of Guienne, why do you shun me? I conjure you,
+in Heaven's name, speak to me." Huon, hearing himself addressed in
+this serious manner, and knowing that no evil spirit would dare to
+use the holy name in aid of his schemes, replied, "Sir, whoever
+you are, I am ready to hear and answer you." "Huon, my friend,"
+continued the dwarf, "I always loved your race, and you have been
+dear to me ever since your birth. The gracious state of conscience
+in which you were when you entered my wood has protected you from
+all enchantments, even if I had intended to practise any upon you.
+If these monks, these nuns, and even your friend Sherasmin, had
+had a conscience as pure as yours, my horn would not have set them
+dancing; but where is the monk or the nun who can always be deaf
+to the voice of the tempter, and Sherasmin in the desert has often
+doubted the power of Providence."
+
+At these words Huon saw the dancers overcome with exertion. He
+begged mercy for them, the dwarf granted it, and the effect of the
+horn ceased at once; the nuns got rid of their partners, smoothed
+their dresses, and hastened to resume their places in the
+procession. Sherasmin, overcome with heat, panting, and unable to
+stand on his legs, threw himself upon the grass, and began, "Did
+not I tell you"--He was going on in an angry tone, but the dwarf,
+approaching, said, "Sherasmin, why have you murmured against
+Providence? Why have you thought evil of me? You deserved this
+light punishment; but I know you to be good and loyal; I mean to
+show myself your friend, as you shall soon see." At these words he
+presented him a rich goblet. "Make the sign of the cross on this
+cup," said he, "and then believe that I hold my power from the God
+you adore, whose faithful servant I am, as well as you." Sherasmin
+obeyed, and on the instant the cup was filled with delicious wine,
+a draught of which restored vigor to his limbs, and made him feel
+young again. Overcome with gratitude, he threw himself on his
+knees, but the dwarf raised him, and bade him sit beside him, and
+thus commenced his history:
+
+"Julius Caesar, going by sea to join his army, was driven by a
+storm to take shelter in the island of Celea, where dwelt the
+fairy Glorianda. From this renowned pair I draw my birth. I am the
+inheritor of that which was most admirable in each of my parents:
+my father's heroic qualities, and my mother's beauty and magic
+art. But a malicious sister of my mother's, in revenge for some
+slight offence, touched me with her wand when I was only five
+years old, and forbade me to grow any bigger; and my mother, with
+all her power, was unable to annul the sentence. I have thus
+continued infantile in appearance, though full of years and
+experience. The power which I derive from my mother I use
+sometimes for my own diversion, but always to promote justice and
+to reward virtue. I am able and willing to assist you, Duke of
+Guienne, for I know the errand on which you come hither. I presage
+for you, if you follow my counsels, complete success; and the
+beautiful Clarimunda for a wife."
+
+When he had thus spoken he presented to Huon the precious and
+useful cup, which had the faculty of filling itself when a good
+man took it in his hand. He gave him also his beautiful horn of
+ivory, saying to him, "Huon, when you sound this gently, you will
+make the hearers dance, as you have seen; but if you sound it
+forcibly, fear not that I shall hear it, though at a hundred
+leagues' distance, and will fly to your relief; but be careful not
+to sound it in that way, unless upon the most urgent occasion."
+
+Oberon directed Huon what course he should take to reach the
+country of the Sultan Gaudisso. "You will encounter great perils,"
+said he, "before arriving there, and I fear me," he added, with
+tears in his eyes, "that you will not in everything obey my
+directions, and in that case you will suffer much calamity." Then
+he embraced Huon and Sherasmin, and left them.
+
+Huon and his follower travelled many days through the desert
+before they reached any inhabited place, and all this while the
+wonderful cup sustained them, furnishing them not only wine, but
+food also. At last they came to a great city. As day was
+declining, they entered its suburbs, and Sherasmin, who spoke the
+Saracen language perfectly, inquired for an inn where they could
+pass the night. A person who appeared to be one of the principal
+inhabitants, seeing two strangers of respectable appearance making
+this inquiry, stepped forward and begged them to accept the
+shelter of his mansion. They entered, and their host did the
+honors of his abode with a politeness which they were astonished
+to see in a Saracen. He had them served with coffee and sherbet,
+and all was conducted with great decorum, till one of the servants
+awkwardly overturned a cup of hot coffee on the host's legs, when
+he started up, exclaiming in very good Gascon, "Blood and thunder!
+you blockhead, you deserve to be thrown over the mosque!"
+
+Huon could not help laughing to see the vivacity and the language
+of his country thus break out unawares. The host, who had no idea
+that his guests understood his words, was astonished when Huon
+addressed him in the dialect of his country. Immediately
+confidence was established between them; especially when the
+domestics had retired. The host, seeing that he was discovered,
+and that the two pretended Saracens were from the borders of the
+Garonne, embraced them, and disclosed that he was a Christian.
+Huon, who had learned prudence from the advice of Oberon, to test
+his host's sincerity, drew from his robe the cup which the Fairy-
+king had given him, and presented it empty to the host. "A fair
+cup," said he, "but I should like it better if it was full."
+Immediately it was so. The host, astonished, dared not put it to
+his lips. "Drink boldly, my dear fellow-countryman," said Huon;
+"your truth is proved by this cup, which only fills itself in the
+hands of an honest man." The host did not hesitate longer; the cup
+passed freely from hand to hand; their mutual cordiality increased
+as it passed, and each recounted his adventures. Those of Huon
+redoubled his host's respect; for he recognized in him his
+legitimate sovereign: while the host's narrative was in these
+words:
+
+"My name is Floriac; this great and strong city, you will hear
+with surprise and grief, is governed by a brother of Duke Sevinus,
+and your uncle. You have no doubt heard that a young brother of
+the Duke of Guienne was stolen away from the sea-shore, with his
+companions, by some corsairs. I was then his page, and we were
+carried by those corsairs to Barbary, where we were sold for
+slaves. The Barbary prince sent us as part of the tribute which he
+yearly paid to his sovereign, the Sultan Gaudisso. Your uncle, who
+had been somewhat puffed up by the flattery of his attendants,
+thought to increase his importance with his new master by telling
+him his rank. The Sultan, who, like a true Mussulman, detested all
+Christian princes, exerted himself from that moment to bring him
+over to the Saracen faith. He succeeded but too well. Your uncle,
+seduced by the arts of the Santons, and by the pleasures and
+indulgences which the Sultan allowed him, committed the horrid
+crime of apostasy; he renounced his baptism, and embraced
+Mahometanism. Gaudisso then loaded him with honors, made him
+espouse one of his nieces, and sent him to reign over this city
+and adjoining country. Your uncle preserved for me the same
+friendship which he had had when a boy; but all his caresses and
+efforts could not make me renounce my faith. Perhaps he respected
+me in his heart for my resistance to his persuasions, perhaps he
+had hopes of inducing me in time to imitate him. He made me
+accompany him to this city, of which he was master, he gave me his
+confidence, and permits me to keep in my service some Christians,
+whom I protect for the sake of their faith."
+
+"Ah!" exclaimed Huon, "take me to this guilty uncle. A prince of
+the house of Guienne, must he not blush at the cowardly
+abandonment of the faith of his fathers?"
+
+"Alas!" replied Floriac, "I fear he will neither be sensible of
+shame at your reproaches, nor of pleasure at the sight of a nephew
+so worthy of his lineage. Brutified by sensuality, jealous of his
+power, which he often exercises with cruelty, he will more
+probably restrain you by force or put you to death."
+
+"Be it so," said the brave and fervent Huon, "I could not die in a
+better cause; and I demand of you to conduct me to him to-morrow,
+after having told him of my arrival and my birth." Floriac still
+objected, but Huon would take no denial, and he promised
+obedience.
+
+Next morning Floriac waited upon the Governor and told him of the
+arrival of his nephew, Huon of Bordeaux; and of the intention of
+the prince to present himself at his court that very day. The
+Governor, surprised, did not immediately answer; though he at once
+made up his mind what to do. He knew that Floriac loved Christians
+and the princes of his native land too well to aid in any treason
+to one of them; he therefore feigned great pleasure at hearing of
+the arrival of the eldest born of his family at his court. He
+immediately sent Floriac to find him; he caused his palace to be
+put in festal array, his divan to be assembled, and after giving
+some secret orders, went himself to meet his nephew, whom he
+introduced under his proper name and title to all the great
+officers of his court.
+
+Huon burned with indignation at seeing his uncle with forehead
+encircled with a rich turban, surmounted with a crescent of
+precious stones. His natural candor made him receive with pain the
+embraces which the treacherous Governor lavished upon him.
+Meanwhile the hope of finding a suitable moment to reproach him
+for his apostasy made him submit to those honors which his uncle
+caused to be rendered to him. The Governor evaded with address the
+chance of being alone with Huon and spent all the morning in
+taking him through his gardens and palace. At last, when the hour
+of dinner approached, and the Governor took him by the hand to
+lead him into the dining-hall, Huon seized the opportunity and
+said to him in a low voice, "O my uncle! O Prince, brother of the
+Duke Sevinus! in what condition have I the grief and shame of
+seeing you!" The Governor pretended to be moved, pressed his hand,
+and whispered in his ear, "Silence! my dear nephew; to-morrow
+morning I will hear you fully."
+
+Huon, comforted a little by these words, took his seat at the
+table by the side of the Governor. The Mufti, some Cadis, Agas,
+and Santons, filled the other places. Sherasmin sat down with
+them; but Floriac, who would not lose sight of his guests,
+remained standing, and passed in and out to observe what was going
+on within the palace. He soon perceived a number of armed men
+gliding through the passages and antechambers connected with the
+dining-hall. He was about to enter to give his guests notice of
+what he had seen when he heard a violent noise and commotion in
+the hall. The cause was this.
+
+Huon and Sherasmin were well enough suited with the first course
+and ate with good appetite; but the people of their country not
+being accustomed to drink only water at their meals, Huon and
+Sherasmin looked at one another, not very well pleased at such a
+regimen. Huon laughed outright at the impatience of Sherasmin, but
+soon, experiencing the same want himself, he drew forth Oberon's
+cup and made the sign of the cross. The cup filled and he drank it
+off, and handed it to Sherasmin, who followed his example. The
+Governor and his officers, seeing this abhorred sign, contracted
+their brows and sat in silent consternation. Huon pretended not to
+observe it, and having filled the cup again handed it to his
+uncle, saying, "Pray, join us, dear uncle; it is excellent
+Bordeaux wine, the drink that will be to you like mother's milk."
+The Governor, who often drank in secret with his own favorite
+Sultanas the wines of Greece and Shiraz, never in public drank
+anything but water. He had not for a long time tasted the
+excellent wines of his native land; he was sorely tempted to drink
+what was now handed to him, it looked so bright in the cup,
+outshining the gold itself. He stretched forth his hand, took the
+brimming goblet, and raised it to his lips, when immediately it
+dried up and disappeared. Huon and Sherasmin, like Gascons as they
+were, laughed at his astonishment. "Christian dogs!" he exclaimed,
+"do you dare to insult me at my own table? But I will soon be
+revenged." At these words he threw the cup at the head of his
+nephew, who caught it with his left hand, while with the other he
+snatched the turban, with its crescent, from the Governor's head
+and threw it on the floor. All the Saracens started up from table,
+with loud outcries, and prepared to avenge the insult. Huon and
+Sherasmin put themselves on their defence, and met with their
+swords the scimitars directed against them. At this moment the
+doors of the hall opened and a crowd of soldiers and armed eunuchs
+rushed in, who joined in the attack upon Huon and Sherasmin. The
+Prince and his followers took refuge on a broad shelf or side-
+board, where they kept at bay the crowd of assailants, making the
+most forward of them smart for their audacity. But more troops
+came pressing in and the brave Huon, inspired by the wine of
+Bordeaux, and not angry enough to lose his relish for a joke, blew
+a gentle note on his horn, and no sooner was it heard than it
+quelled the rage of the combatants and set them to dancing. Huon
+and Sherasmin, no longer attacked, looked down from their elevated
+position on a scene the most singular and amusing. Very soon the
+Sultanas, hearing the sound of the dance and finding their guards
+withdrawn, came into the hall and mixed with the dancers. The
+favorite Sultana seized upon a young Santon, who performed jumps
+two feet high; but soon the long dresses of this couple got
+intermingled and threw them down. The Santon's beard was caught in
+the Sultana's necklace, and they could not disentangle them. The
+Governor by no means approved this familiarity, and took two steps
+forward to get at the Santon, but he stumbled over a prostrate
+Dervise and measured his length on the floor. The dancing
+continued till the strength of the performers was exhausted, and
+they fell, one after the other, and lay helpless. The Governor at
+length made signs to Huon that he would yield everything if he
+would but allow him to rest. The bargain was ratified; the
+Governor allowed Huon and Sherasmin to depart on their way, and
+even gave them a ring which would procure them safe passage
+through his country and access to the Sultan Gaudisso. The two
+friends hastened to avail themselves of this favorable turn, and
+taking leave of Floriac, pursued their journey.
+
+HUON OF BORDEAUX (Continued)
+
+HUON had seen many beauties at his mother's court, but his heart
+had never been touched with love. Honor had been his mistress, and
+in pursuit of that he had never found time to give a thought to
+softer cares. Strange that a heart so insensible should first be
+touched by something so unsubstantial as a dream; but so it was.
+
+The day after the adventure with his uncle night overtook the
+travellers as they passed through a forest. A grotto offered them
+shelter from the night dews. The magic cup supplied their evening
+meal; for such was its virtue that it afforded not only wine, but
+more solid fare when desired. Fatigue soon threw them into
+profound repose. Lulled by the murmur of the foliage, and
+breathing the fragrance of the flowers, Huon dreamed that a lady
+more beautiful than he had ever before seen hung over him and
+imprinted a kiss upon his lips. As he stretched out his arms to
+embrace her a sudden gust of wind swept her away.
+
+Huon awoke in an agony of regret. A few moments sufficed to afford
+some consolation in showing him that what had passed was but a
+dream; but his perplexity and sadness could not escape the notice
+of Sherasmin. Huon hesitated not to inform his faithful follower
+of the reason of his pensiveness; and got nothing in return but
+his rallyings for allowing himself to be disturbed by such a
+cause. He recommended a draught from the fairy goblet, and Huon
+tried it with good effect.
+
+At early dawn they resumed their way. They travelled till high
+noon, but said little to one another. Huon was musing on his
+dream, and Sherasmin's thoughts flew back to his early days on the
+banks of the flowery Garonne.
+
+On a sudden they were startled by the cry of distress, and turning
+an angle of the wood, came where a knight hard pressed was
+fighting with a furious lion. The knight's horse lay dead, and it
+seemed as if another moment would end the combat, for terror and
+fatigue had quite disabled the knight for further resistance. He
+fell, and the lion's paw was raised over him, when a blow from
+Huon's sword turned the monster's rage upon a new enemy. His roar
+shook the forest, and he crouched in act to spring, when, with the
+rapidity of lightning, Huon plunged his sword into his side. He
+rolled over on the plain in the agonies of death.
+
+They raised the knight from the ground, and Sherasmin hastened to
+offer him a draught from the fairy cup. The wine sparkled to the
+brim, and the warrior put forth his lips to quaff it, but it
+shrunk away, and did not even wet his lips. He dashed the goblet
+angrily on the ground, with an exclamation of resentment. This
+incident did not tend to make either party more acceptable to the
+other; and what followed was worse. For when Huon said, "Sir
+knight, thank God for your deliverance,"--"Thank Mahomet, rather,
+yourself," said he, "for he has led you this day to render service
+to no less a personage than the Prince of Hyrcania."
+
+At the sound of this blasphemy Huon drew his sword and turned upon
+the miscreant, who, little disposed to encounter the prowess of
+which he had so lately seen proof, betook himself to flight. He
+ran to Huon's horse, and lightly vaulting on his back, clapped
+spurs to his side, and galloped out of sight.
+
+The adventure was vexatious, yet there was no remedy. The prince
+and Sherasmin continued their journey with the aid of the
+remaining horse as they best might. At length, as evening set in,
+they descried the pinnacles and towers of a great city full before
+them, which they knew to be the famous city of Bagdad.
+
+They were well-nigh exhausted with fatigue when they arrived at
+its precincts, and in the darkness, not knowing what course to
+take, were glad to meet an aged woman, who, in reply to their
+inquiries, offered them such accommodations as her cottage could
+supply. They thankfully accepted the offer, and entered the low
+door. The good dame busily prepared the best fare her stores
+supplied,--milk, figs, and peaches,--deeply regretting that the
+bleak winds had nipped her almond-trees.
+
+Sir Huon thought he had never in his life tasted any fare so good.
+The old lady talked while her guests ate. She doubted not, she
+said, they had come to be present at the great feast in honor of
+the marriage of the Sultan's daughter, which was to take place on
+the morrow. They asked who the bridegroom was to be, and the old
+lady answered, "The Prince of Hyrcania," but added, "Our princess
+hates him, and would rather wed a dragon than him." "How know you
+that?" asked Huon; and the dame informed him that she had it from
+the princess herself, who was her foster-child. Huon inquired the
+reason of the princess's aversion; and the woman pleased to find
+her chat excite so much interest, replied that it was all in
+consequence of a dream. "A dream!" exclaimed Huon. "Yes! a dream.
+She dreamed that she was a hind, and that the Prince, as a hunter,
+was pursuing her, and had almost overtaken her, when a beautiful
+dwarf appeared in view, drawn in a golden car, having by his side
+a young man of yellow hair and fair complexion, like one from a
+foreign land. She dreamed that the car stopped where she stood,
+and that, having resumed her own form, she was about to ascend it,
+when suddenly it faded from her view, and with it the dwarf and
+the fair-haired youth. But from her heart that vision did not
+fade, and from that time her affianced bridegroom, the Hyrcanian
+prince, had become odious to her sight. Yet the Sultan, her
+father, by no means regarding such a cause as sufficient to
+prevent the marriage, had named the morrow as the time when it
+should be solemnized, in presence of his court and many princes of
+the neighboring countries, whom the fame of the princess's beauty
+and the bridegroom's splendor had brought to the scene."
+
+We may suppose this conversation woke a tumult of thoughts in the
+breast of Huon. Was it not clear that Providence led him on, and
+cleared the way for his happy success? Sleep did not early visit
+the eyes of Huon that night; but, with the sanguine temper of
+youth, he indulged his fancy in imagining the sequel of his
+strange experience.
+
+The next day, which he could not but regard as the decisive day of
+his fate, he prepared to deliver the message of Charlemagne. Clad
+in his armor, fortified with his ivory horn and his ring, he
+reached the palace of Gaudisso when the guests were assembled at
+the banquet. As he approached the gate a voice called on all true
+believers to enter; and Huon, the brave and faithful Huon, in his
+impatience passed in under that false pretention. He had no sooner
+passed the barrier than he felt ashamed of his baseness, and was
+overwhelmed with regret. To make amends for his fault he ran
+forward to the second gate, and cried to the porter, "Dog of a
+misbeliever, I command you in the name of Him who died on the
+cross, open to me!" The points of a hundred weapons immediately
+opposed his passage. Huon then remembered for the first time the
+ring he had received from his uncle, the Governor. He produced it,
+and demanded to be led to the Sultan's presence. The officer of
+the guard recognized the ring, made a respectful obeisance, and
+allowed him free entrance. In the same way he passed the other
+doors to the rich saloon where the great Sultan was at dinner with
+his tributary princes. At sight of the ring the chief attendant
+led Huon to the head of the hall, and introduced him to the Sultan
+and his princes as the ambassador of Charlemagne. A seat was
+provided for him near the royal party.
+
+The Prince of Hyrcania, the same whom Huon had rescued from the
+lion, and who was the destined bridegroom of the beautiful
+Clarimunda, sat on the Sultan's right hand, and the princess
+herself on his left. It chanced that Huon found himself near the
+seat of the princess, and hardly were the ceremonies of reception
+over before he made haste to fulfill the commands of Charlemagne
+by imprinting a kiss upon her rosy lips, and after that a second,
+not by command, but by good will. The Prince of Hyrcania cried
+out, "Audacious infidel! take the reward of thy insolence!" and
+aimed a blow at Huon, which, if it had reached him, would have
+brought his embassy to a speedy termination. But the ingrate
+failed of his aim, and Huon punished his blasphemy and ingratitude
+at once by a blow which severed his head from his body.
+
+So suddenly had all this happened that no hand had been raised to
+arrest it; but now Gaudisso cried out, "Seize the murderer!" Huon
+was hemmed in on all sides, but his redoubtable sword kept the
+crowd of courtiers at bay. But he saw new combatants enter, and
+could not hope to maintain his ground against so many. He
+recollected his horn, and raising it to his lips, blew a blast
+almost as loud as that of Roland at Roncesvalles. It was in vain.
