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diff --git a/75339-h/75339-h.htm b/75339-h/75339-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca63ce7 --- /dev/null +++ b/75339-h/75339-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12528 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + +<head> + +<link rel="icon" href="images/img-cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Stories of Charlemagne, by A. J. Church +</title> + +<style> + +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 1.5em } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 2em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.intro {font-size: 90% ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + font-weight: normal; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center } + +img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75339 ***</div> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front.jpg" alt="OLIVER AND FIERABRAS."> +<br> +OLIVER AND FIERABRAS. +</p> + +<h1> +<br><br> + STORIES<br> + OF CHARLEMAGNE<br> +</h1> + +<p class="t3b"> + AND THE TWELVE PEERS OF FRANCE<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + <i>FROM THE OLD ROMANCES</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + By the<br> +</p> + +<p class="t2"> + REV. A. J. CHURCH, M.A.<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + Formerly Professor of Latin in University College, London<br> + Author of "Stories from Homer," etc.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + With Illustrations by<br> + GEORGE MORROW<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + LONDON<br> + SEELEY AND CO. LIMITED<br> + 38, GREAT RUSSELL STREET<br> + 1902<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t2"> +PREFACE +</p> + +<p> +I have endeavoured to tell in this volume +the story of Charlemagne, the Charlemagne, +it must be understood, not of history, +but of Romance. The two personages are +curiously different. Each writer of a romance +had naturally a hero of his own. As he had +to exalt this hero, he could hardly help +depreciating the king. Charlemagne suffers by +comparison with Roland and Reynaud very +much as, in the Iliad, Agamemnon, the overlord +of the Greeks, suffers by comparison with +the subordinate King, Achilles. The real +Charlemagne was a very great personality, one +that impressed his age as deeply as any man +has ever done; in these stories he often appears +petty, capricious, and obstinate. Then the +romance writers were Frenchmen, and they +make the great king a Frenchman, holding his +court in Paris, and surrounded by great French +lords. They began to write when the air was +full of the crusading spirit, and their work is +coloured accordingly. The enemy is always +a Saracen or a follower of Mahomet. There +could not be a more curious instance of this +than is to be found in the story of the death of +Roland. In the romance Charlemagne's rearguard +is destroyed by an overpowering force of +Saracens. What really happened was that it +was attacked, probably for the sake of plundering +the baggage, by a gathering of mountaineers, +who are called Gascons by the chroniclers, but +were, in fact, Basques. Then, again, we find +the romance writers in sympathy with the great +feudatories, indicating the time before the +French monarchy had become consolidated, +when the king at Paris had all that he could +do to hold his own against his powerful vassals, +the Dukes of Brittany and Burgundy, and the +English king. +</p> + +<p> +The Charlemagne romances, as translated +by Lord Berners and William Caxton, occupy +twelve volumes in the Extra Series of the Early +English Text Society. Some of these are +variants of the same story. There is a romance +of "Ferumbras," for instance, which gives +substantially the same tale as that which +occupies eleven chapters in this volume. +"Huon of Bordeaux," again, fills four volumes +in the Extra Series. But the original <i>chanson</i> +is contained in one of the four and is complete +in itself. This, too, I have considerably +compressed and shortened. The same process +has had to be applied to all before they could +be made acceptable to the readers of to-day. +I hope that they have not lost their life and +colour and human interest. +</p> + +<p> +The stories of which I have made use are +"The Four Sons of Aymon" (i.-xi.); "Ralph +the Collier" (xii.-xiii.), a genuinely English +production, it would seem, as no French original +has been found; "Fierabras," taken from the +"Lyf of Charles the Grete" (xiv.-xxiv.); +"The Song of Roland" (xxv.-xxxv.), and +"Duke Huon of Bordeaux" (xxxvi.-xl.). This +has been put last in order, as it represents +Charlemagne grown old and weary of power. +The death of the great King is only mentioned +as imminent in the romance which I have +followed; I have added an abridged account +of it from the contemporary biography written +by Eginhard. The story of Huon is peculiarly +interesting to us because it introduces the fairy +King Oberon, who was to become so important +a figure in English literature. +</p> + +<p> +I have to express my obligations to the +Introduction, written by Mr. Sidney Lee to +the first part of "Duke Huon of Bordeaux." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +ALFRED J. CHURCH. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +OXFORD, <i>July</i> 17, 1902. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t2"> + CONTENTS<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + CHAP.<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent" style="line-height: 1.5"> + I. <a href="#chap01">THE SLAYING OF LOTHAIR</a><br> + II. <a href="#chap02">HOW THE DUKE BENES CAME BY HIS END</a><br> + III. <a href="#chap03">HOW IT FARED WITH THE BRETHREN</a><br> + IV. <a href="#chap04">THE COMING OF ROLAND</a><br> + V. <a href="#chap05">OF THE TREACHERY OF KING JOHN</a><br> + VI. <a href="#chap06">OF THE CRAFT OF MAWGIS</a><br> + VII. <a href="#chap07">MORE DEEDS OF MAWGIS</a><br> + VIII. <a href="#chap08">HOW MAWGIS BECAME A HERMIT</a><br> + IX. <a href="#chap09">OF WHAT BEFELL AT MONTALBAN</a><br> + X. <a href="#chap10">HOW PEACE WAS MADE</a><br> + XI. <a href="#chap11">OF REYNAUD'S END</a><br> + XII. <a href="#chap12">HOW RALPH ENTERTAINED THE KING</a><br> + XIII. <a href="#chap13">HOW RALPH WENT TO COURT</a><br> + XIV. <a href="#chap14">HOW FIERABRAS DEFIED KING CHARLES</a><br> + XV. <a href="#chap15">HOW OLIVER FOUGHT WITH FIERABRAS</a><br> + XVI. <a href="#chap16">HOW OLIVER AND OTHERS WERE TAKEN PRISONERS</a><br> + XVII. <a href="#chap17">HOW OLIVER AND HIS COMRADES FARED</a><br> + XVIII. <a href="#chap18">OF THE BRIDGE OF MANTRYBLE</a><br> + XIX. <a href="#chap19">OF THE DOINGS OF FLORIPAS</a><br> + XX. <a href="#chap20">OF THE DOINGS OF THE FRENCH KNIGHTS</a><br> + XXI. <a href="#chap21">OF GUY OF BURGUNDY</a><br> + XXII. <a href="#chap22">OF RICHARD OF NORMANDY</a><br> + XXIII. <a href="#chap23">HOW THE BRIDGE MANTRYBLE WAS WON</a><br> + XXIV. <a href="#chap24">OF THE END OF BALAN THE ADMIRAL</a><br> + XXV. <a href="#chap25">HOW GANELON WENT ON AN ERRAND TO KING MARSILAS</a><br> + XXVI. <a href="#chap26">THE TREASON OF GANELON</a><br> + XXVII. <a href="#chap27">OF THE PLOT AGAINST ROLAND</a><br> + XXVIII. <a href="#chap28">HOW THE HEATHEN AND THE FRENCH PREPARED FOR BATTLE</a><br> + XXIX. <a href="#chap29">THE BATTLE</a><br> + XXX. <a href="#chap30">HOW ROLAND SOUNDED HIS HORN</a><br> + XXXI. <a href="#chap31">HOW OLIVER WAS SLAIN</a><br> + XXXII. <a href="#chap32">HOW ARCHBISHOP TURPIN DIED</a><br> + XXXIII. <a href="#chap33">THE DEATH OF ROLAND</a><br> + XXXIV. <a href="#chap34">HOW CHARLEMAGNE SOUGHT VENGEANCE</a><br> + XXXV. <a href="#chap35">OF THE PUNISHMENT OF GANELON</a><br> + XXXVI. <a href="#chap36">HOW KING CHARLES SENT HUON ON AN ERRAND</a><br> + XXXVII. <a href="#chap37">HOW HUON MET WITH KING OBERON</a><br> + XXXVIII. <a href="#chap38">OF THE END OF THE FALSE DUKE MACAIRE</a><br> + XXXIX. <a href="#chap39">HOW HUON, HAVING SLAIN A GIANT, CAME TO BABYLON</a><br> + XL. <a href="#chap40">HOW HUON RETURNED, HIS ERRAND FULFILLED</a><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t2"> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-front">OLIVER AND FIERABRAS</a> ... Frontispiece +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-056">REYNAUD KNEELING TO ROLAND</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-092">REYNAUD AND BAYARD</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-124">RALPH IN THE PALACE OF CHARLEMAGNE</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-182">BLOWING THE GREAT COAL</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-232">THE AMBASSADORS OF KING MARSILAS</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-290">ON THE FIELD OF RONCESVALLES</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-336">HUON MEETING WITH OBERON</a> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> + +<p class="t2"> +STORIES OF CHARLEMAGNE +</p> + +<p class="t3b"> +AND THE TWELVE PEERS OF FRANCE +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER I +<br><br> +THE SLAYING OF LOTHAIR +</h3> + +<p> +King Charles held a great court in +his capital city of Paris at the Feast +of Pentecost. Thither came the Twelve Peers +of France, and many other men of note, besides +strangers from Germany, England, and other +realms. One of the chief of the Frenchmen +was Aymon, Duke of Ardennes, who brought +with him his four sons, to wit, Reynaud, Alard, +Guichard, and Richard. All these four were +marvellously fair, witty, and valiant; but the +fairest, wittiest, and most valiant was Reynaud, +the eldest born. There was not in the world +a man of so great strength and stature. It is +of him and his brothers that this tale is told. +</p> + +<p> +King Charles stood up, and said, "Brethren +and friends, you know that by your help I have +conquered many lands, and brought many +pagans to confess the Christian faith. You +know also that this has not been done without +grievous loss on our part, and verily had not +been done at all but for succour that we looked +not for. But the succour that we looked for, +that we had not, and notably from Duke Benes +of Aygremont. This, then, is my purpose. I +will send to Duke Benes, bidding him attend +me this summer. And if he will not come, +then I will besiege him in his town of +Aygremont. And when he shall come into my hands, +I will hang him, and slay his son Mawgis, and +cause that discourteous woman, his wife, to be +burnt with fire." +</p> + +<p> +Duke Naymes said, "Be not so hot, my lord +King. Send a message to the Duke by some +prudent man, and when you shall have received +his answer, then take counsel what you shall do." +</p> + +<p> +"That is good counsel," said the King. But +when he called for a messenger, no man +answered, for many were of the Duke's +kindred. Then he called his eldest son Lothair, +and said to him, "Go to this Duke, and bid +him come to me with his men-at-arms by mid-summer +next, or else I will besiege his city of +Aygremont." +</p> + +<p> +The next day Lothair departed, having a +hundred knights with him, armed for battle. +As they went they uttered many threatenings +against the Duke, if he should not submit +himself to the King. +</p> + +<p> +It so chanced that a spy heard them talk in +this fashion, and, making all haste, came to the +Duke and told him. "There come messengers," +he said, "from King Charles, threatening terrible +things, and the King's own son is with them." Then +the Duke asked his lords what he should +do. One of them, Sir Simon by name, a good +man and a wise, said to him, "Receive the +King's messengers honourably. It is not well +for a man, how great soever he be, to fight +against his sovereign lord. Many of your +kinsmen have so dared, yet do not you." Said the +Duke, "I am not fallen so low that I should +follow such counsel. Have I not three +brothers, princes all of them, that will help +me against the King, and four nephews also, +sons of Aymon, that are stout and valiant +men?" So he would not listen to Sir Simon; +no, nor yet to his wife the Duchess, though +she was urgent with him to speak peaceably to +the King's messengers. +</p> + +<p> +By this time Lothair and his knights were +come to the town of Aygremont. The Prince +said, "See what a fortress is there! How +strong are the walls! See, too, the river +running at their base. There is no stronger +place in Christendom. It cannot be taken by +force, but haply by famishing it may be taken." One +of his knights said to him, "My lord, you +say true. This is a mighty prince, and he has +a strong castle. It would be well if you +could make him to be of good accord with +your father." "You speak well," answered +Lothair, "nevertheless if the Duke shall say +anything that shall displease us, he shall be +sorry therefor." But the knight said softly to +himself, "This is foolishness, and we shall pay +for it with our lives." +</p> + +<p> +So Lothair and his men came to the castle, +and knocked at the gate. "Who are you?" +said the porter. "We be friends," answered +Lothair, "and we bring a message from the +King." "Wait awhile," said the porter, "till I tell +the Duke." So the porter went to the Duke and +said, "There are come hither a hundred knights, +with the King's eldest son at their head. Shall +I open the gate?" "Open it," said the Duke, +"we can hold our own, yea though the King +himself should come with all his men." So +the porter hasted to open the gate. But the +Duke said to his lords, "Here comes the King's +eldest son; if he speak wisely to us, wisely +will we answer him; but if not, he shall not go free." +</p> + +<p> +Then Lothair and his knights were brought +into the hall, where the Duke sat among his +lords, having the Duchess his wife by him and +before him his son Mawgis. Now Mawgis +was a great wizard. +</p> + +<p> +Lothair said, "God keep King Charles and +confound Duke Benes! My father says, +'Come to Paris with five hundred knights, +and make good your want of service in the +parts of Lombardy, where, for lack of your +help, many valiant men came by their death. +But if you fail in this thing, you shall surely be +hanged, your wife burned with fire, and all +your house destroyed.'" +</p> + +<p> +Then might any one have seen the Duke +change colour for anger. When he could +speak, he said, "I will not go to the King. +I hold of him neither land nor fortress; or +rather I will go and waste his land till I come +to Paris itself." +</p> + +<p> +"Dare you so speak?" cried Prince Lothair, +in a loud voice. "You know well that you are +the King's man. I counsel you to do his +bidding. Else you shall be hanged till the winds +of heaven dry your bones." +</p> + +<p> +When the Duke heard this he stood up on +his feet in a great rage, crying to Lothair that +it was an evil day for him on which he came +to the town of Aygremont. Not a word of +counsel would he take, when some of his +knights would put him in mind of the King's +might, and of how he was in truth the King's +man, holding of him this very town of +Aygremont. "Hold your peace!" he cried. "Never +will I consent to hold aught of this man so +long as I can mount a horse or hold a spear." And +he called upon his lords to lay hold on +Lothair, and they durst not disobey him, but +ran upon Lothair and the rest of King Charles's +men. Then began as sore a battle as was ever +fought in this world. For not only did the +Duke's men that were within the palace assail +the Frenchmen, but the inhabitants of the town, +both merchants and craftsmen, hearing the +uproar, beset the gates. These gates, indeed, +the Frenchmen kept with great courage; but +they were few in number, and the day went +sorely against them. In the end, after that +Prince Lothair had been slain by the Duke +himself, there remained but ten of the hundred +knights alive. These the Duke spared, on this +condition, that they should carry his message +to the King, and the message was this: "I +will do no homage for my land, nor pay one +penny of tribute. Rather I will come with +forty thousand men, and waste your land, and +burn your fair city of Paris." After this he +delivered to them the body of Lothair, laying +it in a cart drawn by two horses. And when +the ten knights were quit of the town, and were +come into the fields, they began to weep and +lament, not for Lothair only, but also for +themselves, for they feared the King. So they went +on their way to Paris. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King Charles at Paris was not +a little troubled. "I fear me much," he said to +his lords, "lest some evil have befallen my son, +for this Duke Benes is a savage man and a +cruel." Then answered the Duke Aymon, +"If the Duke shall do you any wrong, I will +help you with all my heart. Here also are my +four sons who will go with me." "That is well +spoken," said the King. "Bring your sons +hither." So the Duke brought them, and the +King, when he saw them, loved them all, but +Reynaud, who was the eldest, more than the +other three. He said to his steward, "Bring +hither the arms of King Certes, whom I slew at +Pampeluna, and put them on him." And Ogier +the Dane bound on his spurs, and the King +himself girded him with his sword. This done, +he dubbed him knight, saying, "God increase +thee in goodness, honour, and worthiness!" +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud, it should be known, had a very +noble horse, Bayard by name, that had been +given him by his cousin Mawgis. Never was +there such a horse in the world, save only +Bucephalus, that was the horse of Alexander +of Macedon. When he was mounted on him +he seemed such a knight as could scarce be +matched in France or any other land. When +they jousted in the lists, for the King held a +tournament at St. Victor that was near to Paris, +not one did so well as Reynaud. +</p> + +<p> +The tournament being ended, the King +returned to his palace in Paris. The next +morning he said to his lords, Ogier the Dane, +and the Duke Naymes and Turpin the Archbishop, +"I am in fear for my son Lothair; he +tarries long on this journey. I dreamed also +last night that the Duke Benes had slain +him." The Duke Naymes said, "Put no trust in +dreams, for they are naught." The King +answered, "Nevertheless, if the Duke have +done this thing, he shall die." +</p> + +<p> +While they were yet speaking, there came +a messenger upon a horse, faint and weary and +sorely wounded, and the King saw him pass +the window where he stood. Then the King +ran lightly down to the gate, his lords following +him. When the messenger saw the King he +saluted him in a low voice, and told him all +that had befallen. And when he had ended +his words, he fell to the ground in a swoon +for grief and the pain of his wounds. +</p> + +<p> +Great was the King's sorrow. He wrung +his hands and tore his beard and his hair. His +lords sought to comfort him, and Duke Naymes +said, "Now bury your son with great honour +at St. Germaine's, and when you have done +this, gather together your army, and march +against this Duke Benes." +</p> + +<p> +Then the King and his lords rode forth from +Paris, and when they had gone the space of +two miles, they met the cart wherein was the +body of Prince Lothair. And when the King +saw the cart, he lighted down from his horse, +and lifted the cloth that was upon the dead +man. And when he saw how the head was +severed from the body and the face sore +disfigured with wounds he cried aloud. And he +said, "Oh, Lothair, my son, you were a fair and +gentle knight. May God of His mercy receive +you into Paradise!" Then his lords bore him +up on one side and the other, and brought him +to St. Germaine's. There they buried Prince +Lothair with all honour. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER II +<br><br> +HOW THE DUKE BENES CAME BY HIS END +</h3> + +<p> +Duke Aymon said to his sons, "We do +ill to tarry here. The King is very +wroth and not without cause, with your uncle +Duke Benes, and will wage war against him, +in which matter he will of a certainty ask your +help. But we cannot fight against our own +kinsfolk. Let us therefore depart to our own +country." +</p> + +<p> +So the Duke and his four sons departed, and +came to the land of Ardennes. The Duchess +was right glad to see them. Nevertheless, +when she was aware of the reason of their +coming she was greatly troubled. To the +Duke Aymon she said, "My lord, you have +done ill to leave the King without license +given, for he is your natural lord, and you +have received much good at his hands. You +have brought away your sons also, whom he +has of his goodness promoted to the order of +knighthood. This was not well." "Lady," +said the Duke, "we left the King because my +brother Benes had slain the Prince Lothair, +and we are afraid." "For all that," answered +the Duchess, "do you serve the King and +obey him, for to do so becomes a true man." Then +said the Duke, "I would lose my castle +and the half of my land, if only my brother +Benes had not slain the Prince Lothair." +</p> + +<p> +In the meanwhile the King was greatly +troubled, not only by the death of his son, +but also by the departure of Duke Aymon +and his sons. "See," said he, "how these +men whom I promoted to great honour have +betrayed me. Verily, if I lay hands on them +they shall die. But first I must punish this +villain Duke Benes. I will make war on him +this very summer. In the meanwhile they +that desire so to do may go to their own +homes, but let all be here on Midsummer Day." +</p> + +<p> +Tidings of these things came to the Duke +Benes, and he sent to his brethren, Gerard +and Bron, that they should come to his help. +These came with many men, so that the Duke +had now a very great army. So, having great +confidence in his strength, he set out for Troyes +in the region of Champagne. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, there came to the King at +Paris Duke Richard of Normandy, with thirty +thousand men, and also the Earl Guy of +Heron, and the Duke of Brittany; also many +other lords and knights from Gascony, +Burgundy, Flanders, and other parts. These +all pitched their tents in the meadows of St. Germain. +</p> + +<p> +When all things had been prepared, the +King and his army set out, his purpose being +to besiege the town of Aygremont. When +they had marched many days, there came to +Ogier the Dane, who led the van of the army, +a messenger riding in hot haste. He asked, +"Whose is this army?" When they told +him it was the army of King Charles, he said, +"I would fain speak with the King." So they +brought him to the King, and he delivered +his message, which was from Aubrey, lord of +Troyes, and to this effect; that Duke Benes +and his two brothers had come up against the +town of Troyes with a very great host, and +would most certainly take it unless the King +should come to his help. When the King +heard this he commanded that the army +should leave marching to Aygremont, and +should turn aside to Troyes. And this was +done, and in no long time the King and his +army came to a place from which they could +see the town of Troyes. +</p> + +<p> +When Gerard of Roussillon, that was brother +to Duke Benes, heard that the King was now +near at hand, he said to the Duke, "Let us go +without delay against the King." This saying +pleased the others, and they rode till they saw +the King's army. And Gerard rode forth before +his men, crying, "Roussillon! Roussillon!" On +the other hand, Ogier the Dane rode out from +the King's army, his spear in rest, and smote a +knight, Ponson by name, so that he fell dead +upon the earth. Meanwhile Gerard slew one +of Ogier's knights. So the battle waxed fiercer +and fiercer. Duke Benes, charging at his +horse's utmost speed, overthrew the Lord of +St. Quintin. On the other side, Duke Richard +of Normandy did many valiant deeds, slaying, +among others, a certain knight that was Gerard's +nearest friend. "I shall have no peace," said +Gerard, "till I have avenged my friend," and +he put his spear in rest and would have charged +at Duke Richard. But his brother Bron said +to him, "Have a care; here comes King +Charles with all his men; if we abide his +coming in this place it will go ill with +us." While he was speaking a certain knight in +the company of Duke Richard slew Gerard's +nephew before his face. Then Gerard sent a +message to Duke Benes that he was in a great +strait, and must have help forthwith. +</p> + +<p> +When the Duke Benes heard this, he made +haste to come, bringing a great company with +him, and the battle grew yet more fierce. After +a while Duke Richard of Normandy rode at +Duke Benes, piercing his shield with his spear, +and bruising him sorely on the body. Also +drawing his sword he smote the Duke's horse +so stoutly that it fell dead. But the Duke +himself sprang lightly from the ground, and fought +right valiantly on foot, slaying sundry of those +who thought to take him alive. And anon his +men brought to him another horse. And still +the battle grew fiercer and fiercer. +</p> + +<p> +Then came King Charles himself, his spear +in rest, and smote Gerard on the shield so +strongly that he overthrew both man and +horse. Then had Gerard perished but for +his two brothers Benes and Bron, who with +no small trouble drew him out of the press. +This indeed they did, but the battle went +against the men of Aygremont. Right glad +were they when the sun set, and this was +about Compline time,[<a id="chap02fn1text"></a><a href="#chap02fn1">1</a>] for the days were now long. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap02fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap02fn1text">1</a>] Compline was the last of the services of the day. +Vespers would correspond to our Evening Service, though +a little earlier, as at 6 p.m. Compline came at some +varying interval after. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +When Duke Benes and his brothers came +together after the battle they had much debate +as to what should be done. Gerard counselled +that they should renew the battle on the +morrow, but the others deemed otherwise. +"Nay," said the Duke Bron, "we shall fare +ill if we do this. My counsel is this: let us +choose thirty knights, the most prudent that +we can find. Let them say on our behalf to +King Charles that we beg him to have mercy +upon us, that the Duke Benes shall make such +amends for the slaying of Prince Lothair as +may be agreed by the lords of the two +countries, and that hereafter we will be his true +liegemen." To this counsel the others agreed. +Forthwith they sought out the thirty knights, +the most prudent men that they could find. +These, when it was day, they sent as an +embassage of peace to King Charles. And +Gerard gave them this counsel that before +they sought audience of the King they should +seek out the Duke Naymes, and beseech him +to plead their cause with the King, "for the +Duke," said he, "is a lover of peace." +</p> + +<p> +In due time the thirty knights, bearing +despatches in their hands, were brought into the +presence of the King, and delivered their +message to him. When King Charles heard +these words he looked at the men frowningly, +and in great wrath. Then he said to him that +was their chief and spokesman, a certain Sir +Stephen, "Surely, Sir Stephen, your Duke had +lost his wits when he slew my dear son Lothair. +And now, when he says that he will be my man, +does he speak the truth? What say you?" "I +will answer for him," said Sir Stephen. +Then King Charles went with his lords into +a chamber apart, and took counsel with them +what should be done. Then the Duke Naymes +said, "My advice is that you pardon them. +They are valiant men, and you had better +have them for friends than for enemies." +</p> + +<p> +Then King Charles called the thirty knights, +and said to them, "I pardon Duke Benes and +his brothers. Only I will that he come to me +at the Feast of St. John next ensuing, with ten +thousand men well equipped for war." +</p> + +<p> +When the messengers brought back this +answer the brothers greatly rejoiced. Duke +Gerard said, "It is meet that we should +ourselves go and thank the King." So they put +off their fine array, and went, having but a +single garment apiece, and with bare feet, and +four thousand knights went with them in the +same plight. When they came before the +King he spoke to them in peaceable words, +but he had anger in his heart, especially against +Duke Benes, as will be seen hereafter. +</p> + +<p> +Some seven days before the Feast of +St. John Baptist the Duke Benes set out from +Aygremont that he might present himself +according to his promise before King Charles. +Meanwhile the King was holding his court in +Paris. To him came one Guenes, who was his +nephew, saying, "Sire, Duke Benes is on his +way hither with a company of knights. Now +is the time to take vengeance on him for the +murder of Prince Lothair." "That were +treachery," answered the King, "for we have +given our word to him. The Duke also is a +great man and has powerful kinsmen." "I heed +not that," said Guenes, "I have kinsmen also +that are as good as he." "Certainly it were +treachery," said the King again; "but do as +you will, only mark that I do not consent +thereto." +</p> + +<p> +So Guenes departed, having four thousand +men with him, and met the Duke and his +company in the Valley of Soissons. So soon +as the Duke saw him, he was aware of his evil +purpose. "I held that the King was a true +man, but now I see that he practises treachery +against me. Now would that I had with me +Mawgis my son, and the four sons of my brother +Aymon. I shall have great need of them this +day." And in this indeed he spake truly, for +there was a great battle. The Duke and his +knights did valiantly, but what could their +valour avail against so great a multitude? +First, the Duke's horse was killed, and when +he rose to his feet, Guenes, being mounted on a +very swift charger, made at him, and ran him +through with a spear, so that he fell dead upon +the plain. When the Duke was dead there +was a great slaughter of his knights. Ten +only were left alive, and these were spared +upon this condition, that they should take the +body of the Duke to his town of Aygremont, +even as the body of Prince Lothair had been +taken by ten of his knights to the town of Paris. +Great was the grief in the town of Aygremont +when the body of the Duke was taken thither. +But Mawgis said to the Duchess his mother, +"Have patience awhile, my dear mother. The +King shall pay dearly for this his treachery. +And in this I know that my kinsfolk will +help me." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER III +<br><br> +HOW IT FARED WITH THE BRETHREN +</h3> + +<p> +At Pentecost King Charles held a court +at Paris to which with others came Duke +Aymon and his sons. Said the King to +Aymon, "You and your sons are very dear +to me. Therefore I am minded to make +Reynaud my steward." "I thank you," +answered the Duke; "yet this I will say that +you did a grievous wrong in that you suffered +my brother Benes to be slain, when he had a +safe-conduct under your hand. Nevertheless +I forgive you." "Remember," said the King, +"that Benes slew my son Lothair. Let us set +one deed against the other, and speak of +them no more." "So be it," answered the +Duke. But his sons were not so minded, for +they came forth out of the company, and +Reynaud spake for them, "Sire," he said, "we +are not of our father's mind, for we hate +you with a great hatred." The King, being +very angry, cried, "Away out of my sight, +foolish boy; were it not for this company I +would set you so fast in prison that you should +not move hand or foot." +</p> + +<p> +After these things the whole company went +to the Church to hear mass; and after mass +they sat down to dinner, but Reynaud would +not sit down, so angry was he. After dinner, +Berthelot, that was nephew to the King, said +to Reynaud, "Come here, play me at chess." So +these two sat down to play. When they +had played awhile, there arose a dispute +between them. So hot was the dispute that +Berthelot called Reynaud by an ill name, and +smote him on the face, whereupon Reynaud, +lifting the chess board, that was of massy gold, +smote Berthelot upon the head so strongly that +he fell down dead. When the King knew this +he cried in great wrath, "Lay hold on this +Reynaud. By St. Denis he shall not go out of +this place alive." Then the King's knights +would have laid hold on him, but his brothers +and kinsfolk defended him, and there was such +a strife in the palace as had never before been +seen. In the end Reynaud and his brothers, +with Mawgis their cousin, escaped out of the +palace, and mounting their horses fled to +Dordogne, the King's knights following hard +upon them. As for Reynaud he was in no +peril, for his horse Bayard was as swift as the +wind, but with the others it went hard. Then +Reynaud turned upon the knights that pursued +and slaying four of them, gave their horses to +the others. So they came safe all of them to +Dordogne, where dwelt their mother the +Duchess. She, fearing greatly for their lives, +would have them take all her treasure, and +depart. So they departed, with many tears, +and coming into the forest of Ardennes built for +themselves a castle which they called Montanford. +A great fortress was it and a strong, for +it was built upon a rock and defended on all +sides with great walls, and furnished with a +great store of provisions. +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard of what they had +done, he required of his barons that they +should help him to take vengeance for his +nephew Berthelot. This they promised to do. +"Only," said they, "let us go to our own land +that we may make ready." To this the King +consented. So they departed and came back +to Paris in due time with their men. After +this the King departed and marched as quickly +as he might to the castle of Montanford. +</p> + +<p> +Now it chanced that Reynaud's three +brothers were returning from the hunt when +they saw the King's host. "Who are these?" +said Guichard. Richard, who was the youngest +of the brethren, answered, "This is the King's +host, for I heard it said that he was coming to +take vengeance upon us. But now let us show +ourselves to be men." So they and their +companions rode to meet the vanguard of the +King's army. And Guichard laid his spear +in rest, and charged at the Earl Guyon, who +was leader of the vanguard, and smote him +so strongly that he fell dead to the ground. +Thereafter there was a fierce battle, and it +went hard with the King's vanguard, so that +scarce one of them escaped. But the three +brothers got back safe into the tower, and +were greatly commended by Reynaud for their +valour. And now the King besieged the +castle. "I will take it," he said, "by force +or by famine." But the Duke Naymes counselled +him to demand Guichard of his brother. +"If Reynaud yield him up," said he, "then +this matter shall be settled peaceably and +without loss." "That is good counsel," said +the King, and he sent the Duke Naymes with +Ogier the Dane to make their demands. But +when Reynaud heard it, he was full of anger, +and said, "My lords, but that I love you, +surely I had cut you to pieces for bringing +so evil a message. Think you that I will do +so base a thing as to yield up my own brother? +Tell the King that I care not a penny for his +threatenings; as for you, get you away out of +my sight." So the two peers departed with all +speed, and told the words of Reynaud to the +King. +</p> + +<p> +Then the King set guards at each of the +three gates of the castle, and the commander +of the guards at the third gate was the Duke +Aymon himself, for, of his loyalty to the King, +he made war against his own sons. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud saw the guards that the +King had set at the gates, he said to his men, +"These men are worn and weary with travel, +and it were but small glory to overcome them +now. But when they are somewhat rested, +then we will set upon them." And when the +men heard him so speak, they judged that he +was a very gallant, noble knight. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, Reynaud said, "The time is +come, else the King will think that we fear +him. Sound the trumpet, and we will let him +see what manner of men we are." So the +trumpet was sounded, and Reynaud and his +men issued from the castle gate, and the +King's men on the other hand made +themselves ready for the fight, and there was a +very terrible battle. Reynaud and his men +suffered much that day, for first the Duke +Aymon wrought great damage to his sons' +army, and then the Duke Fulk slew many, +and the defenders of the castle had much ado +to hold their own. Nevertheless they did so +valiantly that at the last the King was fain to +withdraw his men. Nor did he do this without +great damage, for Reynaud came upon the +army as it retreated, and slew many, and took +certain prisoners. This done, the four brothers +went back to their castle at Montanford. +</p> + +<p> +But it passed the skill of man to hold the +place against such odds as were brought +against them. For the King, having gathered +together a great multitude of men, surrounded +the castle on all sides, and kept it close for a +year and more. Then Reynaud sent a messenger +to the King, saying, "I will surrender +this fortress and myself also with my brothers, +if the King will promise on his part that we +shall have our lives and goods." But the King, +moved by certain of his counsellors, would +promise no such thing. And so for a while +the matter stood; neither could the King win +the castle, nor could the brethren go free. +</p> + +<p> +After a while there came to King Charles a +certain knight, Herneger by name, who said, +"Sire, if you will give me this castle of +Montanford for my own, and all the goods +that are within, and the land about it for five +miles, I will deliver to you Reynaud and his +brothers within the space of a month from +now." "Do this," answered the King, "and +you shall have what you ask." +</p> + +<p> +Then Herneger, after he had first disposed +a thousand knights in the mountains round +about, rode up to the castle gates and said, "I +pray you to let me enter, for the King seeks +my life. I have something to tell Sir Reynaud +that he will be right glad to hear." So the +porter opened the gate, and let Sir Herneger +pass within. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud heard that there was a +strange knight in the castle, he came and +inquired of his business. Herneger said, +"The King seeks my life, because I spake +on your behalf." "How does the King +fare?" said Reynaud. "Has he good store +of victuals?" Herneger answered, "He and +his army are well-nigh famished. They will +not tarry long in this place, and when they +depart you may get much spoil by pursuing +them." "That is good to hear," answered +Reynaud. "If the King fail of his purpose +this time, the opportunity will not soon come +again." Then he and his brethren and +Herneger the traitor sat down to supper and +made good cheer. +</p> + +<p> +When all the knights were fast asleep, the +false Herneger rose from his bed and armed +himself. Then he cut the cords of the +drawbridge, and let it fall, and he slew also the +guards that kept watch on the wall. When +he had done this, the knights who were +disposed upon the mountains came up, being +led by Guy of Burgundy, and, finding the +gates open, entered in and slew all that they +could find. Truly it had gone ill with the +four brethren that night but for the horse of +Alard that woke them out of their sleep. For +some of the guards had been slain, and some +who should have watched were drunken, and +the brethren had been surprised but for the +loud neighing of the horse. When Reynaud +saw that the enemy was within the castle, he +and his brethren took their places in the tower, +and, when the tower was set on fire, they took +their stand in a certain pit and defended it +right valiantly against all the King's men. +After awhile, the other knights that were in +the castle taking heart and coming to help +them, they drove out the enemy from the +castle, and shut the gates and raised the +drawbridge. The next day Reynaud said to +his brothers, "So far we have done well, and +have been delivered beyond all hope. +Nevertheless here we may not stay, for all our +provision of food has been burnt by fire. Let +us depart, therefore, while we can." So they +left the castle not without much sorrow. Alard +and Guichard were in the vanguard with a +hundred knights, and Reynaud and Richard +brought up the rear with all the rest of their +folk. +</p> + +<p> +That night they passed through the army of +the King without hurt or hindrance. But for +many days to come they had no rest from their +enemies, nor of all that pursued them was there +one that did them more damage than did +Aymon their father. At last things came to +this pass that there was no one left alive of all +their followers. Their horses also were in a +sore plight, for they had nothing to eat save +only such roots as they could find in the +ground. Nevertheless the horse Bayard was +plump and strong, while the others were so +lean and weak that they could scarce stand. +A wonderful beast was he in this as in other +things, being as well nourished by roots as +other horses are wont to be by hay and corn. +As for the knights they were ill to see, for +their armour was eaten away with rust and +their skins dark with hunger and want. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Reynaud to his brothers, "What +shall we do? As for myself I had sooner die +as becomes a knight than perish here of +hunger and cold." Alard said, "My counsel +is that we go straight to our lady mother in +Ardennes. For though the King and his +lords hate us, and even our father is set +against us, yet I am persuaded that our mother +will not fail us." "You give good counsel," +said Reynaud; and to this the other two agreed. +</p> + +<p> +That night the brethren set out, and travelling +without stay came to the city of Ardennes. +When they were in sight of the walls, Reynaud +said to his brethren, "We did ill to take no +surety of our father, that he give us not into +the King's hands." "Fear not," answered +Richard. "I am assured that our lady mother +will keep us safe." So they entered the town. +But no man knew them, so strange were they +to look upon, and the townsfolk asked them, +"Of what country are you?" "You are too +curious," answered Reynaud, and they rode to +the palace. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Duke Aymon chanced to be +hawking that day by the river, and the +Duchess was in her chamber, where she was +wont to sit, in much grief because she had no +tidings of her children. After a while she +came from her chamber into the hall, where +the men sat, but she knew them not. Nay so +black were they and foul to look upon that she +was in no small fear of them, and was minded +for a while to go back to her chamber. But +soon she took courage, and greeted the men, +saying, "Who are you, Christian men or +pagans? Maybe you are doing some +penance. Will you have some alms from me or +clothing? methinks you need them much. +Gladly will I do you this service that God also +may have mercy upon my own children." And +when she thought of her sons, and how +she knew not whether they were alive or dead, +she wept aloud. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud heard her weep, he was +himself greatly moved, and wept also. And +the Duchess looking on him more closely +was not a little troubled, so that she had +almost fallen to the ground in a swoon. But +when she came to herself she looked again and +lo! there was a scar on his face that he had +from a fall when he was a child. So she knew +him again, and cried, "O my son Reynaud, +how comes it that you are so greatly changed, +you that were the fairest knight in all the +world?" Then she looked about her, and +knew her other sons also, and took them one +by one in her arms, both rejoicing and +lamenting. So she wept and they wept also. +</p> + +<p> +And now came a yeoman to say that the +dinner was served. So the Duchess and her +sons went to the table, and sat down and made +good cheer. +</p> + +<p> +As they sat, the Duke came in from his +hawking, and said "Who are these men that +are so strange to look upon?" "These are +your children and mine," answered the +Duchess. "See what they have suffered, +living in the woods. I beseech you deal +kindly with them." But the Duke hardened +his heart against his sons, because he would +be true to King Charles. And there was +much dispute between them, so that Reynaud +had once half drawn his sword from its sheath. +Only Alard stayed him, "Set not your hand +against him, for that is against God's +commandment." In the end peace was made +between father and sons in this fashion. +Aymon said, "I cannot abide in the house with +these men, for that were against my oath to +King Charles. But you, my wife, have much +gold and silver, and horses and harness and +armour. Give to your sons so much as they +will take." Having said this, he departed +from the house and his knights went with him. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Duchess called her sons to her. +First she commanded that they should make +baths ready for them. And when they had +bathed, she gave them rich apparel of all that +they needed. This done she showed them the +Duke Aymon's treasure and bade them take of +it as much as they needed. Nor did they fail +so to do. For Reynaud made such provision +of men and arms that he gathered together a +great company of soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, just as they were about to +depart, came Mawgis their cousin, telling of +how he had taken three horses of the King, +laden with gold and silver. "And of this +treasure," said he to Reynaud his cousin. "I +am ready to give you the half." +</p> + +<p> +So they departed together, and the Duke +Aymon met them as they went, and gave them +his blessing, and "See," said he to the three, +"that you obey your brother Reynaud, for he +is good at counsel." To the Duchess, when +she was nigh distracted at the departure of her +children, he said, "Be not troubled over much; +we shall see them come again in great +prosperity and honour." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IV +<br><br> +THE COMING OF ROLAND +</h3> + +<p> +Reynaud and his brothers, with Mawgis +their cousin, came in their riding to +Poictiers, where it was told them that John, +King of Gascony was hard pressed by the +Saracens. Reynaud said to his comrades, +"Let us go to the help of the King." To this +they consented, and so coming to the city of +Bordeaux were joyfully received by the King +and his courtiers. +</p> + +<p> +Not many days after, the King of the +Saracens came to Bordeaux, and Reynaud +and his comrades went forth from the city to +attack him. Then followed a great battle, and +the Saracens fled, whom Reynaud pursued so +hotly that all his friends counted him to have +been slain. Great, therefore, was their joy +when Reynaud came back, not only safe and +sound, but bringing with him the King of the +Saracens, as prisoner, for he had taken him in +single combat. Thereupon, King John, holding +that he could not honour too greatly so +valiant a knight, yielded to him a fair hill +whereon was a castle, and gave him also his +sister in marriage. This castle Reynaud +made very strong with towers and the like, +and called it Montalban; and for a while the +brothers had peace. +</p> + +<p> +It befell that King Charles, going on a +pilgrimage, saw this same hill with the castle +built upon it, and much admiring, would know +who dwelt there. When he heard that it was +the castle of the sons of Aymon, he was very +wroth, and sent an embassy, of which Ogier +the Dane was the leader, to King John, +demanding that the brothers and their +company should be delivered to him. "I will +do no such thing," said the King. Thereupon +King Charles said to his barons, "You see how +this man defies us. Come now, we will go to +Paris, and hold a council of the whole realm, +and consider how we shall deal with him." +</p> + +<p> +When the Council was assembled, the King +stood up, and set the matter before them. +Then the Duke Naymes spake in this fashion; +"Sir, we are wrong in this war; let us have +peace for five years; after that, if you are so +minded, we will fight again." This counsel +angered the King greatly, but while he doubted +what he should say, there came to the palace a +young man, very fair, and well arrayed, with +thirty squires following him, and did obeisance +to the King. "Tell me your name," said +Charles. "Sire," answered the stranger, "my +name is Roland, and I am your nephew, being +son of your sister that is married to the Duke +of Milan." "You are welcome," said the King. +"To-morrow I will make you a knight and you +shall make war upon these traitors, the sons of +Aymon." "That I will do right willingly," +answered Roland, "seeing that Reynaud slew +my cousin, Berthelot." +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow the King made Roland a +knight. But while they sat at the feast, there +came a messenger saying that the city of +Cologne was beset of Saracens. Said Roland +to the King, "Let me go against these infidels," +and the King answered, "You shall go." So +Roland went with twenty thousand men well +armed and fell upon the Saracens, and took +from them spoils and prisoners, and overcame +their King in single combat, bringing him back +to Paris and delivering him to the King. +</p> + +<p> +The King said to Duke Naymes, "How did +Roland, my nephew, bear himself in the +battle?" "Never did knight bear himself +better," answered the Duke, "only he needs +a horse that should carry him well when he is +fully armed. I counsel you, therefore, to make +a proclamation that there shall be a race of all +the best horses in your realm, and that you +will give to the horse that shall prevail your +crown of gold, and five hundred marks of fine +silver, and a hundred rolls of silk." "This is +good counsel," said the King, and he caused +proclamation to be made, and the lists to be +set up. +</p> + +<p> +Now it chanced that a yeoman of Gascony, +being in Paris, heard the proclamation, and +going back to his own country told the matter +to Reynaud and Mawgis. When Reynaud +heard it, he laughed and said: "Now shall the +King see as good a race as ever was run in the +world, for I will go to Paris with Bayard and +win this prize." "I will go with you," said +Mawgis, "and your brethren also, and we will +have with us some knights well armed." +</p> + +<p> +So Reynaud and his company set out, and +when any one would know who they were, they +said that they were from Bearn, and that they +were journeying to Paris to run their horses in +the King's race. When they were now near to +Paris, Mawgis, being a great magician, took a +certain herb that he knew, and when he had +pounded it with the pommel of his sword, and +tempered it with water, he rubbed Bayard +therewith, so that he became all white. And +he took another herb that he knew and +therewith caused Reynaud to look like a youth of +twenty years. When the others saw Reynaud +and his horse, how changed they were, they +laughed aloud. Then Reynaud and Mawgis +parted from them, and went on alone to Paris +with Bayard the horse. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, the King had sent the Duke +Naymes, and Ogier the Dane, and another, +with a hundred knights to keep the road from +Orleans, that none might pass without their +knowledge. There they abode, not a few days, +suffering much from hunger and thirst. "What +do we here?" said Duke Naymes. "Does the +King hold us to be fools that he makes us +tarry here for nothing?" "You say well," +said Ogier the Dane, "let us go back." But +even as he spake, they were aware of two men +on horseback. Said the Duke, "That horse is +Bayard, but that he is of another colour." When +the men were near, the Duke said to +them, "Who are you?" Mawgis answered, +"My name is Sousser, and I come from Peron, +and this is my son, but he speaks no French." The +Duke said to Reynaud, "Man, know you +anything of Reynaud, the son of Aymon?" Reynaud +answered him with strange words +that no man could understand. "What devil +taught thee to speak such strange French? +Maybe 'tis Latin, but thou art more like to +a fool than to a bishop." And he suffered +the two to pass in peace. +</p> + +<p> +When they came to Paris some ill fellow saw +them, and cried in a loud voice, "This is +Reynaud, son of Aymon," at which saying +many ran together. Thereupon the villain, +growing bold, caught Bayard by the bridle. +But the horse smote the man on the breast +with his fore foot, and killed him. +</p> + +<p> +Then the two rode on, and took a lodging in +an inn; where when they bedded their horses, +Mawgis took a thread of silk and waxed it +well and after bound the fore feet of Bayard. +Said the host, "Why do you this? The horse +can run but ill being so bound. But tell me +who is the knight; had he more years he were +like Reynaud the son of Aymon." Mawgis +answered, "I bound the horse's feet because +he is given to fighting. As for his rider he +is my son." But it chanced that, not long +after, Mawgis named Reynaud by name, and +the host heard it and said, "This beyond all +doubt is Reynaud who slew the King's nephew. +Truly, before I sleep, I will tell the matter to +the King." Reynaud heard the man speak +and straightway slew him. Thereat there was +no small outcry, but the two knights mounted +on their horses, and mingling with the crowd, so +escaped. +</p> + +<p> +After mass the King and his lords went +down to a certain meadow that is by the +river Seine, where the race should be run. +And the two knights went with him, but Bayard +having his foot bound halted much. Then +said one knight, "See here the horse that will +win the prize," and another said, "Verily, he +will win, if God so favour him." And they +laughed him to scorn. +</p> + +<p> +When the trumpets sounded for the starting +of the horses they all ran. When Mawgis saw +this, he lighted from his horse and cut the +thread of silk that was bound about Bayard's +foot. And Reynaud spurred his horse, saying +to him, "Bayard, we are far behind, now it is +time for you to haste." When Bayard heard +his master so speak, he understood him as well +as though he had been a man. Straightway +he held up his head, and stretched forth his +neck, and ran so fast that he speedily passed +all the other horses. When the King saw this +he said to Richard of Normandy, "This white +horse is marvellously swift, and he is like to +Bayard, the horse of Reynaud, son of +Aymon." Reynaud, having prevailed in the race, took +the crown of gold, but the silver and the silk +he disdained. Then having the crown in his +hand, he rode back to the palace where the +King sat with his lords. The King said to +him, "I will give you for your horse such +treasure as will content you." Reynaud +answered: "Sire, I have angered you many +times, and slain your men, and now I carry +away your crown. Know that I am Reynaud, +son of Aymon. Seek elsewhere for a horse +that you may give to Roland your nephew. +But Bayard you shall not have." So saying +he spurred his horse, and rode away, and when +he had travelled certain miles, then came +Mawgis on his black horse. So these two +returned to the castle of Montalban, and +were received with great joy. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER V +<br><br> +OF THE TREACHERY OF KING JOHN +</h3> + +<p> +King Charles said to his knights +and barons, "See now how this villain +Reynaud has deceived me, and carried away +my crown. Devise some means by which I +may recover that which I have lost." "You +must besiege," said the Duke Naymes, "his +castle of Montalban." So the King gathered +together a great army, so great indeed that +provisions failed them. After Easter he set +out from Paris, and in due time came to +Reynaud's castle, Montalban. +</p> + +<p> +The King had made Roland captain of his +host. When Roland therefore saw the castle, +he being even overbold, said to the King, +"Let us assault this place without delay." But +the King answered, "Not so, we will +first try them, whether they will yield up +the place peaceably." He sent therefore a +messenger who should say to Reynaud, "The +King bids you yield up your castle and +also your brother Richard. If you refuse +he will take it by force, and hang up +both you and him." Reynaud answered, "I +am not one that betrays friends. But if +the King will assure to us our lives and our +castle we will yield ourselves to him." To this +the King would not consent. Therefore he +besieged the place meaning to reduce it by +famine, for he perceived that it could not be +taken by force. +</p> + +<p> +It fell on a certain day that Roland, seeing +that there were many birds by the river, was +minded to go hawking. So he went with +Oliver his comrade (this Oliver was a very +noble knight, and a close friend to Roland) +and a company of knights, the bravest of the +host. This was seen by a certain spy, who +told it to Reynaud and Mawgis. Mawgis said, +"Cousin, you will do well to attack the King's +host, for they are not thinking of battle." So +these two issued forth from the castle and four +thousand knights with them. +</p> + +<p> +Turpin the Archbishop[<a id="chap05fn1text"></a><a href="#chap05fn1">1</a>] was in charge of +the King's host. When he saw the enemy +come forth from the castle, he was not a little +troubled. First he called to Ogier the Dane +that he should arm himself, and afterwards to +the other barons and knights that they should +make ready for battle. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap05fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap05fn1text">1</a>] The real Turpin was, it would seem, Tilpin, +Archbishop of Rheims from 754 to 794. We do not know +that Tilpin was a warrior, but his predecessor, Milo by +name, is said to have been a "warrior clerk," and as such +to have been put into the archbishopric by Charles Martel. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +First Reynaud slew a certain knight of the +King's army. When Turpin the Archbishop +saw this he spurred his horse against Reynaud. +The two met with so great force that the spears +of both were broken in pieces; but Reynaud +being the quicker to draw his sword dealt the +Archbishop so grievous a blow that both he +and his horse were well-nigh brought to the +ground. Then cried Reynaud, "Father, are +you that Turpin that boasts himself so much? +By my faith you were better singing mass in +some church than fighting with me." The +Archbishop was much angered at these words, +and made at Reynaud with all his might. But +neither he nor Ogier the Dane nor any one of +the King's men could hold their ground that +day against the sons of Aymon. And when +Mawgis and his knights came forth from the +wood where they lay in ambush, and assailed +the King's host on the flank, then the Frenchmen +fled, not without great loss, especially at +the crossing of the river. The knights from +Montalban pursued them for a mile or so, +and Mawgis took the golden dragon that was +on Roland's tent (for Roland had not yet come +back from hawking) and set it on the great +tower of Montalban, so that all men might see +it. When the King saw it he said, "Now has +Roland taken the fortress of these villains." But +when he knew the truth, he was well-nigh +beside himself with rage. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King John was not a little +troubled in mind. For he said to himself, +"How will these things end? These five +knights, for all that they are brave warriors, +cannot always prevail against the power of the +King." So he called his barons to a council, +and demanded their advice. One said one +thing, and another another, but the greater +part had little love for Reynaud. Of these +a certain old man that was called Earl Antony +was the spokesman. He said, "I know this +Reynaud, of how haughty a temper he is. His +father had but a single town, and now he holds +himself so high that he disdains to be the +King's man. And now you have nourished +his pride, giving him your sister to wife. And +the end will be that he will take your kingdom +from you, and have it for himself. If you would +save yourself from such dishonour, deliver him +and his brethren to the King." +</p> + +<p> +When King John saw that this counsel +pleased the greater part of his barons, he was +much troubled in mind, and wept for grief and +shame. Nevertheless he called his secretary +to him, and said, "Now write to the King and +say that, if he will leave wasting my land, I will +presently deliver to him the sons of Aymon and +Mawgis their cousin. If he will send to +Vancouleurs, there he will find them, clothed with +mantles of scarlet trimmed with fur, and riding +upon mules." So the secretary wrote according +to these words in a letter, and gave the letter to +a knight that he might take it to King Charles. +When the King had read the letter, he was +very glad. And he delivered to the messenger +of the King a letter wherein he had written +what it was in his mind to do, namely, to send +Ogier the Dane with a company of knights who +should take the brethren prisoner. Also he +sent from his treasury four mantles of scarlet, +trimmed with fur. +</p> + +<p> +When King John had received the letter +with the mantles, he commanded a hundred +knights to make themselves ready to ride with +him to the Castle of Montalban. When he +was come to the castle his sister came forth to +greet him, but when she would have kissed +him, as her custom was, he turned his face +aside, saying, "Pardon me, my sister, I have +an ill tooth that troubles me sore." Not long +after the brethren came back to the castle, and +when they heard that the King was there, they +took each his horn and sounded a welcome. +When the King heard the sound, he thought +no little shame of himself, yet did not turn from +his purpose. When he saw the brethren, he +said to them, "I have spoken for you to King +Charles, and he has promised that if you will +go to the plain of Vancouleurs riding on mules, +clad in scarlet mantles which I will presently +give you, with flowers in your hands and +without arms, he will make peace with you. For +as soon as you shall cast yourselves at his feet, +he will pardon you and give you again your +lands." +</p> + +<p> +There was not a little debate among the +brethren on this matter, for Reynaud was +minded to go, but the others were unwilling. +The wife of Reynaud also was set against the +journey, telling him of a terrible dream that she +had dreamed. "I saw," she said, "a thousand +wild boars come out of the forest of Ardennes. +These fell upon you, and rent your body in +pieces. I saw how Alard was slain by an +arrow by Frenchmen, and how Richard was +hanged on an apple tree." "Hold your +peace," said Reynaud. "He that puts his +trust in dreams has but little faith in God. +Think you that your brother will betray us? +Does he not send eight of his chief barons +with us for surety." To his brethren he said, +"If you are fearful then will I go alone." +</p> + +<p> +So the four went their way to Vancouleurs, +not without fears, for Reynaud himself doubted +to what the matter might grow. Now the plain +of Vancouleurs was a solitary place, where four +ways met, with forests on every side, in which +forests, by command of the King, many +hundreds of knights lay in ambush, ready to +issue forth and fall upon the brethren. Of +these knights Ogier the Dane was the chief, +and was not a little in doubt how he should +bear him, for on the one hand he was near of +kin to the brethren, and on the other he was +bound in duty to perform the command of the +King. Sometimes he was inclined one way, +and sometimes another. First he suffered the +brethren to pass unharmed when he might have +taken them at a disadvantage in a narrow road; +afterwards, when they were in the plain, he +himself led his knights against them. +</p> + +<p> +When the brethren found that a great +treachery had been practised upon them, they +prepared to defend themselves, having first +confessed their sins to each other, for lack of +a priest to whom they might confess. Great +deeds did they that day, but not without +suffering many things. First Guichard was taken +prisoner by the King's men and bound upon a +horse. Yet Reynaud delivered him from +captivity. Then Richard was grievously wounded +by Gerard Lord of Valence, and came very +near to death, but him also Reynaud, than +whom there was never greater fighter in the +world, rescued before it was too late. And +indeed it was in Richard's counsel that the +brethren found deliverance. For when he +opened his eyes, having before been in a +swoon, and saw Reynaud, he said to him, +"See you that rock yonder that is so high +and strong? If we can win thither, we shall +be safe from our enemies, at least for one +while. Nor do I doubt that Mawgis, who +knows things that are hidden from other men, +knows in what plight we are, and will bring us +help presently." +</p> + +<p> +And Alard lifted Richard from the earth, and +laid him upon his shield, and carried him to the +rock, Reynaud and Guichard holding back +meanwhile the King's men with such strength +and valour as have never been surpassed, for +they fought as men who have no hope for their +lives, but think only how they may make most +havoc among their enemies. And now again +did Ogier the Dane render them good service. +Truly they had scarce won their way to the +rock but for this, for when they were most +hardly pressed he drew back his own company +the length of a bowshot. "You can deal with +these men without me," said he to the King's +barons. "It were better that I should not +meddle with them any more, seeing that they +are my kinsmen." And so somewhat by favour +of Ogier, but chiefly by their own valour, the +brethren won their way to the rock. +</p> + +<p> +Now the rock had four faces. Of these +Reynaud kept two, so strong was he, and +Guichard one and Alard one. As for Richard +he was so spent with loss of blood that he lay +upon the ground and could render no help. +After a while an evil chance fell upon them, +for Guichard was so sorely wounded in the +thigh that he could no longer stand upon his +feet. He cried to Reynaud, "Let us yield +ourselves to the King, seeing that neither +Richard nor I can help you any more." "This +is to speak as a coward," answered +Reynaud. "I would not yield myself for all +the gold and silver in the world, no nor for +Bayard my horse, though I love him better +than all other things. And, indeed, what were +the profit of yielding ourselves? We should of +a certainty be hanged by the King, and it were +better to perish here than to die in so shameful +a fashion." When Guichard heard these words +he was greatly troubled in spirit. "You are +right, brother," he said. "Cut me now the +half of my shirt into strips and I will bind up +my wounds as best I may, and so make shift +to help you against our enemies." This he +did; so these three still held the rock against +the King. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Mawgis knew how his kinsmen +had been betrayed, and made haste to succour +them. He saddled the horse Bayard, and +rode with a great company of knights as fast +as might be to the place where the brethren +were. Great was Reynaud's joy to see him; +while he was yet a long way off he knew him, +not so much for himself as for the horse Bayard +on which he rode. Swift as a swallow was +Bayard, every stride was of thirty feet at the +least. When Richard heard it, he said to his +brother, "Lift me up in your arms that I may +see him." So Reynaud lifted him up, and when +he saw Mawgis and Bayard coming up as a +storm comes he said, "The sight makes me +whole again." +</p> + +<p> +Ogier the Dane was glad to see that help +had come to his kinsmen. "See you these +men?" he said to the Frenchmen, "we cannot +stand against them; let us retreat." But while +he was speaking, Mawgis came upon him, so +swift was the horse Bayard, and defied him. +"Ogier," he said, "you came of true men, but +you are yourself untrue," and he spurred +Bayard against him, and smote him on the +breast with his spear so stoutly that he broke +both shield and corslet. What would have +been the end no man can say, for Ogier on his +part was not backward, but now the horse +Bayard, knowing that his master was near, +carried away Mawgis in his own despite, and +came and knelt before Reynaud. Then Mawgis +lighted down from him, and greeted the +brethren most lovingly. +</p> + +<p> +As for Ogier and the Frenchmen, not being +minded to stand against the new-comers, they +rode back to the river Dordogne, Reynaud +crying out to his kinsman, "Ho! cousin! have +you then left being a soldier and become a +fisherman for eels or salmon?" +</p> + +<p> +When they had crossed over the river the +Frenchmen blamed Ogier the Dane, for that +he had favoured the brethren, while Ogier, on +his part, was greatly troubled, knowing that +they spake truly, and yet that the brethren +held him in no regard for all that he had done. +These things so wrought upon him that he +mounted his horse and swam back across the +river. When he had come to the other bank, +Reynaud, having ridden down to the river on +Bayard to meet him, said, "Cousin, surely we +have had enough of fighting; let us be content +therewith." But Ogier answered, "You have +blamed me for treachery, and my own friends +say the same thing. I would rather be slain +than endure such reproaches." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said, "So be it." And the two +charged at each other and met with so great +a shock that both were thrust from their saddles +and fell to the ground. Before they could +raise themselves, for both received no small +damage, the two horses, Bayard and the other, +fell to fighting. Then Ogier, knowing that +Bayard was the stronger by far of the two, +would have smitten him with his sword. +Reynaud, on the other hand, hindered him. +And when Mawgis and the brothers, that is +to say, Alard and Guichard, for Richard was +too sorely wounded, saw this, they made all +haste to come. When Ogier perceived them, +he had no choice but to mount on his horse +and flee. Then Reynaud cried after him, +"Come back if you will and fetch your saddle," +for the girths had been broken when the two +jousted together, "and I will greet you in such +a place that Charlemagne with all his men +could not help you." So Ogier passed over +the river once again, and Mawgis with the +brethren went back to the rock where they +had left Richard. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VI +<br><br> +OF THE CRAFT OF MAWGIS +</h3> + +<p> +When King John of Gascony heard all +the trouble that had befallen the +brethren, on the one side, and the Emperor +and his knights, on the other, he could not rest, +so much did his conscience trouble him. So +having bidden farewell to his sister Clare, +Reynaud's wife, he sought a certain Abbey, and +there took a monk's habit. But a certain man +that was a spy was aware of the matter, and +told it to Roland. Also he said that the +brethren and Mawgis were journeying to +Montalban. Then Roland, having first called +Oliver, said, "We will go now and fight with +the sons of Aymon, and we will take four +thousand men only with us, so that we shall +have no advantage over them, inasmuch as they +have five thousand well horsed and well +armed." Said Ogier the Dane, "I will go with you and +see how you fare, and I promise that if you lay +hands on them I will lend you a rope." +</p> + +<p> +Roland first came to the Abbey, and said to +the Abbot. "You have here in a monk's habit +a certain John, whom men call King of +Gascony. Deliver him to me that I may hang +him as a thief." And when the Abbot would +not consent, Roland entered the cloister, and +took King John by force, the man being known +to him, and set him on a horse, with his face to +the tail. The King said to a certain knight +whom he knew, "Go now to Reynaud and say +that I am in sore straits." "Sir," said the +knight, "I doubt whether Reynaud will so +much as stir a foot to help you." Nevertheless +he consented to go. +</p> + +<p> +Now Reynaud had come by this time to the +castle of Montalban. But when his wife the +Lady Clare came forth to meet him, he would +not suffer her to come near to him. "Go," he +said, "to your false brother John." The +children also, for he had two sons, he spurned +away. "I will have none of this evil brood," +said he. But when the Lady Clare swore by +all the Saints that she had no knowledge of her +brother's wickedness and fell in a swoon at his +feet, and his brothers also made intercession +for her, his heart was softened, and he +consented to receive her again. +</p> + +<p> +As they sat at meat there came the knight +from King John. He said, "King John is in +sore straits. Roland has taken him prisoner, +and is stedfastly purposed to hang him. The +King knows that he has sinned grievously +against you, nevertheless he prays that you will +help him." Then cried Alard, "If Roland hang +that traitor, he will do well." But Reynaud +said nothing. +</p> + +<p> +When he had thought a long while he began +to speak, telling all the story of his life, how he +had himself done wrong to others, and how he +had suffered many things, and was bound to +show mercy rather than hardness. "King +John," he said, "would have betrayed me, but +he did it for fear of King Charles. It becomes +me to help him in his need." +</p> + +<p> +To this the brethren consented, though not +willingly. So they set forth, having six +thousand men on horseback, and one thousand on +foot, and before they had gone many hours' +journey there came Roland and Oliver and +Ogier the Dane, having King John with them, +as has been said. +</p> + +<p> +When Ogier saw them, he greatly rejoiced. +"If one had given me a thousand marks in +gold," he said, "it had not pleased me so well +as that Roland should meet the brethren and +Mawgis and learn of what quality they are." To +Roland he said, "See now what you have +desired so long. If you take these men alive +the King will give you great thanks therefor, +and you will have Bayard for your own, and +the war will be ended." Roland answered +"Ogier, you say not this in kindness, but I will +do my best." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud, on the other part, when he saw +Roland and his company, said to his brothers, +"Stay you behind till you are wanted. I will +make trial of this great Roland." And when +they would have kept him back he said, "I +know that he is the strongest knight in all the +world. Nevertheless I will meet him, for mine +is the right cause and his the wrong. Therefore +I shall certainly prevail." +</p> + +<p> +When the two armies were now near, Oliver +said to Roland, "these men are too many for +us." "Not so," answered Roland, "the +Gascons are but cowards." "Maybe," said +Turpin the Archbishop, "but they have a good +leader this day, and a valiant man has ever +valiant men to follow him." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-056"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-056.jpg" alt="REYNAUD KNEELING TO ROLAND."