+Oberon heard it; but the sin of which Huon had been guilty in
+bearing, though but for a moment, the character of a believer in
+the false prophet, had put it out of Oberon's power to help him.
+Huon, finding himself deserted, and conscious of the cause, lost
+his strength and energy, was seized, loaded with chains, and
+plunged into a dungeon.
+
+His life was spared for the time, merely that he might be reserved
+for a more painful death. The Sultan meant that, after being made
+to feel all the torments of hunger and despair, he should be
+flayed alive.
+
+But an enchanter more ancient and more powerful than Oberon
+himself interested himself for the brave Huon. The enchanter was
+Love. The Princess Clarimunda learned with horror the fate to
+which the young prince was destined. By the aid of her governante
+she gained over the keeper of the prison, and went herself to
+lighten the chains of her beloved. It was her hand that removed
+his fetters, from her he received supplies of food to sustain a
+life which he devoted from thenceforth wholly to her. After the
+most tender explanations the princess departed, promising to
+repeat her visit on the morrow.
+
+The next day she came according to promise, and again brought
+supplies of food. These visits were continued during a whole
+month. Huon was too good a son of the Church to forget that the
+amiable princess was a Saracen, and he availed himself of these
+interviews to instruct her in the true faith. How easy it is to
+believe the truth when uttered by the lips of those we love!
+Clarimunda ere long professed her entire belief in the Christian
+doctrines, and desired to be baptized.
+
+Meanwhile the Sultan had repeatedly inquired of the jailer how his
+prisoner bore the pains of famine, and learned to his surprise
+that he was not yet much reduced thereby. On his repeating the
+inquiry, after a short interval, the keeper replied that the
+prisoner had died suddenly, and had been buried in the cavern. The
+Sultan could only regret that he had not sooner ordered the
+execution of the sentence.
+
+While these things were going on the faithful Sherasmin, who had
+not accompanied Huon in his last adventure, but had learned by
+common rumor the result of it, came to the court in hopes of doing
+something for the rescue of his master. He presented himself to
+the Sultan as Solario, his nephew. Guadisso received him with
+kindness, and all the courtiers loaded him with attentions. He
+soon found means to inform himself how the Princess regarded the
+brave but unfortunate Huon, and having made himself known to her,
+confidence was soon established between them. Clarimunda readily
+consented to assist in the escape of Huon, and to quit with him
+her father's court to repair to that of Charlemagne. Their united
+efforts had nearly perfected their arrangement, a vessel was
+secretly prepared, and all things in forwardness for the flight,
+when an unlooked-for obstacle presented itself. Huon himself
+positively refused to go leaving the orders of Charlemagne
+unexecuted.
+
+Sherasmin was in despair. Bitterly he complained of the fickleness
+and cruelty of Oberon in withdrawing his aid at the very crisis
+when it was most necessary. Earnestly he urged every argument to
+satisfy the prince that he had done enough for honor, and could
+not be held bound to achieve impossibilities. But all was of no
+avail, and he knew not which way to turn, when one of those events
+occurred which are so frequent under Turkish despotisms. A courier
+arrived at the court of the Sultan, bearing the ring of his
+sovereign, the mighty Agrapard, Caliph of Arabia, and bringing the
+bow-string for the neck of Gaudisso. No reason was assigned; none
+but the pleasure of the Caliph is ever required in such cases; but
+it was suspected that the bearer of the bow-string had persuaded
+the Caliph that Gaudisso, whose rapacity was well known, had
+accumulated immense treasures, which he had not duly shared with
+his sovereign, and thus had obtained an order to supersede him in
+his Emirship.
+
+The body of Gaudisso would have been cast out a prey to dogs and
+vultures, had not Sherasmin, under the character of nephew of the
+deceased, been permitted to receive it, and give it decent burial,
+which he did, but not till he had taken possession of the beard
+and grinders, agreeably to the orders of Charlemagne.
+
+No obstacle now stood in the way of the lovers and their faithful
+follower in returning to France. They sailed, taking Rome in their
+way, where the Holy Father himself blessed the union of his
+nephew, Duke Huon of Bordeaux, with the Princess Clarimunda.
+
+Soon afterward they arrived in France, where Huon laid his
+trophies at the feet of Charlemagne, and, being restored to the
+favor of the Emperor, hastened to present himself and his bride to
+the Duchess, his mother, and to the faithful liegemen of his
+province of Guienne and his city of Bordeaux, where the pair were
+received with transports of joy.
+
+OGIER, THE DANE
+
+OGIER, the Dane, was the son of Geoffrey, who wrested Denmark from
+the Pagans, and reigned the first Christian king of that country.
+When Ogier was born, and before he was baptized, six ladies of
+ravishing beauty appeared all at once in the chamber of the
+infant. They encircled him, and she who appeared the eldest took
+him in her arms, kissed him, and laid her hand upon his heart. "I
+give you," said she, "to be the bravest warrior of your times."
+She delivered the infant to her sister, who said, "I give you
+abundant opportunities to display your valor." "Sister," said the
+third lady, "you have given him a dangerous boon; I give him that
+he shall never be vanquished." The fourth sister added, as she
+laid her hand upon his eyes and his mouth, "I give you the gift of
+pleasing." The fifth said, "Lest all these gifts serve only to
+betray, I give you sensibility to return the love you inspire."
+Then spoke Morgana, the youngest and handsomest of the group.
+"Charming creature, I claim you for my own; and I give you not to
+die till you shall have come to pay me a visit in my isle of
+Avalon." Then she kissed the child and departed with her sisters.
+
+After this the king had the child carried to the font and baptized
+with the name of Ogier.
+
+In his education nothing was neglected to elevate him to the
+standard of a perfect knight, and render him accomplished in all
+the arts necessary to make him a hero.
+
+He had hardly reached the age of sixteen years when Charlemagne,
+whose power was established over all the sovereigns of his time,
+recollected that Geoffroy, Ogier's father, had omitted to render
+the homage due to him as Emperor, and sovereign lord of Denmark,
+one of the grand fiefs of the empire. He accordingly sent an
+embassy to demand of the king of Denmark this homage, and on
+receiving a refusal, couched in haughty terms, sent an army to
+enforce the demand. Geoffroy, after an unsuccessful resistance,
+was forced to comply, and as a pledge of his sincerity delivered
+Ogier, his eldest son, a hostage to Charles, to be brought up at
+his court. He was placed in charge of the Duke Namo of Bavaria,
+the friend of his father, who treated him like his own son.
+
+Ogier grew up more and more handsome and amiable every day. He
+surpassed in form, strength, and address all the noble youths his
+companions; he failed not to be present at all tourneys; he was
+attentive to the elder knights, and burned with impatience to
+imitate them. Yet his heart rose sometimes in secret against his
+condition as a hostage, and as one apparently forgotten by his
+father.
+
+The King of Denmark, in fact, was at this time occupied with new
+loves. Ogier's mother having died, he had married a second wife,
+and had a son named Guyon. The new queen had absolute power over
+her husband, and fearing that, if he should see Ogier again, he
+would give him the preference over Guyon, she had adroitly
+persuaded him to delay rendering his homage to Charlemagne, till
+now four years had passed away since the last renewal of that
+ceremony. Charlemagne, irritated at this delinquency, drew closer
+the bonds of Ogier's captivity until he should receive a response
+from the king of Denmark to a fresh summons which he caused to be
+sent to him.
+
+The answer of Geoffroy was insulting and defiant, and the rage of
+Charlemagne was roused in the highest degree. He was at first
+disposed to wreak his vengeance upon Ogier, his hostage; but at
+the entreaties of Duke Namo, who felt towards his pupil like a
+father, consented to spare his life, if Ogier would swear fidelity
+to him as his liege-lord, and promise not to quit his court
+without his permission. Ogier accepted these terms, and was
+allowed to retain all the freedom he had before enjoyed.
+
+The Emperor would have immediately taken arms to reduce his
+disobedient vassal, if he had not been called off in another
+direction by a message from Pope Leo, imploring his assistance.
+The Saracens had landed in the neighborhood of Rome, occupied
+Mount Janiculum, and prepared to pass the Tiber and carry fire and
+sword to the capital of the Christian world. Charlemagne hesitated
+not to yield to the entreaties of the Pope. He speedily assembled
+an army, crossed the Alps, traversed Italy, and arrived at
+Spoleto, a strong place to which the Pope had retired. Leo, at the
+head of his Cardinals, advanced to meet him, and rendered him
+homage, as to the son of Pepin, the illustrious protector of the
+Holy See, coming, as his father had done, to defend it in the hour
+of need.
+
+Charlemagne stopped but two days at Spoleto, and learning that the
+Infidels, having rendered themselves masters of Rome, were
+besieging the Capitol, which could not long hold out against them,
+marched promptly to attack them.
+
+The advanced posts of the army were commanded by Duke Namo, on
+whom Ogier waited as his squire. He did not yet bear arms, not
+having received the order of knighthood. The Oriflamme, the royal
+standard, was borne by a knight named Alory, who showed himself
+unworthy of the honor.
+
+Duke Namo, seeing a strong body of the Infidels advancing to
+attack him, gave the word to charge them. Ogier remained in the
+rear, with the other youths, grieving much that he was not
+permitted to fight. Very soon he saw Alory lower the Oriflamme,
+and turn his horse in flight. Ogier pointed him out to the young
+men, and seizing a club, rushed upon Alory and struck him from his
+horse. Then, with his companions, he disarmed him, clothed himself
+in his armor, raised the Oriflamme, and mounting the horse of the
+unworthy knight, flew to the front rank, where he joined Duke
+Namo, drove back the Infidels, and carried the Oriflamme quite
+through their broken ranks. The Duke, thinking it was Alory, whom
+he had not held in high esteem, was astonished at his strength and
+valor. Ogier's young companions imitated him, supplying themselves
+with armor from the bodies of the slain; they followed Ogier and
+carried death into the ranks of the Saracens, who fell back in
+confusion upon their main body.
+
+Duke Namo now ordered a retreat, and Ogier obeyed with reluctance,
+when they perceived Charlemagne advancing to their assistance. The
+combat now became general, and was more terrible than ever.
+Charlemagne had overthrown Corsuble, the commander of the
+Saracens, and had drawn his famous sword, Joyeuse, to cut off his
+head, when two Saracen knights set upon him at once, one of whom
+slew his horse, and the other overthrew the Emperor on the sand.
+Perceiving by the eagle on his casque who he was, they dismounted
+in haste to give him his deathblow. Never was the life of the
+Emperor in such peril. But Ogier, who saw him fall, flew to his
+rescue. Though embarrassed with the Oriflamme, he pushed his horse
+against one of the Saracens and knocked him down; and with his
+sword dealt the other so vigorous a blow that he fell stunned to
+the earth. Then helping the Emperor to rise, he remounted him on
+the horse of one of the fallen knights. "Brave and generous
+Alory!" Charles exclaimed, "I owe to you my honor and my life!"
+Ogier made no answer; but, leaving Charlemagne surrounded by a
+great many of the knights who had flown to his succor, he plunged
+into the thickest ranks of the enemy, and carried the Oriflamme,
+followed by a gallant train of youthful warriors, till the
+standard of Mahomet turned in retreat, and the Infidels sought
+safety in their intrenchments.
+
+Then the good Archbishop Turpin laid aside his helmet and his
+bloody sword (for he always felt that he was clearly in the line
+of his duty while slaying Infidels), took his mitre and his
+crosier, and intoned Te Deum.
+
+At this moment Ogier, covered with blood and dust, came to lay the
+Oriflamme at the feet of the Emperor. He was followed by a train
+of warriors of short stature, who walked ill at ease loaded with
+armor too heavy for them. Ogier knelt at the feet of Charlemagne,
+who embraced him, calling him Alory, while Turpin from the height
+of the altar, blessed him with all his might. Then young Orlando,
+son of the Count Milone, and nephew of Charlemagne, no longer able
+to endure this misapprehension, threw down his helmet, and ran to
+unlace Ogier's, while the other young men laid aside theirs. Our
+author says he cannot express the surprise, the admiration, and
+the tenderness of the Emperor and his peers. Charles folded Ogier
+in his arms, and the happy fathers of those brave youths embraced
+them with tears of joy. The good Duke Namo stepped forward, and
+Charlemagne yielded Ogier to his embrace. "How much do I owe you,"
+he said, "good and wise friend, for having restrained my anger! My
+dear Ogier! I owe you my life! My sword leaps to touch your
+shoulder, yours and those of your brave young friends." At these
+words he drew that famous sword, Joyeuse, and while Ogier and the
+rest knelt before him, gave them the accolade conferring on them
+the order of knighthood. The young Orlando and his cousin Oliver
+could not refrain, even in the presence of the Emperor, from
+falling upon Ogier's neck, and pledging with him that brotherhood
+in arms, so dear and so sacred to the knights of old times; but
+Charlot, the Emperor's son, at the sight of the glory with which
+Ogier had covered himself, conceived the blackest jealousy and
+hate.
+
+The rest of the day and the next were spent in the rejoicings of
+the army. Turpin in a solemn service implored the favor of Heaven
+upon the youthful knights, and blessed the white armor which was
+prepared for them. Duke Namo presented them with golden spurs,
+Charles himself girded on their swords. But what was his
+astonishment when he examined that intended for Ogier! The loving
+Fairy, Morgana, had had the art to change it, and to substitute
+one of her own procuring, and when Charles drew it out of the
+scabbard, these words appeared written on the steel: "My name is
+Cortana, of the same steel and temper as Joyeuse and Durindana."
+Charles saw that a superior power watched over the destinies of
+Ogier; he vowed to love him as a father would, and Ogier promised
+him the devotion of a son. Happy had it been for both if they had
+always continued mindful of their promises.
+
+The Saracen army had hardly recovered from its dismay when
+Carahue, King of Mauritania, who was one of the knights overthrown
+by Ogier at the time of the rescue of Charlemagne, determined to
+challenge him to single combat. With that view he assumed the
+dress of a herald, resolved to carry his own message. The French
+knights admired his air, and said to one another that he seemed
+more fit to be a knight than a bearer of messages.
+
+Carahue began by passing the warmest eulogium upon the knight who
+bore the Oriflamme on the day of the battle, and concluded by
+saying that Carahue, King of Mauritania, respected that knight so
+much that he challenged him to the combat.
+
+Ogier had risen to reply, when he was interrupted by Charlot, who
+said that the gage of the King of Mauritania could not fitly be
+received by a vassal, living in captivity; by which he meant
+Ogier, who was at that time serving as hostage for his father.
+Fire flashed from the eyes of Ogier, but the presence of the
+Emperor restrained his speech, and he was calmed by the kind looks
+of Charlemagne, who said, with an angry voice, "Silence, Charlot!
+By the life of Bertha, my queen, he who has saved my life is as
+dear to me as yourself. Ogier," he continued, "you are no longer a
+hostage. Herald! report my answer to your master, that never does
+knight of my court refuse a challenge on equal terms. Ogier, the
+Dane, accepts of his, and I myself am his security."
+
+Carahue, profoundly bowing, replied, "My lord, I was sure that the
+sentiments of so great a sovereign as yourself would be worthy of
+your high and brilliant fame; I shall report your answer to my
+master, who I know admires you, and unwillingly takes arms against
+you." Then, turning to Charlot, whom he did not know as the son of
+the Emperor, he continued, "As for you, Sir Knight, if the desire
+of battle inflames you, I have it in charge from Sadon, cousin of
+the King of Mauritania, to give the like defiance to any French
+knights who will grant him the honor of the combat."
+
+Charlot, inflamed with rage and vexation at the public reproof
+which he had just received, hesitated not to deliver his gage.
+Carahue received it with Ogier's, and it was agreed that the
+combat should be on the next day in a meadow environed by woods
+and equally distant from both armies.
+
+The perfidious Charlot meditated the blackest treason. During the
+night he collected some knights unworthy of the name, and like
+himself in their ferocious manners; he made them swear to avenge
+his injuries, armed them in black armor, and sent them to lie in
+ambush in the wood, with orders to make a pretended attack upon
+the whole party, but in fact, to lay heavy hands upon Ogier and
+the two Saracens.
+
+At the dawn of day Sadon and Carahue, attended tonly by two pages
+to carry their spears, took their way to the appointed meadow; and
+Charlot and Ogier repaired thither also, but by different paths.
+Ogier advanced with a calm air, saluted courteously the two
+Saracen knights, and joined them in arranging the terms of combat.
+
+While this was going on the perfidious Charlot remained behind and
+gave his men the signal to advance. That cowardly troop issued
+from the wood and encompassed the three knights. All three were
+equally surprised at the attack, but neither of them suspected the
+other to have any hand in the treason. Seeing the attack made
+equally upon them all, they united their efforts to resist it, and
+made the most forward of the assailants bite the dust. Cortana
+fell on no one without inflicting a mortal wound, but the sword of
+Carahue was not of equal temper and broke in his hands. At the
+same instant his horse was slain, and Carahue fell, without a
+weapon, and entangled with his prostrate horse. Ogier, who saw it,
+ran to his defence, and leaping to the ground covered the prince
+with his shield, supplied him with the sword of one of the fallen
+ruffians, and would have him mount his own horse. At that moment
+Charlot, inflamed with rage, pushed his horse upon Ogier, knocked
+him down, and would have run him through with his lance if Sadon,
+who saw the treason, had not sprung upon him and thrust him back.
+Carahue leapt lightly upon the horse which Ogier presented him,
+and had time only to exclaim, "Brave Ogier, I am no longer your
+enemy, I pledge to you an eternal friendship," when numerous
+Saracen knights were seen approaching, having discovered the
+treachery, and Charlot with his followers took refuge in the wood.
+
+The troop which advanced was commanded by Dannemont, the exiled
+king of Denmark, whom Geoffroy, Ogier's father, had driven from
+his throne and compelled to take refuge with the Saracens.
+Learning who Ogier was, he instantly declared him his prisoner, in
+spite of the urgent remonstrances and even threats of Carahue and
+Sadon, and carried him under a strong guard to the Saracen camp.
+Here he was at first subjected to the most rigorous captivity, but
+Carahue and Sadon insisted so vehemently on his release,
+threatening to turn their arms against their own party if it was
+not granted, while Dannemont as eagerly opposed the measure, that
+Corsuble, the Saracen commander, consented to a middle course, and
+allowed Ogier the freedom of his camp, upon his promise not to
+leave it without permission.
+
+Carahue was not satisfied with this partial concession. He left
+the city next morning, proceeded to the camp of Charlemagne, and
+demanded to be led to the Emperor. When he reached his presence he
+dismounted from his horse, took off his helmet, drew his sword,
+and holding it by the blade presented it to Charlemagne as he
+knelt before him.
+
+"Illustrious prince," he said, "behold before you the herald who
+brought the challenge to your knights from the King of Mauritania.
+The cowardly old King Dannemont has made the brave Ogier prisoner,
+and has prevailed on our general to refuse to give him up. I come
+to make amends for this ungenerous conduct by yielding myself,
+Carahue, King of Mauritania, your prisoner."
+
+Charlemagne, with all his peers, admired the magnanimity of
+Carahue; he raised him, embraced him, and restored to him his
+sword. "Prince," said he, "your presence and the bright example
+you afford my knights consoles me for the loss of Ogier. Would to
+God you might receive our holy faith, and be wholly united with
+us." All the lords of the court, led by Duke Namo, paid their
+respects to the King of Mauritania. Charlot only failed to appear,
+fearing to be recognized as a traitor; but the heart of Carahue
+was too noble to pierce that of Charlemagne by telling him the
+treachery of his son.
+
+Meanwhile the Saracen army was rent by discord. The troops of
+Carahue clamored against the commander-in-chief because their king
+was left in captivity. They even threatened to desert the cause
+and turn their arms against their allies. Charlemagne pressed the
+siege vigorously, till at length the Saracen leaders found
+themselves compelled to abandon the city and betake themselves to
+their ships. A truce was made; Ogier was exchanged for Carahue,
+and the two friends embraced one another with vows of perpetual
+brotherhood. The Pope was reestablished in his dominions, and
+Italy being tranquil, Charlemagne returned with his peers and
+their followers to France.
+
+OGIER, THE DANE (Continued)
+
+CHARLEMAGNE had not forgotten the offence of Geoffroy, the King of
+Denmark, in withholding homage, and now prepared to enforce
+submission. But at this crisis he was waited upon by an embassy
+from Geoffroy, acknowledging his fault, and craving assistance
+against an army of invaders who had attacked his states with a
+force which he was unable to repel. The soul of Charlemagne was
+too great to be implacable, and he took this opportunity to test
+that of Ogier, who had felt acutely the unkindness of his father,
+in leaving him, without regard or notice, fifteen years in
+captivity. Charles asked Ogier whether, in spite of his father's
+neglect, he was disposed to lead an army to his assistance. He
+replied, "A son can never be excused from helping his father by
+any cause short of death." Charlemagne placed an army of a
+thousand knights under the command of Ogier, and great numbers
+more volunteered to march under so distinguished a leader. He flew
+to the succor of his father, repelled the invaders, and drove them
+in confusion to their vessels. Ogier then hastened to the capital,
+but as he drew near the city he heard all the bells sounding a
+knell. He soon learned the cause; it was the obsequies of
+Geoffroy, the King. Ogier felt keenly the grief of not having been
+permitted to embrace his father once more, and to learn his latest
+commands; but he found that his father had declared him heir to
+his throne. He hastened to the church where the body lay; he knelt
+and bathed the lifeless form with his tears. At that moment a
+celestial light beamed all around, and a voice of an angel said,
+"Ogier, leave thy crown to Guyon, thy brother, and bear no other
+title than that of 'The Dane.' Thy destiny is glorious, and other
+kingdoms are reserved for thee." Ogier obeyed the divine behest.
+He saluted his stepmother respectfully, and embracing his brother,
+told him that he was content with his lot in being reckoned among
+the paladins of Charlemagne, and resigned all claims to the crown
+of Denmark.
+
+Ogier returned covered with glory to the court of Charlemagne, and
+the Emperor, touched with this proof of his attachment, loaded him
+with caresses, and treated him almost as an equal.
+
+We pass in silence the adventures of Ogier for several ensuing
+years, in which the fairy-gifts of his infancy showed their force
+in making him successful in all enterprises, both of love and war.
+He married the charming Belicene, and became the father of young
+Baldwin, a youth who seemed to inherit in full measure the
+strength and courage of his father and the beauty of his mother.
+When the lad was old enough to be separated from his mother, Ogier
+took him to court and presented him to Charlemagne, who embraced
+him and took him into his service. It seemed to Duke Namo, and all
+the elder knights, as if they saw in him Ogier himself, as he was
+when a youth; and this resemblance won for the lad their kind
+regards. Even Charlot at first seemed to be fond of him, though
+after a while the resemblance to Ogier which he noticed had the
+effect to excite his hatred.
+
+Baldwin was attentive to Charlot, and lost no occasion to be
+serviceable. The Prince loved to play chess, and Baldwin, who
+played well, often made a party with him.
+
+One day Charlot was nettled at losing two pieces in succession; he
+thought he could, by taking a piece from Baldwin, get some amends
+for his loss; but Baldwin, seeing him fall into a trap which he
+had set for him, could not help a slight laugh, as he said,
+"Check-mate." Chariot rose in a fury, seized the rich and heavy
+chess-board, and dashed it with all his strength on the head of
+Baldwin, who fell, and died where he fell.
+
+Frightened at his own crime, and fearing the vengeance of the
+terrible Ogier, Charlot concealed himself in the interior of the
+palace. A young companion of Baldwin hastened and informed Ogier
+of the event. He ran to the chamber, and beheld the body of his
+child bathed in blood, and it could not be concealed from him that
+Charlot gave the blow. Transported with rage, Ogier sought Charlot
+through the palace, and Charlot, feeling safe nowhere else, took
+refuge in the hall of Charlemagne, where he seated himself at
+table with Duke Namo and Salomon, Duke of Brittany. Ogier, with
+sword drawn, followed him to the very table of the Emperor. When a
+cupbearer attempted to bar his way he struck the cup from his hand
+and dashed the contents in the Emperor's face. Charles rose in a
+passion, seized a knife, and would have plunged it into his
+breast, had not Salomon and another baron thrown themselves
+between, while Namo, who had retained his ancient influence over
+Ogier, drew him out of the room. Foreseeing the consequence of
+this violence, pitying Ogier, and in his heart excusing him, Namo
+hurried him away before the guards of the palace could arrest him,
+made him mount his horse, and leave Paris.
+
+Charlemagne called together his peers, and made them take an oath
+to do all in their power to arrest Ogier, and bring him to condign
+punishment. Ogier on his part sent messages to the Emperor,
+offering to give himself up on condition that Charlot should be
+punished for his atrocious crime. The Emperor would listen to no
+conditions, and went in pursuit of Ogier at the head of a large
+body of soldiers. Ogier, on the other hand, was warmly supported
+by many knights, who pledged themselves in his defence. The
+contest raged long, with no decisive results. Ogier more than once
+had the Emperor in his power, but declined to avail himself of his
+advantage, and released him without conditions. He even implored
+pardon for himself, but demanded at the same time the punishment
+of Charlot. But Charlemagne was too blindly fond of his unworthy
+son to subject him to punishment for the sake of conciliating one
+who had been so deeply injured.
+
+At length, distressed at the blood which his friends had lost in
+his cause, Ogier dismissed his little army, and slipping away from
+those who wished to attend him, took his course to rejoin the Duke
+Guyon, his brother. On his way, having reached the forest of
+Ardennes, weary with long travel, the freshness of a retired
+valley tempted him to lie down to take some repose. He unsaddled
+Beiffror, relieved himself of his helmet, lay down on the turf,
+rested his head on his shield, and slept.
+
+It so happened that Turpin, who occasionally recalled to mind that
+he was Archbishop of Rheins, was at that time in the vicinity,
+making a pastoral visit to the churches under his jurisdiction.
+But his dignity of peer of France, and his martial spirit, which
+caused him to be reckoned among the "preux chevaliers" of his
+time, forbade him to travel without as large a retinue of knights
+as he had of clergymen. One of these was thirsty, and knowing the
+fountain on the borders of which Ogier was reposing, he rode to
+it, and was struck by the sight of a knight stretched on the
+ground. He hastened back, and let the Archbishop know, who
+approached the fountain, and recognized Ogier.
+
+The first impulse of the good and generous Turpin was to save his
+friend, for whom he felt the warmest attachment; but his
+archdeacons and knights, who also recognized Ogier, reminded the
+Archbishop of the oath which the Emperor had exacted of them all.
+Turpin could not be false to his oath; but it was not without a
+groan that he permitted his followers to bind the sleeping knight.
+The Archbishop's attendants secured the horse and arms of Ogier,
+and conducted their prisoner to the Emperor at Soissons.
+
+The Emperor had become so much embittered by Ogier's obstinate
+resistance, added to his original fault, that he was disposed to
+order him to instant death. But Turpin, seconded by the good Dukes
+Namo and Salomon, prayed so hard for him that Charlemagne
+consented to remit a violent death, but sentenced him to close
+imprisonment, under the charge of the Archbishop, strictly
+limiting his food to one quarter of a loaf of bread per day, with
+one piece of meat, and a quarter of a cup of wine. In this way he
+hoped to quickly put an end to his life without bringing on
+himself the hostility of the King of Denmark, and other powerful
+friends of Ogier. He exacted a new oath of Turpin to obey his
+order strictly.
+
+The good Archbishop loved Ogier too well not to cast about for
+some means of saving his life, which he foresaw he would soon lose
+if subjected to such scanty fare, for Ogier was seven feet tall,
+and had an appetite in proportion. Turpin remembered, moreover,
+that Ogier was a true son of the Church, always zealous to
+propagate the faith and subdue unbelievers; so he felt justified
+in practising on this occasion what in later times has been
+entitled "mental reservation," without swerving from the letter of
+the oath which he had taken. This is the method he hit upon.
+
+Every morning he had his prisoner supplied with a quarter of a
+loaf of bread, made of two bushels of flour, to this he added a
+quarter of a sheep or a fat calf, and he had a cup made which held
+forty pints of wine, and allowed Ogier a quarter of it daily.
+
+Ogier's imprisonment lasted long; Charlemagne was astonished to
+hear, from time to time, that he still held out; and when he
+inquired more particularly of Turpin, the good Archbishop, relying
+on his own understanding of the words, did not hesitate to affirm
+positively that he allowed his prisoner no more than the permitted
+ration.
+
+We forgot to say that, when Ogier was led prisoner to Soissons,
+the Abbot of Saint Faron, observing the fine horse Beiffror, and
+not having at the time any other favor to ask of Charlemagne,
+begged the Emperor to give him the horse, and had him taken to his
+abbey. He was impatient to try his new acquisition, and when he
+had arrived in his litter at the foot of the mountain where the
+horse had been brought to meet him mounted him and rode onward.
+The horse, accustomed to bear the enormous weight of Ogier in his
+armor, when he perceived nothing on his back but the light weight
+of the Abbot, whose long robes fluttered against his sides, ran
+away, making prodigious leaps over the steep acclivities of the
+mountain till he reached the convent of Jouaire, where, in sight
+of the Abbess and her nuns, he threw the Abbot, already half dead
+with fright, to the ground. The Abbot, bruised and mortified,
+revenged himself on poor Beiffror, whom he condemned, in his
+wrath, to be given to the workmen to drag stones for a chapel that
+he was building near the abbey. Thus, ill-fed, hard-worked, and
+often beaten, the noble horse Beiffror passed the time while his
+master's imprisonment lasted.
+
+That imprisonment would have been as long as his life if it had
+not been for some important events which forced the Emperor to set
+Ogier at liberty.
+
+The Emperor learned at the same time that Carahue, King of
+Mauritania, was assembling an army to come and demand the
+liberation of Ogier; that Guyon, King of Denmark, was prepared to
+second the enterprise with all his forces; and, worse than all,
+that the Saracens, under Bruhier, Sultan of Arabia, had landed in
+Gascony, taken Bordeaux, and were marching with all speed for
+Paris.
+
+Charlemagne now felt how necessary the aid of Ogier was to him.
+But, in spite of the representations of Turpin, Namo, and Salomon,
+he could not bring himself to consent to surrender Charlot to such
+punishment as Ogier should see fit to impose. Besides, he believed
+that Ogier was without strength and vigor, weakened by
+imprisonment and long abstinence.
+
+At this crisis he received a message from Bruhier, proposing to
+put the issue upon the result of a combat between himself and the
+Emperor or his champion; promising, if defeated, to withdraw his
+army. Charlemagne would willingly have accepted the challenge, but
+his counsellors all opposed it. The herald was therefore told that
+the Emperor would take time to consider his proposition, and give
+his answer the next day.
+
+It was during this interval that the three Dukes succeeded in
+prevailing upon Charlemagne to pardon Ogier, and to send for him
+to combat the puissant enemy who now defied him; but it was no
+easy task to persuade Ogier. The idea of his long imprisonment and
+the recollection of his son, bleeding and dying in his arms by the
+blow of the ferocious Charlot, made him long resist the urgency of
+his friends. Though glory called him to encounter Bruhier, and the
+safety of Christendom demanded the destruction of this proud enemy
+of the faith, Ogier only yielded at last on condition that Charlot
+should be delivered into his hands to be dealt with as he should
+see fit.
+
+The terms were hard, but the danger was pressing, and Charlemagne,
+with a returning sense of justice, and a strong confidence in the
+generous though passionate soul of Ogier, at last consented to
+them.
+
+Ogier was led into the presence of Charlemagne by the three peers.
+The Emperor, faithful to his word, had caused Charlot to be
+brought into the hall where the high barons were assembled, his
+hands tied, and his head uncovered. When the Emperor saw Ogier
+approach he took Charlot by the arm, led him towards Ogier, and
+said these words: "I surrender the criminal; do with him as you
+think fit." Ogier, without replying, seized Charlot by the hair,
+forced him on his knees, and lifted with the other hand his
+irresistible sword. Charlemagne, who expected to see the head of
+his son rolling at his feet, shut his eyes and uttered a cry of
+horror.
+
+Ogier had done enough. The next moment he raised Charlot, cut his
+bonds, kissed him on the mouth, and hastened to throw himself at
+the feet of the Emperor.
+
+Nothing can exceed the surprise and joy of Charlemagne at seeing
+his son unharmed and Ogier kneeling at his feet. He folded him in
+his arms, bathed him with tears, and exclaimed to his barons, "I
+feel at this moment that Ogier is greater than I." As for Charlot,
+his base soul felt nothing but the joy of having escaped death; he
+remained such as he had been, and it was not till some years
+afterwards he received the punishment he deserved, from the hands
+of Huon of Bordeaux, as we have seen in a former chapter.
+
+OGIER, THE DANE (Continued)
+
+WHEN Charlemagne had somewhat recovered his composure he was
+surprised to observe that Ogier appeared in good case, and had a
+healthy color in his cheeks. He turned to the Archbishop, who
+could not help blushing as he met his eye. "By the head of Bertha,
+my queen," said Charlemagne, "Ogier has had good quarters in your
+castle, my Lord Archbishop; but so much the more am I indebted to
+you." All the barons laughed and jested with Turpin, who only
+said, "Laugh as much as you please, my lords; but for my part I am
+not sorry to see the arm in full vigor that is to avenge us on the
+proud Saracen."
+
+Charlemagne immediately despatched his herald, accepting the
+challenge, and appointing the next day but one for the encounter.
+The proud and crafty Bruhier laughed scornfully when he heard the
+reply accepting his challenge, for he had a reliance on certain
+resources besides his natural strength and skill. However, he
+swore by Mahomet to observe the conditions as proposed and agreed
+upon.
+
+Ogier now demanded his armor, and it was brought to him in
+excellent condition, for the good Turpin had kept it faithfully;
+but it was not easy to provide a horse for the occasion.
+Charlemagne had the best horses of his stables brought out, except
+Blanchard, his own charger; but all in vain, the weight of Ogier
+bent their backs to the ground. In this embarrassment the
+Archbishop remembered that the Emperor had given Beiffror to the
+Abbot of St. Faron, and sent off a courier in haste to re-demand
+him.
+
+Monks are hard masters, and the one who directed the laborers at
+the abbey had but too faithfully obeyed the orders of the Abbot.
+Poor Beiffror was brought back, lean, spiritless, and chafed with
+the harness of the vile cart that he had had to draw so long. He
+carried his head down, and trod heavily before Charlemagne; but
+when he heard the voice of Ogier he raised his head, he neighed,
+his eyes flashed, his former ardor showed itself by the force with
+which he pawed the ground. Ogier caressed him, and the good steed
+seemed to return his caresses; Ogier mounted him, and Beiffror,
+proud of carrying his master again, leapt and curvetted with all
+his youthful vigor.
+
+Nothing being now wanted, Charlemagne, at the head of his army,
+marched forth from the city of Paris, and occupied the hill of
+Montmartre, whence the view extended over the plain of St. Denis,
+where the battle was to be fought.
+
+When the appointed day came the Dukes Namo and Salomon, as seconds
+of Ogier, accompanied him to the place marked out for the lists,
+and Bruhier, with two distinguished Emirs, presented himself on
+the other side.
+
+Bruhier was in high spirits, and jested with his friends, as he
+advanced, upon the appearance of Beiffror. "Is that the horse they
+presume to match with Marchevallee, the best steed that ever fed
+in the vales of Mount Atlas?" But now the combatants, having met
+and saluted each other, ride apart to come together in full
+career. Beiffror flew over the plain, and met the adversary more
+than half-way. The lances of the two combatants were shivered at
+the shock, and Bruhier was astonished to see almost at the same
+instant the sword of Ogier gleaming above his head. He parried it
+with his buckler, and gave Ogier a blow on his helmet, who
+returned it with another, better aimed or better seconded by the
+temper of his blade, for it cut away part of Bruhier's helmet, and
+with it his ear and part of his cheek. Ogier, seeing the blood,
+did not immediately repeat his blow, and Bruhier seized the moment
+to gallop off at one side. As he rode he took a vase of gold which
+hung at his saddle-bow, and bathed with its contents the wounded
+part. The blood instantly ceased to flow, the ear and the flesh
+were restored quite whole, and the Dane was astonished to see his
+antagonist return to the ground as sound as ever.
+
+Bruhier laughed at his amazement. "Know," said he, "that I possess
+the precious balm that Joseph of Arimathea used upon the body of
+the crucified one, whom you worship. If I should lose an arm I
+could restore it with a few drops of this. It is useless for you
+to contend with me. Yield yourself, and, as you appear to be a
+strong fellow, I will make you first oarsman in one of my
+galleys."
+
+Ogier, though boiling with rage, forgot not to implore the
+assistance of Heaven. "O Lord!" he exclaimed, "suffer not the
+enemy of thy name to profit by the powerful help of that which
+owes all its virtue to thy divine blood." At these words he
+attacked Bruhier again with more vigor than ever; both struck
+terrible blows, and made grievous wounds; but the blood flowed
+from those of Ogier, while Bruhier stanched his by the application
+of his balm. Ogier, desperate at the unequal contest, grasped
+Cortana with both hands, and struck his enemy such a blow that it
+cleft his buckler, and cut off his arm with it; but Bruhier at the
+same time launched one at Ogier, which, missing him, struck the
+head of Beiffror, and the good horse fell, and drew down his
+master in his fall.
+
+Bruhier had time to leap to the ground, to pick up his arm and
+apply his balsam; then, before Ogier had recovered his footing, he
+rushed forward with sword uplifted to complete his destruction.
+
+Charlemagne, from the height of Montmartre, seeing the brave Ogier
+in this situation, groaned, and was ready to murmur against
+Providence; but the good Turpin, raising his arms, with a faith
+like that of Moses, drew down upon the Christian warrior the favor
+of Heaven.
+
+Ogier, promptly disengaging himself, pressed Bruhier with so much
+impetuosity that he drove him to a distance from his horse, to
+whose saddle-bow the precious balm was suspended; and very soon
+Charlemagne saw Ogier, now completely in the advantage, bring his
+enemy to his knees, tear off his helmet, and, with a sweep of his
+sword, strike his head from his body.
+
+After the victory, Ogier seized Marchevallee, leaped upon his
+back, and became possessed of the precious flask, a few drops from
+which closed his wounds and restored his strength. The French
+knights who had been Bruhier's captives, now released, pressed
+round Ogier to thank him for their deliverance.
+
+Charlemagne and his nobles, as soon as their attention was
+relieved from the single combat, perceived from their elevated
+position an unusual agitation in the enemy's camp. They attributed
+it at first to the death of their general, but soon the noise of
+arms, the cries of combatants, and new standards which advanced,
+disclosed to them the fact that Bruhier's army was attacked by a
+new enemy.
+
+The Emperor was right; it was the brave Carahue of Mauritania,
+who, with an army, had arrived in France, resolved to attempt the
+liberation of Ogier, his brother in arms. Learning on his arrival
+the changed aspect of affairs, he hesitated not to render a signal
+service to the Emperor, by attacking the army of Bruhier in the
+midst of the consternation occasioned by the loss of its
+commander.
+
+Ogier recognized the standard of his friend, and leaping upon
+Marchevallee, flew to aid his attack. Charlemagne followed with
+his army; and the Saracen host, after an obstinate conflict, was
+forced to surrender unconditionally.
+
+The interview of Ogier and Carahue was such as might be
+anticipated of two such attached friends and accomplished knights.
+Charlemagne went to meet them, embraced them, and putting the King
+of Mauritania on his right and Ogier on his left, returned with
+triumph to Paris. There the Empress Bertha and the ladies of her
+court crowned them with laurels, and the sage and gallant
+Eginhard, chamberlain and secretary of the Emperor, wrote all
+these great events in his history.
+
+A few days after Guyon, King of Denmark, arrived in France with a
+chosen band of knights, and sent an ambassador to Charlemagne, to
+say that he came, not as an enemy, but to render homage to him as
+the best knight of the time and the head of the Christian world.
+Charlemagne gave the ambassador a cordial reception, and mounting
+his horse, rode forward to meet the King of Denmark.
+
+These great princes, being assembled at the court of Charles, held
+council together, and the ancient and sage barons were called to
+join it.
+
+It was decided that the united Danish and Mauritanian armies
+should cross the sea and carry the war to the country of the
+Saracens, and that a thousand French knights should range
+themselves under the banner of Ogier, the Dane, who, though not a
+king, should have equal rank with the two others.
+
+We have not space to record all the illustrious actions performed
+by Ogier and his allies in this war. Suffice it to say, they
+subdued the Saracens of Ptolemais and Judaea, and, erecting those
+regions into a kingdom, placed the crown upon the head of Ogier.
+Guyon and Carahue then left him, to return to their respective
+dominions. Ogier adopted Walter, the son of Guyon of Denmark, to
+be his successor in his kingdom. He superintended his education,
+and saw the young prince grow up worthy of his cares. But Ogier,
+in spite of all the honors of his rank, often regretted the court
+of Charlemagne, the Duke Namo, and Salomon of Brittany, for whom
+he had the respect and attachment of a son. At last, finding
+Walter old enough to sustain the weight of government, Ogier
+caused a vessel to be prepared secretly, and, attended only by one
+squire, left his palace by night, and embarked to return to
+France.
+
+The vessel, driven by a fair wind, cut the sea with the swiftness
+of a bird; but on a sudden it deviated from its course, no longer
+obeyed the helm, and sped fast towards a black promontory which
+stretched into the sea. This was a mountain of loadstone, and, its
+attractive power increasing as the distance diminished, the vessel
+at last flew with the swiftness of an arrow towards it, and was
+dashed to pieces on its rocky base. Ogier alone saved himself, and
+reached the shore on a fragment of the wreck.
+
+Ogier advanced into the country, looking for some marks of
+inhabitancy, but found none. On a sudden he encountered two
+monstrous animals, covered with glittering scales, accompanied by
+a horse breathing fire. Ogier drew his sword and prepared to
+defend himself; but the monsters, terrific as they appeared, made
+no attempt to assail him, and the horse, Papillon, knelt down, and
+appeared to court Ogier to mount upon his back. Ogier hesitated
+not to see the adventure through; he mounted Papillon, who ran
+with speed, and soon cleared the rocks and precipices which hemmed
+in and concealed a beautiful landscape. He continued his course
+till he reached a magnificent palace, and, without allowing Ogier
+time to admire it, crossed a grand court-yard adorned with
+colonnades, and entered a garden, where, making his way through
+alleys of myrtle, he checked his course, and knelt down on the
+enamelled turf of a fountain.
+
+Ogier dismounted and took some steps along the margin of the
+stream, but was soon stopped by meeting a young beauty, such as
+they paint the Graces, and almost as lightly attired as they. At
+the same moment, to his amazement, his armor fell off of its own
+accord. The young beauty advanced with a tender air, and placed
+upon his head a crown of flowers. At that instant the Danish hero
+lost his memory; his combats, his glory, Charlemagne and his
+court, all vanished from his mind; he saw only Morgana, he desired
+nothing but to sigh forever at her feet.
+
+We abridge the narrative of all the delights which Ogier enjoyed
+for more than a hundred years. Time flew by, leaving no impression
+of its flight. Morgana's youthful charms did not decay, and Ogier
+had none of those warnings of increasing years which less favored
+mortals never fail to receive. There is no knowing how long this
+blissful state might have lasted, if it had not been for an
+accident, by which Morgana one day, in a sportive moment, snatched
+the crown from his head. That moment Ogier regained his memory,
+and lost his contentment. The recollection of Charlemagne, and of
+his own relatives and friends, saddened the hours which he passed
+with Morgana. The fairy saw with grief the changed looks of her
+lover. At last she drew from him the acknowledgment that he wished
+to go, at least for a time, to revisit Charles's court. She
+consented with reluctance, and with her own hands helped to
+reinvest him with his armor. Papillon was led forth, Ogier mounted
+him, and, taking a tender adieu of the tearful Morgana, crossed at
+rapid speed the rocky belt which separated Morgana's palace from
+the borders of the sea. The sea-goblins which had received him at
+his coming awaited him on the shore. One of them took Ogier on his
+back, and the other placing himself under Papillon, they spread
+their broad fins, and in a short time traversed the wide space
+that separates the isle of Avalon from France. They landed Ogier
+on the coast of Languedoc, and then plunged into the sea and
+disappeared.
+
+Ogier remounted on Papillon, who carried him across the kingdom
+almost as fast as he had passed the sea. He arrived under the
+walls of Paris, which he would scarcely have recognized if the
+high towers of St. Genevieve had not caught his eye. He went
+straight to the palace of Charlemagne, which seemed to him to have
+been entirely rebuilt. His surprise was extreme, and increased
+still more on finding that he understood with difficulty the
+language of the guards and attendants in replying to his
+questions; and seeing them smile as they tried to explain to one
+another the language in which he addressed them. Presently the
+attention of some of the barons who were going to court was
+attracted to the scene, and Ogier, who recognized the badges of
+their rank, addressed them, and inquired if the Dukes Namo and
+Salomon were still residing at the Emperor's court. At this
+question the barons looked at one another in amazement; and one of
+the eldest said to the rest, "How much this knight resembles the
+portrait of my grand-uncle, Ogier the Dane." "Ah! my dear nephew,
+I am Ogier the Dane," said he; and he remembered that Morgana had
+told him that he was little aware of the flight of time during his
+abode with her.
+
+The barons, more astonished than ever, concluded to conduct him to
+the monarch who then reigned, the great Hugh Capet.
+
+The brave Ogier entered the palace without hesitation; but when,
+on reaching the royal hall, the barons directed him to make his
+obeisance to the King of France, he was astonished to see a man of
+short stature and large head, whose air, nevertheless, was noble
+and martial, seated upon the throne on which he had so often seen
+Charlemagne, the tallest and handsomest sovereign of his time.
+
+Ogier recounted his adventures with simplicity and affectedness.
+Hugh Capet was slow to believe him; but Ogier recalled so many
+proofs and circumstances, that at last he was forced to recognize
+the aged warrior to be the famous Ogier the Dane.
+
+The king informed Ogier of the events which had taken place during
+his long absence; that the line of Charlemagne was extinct; that a
+new dynasty had commenced; that the old enemies of the kingdom,
+the Saracens, were still troublesome; and that at that very time
+an army of those miscreants was besieging the city of Chartres, to
+which he was about to repair in a few days to its relief. Ogier,
+always inflamed with the love of glory, offered the service of his
+arm, which the illustrious monarch accepted graciously, and
+conducted him to the queen. The astonishment of Ogier was
+redoubled when he saw the new ornaments and head-dresses of the
+ladies; still, the beautiful hair which they built up on their
+foreheads, and the feathers interwoven, which waved with so much
+grace, gave them a noble air that delighted him. His admiration
+increased when, instead of the old Empress Bertha, he saw a young
+queen who combined a majestic mien with the graces of her time of
+life, and manners candid and charming, suited to attach all
+hearts. Ogier saluted the youthful queen with a respect so
+profound that many of the courtiers took him for a foreigner, or
+at least for some nobleman brought up at a distance from Paris,
+who retained the manners of what they called the old court.
+
+When the queen was informed by her husband that it was the
+celebrated Ogier the Dane whom he presented to her, whose
+memorable exploits she had often read in the chronicles of
+antiquity, her surprise was extreme, which was increased when she
+remarked the dignity of his address, the animation and even the
+youthfulness of his countenance. This queen had too much
+intelligence to believe hastily; proof alone could compel her
+assent; and she asked him many questions about the old court of
+Charlemagne, and received such instructive and appropriate answers
+as removed every doubt. It is to the corrections which Ogier was
+at that time enabled to make to the popular narratives of his
+exploits that we are indebted for the perfect accuracy and
+trustworthiness of all the details of our own history.
+
+King Hugh Capet, having received that same evening couriers from
+the inhabitants of Chartres, informing him that they were hard
+pressed by the besiegers, resolved to hasten with Ogier to their
+relief.
+
+Ogier terminated this affair as expeditiously as he had so often
+done others. The Saracens having dared to offer battle, he bore
+the Oriflamme through the thickest of their ranks; Papillon,
+breathing fire from his nostrils, threw them into disorder, and
+Cortana, wielded by his invincible arm, soon finished their
+overthrow.
+
+The king, victorious over the Saracens, led back the Danish hero
+to Paris, where the deliverer of France received the honors due to
+his valor. Ogier continued some time at the court, detained by the
+favor of the king and queen; but erelong he had the pain to
+witness the death of the king. Then it was that, impressed with
+all the perfections which he had discerned in the queen, he could
+not withhold the tender homage of the offer of his hand. The queen
+would perhaps have accepted it, she had even called a meeting of
+her great barons to deliberate on the proposition, when, the day
+before the meeting was to be held, at the moment when Ogier was
+kneeling at her feet, she perceived a crown of gold which an
+invisible hand had placed on his brow, and in an instant a cloud
+enveloped Ogier, and he disappeared forever from her sight. It was
+Morgana, the fairy, whose jealousy was awakened at what she
+beheld, who now resumed her power, and took him away to dwell with
+her in the island of Avalon. There, in company with the great King
+Arthur of Britain, he still lives, and when his illustrious friend
+shall return to resume his ancient reign he will doubtless return
+with him, and share his triumph.
+
+
+
+
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+
+Abdalrahman, founder of the independent Ommiad (Saracenic) power
+in Spain, conquered at Tours by Charles Martel
+
+Aberfraw, scene of nuptials of Branwen and Matholch
+
+Absyrtus, younger brother of Medea
+
+Abydos, a town on the Hellespont, nearly opposite to Sestos
+
+Abyla, Mount, or Columna, a mountain in Morocco, near Ceuta, now
+called Jebel Musa or Ape's Hill, forming the Northwestern
+extremity of the African coast opposite Gibraltar (See Pillars of
+Hercules)
+
+Acestes, son of a Trojan woman who was sent by her father to
+Sicily, that she might not be devoured by the monsters which
+infested the territory of Troy
+
+Acetes, Bacchanal captured by Pentheus
+
+Achates, faithful friend and companion of Aeneas
+
+Achelous, river-god of the largest river in Greece--his Horn of
+Plenty
+
+Achilles, the hero of the Iliad, son of Peleus and of the Nereid
+Thetis, slain by Paris
+
+Acis, youth loved by Galatea and slain by Polyphemus
+
+Acontius, a beautiful youth, who fell in love with Cydippe, the
+daughter of a noble Athenian.
+
+Acrisius, son of Abas, king of Argos, grandson of Lynceus, the
+great-grandson of Danaus.
+
+Actaeon, a celebrated huntsman, son of Aristaeus and Autonoe, who,
+having seen Diana bathing, was changed by her to a stag and killed
+by his own dogs.
+
+Admeta, daughter of Eurystheus, covets Hippolyta's girdle.
+
+Admetus, king of Thessaly, saved from death by Alcestis
+
+Adonis, a youth beloved by Aphrodite (Venus), and Proserpine;
+killed by a boar.
+
+Adrastus, a king of Argos.
+
+Aeacus, son of Zeus (Jupiter) and Aegina, renowned in all Greece
+for his justice and piety.
+
+Aeaea, Circe's island, visited by Ulysses.
+
+Aeetes, or Aeeta, son of Helios (the Sun) and Perseis, and father
+of Medea and Absyrtus.
+
+Aegeus, king of Athens.
+
+Aegina, a rocky island in the middle of the Saronic gulf.
+
+Aegis, shield or breastplate of Jupiter and Minerva.
+
+Aegisthus, murderer of Agamemnon, slain by Orestes.
+
+Aeneas, Trojan hero, son of Anchises and Aphrodite (Venus), and
+born on Mount Ida, reputed first settler of Rome,
+
+Aeneid, poem by Virgil, relating the wanderings of Aeneas from
+Troy to Italy,
+
+Ae'olus, son of Hellen and the nymph Orseis, represented in Homer
+as the happy ruler of the Aeolian Islands, to whom Zeus had given
+dominion over the winds,
+
+Aesculapius, god of the medical art,
+
+Aeson, father of Jason, made young again by Medea,
+
+Aethiopians, inhabitants of the country south of Egypt,
+
+Aethra, mother of Theseus by Aegeus,
+
+Aetna, volcano in Sicily,
+
+Agamedes, brother of Trophonius, distinguished as an architect,
+
+Agamemnon, son of Plisthenis and grandson of Atreus, king of
+Mycenae, although the chief commander of the Greeks, is not the
+hero of the Iliad, and in chivalrous spirit altogether inferior to
+Achilles,
+
+Agave, daughter of Cadmus, wife of Echion, and mother of Pentheus,
+
+Agenor, father of Europa, Cadmus, Cilix, and Phoenix,
+
+Aglaia, one of the Graces,
+
+Agni, Hindu god of fire,
+
+Agramant, a king in Africa,
+
+Agrican, fabled king of Tartary, pursuing Angelica, finally killed
+by Orlando,
+
+Agrivain, one of Arthur's knights,
+
+Ahriman, the Evil Spirit in the dual system of Zoroaster, See
+Ormuzd
+
+Ajax, son of Telamon, king of Salamis, and grandson of Aeacus,
+represented in the Iliad as second only to Achilles in bravery,
+
+Alba, the river where King Arthur fought the Romans,
+
+Alba Longa, city in Italy founded by son of Aeneas,
+
+Alberich, dwarf guardian of Rhine gold treasure of the Nibelungs
+
+Albracca, siege of,
+
+Alcestis, wife of Admetus, offered hersell as sacrifice to spare
+her husband, but rescued by Hercules,
+
+Alcides (Hercules),
+
+Alcina, enchantress,
+
+Alcinous, Phaeacian king,
+
+Alcippe, daughter of Mars, carried off by Halirrhothrus,
+
+Alcmena, wife of Jupiter, and mother of Hercules,
+
+Alcuin, English prelate and scholar,
+
+Aldrovandus, dwarf guardian of treasure,
+
+Alecto, one of the Furies,
+
+Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, conqueror of Greece,
+Egypt, Persia, Babylonia, and India,
+
+Alfadur, a name for Odin,
+
+Alfheim, abode of the elves of light,
+
+Alice, mother of Huon and Girard, sons of Duke Sevinus,
+
+Alphenor, son of Niobe,
+
+Alpheus, river god pursuing Arethusa, who escaped by being changed
+to a fountain,
+
+Althaea, mother of Meleager, whom she slew because he had in a
+quarrel killed her brothers, thus disgracing "the house of
+Thestius," her father,
+
+Amalthea, nurse of the infant Jupiter in Crete,
+
+Amata, wife of Latinus, driven mad by Alecto,
+
+Amaury of Hauteville, false hearted Knight of Charlemagne,
+
+Amazons, mythical race of warlike women,
+
+Ambrosia, celestial food used by the gods,
+
+Ammon, Egyptian god of life identified by Romans with phases of
+Jupiter, the father of gods,
+
+Amphiaraus, a great prophet and hero at Argos,
+
+Amphion, a musician, son of Jupiter and Antiope (See Dirce),
+
+Amphitrite, wife of Neptune,
+
+Amphyrsos, a small river in Thessaly,
+
+Ampyx, assailant of Perseus, turned to stone by seeing Gorgon's
+head,
+
+Amrita, nectar giving immortality,
+
+Amun, See Ammon
+
+Amymone, one of the fifty daughters of Danaus, and mother by
+Poseidon (Neptune) of Nauplius, the father of Palamedes,
+
+Anaxarete, a maiden of Cyprus, who treated her lover Iphis with
+such haughtiness that he hanged himself at her door,
+
+Anbessa, Saracenic governor of Spain (725 AD),
+
+Anceus, one of the Argonauts,
+
+Anchises, beloved by Aphrodite (Venus), by whom he became the
+father of Aeneas,
+
+Andraemon, husband of Dryope, saw her changed into a tree,
+
+Andret, a cowardly knight, spy upon Tristram,
+
+Andromache, wife of Hector
+
+Andromeda, daughter of King Cephas, delivered from monster by
+Perseus
+
+Aneurin, Welsh bard
+
+Angelica, Princess of Cathay
+
+Anemone, short lived wind flower, created by Venus from the blood
+of the slain Adonis
+
+Angerbode, giant prophetess, mother of Fenris, Hela and the
+Midgard Serpent
+
+Anglesey, a Northern British island, refuge of Druids fleeing from
+Romans
+
+Antaeus, giant wrestler of Libya, killed by Hercules, who, finding
+him stronger when thrown to the earth, lifted him into the air and
+strangled him
+
+Antea, wife of jealous Proetus
+
+Antenor, descendants of, in Italy
+
+Anteros, deity avenging unrequited love, brother of Eros (Cupid)
+
+Anthor, a Greek
+
+Antigone, daughter of Aedipus, Greek ideal of filial and sisterly
+fidelity
+
+Antilochus, son of Nestor
+
+Antiope, Amazonian queen. See Dirce
+
+Anubis, Egyptian god, conductor of the dead to judgment
+
+Apennines
+
+Aphrodite See Venus, Dione, etc.
+
+Apis, Egyptian bull god of Memphis
+
+Apollo, god of music and song
+
+Apollo Belvedere, famous antique statue in Vatican at Rome
+
+Apples of the Hesperides, wedding gifts to Juno, guarded by
+daughters of Atlas and Hesperis, stolen by Atlas for Hercules,
+
+Aquilo, or Boreas, the North Wind,
+
+Aquitaine, ancient province of Southwestern France,
+
+Arachne, a maiden skilled in weaving, changed to a spider by
+Minerva for daring to compete with her,
+
+Arcadia, a country in the middle of Peloponnesus, surrounded on
+all sides by mountains,
+
+Arcady, star of, the Pole star,
+
+Arcas, son of Jupiter and Callisto,
+
+Archer, constellation of the,
+
+Areopagus, court of the, at Athens,
+
+Ares, called Mars by the Romans, the Greek god of war, and one of
+the great Olympian gods,
+
+Arethusa, nymph of Diana, changed to a fountain,
+
+Argius king of Ireland, father of Isoude the Fair,
+
+Argo, builder of the vessel of Jason for the Argonautic
+expedition,
+
+Argolis, city of the Nemean games,
+
+Argonauts, Jason's crew seeking the Golden Fleece,
+
+Argos, a kingdom in Greece,
+
+Argus, of the hundred eyes, guardian of Io,
+
+Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, who helped Theseus slay the
+Minotaur,
+
+Arimanes SEE Ahriman.
+
+Arimaspians, one-eyed people of Syria,
+
+Arion, famous musician, whom sailors cast into the sea to rob him,
+but whose lyric song charmed the dolphins, one of which bore him
+safely to land,
+
+Aristaeus, the bee keeper, in love with Eurydice,
+
+Armorica, another name for Britain,
+
+Arridano, a magical ruffian, slain by Orlando,
+
+Artemis SEE Diana
+
+Arthgallo, brother of Elidure, British king,
+
+Arthur, king in Britain about the 6th century,
+
+Aruns, an Etruscan who killed Camilla,
+
+Asgard, home of the Northern gods,
+
+Ashtaroth, a cruel spirit, called by enchantment to bring Rinaldo
+to death,
+
+Aske, the first man, made from an ash tree,
+
+Astolpho of England, one of Charlemagne's knights,
+
+Astraea, goddess of justice, daughter of Astraeus and Eos,
+
+Astyages, an assailant of Perseus,
+
+Astyanax, son of Hector of Troy, established kingdom of Messina in
+Italy,
+
+Asuias, opponents of the Braminical gods,
+
+Atalanta, beautiful daughter of King of Icaria, loved and won in a
+foot race by Hippomenes,
+
+Ate, the goddess of infatuation, mischief and guilt,
+
+Athamas, son of Aeolus and Enarete, and king of Orchomenus, in
+Boeotia, SEE Ino
+
+Athene, tutelary goddess of Athens, the same as Minerva,
+
+Athens, the capital of Attica, about four miles from the sea,
+between the small rivers Cephissus and Ilissus,
+
+Athor, Egyptian deity, progenitor of Isis and Osiris,
+
+Athos, the mountainous peninsula, also called Acte, which projects
+from Chalcidice in Macedonia,
+
+Atlantes, foster father of Rogero, a powerful magician,
+
+Atlantis, according to an ancient tradition, a great island west
+of the Pillars of Hercules, in the ocean, opposite Mount Atlas,
+
+Atlas, a Titan, who bore the heavens on his shoulders, as
+punishment for opposing the gods, one of the sons of Iapetus,
+
+Atlas, Mount, general name for range in northern Africa,
+
+Atropos, one of the Fates
+
+Attica, a state in ancient Greece,
+
+Audhumbla, the cow from which the giant Ymir was nursed. Her milk
+was frost melted into raindrops,
+
+Augean stables, cleansed by Hercules,
+
+Augeas, king of Elis,
+
+Augustan age, reign of Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar, famed for
+many great authors,
+
+Augustus, the first imperial Caesar, who ruled the Roman Empire 31
+BC--14 AD,
+
+Aulis, port in Boeotia, meeting place of Greek expedition against
+Troy,
+
+Aurora, identical with Eos, goddess of the dawn,
+
+Aurora Borealis, splendid nocturnal luminosity in northern sky,
+called Northern Lights, probably electrical,
+
+Autumn, attendant of Phoebus, the Sun,
+
+Avalon, land of the Blessed, an earthly paradise in the Western
+Seas, burial place of King Arthur,
+
+Avatar, name for any of the earthly incarnations of Vishnu, the
+Preserver (Hindu god),
+
+Aventine, Mount, one of the Seven Hills of Rome,
+
+Avernus, a miasmatic lake close to the promontory between Cumae
+and Puteoli, filling the crater of an extinct volcano, by the
+ancients thought to be the entrance to the infernal regions,
+
+Avicenna, celebrated Arabian physician and philosopher,
+
+Aya, mother of Rinaldo,
+
+Aymon, Duke, father of Rinaldo and Bradamante,
+
+B
+
+Baal, king of Tyre,
+
+Babylonian River, dried up when Phaeton drove the sun chariot,
+
+Bacchanali a, a feast to Bacchus that was permitted to occur but
+once in three years, attended by most shameless orgies,
+
+Bacchanals, devotees and festal dancers of Bacchus,
+
+Bacchus (Dionysus), god of wine and revelry,
+
+Badon, battle of, Arthur's final victory over the Saxons,
+
+Bagdemagus, King, a knight of Arthur's time,
+
+Baldur, son of Odin, and representing in Norse mythology the sun
+god,
+
+Balisardo, Orlando's sword,
+
+Ban, King of Brittany, ally of Arthur, father of Launcelot,
+
+Bards, minstrels of Welsh Druids,
+
+Basilisk SEE Cockatrice
+
+Baucis, wife of Philemon, visited by Jupiter and Mercury,
+
+Bayard, wild horse subdued by Rinaldo,
+
+Beal, Druids' god of life,
+
+Bedivere, Arthur's knight,
+
+Bedver, King Arthur's butler, made governor of Normandy,
+
+Bedwyr, knightly comrade of Geraint,
+
+Belisarda, Rogero's sword,
+
+Bellerophon, demigod, conqueror of the Chimaera,
+
+Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, represented as the sister or
+wife of Mars,
+
+Beltane, Druidical fire festival,
+
+Belus, son of Poseidon (Neptune) and Libya or Eurynome, twin
+brother of Agenor,
+
+Bendigeid Vran, King of Britain,
+
+Beowulf, hero and king of the Swedish Geats,
+
+Beroe, nurse of Semele,
+
+Bertha, mother of Orlando,
+
+Bifrost, rainbow bridge between the earth and Asgard
+
+Bladud, inventor, builder of the city of Bath,
+
+Blamor, a knight of Arthur,
+
+Bleoberis, a knight of Arthur,
+
+Boeotia, state in ancient Greece, capital city Thebes,
+
+Bohort, King, a knight of Arthur,
+
+Bona Dea, a Roman divinity of fertility,
+
+Bootes, also called Areas, son of Jupiter and Calisto, changed to
+constellation of Ursa Major,
+
+Boreas, North wind, son of Aeolus and Aurora,
+
+Bosporus (Bosphorus), the Cow-ford, named for Io, when as a heifer
+she crossed that strait,
+
+Bradamante, sister to Rinaldo, a female warrior,
+
+Brademagus, King, father of Sir Maleagans,
+
+Bragi, Norse god of poetry,
+
+Brahma, the Creator, chief god of Hindu religion,
+
+Branwen, daughter of Llyr, King of Britain, wife of Mathclch,
+
+Breciliande, forest of, where Vivian enticed Merlin,
+
+Brengwain, maid of Isoude the Fair
+
+Brennus, son of Molmutius, went to Gaul, became King of the
+Allobroges,
+
+Breuse, the Pitiless, a caitiff knight,
+
+Briareus, hundred armed giant,
+
+Brice, Bishop, sustainer of Arthur when elected king,
+
+Brigliadoro, Orlando's horse,
+
+Briseis, captive maid belonging to Achilles,
+
+Britto, reputed ancestor of British people,
+
+Bruhier, Sultan of Arabia,
+
+Brunello, dwarf, thief, and king
+
+Brunhild, leader of the Valkyrie,
+
+Brutus, great grandson of Aeneas, and founder of city of New Troy
+(London), SEE Pandrasus
+
+Bryan, Sir, a knight of Arthur,
+
+Buddha, called The Enlightened, reformer of Brahmanism, deified
+teacher of self abnegation, virtue, reincarnation, Karma
+(inevitable sequence of every act), and Nirvana (beatific
+absorption into the Divine), lived about
+
+Byblos, in Egypt,
+
+Byrsa, original site of Carthage,
+
+C
+
+Cacus, gigantic son of Vulcan, slain by Hercules, whose captured
+cattle he stole,
+
+Cadmus, son of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, and of Telephassa, and
+brother of Europa, who, seeking his sister, carried off by
+Jupiter, had strange adventures--sowing in the ground teeth of a
+dragon he had killed, which sprang up armed men who slew each
+other, all but five, who helped Cadmus to found the city of
+Thebes,
+
+Caduceus, Mercury's staff,
+
+Cadwallo, King of Venedotia (North Wales),
+
+Caerleon, traditional seat of Arthur's court,
+
+Caesar, Julius, Roman lawyer, general, statesman and author,
+conquered and consolidated Roman territory, making possible the
+Empire,
+
+Caicus, a Greek river,
+
+Cairns, Druidical store piles,
+
+Calais, French town facing England,
+
+Calchas, wisest soothsayer among the Greeks at Troy,
+
+Caliburn, a sword of Arthur,
+
+Calliope, one of the nine Muses
+
+Callisto, an Arcadian nymph, mother of Arcas (SEE Bootes), changed
+by Jupiter to constellation Ursa Minor,
+
+Calpe, a mountain in the south of Spain, on the strait between the
+Atlantic and Mediterranean, now Rock of Gibraltar,
+
+Calydon, home of Meleager,
+
+Calypso, queen of Island of Ogyia, where Ulysses was wrecked and
+held seven years,
+
+Camber, son of Brutus, governor of West Albion (Wales),
+
+Camelot, legendary place in England where Arthur's court and
+palace were located,
+
+Camenae, prophetic nymphs, belonging to the religion of ancient
+Italy,
+
+Camilla, Volscian maiden, huntress and Amazonian warrior, favorite
+of Diana,
+
+Camlan, battle of, where Arthur was mortally wounded,
+
+Canterbury, English city,
+
+Capaneus, husband of Evadne, slain by Jupiter for disobedience,
+
+Capet, Hugh, King of France (987-996 AD),
+
+Caradoc Briefbras, Sir, great nephew of King Arthur,
+
+Carahue, King of Mauretania,
+
+Carthage, African city, home of Dido
+
+Cassandra, daughter of Priam and Hecuba, and twin sister of
+Helenus, a prophetess, who foretold the coming of the Greeks but
+was not believed,
+
+Cassibellaunus, British chieftain, fought but not conquered by
+Caesar,
+
+Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda,
+
+Castalia, fountain of Parnassus, giving inspiration to Oracular
+priestess named Pythia,
+
+Castalian Cave, oracle of Apollo,
+
+Castes (India),
+
+Castor and Pollux--the Dioscuri, sons of Jupiter and Leda,--
+Castor a horseman, Pollux a boxer (SEE Gemini),
+
+Caucasus, Mount
+
+Cavall, Arthur's favorite dog,
+
+Cayster, ancient river,
+
+Cebriones, Hector's charioteer,
+
+Cecrops, first king of Athens,
+
+Celestials, gods of classic mythology,
+
+Celeus, shepherd who sheltered Ceres, seeking Proserpine, and
+whose infant son Triptolemus was in gratitude made great by Ceres,
+
+Cellini, Benvenuto, famous Italian sculptor and artificer in
+metals,
+
+Celtic nations, ancient Gauls and Britons, modern Bretons, Welsh,
+Irish and Gaelic Scotch,
+
+Centaurs, originally an ancient race, inhabiting Mount Pelion in
+Thessaly, in later accounts represented as half horses and half
+men, and said to have been the offspring of Ixion and a cloud,
+
+Cephalus, husband of beautiful but jealous Procris,
+
+Cephe us, King of Ethiopians, father of Andromeda,
+
+Cephisus, a Grecian stream,
+
+Cerberus, three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades,
+called a son of Typhaon and Echidna
+
+CERES (See Demeter)
+
+CESTUS, the girdle of Venus
+
+CEYX, King of Thessaly (See Halcyone)
+
+CHAOS, original Confusion, personified by Greeks as most ancient
+of the gods
+
+CHARLEMAGNE, king of the Franks and emperor of the Romans
+
+CHARLES MARTEL', king of the Franks, grandfather of Charlemagne,
+called Martel (the Hammer) from his defeat of the Saracens at
+Tours
+
+CHARLOT, son of Charlemagne
+
+CHARON, son of Erebos, conveyed in his boat the shades of the dead
+across the rivers of the lower world
+
+CHARYB'DIS, whirlpool near the coast of Sicily, See Scylla
+
+CHIMAERA, a fire breathing monster, the fore part of whose body
+was that of a lion, the hind part that of a dragon, and the middle
+that of a goat, slain by Bellerophon
+
+CHINA, Lamas (priests) of
+
+CHOS, island in the Grecian archipelago
+
+CHIRON, wisest of all the Centaurs, son of Cronos (Saturn) and
+Philyra, lived on Mount Pelion, instructor of Grecian heroes
+
+CHRYSEIS, Trojan maid, taken by Agamemnon
+
+CHRYSES, priest of Apollo, father of Chryseis
+
+CICONIANS, inhabitants of Ismarus, visited by Ulysses
+
+CIMBRI, an ancient people of Central Europe
+
+Cimmeria, a land of darkness
+
+Cimon, Athenian general
+
+Circe, sorceress, sister of Aeetes
+
+Cithaeron, Mount, scene of Bacchic worship
+
+Clarimunda, wife of Huon
+
+Clio, one of the Muses
+
+Cloridan, a Moor
+
+Clotho, one of the Fates
+
+Clymene, an ocean nymph
+
+Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, killed by Orestes
+
+Clytie, a water nymph, in love with Apollo
+
+Cnidos, ancient city of Asia Minor, seat of worship of Aphrodite
+(Venus)
+
+Cockatrice (or Basilisk), called King of Serpents, supposed to
+kill with its look
+
+Cocytus, a river of Hades
+
+Colchis, a kingdom east of the Black Sea
+
+Colophon, one of the seven cities claiming the birth of Homer
+
+Columba, St, an Irish Christian missionary to Druidical parts of
+Scotland
+
+Conan, Welsh king
+
+Constantine, Greek emperor
+
+Cordeilla, daughter of the mythical King Leir
+
+Corineus, a Trojan warrior in Albion
+
+Cornwall, southwest part of Britain
+
+Cortana, Ogier's sword
+
+Corybantes, priests of Cybele, or Rhea, in Phrygia, who
+celebrated her worship with dances, to the sound of the drum and
+the cymbal, 143
+
+Crab, constellation
+
+Cranes and their enemies, the Pygmies, of Ibycus
+
+Creon, king of Thebes
+
+Crete, one of the largest islands of the Mediterranean Sea, lying
+south of the Cyclades
+
+Creusa, daughter of Priam, wife of Aeneas
+
+Crocale, a nymph of Diana
+
+Cromlech, Druidical altar
+
+Cronos, See Saturn
+
+Crotona, city of Italy
+
+Cuchulain, Irish hero, called the "Hound of Ireland,"
+
+Culdees', followers of St. Columba, Cumaean Sibyl, seeress
+of Cumae, consulted by Aeneas, sold Sibylline books to Tarquin
+
+Cupid, child of Venus and god of love
+
+Curoi of Kerry, wise man
+
+Cyane, river, opposed Pluto's passage to Hades
+
+Cybele (Rhea)
+
+Cyclopes, creatures with circular eyes, of whom Homer speaks as a
+gigantic and lawless race of shepherds in Sicily, who devoured
+human beings, they helped Vulcan to forge the thunderbolts of Zeus
+under Aetna
+
+Cymbeline, king of ancient Britain
+
+Cynosure (Dog's tail), the Pole star, at tail of Constellation
+Ursa Minor
+
+Cynthian mountain top, birthplace of Artemis (Diana) and Apollo
+
+Cyprus, island off the coast of Syria, sacred to Aphrodite
+
+Cyrene, a nymph, mother of Aristaeus
+
+Daedalus, architect of the Cretan Labyrinth, inventor of sails
+
+Daguenet, King Arthur's fool
+
+Dalai Lama, chief pontiff of Thibet
+
+Danae, mother of Perseus by Jupiter
+
+Danaides, the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Argos, who were
+betrothed to the fifty sons of Aegyptus, but were commanded by
+their father to slay each her own husband on the marriage night
+
+Danaus (See Danaides)
+
+Daphne, maiden loved by Apollo, and changed into a laurel tree
+
+Dardanelles, ancient Hellespont
+
+Dardanus, progenitor of the Trojan kings
+
+Dardinel, prince of Zumara
+
+Dawn, See Aurora
+
+Day, an attendant on Phoebus, the Sun
+
+Day star (Hesperus)
+
+Death, See Hela
+
+Deiphobus, son of Priam and Hecuba, the bravest brother of Paris
+
+Dejanira, wife of Hercules
+
+Delos, floating island, birthplace of Apollo and Diana
+
+Delphi, shrine of Apollo, famed for its oracles
+
+Demeter, Greek goddess of marriage and human fertility, identified
+by Romans with Ceres
+
+Demeha, South Wales
+
+Demodocus, bard of Alomous, king of the Phaeaeians
+
+Deucalion, king of Thessaly, who with his wife Pyrrha were the
+only pair surviving a deluge sent by Zeus
+
+Dia, island of
+
+Diana (Artemis), goddess of the moon and of the chase, daughter of
+Jupiter and Latona
+
+Diana of the Hind, antique sculpture in the Louvre, Paris
+
+Diana, temple of
+
+Dictys, a sailor
+
+Didier, king of the Lombards
+
+Dido, queen of Tyre and Carthage, entertained the shipwrecked
+Aeneas
+
+Diomede, Greek hero during Trojan War
+
+Dione, female Titan, mother of Zeus, of Aphrodite (Venus)
+
+Dionysus See Bacchus
+
+Dioscuri, the Twins (See Castor and Pollux)
+
+Dirce, wife of Lycus, king of Thebes, who ordered Amphion and
+Zethus to tie Antiope to a wild bull, but they, learning Antiope
+to be their mother, so treated Dirce herself
+
+Dis See Pluto
+
+Discord, apple of, See Eris.
+
+Discordia, See Eris.
+
+Dodona, site of an oracle of Zeus (Jupiter)
+
+Dorceus, a dog of Diana
+
+Doris, wife of Nereus
+
+Dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus
+
+Druids, ancient Celtic priests
+
+Dryades (or Dryads), See Wood nymphs
+
+Dryope, changed to a lotus plant, for plucking a lotus--enchanted
+form of the nymph Lotis
+
+Dubricius, bishop of Caerleon,
+
+Dudon, a knight, comrade of Astolpho,
+
+Dunwallo Molmu'tius, British king and lawgiver
+
+Durindana, sword of Orlando or Rinaldo
+
+Dwarfs in Wagner's Nibelungen Ring
+
+E
+
+Earth (Gaea); goddess of the
+
+Ebudians, the
+
+Echo, nymph of Diana, shunned by Narcissus, faded to nothing but a
+voice
+
+Ecklenlied, the
+
+Eddas, Norse mythological records,
+
+Ederyn, son of Nudd
+
+Egena, nymph of the Fountain
+
+Eisteddfod, session of Welsh bards and minstrels
+
+Electra, the lost one of the Pleiades, also, sister of Orestes
+
+Eleusian Mysteries, instituted by Ceres, and calculated to awaken
+feelings of piety and a cheerful hope of better life in the future
+
+Eleusis, Grecian city
+
+Elgin Marbles, Greek sculptures from the Parthenon of Athens, now
+in British Museum, London, placed there by Lord Elgin
+
+Eliaures, enchanter
+
+Elidure, a king of Britain
+
+Elis, ancient Greek city
+
+Elli, old age; the one successful wrestler against Thor
+
+Elphin, son of Gwyddiro
+
+Elves, spiritual beings, of many powers and dispositions--some
+evil, some good
+
+Elvidnir, the ball of Hela
+
+Elysian Fields, the land of the blest
+
+Elysian Plain, whither the favored of the gods were taken without
+death
+
+Elysium, a happy land, where there is neither snow, nor cold, nor
+ram. Hither favored heroes, like Menelaus, pass without dying, and
+live happy under the rule of Rhadamanthus. In the Latin poets
+Elysium is part of the lower world, and the residence of the
+shades of the blessed
+
+Embla, the first woman
+
+Enseladus, giant defeated by Jupiter
+
+Endymion, a beautiful youth beloved by Diana
+
+Enid, wife of Geraint
+
+Enna, vale of home of Proserpine
+
+Enoch, the patriarch
+
+Epidaurus, a town in Argolis, on the Saronic gulf, chief seat of
+the worship of Aeculapius, whose temple was situated near the town
+
+Epimetheus, son of Iapetus, husband of Pandora, with his brother
+Prometheus took part in creation of man
+
+Epirus, country to the west of Thessaly, lying along the Adriatic
+Sea
+
+Epopeus, a sailor
+
+Erato, one of the Muses
+
+Erbin of Cornwall, father of Geraint
+
+Erebus, son of Chaos, region of darkness, entrance to Hades
+
+Eridanus, river
+
+Erinys, one of the Furies
+
+Eriphyle, sister of Polynices, bribed to decide on war, in which
+her husband was slain
+
+Eris (Discordia), goddess of discord. At the wedding of Peleus and
+Thetis, Eris being uninvited threw into the gathering an apple
+"For the Fairest," which was claimed by Hera (Juno), Aphrodite
+(Venus) and Athena (Minerva) Paris, being called upon for
+judgment, awarded it to Aphrodite
+
+Erisichthon, an unbeliever, punished by famine
+
+Eros See Cupid
+
+Erytheia, island
+
+Eryx, a mount, haunt of Venus
+
+Esepus, river in Paphlagonia
+
+Estrildis, wife of Locrine, supplanting divorced Guendolen
+
+Eteocles, son of Oeipus and Jocasta
+
+Etruscans, ancient people of Italy,
+
+Etzel, king of the Huns
+
+Euboic Sea, where Hercules threw Lichas, who brought him the
+poisoned shirt of Nessus
+
+Eude, king of Aquitaine, ally of Charles Martel
+
+Eumaeus, swineherd of Aeeas
+
+Eumenides, also called Erinnyes, and by the Romans Furiae or
+Diraae, the Avenging Deities, See Furies
+
+Euphorbus, a Trojan, killed by Menelaus
+
+Euphros'yne, one of the Graces
+
+Europa, daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, by Zeus the mother
+of Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon
+
+Eurus, the East wind
+
+Euyalus, a gallant Trojan soldier, who with Nisus entered the
+Grecian camp, both being slain,
+
+Eurydice, wife of Orpheus, who, fleeing from an admirer, was
+killed by a snake and borne to Tartarus, where Orpheus sought her
+and was permitted to bring her to earth if he would not look back
+at her following him, but he did, and she returned to the Shades,
+
+Eurylochus, a companion of Ulysses,
+
+Eurynome, female Titan, wife of Ophlon
+
+Eurystheus, taskmaster of Hercules,
+
+Eurytion, a Centaur (See Hippodamia),
+
+Euterpe, Muse who presided over music,
+
+Evadne, wife of Capaneus, who flung herself upon his funeral pile
+and perished with him
+
+Evander, Arcadian chief, befriending Aeneas in Italy,
+
+Evnissyen, quarrelsome brother of Branwen,
+
+Excalibar, sword of King Arthur,
+
+F
+
+Fafner, a giant turned dragon, treasure stealer, by the Solar
+Theory simply the Darkness who steals the day,
+
+Falerina, an enchantress,
+
+Fasolt, a giant, brother of Fafner, and killed by him,
+
+"Fasti," Ovid's, a mythological poetic calendar,
+
+FATA MORGANA, a mirage
+
+FATES, the three, described as daughters of Night--to indicate the
+darkness and obscurity of human destiny--or of Zeus and Themis,
+that is, "daughters of the just heavens" they were Clo'tho, who
+spun the thread of life, Lach'esis, who held the thread and fixed
+its length and At'ropos, who cut it off
+
+FAUNS, cheerful sylvan deities, represented in human form, with
+small horns, pointed ears, and sometimes goat's tail
+
+FAUNUS, son of Picus, grandson of Saturnus, and father of Latinus,
+worshipped as the protecting deity of agriculture and of
+shepherds, and also as a giver of oracles
+
+FAVONIUS, the West wind
+
+FEAR
+
+FENRIS, a wolf, the son of Loki the Evil Principle of Scandinavia,
+supposed to have personated the element of fire, destructive
+except when chained
+
+FENSALIR, Freya's palace, called the Hall of the Sea, where were
+brought together lovers, husbands, and wives who had been
+separated by death
+
+FERRAGUS, a giant, opponent of Orlando
+
+FERRAU, one of Charlemagne's knights
+
+FERREX. brother of Porrex, the two sons of Leir
+
+FIRE WORSHIPPERS, of ancient Persia, See Parsees FLOLLO, Roman
+tribune in Gaul
+
+FLORA, Roman goddess of flowers and spring
+
+FLORDELIS, fair maiden beloved by Florismart
+
+FLORISMART, Sir, a brave knight,
+
+FLOSSHILDA, one of the Rhine daughters
+
+FORTUNATE FIELDS
+
+FORTUNATE ISLANDS (See Elysian Plain)
+
+FORUM, market place and open square for public meetings in Rome,
+surrounded by court houses, palaces, temples, etc
+
+FRANCUS, son of Histion, grandson of Japhet, great grandson of
+Noah, legendary ancestor of the Franks, or French
+
+FREKI, one of Odin's two wolves
+
+FREY, or Freyr, god of the sun
+
+FREYA, Norse goddess of music, spring, and flowers
+
+FRICKA, goddess of marriage
+
+FRIGGA, goddess who presided over smiling nature, sending
+sunshine, rain, and harvest
+
+FROH, one of the Norse gods
+
+FRONTI'NO, Rogero's horse
+
+FURIES (Erinnyes), the three retributive spirits who punished
+crime, represented as snaky haired old woman, named Alecto,
+Megaeira, and Tisiphone
+
+FUSBERTA, Rinaldo's sword
+
+G
+
+GAEA, or Ge, called Tellus by the Romans, the personification of
+the earth, described as the first being that sprang fiom Chaos,
+and gave birth to Uranus (Heaven) and Pontus (Sea)
+
+GAHARIET, knight of Arthur's court
+
+GAHERIS, knight
+
+GALAFRON, King of Cathay, father of Angelica
+
+GALAHAD, Sir, the pure knight of Arthur's Round Table, who safely
+took the Siege Perilous (which See)
+
+GALATEA, a Nereid or sea nymph
+
+GALATEA, statue carved and beloved by Pygmalion
+
+GALEN, Greek physician and philosophical writer
+
+GALLEHANT, King of the Marches
+
+GAMES, national athletic contests in Greece--Olympian, at Olympia,
+Pythian, near Delphi, seat of Apollo's oracle, Isthmian, on the
+Corinthian Isthmus, Nemean, at Nemea in Argolis
+
+GAN, treacherous Duke of Maganza
+
+GANELON of Mayence, one of Charlemagne's knights
+
+GANGES, river in India
+
+GANO, a peer of Charlemagne
+
+GANYMEDE, the most beautiful of all mortals, carried off to
+Olympus that he might fill the cup of Zeus and live among the
+immortal gods
+
+GARETH, Arthur's knight
+
+GAUDISSO, Sultan
+
+GAUL, ancient France
+
+GAUTAMA, Prince, the Buddha
+
+GAWAIN, Arthur's knight
+
+GAWL, son of Clud, suitor for Rhiannon
+
+GEMINI (See Castor), constellation created by Jupiter from the
+twin brothers after death, 158
+
+GENGHIS Khan, Tartar conqueror
+
+GENIUS, in Roman belief, the protective Spirit of each individual
+man, See Juno
+
+GEOFFREY OF MON'MOUTH, translator into Latin of the Welsh History
+of the Kings of Britain (1150)
+
+GERAINT, a knight of King Arthur
+
+GERDA, wife of Frey
+
+GERI, one of Odin's two wolves
+
+GERYON, a three bodied monster
+
+GESNES, navigator sent for Isoude the Fair
+
+GIALLAR HORN, the trumpet that Heimdal will blow at the judgment
+day
+
+GIANTS, beings of monstrous size and of fearful countenances,
+represented as in constant opposition to the gods, in Wagner's
+Nibelungen Ring
+
+GIBICHUNG RACE, ancestors of Alberich
+
+GIBRALTAR, great rock and town at southwest corner of Spain (See
+Pillars of Hercules)
+
+GILDAS, a scholar of Arthur's court
+
+GIRARD, son of Duke Sevinus
+
+GLASTONBURY, where Arthur died
+
+GLAUCUS, a fisherman, loving Scylla
+
+GLEIPNIR, magical chain on the wolf Fenris
+
+GLEWLWYD, Arthur's porter
+
+GOLDEN FLEECE, of ram used for escape of children of Athamas,
+named Helle and Phryxus (which See), after sacrifice of ram to
+Jupiter, fleece was guarded by sleepless dragon and gained by
+Jason and Argonauts (which See, also Helle)
+
+GONERIL, daughter of Leir
+
+GORDIAN KNOT, tying up in temple the wagon of Gordius, he who
+could untie it being destined to be lord of Asia, it was cut by
+Alexander the Great, 48
+
+Gordius, a countryman who, arriving in Phrygia in a wagon, was
+made king by the people, thus interpreting an oracle, 48
+
+Gorgons, three monstrous females, with huge teeth, brazen claws
+and snakes for hair, sight of whom turned beholders to stone,
+Medusa, the most famous, slain by Perseus
+
+Gorlois, Duke of Tintadel
+
+Gouvernail, squire of Isabella, queen of Lionesse, protector of
+her son Tristram while young, and his squire in knighthood
+
+Graal, the Holy, cup from which the Saviour drank at Last Supper,
+taken by Joseph of Arimathea to Europe, and lost, its recovery
+becoming a sacred quest for Arthur's knights
+
+Graces, three goddesses who enhanced the enjoyments of life by
+refinement and gentleness; they were Aglaia (brilliance),
+Euphrosyne (joy), and Thalia (bloom)
+
+Gradas'so, king of Sericane
+
+Graeae, three gray haired female watchers for the Gorgons, with
+one movable eye and one tooth between the three
+
+Grand Lama, Buddhist pontiff in Thibet
+
+Grendel, monster slain by Beowulf
+
+Gryphon (griffin), a fabulous animal, with the body of a lion and
+the head and wings of an eagle, dwelling in the Rhipaean
+mountains, between the Hyperboreans and the one eyed Arimaspians,
+and guarding the gold of the North,
+
+Guebers, Persian fire worshippers,
+
+Guendolen, wife of Locrine,
+
+Guenevere, wife of King Arthur, beloved by Launcelot,
+
+Guerin, lord of Vienne, father of Oliver,
+
+Guiderius, son of Cymbeline,
+
+Guillamurius, king in Ireland,
+
+Guimier, betrothed of Caradoc,
+
+Gullinbursti, the boar drawing Frey's car,
+
+Gulltopp, Heimdell's horse,
+
+Gunfasius, King of the Orkneys,
+
+Ganther, Burgundian king, brother of Kriemhild,
+
+Gutrune, half sister to Hagen,
+
+Gwern son of Matholch and Branwen,
+
+Gwernach the Giant,
+
+Gwiffert Petit, ally of Geraint,
+
+Gwyddno, Garanhir, King of Gwaelod,
+
+Gwyr, judge in the court of Arthur,
+
+Gyoll, river,
+
+H
+
+Hades, originally the god of the nether world--the name later
+used to designate the gloomy subterranean land of the dead,
+
+Haemon, son of Creon of Thebes, and lover of Antigone,
+
+Haemonian city,
+
+Haemus, Mount, northern boundary of Thrace,
+
+Hagan, a principal character in the Nibelungen Lied, slayer of
+Siegfried,
+
+HALCYONE, daughter of Aeneas, and the beloved wife of Ceyx, who,
+when he was drowned, flew to his floating body, and the pitying
+gods changed them both to birds (kingfishers), who nest at sea
+during a certain calm week in winter ("halcyon weather")
+
+HAMADRYADS, tree-nymphs or wood-nymphs, See Nymphs
+
+HARMONIA, daughter of Mars and Venus, wife of Cadmus
+
+HAROUN AL RASCHID, Caliph of Arabia, contemporary of Charlemagne
+
+HARPIES, monsters, with head and bust of woman, but wings, legs
+and tail of birds, seizing souls of the wicked, or punishing
+evildoers by greedily snatching or defiling their food
+
+HARPOCRATES, Egyptian god, Horus
+
+HEBE, daughter of Juno, cupbearer to the gods
+
+HEBRUS, ancient name of river Maritzka
+
+HECATE, a mighty and formidable divinity, supposed to send at
+night all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms from the lower
+world
+
+HECTOR, son of Priam and champion of Troy
+
+HECTOR, one of Arthur's knights
+
+HECTOR DE MARYS', a knight
+
+HECUBA, wife of Priam, king of Troy, to whom she bore Hector,
+Paris, and many other children
+
+HEGIRA, flight of Mahomet from Mecca to Medina (622 AD), era from
+which Mahometans reckon time, as we do from the birth of Christ
+
+HEIDRUN, she goat, furnishing mead for slain heroes in Valhalla
+
+HEIMDALL, watchman of the gods
+
+HEL, the lower world of Scandinavia, to which were consigned those
+who had not died in battle
+
+HELA (Death), the daughter of Loki and the mistress of the
+Scandinavian Hel
+
+HELEN, daughter of Jupiter and Leda, wife of Menelaus, carried
+off by Paris and cause of the Trojan War
+
+HELENUS, son of Priam and Hecuba, celebrated for his prophetic
+powers
+
+HELIADES, sisters of Phaeton
+
+HELICON, Mount, in Greece, residence of Apollo and the Muses,
+with fountains of poetic inspiration, Aganippe and Hippocrene
+
+HELIOOPOLIS, city of the Sun, in Egypt
+
+HELLAS, Gieece
+
+HELLE, daughter of Thessalian King Athamas, who, escaping from
+cruel father with her brother Phryxus, on ram with golden fleece,
+fell into the sea strait since named for her (See Golden Fleece)
+
+HELLESPONt, narrow strait between Europe and Asia Minor, named for
+Helle
+
+HENGIST, Saxon invader of Britain, 449 AD
+
+HEPHAESTOS, See VULCAN
+
+HERA, called Juno by the Romans, a daughter of Cronos (Saturn)
+and Rhea, and sister and wife of Jupiter, See JUNO
+
+HERCULES, athletic hero, son of Jupiter and Alcmena, achieved
+twelve vast labors and many famous deeds
+
+HEREWARD THE WAKE, hero of the Saxons
+
+HERMES (Mercury), messenger of the gods, deity of commerce,
+science, eloquence, trickery, theft, and skill generally
+
+HERMIONE, daughter of Menelaus and Helen
+
+HERMOD, the nimble, son of Odin
+
+HERO, a priestess of Venus, beloved of Leander
+
+HERODOTUS, Greek historian
+
+HESIOD, Greek poet
+
+HESPERIA, ancient name for Italy
+
+HESPERIDES (See Apples of the Hesperides)
+
+HESPERUS, the evening star (also called Day Star)
+
+HESTIA, cilled Vesta by the Romans, the goddess of the hearth
+
+HILDEBRAND, German magician and champion
+
+HINDU TRIAD, Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva
+
+HIPPOCRENE (See Helicon)
+
+HIPPODAMIA, wife of Pirithous, at whose wedding the Centaurs
+offered violence to the bride, causing a great battle
+
+HIPPOGRIFF, winged horse, with eagle's head and claws
+
+HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons
+
+Hippolytus, son of Thesus
+
+HIPPOMENES, who won Atalanta in foot race, beguiling her with
+golden apples thrown for her to
+
+HISTION, son of Japhet
+
+HODUR, blind man, who, fooled by
+
+Loki, threw a mistletoe twig at Baldur, killing him
+
+HOEL, king of Brittany
+
+HOMER, the blind poet of Greece, about 850 B C
+
+HOPE (See PANDORA)
+
+HORAE See HOURS
+
+HORSA, with Hengist, invader of Britain
+
+HORUS, Egyptian god of the sun
+
+HOUDAIN, Tristram's dog
+
+HRINGHAM, Baldur's ship
+
+HROTHGAR, king of Denmark
+
+HUGI, who beat Thialfi in foot races
+
+HUGIN, one of Odin's two ravens
+
+HUNDING, husband of Sieglinda
+
+HUON, son of Duke Sevinus
+
+HYACINTHUS, a youth beloved by Apollo, and accidentally killed by
+him, changed in death to the flower, hyacinth
+
+HYADES, Nysaean nymphs, nurses of infant Bacchus, rewarded by
+being placed as cluster of stars in the heavens
+
+HYALE, a nymph of Diana
+
+HYDRA, nine headed monster slain by Hercules
+
+HYGEIA, goddess of health, daughter of Aesculapius
+
+HYLAS, a youth detained by nymphs of spring where he sought water
+
+HYMEN, the god of marriage, imagined as a handsome youth and
+invoked in bridal songs
+
+HYMETTUS, mountain in Attica, near Athens, celebrated for its
+marble and its honey
+
+HYPERBOREANS, people of the far North
+
+HYPERION, a Titan, son of Uranus and Ge, and father of Helios,
+Selene, and Eos, cattle of,
+
+Hyrcania, Prince of, betrothed to Clarimunda
+
+Hyrieus, king in Greece,
+
+I
+
+Iapetus, a Titan, son of Uranus and Ge, and father of Atlas,
+Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius,
+
+Iasius, father of Atalanta
+
+Ibycus, a poet, story of, and the cranes
+
+Icaria, island of the Aegean Sea, one of the Sporades
+
+Icarius, Spartan prince, father of Penelope
+
+Icarus, son of Daedalus, he flew too near the sun with artificial
+wings, and, the wax melting, he fell into the sea
+
+Icelos, attendant of Morpheus
+
+Icolumkill SEE Iona
+
+Ida, Mount, a Trojan hill
+
+Idaeus, a Trojan herald
+
+Idas, son of Aphareus and Arene, and brother of Lynceus Idu'na,
+wife of Bragi
+
+Igerne, wife of Gorlois, and mother, by Uther, of Arthur
+
+Iliad, epic poem of the Trojan War, by Homer
+
+Ilioheus, a son of Niobe
+
+Ilium SEE Troy
+
+Illyria, Adriatic countries north of Greece
+
+Imogen, daughter of Pandrasus, wife of Trojan Brutus
+
+Inachus, son of Oceanus and Tethys, and father of Phoroneus and
+Io, also first king of Argos, and said to have given his name to
+the river Inachus
+
+INCUBUS, an evil spirit, supposed to lie upon persons in their
+sleep
+
+INDRA, Hindu god of heaven, thunder, lightning, storm and rain
+
+INO, wife of Athamas, fleeing from whom with infant son she sprang
+into the sea and was changed to Leucothea
+
+IO, changed to a heifer by Jupiter
+
+IOBATES, King of Lycia
+
+IOLAUS, servant of Hercules
+
+IOLE, sister of Dryope
+
+IONA, or Icolmkill, a small northern island near Scotland, where
+St Columba founded a missionary monastery (563 AD)
+
+IONIA, coast of Asia Minor
+
+IPHIGENIA, daughter of Agamemnon, offered as a sacrifice but
+carried away by Diana
+
+IPHIS, died for love of Anaxarete, 78
+
+IPHITAS, friend of Hercules, killed by him
+
+IRIS, goddess of the rainbow, messenger of Juno and Zeus
+
+IRONSIDE, Arthur's knight
+
+ISABELLA, daughter of king of Galicia
+
+ISIS, wife of Osiris, described as the giver of death
+
+ISLES OF THE BLESSED
+
+ISMARUS, first stop of Ulysses, returning from Trojan War
+ISME'NOS, a son of Niobe, slain by Apollo
+
+ISOLIER, friend of Rinaldo
+
+ISOUDE THE FAIR, beloved of Tristram
+
+ISOUDE OF THE WHITE HANDS, married to Tristram
+
+ISTHMIAN GAMES, See GAMES
+
+ITHACA, home of Ulysses and Penelope
+
+IULUS, son of Aeneas
+
+IVO, Saracen king, befriending Rinaldo
+
+IXION, once a sovereign of Thessaly, sentenced in Tartarus to be
+lashed with serpents to a wheel which a strong wind drove
+continually around
+
+J
+
+JANICULUM, Roman fortress on the Janiculus, a hill on the other
+side of the Tiber
+
+JANUS, a deity from the earliest times held in high estimation by
+the Romans, temple of
+
+JAPHET (Iapetus)
+
+JASON, leader of the Argonauts, seeking the Golden Fleece
+
+JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, who bore the Holy Graal to Europe
+
+JOTUNHEIM, home of the giants in Northern mythology
+
+JOVE (Zeus), chief god of Roman and Grecian mythology, See JUPITER
+
+JOYOUS GARDE, residence of Sir Launcelot of the Lake
+
+JUGGERNAUT, Hindu deity
+
+JUNO, the particular guardian spirit of each woman (See Genius)
+
+JUNO, wife of Jupiter, queen of the gods
+
+JUPITER, JOVIS PATER, FATHER JOVE, JUPITER and JOVE used
+interchangeably, at Dodona, statue of the Olympian
+
+JUPITER AMMON (See Ammon)
+
+JUPITER CAPITOLINUS, temple of, preserving the Sibylline books
+
+JUSTICE, See THEMIS
+
+K
+
+KADYRIATH, advises King Arthur
+
+KAI, son of Kyner
+
+KALKI, tenth avatar of Vishnu
+
+KAY, Arthur's steward and a knight
+
+KEDALION, guide of Orion
+
+KERMAN, desert of
+
+KICVA, daughter of Gwynn Gloy
+
+KILWICH, son of Kilydd
+
+KILYDD, son of Prince Kelyddon, of Wales
+
+KNEPH, spirit or breath
+
+KNIGHTS, training and life of
+
+KRIEMHILD, wife of Siegfried
+
+KRISHNA, eighth avatar of Vishnu, Hindu deity of fertility in
+nature and mankind
+
+KYNER, father of Kav
+
+KYNON, son of Clydno
+
+L
+
+LABYRINTH, the enclosed maze of passageways where roamed the
+Minotaur of Crete, killed by Theseus with aid of Ariadne
+
+LACHESIS, one of the Fates (which See)
+
+LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN, tale told by Kynon
+
+LAERTES, father of Ulysses
+
+LAESTRYGONIANS, savages attacking Ulysses
+
+LAIUS, King of Thebes
+
+LAMA, holy man of Thibet
+
+LAMPETIA, daughter of Hyperion LAOC'OON, a priest of Neptune, in
+Troy, who warned the Trojans against the Wooden Horse (which See),
+but when two serpents came out of the sea and strangled him and
+his two sons, the people listened to the Greek spy Sinon, and
+brought the fatal Horse into the town
+
+LAODAMIA, daughter of Acastus and wife of Protesilaus
+
+LAODEGAN, King of Carmalide, helped by Arthur and Merlin
+
+LAOMEDON, King of Troy
+
+LAPITHAE, Thessalonians, whose king had invited the Centaurs to
+his daughter's wedding but who attacked them for offering violence
+to the bride
+
+LARES, household deities
+
+LARKSPUR, flower from the blood of Ajax
+
+LATINUS, ruler of Latium, where Aeneas landed in Italy
+
+LATMOS, Mount, where Diana fell in love with Endymion
+
+LATONA, mother of Apollo
+
+LAUNCELOT, the most famous knight of the Round Table
+
+LAUSUS, son of Mezentius, killed by Aeneas
+
+LAVINIA, daughter of Latinus and wife of Aeneas
+
+LAVINIUM, Italian city named for Lavinia
+
+LAW, See THEMIS
+
+LEANDER, a youth of Abydos, who, swimming the Hellespont to see
+Hero, his love, was drowned
+
+LEBADEA, site of the oracle of Trophomus
+
+LEBYNTHOS, Aegean island
+
+LEDA, Queen of Sparta, wooed by Jupiter in the form of a swan
+
+LEIR, mythical King of Britain, original of Shakespeare's Lear
+
+LELAPS, dog of Cephalus
+
+LEMNOS, large island in the Aegean Sea, sacred to Vulcan
+
+LEMURES, the spectres or spirits of the dead
+
+LEO, Roman emperor, Greek prince
+
+LETHE, river of Hades, drinking whose water caused forgetfulness
+
+LEUCADIA, a promontory, whence Sappho, disappointed in love, was
+said to have thrown herself into the sea
+
+LEUCOTHEA, a sea goddess, invoked by sailors for protection (See
+Ino)
+
+LEWIS, son of Charlemagne
+
+LIBER, ancient god of fruitfulness
+
+LIBETHRA, burial place of Orpheus
+
+LIBYA, Greek name for continent of Africa in general
+
+LIBYAN DESERT, in Africa
+
+LIBYAN OASIS
+
+LICHAS, who brought the shirt of Nessus to Hercules
+
+LIMOURS, Earl of
+
+LINUS, musical instructor of Hercules
+
+LIONEL, knight of the Round Table
+
+LLYR, King of Britain
+
+LOCRINE, son of Brutus in Albion, king of Central England
+
+LOEGRIA, kingdom of (England)
+
+LOGESTILLA, a wise lady, who entertained Rogero and his friends
+
+LOGI, who vanquished Loki in an eating contest
+
+LOKI, the Satan of Norse mythology, son of the giant Farbanti
+
+LOT, King, a rebel chief, subdued by King Arthur, then a loyal
+knight
+
+LOTIS, a nymph, changed to a lotus-plant and in that form plucked
+by Dryope
+
+LOTUS EATERS, soothed to indolence, companions of Ulysses landing
+among them lost all memory of home and had to be dragged away
+before they would continue their voyage
+
+LOVE (Eros) issued from egg of Night, and with arrows and torch
+produced life and joy
+
+LUCAN, one of Arthur's knights
+
+Lucius Tiberius, Roman procurator in Britain demanding tribute
+from Arthur
+
+LUD, British king, whose capital was called Lud's Town (London)
+
+LUDGATE, city gate where Lud was buried, 387
+
+LUNED, maiden who guided Owain to the Lady of the Fountain
+
+LYCAHAS, a turbulent sailor
+
+LYCAON, son of Priam
+
+LYCIA, a district in Southern Asia Minor
+
+LYCOMODES, king of the Dolopians, who treacherously slew Theseus
+
+LYCUS, usurping King of Thebes
+
+LYNCEUS, one of the sons of Aegyptus
+
+M
+
+MABINOGEON, plural of Mabinogi, fairy tales and romances of the
+Welsh
+
+MABON, son of Modron
+
+MACHAON, son of Aesculapius
+
+MADAN, son of Guendolen
+
+MADOC, a forester of King Arthur
+
+MADOR, Scottish knight
+
+MAELGAN, king who imprisoned Elphin
+
+MAEONIA, ancient Lydia
+
+MAGI, Persian priests
+
+MAHADEVA, same as Siva
+
+MAHOMET, great prophet of Arabia, born in Mecca, 571 AD,
+proclaimed worship of God instead of idols, spread his religion
+through disciples and then by force till it prevailed, with
+Arabian dominion, over vast regions in Asia, Africa, and Spain in
+Europe
+
+MAIA, daughter of Atlas and Pleione, eldest and most beautiful of
+the Pleiades
+
+MALAGIGI the Enchanter, one of Charlemagne's knights
+
+MALEAGANS, false knight
+
+MALVASIUS, King of Iceland
+
+MAMBRINO, with invisible helmet
+
+MANAWYD DAN, brother of King Vran, of London
+
+MANDRICARDO, son of Agrican
+
+MANTUA, in Italy, birthplace of Virgil
+
+MANU, ancestor of mankind
+
+MARATHON, where Theseus and Pirithous met
+
+MARK, King of Cornwall, husband of Isoude the Fair
+
+MARO See VIRGIL
+
+MARPHISA, sister of Rogero
+
+MARSILIUS, Spanish king, treacherous foe of Charlemagne
+
+MARSYAS, inventor of the flute, who challenged Apollo to musical
+competition, and, defeated, was flayed alive
+
+MATSYA, the Fish, first avatar of Vishnu
+
+MEANDER, Grecian river
+
+MEDE, A, princess and sorceress who aided Jason
+
+MEDORO, a young Moor, who wins Angelica
+
+MEDUSA, one of the Gorgons
+
+MEGAERA, one of the Furies
+
+MELAMPUS, a Spartan dog, the first mortal endowed with prophetic
+powers
+
+MELANTHUS, steersman for Bacchus
+
+MELEAGER, one of the Argonauts (See Althaea)
+
+MELIADUS, King of Lionesse, near Cornwall
+
+MELICERTES, infant son of Ino. changed to Palaemon (See Ino,
+Leucothea, and Palasmon)
+
+MELISSA, priestess at Merlin's tomb
+
+MELISSEUS, a Cretan king
+
+MELPOMENE, one of the Muses
+
+MEMNON, the beautiful son of Tithonus and Eos (Aurora), and king
+of the Ethiopians, slain in Trojan War
+
+MEMPHIS, Egyptian city
+
+MENELAUS, son of King of Sparta, husband of Helen
+
+MENOECEUS, son of Creon, voluntary victim in war to gain success
+for his father
+
+MENTOR, son of Alcimus and a faithful friend of Ulysses
+
+MERCURY (See HERMES)
+
+MERLIN, enchanter
+
+MEROPE, daughter of King of Chios, beloved by Orion
+
+MESMERISM, likened to curative oracle of Aesculapius at Epidaurus
+
+METABUS, father of Camilla
+
+METAMORPHOSES, Ovid's poetical legends of mythical
+transformations, a large source of our knowledge of classic
+mythology
+
+METANIRA, a mother, kind to Ceres seeking Proserpine
+
+METEMPSYCHOSIS, transmigration of souls--rebirth of dying men
+and women in forms of animals or human beings
+
+METIS, Prudence, a spouse of Jupiter
+
+MEZENTIUS, a brave but cruel soldier, opposing Aeneas in Italy
+
+MIDAS
+
+MIDGARD, the middle world of the Norsemen
+
+MIDGARD SERPENT, a sea monster, child of Loki
+
+MILKY WAY, starred path across the sky, believed to be road to
+palace of the gods
+
+MILO, a great athlete
+
+MLON, father of Orlando
+
+MILTON, John, great English poet, whose History of England is here
+largely used
+
+MIME, one of the chief dwarfs of ancient German mythology
+
+MINERVA (Athene), daughter of Jupiter, patroness of health,
+learning, and wisdom
+
+MINOS, King of Crete
+
+MINO TAUR, monster killed by Theseus
+
+MISTLETOE, fatal to Baldur
+
+MNEMOSYNE, one of the Muses
+
+MODESTY, statue to
+
+MODRED, nephew of King Arthur
+
+MOLY, plant, powerful against sorcery
+
+MOMUS, a deity whose delight was to jeer bitterly at gods and men
+
+MONAD, the "unit" of Pythagoras
+
+MONSTERS, unnatural beings, evilly disposed to men
+
+MONTALBAN, Rinaldo's castle
+
+MONTH, the, attendant upon the Sun
+
+MOON, goddess of, see DIANA
+
+MORAUNT, knight, an Irish champion
+
+MORGANA, enchantress, the Lady of the Lake in "Orlando Furioso,"
+same as Morgane Le Fay in tales of Arthur
+
+MORGANE LE FAY, Queen of Norway, King Arthur's sister, an
+enchantress
+
+MORGAN TUD, Arthur's chief physician
+
+MORPHEUS, son of Sleep and god of dreams
+
+MORTE D'ARTHUr, romance, by Sir Thomas Mallory
+
+MULCIBER, Latin name of Vulcan
+
+MULL, Island of
+
+MUNIN, one of Odin's two ravens
+
+MUSAEUS, sacred poet, son of Orpheus
+
+MUSES, The, nine goddesses presiding over poetry, etc--Calliope,
+epic poetry, Clio, history, Erato, love poetry, Euterpe, lyric
+poetry; Melpomene, tragedy, Polyhymnia, oratory and sacred song
+Terpsichore, choral song and dance, Thalia, comedy and idyls,
+Urania, astronomy
+
+MUSPELHEIM, the fire world of the Norsemen
+
+MYCENAS, ancient Grecian city, of which Agamemnon was king
+
+MYRDDIN (Merlin)
+
+MYRMIDONS, bold soldiers of Achilles
+
+MYSIA, Greek district on northwest coast of Asia Minor
+
+MYTHOLOGY, origin of, collected myths, describing gods of early
+peoples
+
+N
+
+NAIADS, water nymphs
+
+NAMO, Duke of Bavaria, one of Charlemagne's knights
+
+NANNA, wife of Baldur
+
+NANTERS, British king
+
+NANTES, site of Caradoc's castle
+
+NAPE, a dog of Diana
+
+NARCISSUS, who died of unsatisfied love for his own image in the
+water
+
+NAUSICAA, daughter of King Alcinous, who befriended Ulysses
+
+NAUSITHOUS, king of Phaeacians
+
+NAXOS, Island of
+
+NEGUS, King of Abyssinia
+
+NEMEA, forest devastated by a lion killed by Hercules
+
+NEMEAN GAMES, held in honor of Jupiter and Hercules
+
+NEMEAN LION, killed by Hercules
+
+NEMESIS, goddess of vengeance
+
+NENNIUS, British combatant of Caesar
+
+NEOPTOLEMUS, son of Achilles
+
+NEPENTHE, ancient drug to cause forgetfulness of pain or distress
+
+NEPHELE, mother of Phryxus and Helle
+
+NEPHTHYS, Egyptian goddess
+
+NEPTUNE, identical with Poseidon, god of the sea
+
+NEREIDS, sea nymphs, daughters of Nereus and Doris
+
+NEREUS, a sea god
+
+NESSUS, a centaur killed by Hercules, whose jealous wife sent him
+a robe or shirt steeped in the blood of Nessus, which poisoned him
+
+NESTOR, king of Pylos, renowned for his wisdom, justice, and
+knowledge of war
+
+NIBELUNGEN HOARD, treasure seized by Siegfried from the
+Nibelungs, buried in the Rhine by Hagan after killing Siegfried,
+and lost when Hagan was killed by Kriemhild, theme of Wagner's
+four music dramas, "The Ring of the Nibelungen,"
+
+NIBELUNGEN LIED, German epic, giving the same nature myth as the
+Norse Volsunga Saga, concerning the Hoard
+
+NIBELUNGEN RING, Wagner's music dramas
+
+NIBELUNGS, the, a race of Northern dwarfs
+
+NIDHOGGE, a serpent in the lower world that lives on the dead
+
+NIFFLEHEIM, mist world of the Norsemen, the Hades of absent
+spirits
+
+NILE, Egyptian river
+
+NIOBE, daughter of Tantalus, proud Queen of Thebes, whose seven
+sons and seven daughters were killed by Apollo and Diana, at which
+Amphion, her husband, killed himself, and Niobe wept until she was
+turned to stone
+
+NISUS, King of Megara
+
+NOAH, as legendary ancestor of French, Roman, German, and British
+peoples
+
+NOMAN, name assumed by Ulysses
+
+NORNS, the three Scandinavian Fates, Urdur (the past), Verdandi
+(the present), and Skuld (the future)
+
+NOTHUNG, magic sword
+
+NOTUS, southwest wind
+
+NOX, daughter of Chaos and sister of Erebus, personification of
+night
+
+Numa, second king of Rome
+
+NYMPHS, beautiful maidens, lesser divinities of nature Dryads and
+Hamadryads, tree nymphs, Naiads, spring, brook, and river nymphs,
+Nereids, sea nymphs Oreads, mountain nymphs or hill nymphs
+
+O
+
+OCEANUS, a Titan, ruling watery elements
+
+OCYROE, a prophetess, daughter of Chiron
+
+ODERIC
+
+ODIN, chief of the Norse gods
+
+ODYAR, famous Biscayan hero
+
+ODYSSEUS See ULYSSES
+
+ODYSSEY, Homer's poem, relating the wanderings of Odysseus
+(Ulysses) on returning from Trojan War
+
+OEDIPUS, Theban hero, who guessed the riddle of the Sphinx (which
+See), becoming King of Thebes
+
+OENEUS, King of Calydon
+
+OENONE, nymph, married by Paris in his youth, and abandoned for
+Helen
+
+OENOPION, King of Chios
+
+OETA, Mount, scene of Hercules' death
+
+OGIER, the Dane, one of the paladins of Charlemagne
+
+OLIVER, companion of Orlando
+
+OLWEN, wife of Kilwich
+
+OLYMPIA, a small plain in Elis, where the Olympic games were
+celebrated
+
+OLYMPIADS, periods between Olympic games (four years)
+
+OLYMPIAN GAMES, See GAMES
+
+OLYMPUS, dwelling place of the dynasty of gods of which Zeus was
+the head
+
+OMPHALE, queen of Lydia, daughter of Iardanus and wife of Tmolus
+
+OPHION, king of the Titans, who ruled Olympus till dethroned by
+the gods Saturn and Rhea
+
+OPS See RHEA
+
+ORACLES, answers from the gods to questions from seekers for
+knowledge or advice for the future, usually in equivocal form, so
+as to fit any event, also places where such answers were given
+forth usually by a priest or priestess
+
+ORC, a sea monster, foiled by Rogero when about to devour Angelica
+
+OREADS, nymphs of mountains and hills
+
+ORESTES, son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, because of his crime
+in killing his mother, he was pursued by the Furies until purified
+by Minerva
+
+ORION, youthful giant, loved by Diana, Constellation
+
+ORITHYIA, a nymph, seized by Boreas
+
+ORLANDO, a famous knight and nephew of Charlemagne
+
+ORMUZD (Greek, Oromasdes), son of Supreme Being, source of good
+as his brother Ahriman (Arimanes) was of evil, in Persian or
+Zoroastrian religion
+
+ORPHEUS, musician, son of Apollo and Calliope, See EURYDICE
+
+OSIRIS, the most beneficent of the Egyptian gods
+
+OSSA, mountain of Thessaly
+
+OSSIAN, Celtic poet of the second or third century
+
+OVID, Latin poet (See Metamorphoses)
+
+OWAIN, knight at King Arthur's court
+
+OZANNA, a knight of Arthur
+
+P
+
+PACTOLUS, river whose sands were changed to gold by Midas
+
+PAEON, a name for both Apollo and Aesculapius, gods of medicine,
+
+PAGANS, heathen
+
+PALADINS or peers, knights errant
+
+PALAEMON, son of Athamas and Ino
+
+PALAMEDES, messenger sent to call Ulysses to the Trojan War
+
+PALAMEDES, Saracen prince at Arthur's court
+
+PALATINE, one of Rome's Seven Hills
+
+PALES, goddess presiding over cattle and pastures
+
+PALINURUS, faithful steersman of Aeeas
+
+PALLADIUM, properly any image of Pallas Athene, but specially
+applied to an image at Troy, which was stolen by Ulysses and
+Diomedes
+
+PALLAS, son of Evander
+
+PALLAS A THE'NE (Minerva)
+
+PAMPHA GUS, a dog of Diana
+
+PAN, god of nature and the universe
+
+PANATHENAEA, festival in honor of Pallas Athene (Minerva)
+
+PANDEAN PIPES, musical instrument of reeds, made by Pan in
+memory of Syrinx
+
+PANDORA (all gifted), first woman, dowered with gifts by every
+god, yet entrusted with a box she was cautioned not to open, but,
+curious, she opened it, and out flew all the ills of humanity,
+leaving behind only Hope, which remained
+
+PANDRASUS, a king in Greece, who persecuted Trojan exiles under
+Brutus, great grandson of Aeneas, until they fought, captured him,
+and, with his daughter Imogen as Brutus' wife, emigrated to Albion
+(later called Britain)
+
+PANOPE, plain of
+
+PANTHUS, alleged earlier incarnation of Pythagoras
+
+PAPHLAGNIA, ancient country in Asia Minor, south of Black Sea
+
+PAPHOS, daughter of Pygmalion and Galatea (both of which, See)
+
+PARCAE See FATES
+
+PARIAHS, lowest caste of Hindus
+
+PARIS, son of Priam and Hecuba, who eloped with Helen (which.
+See)
+
+PARNASSIAN LAUREl, wreath from Parnassus, crown awarded to
+successful poets
+
+PARNASSUS, mountain near Delphi, sacred to Apollo and the Muses
+
+PARSEES, Persian fire worshippers (Zoroastrians), of whom there
+are still thousands in Persia and India
+
+PARTHENON, the temple of Athene Parthenos ("the Virgin") on the
+Acropolis of Athens
+
+PASSEBREUL, Tristram's horse
+
+PATROCLUS, friend of Achilles, killed by Hector
+
+PECHEUR, King, uncle of Perceval
+
+PEERS, the
+
+PEG A SUS, winged horse, born from the sea foam and the blood of
+Medusa
+
+PELEUS, king of the Myrmidons, father of Achilles by Thetis
+
+PELIAS, usurping uncle of Jason
+
+PELION, mountain
+
+PELLEAS, knight of Arthur
+
+PENATES, protective household deities of the Romans
+
+PENDRAGON, King of Britain, elder brother of Uther Pendragon,
+who succeeded him
+
+PENELOPE, wife of Ulysses, who, waiting twenty years for his
+return from the Trojan War, put off the suitors for her hand by
+promising to choose one when her weaving was done, but unravelled
+at night what she had woven by day
+
+PENEUS, river god, river
+
+PENTHESILEA, queen of Amazons
+
+PENTHEUS, king of Thebes, having resisted the introduction of
+the worship of Bacchus into his kingdom, was driven mad by the god
+
+PENUS, Roman house pantry, giving name to the Penates
+
+PEPIN, father of Charlemagne
+
+PEPLUS, sacred robe of Minerva
+
+PERCEVAL, a great knight of Arthur
+
+PERDIX, inventor of saw and compasses
+
+PERIANDER, King of Corinuh, friend of Arion
+
+PERIPHETES, son of Vulcan, killed by Theseus
+
+PERSEPHONE, goddess of vegetation, 8 See Pioserpine
+
+PERSEUS, son of Jupiter and Danae, slayer of the Gorgon Medusa,
+deliverer of Andromeda from a sea monster, 116 122, 124, 202
+
+PHAEACIANS, people who entertained Ulysses
+
+PHAEDRA, faithless and cruel wife of Theseus
+
+PHAETHUSA, sister of Phaeton, 244
+
+PHAETON, son of Phoebus, who dared attempt to drive his father's
+sun chariot
+
+PHANTASOS, a son of Somnus, bringing strange images to sleeping
+men
+
+PHAON, beloved by Sappho
+
+PHELOT, knight of Wales
+
+PHEREDIN, friend of Tristram, unhappy lover of Isoude
+
+PHIDIAS, famous Greek sculptor
+
+PHILEMON, husband of Baucis
+
+PHILOCTETES, warrior who lighted the fatal pyre of Hercules
+
+PHILOE, burial place of Osiris
+
+PHINEUS, betrothed to Andromeda
+
+PHLEGETHON, fiery river of Hades
+
+PHOCIS
+
+PHOEBE, one of the sisters of Phaeton
+
+PHOEBUS (Apollo), god of music, prophecy, and archery, the sun
+god
+
+PHOENIX, a messenger to Achilles, also, a miraculous bird dying
+in fire by its own act and springing up alive from its own ashes
+
+PHORBAS, a companion of Aeneas, whose form was assumed by Neptune
+in luring Palinuras the helmsman from his roost
+
+PHRYXUS, brother of Helle
+
+PINABEL, knight
+
+PILLARS OF HERCULES, two mountains--Calpe, now the Rock of
+Gibraltar, southwest corner of Spain in Europe, and Abyla, facing
+it in Africa across the strait
+
+PINDAR, famous Greek poet
+
+PINDUS, Grecian mountain
+
+PIRENE, celebrated fountain at Corinth
+
+PIRITHOUS, king of the Lapithae in Thessaly, and friend of
+Theseus, husband of Hippodamia
+
+PLEASURE, daughter of Cupid and Psyche
+
+PLEIADES, seven of Diana's nymphs, changed into stars, one being
+lost
+
+PLENTY, the Horn of
+
+PLEXIPPUS, brother of Althea
+
+PLINY, Roman naturalist
+
+PLUTO, the same as Hades, Dis, etc. god of the Infernal Regions
+
+PLUTUS, god of wealth
+
+PO, Italian river
+
+POLE STAR
+
+POLITES, youngest son of Priam of Troy
+
+POLLUX, Castor and (Dioscuri, the Twins) (See Castor)
+
+POLYDECTES, king of Seriphus
+
+POLYDORE, slain kinsman of Aeneas, whose blood nourished a bush
+that bled when broken
+
+POLYHYMNIA, Muse of oratory and sacred song
+
+POLYIDUS, soothsayer
+
+POLYNICES, King of Thebes
+
+POLYPHEMUS, giant son of Neptune
+
+POLYXENA, daughter of King Priam of Troy
+
+POMONA, goddess of fruit trees (See VERTUMNUS)
+
+PORREX and FER'REX, sons of Leir, King of Britain
+
+PORTUNUS, Roman name for Palaemon
+
+POSEIDON (Neptune), ruler of the ocean
+
+PRECIPICE, threshold of Helas hall
+
+PRESTER JOHN, a rumored priest or presbyter, a Christian pontiff
+in Upper Asia, believed in but never found
+
+PRIAM, king of Troy
+
+PRIWEN, Arthur's shield
+
+PROCRIS, beloved but jealous wife of Cephalus
+
+PROCRUSTES, who seized travellers and bound them on his iron bed,
+stretching the short ones and cutting short the tall, thus also
+himself served by Theseus
+
+PROETUS, jealous of Bellerophon
+
+PROMETHEUS, creator of man, who stole fire from heaven for man's
+use
+
+PROSERPINE, the same as Persephone, goddess of all growing
+things, daughter of Ceres, carried off by Pluto
+
+PROTESILAUS, slain by Hector the Trojan, allowed by the gods to
+return for three hours' talk with his widow Laodomia
+
+PROTEUS, the old man of the sea
+
+PRUDENCE (Metis), spouse of Jupiter
+
+PRYDERI, son of Pwyll
+
+PSYCHE, a beautiful maiden, personification of the human soul,
+sought by Cupid (Love), to whom she responded, lost him by
+curiosity to see him (as he came to her only by night), but
+finally through his prayers was made immortal and restored to him,
+a symbol of immortality
+
+PURANAS, Hindu Scriptures
+
+PWYLL, Prince of Dyved
+
+PYGMALION, sculptor in love with a statue he had made, brought to
+life by Venus, brother of Queen Dido
+
+PYGMIES, nation of dwarfs, at war with the Cranes
+
+PYLADES, son of Straphius, friend of Orestes
+
+PYRAMUS, who loved Thisbe, next door neighbor, and, their parents
+opposing, they talked through cracks in the house wall, agreeing
+to meet in the near by woods, where Pyramus, finding a bloody veil
+and thinking Thisbe slain, killed himself, and she, seeing his
+body, killed herself (Burlesqued in Shakespeare's "Midsummer
+Night's Dream")
+
+PYRRHA, wife of Deucalion
+
+PYRRHUS (Neoptolemus), son of Achilles
+
+PYTHAGORAS, Greek philosopher (540 BC), who thought numbers to be
+the essence and principle of all things, and taught transmigration
+of souls of the dead into new life as human or animal beings
+
+PYTHIA, priestess of Apollo at Delphi
+
+PYTHIAN GAMES
+
+PYTHIAN ORACLE
+
+PYTHON, serpent springing from Deluge slum, destroyed by Apollo
+
+Q
+
+QUIRINUS (from quiris, a lance or spear), a war god, said to be
+Romulus, founder of Rome
+
+R
+
+RABICAN, noted horse
+
+RAGNAROK, the twilight (or ending) of the gods
+
+RAJPUTS, minor Hindu caste
+
+REGAN, daughter of Leir
+
+REGILLUS, lake in Latium, noted for battle fought near by
+between the Romans and the Latins
+
+REGGIO, family from which Rogero sprang
+
+REMUS, brother of Romulus, founder of Rome
+
+RHADAMANTHUS, son of Jupiter and Europa after his death one of
+the judges in the lower world
+
+RHAPSODIST, professional reciter of poems among the Greeks
+
+RHEA, female Titan, wife of Saturn (Cronos), mother of the chief
+gods, worshipped in Greece and Rome
+
+RHINE, river
+
+RHINE MAIDENS, OR DAUGHTERS, three water nymphs, Flosshilda,
+Woglinda, and Wellgunda, set to guard the Nibelungen Hoard, buried
+in the Rhine
+
+RHODES, one of the seven cities claiming to be Homer's birthplace
+
+RHODOPE, mountain in Thrace
+
+RHONGOMYANT, Arthur's lance
+
+RHOECUS, a youth, beloved by a Dryad, but who brushed away a bee
+sent by her to call him to her, and she punished him with
+blindness
+
+RHIANNON, wife of Pwyll
+
+RINALDO, one of the bravest knights of Charlemagne
+
+RIVER OCEAN, flowing around the earth
+
+ROBERT DE BEAUVAIS', Norman poet (1257)
+
+ROBIN HOOD, famous outlaw in English legend, about time of Richard
+Coeur de Lion
+
+ROCKINGHAM, forest of
+
+RODOMONT, king of Algiers
+
+ROGERO, noted Saracen knight
+
+ROLAND (Orlando), See Orlando
+
+ROMANCES
+
+ROMANUS, legendary great grandson of Noah
+
+ROME
+
+ROMULUS, founder of Rome
+
+RON, Arthur's lance
+
+RONCES VALLES', battle of
+
+ROUND TABLE King Arthur's instituted by Merlin the Sage for
+Pendragon, Arthur's father, as a knightly order, continued and
+made famous by Arthur and his knights
+
+RUNIC CHARACTERS, or runes, alphabetic signs used by early
+Teutonic peoples, written or graved on metal or stone
+
+RUTULIANS, an ancient people in Italy, subdued at an early period
+by the Romans
+
+RYENCE, king in Ireland
+
+S
+
+SABRA, maiden for whom Severn River was named, daughter of Locrine
+and Estrildis thrown into river Severn by Locrine's wife,
+transformed to a river nymph, poetically named Sabrina
+
+SACRIPANT, king of Circassia
+
+SAFFIRE, Sir, knight of Arthur
+
+SAGAS, Norse tales of heroism, composed by the Skalds
+
+SAGRAMOUR, knight of Arthur
+
+St. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, precipitous pointed rock hill on the coast of
+Brittany, opposite Cornwall
+
+SAKYASINHA, the Lion, epithet applied to Buddha
+
+SALAMANDER, a lizard like animal, fabled to be able to live in
+fire
+
+SALAMIS, Grecian city
+
+SALMONEUS, son of Aeolus and Enarete and brother of Sisyphus
+
+SALOMON, king of Brittany, at Charlemagne's court
+
+SAMHIN, or "fire of peace," a Druidical festival
+
+SAMIAN SAGE (Pythagoras)
+
+SAMOS, island in the Aegean Sea
+
+SAMOTHRACIAN GODS, a group of agricultural divinities, worshipped
+in Samothrace
+
+SAMSON, Hebrew hero, thought by some to be original of Hercules
+
+SAN GREAL (See Graal, the Holy)
+
+SAPPHO, Greek poetess, who leaped into the sea from promontory of
+Leucadia in disappointed love for Phaon
+
+SARACENS, followers of Mahomet
+
+SARPEDON, son of Jupiter and Europa, killed by Patroclus
+
+SATURN (Cronos)
+
+SATURNALIA, a annual festival held by Romans in honor of Saturn
+
+SATURNIA, an ancient name of Italy
+
+SATYRS, male divinities of the forest, half man, half goat
+
+SCALIGER, famous German scholar of 16th century
+
+SCANDINAVIA, mythology of, giving account of Northern gods,
+heroes, etc
+
+SCHERIA, mythical island, abode of the Phaeacians
+
+SCHRIMNIR, the boar, cooked nightly for the heroes of Valhalla
+becoming whole every morning
+
+SCIO, one of the island cities claiming to be Homer's birthplace
+
+SCOPAS, King of Thessaly
+
+SCORPION, constellation
+
+SCYLLA, sea nymph beloved by Glaucus, but changed by jealous Circe
+to a monster and finally to a dangerous rock on the Sicilian
+coast, facing the whirlpool Charybdis, many mariners being wrecked
+between the two, also, daughter of King Nisus of Megara, who loved
+Minos, besieging her father's city, but he disliked her disloyalty
+and drowned her, also, a fair virgin of Sicily, friend of sea
+nymph Galatea
+
+SCYROS, where Theseus was slain
+
+SCYTHIA, country lying north of Euxine Sea
+
+SEMELE, daughter of Cadmus and, by Jupiter, mother of Bacchus
+
+SEMIRAMIS, with Ninus the mythical founder of the Assyrian empire
+of Nineveh
+
+SENAPUS, King of Abyssinia, who entertained Astolpho
+
+SERAPIS, or Hermes, Egyptian divinity of Tartarus and of
+medicine
+
+SERFS, slaves of the land
+
+SERIPHUS, island in the Aegean Sea, one of the Cyclades
+
+SERPENT (Northern constellation)
+
+SESTOS, dwelling of Hero (which See also Leander)
+
+"SEVEN AGAINST THEBES," famous Greek expedition
+
+SEVERN RIVER, in England
+
+SEVINUS, Duke of Guienne
+
+SHALOTT, THE LADY OF
+
+SHATRIYA, Hindu warrior caste
+
+SHERASMIN, French chevalier
+
+SIBYL, prophetess of Cumae
+
+SICHAEUS, husband of Dido
+
+SEIGE PERILOUS, the chair of purity at Arthur's Round Table, fatal
+to any but him who was destined to achieve the quest of the
+Sangreal (See Galahad)
+
+SIEGFRIED, young King of the Netherlands, husband of Kriemhild,
+she boasted to Brunhild that Siegfried had aided Gunther to beat
+her in athletic contests, thus winning her as wife, and Brunhild,
+in anger, employed Hagan to murder Siegfried. As hero of Wagner's
+"Valkyrie," he wins the Nibelungen treasure ring, loves and
+deserts Brunhild, and is slain by Hagan
+
+SIEGLINDA, wife of Hunding, mother of Siegfried by Siegmund
+
+SIEGMUND, father of Siegfried
+
+SIGTRYG, Prince, betrothed of King Alef's daughter, aided by
+Hereward
+
+SIGUNA, wife of Loki
+
+SILENUS, a Satyr, school master of Bacchus
+
+SILURES (South Wales)
+
+SILVIA, daughter of Latin shepherd
+
+SILVIUS, grandson of Aeneas, accidentally killed in the chase by
+his son Brutus
+
+SIMONIDES, an early poet of Greece
+
+SINON, a Greek spy, who persuaded the Trojans to take the Wooden
+Horse into their city
+
+SIRENS, sea nymphs, whose singing charmed mariners to leap into
+the sea, passing their island, Ulysses stopped the ears of his
+sailors with wax, and had himself bound to the mast so that he
+could hear but not yield to their music
+
+SIRIUS, the dog of Orion, changed to the Dog star
+
+SISYPHUS, condemned in Tartarus to perpetually roll up hill a big
+rock which, when the top was reached, rolled down again
+
+SIVA, the Destroyer, third person of the Hindu triad of gods
+
+SKALDS, Norse bards and poets
+
+SKIDBLADNIR, Freyr's ship
+
+SKIRNIR, Frey's messenger, who won the god's magic sword by
+getting him Gerda for his wife
+
+SKRYMIR, a giant, Utgard Loki in disguise, who fooled Thor in
+athletic feats
+
+SKULD, the Norn of the Future
+
+SLEEP, twin brother of Death
+
+SLEIPNIR, Odin's horse
+
+SOBRINO, councillor to Agramant
+
+SOMNUS, child of Nox, twin brother of Mors, god of sleep
+
+SOPHOCLES, Greek tragic dramatist
+
+SOUTH WIND See Notus
+
+SPAR'TA, capital of Lacedaemon
+
+SPHINX, a monster, waylaying the road to Thebes and propounding
+riddles to all passers, on pain of death, for wrong guessing, who
+killed herself in rage when Aedipus guessed aright
+
+SPRING
+
+STONEHENGE, circle of huge upright stones, fabled to be sepulchre
+of Pendragon
+
+STROPHIUS, father of Pylades
+
+STYGIAN REALM, Hades
+
+STYGIAN SLEEP, escaped from the beauty box sent from Hades to
+Venus by hand of Psyche, who curiously opened the box and was
+plunged into unconsciousness
+
+STYX, river, bordering Hades, to be crossed by all the dead
+
+SUDRAS, Hindu laboring caste
+
+SURTUR, leader of giants against the gods in the day of their
+destruction (Norse mythology)
+
+SURYA, Hindu god of the sun, corresponding to the Greek Helios
+
+SUTRI, Orlando's birthplace
+
+SVADILFARI, giant's horse
+
+SWAN, LEDA AND
+
+SYBARIS, Greek city in Southern Italy, famed for luxury
+
+SYLVANUS, Latin divinity identified with Pan
+
+SYMPLEGADES, floating rocks passed by the Argonauts
+
+SYRINX, nymph, pursued by Pan, but escaping by being changed to a
+bunch of reeds (See Pandean pipes)
+
+T
+
+TACITUS, Roman historian
+
+TAENARUS, Greek entrance to lower regions
+
+TAGUS, river in Spain and Portugal
+
+TALIESIN, Welsh bard
+
+TANAIS, ancient name of river Don
+
+TANTALUS, wicked king, punished in Hades by standing in water
+that retired when he would drink, under fruit trees that withdrew
+when he would eat
+
+TARCHON, Etruscan chief
+
+TARENTUM, Italian city
+
+TARPEIAN ROCK, in Rome, from which condemned criminals were
+hurled
+
+TARQUINS, a ruling family in early Roman legend
+
+TAURIS, Grecian city, site of temple of Diana (See Iphigenia)
+
+TAURUS, a mountain
+
+TARTARUS, place of confinement of Titans, etc, originally a black
+abyss below Hades later, represented as place where the wicked
+were punished, and sometimes the name used as synonymous with
+Hades
+
+TEIRTU, the harp of
+
+TELAMON, Greek hero and adventurer, father of Ajax
+
+TELEMACHUS, son of Ulysses and Penelope
+
+TELLUS, another name for Rhea
+
+TENEDOS, an island in Aegean Sea
+
+TERMINUS, Roman divinity presiding over boundaries and frontiers
+
+TERPSICHORE, Muse of dancing
+
+TERRA, goddess of the earth
+
+TETHYS, goddess of the sea
+
+TEUCER, ancient king of the Trojans
+
+THALIA, one of the three Graces
+
+THAMYRIS, Thracian bard, who challenged the Muses to competition
+in singing, and, defeated, was blinded
+
+THAUKT, Loki disguised as a hag
+
+THEBES, city founded by Cadmus and capital of Boeotia
+
+THEMIS, female Titan, law counsellor of Jove
+
+THEODORA, sister of Prince Leo
+
+THERON, one of Diana's dogs
+
+THERSITES, a brawler, killed by Achilles
+
+THESCELUS, foe of Perseus, turned to stone by sight of Gorgon's
+head
+
+THESEUM, Athenian temple in honor of Theseus
+
+THESEUS, son of Aegeus and Aethra, King of Athens, a great hero of
+many adventures
+
+THESSALY
+
+THESTIUS, father of Althea
+
+THETIS, mother of Achilles
+
+THIALFI, Thor's servant
+
+THIS'BE, Babylonian maiden beloved by Pyramus
+
+THOR, the thunderer, of Norse mythology, most popular of the gods
+
+THRACE
+
+THRINA'KIA, island pasturing Hyperion's cattle, where Ulysses
+landed, but, his men killing some cattle for food, their ship was
+wrecked by lightning
+
+THRYM, giant, who buried Thor's hammer
+
+THUCYDIDES, Greek historian
+
+TIBER, river flowing through Rome
+
+TIBER, FATHER, god of the river
+
+TIGRIS, river
+
+TINTADEL, castle of, residence of King Mark of Cornwall
+
+TIRESIAS, a Greek soothsayer
+
+TISIPHONE, one of the Furies
+
+TITANS, the sons and daughters of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea
+(Earth), enemies of the gods and overcome by them
+
+TITHONUS, Trojan prince
+
+TITYUS, giant in Tartarus
+
+TMOLUS, a mountain god
+
+TORTOISE, second avatar of Vishnu
+
+TOURS, battle of (See Abdalrahman and Charles Martel)
+
+TOXEUS, brother of Melauger's mother, who snatched from Atalanta
+her hunting trophy, and was slain by Melauger, who had awarded it
+to her
+
+TRIAD, the Hindu
+
+TRIADS, Welsh poems
+
+TRIMURTI, Hindu Triad
+
+TRIPTOL'EMUS, son of Celeus , and who, made great by
+Ceres, founded her worship in Eleusis
+
+TRISTRAM, one of Arthur's knights, husband of Isoude of the White
+Hands, lover of Isoude the Fair,
+
+TRITON, a demi god of the sea, son of Poseidon (Neptune) and
+Amphitrite
+
+TROEZEN, Greek city of Argolis
+
+TROJAN WAR
+
+TROJANOVA, New Troy, City founded in Britain (See Brutus, and
+Lud)
+
+TROPHONIUS, oracle of, in Boeotia
+
+TROUBADOURS, poets and minstrels of Provence, in Southern France
+
+TROUVERS', poets and minstrels of Northern France
+
+TROY, city in Asia Minor, ruled by King Priam, whose son, Paris,
+stole away Helen, wife of Menelaus the Greek, resulting in the
+Trojan War and the destruction of Troy
+
+TROY, fall of
+
+TURNUS, chief of the Rutulianes in Italy, unsuccessful rival of
+Aeneas for Lavinia
+
+TURPIN, Archbishop of Rheims
+
+TURQUINE, Sir, a great knight, foe of Arthur, slain by Sir
+Launcelot
+
+TYPHON, one of the giants who attacked the gods, were defeated,
+and imprisoned under Mt. Aetna
+
+TYR, Norse god of battles
+
+TYRE, Phoenician city governed by Dido
+
+TYRIANS
+
+TYRRHEUS, herdsman of King Turnus in Italy, the slaying of whose
+daughter's stag aroused war upon Aeneas and his companions
+
+U
+
+UBERTO, son of Galafron
+
+ULYSSES (Greek, Odysseus), hero of the Odyssey
+
+UNICORN, fabled animal with a single horn
+
+URANIA, one of the Muses, a daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne
+
+URDUR, one of the Norns or Fates of Scandinavia, representing the
+Past
+
+USK, British river
+
+UTGARD, abode of the giant Utgard Loki
+
+UTGARD LO'KI, King of the Giants (See Skrymir)
+
+UTHER (Uther Pendragon), king of Britain and father of Arthur,
+
+UWAINE, knight of Arthur's court
+
+V
+
+VAISSYAS, Hindu caste of agriculturists and traders
+
+VALHALLA, hall of Odin, heavenly residence of slain heroes
+
+VALKYRIE, armed and mounted warlike virgins, daughters of the gods
+(Norse), Odin's messengers, who select slain heroes for Valhalla
+and serve them at their feasts
+
+VE, brother of Odin
+
+VEDAS, Hindu sacred Scriptures
+
+VENEDOTIA, ancient name for North Wales
+
+VENUS (Aphrodite), goddess of beauty
+
+VENUS DE MEDICI, famous antique statue in Uffizi Gallery,
+Florence, Italy
+
+VERDANDI, the Present, one of the Norns
+
+VERTUMNUS, god of the changing seasons, whose varied appearances
+won the love of Pomona
+
+VESTA, daughter of Cronos and Rhea, goddess of the homefire, or
+hearth
+
+VESTALS, virgin priestesses in temple of Vesta
+
+VESUVIUS, Mount, volcano near Naples
+
+VILLAINS, peasants in the feudal scheme
+
+VIGRID, final battle-field, with destruction of the gods ind
+their enemies, the sun, the earth, and time itself
+
+VILI, brother of Odin and Ve
+
+VIRGIL, celebrated Latin poet (See Aeneid)
+
+VIRGO, constellation of the Virgin, representing Astraea, goddess
+of innocence and purity
+
+VISHNU, the Preserver, second of the three chief Hindu gods
+
+VIVIANE, lady of magical powers, who allured the sage Merlin and
+imprisoned him in an enchanted wood
+
+VOLSCENS, Rutulian troop leader who killed Nisus and Euryalus
+
+VOLSUNG, A SAGA, an Icelandic poem, giving about the same legends
+as the Nibelungen Lied
+
+VORTIGERN, usurping King of Britain, defeated by Pendragon 390,
+397
+
+VULCAN (Greek, Haephestus), god of fire and metal working, with
+forges under Aetna, husband of Venus
+
+VYA'SA, Hindu sage
+
+W
+
+WAIN, the, constellation
+
+WELLGUNDA, one of the Rhine-daughters
+
+WELSH LANGUAGE
+
+WESTERN OCEAN
+
+WINDS, THE
+
+WINTER
+
+WODEN, chief god in the Norse mythology, Anglo Saxon for Odin
+
+WOGLINDA, one of the Rhine-daughters
+
+WOMAN, creation of
+
+WOODEN HORSE, the, filled with armed men, but left outside of Troy
+as a pretended offering to Minerva when the Greeks feigned to sail
+away, accepted by the Trojans (See Sinon, and Laocoon), brought
+into the city, and at night emptied of the hidden Greek soldiers,
+who destroyed the town
+
+WOOD NYMPHS
+
+WOTAN, Old High German form of Odin
+
+X
+
+XANTHUS, river of Asia Minor
+
+Y
+
+YAMA, Hindu god of the Infernal Regions
+
+YEAR, THE
+
+YGDRASIL, great ash-tree, supposed by Norse mythology to support
+the universe
+
+YMIR, giant, slain by Odin
+
+YNYWL, Earl, host of Geraint, father of Enid
+
+YORK, Britain
+
+YSERONE, niece of Arthur, mother of Caradoc
+
+YSPA DA DEN PEN'KAWR, father of Olwen
+
+Z
+
+ZENDAVESTA, Persian sacred Scriptures
+
+ZEPHYRUS, god of the South wind,
+
+ZERBINO, a knight, son of the king of Scotland
+
+ZETES, winged warrior, companion of Theseus
+
+ZETHUS, son of Jupiter and Antiope, brother of Amphion. See Dirce
+
+ZEUS, See JUPITER
+
+ZOROASTER, founder of the Persian religion, which was dominant in
+Western Asia from about 550 BC to about 650 AD, and is still held
+by many thousands in Persia and in India
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE ***
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