> +<br> +REYNAUD KNEELING TO ROLAND. +</p> + +<p> +Roland, liking this talk but little, rode forth +to meet Reynaud. But Reynaud, when he was +now at the distance to charge, lighted down off +Bayard, and fixing his spear in the earth, +tethered his horse, and running forward knelt +before Roland and said to him, "I pray you to +have pity on me, for you are of kin to me. I +will give you Bayard my horse, that is the most +precious thing I have, and my lordship of +Montalban, if you can make the King to be +at peace with us. Further, I promise that I +will leave France for the rest of my days, and +go to the Holy Land with my brothers and +Mawgis, and there make war upon the +Saracens." +</p> + +<p> +Roland was much troubled at these words, +and said, "I would that it might be, but the +King will not make peace except you deliver +to him Mawgis." "Mawgis," said Reynaud, +"is not one that a man can give or take. And +now seeing that I have humbled myself in vain +let us two settle this matter. There is no need +that others should shed their blood, but we +only. If you overcome me then shall you take +me to the King, that he may do with me as he +will; but if I, on the other hand, overcome, then +will I take you to Montalban, but you shall +suffer no harm or shame." +</p> + +<p> +To this Roland consented, but his friends +would not suffer it to be so. So the two armies +met together in battle, and many were slain on +both sides, but in the end Reynaud and his +men prevailed over Roland and his army. +Nevertheless Reynaud suffered this great loss +and damage, that his brother Richard, having +assailed Roland, was overthrown and taken +prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud heard these tidings he was +greatly troubled, and would have given himself +up to King Charles, if he might so deliver his +brother. But this the others would not suffer. +Then said Mawgis, "Trouble not yourselves +about Richard, I will set him free. Do you go +to Montalban." But they doubted how he +should do this, and were in great heaviness. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Mawgis disguised himself in such +a fashion that no one could know him. By +eating of a certain herb he made himself much +bigger to see, and with another herb he +darkened his face almost to blackness. Then +he put on him the habit of a pilgrim, having +a mantle and hood, and great boots on his feet, +and a staff in his hand. This done, he +conveyed himself with more speed than if he had +ridden the swiftest of horses to the King's +camp, for he was a magician, as has been said. +This speed he used that he might be +beforehand with Roland. +</p> + +<p> +When he was come to the Camp, he watched +till the King came forth from his tent, and said +to him, "God keep you, Sir, from all treason!" Now +the King, having been deceived many +times, said, "Who is this knave? Does he +compass some treason?" For a while the +false pilgrim made no answer. But then, as +one that takes courage to speak, he said, "Sir, +you may see that I am a poor man that has +more need of health than of compassing +treason. I am newly come from Jerusalem, +where I worshipped at the Holy Sepulchre, +and now I must go to Rome and to St. James +of Compostella, but I am in great trouble. +Yesterday, as I was passing over the river +Gironde with ten men that I had to guard +me, there fell upon me some thieves that slew +all my men and took all that I had. These +thieves told me that they were the four sons +of Amyon, and one Mawgis, their cousin. +And when I asked them why they dealt so +hardly with me, they answered that they were +in such sore need at their castle of Montalban +that they could not choose but rob all +wayfarers. Then they beat me and let me go. +And now, Sire, I pray that you will avenge +me of these robbers." +</p> + +<p> +The King answered, "Gladly would I +avenge you if I might, but I can do nothing +against these men." And the false pilgrim +said, "If I cannot have help of man, yet surely +I shall have it of God." The King said, +"This seems to be a godly man." And he +turned to his lords. "It would be a good +deed to give this pilgrim alms." And he +commanded his steward to give him twenty +pounds in silver. +</p> + +<p> +When Mawgis received the money, he said +to himself, "Surely you shall have a reward +for this." But aloud he said, "I pray you, +Sire, to give me some meat, for since yesterday +I have neither eaten nor drunk." And the +King commanded that he should be served +with the very best. +</p> + +<p> +So Mawgis ate and drank; he said nothing, +but looked very earnestly at the King. And +Charlemagne said, "Tell me, pilgrim, why you +look so earnestly upon me?" The false pilgrim +answered, "Sire, I have travelled in many +lands, but never saw I, whether among Saracens +or Christian men, so godly and courteous +a prince. Now, therefore, of all the pardons +that I have I will give you half." "That," +answered the King, "is a fair gift. I take it +willingly." So the false pilgrim gave him his +staff to kiss for a token. +</p> + +<p> +And now came Roland with Richard his +prisoner. But before he had audience of the +King, the Duke Naymes and other Barons +said to him, "It will be ill done if you deliver +Richard to the King. Let him depart in +peace." "That," answered Roland, "I will do +right willingly if I may." +</p> + +<p> +But a certain yeoman that was standing by +heard the Barons and Roland talking together, +and told the matter to the King. And he, +coming forth from his tent, when he saw +Richard, cried, "Villain, now that I have you, +I will see that you are hanged by the neck," +and he smote him with his staff. Then +Richard leapt upon the King, for he had been +unbound, and the two wrestled together and +fell to the earth. But the Barons laid hands +upon them and held them apart. +</p> + +<p> +When Mawgis saw how the King had +smitten Richard, he had much ado to keep +still. Nevertheless he restrained himself, +making a sign to Richard, and when Richard +knew him he was glad, being sure that he +should be delivered by his means. +</p> + +<p> +After this Mawgis departed from the King's +camp, and went with all speed to Montalban. +Being come there, he said to the three +brethren, "Richard is yet alive, but he is in +great straits. Come and deliver him while +there is yet time." Thereupon they all set +out. But when they were come near to the +camp, and had hidden themselves in a wood +that was hard by, it so happened that for +weariness they all fell into a deep sleep. And +this thing came near to the undoing of Richard. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the King called his Barons +together. First he said to Berenger, Lord +of Valois, "I will make you quit of all service +to me if you will take this knave Richard and +see that he is hanged." Berenger answered, +"You love me little, my lord King, if you +make such a demand of me. I will not do +this thing." +</p> + +<p> +Then the King said to another of the Barons, +"You hold Bavaria of me, and are bound to +serve me with three thousand men. I will +quit you of this service if you will hang this +knave Richard." "I will not hurt the man," +answered the Earl. +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to Ogier the Dane and said, +"Now, if you would prove me your love, hang +this fellow." "Nay," answered Ogier, "I will +not, and, moreover, I hold any man to be my +enemy that shall harm Richard." +</p> + +<p> +At the last he said to Turpin the Archbishop, +"Hang this Richard, and I will make you +Pope of Rome." "Sire," answered Turpin, +"to do so would be against my priest's duty." +</p> + +<p> +At last the King prevailed with a certain +knight, Ripus by name, that he should do this +deed. So this Ripus, having put a halter +about Richard's neck, led him to the gallows +which had been set up outside the wood. +And when Richard would have given him gold +he would have none of it. Only he suffered +that a priest should shrive him, to whom +indeed Richard confessed more sins than he +had committed in his whole life, so gaining a +little time, for he yet looked for help. And +when the shriving was ended, then he begged +for time wherein he might make his prayers, +nor could Ripus say him nay. +</p> + +<p> +And now, when he was in the greatest need, +did the good horse Bayard help him, for he, +having such wit as never horse had before, +seeing that Reynaud his master was fast asleep, +smote with his hoof on his shield that he woke +him, and he, looking up, the gallows being hard +by the wood, saw Richard now beginning to +mount the ladder that was set against the +gallows. Then he leapt on Bayard's back, +and made all haste to deliver Richard, Mawgis +and Alard and Guichard following him with all +the speed they could use. +</p> + +<p> +As for Ripus and his men, they could make +no stand against the brothers and Mawgis. +Many were slain, and the rest were right glad +to fly. Then Reynaud took the bodies of +Ripus and fifteen of his knights that lay dead +upon the plain and hanged them on the gallows +that had been set up for Richard. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VII +<br><br> +MORE DEEDS OF MAWGIS +</h3> + +<p> +When Reynaud had accomplished the +delivering of his brother Richard, he +sent the greater part of his company back to +Montalban, but he himself remained with the +rest, being minded to do some great thing +against King Charles. And this he did, for +making his way into the camp with his comrades, +he came to the King's tent. Cutting the +cords, so that the whole tent fell to the ground, +he laid hands on the golden Eagle that was on +the great pole in the middle, a thing so costly +that no man could tell the price thereof. In +this Mawgis helped him. +</p> + +<p> +But this adventure had nearly turned out to +the great disadvantage of the brothers and +Mawgis. For Mawgis was not content with +the taking of the Eagle, but would have slain +the King. He made his way into the inner +part of the tent where the King lay, and +said to him, "Sir King, you have troubled us +over long, slaying my father and doing us all +manner of mischief. And now you shall die." So +saying, he thrust at the King with his spear; +but the King turned about, and the spear was +thrust into the bed two feet and more. Then +was King Charles sore afraid, and cried out for +Roland. When Mawgis heard this he looked +round, and lo! Reynaud and the brethren were +gone. +</p> + +<p> +When he found himself to be alone, then, for +all that he was as stout a warrior as ever bare +arms, he was not a little troubled, and turned +to flee. But many of the King's knights +pursued him, and hindered him from escaping, +and at the last Oliver overthrew him, casting +him down from his horse to the ground, so that +he was fain to yield himself prisoner. And +Oliver took him to the King's tent. +</p> + +<p> +When the King saw him, he was very glad, +and said, "Now, you false thief, you shall pay +for all the villainies that you have done." "Sir +King," answered Mawgis, "you have me in +your power and you can work your will upon +me. Nevertheless, I will counsel you for the +best. Make peace, and you shall have the best +knights in all the world to serve you. But if +you slay me, you shall get from the deed no +profit but much harm." +</p> + +<p> +The King said to his Barons: "Now cause +that they make a gallows, so that I may hang +this Mawgis or ever we sup." "Sir," said the +Duke Naymes, "I advise you to wait till the +morrow. Your enemies will mock you, saying +that you durst not do this man to death in +daylight for fear of them." But the King answered, +"I should be shamed, indeed, if this fellow +should escape." +</p> + +<p> +When Mawgis heard these words, he said to +the King, "If this is what you fear, I will give +you my word that I will not go away without +taking leave of you in due form." "But who +will be your surety?" said the King. Then +Mawgis looking round, saw the twelve Peers, +and he said to Oliver, "Sir, when I yielded +myself to you, you promised to be surety for +me to the King." Then he turned him to +Roland, and made the like request and so with +all the Twelve. And the Peers consented to +his request, and stood surety for him. +</p> + +<p> +Then Mawgis said to the King, "I am +hungry, give me some meat." "Can you eat," +said the King, "being in such a plight?" But +the Duke Naymes said: "The man that has +eaten is better prepared for all things." "So +be it," said the King; "but where shall the +fellow sit?" "He should best sit by you," +said Roland. "You say well," answered the +King, "for indeed I cannot trust him to be +elsewhere." +</p> + +<p> +After supper the King commanded that the +Twelve Peers should watch Mawgis through +the night. Nor was he even then content, for +he called for irons, and bound the man's hands +and his feet. And the key of the irons he +kept. "Now," said he, "you shall not escape +me, you false thief." "Think you so?" +said Mawgis. "Nevertheless, I shall be at +Montalban to-morrow before prime." And the +King was so wroth, that he would have slain +the man forthwith, only the Peers hindered him. +</p> + +<p> +This done, they sat down to play at the +tables, and at chess, and at other games. After +a while they all felt a great desire to sleep. +Whereupon Mawgis began to work upon +them with his magic. First he made their +sleep to be stronger by far, so that the King +and the Peers and the whole company were +altogether mastered by it. Then with another +charm he loosed the collar from his neck and +the fetters from his legs. Then seeing that the +King had fallen with his head awry, he took a +pillow and set it under him. Also he took +from him his sword Joyous, and from Roland +his sword Durendal, and the sword which +Oliver carried, Hautclere by name. Also he +took much treasure out of the King's treasury. +When he had so done, he took a herb that he +had, and rubbed the King's nose and lips with +it, and said, "Wake, Sir King, I said that I +should not go without taking leave. Now, +therefore, farewell," and he vanished out of the +place. +</p> + +<p> +When the King came to himself, he was so +angry as never man was before. He would +have woke the Peers, but could not, so fast +asleep were they. Then he bethought him of +a certain herb that he had brought from +overseas. This he rubbed on the nose and mouth +and eyes of the Peers, and they awoke +forthwith. Said the Duke Naymes, "Where +now is Mawgis?" "He is gone," answered +the King, "and by your fault, for ye hindered +me when I would have hanged him." "Did +you see him depart?" said Oliver to Roland, +"No, by St. Denis," answered Roland. But +the King said, "I saw him go with my own +eyes." "Then you should have warned us," +said Roland, and as he spake he put his hand +to his side and missed his good sword Durendal. +And when the Peers found that their swords +were gone they were fairly distraught with +anger. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the King said to his Barons: +"Go now to Reynaud, and tell him that if he +will give back to me my golden Eagle and my +crown, and my sword Joyous, then I will grant +him a truce for two years. Ogier shall take +this message, and the Duke Naymes and +Turpin the Archbishop." +</p> + +<p> +So these mounted their horses and rode to +Montalban. When they were come to the +gate, they called the porter and said to him, +"We be knights of the King, and would fain +speak with Sir Reynaud." So the porter told +the thing to the brethren. +</p> + +<p> +Richard went to the gate and saluted them +courteously, and brought them into the castle, +where they were honourably received by +Reynaud and the Lady Clare, Alard also and +Guichard helping. Then Ogier delivered his +message, and Reynaud said, "Tarry here, my +lords, this night, and we will give you an +answer in the morning." To this they +consented. So a great feast was prepared, and +they sat down and were right royally +entertained. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the Duke Naymes said to +Reynaud, "What answer do you make to the +King?" Reynaud answered, "I will do as +he desires." +</p> + +<p> +When Ogier the Dane heard this, he was +glad, and thought within himself, "Now will +the King be greatly pleased. Maybe there +shall be not a truce only, but peace. If I can +move Reynaud to come back with us to the +King, the two may well be reconciled." So +he told his thought to Reynaud and Reynaud +consented to it. +</p> + +<p> +The next day they set out. Ogier and the +Duke Naymes went on with all speed they +might use to the King's camp; but Reynaud +and Alard followed slowly with Turpin and +another. +</p> + +<p> +In the meanwhile a certain spy, having +knowledge of the whole matter, made haste to +tell it to the King, and this he did before that +Ogier and the Duke were come to the camp. +When the King heard it, he said to Oliver: +"Take with you two hundred knights, and +ride with all haste to the river of Besançon, +where, if you use diligence, you will find +Reynaud and Alard. Lay hold of them and +bring them hither to me." +</p> + +<p> +So Oliver rode with his knights, and when +he was come to the river, he found Reynaud on +foot and Bayard his horse so far from him that +he could not mount him; so he was taken +unawares. Then he turned to Turpin and +that other in great anger, saying, "Villains, +you have betrayed me." "Sir," answered +Turpin, "I swear to you that I am innocent in +this matter." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said to Oliver, "Remember you +how I helped you at Vancouleurs when you +were borne to the ground, giving you again +your horse and helping you to mount." "I +remember it well," answered Oliver. "No +man shall harm you if I can hinder him. +Nevertheless I must take you to the King." So +they set out to go to the camp. +</p> + +<p> +But the Duke Naymes and Ogier and +Oliver and all the Peers made entreaty to the +King, that he would make peace with the +brethren. But he hardened his heart against +them. "You waste your breath," he said, "I +will do the thing that I choose, though you all +shall say me nay;" and turning to Reynaud he +said, "You shall not cheat me as did that false +thief Mawgis, for I will cut you into pieces and +burn the pieces with fire." "Sir," answered +Reynaud, "you shall not do so, God being my +helper." +</p> + +<p> +The King, being thus defied, turned him to +Ogier, and said, "Ogier, will you take the part +of my mortal enemy?" "That will not I," +answered Ogier; "nevertheless I will defend my +honour against all men, even against the King." +</p> + +<p> +Then said Reynaud, "Sir, you have said +that I am a traitor. Now know that I am no +traitor, neither is there a traitor in all my house +and kindred. And if any man say ought +against me or my kinsmen, then will I fight +with him, man to man." The King answered, +"I will prove my accusation against you by +force of arms." Then Reynaud said again. +"Sir, you speak as a King should speak. I +give you my gage that I am as true a man as +any that lives in the world." "I will take +your gage," answered the King, "If so be you +can find sureties." Then Ogier and Turpin +and the Duke Naymes and another stood +sureties for him. +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said to the King, "Are you content +with these sureties." "That I am," answered +the King. Then Reynaud would know with +whom he should fight. "With me," said the +King. But when Roland heard this, he said, +"It must not be so, Sire; I will fight in your +place." And so it was ordered. Then +Reynaud, being mounted on Bayard, with the +Duke Naymes and Ogier and other Peers, +returned to Montalban. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VIII +<br><br> +HOW MAWGIS BECAME A HERMIT +</h3> + +<p> +Reynaud entertained the Barons that +night in Royal fashion. The next day, +after they had heard mass, he was minded to +set forth, and he said to his brothers and +Mawgis, "Tarry here and keep this castle." "Nay," +said Alard, "we will come with you. +Maybe you will have need of help." "Alard +has spoken well," said Ogier the Dane. +Then said Reynaud to Mawgis, "You at the +least will tarry here." "That will I do, fair +cousin," answered Mawgis, "and be sure that +Montalban shall suffer no harm through me." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud rode to Montfaucon, and there he +found Roland waiting for him. Roland spake +the first, and said, "Be sure, Sir Reynaud, that +when you leave the field this day, you will so +leave it that you will never again fight with me +or any other man." "Such threatenings do +not become so good a knight," answered +Reynaud. Roland said again, "I am not here +for peace, but for war. If you are wise you +will keep yourself far from me." "You are +overproud," answered Reynaud, "maybe I +shall abate your high thoughts." +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud had spoken these words, he +spurred Bayard and charged Roland, and +Roland also charged from his side. With so +great a shock did they come together, that +their spears were broken to pieces. As for +Reynaud, he was borne to the earth, his saddle +girths breaking, and Roland's feet were thrust +out of the stirrups. Then Reynaud rising +quickly from the ground smote Roland a +mighty blow with his sword, so that he scarce +knew where he was. Nevertheless, drawing +his good sword Durendal, he made at Reynaud, +and dealt him a great stroke. Long and fierce +was the battle between these two, for they +both were as hardy knights as lived. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Duke Naymes cried to the King, +"This is ill done to send to their death two +such valiant knights, who might do good +service against the heathen. Bid them cease +from their fighting, Sir King." But the King +said nought. +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said to Roland, "Let us light +down and fight afoot lest by chance we +should kill our horses, for if we lose them +we are not like to get their like again." With +this Roland was content. So they lighted +down from their horses and fought on foot. +First they fought with swords, but neither +one could get the better of the other. When +Roland saw that he could not prevail with his +sword he caught the other round the waist, +and wrestled with him in the same fashion as +the Northerners use. So they two strove +together for so long a time as a man might +take for the running of a mile. Then seeing +that neither could throw the other they sat +down, being utterly wearied; their helmets +and shields were partly broken, and the ground +whereon they had stood was trampled as if +men had beaten corn thereon. +</p> + +<p> +Then there came to pass a right wonderful +thing. There suddenly fell upon the two so +thick a cloud that neither could see the other. +Then Roland, having bethought himself awhile, +said to Reynaud, "Will you do me a courteous +turn, and I will some day, if you should need +it, do the same to you." Reynaud answered, +"I am ready to do whatsoever you shall ask +me." Then Roland said, "I will that you take +me with you to Montalban, for I am persuaded +in my mind that in this matter you have the +right and I the wrong." +</p> + +<p> +So Roland mounted his horse, and Reynaud +mounted on Bayard, and they rode away side +by side. When King Charles saw them he +was not a little astonished, and leaping upon +his horse he cried aloud, "Now shall I see +who is on my side." And he hurried after the +two knights, and many Frenchmen went with him. +</p> + +<p> +By this time the King, having been baulked +of his will once again, for he had counted it for +certain that Roland would overcome Reynaud, +was yet more steadfastly determined not to +give peace to the brethren; therefore he +bade Duke Richard of Normandy ride +on and guard the crossing over the river +while he himself followed with all the host +that he could muster. +</p> + +<p> +So the King and his army came to Montalban +and set up his tent before the great gates +of the castle. One came to Mawgis and said, +"The King is come with a great host, and +has set up his tent before the great +wall." "Take no heed of this," answered Mawgis; +"if the King has done this thing he has +done it to his own loss." +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud knew of the matter he told +it to Roland, and Roland said, "I will now +send to the King my uncle this message—that +Reynaud has dealt with me right courteously; +also that he and his brethren and Mawgis will +give themselves and their castle into his hands +if only he will promise to save us alive." "You +speak well," said Reynaud; "I am content to +do this." +</p> + +<p> +Then they doubted who should take this +message to the King. At last it was agreed +that the Duke of Naymes and Ogier the Dane +should take it. So these two went to the King +where he sat in his tent before the great gates +of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +But the King hardened his heart, and would +not listen to the Duke Naymes and Ogier. +Nay more, he cried, "Flee from this place, +ye villains! Reynaud shall have no peace +with me till I have Mawgis to do with as I +will." Then the Barons went back to the +castle and told how they had fared. Reynaud +said, "I wonder that the King is so hard of +heart. But Mawgis I will not give to him; +no, not though I should die for it." +</p> + +<p> +Then they went to supper, and ate their +meat with much cheerfulness. Supper being +ended, Reynaud said to Mawgis, "Cousin, +I pray you to watch this night, for on this +hangs the lives of us all." "Sleep in peace," +answered Mawgis, "for all shall be well." +</p> + +<p> +When all the Barons were abed Mawgis +took Bayard out of his stable and rode to the +King's camp. When he was come thither +he cast upon all the host, by a charm that +he had, a very deep sleep. This done, he +went to the King's tent and took him out +of his bed and laid him across Bayard, and +carried him, still sleeping, to Montalban. +</p> + +<p> +Mawgis went to the chamber of Reynaud +and said to him, "Cousin, what would you +give me if I should deliver the King into +your hands?" "I would give you whatsoever +you shall ask," answered Reynaud. "Promise +me then that you will do him no harm," said +Mawgis. Reynaud answered, "I promise." Then +Mawgis led him to his own chamber +and showed him the King asleep in his bed. +</p> + +<p> +When Mawgis had delivered the King to +Reynaud he went to the stable where he had +left Bayard and rubbed the horse's back and +head with straw, and kissed him, weeping the +while. This done he put on him his pilgrim's +garb, and having given the porter all the +clothing that he had, went forth from the gate. +</p> + +<p> +Mawgis journeyed till he came to the river +Dordogne. This he crossed in a boat, and +having passed through a pine forest that was +on the other side of the river, came to a well +whereby there was a little house with a spring +before the door, in which a hermit might +conveniently dwell. Having entered the house +he saw an oratory and in it an image of Our +Lady, and when he had knelt down before it +he prayed that Our Lord would forgive him +his sins. This done, he made a great vow +that he would abide in that place for the rest +of his life, eating only such wild things as were +in the wood. This he did thinking that if he +were away the King would make peace with +the brethren. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IX +<br><br> +OF WHAT BEFELL AT MONTALBAN +</h3> + +<p> +There was great trouble and wondering +when the brethren knew that Mawgis +was not in Montalban. So they called the +porter and asked him what he knew. The +porter said, "Sir Mawgis went out on Bayard; +in a little while he came back, having a man of +great stature on the horse's neck before him, +and went into the castle. Then he came forth +again, poorly clad and on another horse. More +than this I know not." +</p> + +<p> +When Richard heard this he gnashed his +teeth for anger, saying, "All this comes of the +hatred that the King bears to us and to our +kindred. Fain would I slay him," and he +made as if he would draw his sword from the +scabbard. But the others held him back, and +they reasoned with him till he had promised to +do no hurt to the King. +</p> + +<p> +When they told what had happened to +Roland and the other Barons they were not a +little astonished, and Ogier the Dane said, +"All this trouble comes through the King's +rage against the brethren, for indeed it is +beyond all measure. But now I trust there +will be peace. In very truth there has been +war too long, and many good knights have +been slain." +</p> + +<p> +And now the charm that Mawgis had laid +upon the King came to an end, and he woke +out of his sleep. And when he knew that he +was in the castle of Montalban, being aware +that this was of Mawgis's doing, he was yet +more angry than before, saying that there +should be no peace till Mawgis should be +delivered to him. +</p> + +<p> +When Richard heard him speak in this +fashion he said, "Do you threaten us, Sire, in +this fashion, being a prisoner and in our +power?" But Reynaud said, "Be silent, my +brother; let the King say what he will; 'tis +for us to pray that he make peace with +us." Then the brethren and all the knights and +Barons that were there, whether of one party +or of the other, fell upon their knees before the +King, and begged that he would make peace, +but the King hardened his heart, saying, +"There shall be no peace till Mawgis be +delivered to my will." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said, "My lord King, if you had +my three brothers in your power, and were +about to hang them, even then would I not +deliver Mawgis to you. But besides this I +know not where he is." "I do believe that +he is in this very place," said the King. +"I swear by my baptism," cried Reynaud, +"that this is not so, and I know not whither +he is gone." +</p> + +<p> +Then again all the Barons made intercession +with the King that he would grant peace to +the brethren, and to Mawgis. But the King +did not abate in his wrath by one jot. "I will +have Mawgis, that I may work my will upon him." +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud heard these words he rose +up from his knees, for before he had been +kneeling to the King, and said, speaking to +Roland and to the other lords that were of the +King's part, "Seeing that the King has +hardened his heart, and will have no mercy on +me and my kinsmen, I do call you to witness +that I will henceforth seek my right by all +means that a true knight may lawfully use." Then +he turned him to the King and said, +"You may go in peace when you will, I will +do you no hurt, for you are my sovereign lord." +</p> + +<p> +When the King's Barons heard these words +they were not a little astonished, not thinking +that any man could deal so generously with his +enemy. As for Richard, he was greatly +displeased, and said, "Now have you let the +enemy go; I fear me much that we shall all +pay for this ill courtesy that you have shown to +him with our lives." But Reynaud answered, +"Be silent, brother; know that I will not +compel the King to do that which is against +his will. And now depart from my sight, for +your high words please me not." +</p> + +<p> +Then Reynaud called to him a gentleman of +his household, and said, "Go now without any +tarrying to the yeoman that has charge of my +horses and bid him bring me Bayard. I will +that my sovereign lord should ride back upon +him to his camp; better horse he could not +have." So the yeoman brought Bayard, and +the King mounted upon him and rode him to +his camp, where the Frenchmen very gladly +received him. +</p> + +<p> +The King bade a squire take Bayard back +to Montalban, whom, when Reynaud saw, he +said to Roland and the other Barons, "My +good lords, I know that the King is displeased +with you for your love of me. Now therefore +depart and make your peace with him. As for +me, if I have aught against you, I forgive it +with all my heart." +</p> + +<p> +When the Duke Naymes heard these words, +he would have kneeled to Reynaud, but this +good knight would not suffer it. Then said +the Duke, "Surely it cannot but be that the +King's heart will be softened when he shall +hear how nobly Reynaud has borne himself in +this matter." "You say well," said the other Barons. +</p> + +<p> +Then there were brought from the stables +Roland's horse and the horses of the others. +When they were now mounted there came +forth from the palace the Lady Clare, and said +to them, "My lords, I do entreat you to make +peace, if by any means it may be done, +between the King and my husband, for indeed +he bears a large heart, as you very well +know." And the Duke Naymes answered, "Lady, we +will do it if it may be." So he and his fellows +took their leave of Reynaud and the Lady +Clare with much sorrow, and rode to the +King's camp. +</p> + +<p> +The Barons made intercession to the King +that he would accord peace to Reynaud, but he +would not hear, but rather was more inflamed +with anger than before against him and his +kinsmen. First, he bade his men make an +assault upon the castle. This they did with +great zeal, bringing engines wherewith to cast +stones and darts against it, and setting ladders +against the walls by which they climbed up to +the highest parts. But all these things availed +nothing, but rather turned to the damage of +the King's men, of whom many were wounded +and slain. +</p> + +<p> +When the King perceived that he could not +prevail in this way he bade his men cease from +assaulting the castle, saying, "If I cannot take +the hold of these villains by force I will take it +by hunger." He set therefore at every gate +two hundred knights, who suffered no man to +go out or enter in. +</p> + +<p> +After a while there came to be a great +famine in Montalban, so that a man could not +buy food for silver or gold, and not a few +perished with hunger. +</p> + +<p> +When knowledge of these things came to +the King's ears he rejoiced greatly, saying to +his Barons, "This time, methinks, Reynaud +shall not escape me. By St. Denis, I will +hang him, and drag the false Richard at a +horse's tail, and deal with Alard and Guichard +in the same way." +</p> + +<p> +But Roland and Ogier and the Duke Naymes +were very sorry, and made supplication to the +King, but he hardened his heart against them. +</p> + +<p> +In the castle the famine was so sore that +Reynaud and his people could scarcely keep +life in them. Then the Lady Clare said to her +husband, "We have more than a hundred +horses in the stables, let us, therefore, cause +one of them to be slain, that you and I and +the children may have a morsel of meat, for +indeed we have not had aught for these three +days past." And when she had so spoken she +fell down in a swoon at her husband's feet. +</p> + +<p> +Then Reynaud went to the stables, and +choosing one of the horses, commanded that it +should be killed and dressed for food, and this +was done, but it was a little thing among so +many. And so they did till all the horses were +eaten, save four, that is to say Bayard, and one +horse of each of the brethren. +</p> + +<p> +At the last it came to this, that there was +nothing left to eat but these four horses only. +But Richard said, "My horse you shall not +have, no, not though we die all of us. Verily +we had not been brought to this pass but for +our folly when we had the King in our hands +and suffered him to go free." When the boy +Aymon, that was son to Reynaud, heard this, +he said, "What profits it, uncle, to speak of +that which is past and gone? Besides this I +do not doubt that the kindness which my father +showed to the King will turn some day to his +profit." +</p> + +<p> +When Richard heard the boy speak so wisely +he took him in his arms and kissed him, +weeping the while, and said to Reynaud, "Let my +horse be killed and given for meat to the Lady +Clare and to the young boys my nephews, +and to others that have need." And so it was done. +</p> + +<p> +After a few days it came to this, that Bayard +only of all the horses was left alive. And +when the brethren would have had him also +killed for food, Reynaud withstood them, +saying that he would sooner die than that his +horse should be killed. Yet when the Lady +Clare besought him, and his children also, he +yielded to them, saying that the horse should +die. So he went to the stable, that he might +do this deed himself. Yet when he looked +upon Bayard, and had called to mind how +many times the noble beast had saved his life, +he repented him of his purpose. Then he +gave him a handful of hay, for indeed there +was nothing else that he could give, and went +back to the Lady Clare and his brethren and +said, "Endure till nightfall and you shall have +meat. This I promise you," for he had a +purpose in his heart. +</p> + +<p> +Then he saddled Bayard, and came stealthily +to his father's tent, that was in the King's camp, +for he knew well where it was. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud saw the Duke Aymon he +said to him, "For pity's sake, my father, give +me food, for my wife and my children and my +brothers and all my people are dying of hunger. +As I live there is but this horse Bayard that is +left to us." But the Duke answered, "I have +sworn an oath to the King that I will not give +you any help by food or otherwise." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said again, "My father, have pity +upon your own flesh, for such we are. The +King does us great wrong when he persecutes +us in this fashion." +</p> + +<p> +When the Duke heard these words he well-nigh +fell into a swoon for pity. After a while +he said, "You say truly that the King does +you wrong. Now, therefore, light off your +horse and go into the tent, and take whatsoever +you can find, nor shall any man say you +nay; but for my oath's sake, I may not give +you aught." So Reynaud went into the tent, +and took such things as he could find and laid +them on the back of Bayard, and carried them +to Montalban. That night they ate their meat +in the castle with much gladness of heart. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the Duke Aymon called his +steward and said to him, "Take now the three +engines that the King commanded me to make +for assailing the castle, and fill them, not with +stones, but with flesh, both salt and fresh, and +with loaves of bread, and with other victuals, +and cause that they discharge these things into +the castle." And the steward did as the Duke +commanded him. +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard what the Duke +Aymon had done he was very angry, and sent +for him to his tent. And when the Duke came +he said to him, "How are you so bold that +you feed my mortal enemies. Verily you shall +lose your head for it." The Duke answered, +"Sire, if you should burn me by fire yet will I +not fail my children. They are no thieves or +murderers, or traitors, but as good and true +knights as are in all the world." +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard the Duke speak in +this sort, he made as if he would have struck +him. But the Duke Naymes stood forth and +said, "Sire, I would counsel you to send the +Duke to his house. You cannot look for him +to be with you in this matter, that he should see +his children die before his eyes." Then the +King said to the Duke Aymon, "Get you out +of my camp forthwith, for you have done me +more harm than can well be told." And the +Duke answered, "I will do your bidding +willingly." But before he went, he said to the +Peers: "My lords, I commend my children +to you. See, I pray you, that they come to no harm." +</p> + +<p> +The King commanded that all the engines +of war should be broken, for he feared lest +others also of the Barons should throw victuals +into the castle. So Reynaud and his men had +peace, for no man made assault upon the castle. +But after certain days, the provisions being all +consumed, the famine was as sore as it had been +at the first. +</p> + +<p> +Alard said, "My brother, we cannot live +longer without meat." Then Reynaud took a +sword in his hand and went to the stable, +having it in his heart to slay his horse. And +when Bayard saw him, for he had not come +thither for many days, he made good cheer. +Then Reynaud said, "I were cruel indeed if I +did thee harm, good beast that thou art." But +Yonnet, who was his younger son, said, +"Father, do you chose that my mother and my +brother should die, and Bayard live?" +</p> + +<p> +Then Reynaud was much troubled, doubting +what he should do. Then he bethought him +of a thing that he might do. He called for +a basin, and took blood from the horse, and +this being mixed with other things of which +they had a little he prepared a mess, by which +the Lady Clare and the children were a little +sustained. This he did for four days, but on +the fifth day the horse was grown so feeble +that there came no blood from him at all. And +now it seemed as if all hope were gone. +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud and his kindred and his house being +in these straits, there came an old man who +would speak with him. "Sir," said he, "you +have done as well as could have been done by +any man in keeping this castle, but now you +can do no more. But listen to me. I was at +the building of this place many years ago, when +I was but a young child. And I mind me that +the lord that builded it made a secret way by +which a man might escape if he was so minded. +This way I will show you, and you can depart +from this place by it without danger." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-092"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-092.jpg" alt="REYNAUD AND BAYARD."> +<br> +REYNAUD AND BAYARD. +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud was right glad to hear this thing so +that he forgot his hunger. Then he took his +horse, which, indeed, could scarce stand for +feebleness, and all the folk that were left in the +castle; and they entered the secret way that +the old man showed them. When they had +gone a part of the way, Reynaud saw that they +had not with them King John of Gascony. He +said, "We have done ill to leave King John. +It would be shame to us were he to die like a +starving wolf that has fallen into a pit." So he +went back and brought him. The others had +small pleasure to see him, for even the Lady +Clare, that was his sister, spake sharply to him +saying, "Brother, you have done me such +damage that you well deserved to die." But +Reynaud said, "I have sworn homage to the +King, and I must needs save him." And when +the others heard these words, they confessed +that Reynaud's thoughts were more worthy of +a Christian man than theirs. +</p> + +<p> +So having gone along the secret way for a +while, they came to the end, and having issued +forth found that they were in the Wood of the +Serpent. Many things they suffered as they +went, yet for hope's sake and by help of such +wild fruits as they gathered on the way they +bear up. And so with much toil and trouble +they came to Ardennes, and were received with +much gladness. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER X +<br><br> +HOW PEACE WAS MADE +</h3> + +<p> +It happened about seven days after these +things that the King rode by the castle, for +he would fain know how the besieged fared. +When he could see no man on the walls, he was +not a little astonished, and going back straightway +to the camp called his Barons together and +told them of this matter. +</p> + +<p> +The Duke Naymes said, "We must find out +what has overtaken these people; let us feign +to make an assault." So they feigned to make +an assault, but no man came forth to defend the +castle. Then the King said: "They are all +dead of hunger," and he commanded that a +long ladder should be set against the walls. +By this certain of the Peers mounted, Roland +being first of all, and after him Ogier the Dane +and Oliver. But finding no man they +descended on the other side and opened the gates +that the King might come in. +</p> + +<p> +So the King came in; but when he saw +neither man, woman, or child in the whole +place he was much astonished. And as he +searched he found the secret way, which when +he had seen he cried, "This has that false +knave Mawgis done. Verily he will break my +very heart for anger." But the Duke Naymes +answered, "Not so, my lord; this way has +been made many years." +</p> + +<p> +Then by commandment of the King, Roland +and a company of men went by the secret way +till he came to the Wood of the Serpent. Nor +were there wanting signs that many people +had passed that way. So he returned to the +castle and told what he had seen to the King, +and the King with his host tarried awhile in +Montalban. +</p> + +<p> +A messenger came to the King, with tidings +of the brethren. He said that he had seen +them keeping a great court at the city of +Ardennes, and that they had much treasure +with them, and a great company. +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard this he swore by St. Denys +that he would not rest in his bed till he +had besieged Reynaud and his company. So +he commanded his Barons that they should +make ready their baggage and march with all +the haste they could on to Ardennes, and this +they did. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud was aware of their coming +he swore a great oath that he would not suffer +himself to be besieged. "Rather," said he, +"would I fight with the King in the open field; +verily, if by chance he should come into my +hands I would not have pity on him as I did +in past time." "Now, my brother," said +Richard, "you speak as a man; if it come to +fighting I will not fail of my duty." And +Guichard and Alard said the same. +</p> + +<p> +Then Reynaud ordered his host in a very +skilful fashion, and mounting on Bayard rode +towards the van of the King's army. When +the King saw him coming, he grew so +mad with rage that he was ready to fight with +him, man to man. When the Duke Naymes +perceived this, he said, "Sire, what mean you +to do? It were folly to fight with these men. +Rather make peace with them. For whether +we prevail or they, there were a grievous loss +of brave men, such as shall never be +recovered." "Have done with such counsel," +said the King, "I had rather be torn in sunder +than make peace with these villains. Speak to +me, therefore, no longer on this matter, but do +you bear the Oriflamme of France as becomes +a noble knight." "That will I do," said the +Duke. "Verily, there is no man so old but +that he will get hot in battle." +</p> + +<p> +Then the hosts joined in battle, and the +fight grew fiercer and fiercer. First Reynaud +and the brethren drave back the King's hosts. +With his first blow Reynaud clave a knight's +head to the teeth, and with his sword shore the +head of another clean from his neck. Then +with a loud voice he cried, "Ardennes," and +the courage of his men waxed so high that the +King's men could in no wise stand against them. +</p> + +<p> +When the King saw this he charged with all +his might against his adversaries, slaying a +knight at each blow. And when his spear was +broken, he drew his sword, and did therewith +marvellous deeds of arms. Never did he bear +himself more valiantly than he did that day. +</p> + +<p> +When Roland saw how his uncle fought in +the very front of the battle, he was greatly +afraid lest some mischance should befall him. +Wherefore, spurring his horse, he made all +haste to help him. The rest of the Twelve +Peers did the same, and the King's host was +stayed up against Reynaud's men. From +prime to noon the battle was so equal that no +man could say whether this side or that +prevailed. But when the sun began to move to +its setting, Reynaud's men began to give way, +being fewer in number and spent with fighting. +Then Reynaud said to him that bear his +standard, "It is time to rest, carry the standard +homeward." +</p> + +<p> +When the King perceived this, he cried with +a loud voice, "They fly; follow them with all +speed; suffer them not to escape." This thing +was the cause of no small damage; for +Reynaud and his brothers and the knights that +were of his side turned upon them that +followed and slew many, and took prisoner +Richard, Duke of Normandy. Him they +carried into Ardennes and shut to the gates. +</p> + +<p> +Roland went to the King and said, "The +brethren have taken Duke Richard; lest, therefore, +he come to any harm, offer conditions of +peace. Remember, Sire, that you have now +made war upon the sons of Aymon for fifteen +years. Truly, had you done as much against +the Saracens as you have done against them, +you had brought them by this time under the +Christian faith." +</p> + +<p> +The King said, "Speak no more of peace; +it shall not be save on conditions that you +know. As for the Duke Richard they will not +dare to harm him." +</p> + +<p> +So the King laid siege against the city, and +brought up great engines of war against it, +expecting that Reynaud would deliver it into +his hands, for he thought that by this time his +strength must be well-nigh spent. But when +many days had gone by, and there came no +messenger from the town, he began to doubt +within himself. So he called his lords together, +and said to them, "It troubles me that we +have no tidings of Duke Richard." Roland +answered, "Sire, I marvel that you do not +perceive the truth. The Duke Richard we +shall never see again, unless you make peace +with Reynaud and his brethren." +</p> + +<p> +When the King had considered the matter +awhile, knowing that Roland had spoken truth, +he said, "Go now, three of you, to wit, Duke +Naymes, Ogier the Dane, and Roland, with +olive branches in your hands, and say to him, +'Thus saith the King, deliver to me Mawgis +into my hands, and I will give you peace; you +and your brothers shall have your lands again, +and your two sons I will receive at my court, +and I will make them knights with my own hands.'" +</p> + +<p> +The three Barons went, with olive branches +in their hands, and delivered the King's +message to Reynaud. He answered, "My +lords, I am glad with all my heart to see you; +nevertheless I marvel much at the King's +message. He demands that I shall give over +Mawgis to him. Now all the world knows +that I have not Mawgis to give or not to give. +Truly I have lost him, and better friend or +kinsman never was, by the King's cruelty and +hardness of heart. Return therefore to the +King and say, 'Mawgis I have not to give, +nor would I give him if I had. As for the +Duke Richard, I will hang him to-morrow over +the chief gate at Ardennes.' And you, come +no more on such an errand to me. I promise +you that if any man come hereafter with such +a message from the King, I will smite off his +head." +</p> + +<p> +So the three Barons returned to the King, and +told him the words of Reynaud. And Roland +said, "Sire, take it not ill, if I tell you that for +your pride you will cause the Duke Richard to +die. These sons of Aymon are the best +knights in all the world, and they have asked +peace of you, not once only but many times, +and you have hardened your heart against +them." The other Peers spake to the same +intent. But the King would not listen to +them. "Not so," said he, "they will not +dare to hurt the Duke; verily, if they do such +a deed I will hang them all with my own +hand." +</p> + +<p> +The next day Reynaud said to his brothers, +"It is manifest that the King will not give us +peace. I am resolved, therefore, to do him all +the harm I can, and first I will hang the Duke +Richard before his eyes and the eyes of all his +host." +</p> + +<p> +So Reynaud caused that a gallows should be +set up over the chief gate of Ardennes. When +this was done he sent ten yeomen to fetch the +Duke. Now the Duke sat in his chamber playing +chess with Yonnet, that was son to Reynaud. +One of the yeomen said to him, "Sir Duke, +come forth, for Reynaud has commanded that +you be hanged forthwith." When the Duke +heard him speak in this fashion, he disdained +to make any answer, but said to Yonnet, "Play +you quickly, for it is time that we go to +dinner." When the yeomen saw that he paid no heed to +them, they laid hands on him, one on each side, +saying, "Rise up, Sir Duke, for you are to be +hanged in despite of the King." When the +Duke perceived that the men had hold of him, +having one of the chess pieces in his hand, to +wit, the Queen, with which he was about to +give mate to Yonnet, he drew back his arm +and gave one of the men such a buffet on the +head as killed him outright. After this he took +a rook from the board, and gave another +yeoman such a stroke that his skull was broken; +to a third he dealt a great blow with his fist +and slew him. The others seeing how their +fellows had fared, fled forthwith out of the +chamber. Then the Duke said to Yonnet, +"My child, you are fairly mated; as for these +fellows they are drunken, I take it, to use me in +such a fashion; but they have had their deserts," +and he called to a servant that was there, +saying, "Cast now these churls out of the window," +and the man cast them out, fearing much, lest +he should be dealt with in the same way. +</p> + +<p> +When Reynaud and his brethren heard what +the Duke had done, they went to his chamber +in great wrath, and said, "Why have you slain +my yeomen?" The Duke answered, "There +came to my chamber ten churls saying that you +had given commandment that I should be +hanged, a thing which I could in no wise +believe. For this cause I drave them out of +my chamber, slaying some of them—I know +not how many. Now if I have done amiss +you can do to me what you will. But I judge +the matter thus, that if these churls suffered at +my hand the blame lies rather at the door of +them that sent them on this errand." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said in great wrath, "Believe it or +no, as you will, but I am steadfastly purposed +to have you hanged before the eyes of the +King and his army." And he caused the +Duke to be bound. +</p> + +<p> +When the Duke perceived that Reynaud was +truly purposed to deal with him in this fashion, +he said, "Suffer me now to send a messenger +to the King." "You shall send him," said +Reynaud. So the Duke sent a messenger +bearing two messages, to the King one, and +another to the Peers. To the King he said, +"I pray you, Sir, if you ever loved me, to make +peace with Reynaud. If he have done aught +amiss against you I will be his surety, and will +answer for him that he shall make amends." To +the Peers he said, "Show now to the King +that if he suffer me thus to die, he shall do +himself such dishonour as shall never be done +away." +</p> + +<p> +When these messages were delivered (but +the King knew not that Richard had sent to +the Peers) there was great debate, for the King +hardened his heart as he had done before, and +the Peers were urgent with him that he should +turn from his anger. And the strife between +them waxed so hot that the Peers departed +from the King, taking their men with them, +so that day the King's host was made the +smaller by forty thousand men. +</p> + +<p> +When the messenger came back with these +tidings, how that the King was still hardened +but that the Peers had departed from him, +Reynaud was greatly moved, and turning to +Duke Richard he said, "I pray you, my good +cousin, pardon me for the great shame that I +have done you." The Duke answered, "I +blame you not. Rather do I blame the King +for his cruelty and hardness of heart." Then +Reynaud caused him to be unbound, and said, +"Stand here by me, my cousin, and we will see +what the King will do." +</p> + +<p> +And now the King was at last brought to a +better mind, for he said to a knight that waited +on him, "Ride now as fast as you may, and +when you come to the Peers tell them that I will +listen to their counsel." So the knight rode +with all speed, and when he had overtaken the +Peers he delivered to them the King's message. +And they came back to the camp. +</p> + +<p> +The King said, "Go now to Reynaud and +say to him, 'The King gives you peace on +these conditions. You shall go in pilgrim's +garb to the Holy Land, and on foot, begging +your bread. You shall leave me your horse +Bayard. On the other hand, I will restore to +your brothers all their lands.'" +</p> + +<p> +So the Duke Naymes went to Ardennes and +told to Reynaud the King's conditions. Reynaud +answered, "I accept them with my whole +heart." Then he went to the stable, and took +Bayard from his stall, and delivered him to the +Duke Naymes. This done he took his banner, +and raised it on the wall of the castle to be a +token of peace. After this he went to his +chamber, and, putting off his rich apparel, clad +himself in poor garments, and took a pilgrim's +staff in his hand, and so made ready to depart. +But first he took leave of his wife, the Lady +Clare. So sad at heart was she that she fell +down at his feet like to one dead. When she +had come to herself he said, "Take not this +thing so much to heart. As for me I have such +joy at the making of peace that the time of my +banishment seems to be past already. Now +may God have you in His keeping!" And +he kissed her right tenderly, and went his way. +</p> + +<p> +When the Lady Clare saw him go she fell +again into a swoon, and this so sore that her +gentlewomen deemed that she was dead. When +she revived she said, "O Reynaud, my lord, +there was never husband so good as you. Well +I know that I shall never see you again." Then +she went to her chamber, and took off her rich +garments and clad herself poorly, saying, "This +will I wear till my lord shall come again in +peace." +</p> + +<p> +As for Reynaud, his brethren and Duke +Richard of Normandy and many others went +with him a long way. But he said after a +while, "My friends, you make my going the +harder to me; I were better alone. Return +now to Ardennes and comfort my wife and +my children." +</p> + +<p> +So they took leave of him with many tears. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XI +<br><br> +OF REYNAUD'S END +</h3> + +<p> +It must now be told in a few words what +Reynaud did in the Holy Land, and what +befell him afterwards. +</p> + +<p> +First, then, when he was come to the city of +Constantinople, he lighted by chance on his +cousin Mawgis, who was lying sick in a certain +house. So much did Mawgis rejoice to see +Reynaud, that he was straightway made whole +of the sickness that he had. Then the two +went on together, and coming to Jerusalem, +did excellent service for the true faith, +delivering the city out of the hand of the Sultan of +Persia, who had taken it by treachery. +</p> + +<p> +This done the two departed, for they would +not take any reward, and came to Rome. +There they confessed their sins to the Pope, +and having received absolution, made their way +with all the speed they could to the city of +Ardennes, where the brethren and all the +people received them gladly. +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said, "I marvel much that I see +not here either my wife or my children." Richard +answered, "Your sons are at +Montalban in all health and prosperity." "That +is well," said Reynaud, but perceiving +that his brethren were troubled, he bade them +tell him the truth, for "I see," said he, "that +you have heavy tidings." Then said Alard, +"We may not hide from you that your wife, +the Lady Clare, is dead. For when you left, +she sorrowed continually, weeping both by +day and by night, and so wasted away that she died." +</p> + +<p> +Reynaud said, "Take me now to the place +where you buried her." So they took him +to the church wherein was her sepulchre. As +he stood there weeping, there came to him his +children, for they had been brought from +Montalban, and kneeled down before him. +And Reynaud kissed them and said, "See that +you be good men, for I fear that I shall not be +long with you." +</p> + +<p> +Ten days afterwards he and his two sons +and Mawgis departed from Ardennes, and +came to Montalban. As for Mawgis, he +returned to the Hermitage where he had dwelt +at the first, and died there after seven years, +being much honoured as a holy man. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after the Duke Aymon died, +bequeathing much wealth to his children. +All this Reynaud divided among his brethren, +keeping for himself the castle of Montalban, +and this for a time only, for he was resolved +to give up all worldly things. +</p> + +<p> +In Montalban, therefore, he dwelt awhile, +with his two sons, teaching them and training +them in all honourable and godly ways. +When he saw that they were each instructed +in arms and in all other things that a good +knight should know, he bade his steward +furnish them with goodly clothing and arms +and all other things needful. This done, he +charged them that they should bear themselves +honourably. "Be courteous," he said, +"to all ladies; reverence those above you; be +ready to help those that are in need; love your +neighbour; so shall you have praise of all +men." And when he had said these words, he bade +them farewell, not without tears. +</p> + +<p> +How these two fared at the King's Court, +how they were in great favour with the King, +and how they overcame their enemies—for the +children of a certain lord that had hated their +father sought to do them an injury—cannot be +told in this place. Let it suffice to say that +they prospered exceedingly. +</p> + +<p> +Now must be told the end of Reynaud. +When he saw that his sons were well established +in dignity, he departed from Montalban +and journeyed to the city of Cologne, in which +city there was now in course of building a very +fair church. He said to the master-mason, +"Let me now serve the masons with such +things as they need." The master-mason said, +"Sir, you are more like to a king than a labourer, +and it shames me to set you to such work." Reynaud +answered, "Say not so; I will serve +with a good will." And the man was well +content to have it so. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, the master-mason said to him, +"See you those poor men that seek to carry a +stone yonder? Go you and help them, for +they are but weaklings." So Reynaud went; +he said to the men, "Go and do what else is +appointed of you, for I will deal with this +stone." So he carried the stone to its place, though it +were of such a bigness that four men could +scarcely handle it. And after this he fetched +other stones and mortar, and these in such +plenty that the masons had much ado to deal with them. +</p> + +<p> +When it was evening the masons came to be +paid, and each man's wage was five pennies. +But when the master-mason saw Reynaud, he +said, "You shall have twenty pence, for you +have laboured so as I have never seen any +man labour. And you shall have as much +every day." "Nay," answered Reynaud, +"give me one penny only, that I may have +wherewithal to keep me, for I work not for +wages, but for the love of my God." +</p> + +<p> +Then Reynaud found a lodging in the town, +and bought for himself one pennyworth of +bread, and of this and some water he made his +supper. The next day he went to his work, +and this he did many days, taking for his +wage but one penny only. +</p> + +<p> +But the other masons grew jealous of him, +because that he was much better and stronger +than they. So they laid a plot against him, +and on a certain day when he slept they slew +him, and having put his body into a sack, they +cast it into the river. +</p> + +<p> +Of the marvellous things that happened in +respect of this said Reynaud, they that will +may read elsewhere. Let it suffice to say in +this place that the body was found after certain +days and was honourably buried in the church +of Cologne, and that year by year a feast is +held in the memory of the Lord Reynaud, +for indeed he was a very perfect, gentle +knight. +</p> + +<p> +And now it remains only to tell of the horse +Bayard that was delivered, as has been said, to +the King. When the host, returning to Paris, +came to the river Meuse, a millstone was tied +about his neck, and he was cast into the river. +Some have said that this was done by command +of the King; but this is not a thing to +be believed. In any case, the good horse was +not harmed, for he brake with his feet the +stone from off his neck, and swimming to +the shore, escaped to the forest of Ardennes, +where he lived for many years, but suffered +neither man nor woman to come near him. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XII +<br><br> +HOW RALPH ENTERTAINED THE KING +</h3> + +<p> +On the feast of St. Thomas, which is four +days before Yule, King Charles rode +out of the city of Paris with a great company +of princes and nobles. As they rode across +the moor a great tempest from the east fell +upon them. So fierce was the wind and so +heavy the rain, that they were scattered over +the country, nor could they tell, the day being +well nigh as dark as night, whither they were +going. Of what befell the rest of the company +there is no need to tell; this tale concerns +King Charles only. +</p> + +<p> +As he rode in sore plight, not knowing +where he might find shelter, he was aware of +a churl, who was leading a mare carrying two +great panniers. "Now tell me your name," +said the King. "They call me Ralph the +Charcoal-burner," said the man. "I live in +these parts—my house is seven miles hence—and +I earn my bread with no little toil, selling +coals to such as need them." "Friend," said +the King, "I mean you no ill, for I judge +you to be an honest man." "Judge as you +will," answered Ralph, "I care not." "I am +in sore need of a friend," said the King; "for +both my horse and I are ready to perish, the +storm is so fierce. Tell me then where I can +find shelter." "Shelter!" said Ralph, "I +know of none, save in my own cottage, and +that is far hence in the forest. But to that +you are welcome, if you care to come with me." +</p> + +<p> +The King was right glad to hear these +words. "That is well," said he, "God +reward you for your goodness." "Nay," +answered the churl, "keep your thanks till +they have been earned. As yet you have +had from me nothing, neither fire, nor meat, +nor dinner, nor resting-place. To-morrow +when you go you can thank me, if you be so +minded, with better reason. To praise first, and, +may be, to blame afterwards—that is contrary +to sense." "So shall it be," said the King. +So they went their way, talking as they went. +</p> + +<p> +When they were come to the house Ralph +called with a loud voice to his wife, "Are you +within, dame? Come out, open the door +without delay. My guest and I are shivering +with cold; such evil weather I have never +seen." The good wife, when she heard her +master's voice, made all haste to the door, +knowing that he was a man of a hasty +temper. "You are welcome home," said she +to Ralph; and to the stranger, "You are +welcome also." "Kindle a great fire," said +Ralph, "and take two capons of the best, +that we may have good cheer," and he took +the King by the hand, and would have him +go before him into the house. But the King +stood back by the door, and would have the +charcoal-burner pass in before him. "That +is but poor courtesy," said the man, and took +him by the neck and pushed him in. +</p> + +<p> +When they had warmed themselves awhile +by the fire, which was blazing in right royal +fashion, Ralph cried to his wife, "Let us have +supper, Gillian, as quickly as may be, and of +the best, for we have had a toilsome day, +and may well have a merry night. Never +have I suffered worse weather or been so +near to losing my way as when I met with +this stranger here." +</p> + +<p> +In no long time, when they had washed +themselves, the supper was ready. "Now, +friend," said Ralph, "take the dame by the +hand, and lead her to the board." And when +the King held back, he cried, "Now this is +the second time," and smote him suddenly +under the ear with his right hand, so strongly +that he staggered half across the chamber, +and fell to the ground. When the King rose, +and indeed he could scarcely stand, "Now, +Gillian," said Ralph, "take him by the hand +and go to the table as I bid you." To his +guest he said, "Now this is the second time +that you have been lacking in courtesy, first +by the door, and then at the table. Will +you not do as you are bid? Am not I the +master of my own house?" The King said +to himself, "These are strange doings. +Never have I been so dealt with in all +my life." Nevertheless for peace' sake he +did as he was bid, and giving his hand to +the dame, led her to the table. So they +sat, the charcoal-burner on one side of the +table, and the King and dame Gillian on the +other. Right good cheer they had, fat capons, +and bread, and wine of the best. Truly they +wanted for nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Said the churl to the King, "Sir, the +foresters in this place threaten me much +about the deer. They say that I am ever +bringing down the fattest of the herd. They +will hale me, they say, to Paris, and bring +me before the King, and make complaint +against me. Say what they will, why should +I not have enough for myself, aye, and to set +before a guest? And now, my friend, spare +not; there is enough and more." When they +had well eaten, Ralph said to his wife, "Now, +Gill, send round the cup. I will drink to my +friend, and he shall drink to me." So the +dame handed the cup, and the two drank to +each other. Then, supper being ended, they +sat by the fire, and the Charcoal-burner told +many merry tales. When it grew late, he said +to the King, "Tell me now where you live." "I +live at Court," said he, "where I have an +office with the Queen." "And what is your +office?" "I am gentleman of the Queen's +bed-chamber." "And what is your +name?" "My name is Wymond; Wymond of the +Wardrobe they call me. And now, if you +will come to Court, I can doubtless serve you, +for I will see that you have a good sale for +your fuel." Said Ralph, "I know not where +the Court of which you speak may be." But +Charles urged him, saying that the King and +Queen would be in Paris to spend Yuletide +together, and that there would be much +merrymaking, and that without doubt he would sell +his fuel to great advantage. "You seem to +talk reason," said Ralph, "I will come. And +now let us have another cup, and so to bed." So +the collier and the dame led him to another +chamber, where there was a bed handsomely +furnished, and closed in with curtains. When +they saw that he was well served and had all +that he needed, they bade him good-night, +and the King thanked them for their courtesy. +</p> + +<p> +The next day as soon as it was light, the +King rose from the bed and dressed himself +without help, for, indeed, he had neither valet +nor squire. Then his palfrey was brought to +him, which when he had mounted, he called +to Ralph, where he lay, for he would take +his leave in friendly fashion, as was fitting in +one that had had such good cheer. When the +churl was roused, he said to the King, "Now +tarry awhile till this evil weather be +ended." "Nay," answered the King, "I must needs +to my work and office; Yuletide is now at +hand, and he that is found wanting will be +greatly blamed. And now call thy good +wife that I may pay her for the shelter and +good cheer that I have had." "Nay," cried +Ralph, "that shall never be; to think that I +should take pay for sheltering one that is of +the Court of the King Charles!" "So be it," +answered the King; "but at least if you will +not take pay, come to the Court with a load +of fuel as soon as may be; I warrant that if +you will do so, you will make good profit of +your goods." "That will I," answered Ralph. +"I would fain see how coals sell at court. +And now tell me your name once more, lest I forget it." +</p> + +<p> +Then the King rode away, nor had he +travelled long when Roland and Oliver, with +a thousand men after them, met him. They +had come forth to search for him, and right +glad were they to find him. So they turned +their horses' heads and journeyed back to +Paris. When they were near the town, +Turpin the Archbishop came forth from the +gates to meet them with a great company of +bishops and priests and others giving thanks +to God that their lord the King was come +again to Paris. And when they had come to +Paris, they went to the Church of St. Denis, +where there was service. And after service +they went to the Palace, and kept their Yule +feast with much mirth and plenty of good +things. For one-and-twenty days did they +feast. Never had such a Yuletide been kept +in the land of France. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIII +<br><br> +HOW RALPH WENT TO COURT +</h3> + +<p> +The next day, Ralph, having thought +much on what he had undertaken, +loaded his mare, as he was wont to do, with +two panniers full of coals, and made ready to +start on his journey to the court. "This is +not of my counsel," said Gillian his wife; "this +journey will not be to your profit. Remember +the shrewd blow that you dealt him. Keep +from the Court, say I." "Nay, Gill," said the +Charcoal-burner, "I must have my way. I +promised that I would go, and go I will, +whether my going be for profit or for harm." So +he loaded the panniers and went his way +to the Court. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King Charles had not forgotten +the matter. He called Roland to him, for, +indeed, there was no man whom he trusted +more, and said to him, "To-morrow morning +take your horse and your harness, and watch +well the road by which we went on the day +that I was lost, and if you see anyone coming +this way, whatever his errand may be, bring +him with you to this place, and take care that +he sees no one before he sees me." +</p> + +<p> +Roland wondered much what the King +might mean, for it seemed a strange thing +that on the very day of Yuletide, when a man +should rest, he should be sent on such an +errand. Nevertheless he took his horse and +his harness and rode forth early in the +morning, and watched the roads as he had +been commanded. For a long time he saw +nothing either far or near; but a little past +midday he saw the Charcoal-burner come +driving his mare before him with two panniers +filled with coals. The sight pleased him well; +so he rode up to him with all the speed that he +could. The man saluted him courteously, and +Roland, in his turn, also saluted him. Their +greetings ended, he said to the man, "Come +now to the King; let nothing hinder +you." "Nay," said Ralph, "I am not so foolish. +This is a jest, Sir Knight, and it is ill courtesy +for a knight to jest with a common man. +There be many men better than I that come +and go to Paris, and the King has no thought +of them, whether it be morning or night. If +you are in mind to trick me, I can hold my +own, for all that I am ill-clad." "This is but +foolishness," said Roland, "the King has +straightly commanded that you should be +brought to him." "Nay," answered Ralph, +"I am on my way, according to promise +made to one Wymond, and to him I will +go and to none other." "Have done with +your Wymond," cried Roland, "I must take +you to the King as the King has commanded." +</p> + +<p> +So they wrangled a long time, and still +the churl was firmly set that he would go to +Wymond and to none other. "And where +dwells this Wymond of yours?" said Roland. +"He dwells with the Queen at Paris, if his +tale be true." "If that be so," answered +Roland, "seeing that I know well the Queen +and her ladies, and you are on your way to +them, I will trust to your going. Only you +must give me a pledge that this is truly your +purpose." "Nay," said the Charcoal-burner, +"I will pledge you no pledge. And as for +you, get you out of my way, or it will be +the worse for you." +</p> + +<p> +Roland said to himself, "Now this is but +folly to continue any longer with this +fellow." And he took his leave of the man full +pleasantly. But Ralph liked not such ways; +for he thought that this knight that was so +gaily clad had him in scorn. "Come hither, +Sir Knight, to-morrow when we can be alone +together, you and I; surely you shall see how +I will deal with you." +</p> + +<p> +Then Roland rode back to the King. By +this time Mass was ended, and the King had +put on his robes. "You are well come, Sir +Roland," said he, "have you done my errand?" "Sire," +answered Sir Roland, "I went as you +gave me commandment, and watched the ways, +but saw no man, but one only." "And who +was this one?" asked the King. "He," said +Roland, "was but a churl that had with him +two panniers of coal." "Why did you not +bring this said churl to me, as I bid you? It +may be you durst not." +</p> + +<p> +Roland saw that the King was wroth, and +was not a little glad to go forth from his +presence. Going forth he met a porter, "Whither +go you, lazy loon?" said he. Said the porter, +"There is one at the gate, a churl that has +a mare and two panniers of coals, and he +clamours to be let in at the gate." "Whom +does he want?" said Roland. The porter +answered, "He asks for one Wymond." Then +Roland said, "Go back to your place, +porter, and open the gate and bid him enter. +But say that it does not lie within your office +to go to this Wymond, but that he must +himself seek him." +</p> + +<p> +So the porter went back to the gate and +opened it, saying to the Charcoal-burner, +"Enter, man; but I have no leisure to seek +for this Wymond for whom you ask. You +must seek him yourself." Said Ralph, "If +you will not seek the man, I must needs do +it myself; see you then that no harm come +to the mare and the coals, and I will look for +Wymond, for certainly it was he that bade me +come hither." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-124"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-124.jpg" alt="RALPH IN THE PALACE OF CHARLEMAGNE."> +<br> +RALPH IN THE PALACE OF CHARLEMAGNE. +</p> + +<p> +So the Charcoal-burner went his way through +the palace asking for Wymond. There was +not one that knew the man, or had so much +as heard the name. They seemed to Ralph +to lack courtesy; nevertheless he would not +cease from his quest, nor was there any one +of whom he failed to inquire. After he had +passed through many chambers he came to +one that was more splendid than all that he +had seen before. It was a great hall finely +painted and hung about with tapestries, and +there the King sate at dinner in great state. +On the table were many dainties, and there +was a store of dishes, both silver and gold, +and many other adornments. "Here is royalty +enough," cried Ralph. "If I could only have +speech with Wymond, I would away, for +this methinks is no place for a simple +man." And still he went on. Many sought to put +him back, for he seemed to press on in an +unmannerly fashion; but he was a stalwart +man that gave as much as he took. +</p> + +<p> +At last, after not a little trouble, he got +sight of the King, where he sat in state at +the table. "See," he cried, "that is Wymond, +yonder, the man whom I seek. Well do I +know him, though, indeed, he is otherwise +clad than when I last saw him. Now he is in +cloth of gold. Truly he must be some greater +man than he said. Alas, that I have been +wiled hither. Truly this man has beguiled +me." When the King heard this he laughed. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph looked about on the company that +sat with the King, for many worshipful men +were there. But when he saw the Queen, +then he was greatly troubled. "Lady," he +said, "I am sorely troubled to see your fine +attire, so splendid is it. Now if I can but +escape hence this day, nothing in the whole +world shall bring me hither again." +</p> + +<p> +And now, dinner being over, the King rose +from the table; and he told before the whole +company how he had fared with the Charcoal-burner. +The churl quaked as he heard the +tale. And he said, "Would I were on the +moor again this very hour, and the King +alone, or any one of his knights, be he the +bravest and strongest of them all." +</p> + +<p> +Then the lords laughed aloud. Some, +however, were angry, and would have had +the man hanged. "What is this churl," said +they, "that he should so misuse the King?" But +Charles would have none of such doings. +"He is a stalwart man, and can strike a hard +blow. Heaven forbid that I should harm him. +Rather will I make him a knight." So he +dubbed Ralph the Charcoal-burner a knight, +and gave him a revenue of £300 by the year, +and "the next fee in France that shall come +into my hands, that," said he, "will I give you. +But now you must win your spurs." So the +King gave him his armour and arms, and sixty +squires of good degree to be his company. +And Ralph was in after time a very perfect, +noble knight, and did good service to the +King. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIV +<br><br> +HOW FIERABRAS DEFIED KING CHARLES +</h3> + +<p> +Balan, who was admiral of the Moors +in Spain, had a son, Fierabras by name, +who was the most marvellous giant that ever +was born of woman. There was no man that +could be matched with him for height, and +bigness of limb, and strength of body. This +Fierabras was King of Alexandria, and ruled +the whole land of Babylon from the Red Sea +eastwards. Russia also he possessed, and +Cologne; he was lord, moreover, of Jerusalem, +and had possession of the Sepulchre of our +Lord. It happened on a certain day that this +man came riding furiously to the camp where +King Charles lay with his army, and asked +that some one should come forth and fight +with him. No man answering him or coming +forth, he fell into a great rage and sware by +his god Mahomet that he would not depart +from the place till he should have done battle +with some Christian man; but still no one +came forth to him. Then he cried with a very +loud and terrible voice, "King of Paris, send +out to me your strongest and bravest knight, +be he Roland, or Oliver, or Thierry, or Ogier +the Dane, that he may fight with me. Nay, +and if you will send out against me six or +seven of your strongest knights, I swear by +my god Mahomet that I will not refuse to +fight with them all. But if you will not send +out any man, then I will assuredly assail your +camp before nightfall this very day, and strike +off your head, and lead away Roland and +Oliver as prisoners. You have come into this +my land without cause, and verily you shall +depart without honour." +</p> + +<p> +When he had thus spoken he lay down +under a tree, and having tied his horse to +one of the boughs, took off his armour. This +done, he cried to the King, "Send now Roland +or Oliver to fight with me. And if these dare +not come alone then let two others come +together with them; and if the four be afraid +let six come. Ten kings have I slain already +in single combat; there was not one of them, +for all that they were mighty men of valour, +that could stand against me." +</p> + +<p> +When King Charles heard these threatenings +and challenges he said to Richard of Normandy, +"Who is this knight that speaks so boldly?" +</p> + +<p> +Duke Richard answered, "This, my lord +King, is the strongest of all men born of +women, and he is persuaded that there is no +king in the whole world that is a match for +him." +</p> + +<p> +"For all that," said the king, "I will find +one of my knights that shall encounter him. +But tell me his name." +</p> + +<p> +"His name," answered Duke Richard, "is +Fierabras. He is an infidel, and has done +much harm to Christian men. For he slew +our lord the Pope, and hanged many holy +men and women, and to this day he holds +possession of the holy Sepulchre of our Lord." +</p> + +<p> +"I am the more firmly resolved," said the +King, "hearing what you say, that one of my +knights shall meet him." Thereupon he +turned to Roland and said, "I pray you, +dear nephew, go forth and meet this Turk +in battle." +</p> + +<p> +But Roland answered him, "Not so, fair +uncle; why should I do your bidding in this +matter? Do you bear in mind what happened +but yesterday, when we were so near to being +taken by the heathen, how they fell upon us +with fifty thousand men and how we the +younger knights bore the burden and brunt +of the day and suffered many grievous wounds, +so that Oliver my comrade was brought near +to death, and indeed, but for your help, we +had all perished? And do you remember +further how last night, when we were resting +in our tents, you, being full of wine, declared +stoutly that your old knights would have borne +themselves better than we of the younger sort +had done? Now it shall be seen how these +said old knights shall stand up against this +heathen man, for indeed of the younger no +one will go forth against him." +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard this he smote Roland +his nephew in the face with his gauntlet so +sharply that the blood gushed out abundantly. +Thereupon Roland drew his sword and would +have smitten his uncle had he not been held +by the bystanders. And the King cried, "Now, +this is a most monstrous thing for any man, +much more a kinsman. Seize him, for he shall +die the death for this wickedness." But when +the courtiers made as if to lay hands upon him +Roland cried, "Now, if any man touch me I +will cleave his head in two." Nor did any +man dare to come near him. But Ogier the +Dane said, "Now, Roland, you did ill to +threaten your uncle, whom you are bound to +honour above all men." "It is true," answered +Roland. "I was greatly provoked; nevertheless +I repent of my deed." +</p> + +<p> +The King said to the Peers of France, "I +am much troubled in this matter. First +Roland my nephew, that should have been +zealous to help me, threatens to slay me, and +then there is no man that is willing to do +battle with this pagan." +</p> + +<p> +"Take courage, my lord King," said the +Duke Naymes, "some one will be found to +do you this service." But the King refused +to be comforted. +</p> + +<p> +Now Oliver lay sick in bed, for he had been +sorely wounded in battle. But when he heard +how the King and Roland had fallen out, and +how Fierabras had defied the King and his +army, and no man had gone forth to meet +him, he straightway rose from his bed and +began to stretch and try himself to see whether +by any means he could bear his armour. In +so doing he made his wounds bleed afresh. +But when he had bound them again as best +he could, he said to Garin his squire, "Come, +bring me my arms, for I will go out and meet +this pagan." Said Garin the squire, "Now, +my lord Oliver, have pity on yourself. You +will compass your own death." Oliver answered, +"Do my bidding, for this is an occasion of +honour that no man should miss." So Oliver +put on his armour, Garin helping him. This +done, he took his sword, Hautclere by name, +which he loved above all things. Then they +brought him Ferraunt his horse, ready saddled +and bridled. And Oliver leapt lightly into the +saddle without so much as touching it, and put +his shield into place, and took a spear very +long and sharply pointed. Then he struck his +horse with his spurs, and Ferraunt leapt up +under him. It was a noble sight to see, so +gallant was the knight and so brave the steed. +</p> + +<p> +Oliver rode up to the King's tent and saluted +him, saying, "My lord, I have served you +faithfully for these three years past without +reward or wages. I pray you, therefore, that +you give me this day the thing I shall desire +of you." The King answered, "Most noble +Earl, I will do this with a good will. There +is not in this land of France a city or town +or castle that I will not give you at your +desire." But Oliver said, "My lord King, I +ask neither towns nor castles, but only +this—that you suffer me to do battle with this +pagan." +</p> + +<p> +When the other knights heard this they +were not a little shamed that a wounded man +should take up the challenge, while they +themselves held back. "What is this," they said, +"that Oliver, who was hurt well-nigh to +death, would now go forth to battle!" As for +the King, he said, "Now, Oliver, you have +surely lost your wits. You know that you +have been sorely wounded, and yet you will +run into a worse danger. Go back to your +bed and rest; assuredly I will not suffer you +to do battle with this pagan." +</p> + +<p> +Then Ganelon, who was afterwards the +traitor, rose up in his place and said, "Sir, +this is against the custom of France that you +should deny Oliver his request." The King +was very angry and said, "Ganelon, you are +not well disposed in this matter. If this be as +you say, then Oliver shall fight with this pagan, +and if he fight, then he can hardly escape +death. But mark you this: I swear by my +faith that if he be slain or taken in this battle, +then not all the gold in the world can save you +from a shameful death; aye, and all your house +shall perish with you." +</p> + +<p> +"Sir King," said Ganelon, "may God and +Our Lady keep me!" but to himself he said +secretly, "Now God forbid that Oliver should +come back safe. Rather may this pagan smite +off his head!" But when King Charles saw +that he could not hinder Oliver from doing +battle with Fierabras, he said, "Now may +God be with you, and help you, and bring +you back with joy!" and he reached to him +his glove, which Oliver took with much +pleasantness and humility. +</p> + +<p> +But Reyner, that was father to Oliver, when +he saw his son ready to go forth, came to the +King, and knelt down at his feet, and cried in +sore trouble, "Now, my lord King, have pity +on my son and me. He is young and +presumptuous, full of pride and ambition, but so +sorely wounded that he cannot fight; forbid +him, therefore, to go forth." But the King +said to Reyner, "What I have given I may +not withdraw." Then Oliver stood up and +spake with a loud voice, "Sir King and all +you lords of France, if I have offended any +man in word or deed, I pray him to forgive +me." There was not a man but wept to hear +these words. The King himself wept, and +commended him to the keeping of God. +</p> + +<p> +Oliver rode forth and came to the tree where +Fierabras lay at ease and unarmed. The giant +did not so much as look at him, but turned +away his head, for he despised Oliver as being +but little of stature in comparison with himself. +Oliver said to him, "Awake, you have called +me many times this day; lo! now I have come. +And first tell me your name." Fierabras +answered him, "I am Fierabras, of Alexandria. +It was I that destroyed the city of Rome and +slew the Pope, and carried away the holy +things. And Jerusalem is mine, and the place +where, as you say, your God is buried." +</p> + +<p> +Oliver said, "If these things are true, it is +time that you should suffer due punishment for +your misdeeds. But enough of talking. Make +ready and arm yourself, or else, by the God in +whom I believe, I will smite you where you +lie!" When Fierabras heard him speak so +fiercely, he began to laugh, and said, "You are +a bold talker, but first tell me who you are, +and of what rank." Oliver answered, "Before +night come, pagan, you shall know full well +who I am. But now hear this: my lord the +King has sent this message by my mouth: +'Renounce Mahomet your God, and all other +idols, and believe in the true God that made +heaven and earth and all that is therein. +Meanwhile take your choice of two things: +either depart out of this country, taking nothing +with you, or stand forth and fight with me.'" +</p> + +<p> +Fierabras said, "Fellow, you are not able to +meet me, even were I without arms. But tell +me now thy name and lineage." Oliver +answered, "My name is Garin, and I am a +poor knight; King Charles has sent me to do +battle with you; make ready, therefore, for +battle." But Fierabras would not consent. +"Now tell me, Sir Garin," said he, "why +Roland, or Oliver, or Ogier the Dane, who are +all, men say, of high renown, have not come +out against me." "They have not come," +answered Oliver, "because they think too +meanly of you." +</p> + +<p> +This he said with such vehemence that his +wounds opened again. When Fierabras saw the +blood he said, "Are you perchance wounded, +Sir Garin?" "Not I," answered Oliver; "this +blood that you see comes from my horse where +I spurred him." But Fierabras saw that the +blood was not from the horse and said: "You +speak no truth when you say that you are not +hurt. This is no horse's blood but of your +own body that I see. Now drink of this +flagon of balm that I took from the city of +Jerusalem. When you have drunken you +shall be whole in body, and then you shall +be fit to defend yourself in battle." But Oliver +would have none of it. "This," said he, "is +but folly." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap15"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XV +<br><br> +HOW OLIVER FOUGHT WITH FIERABRAS +</h3> + +<p> +Fierabras, seeing that he must needs +fight, said to Oliver, "Come now, help +me to arm myself." Said Oliver, "Can I +trust you?" "Yea," answered Fierabras, +"that can you: never have I been traitor to +any man, nor ever will." So Oliver armed +him; he helped him to don first a suit of +leather of Arabia and after this a coat and +habergeon of steel, and an helmet richly +garnished with jewels for his head. Was +ever such courtesy in this world, Oliver helping +this pagan to arm, whom, being unarmed, he +might full easily have slain, and the pagan +having pity upon Oliver as not being his +match in fighting and all the more when he +saw that he had been wounded? Would that +there were more of such courtesy between +Christian men! +</p> + +<p> +When he was armed, Fierabras took the +three swords that he had, Pleasance and +Baptism and Grabon, all being of so fine a +temper that there was no armour made but +they could break through it. The three were +made by one of three brothers; another of these +three made three more, of which Durendal, +the sword of Roland, was the most famous; +and yet another brother also made three, of +which it suffices to name Hautclere that was +the sword of Oliver, and Joyous that was one +of the chief treasures of King Charles. On +his shield he had the image of his god, +Apollyon to wit, to whom when he had +commended himself, he yet once again +besought Oliver to depart. And when Oliver +had again refused, saying that he trusted to +prevail by the help of his God, Fierabras said +to him, "Now as you are a Christian man, I +adjure you by the font wherein you were +baptized and by the cross to which your God +was nailed, to tell me truly your name and +lineage." +</p> + +<p> +Oliver answered, "You could not have +adjured me by greater things than this same +font and cross; know therefore that I am +Oliver, the son of Reyner, close comrade of +Roland, and one of the Twelve Peers of +France." +</p> + +<p> +Then said Fierabras, "I knew that you +were no poor and unknown knight, but a +great warrior and a famous, so great was +your courage. But you are wounded, and it +would be dishonour to me should I overcome +you by means of your weakness." But Oliver +answered him fiercely, "Enough of these idle +words; when we come to fight together you +shall see that I am no dead man. Nevertheless +as you are a courteous knight, I will +require you once again to forsake Mahomet +and your false gods, and submit yourself to +be baptized. So shall you have Roland and +King Charles for your friends." "Nay," said +Fierabras, "but this is folly. Let us address +ourselves to battle without more delay." +</p> + +<p> +Then did these two champions lay their +spears in rest and make ready to charge. +When the men of France saw this they were +in great fear lest some mischance should befall +Oliver; as for the King, he hid his face in +his mantle and kneeling before the crucifix +embraced it, weeping the while, and crying, +"O Lord, I beseech Thee keep Oliver and +suffer not the Christian faith to be dishonoured +by his downfall." Meanwhile the two warriors +met in the shock of battle, and that so fiercely +that the sparks flew from their spearheads +when they smote on the shields, and that the +shafts of both were broken. The reins dropped +from their hands, and they were both so astonied +that they scarce knew where they were. But +then coming to themselves they drew each +man his sword. And first Oliver with Hautclere +smote Fierabras so fiercely on the helmet +that he shore off a great portion of it, and the +jewels wherewith it was garnished fell to the +ground. Nor was the force of the blow yet +spent: it reached the giant's shoulder, but the +cuirass which was of stout leather of Cappadocia, +stayed it; nevertheless the giant's feet +were thrust out of the stirrups, and he came +very near to being overthrown. And all the +men of France cried with one voice, "Blessed +Mary, what a mighty stroke has Oliver dealt +to this pagan!" "'Tis true," said Roland, +"would I were with him this day!" Then +Fierabras, in his turn, smote Oliver with his +sword Pleasance on the helmet. From the +helmet it glanced down and grievously wounded +the Christian's horse. Then Oliver was not a +little dismayed, and commended himself to God +and the Virgin. Which, when Fierabras heard, +he said, "I am ill content to have so hurt you. +Hardly shall you see the sun set this day, for +already you grow faint. But this has befallen +you because you are already wounded. Be +wise therefore and leave the battle while there +is yet time." But Oliver would have none of +such counsel. Therefore they fell to fighting +again, and this so fiercely that the armour of +the two of them was well-nigh broken to +pieces. +</p> + +<p> +When the King saw this, and perceived that +Oliver was in no little danger, he was greatly +troubled. He prayed aloud, saying, "O Lord +God, now keep the valiant Oliver, that he be +not slain or taken. Verily, if aught happen to +him, I swear by my father's soul that I will +burn every monastery and church and altar in +the land." But the Duke Naymes rebuked the +King, saying, "Speak not thus, Sir King. +Rather pray to God that of His goodness He +will help Oliver." And the King said, "You +are right; I spake foolishly." +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the two champions continued to +fight fiercely, more fiercely than befitted +prudent or experienced warriors. Oliver +especially was so carried out of himself that +his hand grew numb with the frequency of +his blows, and at last his sword flew out of +his hand. Straightway he ran to regain it, +putting his shield over his head to cover +himself from the enemy's blows. But this did not +avail him, for Fierabras smote twice on the +shield, and so mightily that he brake it into +pieces, and the breastplate under it also. And +Oliver durst not go forward to take up his +sword, for he feared greatly what the giant +might do to him. When the men of France +saw in what straits he was, they made as if +they would arm themselves and go to his help. +But this King Charles would not suffer. "Not +so," said he; "God can save him and maintain +him in the right, and He will do so." +</p> + +<p> +Then the others abode in their place. But +now Fierabras began to jeer and scoff at +Oliver, "Now I know that you are vanquished, +for you dare not put out your hand to take +your sword for fear of me; no, you would not +stoop to the ground to gain the wealth of the +whole world. Now hearken to me: if you will +deny your faith and declare that your God is no +god, and believe in Mahomet, then I will give +you my sister Floripas in marriage, than whom +there is no fairer maid upon earth, and we two +will conquer France or ever this year shall +have passed, and I will make you King of +one-half of this realm." Oliver answered, "Now +God forbid that I should listen to such folly. +These your gods are no gods at all, and have +no goodness or strength." Fierabras said, "I +see that you are firmly set in your mind not +to do these things. Now there was never +man on earth who has given me such trouble +of mind as have you. But now take up your +sword; for without it you can have no more +strength in battle than a woman." "That will +I not do," answered Oliver. "I will not take +my sword by your courtesy. My life and +death are with God; and I will win my sword +by fair fight or not at all." +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon Fierabras came against Oliver, +having his sword Pleasance in his hand. Then +was Oliver in a great strait, for he had no +sword, and his shield was cleft in twain, and +his armour grievously broken. But God had +mercy upon him, and put it in his head to look +about him. And looking he saw the horse of +Fierabras, and on the saddle two swords, +Baptism and Grabon. Whereupon he made +haste and laid hold on the sword Baptism. +And when he had possessed himself of it, he +said, "King of Alexandria, now the time of +reckoning has come. See, I have one of your +swords; you must take good care lest it be +your destruction." When Fierabras saw what +Oliver had done, he changed colour and said, +"O Baptism, my good sword, what is this? +Never did better weapon hang by my side or +by the side of any man living upon earth." Then +he said to Oliver, "You are, I well +know, an honourable knight. Come, now, take +your own sword and give to me that which is +mine." "Not so," answered Oliver; "I will +make no agreement with you, save this: that +I will do my best to slay you, and you shall do +the same with me." +</p> + +<p> +And when he had said this, Oliver ran at +Fierabras as fiercely as a lion that leaps upon +its prey. Nor was Fierabras slow to meet +him. Indeed, he smote him so stoutly that he +brake through his helmet, wounding the knight's +head. Seeing this he cried, "Now you are +wounded, Sir Oliver. Never more shall you +see King Charles or Roland; so shall I at last +have my desire." But Oliver answered, "Be +not so proud nor boast overmuch. I have a +good confidence that I shall either slay you or +conquer you." Then he made a feint to strike +the pagan on the head; and Fierabras, raising +his shield over high to cover himself from the +blow, left his side unguarded, which Oliver, +quickly perceiving, drove his sword with all +his might into the pagan's side. And the man +fell with the blow, so mighty was it, for Oliver +dealt it with all his strength that so he might +put an end to the fight. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap16"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVI +<br><br> +HOW OLIVER AND OTHERS WERE TAKEN PRISONERS +</h3> + +<p> +Fierabras, knowing himself to be +vanquished, cried to Oliver, "I crave your +mercy, noble knight, and I pray that I may be +baptized; for how can I refuse to believe in +the God by whose help you have now +overcome me? Therefore I surrender myself to +you, and beg for your protection." When +Oliver heard him speak and saw in what a +strait he was, he had great compassion on him, +and laid him under a tree, and so bound up +his wounds that he staunched the bleeding. +When he had done this, Fierabras said, "Now, +noble sir, carry me away from this place, for +of my own strength I cannot go." Oliver +answered. "Nay, but you are of so great a +weight that I may not take you." Then said +the giant again, "Take me to the King, for +verily I am very near my end. And if you +cannot bear me, then take my horse and mount +thereon, and lay me across the saddle, and put +my sword by thy side. And mark this: there +lie in wait in that wood yonder 40,000 +men—soldiers of mine, whom I set there this very +day, bidding them there abide till I should +return from the battle." Oliver was ill-content +with these words; nevertheless he took the +giant and laid him across the saddle of his +horse, and went his way. Then there charged +from the wood a great host of pagans, among +whom was a certain Brullant, and another, +Sortybrant by name. +</p> + +<p> +When Oliver saw these he struck his spurs +into his horse, but the beast was so heavily +burdened that he could not go so fast as the +enemy pursued. When the men of France +saw this, they made all haste to go to the help +of Oliver, Roland first of all, and Richard of +Normandy, and Guy of Burgundy, and Duke +Thierry, and as was meet, Oliver's own father, +Duke Reyner. Meanwhile Brullant, having +outstripped his companions, came near, for he +rode a horse that was as swift as a greyhound. +Then Oliver said to Fierabras, "Now, Sir +King, I must needs put you down, and this I +do with much discontent. But you see that I +am in a great strait, for if these men overtake +me then shall I of a certainty be slain, and +King Charles will never see me more." Fierabras +answered, "Noble Oliver, will you now +leave me? Surely I shall be in very evil case +if you so desert me." Oliver said, "Nay, but +I will not leave you, and will fight for you with +all my strength to the very end." So saying +he put upon himself the pagan's breastplate, +which was in better case than his own, and +took his sword Hautclere in his hand, and +turned himself to meet the enemy. Thereupon +came Brullant the Saracen riding fiercely at +him, and struck him in the breast with his +spear, so that the shaft brake; but Oliver was +wounded. When Fierabras saw this he said, +"Sir Oliver, you have done enough for me; +now take thought for yourself. But lay me +first somewhere out of the way, if it may be." So +Oliver laid him under a tree out of the way. +And when he had done this he saw a great +multitude of Saracens about him on every side. +Seeing, therefore, that there was no way for +him to escape, he prayed to God that it might +be granted to him not to die at that time, but +rather to live till he should come to his end in +company with Roland his comrade. After this +he drew Hautclere his sword, and smote the +first man that he encountered—he was the son +of the greatest lord that was in the army of the +Saracens—and cleft his body to the breast, so +that he fell down dead. Whereupon Oliver +took his shield, for his own had been broken to +pieces. This done he charged the enemy; one +of the leaders he slew at the first stroke, and +not a few afterwards. He bore himself right +bravely, but it was not in mortal man to prevail +against such a host. First his horse was slain +under him, and though he rose again from the +earth and stood upon his feet, and dealt many +mighty blows, slaying many, yet he was overcome +by the strength and number of the +Saracens. His shield was broken in thirty +places, and his breastplate pierced through with +darts, and his body wounded many times. At +the last, being overcome by weariness and +great bleeding, he fell to the ground. Then +the Saracens took hold of him as he lay, and +bound him with cords, and blindfolded his eyes, +and setting him on a horse, so carried him +away. All this time he did not cease to cry +out for help, calling by name on King Charles +and on Roland, who was his comrade. Nor +did these turn a deaf ear to his cries, but came +with all haste to help him, if it might be. And +among them was Roland, and Ogier the Dane, +and Guy of Burgundy, yes, and King Charles +himself. There was not one of them but slew +a Saracen, but Oliver they could not rescue, +because they that had him in charge fled with +all speed, so that the men of France could not +by any means come up with them. Nor was +this all the trouble, for many of the Christians +were slain, and others were taken prisoners, as +Gerard of Montdidier and Geoffrey Langevin. +These the Saracens bound to horses and carried +away with all haste. When Charlemagne saw +this he was so angry that he well-nigh lost his +wits. "Help! help!" he cried to the men of +France. "Will you not save your comrades? +It will be an ill day for France if these men +are carried away into captivity." Nor were +Roland and his comrades slow to do the King's +bidding, for they spurred their horses, and +pursued after the enemy, seeking if by any +means they might deliver the prisoners. And +ever Roland was in front, having his good +sword Durendal in his hand. Many blows did +he deal with it, and few were they that were +smitten and yet lived. For the space of five +miles they followed after the Saracens, and +still as they followed they slew, but nevertheless +they could not come up with Oliver and +the rest of the prisoners, so quickly did they +who had them in charge carry them away. +As for Roland, though he swore that he would +not turn back before he had delivered his +comrades from captivity, yet he was constrained +to depart from his purpose, for now the night +began to fall, and no man knew by which +way he should go. So the King, seeing that +there was much danger lest the Saracens +should lay an ambush for his army, bade them +halt and turn back to the camp. And this +they did very unwillingly. +</p> + +<p> +As King Charles rode back, he found +Fierabras lying under a tree much spent with +the bleeding of his wounds. When he saw +him, he said, "I have good cause to hate you, +pagan that you are, for you are the cause +whereby many of my men have been slain and +taken prisoners, among them Oliver, than +whom there is no one in the whole world +dearer to me." +</p> + +<p> +When Fierabras heard these words, he +sighed and said, "Most noble King, I pray +you of your mercy to pardon me and cause to +be made a Christian man, so that, if I should +be healed of my wounds, I may do all that is +in me to advance the Christian faith, and to +deliver the Holy Sepulchre. And now I +beseech you to order that I may be baptized +without delay." +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard him speak in this +fashion he felt a great compassion for him, and +bade his knights carry him to a convenient +lodging. And when the men of France saw +of how great stature and beauty he was, they +marvelled much, for indeed, when he was +without his armour, there was no fairer man to +be seen in all the world. Then they sent in +all haste for Turpin the Archbishop, who when +he was come baptized him in the name of +Florin. Nevertheless he was still called +Fierabras to the day of his death. Then the +King sent his physicians and sages to search +out his wounds, who having examined him, +when they found that he had not been hurt in +any mortal part, affirmed, that he would be +whole again in the space of two months. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap17"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVII +<br><br> +HOW OLIVER AND HIS COMRADES FARED +</h3> + +<p> +The Saracens that had charge of Oliver +and the other knights did not halt till +they came to a rich city, Aygremore by name. +Being arrived there they made a great braying +of trumpets at the gate. Balan, who was +father to Fierabras, hearing this came to the +gate, and seeing there Brullant, said to him, +"Tell me, Brullant, my friend, how you have +fared. Have you taken King Charles, and +put his Peers to flight?" Brullant answered, +"I have no such tidings for you, Sir Admiral. +We have been discomfited by King Charles, +and Fierabras your son was overcome in single +fight by one of the King's Barons, and has been +made a Christian man." +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral heard this, he was greatly +troubled, and fell into a swoon. Being +recovered from this, he made a great complaint +of his ill-fortune, and lamented over his son, as +one who never having been vanquished before +had now suffered defeat. And at last, so great +was his rage, he cried, "Now if this be true, +and Fierabras my son is lost to me, verily I +will strike out the brains of this false god +Mahomet, who having promised me so much +has fulfilled so little." And he threw himself +in an agony upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, his anger having now somewhat +cooled, he said to Brullant, "Tell me +now, was Fierabras my son vanquished by one +of these knights whom I now see before me? +If it be so, show the man to me." So Brullant +showed to him Oliver, and Balan was fain to +admire him, so tall he was and strong and fair. +Nevertheless he cried, "Bring him hither to +me, and I will cut him to pieces." When the +others understood that it was his purpose to +put Oliver to death, they were greatly troubled. +But Oliver comforted them saying, "We are +not in such ill case as you think. But mark +this one thing that I counsel you. Tell not +your true names to the Admiral. If he once +knows that we are Peers of France, he will +have no pity upon us, and we shall die." But +the Saracens knew not what he said. After +this Balan commanded that the prisoners should +be brought before him, having been first bound +with cords and blindfolded. This being done, +he said to Oliver, "Tell me now your name +and country, and mind that you say nothing +that is false." +</p> + +<p> +Oliver answered, "I am a poor knight, +Eugenes by name, born in Lorraine, my father +being a yeoman, and these my comrades whom +you see are poor knights also, and we have +taken service with the King, hoping thus to +get advancement and reward." Balan was +very wroth to hear this. "I thought," he +cried, "that I had five of the best and bravest +knights in France, and that having these I +possessed, as it were, the keys of France." And +he said to his chamberlain, "Strip these +men of their raiment and bind them to that +pillar yonder, and bring me darts well pointed +with iron that I may shoot at them for my +sport." But Brullant stood up and said, +"Sir Admiral, I beseech you to hear me; it +is now eventide, and too late to do justice +in proper form; your lords and councillors +also are not here; delay therefore this matter +to the morrow, when the thing shall be +known and your judgment better approved, +for that these men rightly deserve such +punishment I do heartily believe. Consider +also that King Charles may be willing to +give up Fierabras in exchange for these +knights. Wherefore you would do well to +keep them without harm." +</p> + +<p> +"This is good counsel," said the Admiral. +"Send for Brutamont, and let him take these +men in charge." Now Brutamont was keeper +of the King's prison. +</p> + +<p> +Then Brutamont thrust these French knights +into the prison, which was a dungeon so deep +that no light could enter it. A horrible place +it was, in which were nourished serpents and +toads and all manner of venomous beasts, and +there was a most evil stench in it. Also the +water of the sea flowed in when the tide was +high, and at this time it was so deep in the +dungeon that it came up even to the shoulders +of the prisoners. As for Oliver the salt water +made his wounds, which were many and +grievous, to smart beyond all bearing. He +was therefore in evil case, and most certainly +had died but for Gerard of Montdidier, who +kept him up so that he should not drown. +And indeed they were all in great peril of +drowning, and doubtless had so perished, but +that there were in the dungeon two pillars, +fifteen feet or thereabouts in height, upon +which they climbed, lifting up Oliver also, for +of his own strength he could not have done it. +Loudly did he lament, crying out that his +father Reyner should never more see him alive. +But Gerard comforted him, saying, "It is not +for a brave knight to complain. Let us rather +trust in God. Nevertheless I wish that we +had each of us a good sword in his hand. I +vow to God that we would slay not a few score +of Saracens before they should put us again +into this dungeon." +</p> + +<p> +Now the Admiral had a daughter, Floripas +by name, a very fair damsel, and not yet +married. She was of a reasonable stature, and +as bright as a rose in May. Her hair was like +shining gold, and her eyes bright as the eyes +of a falcon, and the eyebrows above them fine +and straight, her nose shapely, her cheeks well +rounded, fair as a fleur-de-lys, but with delicate +colour of rose; her mouth small and delicate +with a chin suitably fashioned, and her shoulders +straight and her bosom of a most dainty curve. +She was clad in a robe of purple broidered with +gold, of noble aspect, and of such a virtue that +no one wearing it could be harmed by any +poison. Such was Floripas to behold. So +fair was she, that if a man had fasted for three +days or four and should then look upon her, he +should be as well satisfied as with abundance +of meat and drink. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden hearing the complaints of the +French knights felt a great pity for them. So +she went from her chamber to the hall, and +twelve maidens that waited upon her followed. +And when she came to the hall she found a +great lamenting, and asking the cause she heard +that her brother Fierabras had been vanquished +in battle and taken prisoner. Thereupon she +cried aloud, and wept bitterly, and all that were +in the hall wept with her. +</p> + +<p> +After that the maiden's grief was somewhat +spent, she sent for Brutamont the jailer, and +demanded of him who were these men that he +had in the dungeon. "Madam," said he, "they +are French knights, servants of King Charles, +and they have wrought great harm to our +people, and done dishonour to our gods. This +also they have added to their crimes, that they +have helped to slay Fierabras your brother. +One of them there is who is as seemly a man +as ever I beheld; 'twas he, I am told, that +prevailed over your brother." Then said +Floripas, "Open now the dungeon, for I +would fain know how they fare." But Brutamont +answered, "Not so, madam; the place is +foul and loathsome, and so dark that you could +not see the men. Also your father has strictly +charged me that I should suffer no one to come +near to the prison, and least of all a woman, +seeing that many are deceived and shamed by +women." +</p> + +<p> +Floripas was very wroth to hear such words, +"Thou evil beast!" said she; "dost use such +speech to me?" And she called her chamberlain +and bade him fetch her a staff. Which +when he had brought, she smote Brutamont the +jailer so mighty a blow upon the head that he +fell to the ground a dead man. +</p> + +<p> +Then Floripas bade them light a torch and +open the door of the prison. And when she +saw the prisoners how they had climbed upon +the pillars, as has been told, she said, "Tell me +now, my lords, who you are and how you are +named." Oliver answered, "Fair lady, we are +men of France, and knights of King Charles, +and having been brought hither have been put +by the Admiral into this horrible dungeon. +Better had we been slain in battle than that we +should rot in this place!" Floripas, who for +all that she was not a Christian woman, was of +great courtesy and compassion, said to them, +"Now I promise that I will take you out of this +prison, only you must engage to do what I +demand of you." And Oliver said, "That will +we do, madam, right gladly. We are true men +and faithful, nor have we ever been aught else, +nor will be. Give us arms in our hands, and +set us where we may fight with these +Saracens. Verily they shall be ill content +with us." +</p> + +<p> +"Now," answered Floripas, "methinks you +boast overmuch. Here are you in prison, and +you boast yourself against them that are at +liberty. 'Tis better for a man to be quiet than +to talk so foolishly." Then spake Gerard, +"Lady, he that is so kept in prison will oft use +light words that he may forget his pain." Then +Floripas said to Gerard, "You excuse your +fellow right courteously. I trow that you have +a flattering tongue wherewith to win a maiden's +heart." "You speak truly, lady," cried William +the Scot; "you shall not find his peer for three +hundred miles and more." +</p> + +<p> +After this Floripas sent her chamberlain to +fetch a rope, which she let down into the +dungeon. When the prisoners saw it they put +it first round Oliver, and Floripas and her +chamberlain drew him up out of the water with +no little labour. After him the others were +drawn up more easily. Having so rescued +them, she took them by a secret way into her +own lodging, which was a very fair and spacious +abode, marvellously adorned with all manner of +paintings, as of the sun and the moon and all +the host of heaven, with woods and mountains +and living creatures of all kinds, made, as some +will have it, by the son of Methuselah. This +dwelling stood on a black rock, altogether +surrounded by the sea, and near to it was a +garden of which the flowers and fruits never +failed. There were precious herbs also which +availed to cure all manner of sickness and +maladies, save only the malady of death. +</p> + +<p> +Now Floripas had a governess, by name +Maragonde. Maragonde said to the maiden, +"Madam, I know these Frenchmen well. That +is Oliver, son of Reyner, the same that has +vanquished Fierabras your brother; that yonder +is Gerard of Montdidier, and this William the +Scot. Now may Mahomet send his curse upon +me if I do not straightway tell your father, the +lord Admiral." When Floripas heard these +words she changed colour, being moved to much +anger, which nevertheless she hid. Then she +called the woman to come to her where she +stood by a window; when she was come she +struck her to the ground with a great blow, and +calling her servant, bade him throw her into +the sea, for she much feared her father and +his malice. "Go now, spiteful wretch," said +Floripas when she saw Maragonde sink in the +water, "You have your reward." +</p> + +<p> +This done, she greeted the Frenchmen right +courteously, and when she saw how Sir Oliver +was covered with blood, she gave him a draught +of a certain herb that is named Mandegloire, +which when he had drunk he was immediately +made whole. Then the knights were refreshed +with baths and were furnished with goodly +apparel, and had entertainment of meat and +drink. And when they were satisfied, she said +to them, "My lords, I know full well who you +are, that this, for instance, is Sir Oliver who +vanquished Fierabras my brother; yet I have +showed you this great kindness, nor this without +danger to myself. Now there is a certain +knight in France whom I have long loved, Guy +of Burgundy by name, he is the goodliest man +that ever I saw, and is of the kindred of +Charlemagne and of Roland. I saw him at +Rome when my father the Admiral took that +city, and then and there gave him my heart, +when he had struck down to the earth a certain +Lucifer that was chief of the pagan warriors. +For the sake of this Guy I will become a +Christian, and if I may not have him to my +husband, I will never marry. Now therefore +I beg that you will help me in this matter." Then +said Gerard of Montdidier, "Madam, +give us arms, and we will put the Saracens to +flight." But Floripas was prudent and said, +"Rest awhile, my friends, for it will need much +counsel before it can be seen what you had +best do." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap18"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVIII +<br><br> +OF THE BRIDGE OF MANTRYBLE +</h3> + +<p> +Duke Reyner could neither eat nor +drink for the grief that he had about +his son; and when he could no longer endure +this trouble, he came to King Charles and +made his complaint. "Oh, sir," he said, "I am +like to die of grief for my dear son Oliver. If +I have no tidings of him then I must needs +perish, or go myself to seek him." The King +when he heard these words was full of pity, and +sent for Roland, and said to him, "Fair nephew, +you must go on the morrow to Aygremore, and +get speech of Balan, and say to him, and that +full plainly, that he must straightway deliver up +the holy things that he has, and also set free +those my knights that he has in keeping. And +if he refuse to do these things, then tell him +that I will most surely hang him as a thief." To +this Roland answered, "Fair king and uncle, +send me on no such errand, for if you do, you +will never see me more." Then spake the +Duke Naymes, "Take heed, Sire, what you do. +You know what a valiant man is your nephew +Roland. If you send him, he will return no +more." Said King Charles, "Then you shall +go with him, bearing the letters that I shall send +to the Admiral." And then others of the Peers, +as Duke Thierry and Ogier the Dane, stood up +in their place, and said the same thing, then the +King swore a great oath, even by the eyes in +his head, that they also should go. So he did +to six of the Peers. Last of all he spied Guy +of Burgundy and said to him, "You are my +cousin and nearest to me in blood, you shall be +the seventh with these six to take my message +to Balan the Admiral. You shall say to him +that I purpose to baptize him, that he holds of +me his whole kingdom, and that he must +deliver up to me the holy things." Said Guy +of Burgundy, "My lord, I pray you send me +not on this errand, for if you will send me I am +assured that you will never see me again." But +the King took no heed. On the morrow the +seven came and stood before him and said, +"We crave your leave to depart; if we have +done wrong to any in this company we pray his +pardon, and if any have wronged us, him we +pardon." At these words all that were there +began to weep for pity. The King said, "Well +beloved, I commend you to God; may He have +you in His keeping!" Then they went their +way. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile in Aygremore the Admiral was +in great trouble and doubt. He sent, therefore, +for fifteen Kings of the Saracens, that +they might advise him. When they were +come the fiercest of them, Maradas by name, +said, "Sir Admiral, why have you sent for +us?" Balan answered, "I will tell you truly: +Charlemagne is on his way hither. He says +that I hold my kingdom of him. Now he +were better advised to sit still and rest his old +body, and pray in his churches, and eat such +food as he has. Go you, therefore, and demand +of him my son Fierabras, and bid him do +homage for his kingdom, or I will come with +one hundred thousand men, and constrain +him." Maradas liked not the matter, but said +that he would go. So did the others also; so +they armed themselves and departed. +</p> + +<p> +So these two companies both went their +way, and in no long while approached one to +the other. And first Duke Naymes espied the +Saracens, and said, "See now these Saracens +are coming against us with a great force; +advise what we shall do." Roland said: "Be +in no haste, my lords. There be but twenty +of them, or, at the most thirty; let us ride +straight against them," and this advice seemed +good to them all. +</p> + +<p> +After this Maradas rode out from the company +of the Saracens, and said, "It is an ill +fortune for you, being Christian men, that you +have met with us." "That is foolishly said," +answered Duke Naymes. "We come from +King Charles bearing a message to Balan +your master." Maradas said again: "For all +that you are in danger. Will any one joust +with me?" "That will I," said Duke Naymes. +"You are overbold," answered Maradas. "I +would willingly fight with ten such as you. +Hear you now, all of you; let no one move +from his place; I will overcome you all, and +give you to my lord the Admiral." +</p> + +<p> +Roland, when he heard these words, was +well-nigh beside himself with anger, and cried, +"Before the sun set, thou shalt see what we +can do." Then he charged at Maradas in +great fury, and Maradas charged also. Each +brake the corselet of the other with his spear's +point; but Roland dealt Maradas such a blow +that he brake his helmet from off his head, and +then, quickly recovering himself, smote him on +his bare skull and cleft it to the brain, so that +he fell down dead. Then the other knights +fell upon the rest of the Saracens and slew +them, one only escaping, who did not draw +rein till he came to the Admiral. Said the +Admiral, "You have come back with good +speed. What have you done?" And the +King that had escaped answered, "It has gone +very ill with us; we encountered seven Knights +of France, who said they were King Charles's +men. They ran upon us, and had such +mastery over us that I only escaped to tell +the tale." When the Admiral heard, he +well-nigh died of grief and rage. +</p> + +<p> +After the battle with the Saracens Roland +and his fellows rested awhile in a meadow that +was nigh at hand. And the Duke Naymes +said, "It were well that we should return to +King Charles and tell him how we have fared. +I take it he will be well pleased." But Roland +said, "Do you talk of returning, Sir Duke? So +long as I have my good sword Durendal in my +hand I will not return. We will do our message +to the Admiral as the King commanded. Come +now, let us take each one a head of a pagan in +his hand and present them to the Admiral." "You +are out of your wits, Sir Roland," said +the Duke Naymes; "if we do so, we shall +surely be all slain." But the others were of +Roland's opinion; therefore each man took a +head of a pagan in his hand, and they went +their way. +</p> + +<p> +So they journeyed till they came to the +Bridge Mantryble. When the Duke Naymes +saw the bridge, he said, "This is Mantryble, +and on the other side of the bridge lies the +town of Aygremore, where we shall find the +Admiral." Then said Ogier the Dane, "We +must first pass the bridge, and it is a very +dangerous place. There are in it thirty arches, +and on it are great towers, and the walls are so +wide that ten knights can ride abreast upon +them. And in the midst of it is a great +drawbridge, which is let down and pulled up with +ten chains of iron. And under the bridge +there is a river, which they call Flagot. This +river flows as fast as a bolt flies out of a +crossbow; so fierce is the current that no boat or +galley can by any means cross over it. And +the Keeper of the bridge is a giant, Gallafer by +name, a very terrible monster to behold. He +is armed with an axe of steel with which to +smite down any one that may presume to pass +over the bridge against his will." +</p> + +<p> +Then said Roland, "Do not trouble yourselves, +my lords. As long as it shall please +God to keep me, and I have Durendal in my +hand, I care not one penny for any pagan, be +he giant or other. This porter I will slay, if +he seek to hinder me." But Duke Naymes +said to Sir Roland, "This is foolish talk; it +is not wise to give one blow and to receive a +score. Leave the matter to me, and I will deal +so with the porter, that he will let us pass over +the bridge without any trouble." +</p> + +<p> +So when they came to the bridge, the Duke +Naymes rode before them. He was an old +man, and his hair was white, so that it became +him to ride first. The porter said to him, +"Whither do you go with this company, and +what is your errand?" The Duke answered, +"We are messengers from King Charles, and +we go to Aygremore with a message to Balan +the Admiral. He has not driven all evil men +out of his country, for on our way we met some +fifteen villains who would have taken from us +our horses and our lives. But we took such +order with them that they will not trouble us +any more. See, here are their heads." +</p> + +<p> +When the porter heard these words he was +well-nigh out of his wits with anger. He said +to the Duke Naymes, "Hear me; you must +pay your toll for the passing of this bridge." The +Duke answered, "What is the toll. We will +content you." "It is no little, this toll," said +the porter. "You must pay thirty couple of +hounds, and a hundred damsels, and a hundred +falcons in their cages, and a hundred horses, +and for each foot of each horse a piece of gold. +Also you must give me four pack-horses laden +with gold and silver." The Duke said, "All +this and more you will find in our baggage, +which comes after us. You shall have your +toll by noon. Of a truth there are many +more things than you say, as hauberks, and +helmets, and good shields. You shall take +of them as much as you will." This Gallafer +the Porter believed, so boldly did the Duke +speak, and he let them pass by the drawbridge. +Then Roland laughed out, and said, "Sir +Duke, you have indeed kept your word;" and +when they had gone a little further Roland +espied a Turk that was coming across the +bridge, and without ado he lighted down from +his beast, took the Turk by the middle, and +threw him over the wall of the bridge into the +river. When the Duke Naymes, looking +behind him, saw what he had done, he said, +"Surely the devil is in this Roland; he has +no patience in him. If God does not keep us +he will bring us all to our death." And indeed +Roland was of so high a courage that he took +no count of time or place; wherever he found +his enemy he would forthwith avenge himself +on him. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap19"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIX +<br><br> +OF THE DOINGS OF FLORIPAS +</h3> + +<p> +In due course the French knights came to +the town of Aygremore, and having +entered by the gate, came, a Saracen guiding +them, to where the Admiral sat in the shade +of a tree. The Duke Naymes said to his +companions, "I am the bearer of the King's +letter, and I therefore will speak first." At +this Roland was ill content, desiring greatly +to have this office for himself. But the Duke +would not suffer it; "Nay," said he, "speak +not one word; you cannot keep yourself in +bounds; if you have your way you will bring +us all to death before sunset." +</p> + +<p> +So the Duke spake first, beginning in this +fashion, "Now may God Almighty save and +defend our mighty Lord King Charles, and +confound Balan the Admiral and his subjects. +For these have borne themselves to us most +dishonourably, seeking to take from us our +horses and other possessions." When the +Admiral heard these words, he had much ado +to keep under his anger. Before he could +make answer to the Duke there came the one +King who had escaped from the Frenchmen, +and told him saying, "These are the same +eight villains that slew the Kings; avenge +yourself on them." Balan said, "Let them be +for the present," and turning to Duke Naymes, +he said, "Finish now your message." The +Duke answered that he would gladly do this, +and so proceeded: "The great and noble +King of France bids you render to him the +crown of thorns with which our Lord Christ +was crowned and the other Holy Things. +Also he commands you to set free certain +knights of his whom you hold in prison; which +things if you fail to do forthwith he will cause +you to be hanged by the neck till you die." Balan +said, "You have reviled me with violent +words; but I have heard you courteously. Go +now, and sit down by yonder pillar, and let +these others speak, whom I have not yet +heard." +</p> + +<p> +Then came Richard of Normandy, and +spake the same words. When the Admiral +saw him, he said, "You are like to Richard of +Normandy, the same that slew my uncle +Corsuble. Go and sit you down till I have +heard your fellows." After Richard came the +others, saying the same words, and other +words like to them. But none spake more +fiercely and proudly than Roland, who, after +that he had bidden the Admiral render the +Holy Things and the knights his prisoners, +added, "And see that you give up these same +prisoners in good case; otherwise King +Charles will have you hanged by the neck as +a thief." +</p> + +<p> +Balan cried in a rage, "These are proud +words. Now I swear by Mahomet and +Termagant that I will not eat till you are +hanged." But Roland answered, "Then +methinks you will keep an overlong fast. Say +what you will; I count you to be of no more +worth than a dead dog." +</p> + +<p> +Last of all came Guy of Burgundy, who, +after he had delivered the message said, "I +counsel you, Sir Admiral, to submit yourself +to my lord the King. Take off your coat, and +your hose and your shoes, and go in your +shirt only, carrying on your back the saddle +of a horse, and rest not till you come to the +presence of King Charles, when you shall +confess your misdoings, and pray for mercy. +Which things if you do not, you will assuredly +be hanged or burnt with fire." +</p> + +<p> +When he had heard all these words the +Admiral was not a little wroth. He called, +therefore, Brullant and Sortibrant, and others +of his counsellors, and said to them, "What +shall we do with these men?" Sortibrant +answered, "Let them be cut in pieces. And +when you have slain them, gather together all +your armies, and go to Mormyond, where +King Charles is at this present, and take him, +and put him to death." When the Admiral +heard this counsel he agreed to it, and +commanded that preparations should be made for +the slaying of the French knights. +</p> + +<p> +But the Princess Floripas was aware of all +that had been done. Therefore, coming into +the hall, she saluted her father, and said to +him, "Who are these knights that are set +yonder by themselves?" The Admiral +answered, "They are knights of France who +have reproached me with very evil words. +What shall I do with them?" Floripas said, +"I advise you to smite off their heads with as +little delay as may be, for they have well +deserved it. Afterwards burn their bodies +outside the city." +</p> + +<p> +The Admiral said, "This is good counsel; +it shall be done forthwith. Go now to the +prison, and bring thence the other knights +that are there. So shall they all suffer death +together." "Good father," answered Floripas, +"it is now time for dinner. You cannot +commodiously do this justice till you have +dined." But her purpose was to persuade her father +with fair words so that he might bring all the +Frenchmen together. She said therefore, +"Father, give these knights into my keeping. +They shall be well guarded. And after dinner +you shall do justice upon them in the presence +of your people." To this the Admiral consented. +But Sortibrant, who knew that women are +changeable and inconstant, said to him, "It is +not a wise thing to put such trust in a woman. +You will know by many examples how men +are deceived by them." Floripas was greatly +angered at these words of Sortibrant, and +said to him, "You are a traitor, perjured and +disloyal. I would give you such a buffet on +your face that the blood would run down +amain, were it a seemly thing for a maid to +do." +</p> + +<p> +Their debate being ended, Floripas took the +French knights to her lodgings. As they +went, the Duke Naymes said, "Who ever +saw so fair a woman as this? Of a truth the +man who should do battle for love of her +would be well inspired." But Roland was +angry, and said, "What devil prompts you to +speak of love; this is not the time for such +talk." And the Duke answered, "Sir Roland, +I too was once a lover." But Floripas, saying +they did ill to dispute among themselves, +took them into her lodgings, and shut to the +door. Then Roland and Oliver embraced +with much joy. The other knights also were +right glad to come together again. And, +indeed, it was a marvellous thing; but what +will not a woman's wit effect in the attaining +of that which she greatly desires? For it has +been told that Floripas had great love for Guy +of Burgundy, and was willing to be baptized +if only she might have him to her husband. +</p> + +<p> +When the knights had finished their greetings, +Floripas said to them, "My lords, will +you promise me on your honour that you will +help me to attain that which I desire?" The +Duke Naymes answered, "That, madam, will +we do right willingly. And you may trust +that we will keep faith with you." Then +Floripas asked the Duke by what name he +was known. And when he had told her she +asked the names of the others. And when +she came to Roland and had heard that he +was Roland, son of the Duke of Milan and +nephew to King Charles himself, she kneeled +down at his feet. And when he had raised +her up right courteously, she said to him, "I +love a certain knight of France, Guy of +Burgundy by name, and I would have tidings +of him." "Madam," answered Roland, "he is +here in this very place; there is not more than +four feet of space between him and you." +</p> + +<p> +Then Roland said to Guy of Burgundy, +"Come hither, Sir Guy, to this maiden and +receive her right gladly, as is fit." But Guy +answered, "God forbid that I should take a +wife except she were given me by King Charles +himself." When Floripas heard him she +changed colour, being very angry, and said, +"If this be so, then I swear by Mahomet that +all these knights shall be hanged on a +gibbet." Then said Roland to Guy, "I pray you do +this damsel the pleasure that she would have." So +Guy consented to her will. And Floripas +said that now she had the thing she most +desired, and kissed him, not on the mouth, for +that she durst not, being yet a pagan, but +upon the cheek and chin. After this she +opened a great chest that she had in her +chamber, and spread a fair cloth of silk, and +on this she laid the crown of thorns and the +nails with which the Lord's feet were pierced. +"This," she said, "is the great treasure which +ye have so much desired to see." Then the +knights went up and kissed the Holy Relics +reverently, not without tears. After this the +things were put up again into the chest where +they had been before. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap20"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XX +<br><br> +OF THE DOINGS OF THE FRENCH KNIGHTS +</h3> + +<p> +As the Admiral sat at dinner there came +into the hall the chieftain who was named +Lucifer, and was a special friend to the Admiral. +He said, "Is it true, as I have heard, that +Fierabras, your son, who was the very best +knight in the whole world, has been overcome +and taken prisoner?" "It is true," answered +the Admiral, "I will not hide the thing from you. +A French knight, whom may Mahomet confound, +overcame him. But we have taken five +of King Charles's knights; seven other knights +came hither bearing a very insolent message to +me from the King, all these therefore are in +prison. I gave them into the hands of +Floripas my daughter, and she has shut them +up in prison." +</p> + +<p> +"Sir," said Lucifer, "this was not well done +of you, to trust these prisoners to a woman, for +women are apt to change, and to turn from one +thing to another. If it please you I will go and +see in what condition they are." +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Admiral, "That is well +counselled; go and see, and when you return +make my daughter to return with you." +</p> + +<p> +So Lucifer went, and when he came to the +chamber where Floripas was he did not seek +to have the door opened to him, but smote it +so stoutly with his foot that he brake down the +bolts and bars. +</p> + +<p> +When Floripas saw this she was very wroth, +and said to Roland, "This violence is +ill-pleasing to me, Sir Roland, all the more +because this man that has done it should have +been my husband, though I loved him not. I +pray you avenge me of this wrong." +</p> + +<p> +"Be content, fair lady," answered Roland, +"this fellow shall be made to know of his +misdoing ere he depart hence. Never did he pay +so much for the making of a lock as he shall +pay for the breaking of it." Meanwhile Lucifer +entered the chamber, and coming up to the +Duke of Naymes, who was bareheaded, took +him by the beard, and drew him to himself so +roughly that he had well-nigh thrown him to +the ground. "Whence come you, old man?" +said he, "Tell me the truth." The Duke told +him, "I am Duke of Naymes, and I am a +councillor of King Charles, from whom I have +come, with these lords whom you see, bringing +a message to the Admiral. And because what +we said was not to his liking, he has made us +prisoners. But now take your hand from my +beard, you have held me long enough. And +be sure that I say not all that I think." The +pagan answered him, "May be the Admiral +will forgive you your folly. But come, tell me +truly of your countrymen, how do they bear +themselves, and what games do they play?" The +Duke answered, "When the King has +dined every man may go where he will. Some +ride on horses, and some go into the fields, and +some play at chess or tables. In the morning +every man hears Mass when it is said; they +are wont also to give alms to such as are in +need. And in battle they are not easily to be +overcome." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-182"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-182.jpg" alt="BLOWING THE GREAT COAL."> +<br> +BLOWING THE GREAT COAL. +</p> + +<p> +Lucifer said, "Old man, you dote; these +things are naught; say, can your folk blow at +the great coal?" "I never heard of the great +coal," said the Duke. Then said Lucifer, "I +will teach you the manner of it," and he came +near to a great fire that was in the chamber, +Roland making a sign meanwhile to the Duke +that he should bear with the man's way. Then +Lucifer took the biggest brand that was on the +fire, and blew it so strongly that the sparks +flew about abundantly. "And now," said he +to the Duke, "You must blow also." Thereupon +the Duke took the coal, and blew it so +strongly that the flame came near to the +pagan's face, and burnt his beard. Lucifer +was almost out of his wits for anger, but before +he could as much as speak the Duke smote +him with the brand upon the neck so strongly +that the bone was broken, and the man fell +dead upon the floor. "By my faith," said +Roland, "you can play right well at blowing of +the coal. Now blessed be the arm that struck +that blow." The Duke said, "Blame me not, +my friends, for ye saw how the man trifled +with me." Then said Floripas, "Sir, you are +worthy of all honour. Lucifer, I reckon, will +have no more desire to play with you at the +great coal. Nor will he wish to marry me. +For indeed that was his purpose. Verily I +had rather died the most villainous death than +have had him for my husband." +</p> + +<p> +After a while Floripas, being a woman of +wise counsel, said to the knights, "This +Lucifer that is now dead was a man much +beloved by my father, who doubtless is even +now waiting for him to come to dinner. As +soon as it shall be known that he has been +slain, you will be assailed; and if you be +vanquished, not all the gold in the world will +redeem you from death. Arm yourselves, +therefore; and, being armed, wait not till you +are assailed in this place, but issue forth and +yourselves assail the Admiral's palace, and be +sure that you do this in such fashion as to +become masters of it." +</p> + +<p> +This counsel seemed good to the Knights. +So they armed themselves, and went forth, +bold as lions and fierce as hungry wolves, and +the time of going forth was the hour that is +between day and night. First of all went +Roland, and slew King Corsablis; next came +Oliver, and he also smote a king, Coldro by +name; great was the slaughter, for the Saracens +were taken as they sat at meat. Many were +killed and not a few leapt from the windows +and so perished. As for the Admiral he +escaped most narrowly; for as he leapt from a +window Roland dealt a great blow at him with +his sword, and the sword made a hole of a foot +deep in the marble stone of the window. +"Brother," said Oliver, "the Admiral has +escaped from you." "You say true," answered +Roland, "and I am but ill content." But the +Frenchmen made themselves masters of the +palace, and having shut fast the gates, were +safe. But this was like to trouble them, that +they had no meat. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Admiral had lighted in a ditch, and +now began to cry to his men that they should +draw him out. And this service Brullant and +Sortibrant did for him. And when he was +drawn out, Sortibrant said to him, "Sir +Admiral, did I not say to you that you should +not trust a woman? See now what has +happened. Another day you had better believe +me. Keep by the tail of an old dog, and you +will not go out of the way." The Admiral +said, "Sortibrant, reproach me no more. I +will be avenged of these men before many days +be passed." "That is well," answered Sortibrant, +"but now the night is far spent. I would +counsel you to do nothing before the morrow." With +this the Admiral was fain to be content. +But he made great lamentation over Lucifer. +</p> + +<p> +As for the Frenchmen, he vowed that he +would drag them at the tails of his horses, +making sure that they could not hold out, +because they had nothing to eat, nor could +their King send them any help, "for," said he, +"all help must needs come over the bridge +Mantryble, and that bridge we hold." +</p> + +<p> +The next day the Admiral having assembled +a great host, began to assail the castle with +stones from slings and poisoned darts. In this +way they did but little damage, but the knights +and the maidens in the castle were sorely +pressed for want of food, nor did any one suffer +more than Floripas herself, who was grieved not +for herself only, but for the knights also, and +for the maidens that waited on her. When +Guy of Burgundy saw this, he said to his +fellows, "It is now three days since we had +any bread. 'Tis a grievous thing to endure; +and I suffer more for these damsels than for +myself. It were better to die than to endure +this pain. Let us, therefore, sally forth, and +get for ourselves some victuals." This counsel +pleased all the Frenchmen. +</p> + +<p> +But Floripas said to them: "Now I see +that the God whom you worship is of little +power, seeing that he suffers you to remain in +such straits. Now, if you had worshipped our +gods, they would, beyond all doubt, have +furnished you with abundance of meat and +drink." Roland said, "Madam, let us see your +gods. If they have such power as you say, we +will surely worship them." Then Floripas +took the keys, and took the French Knights to +a place that was under the castle, where the +gods were set in great state, Apollo, to wit, and +Mahomet, and Termagaunt, and Jupiter, and +others with them. Very splendid was the +place, and full of gold and jewels. Guy of +Burgundy said, "Here is store of gold: did +King Charles possess this, he could set up the +churches that have been overthrown." +</p> + +<p> +Floripas said: "Sir Guy, you spake +blasphemy against the gods; do you now +worship them, that they may be inclined to +help you." Sir Guy answered, "Madam, I +cannot pray to them, for it seems to me that +they are all asleep and take no heed of what +may be said." So saying he smote the image +of Jupiter that it fell to the ground, and Ogier +the Dane smote another of the images. When +they were all brought to the ground, Roland +said to Floripas, "Madam, these gods are of +no power and avail nothing." After this the +maiden believed in them no longer. +</p> + +<p> +After these things, Floripas having swooned +for trouble and hunger, the knights sallied +forth. And Roland said, "Now some one must +keep the gates that we may be able, when the +occasion comes, to enter it again. Let the +Duke Naymes therefore keep it, or Ogier +the Dane." The Duke said, "Think you, +Sir Roland, that I am of estate so poor that +I will serve as your porter? Assuredly I will +not do so. Old I am, but yet I can ride my horse +in battle, and my sinews are well set, and I +have enough of strength to fight my enemies." "You +shall do as you will, Sir Duke," said +Roland. No man desired to take the place. +Nevertheless, at the last Thierry abode with +Geoffrey to keep the gate. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Admiral, sitting at a window, +saw how the Frenchmen came forth to battle. +He sent, therefore, for Sortibrant and Brullant, +and said to them, "I see that the Frenchmen +are coming to fight. If they be not all slain, +I shall be very ill content." Then the Saracens, +of whom there was a great host, assailed the +Frenchmen, but could not stand against them. +Roland, having his sword Durendal in his +hand, did great deeds of valour. Nor were +the knights beaten back, even though King +Clarion, who was the Admiral's neighbour, +came to his help with 15,000 men. That day, +therefore, the knights fought with much glory. +And when the battle was ended, there came to +them a marvellous good fortune. For they +saw that there passed by the castle twenty +beasts laden with provender, bread to wit, +and wine, and venison, and a store of other +victuals. These were on their way to the +Admiral, but the French knights straightway +slew the escort, and drove the beasts into the +town. This thing, however, was not +accomplished without much toil and trouble. +</p> + +<p> +Now the trouble was this. The French +knights were so hard pressed by a multitude +of Saracens that followed King Clarion that +some were slain, as the Duke Basyn and +Aubrey his son, and that Guy of Burgundy +was taken prisoner, his horse having been +killed under him. The Saracens blindfolded +him and led him away, King Clarion meanwhile +scoffing at him and saying, "Cry and +bray as you will, my fair friend," for Guy called +upon God to help him, "nothing will avail you. +This day I will deliver you to the Admiral, and +to-morrow you shall be hanged." The Frenchmen +did marvels of valour, but they could not +stand against the multitude of their enemies, +and were constrained to take refuge within +the Tower. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap21"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXI +<br><br> +OF GUY OF BURGUNDY +</h3> + +<p> +The Frenchmen, being now safe in the +Tower, refreshed themselves with food, +for they had fasted long, as has been told. As +they sat at meat, came Floripas and said to +them, "Tell me now; where is Guy of +Burgundy, that was to be my husband? I +saw him sally forth out of the gates with you; +has he returned with you?" Roland answered +her: "Floripas, think not that you will see +him again. The pagans took him out of our +hands, notwithstanding all that we could do; +and how he will fare in their hands we know +not." When Floripas heard these words, she +fell down as one dead. When she came to +herself she cried aloud with a lamentable voice: +"Lords of France, if Guy be not given back +to me I will give up this Tower to my father +before two days are over." Then Roland +comforted her saying, "Be not troubled, lady, +you shall see Sir Guy again in no long time. +This also I say. You will not bring him back +by weeping and lamenting. Be strong now, +and take comfort, and also, for you are weak +with long fasting, eat of this food." Then +Floripas and her ladies were content, and +took something to eat. +</p> + +<p> +Meantime Guy was brought before the +Admiral. He was much changed in face, being +pale and wasted, seeing that he had not eaten +for three days. Also he was troubled to think +of the danger in which he stood. He had been +spoiled also of his arms. For all this it was +manifest that he was a very gallant knight. +Balan asked him his name and country. Guy +answered: "Admiral, I will tell the truth without +fear. I am Guy of Burgundy, subject to King +Charles, and cousin to Roland the Valiant." +</p> + +<p> +The Admiral answered, "I know you over +well, Sir Guy. For seven months past my +daughter has had great love for you, a thing +which is most displeasing to me. Verily for +this cause I have lost many good men, that you +and your companions have slain. But tell me +truly who are these knights that were with you +in the Castle?" Then Guy told him the +names of the knights, the last of all being the +name of Duke Basyn. "Him," said he, "you +have slain, but be assured that you will pay +right dearly for his death." When he said +these words, a Saracen that stood by smote +him on the mouth so that the blood gushed +out. Thereat Guy was greatly moved with +anger, so that he lay hold of the Saracen by +the hair with one hand and with the other hand +smote him upon the bone of his neck so +fiercely that the man fell down dead before +the Admiral. +</p> + +<p> +At this deed the Admiral was greatly enraged, +and cried out that Guy should be closely +bound. At which word all the Saracens that +were in the chamber fell upon him and beat +him so sorely that he would have been shortly +slain, but that the Admiral himself cried out +that he was not to be put to death in such +a fashion. Then the Saracens bound his hands, +and the Admiral bade his men fetch Brullant +and Sortibrant and others of his council. +"Friends," said the Admiral, "advise me +what I shall do with this prisoner who sets +me at nought most shamefully." Sortibrant +said, "I will give you good counsel concerning +him. Set up a gallows-tree near to the moat +of the Tower in which the French knights +abide, and make as if you were going to hang +this prisoner. But first cause that a thousand +Turks well armed and fit for battle be hidden +in a secret place near to the said tree. Be sure +that the Frenchmen, when they shall see that +their comrade is about to be hanged will come +forth to succour him, and when they be come, +then shall your Turks that are in ambush fall +on them and take them." +</p> + +<p> +This counsel pleased the Admiral much. +He caused, therefore, the gallows-tree to be +set up, as Sortibrant had advised, and set the +Turks in ambush, more than a thousand, that +the thing might be made more sure. After +this he bade thirty Saracens lead Guy to the +tree, beating him sorely with their staves the +while. His hands were bound behind his back, +and there was a great rope about his neck, and +he knew himself to be in evil case. He did +not cease to commend himself to God; also he +cried out to the Barons of France, and especially +to Roland, that they should help him. +</p> + +<p> +Now Roland stood at a window whence he +could see the gallows-tree set up. And he +said to his comrades, "What means, think you, +this gallows-tree that these Saracens are setting +up?" Then the others looked, and the Duke +Naymes said, "Without doubt they are about +to hang our comrade Guy of Burgundy." He +had scarcely spoken when they saw Guy led by +the Saracens, bound and stripped. Floripas +also saw this thing, and cried to the Knights, +"Oh, my lords, will you suffer Guy that is your +comrade to be thus shamefully done to death +before your eyes? If he perish in this fashion +I will leap from this window and so die." And +she came to Roland and kneeled before him, +and kissed his feet, and cried to him, "O, Sir, +help this Guy whom I love, or else I am a lost +woman. Arm yourselves, I pray you, and I +will cause your horses to be made ready, so, if +God pleases, you will be in good time." Then +Roland and his fellows armed themselves in +great haste, and went forth from the Tower, and +mounted their horses. And Roland said to +them, "Let us now keep together as much as +may be, and be ready to help each other as each +may be in need, for otherwise we shall hardly +win back to this place, for we are but ten in +number, and they are many." +</p> + +<p> +Floripas said, "My lords, I pray you not to +tarry, but first I will bring you the Crown of +Thorns." So she went to her chamber and +brought therefrom the Holy Crown. This all +the knights kissed with much reverence, and +so issued forth from the Tower with a good +courage. When they were gone, Floripas +and her damsel lifted the bridge and shut fast +the gates of the Tower. +</p> + +<p> +The Frenchmen rode in good order towards +the place where, the gallows-tree was set up, +the Saracens being busied with Guy whom they +had now brought thereto, with the rope round +his neck. When Roland saw this, he cried +out, "Hold, traitors; this thing shall not fall +out as you hope. You have begun a deed of +which you shall surely repent." Thereupon he +charged at them with such fierceness that the +hardiest of them turned to fly; yet they fled +not so fast but that Roland killed twenty out of +the thirty. When the Saracens that lay in +ambush saw this, they rose up from the place +where they lay hid, a certain Conifer, a pagan +of marvellous strength, being their leader. +This Conifer cried out, "Ho, ye French knaves, +come you to succour this malefactor? Verily +you shall be hanged along with him." Roland +was very wroth to hear such villainous words, +and charged fierce as a hungry wolf, with his +sword Durendal drawn in his hand. Nor did +Conifer for his part draw back, for he was a +great warrior. He dealt a great blow on +Roland's shield that went nigh to beat it down. +Nevertheless Roland slew him, cleaving his +head in twain. This done he ran to the +gallows and cut the cords with which Guy was +bound, and afterwards stood by him till he had +armed himself. This he did, taking the dead +pagan's arms and mounting on his horse. But +this was not easily done, for all the Saracens +that had lain in ambush were coming upon +them, and they were sore pressed. +</p> + +<p> +But Guy wrought marvels of valour, as one +who having narrowly escaped from death, +fought with great cheerfulness of heart. +Floripas also, who stood at a window of the +Tower, saw him, and cried out to him that +he should bear himself as a man. When +Ogier the Dane heard this, he said to his +comrades, "Hark to this noble damsel, how +bravely she bears herself. We will not go +back to the Tower till we have done all that was +in our mind to do." Then they charged the +Saracens yet again; Roland being still in the +front, and driving the pagans before him, for +they flew from him on all sides. Thence the +Frenchmen made their way to the bridge and +so again into the Tower. +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral perceived this, he was +much troubled, and asked his counsellors again +for advice. Sortibrant said to him, "Let +every man that is here present make himself +ready for battle and let all the siege engines be +prepared, and all the trumpeters stand prepared +to blow a great blast on their trumpets. The +Frenchmen are but few, and when they shall +be aware of this great multitude they will +be overcome with fear." To him Brullant +answered: "My friend, this that you say is +but folly. You will not frighten these Frenchmen +in this fashion, no, not though we had all +the horns and trumpets in the world. Is not +Roland there, the mightiest knight that now +lives, who slays any man that dares to join in +battle with him? They are all great warriors, +but Roland is of such greatness that if the rest +were his match they would drive the Saracens +out of Spain. There is no man that could +stand against them, and as for our gods, it is +long since they have given us any help." The +Admiral was very angry to hear such talk and +would have struck Brullant with his staff, but +Sortibrant held both his arms, "Let be your +anger; we should do better to take counsel +together how we may break down this Tower +that the Christians hold." +</p> + +<p> +Then the Admiral gathered all his men +together, so many in number that they covered +the ground a mile every way. But of more +avail than all these multitudes was a certain +magician, by name Mahon. He had two +siege-engines of marvellous power, which were +so contrived that they who worked them could +not be hurt by the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the Saracens gain possession of the +first defences of the Tower; yet having won +them, they could not long hold them, for the +French knights did their part right bravely, +hurling down from the upper parts stones +and darts, and all kinds of missiles, and these +so strongly that no man could stand against +them. The maidens also armed themselves, +and did the like. +</p> + +<p> +But the magician had yet other devices to +use against the Christians. He said to the +Admiral, "Let me have some of your men to +wait on me, and I will speedily deliver these +Christians into your hand." And when he had +made all things ready, he discharged out of his +engines against the walls a fire so marvellous +that the very stones began to burn. The +Frenchmen were sorely dismayed at this, and +began to say to each other that they must now +surely quit the Tower. But Floripas said to +them, "My lords, be not afraid. I have +something wherewith to quench the fire." Then she +went and took certain herbs, and mixed them in +wine, and the knights threw the wine on the +fire, and it was quenched immediately. +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral saw this he was out of his +wits with anger, and when Sortibrant told him +that this was of his daughter's doing, he vowed +that she should die an evil death. Then said +Sortibrant, "Bid your horns and trumpets +sound again, and send your men to attack the +Tower once more. By this time the Frenchmen +must be so wearied that they will be +overcome. And they have neither stones nor +iron to cast at us." Thereupon the Saracens +made yet another assault on the Tower; so +fierce was it that the air was as it were dark +with arrows and darts and stones, great portions +of the walls fell down, and the knights were +greatly troubled. "Now," said they, "we +must needs be vanquished, for our defence is +broken down." But Floripas bade them be of +good courage. "My lords," said she, "this +Tower is yet strong enough to hold out. +Besides, though you have no more stone or +iron, yet my father's treasure is here, wedges +and plates of gold, wherewith you may slay the +pagans as well as with stones, aye and better +too." Thereupon Guy of Burgundy, in great +joy, kissed her. +</p> + +<p> +Then Floripas, going to the treasure-house, +showed the gold to the knights. This they +took and cast against the Saracens, to their great +discomfiture. Moreover, the Saracens, when +they saw the gold, left off fighting against the +French, and began to slay each other. The +Admiral, when he saw this, cried with a loud +voice to his captains, "Cease now from the +assault, for it turns to my great loss; see now +how my treasure which I have gathered with +much pains is scattered about. This treasure +I had entrusted to the keeping of Mahomet my +god, and see how he has failed me. Verily, if +I could but have him in my hands, he should +suffer pains for this!" Sortibrant said to him, +"Be not angry, my lord, with Mahomet. He +has done as well as it lay with him to do; +doubtless he was asleep when your treasures +were spoiled. These Frenchmen are so +crafty that they can do what they will." +</p> + +<p> +That same night, as the Admiral sat at his +supper, Roland spied him from a window +where he lay to rest himself. He said to his +comrades, "I see Balan at his supper with his +lords; he is taking his ease, and it would be to +our great honour if we make him rise up from +his meat." The other lords were of the same +opinion. They armed themselves therefore, +and issued forth from the Tower. But the +Admiral was aware of their purpose, and he +sent against them his nephew, Espoulart by +name, who was a very strong and valiant +knight. Espoulart rode against the Frenchmen, +and encountering Roland smote him on +the shield so great a blow that he was +well-nigh stunned, but his flesh was not wounded. +Roland, in his turn, unhorsed him, but the +Saracen was so nimble that forthwith he +mounted his horse again. But Roland smote +him again, and so sharply that the man wist +not where he was. As he was falling to the +ground Roland caught him right deftly, and +laid him across his horse and carried him +away. +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral saw this he cried out in a +great rage that they should rescue his nephew. +This the Saracens would willingly have done, +but they could not; many were hurt and many +slain, and at last all the Frenchmen escaped into +the Tower. When they had shut-to the gates +they asked Floripas who he was that they had +taken. Floripas said to them, "This is +Balan's nephew, a rich man and a powerful. +If ye would vex my father, put him to +death." The Duke Naymes answered, "Nay, we will +not put him to death. We will keep him, and +if should happen that one of us be taken +prisoner, we will make an exchange." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap22"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXII +<br><br> +OF RICHARD OF NORMANDY +</h3> + +<p> +On a certain day after these things Richard +of Normandy said to his fellows, "How +long are we to abide shut up in this Tower? +I am sure that at the last we must perish by +the hands of these Saracens. It would be +well, therefore, that we send a messenger to +King Charles, telling him that if he would not +have us perish he must send us help." The +Duke Naymes said, "This, Sir Richard, is +but foolishly spoken. There is no man here +that will dare take this message. Know you +not that the whole land is covered with the +Saracens, so that as soon as the messenger is +parted from us he will be slain by them?" And +Floripas said, "My lords, you are safe +while you abide in this place; make yourselves, +therefore, as happy as you can." But Duke +Thierry was ill-content with such counsel, +"We are shut in here, my lords," said he, +"and our happiness must be but brief. Let +us inform the King of our condition, that he +may come to our help." +</p> + +<p> +Ogier the Dane answered as the Duke +Naymes had answered, that there was no man +who would go on such an errand. "Nay," +cried Roland, "say not so. I will go." But +the Duke Naymes answered, "That would be +ill done, Sir Roland; you must not go hence; +the Saracens would not have so much fear of +us by a half as now they have if you were +gone." Then others proffered to go, as +William the Scot, and Gerard, and Guy of +Burgundy, this last being willing with all his +heart, but Floripas would not suffer it. +</p> + +<p> +At last Richard of Normandy spake thus: +"My lords, you know that I am nobly born, +and that I have a son of full age to bear arms, +and fit to stand in my place. Now if it should +chance that I am slain in taking this message, +this my son would hold my heritage and do +service to King Charles." So it was concluded +that Richard of Normandy should take the +message to the King. Roland said to him, +"Sir Richard, promise now that you will not +tarry in any place till you come to the King, +saving if you should be hurt or taken +prisoner." And Duke Richard promised it +should be so. Having so promised, he said, +"Let us consider now how I may get away +from this place unseen of the-men-at-arms, for +if they espy me I cannot escape." +</p> + +<p> +Roland said, "My counsel is this. Let us +sally forth from the Tower, and assault the +Saracens with all our might, and while they +are busied with us then shall Duke Richard +steal away, for he well knows the country." To +this they all agreed, not without tears, for +they knew that the Duke had taken upon himself +a very perilous enterprise. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, when this thing should have +been done, the French lords found that the +gates of the Tower were so closely beset by a +multitude of Saracens that no man could by +any means go forth. And this was so for the +space of two whole months. At the end of +this time, the Admiral having gone a-hunting, +and the watch of the bridge being negligently +kept, the knights mounted their horses and +issued forth. So soon as they were seen of the +Saracens, there was a great blowing of horns +and trumpets, and a multitude of men ran +together to do battle with the knights. While +they were so engaged Duke Richard secretly +departed. After the Duke had ridden awhile, +the road being very steep, for it was on the +side of a mountain, his horse was sorely spent, +and he was constrained to halt. And as he +halted two of the Saracens, to wit Sortibrant +and Brullant, espied him, and said to King +Clarion, who was a very notable warrior, "See +you, Sire, that man yonder. Of a truth he is +one of the Frenchmen that are shut up in the +Tower yonder. Without a doubt he is taking +a message to Charlemagne. Now, if we do +not hinder him in this his journey it may well +turn to our great loss." When King Clarion +heard this he armed himself without delay, and +mounted on his beast—a marvellous beast that +could gallop thirty leagues and not grow +weary—and pursued after Duke Richard, and other +Saracens went with him. +</p> + +<p> +When Duke Richard, looking behind him, +saw the Saracens following him, he was greatly +troubled, for what could one man do against so +many? Nor was it long before the pursuers +came up with him, King Clarion leading them. +The King said, "By Mahomet, you shall never +deliver this message." Duke Richard spoke +him fair, "What trespass have I done? I +have never offended you or taken your treasure. +Suffer me, therefore, to go in peace. Render +me this service, and be sure that I will repay it +many fold." But Clarion answered, "I would +not do this, no not for half the treasure of the +world." +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this, Duke Richard turned +to meet the enemy. King Clarion smote him +on the shield, but could not break it through, so +stiff and strong was it. But the Duke, on the +other hand, smote him full on the neck, and +shore off his head cleanly with one blow. It +flew a whole spear's length, so great was the +stroke. Then the Duke, leaving his own +horse, took King Clarion's for himself; never +before had he ridden such a horse, so strong +was it and so swift. He could have borne +seven knights in armour, and never sweated a +drop; as for swimming rivers, there never was +beast like him. Then the Duke said to his own +horse, "Farewell, my good horse; I am grieved +that I cannot take thee when I will. God in +heaven help thee to escape these Pagans, and +come again into the hands of Christian men, +whom thou mayst faithfully serve in great +straits, even as thou hast served me." So +saying he went on his way. +</p> + +<p> +When the other Saracens came up and found +King Clarion lying dead upon the ground they +made great lamentation over him. Some would +have taken Duke Richard's horse, but the +beast would not suffer them to come near him +but galloped as fast as he could to the place +from which he had come. And, indeed, thither +he came in a very short space of time. First +the Admiral saw him, and cried aloud, "Now +by Apollyon my god, this is well done of +Clarion my nephew; without doubt he has +slain the messenger of the Frenchmen, for see +his horse is coming." And he bade his men +catch the horse. But this they could not do, +for the creature won its way to the gates of +the Tower, and these the knights opened to +receive him, lamenting much, for they had no +doubt but that Duke Richard had been slain. +Nevertheless, Floripas bade them be of good +cheer. "Stay your tears," she said; "as yet +you know not the whole matter." +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Saracens that had accompanied +King Clarion came back, bearing with +them the King's body. When the Admiral +saw it he swooned, not once only but four +times, so that he seemed like to a dead man. +The Saracens stood about, and made a great +lamentation, so that the Barons began to take +heart again, and Floripas, being well acquainted +with the Saracen tongue, said, "Now I +perceive the truth. Duke Richard has slain this +man and taken his horse, for indeed there is no +better horse in all the world. This lamentation +that you hear is for this ill fortune." +</p> + +<p> +All the Barons were glad when they heard +these words, and Oliver said to Roland, "Now +this is good news. I am sure in my mind that +we shall safely return home. I had not been +more sure had I been in the strongest castle in +all France. God bless Duke Richard, for he +has borne himself right bravely." And all the +other knights agreed to his speech. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Admiral called to him one of +his favourites, by name Orage, saying to him, +"Now take a dromedary and ride with all +speed to Gallafer that keeps the Bridge of +Mantryble, and say to him from me, 'You +suffered the messengers of King Charles to +pass over, whereby I have suffered great +damage. And now there goes a messenger +to the King from the knights that are shut up +in this Tower; wherein if you fail, you shall pay +for it with your life.'" Orage said to the +Admiral, "I will do your bidding with all +speed, for I can take in one day such a journey +as other men take in four." And he departed +forthwith on his dromedary. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to the Bridge Mantryble, he +said to Gallafer, "The Admiral is ill content +with you, because you suffered the messengers +of King Charles to cross the bridge. They +have done him great damage, holding his chief +Tower, and therein his gods and Floripas his +daughter, and have slain many of his servants. +And now there comes a messenger from these +same men, who is on his way to Charlemagne +to seek for help. Keep him, therefore, from +crossing the bridge, which thing if you fail to +do, you will surely die shamefully." When he +heard these words, Gallafer, the giant, was +greatly enraged, and made as if he would smite +Orage with a staff, but they that stood by +hindered him. Then he mounted to the top +of the Tower, and sounded his trumpet, so that +many thousands of men assembled. Also the +drawbridge was lifted. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Duke Richard considered within +himself by what means he might cross the +bridge, and was in great perplexity, "for," said +he, "I do not see how I may win forward, nor +may I return, and so fail in my promise to +Roland. Now may God help me in my need." And +looking about him, he saw how the whole +land was covered with multitudes of Saracens, +of whom some were now but a little space +behind him. The foremost of these called to +him with a loud voice, saying, "Now turn you, +Sir Messenger, for your hour is come." +</p> + +<p> +Duke Richard was ill content to hear such +boasting, and, turning himself quickly, came +upon him unawares and smote him so grievously +that he fell dead to the earth. Then he took +the Saracen's horse by the bridle and rode down +to the river's bank. And lo! the stream ran +as swiftly as a bolt from a cross-bow, with a +noise like to thunder. And when he saw this +and heard the roaring of the water, he +commended himself to God. +</p> + +<p> +While he looked, lo! a white hart came to +the river-side, and the river, which before had +been so much below the bank as a man may +conveniently cast a stone, began to rise, and so +continued till it came to the very top of the +bank and even overflowed it. Thereupon the +white hart entered the water, and Richard, +commending himself to the protection of God, +did the same, and swam safely to the other side. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King Charles, being in great +trouble about the knights whom he had sent +with a message to the Admiral of Spain, called +together his counsellors and told them what +was in his mind, saying, "I am greatly troubled +because that no report has come to me concerning +the knights that I sent. I know not what +to do, save that I will put off this crown, which +I am not worthy to bear." Said Ganelon, +"My lord, I will give you good counsel. Let +us return forthwith to France. This town of +Aygremore is too strong for us. And the +Admiral is a great warrior, and has also all +the Saracens and Pagans in the world to help +him. And now that Fierabras, his son, has +been made a Christian by you, he is even +more evilly disposed to you than he was before. +Let us therefore go back to France. It is true +that many valiant peers and knights have +perished, but they have left children behind +them, and these, when they have grown to +man's estate, will do those things wherein their +fathers have failed. So shall we recover the +Holy Things, for which, indeed, I feel great +sorrow, and avenge also Roland, the good +knight whom I am persuaded you will never +see more." +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard this he fell into a +swoon for the space of an hour. When he +came to himself he asked his lords again for +counsel, for he was loath to go back and leave +Roland and the other Peers without help. +</p> + +<p> +But Ganelon and all that were of his kindred, +and all that followed him, gave him the same +counsel as before. "There are twenty thousand +of us," said Ganelon, "that have sworn not to +go any further." But the King said, "What +shall my crown profit me, if I do this base thing, +and leave these my knights to perish without +help! He that gives me such counsel loves +me but little." Then said Reyner, that was +father to Oliver, "Sire, if you listen to these +men you will do this realm of France such +damage as may never be undone." But +Aloys, one of the friends of Ganelon, answered, +"You lie, Duke Reyner; were it not that the +King is here, this is the last word that you +should say. For indeed who are you that you +take so much upon yourself? Your father was +a man of low estate." Then Reyner waxed so +wroth that he smote Aloys to the ground. +Thereupon there was great tumult and quarrelling, +and there would have been bloodshed had +not the King been there. "For," said Charles, +"any man that shall draw sword in this place +shall be hanged as a thief, though he be of the +highest estate." So after a while the King, +Fierabras helping, made peace, but "first," said +he, "Aloys that spake so scornfully of Duke +Reyner must crave pardon." And this Aloys +did, but sorely against his will. Nevertheless +the counsel of those who were for going back +prevailed; for Geoffrey of the High Tower, +than whom there was no man more worshipful +in the King's court, was urgent that it should +be so. Then the King consented, but with +much sorrow, and all the nobler sort among his +lords were greatly troubled that this should be +done. So the signal of retreat was given. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had the army set forth, when King +Charles, chancing to cast his eyes eastward, saw +one on horseback, with a sword drawn in his +hand, that was riding with all the speed to which +he could put his horse. Thereupon he called a +halt, "for," said he, "if my eyes fail me not, +this is Richard of Normandy. God grant that +he brings tidings of Roland and of the other +Peers!" +</p> + +<p> +As soon as Duke Richard was come to +where he stood, the King asked him concerning +Roland and the Peers. Then Duke Richard +told him that they yet lived; also he told him +concerning Floripas and the Holy Things, +but that the knights were straitly besieged. +"Can they hold out," said Charles, "six days? +If so they shall be delivered." "It may be," +answered Richard. "But they have no victual +save what they can win with their swords; the +Admiral also has a mighty host of Saracens +about the Tower." Also he told him about the +bridge Mantryble, and of the great giant that +kept it. "This bridge," said he, "we must +pass by subtlety, for by force we cannot. Now +I have devised a plan by which this may be +done. Let some of us clothe ourselves as +merchants, having our armour and arms under +our cloaks, and let the rest hide themselves in +a wood hard by, and be ready armed for battle. +So when we shall have gained the first gate, I +will blow on my horn, and at this signal you +shall ride up with all the speed you may." +</p> + +<p> +The King greatly approved this counsel. +Thereupon five hundred knights disguised +themselves as merchants. They made great +bundles of hay and grass, which was to serve +as merchandise. Every man also was well +armed under his cloak. Duke Richard was +their leader, and with him was Duke Reyner +and others of great repute. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap23"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIII +<br><br> +HOW THE BRIDGE MANTRYBLE WAS WON +</h3> + +<p> +When King Charles and his men had +hidden themselves in a wood that was +hard by, Duke Richard and his company came +to the bridge, driving pack-horses before them, +laden, as has been said, with false merchandise. +But when the knights saw the River Flagot, +how swiftly it ran and with how great a roaring, +and the bridge how perilous it was to pass, +and the gates how they were barred with iron, +they were not a little troubled. Richard said, +"I will go before. Do you follow me, and +when you have passed the first gate throw off +your cloaks and smite with your swords. And +whatever may happen, see that you fail not one +another." And to this they all agreed. +</p> + +<p> +Gallafer, the keeper of the bridge, stood by +the first gate holding a great axe in his hand +that had an edge on every side. He was +a giant of great stature, with fiery eyes and +skin as black as pitch, more like to a devil +than to a man. The Admiral was his nephew, +and loved him greatly, trusting him so that he +made him warder of the bridge and ruler of all +the countryside. +</p> + +<p> +When the French knights came near he +said to them, "Strangers, who are you?" Duke +Richard answered, "We are merchants +who travel to the fairs, Mahomet helping us, +with drapery and other goods for sale. We +would fain tarry awhile at Aygremore; also +we have gifts, many and precious, for the +Admiral. These others that you see are my +servants, and know not your language. Tell +me, therefore, what we had best do and by +what way we should go." Gallafer answered, +"Know now that I am appointed by the +Admiral of Spain to be keeper of this bridge. +And because there have passed over it certain +knights who paid no toll, and also a messenger +who won his way in wonderful fashion across +the river, and slew also my own kinsman King +Clarion, my master has straitly charged me +that I should not by any means suffer any man +to pass the bridge unless he be known to me." When +Gallafer had said so much, Duke Richard +bowed his head to him right courteously, and +having so done, passed through the first gate, +three others, of whom Duke Reyner was one, +following him. +</p> + +<p> +When Gallafer saw them he doubted what +this might mean. "You are overbold," said +he, "to come so far without leave of me." And +he drew up the bridge. "And now," +said he, "do you four surrender yourselves. +I will send you prisoners to my lord the +Admiral, who will deal with you as he shall +please. And now let me see what you have +under your cloaks, for you seem to me to have +some evil design." When he had so spoken +he laid hold of one of the four, and turned him +about four times. Then another, Raoul by +name, who was cousin to him on whom +Gallafer had laid hands, cried, "Why do you +deal so with my kinsmen?" And he struck at +the giant with his sword, but could not hurt +him, save to cut off a portion of his ear. +Thereupon the two dukes, Reyner and +Richard, drawing their swords, smote him +with all their might. But they also availed +nought, for the giant was clad in the skin of +a serpent, that was harder than any coat of +mail. The giant, on the other hand, smote at +Raoul with his axe. But Raoul saw the stroke +coming, and leapt lightly aside, so that the axe +fell and hurt him not; but it cleft a stone of +marble on which it lighted into two parts. +Then said Duke Reyner, "What shall we do +with this giant, for a sword avails nothing +against him?" And he took in his hand the +great branch of a tree, and smote him to the +ground. Thereat the giant made a great and +terrible cry, and the Saracens that followed +him came running. Thereupon Richard let +fall the drawbridge, and the five hundred +sought to pass over it. +</p> + +<p> +But the Saracens met them at the gate, +and there was a great fight, wherein many +were wounded and many slain. Then Duke +Richard sounded his horn three times. When +King Charles heard it he rose up forthwith +from his ambush in the wood, and all the +Frenchmen with him, and made for the bridge +with all the speed they might use. And +foremost of all was Ganelon, that was afterwards +the traitor. Foremost he was, and gallantly +did he bear himself that day. King Charles +also showed himself a good man-at-arms. +They died that day whomsoever he smote +with his good sword Joyous. +</p> + +<p> +The King saw the giant Gallafer on the +ground with his great axe in his hand wherewith +he had slain thirty Frenchmen, and he +commanded that he should be slain, for he yet +breathed. But not yet was the bridge won, +for a great multitude of Saracens came up to +help them that kept it. Among them was a +giant, Amyon by name, who called to King +Charles, saying, "Where is the King? It +were better for him, dotard that he is, to be +at Paris than here." +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard this he dismounted in +great wrath, and ran at the giant, and smote +him with Joyous so rudely that he fell to the +ground nigh cut in twain. At this the Saracens +were not a little confounded. Nevertheless, +they pressed upon the King and his men with +darts and bullets and arrows. Then the King +cried to his lords and knights for help. Many +answered his call; nevertheless he was so hard +pressed that there was scarce any hope left to +him. Then the Duke Richard bade him be of +good cheer, "for," said he, "if every man will +but do his utmost this day we shall not +fail." And he pressed on, and his comrades with +him. Nor did Ganelon hold back, though +there were some that gave him evil counsel, +as Aloys, who said to him, "See, now, how the +King is beset. It were well for us if he should +not find deliverance. Leave him now, and let +us go back to France, where we shall be +masters without contradiction from any +man." But Ganelon answered, "Now, may God +forbid that we should betray our lord, of +whom we hold all that we possess." Aloys +said, "You are but a fool, seeing that you will +not take your revenge when you may." But +Ganelon would have none of his counsel. +</p> + +<p> +As these two were talking, Fierabras came +up, being now healed of his wounds, and asked +where was the King. Aloys answered, "He +is within the gate, and I take it by this time +that he is dead." Fierabras cried, "What do +you standing here? Why do you not help +him in his need?" And he cried out, "Come +all of you to the help of the King!" and a +great multitude of Frenchmen came at his +call. Great deeds did Fierabras that day, and +Ganelon also, so that they two did more than +any other to win the town. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless there yet remained something +to be done. For when Amyot, the giantess +that was wife to Amyon, heard the cry of the +townsfolk, she ran forth from her house, having +a sharp scythe in her hand, and fell upon the +Frenchmen in a great rage, and slew many of +them. When King Charles saw what destruction +she wrought he called for a cross-bow, and +shot a bolt at her, aiming it so nicely that it +struck her between the brows and slew her. +It was seen that as she lay upon the earth she +vomited forth fire from her throat, but she +never moved more. +</p> + +<p> +So the town of Mantryble was won. King +Charles found much treasure therein, which +the Admiral had laid up there, trusting that it +should never be taken. Of this he made a +bountiful distribution to his army, so that all +were well content. This done, he appointed +Havel and Raoul to keep the town, with five +thousand men under them. Also he caused all +his army to be assembled, and went to the top +of a hill to survey them. And when he saw +how many there were—for there were a +hundred thousand men—he thanked God +that had given him such power. And he +made ready to march against the Admiral. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap24"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIV +<br><br> +OF THE END OF BALAN THE ADMIRAL +</h3> + +<p> +Meanwhile it was told Balan that +Gallafer had been slain and the Bridge +Mantryble taken. He was as one out of his +wits with rage, and, crying out to his god +Mahomet that he was accursed and recreant, +he smote the image with a club that he held +in his two hands and brake it down. Nor +was this ill done, seeing that such things are +of no use or profit. Nevertheless Sortibrant +reproved him, and bade him repent of such +injurious deeds. "That cannot I do," answered +the Admiral, "seeing that this Charles has +won my strong city of Mantryble." Sortibrant +said, "Send a spy, Sir Admiral, that you may +know what King Charles is doing; afterwards, +let us march together against him, and if we +prevail over him then shall you hang him and +his people without mercy, and you shall cut off +the head of your son Fierabras, for the help +that he has given your enemies." +</p> + +<p> +This the Admiral said that he would do. +First he humbled himself before his gods, and +vowed that he would offer to them a thousand +pounds of fine gold. This done, he bade the +trumpets sound to gather together the Saracens. +These brought great engines of war with which +to throw great stones against the Tower. And +this they did to such good purpose that they +made three great breaches in the wall by +the least of which a cart might have passed. +But Roland and Oliver stood over with their +shields and stopped the way. Then cried the +Admiral, "Friends, if you would have my +love, do your duty, and bring this Tower to +the ground. Verily, when I shall have taken +it, I will burn with fire this ill daughter of +mine, Floripas." +</p> + +<p> +When they heard these words the Saracens +came on more fiercely than ever. And now the +Frenchmen held but the last portion only of +the Tower. Then Roland bade his comrades +fight with good courage, "or," said he, "we +shall not overlive this day." As for Oliver, +he was for sallying forth. "It were better," +said he, "to fall honourably in the midst of +our enemies than to be done to death in this +place." And Ogier the Dane and other lords +were of the same mind. But Floripas would +not that they should do this. "You promised," +said she, "that you would do nothing against +my will. And I bid you stay within." And +this they did, holding the breaches as best +they might, and driving back the Saracens. +</p> + +<p> +After a while Balan saw his daughter where +she stood at a window with certain of the +knights, and reproached her for her +disobedience, and threatened that he would burn +her with fire. But she answered nothing, +only shook a stick that she had in her hand +as if she would have beaten him. Then the +Saracens, at his bidding, assaulted the Tower +yet more fiercely, and the Frenchmen took +the idols that were in the Tower, images of +Apollo and Mahomet and others, and threw +them down upon the Saracens to their great +damage. When he saw this Balan swooned +with rage, but, coming to himself, bade the +Saracens assault the Tower yet again with +all their might. And this they did so fiercely +that the Frenchmen were well-nigh in despair. +</p> + +<p> +When they were in this strait the Duke +Naymes, going to an upper window in the +Tower, saw the ensign of St. Denis in the +valley beneath, and called to his fellows that +they also should come and see it, "for," said +he, "without doubt the King is coming +to help us." The Saracens also perceived +it; whereupon King Coldro counselled the +Admiral that he should send an army to +hinder him from coming to Aygremore. +</p> + +<p> +That day the King and his army lodged in +the open field, for their tents they had left at +Mantryble. In the morning the King sent +for Fierabras and said to him, "Dear friend, +now that you have been baptized, I love you +better than before. If, then, your father +consents to be baptized and to deny Mahomet +and his false gods I will establish him in his +kingdom, and take not a penny of his goods. +But if he will not, then shall he die without +mercy." And he asked counsel of his Peers +whom he should send with this message to +the Admiral. Said Richard of Normandy, +"Ganelon would do this errand as well as +any man, should he be willing." +</p> + +<p> +So King Charles sent for Ganelon, and +gave him the message to be delivered to the +Admiral; and Ganelon was well content to go. +He armed himself, therefore, and mounted his +horse that was named Gascon, and went his +way. When he came to the valley where the +army of the Saracens lay, the guards laid +hold of him, but perceiving that he carried a +message, straightway let him go. So coming +to the tent wherein the Admiral abode, he +spake with a loud voice: "The noble Charles, +King of France, sends this message: If you +will renounce Mahomet and all false gods and +receive the true faith, you shall keep all your +land and worship, and shall be honoured and +loved of all Christian men. But if you will +not, then you shall surely die." So Ganelon +spoke. But Balan, when he heard these +words, was very wroth, and made as if he +would strike him. Then Ganelon drew his +sword and smote Brullant where he stood by +the Admiral's side, and, leaping on his horse, +rode away. +</p> + +<p> +The Duke Naymes saw him from a window +in the Tower, and said to Roland and Oliver, +"Who is this knight that rides so fast." They +judged that he was none other than +Ganelon, and Roland cried aloud, "God grant +that he fall not into the hands of the +enemy." And as he spoke, Ganelon turned upon the +Saracens, and slew two of them, of whom the +brother of King Sortibrant was one. When +Oliver saw this he said to Roland, "See you +this? That is a good knight. I love him +in my heart. Would God I were with him +where he is." But when the Saracens came +near to the army of the King they left chasing +Ganelon. +</p> + +<p> +When the King knew how his message had +sped he commanded that they should set the +army in array. This they did, parting it into +ten divisions. The Saracens also prepared for +battle. And first Brullant rode forth and +challenged the King to combat; nor did he +hold back. So these two met and the King +slew Brullant, and many other Saracens also. +Nor did the Saracens lack great warriors, such +as King Tenebres, a famous Turk, who slew +John of Pontoise and many others. But him +Duke Richard overthrew; Duke Reyner slew +Sortibrant; and Balan the Admiral slew +Huon of Milan, and went near to slaying +Milon, but that Ganelon and his men saved +him, though not without much damage to +themselves. Nor, indeed, would they have +so prevailed but for the help of Fierabras. +</p> + +<p> +And now the knights that were in the Tower, +seeing the army of their countrymen, came +forth, and taking each man a horse, whose +rider had been slain, charged the Saracens. +These being taken, as it were, both before and +behind, fled, as doves fly before a hawk. And +Balan fled with them, but being overtaken was +made prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral was brought to Charles, +the King said, "Will you forsake your +false gods, who indeed have profited you +nothing, and accept the true faith? If you +will do so, you shall suffer nothing, either in +your person or in your goods." "Nay," said +the Admiral, "that will I not." Then Charles +drew his sword and said, "If you yield not +you die." And Fierabras, kneeling down, +prayed that his father might be spared. Then +Balan consented to be baptized. Nevertheless, +when he came to the font the evil spirit in +him rebelled, and he spat in the font, and went +near to slaying the bishop that should have +christened him; for he took him by the middle, +and would have drowned him in the font. +When the King saw this he said, "Verily this +evil-doer must die." Nevertheless Fierabras +entreated him to have patience, and, turning +to his father, would have persuaded him even +yet to baptism. "Nay," said Balan, "that +will I never do, and you are a fool, my son, +to ask such a thing. Would I were on +horseback; then would I show these villains +what is in my heart." When the King heard +this he said, "Who will slay this fellow?" "That +will I," answered Ogier the Dane, and +he smote off the Admiral's head with a stroke +of his sword. +</p> + +<p> +After this said Floripas to Roland, "Sir +Knight, remember how you promised to help +me to that thing which I most desire." Thereupon +Roland said to Guy of Burgundy, +"Bring to mind the promise which you made +to Floripas, the Admiral's daughter, that you +would take her to wife." "That will I do +right willingly," said Guy, "if the King +consent." +</p> + +<p> +So Floripas was baptized, King Charles +and Duke Thierry being her sponsors, but +her name was not changed. Afterwards the +bishop married her to Guy of Burgundy. +As for Guy he was made King of the land; +part he gave over to Fierabras, who held it +of him; but Charlemagne was overlord of the +whole country. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap25"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXV +<br><br> +HOW GANELON WENT ON AN ERRAND TO KING MARSILAS +</h3> + +<p> +For seven years King Charles the Great +tarried in Spain. He conquered the +whole land from the sea to the mountains, +saving Saragossa only, of which Marsilas, a +heathen, was King. Marsilas called together +his nobles, and said to them, "This King +Charles will be our destruction, for we have no +longer an army wherewith to meet him. Give +me counsel, as wise men should, so that I may +be saved from death or disgrace." +</p> + +<p> +Now the wisest of the heathens was a certain +Blancandrin, a man valiant in war and good at +counsel. "Fear not," said he, "fear not, O +King. Send a message to King Charles +promising him faithful service and friendship. +Send also a present to him. Let there be lions +and bears, and dogs, seven hundred camels, +and a thousand falcons. Send also four +hundred mules laden with gold and silver, +that King Charles may have wherewithal to +pay his soldiers. And tell him that if he will +return to France, you will follow him, and +there, on the Feast of St. Michael, will be +converted to the Christian Faith, and will be his +vassal in all honour. If he ask for hostages, +let him have them, ten or twenty, as he may +desire. See, I offer my own son to be one of +them, whatever may befall him. Better that +they should lose their heads than that we +should lose our lordship and our lands, and be +brought to beg our bread." And all the chiefs +of heathenry said: "It is well; we will willingly +give the hostages." +</p> + +<p> +Blancandrin spake again: "By this right +hand and by this beard I swear that the end +of the matter will be this: You will see the +French raise their camp in all haste and go +back to their own land. On the Feast of +St. Michael King Charles will make a great +entertainment. But when he neither sees you nor +hears any tidings of you, he will fall into a +great rage, and will smite off the heads of the +hostages. If it be so, it is better that they +should lose their heads than that we should +lose this fair land of Spain." And all the +chiefs of heathenry said: "It is well said; so +let it be." +</p> + +<p> +Then said King Marsilas to certain of his +lords—ten they were in number, and these the +most villainous of the whole company—"Take +olive-branches in your hands, and go and say +to King Charles, 'King Marsilas prays you to +have pity upon him. He promises that, before +a month is past he will come with a thousand +loyal followers, and will receive the faith of +Christ, and will become your vassal in all +honour. Also he says, that if you seek for +hostages you shall have them.'" Then the +King gave the ten lords ten white mules, +whereon to ride. They had reins of gold and +saddles of silver. So the ten lords departed +from Saragossa, and came to King Charles at +the city of Cordova. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-232"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-232.jpg" alt="THE AMBASSADORS OF KING MARSILAS."> +<br> +THE AMBASSADORS OF KING MARSILAS. +</p> + +<p> +They found King Charles in great mirth and +joyfulness. He had newly taken the fair city +of Cordova, having broken down the walls +and towers with his engines of war, and with +the city he had taken a great spoil of gold and +silver. Of the people, too, there was not one +but had to make his choice between Christian +baptism and death. Now he was sitting with +his barons in a great orchard. Some played +at cards, and some of the graver sort at chess, +and the young men fenced with each other. +As for the King himself, he was sitting under a +thorn on a great chair of gold, a right noble +man to see, with his long, white beard. When +the heathen ambassadors saw him they lighted +down from their mules, and paid him homage. +Then said their leader, Blancandrin, "Glory to +the name of God! Our master, King Marsilas, +bids us say that, being persuaded that the law +by which you live is the law of salvation, he +would fain win your favour even by the half of +his treasures. He sends therefore lions and +bears, camels and falcons, four hundred mules +laden with gold and silver, wherewith you can +pay all your soldiers. Moreover, he says that +when you shall have returned to your own +country he will follow you thither, and will be +obedient to your law, and do you homage for +his kingdom of Spain." +</p> + +<p> +When King Charles heard these words he +bent his head as one deep in thought. So he +tarried awhile, for his speech was never hasty. +At last he spoke: "You have said well. But +your King has long been my enemy. How +can I trust these promises?" Blancandrin +made answer, "You shall have hostages, Sire—ten, +fifteen, twenty, as you will. My own son +shall be one of them, and the others shall be +of the noblest of the land. So you may rest +assured that at the Feast of St. Michael next +ensuing my master shall come to you at your +palace at Aachen, and shall there consent to +become a Christian." +</p> + +<p> +"He will do well," said King Charles; "'tis +thus only that he shall save his soul." Then +he commanded that the white mules should be +put into stalls, and that a tent should be pitched +in the orchard, and the ambassadors have such +entertainment as was meet. +</p> + +<p> +The day following King Charles rose early, +and having heard mass sent for his nobles, +for he would do nothing without the counsel +of the wise men of France. So the nobles +came, Ogier the Dane among them, and +Turpin the Archbishop, and Count Roland, +and with him Oliver, his closest friend, and +Ganelon, the same that was the traitor. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the King, "My lords, King +Marsilas has sent an embassy to me with many +and rich gifts, lions and bears, and camels, and +abundance of gold and silver. Only he makes +this condition—that I go back to France; and +he promises that he himself will come thither, +even to Aachen, and will there profess himself a +Christian and also do homage for his kingdom. +But whether he speaks the truth, that I know +not. What think you, my lords?" +</p> + +<p> +Then stood up the Count Roland, and said, +"'Twere madness to trust this King Marsilas. +Have we not been in this land of Spain for +now seven years, and has not this King +Marsilas always borne himself as a traitor? +Did he not send fifteen of his heathens each +with an olive-branch in his hand, and did they +not make this same profession for him? You +took counsel of your nobles, and you sent +him—so ill-advised were you—two envoys. What +did King Marsilas? He took their heads from +them. What I counsel, Sire, is, that as you +have begun this war, so you carry it to an end. +Lead your army to Saragossa, lay siege to it, +spend, if need be, the rest of your days before +it, but take vengeance for the brave men whom +King Marsilas did to death." +</p> + +<p> +King Charles sat with his head bowed, and +spake no word good or bad. Then rose up +Ganelon, and said, "Sire, I would have you +take no advice, except it be to your own +advantage. King Marsilas has sent to you, +saying that he is ready to profess our faith and +to hold the kingdom of Spain as your vassal. +He who would have you refuse such an offer +knows nothing of business affairs. Counsels +of pride are not for mortal men. Have done +with folly, and listen to the words of the wise." +</p> + +<p> +Then stood up the Duke of Bavaria; snowy +white was his beard and hair. King Charles +had no better counsellor than he. "Sire," said +he, "Ganelon has given you good advice. +You will do well to follow it. You have +conquered King Marsilas in this war, taken +his castles, broken down his walls, burnt his +towns, and put his armies to flight. Now he +begs for mercy from you. Surely 'twere a +crime to ask too much. Remember, too, that +he is ready to give you hostages. Send one of +your nobles to treat with him, for indeed it is +time this war should have an end." So spake +the Duke of Bavaria, and all the men of France +cried out, "The Duke has spoken well." +</p> + +<p> +"But," said King Charles, "whom shall we +send?" "I will go," answered the Duke, "if it +so please you. Give me the gauntlet and the +staff an ambassador should have." "Not so," +said King Charles, "you shall not go. I would +not have so wise a counsellor so far away. Sit +you down. 'Tis my command"; and he spake +again, "Whom shall we send to King Marsilas, +my lords?" "I will go," cried Count Roland. +"Nay," said Oliver, "you are of too fiery and +fierce a spirit. I fear that you would but +ill-manage such a business. 'Tis better that I +should go, if it so please the King." "Be +silent, both of you," said the King, "neither of +you shall have a hand in this matter. By this +white beard of mine, I declare that no one of +the Twelve Peers shall go on this embassage." +</p> + +<p> +Then stood up Turpin the Archbishop. +"Sire," said he, "you have been in this land +of Spain now seven years, and your nobles +have suffered for your sake many labours and +sorrows. Give me the gauntlet and the staff; I +will go to this Saracen, and say somewhat to +him after my own fashion." +</p> + +<p> +But Charles answered him in great anger. +"By this beard you shall not do it. Sit you +down again, and speak not till I bid you. And +now," he went on, "my lords, choose you for +yourselves one who shall go on this errand. +Let him be a man of counsel, who can deal a +blow also, if need should be." +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Count Roland: "Whom +should we choose but Ganelon? You cannot +find a better than he." And all the men of +France cried: "It is right that he should go, if +the King will have it so." +</p> + +<p> +Said King Charles to Ganelon: "Come +hither, Ganelon, and take this gauntlet and +this staff. The voice of the men of France +has chosen you. You heard it." But Ganelon +liked not the matter at all. "This is Roland's +doing," he cried. "Never, so long as I live, +will I love Roland again, no, nor Oliver, for +that he is Roland's friend, nor any one of the +Twelve Peers, for that they also love Roland. +Here, under your eyes, Sir King, I defy them +all." "It profits not to be angry," cried King +Charles. "If I bid you, you must go." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes," answered Ganelon; "I perceive +that I must go to Saragossa, and he that +goes thither comes not back. Remember, +Sire, that I have your sister to wife. We +have one son; a fairer child you could not +see. One day, so he live, he will be a gallant +knight. I leave him my lands. Have a care +for him, I entreat you, for I shall never see +him more." "You have too soft a heart," +said King Charles. "If I bid you, you +must go." +</p> + +<p> +Ganelon was in great trouble of mind. He +turned him to Roland, and said, "What means +your wrath against me? 'Tis you, as all men +know, that have put on me this errand to King +Marsilas. 'Tis well. But know that if God +suffer me to return, I will bring upon you such +trouble and sorrow that you shall remember it +all the days of your life." "This is but folly," +answered Roland. "All the world knows that +I care nothing for your threats. Nevertheless, +seeing that there is need of a wise man to take +this message of the King's, I am ready to go +in your stead." +</p> + +<p> +"You shall not go," answered Ganelon. +"You are not my vassal, nor am I your +lord. I will go to Saragossa, to King +Marsilas. But be sure that there will be +something wherewith I may solace myself." When +Roland heard this he laughed aloud, +and Ganelon grew so full of anger that his +heart was fain to burst. "I hate you," said +he to Roland,—"I hate you! for you have +made this evil choice light on me." But to +Charles he said. "Behold me, Sire, I am +ready to do your will." +</p> + +<p> +"Ganelon," said the King, "listen to me. +Say to King Marsilas, that if he will come +and own himself to be my vassal and receive +holy baptism, I will give him half the kingdom +of Spain; the other half is for Count Roland. +But if he will not do this thing, then I will lay +siege to his city of Saragossa, and when I shall +have taken it I will bring him by force to my +city of Aachen, and will pass judgment on him +and he shall end his days in sorrow and shame. +Take this letter, which bears my seal, and give +it into the King's right hand." So saying he +reached out the gauntlet to Ganelon with his +right hand. But when Ganelon reached out +and would have taken it, it fell to the ground. +"This is an ill starting," said the men of +France, "this message will be the beginning +of many troubles." "You shall hear of them +in good time," answered Ganelon. To King +Charles he said, "Sire, give me leave to +depart, since I must needs go, 'twere well to +lose no time." "Go," said the King, "for +our Lord Christ's honour and for mine." And +with his right hand he made the sign of the +cross, and gave him absolution. At the same +time he gave him the ambassador's staff and +the letter. +</p> + +<p> +Then Ganelon went to his house and clad +himself in his finest armour. On his feet he +fixed his spurs of gold, and by his side he +bound his good sword Murgleis, and he +mounted his charger Tachebrun. His uncle +Guinemer held the stirrup for him. Many +gallant knights wept to see him go. "O Sir," +they cried, "this is an ill return for all the +service that you have done to the King. +Never should Count Roland have had such +a thought. Send us, my lord, in your stead." +</p> + +<p> +"Nay," answered Ganelon. "Why should +I doom so many gallant men? Let me rather +die alone. Do you, my friends, go back to +fair France. Carry my greetings to my wife +and to my son. Keep him safe, and see that +his possessions suffer no loss." So saying, he +went on his way to Saragossa. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap26"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXVI +<br><br> +THE TREASON OF GANELON +</h3> + +<p> +Before he had travelled far, Ganelon +overtook the Saracen ambassadors, and, +indeed, Blancandrin had delayed his journey +that this might be so. Said the Saracen, +"What a wonderful man is your King Charles! +He has conquered Italy, and New Rome and +Germany, and is ready to lay his hands on +England. But why is he bent on persecuting +us?" "Such is his will," answered Ganelon, +"and there is no man of such stature as to be +able to contend with him." "You are brave +men, you lords of France," said Blancandrin, +"but you serve your master ill when you give +him such counsel. You will bring him to +destruction, and many others with him." "Nay," +said Ganelon. "I am not one that +deserves such blame, nor indeed does any man +deserve it, except Roland only. Of a truth +this will bring him to shame at the last. Now +listen to me. The other day the King was +sitting under a tree when Roland came to him +clad in his cuirass. He had taken great spoil +at the town of Carcassonne. In his hand he +had an apple. Take this," said he to his +uncle the King. "As I cast this apple at your +feet so will I cast at your feet the crowns of all +the Kings of the earth. Such pride must +surely have a fall. Every day he exposes +himself to death. I would that some one +would slay him. We shall never have peace +but at the price of his life." +</p> + +<p> +Blancandrin answered, "This Roland must +be hard of heart if he would subdue every +nation and lay his hands upon every country. +But on whom does he count to help him in +so vast an enterprise?" "He relies on the +French," said Ganelon. "There is nothing that +he refuses them, neither gold, nor silver, nor +chargers, nor mules, nor silk, nor armour. To +the King himself he gives as much as he +desires. I doubt not that he will conquer +the world even as far as the sun rising." +</p> + +<p> +The Saracen cast his eyes on Ganelon, and +saw that he was of a fair countenance, but +had an evil look. And Ganelon, when the +Saracen's eyes were upon him, felt his whole +body tremble from head to foot. Blancandrin +said, "Are you minded to revenge yourself on +this Roland? If you be, deliver him up to us. +King Marsilas is a right generous giver, and +will willingly share his treasures with you." Thus +the two talked together, and by the time +that they came to Saragossa they had agreed +together to seek the means by which Roland +might come by his death. +</p> + +<p> +The King of Spain was sitting under a +pine-tree on a throne that was covered with silk +of Alexandria. There were thousands of his +people around him, but not a word was said, +so greatly did they all desire to hear the +tidings that Ganelon and Blancandrin might +be bringing with them. +</p> + +<p> +Blancandrin came forward and stood before +King Marsilas holding Ganelon by the right +hand, and said, "In the name of the Prophet, +health, O King. We delivered your message +to King Charles. He lifted his hands to the +sky and gave thanks to God, but he made no +other answer. Nevertheless he has sent to +you one of his chief nobles, who is a great +man in France. 'Tis from him you will hear +whether you will have peace or no." "Let +him speak," said the King, "and we will listen." +</p> + +<p> +Ganelon stood a while, thinking within +himself. Then he began to speak, nor could +any one have spoken better. "Health, O +King, in the name of God, the God of Glory, +to whom all honour is due. Hear now what +King Charles commands. You must receive +the Christian Faith. Then will he grant unto +you half of the land of Spain to be held of him. +The other half he grants to the Count Roland. +Verily you will have a proud companion! If +this please you not, then he will lay siege to +Saragossa, will take you captive and carry you +to Aachen, where he has his Imperial Throne. +There shall sentence be pronounced upon you, +and you will end your days in shame." +</p> + +<p> +The King's face was changed with anger +when he heard these words. He had a gilded +staff in his hand, and would have struck +Ganelon therewith, but that by good fortune +his people held him back. When Ganelon +saw it, he drew his sword two fingers' breadth +out of the scabbard. "Sword," he said, "thou +art fair and bright. So long as I have thee in +my hands the King of France shall not say +that I perished alone in the land of strangers; +no verily, but their best warriors shall have +paid for my death with their blood." +</p> + +<p> +And now King Marsilas had been persuaded +to sit down again on his throne. "You had +put yourself in evil case," said his Vizier to him, +"had you struck this Frenchman. Rather you +must listen to his words." +</p> + +<p> +"Sire," said Ganelon, "I will put up with +this affront, but never will I consent, for all the +treasures that there are in this land, nay, not +for all the gold that God has made, not to +speak the words that King Charles has +commanded me to speak." And he threw to the +ground his mantle of sable, covered with silk +of Alexandria; but his sword he kept, holding +its hilt in his right hand. "This is a noble +baron," said the heathen chiefs. +</p> + +<p> +Then Ganelon spoke the same words as +before, and when he had ended them, he gave +King Charles's letter into the King's hand. +Now King Marsilas was a scholar, having learnt +in the schools of the heathen. So when he had +broken the seal of the letter, he read it from +end to end; and having read it, the tears came +into his eyes with rage, and he pulled his beard, +and cried with a loud voice, "Listen, my lords, +to this foolishness. Charles, who is King of +France, bids me remember the two ambassadors +whom I beheaded, and commands me, if I +would redeem my life, to send him my Vizier. +If I fail in this, he will be my enemy for ever." +</p> + +<p> +All held their peace save the King's son, +who cried, "Ganelon has spoken as a fool +speaks; verily he deserves to die. Deliver him +to me, and I will deal with him." +</p> + +<p> +But Ganelon drew his sword, and stood with +his back to a pine. King Marsilas stood up +from his throne, and went into the orchard hard +by, bidding the chief of his counsellors follow +him. When they were assembled there, Blancandrin +said to the King, "You do ill to deal +harshly with Ganelon. He has pledged his +faith to serve us." "Bring him hither," said +the King. So Blancandrin brought him before +the King, holding him by the right hand. +</p> + +<p> +"My lord Ganelon," said Marsilas, "I was +ill-advised when in my anger I sought to strike +you. I would make amends for the wrong with +these skins of martens which I have purchased +this very day. They are worth more than five +hundred pieces of gold." Then the King hung +them about Ganelon's neck. "I accept them," +said he; "may God Himself make it up to +you for your bounty!" +</p> + +<p> +Said the King, "Believe me, Ganelon, that +I greatly desire to be your friend. Come, now, +tell me about Charlemagne. He is an old man, +is he not? One who has lived his life? He +must be two hundred years old. Over how +many countries he has passed! and how many +blows has he taken on his shield, and what +mighty kings has he brought to beg their +bread! When, think you, will he be tired of +waging war? Surely 'tis time that he should +be taking rest at Aachen." +</p> + +<p> +Ganelon answered, "You do not know King +Charles the Great. No man is a better knight +than he, so say all that know him. As for +myself, I cannot praise him enough; I had +rather die than cease to be one of his barons. +But for his ceasing to make war, that cannot +be so long as Roland lives. There is no such +knight in all the East. A right valiant warrior, +too, is Roland's companion, Oliver; right valiant +are the Twelve Peers also. Of a truth King +Charles need fear no man alive." +</p> + +<p> +"But," answered the King, "there is no +people that can be compared with mine. Four +hundred thousand horsemen I have with whom +to fight against King Charles and his +Frenchmen." "Yet," said Ganelon, "it is not thus +that you will answer him. Rather will you lose +thousands and thousands of your soldiers. +Listen now to my counsel. Give the King +money in abundance; give him hostages. Then +he will go back to France, and so going he will +leave behind him his rearguard. In the +rearguard I know well will be Roland, his nephew, +and Oliver, who is Roland's companion. And +being there, they are doomed to die. So will +the great pride of King Charles have a fall. +Never again will he rise to wage war against +you." +</p> + +<p> +"Ganelon," said the King, "tell us more +plainly yet how I shall slay this Roland." Ganelon +answered, "He and twenty thousand +men of France will be in the rear of the King's +army. It is your part, my lord, to gather your +whole host. Send against them first a hundred +thousand of your Saracens. I do not deny +that they will be destroyed, but, on the other +hand, the men of France will receive great +damage. Then engage them in a second +battle. It is not possible that Roland should +escape both from one and from the other. +And if he be slain, then you have taken from +King Charles his right hand. France will have +no more her marvellous armies; never again +will King Charles lead such hosts into battle. +So Spain will at last have peace." +</p> + +<p> +"Swear that this shall be," said the King; +and Ganelon swore that it should be on his +sword Murgleis. Then they brought to the +King a great book in which was written the +law of Mahomet, and the King made a great +oath upon it, that if by any means it could be +so ordered, Roland should die and the Twelve +Peers with him. "May our purpose be +accomplished!" cried Ganelon. +</p> + +<p> +Then the chiefs of the heathen came one +after another to Ganelon with gifts in their +hands. First came a certain Valdabrun. "Take +this sword," he said; "no man has a better. +The pommel and hilt are worth a thousand +crowns. Let it be the pledge of our friendship. +Only help us to bring Roland to his death." "It +shall be done," said Ganelon. +</p> + +<p> +Then came one Chimborin. "Take this +helmet," he said; "no man has a better. +See this great carbuncle that glitters on the +vizor. Only help us to slay Roland." "It +shall be done," said Ganelon. +</p> + +<p> +Then came Queen Branimonde. "Sir," said +she, "I regard you greatly. My lord and all +his people much esteem you. I would send +to your wife two bracelets. They are of +amethysts, rubies, and gold. Your King has +not, I well know, the like." Ganelon took the +bracelets from her hand, and he stowed them +in his riding-boot. +</p> + +<p> +King Marsilas said to his treasurer, "Have +you made ready the presents that I purpose +to send to King Charles?" The treasurer +answered, "They are ready: seven hundred +camels laden with gold and silver, and twenty +hostages, the noblest in the land." +</p> + +<p> +And now the King would bid farewell to +Ganelon. "I love you much," said he. "You +shall not fail to have the best of my treasures, +if you will only help me against Roland. Now +I give you ten mules' burden of gold of Arabia, +and every year you shall have the like. And +now take the keys of this city, and give them +to King Charles; when you present these +treasures to him deliver to him also these +twenty hostages, only see that Roland be put +in the rearguard." "'Tis my thought," cried +Ganelon, "that I tarry here too long." Thereupon +he mounted his horse and rode away. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap27"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXVII +<br><br> +OF THE PLOT AGAINST ROLAND +</h3> + +<p> +And now King Charles had come on his +homeward journey to the city of Volterra +(Count Roland had taken it and laid it in ruins +three years before). There he awaited Ganelon +and the tribute of Spain, and before many days +had passed the traitor came. "Sire," said he, +"I greet you in the name of God. I bring you +the keys of Saragossa, also great treasure which +King Marsilas has sent you, and twenty hostages, +the noblest in the land. King Marsilas also +bids me say that he is not to be blamed because +he does not send the Vizier. The Vizier, with +many thousands of armed men, took ship—I +saw them with my own eyes—because they +were not content to accept the law of Christ. +But before they had sailed four leagues, there +came suddenly upon them a great storm of +wind, so that their ships sank. You will never +see them more, for they were all drowned. As +for the King himself, you may rest assured that +before this month is spent he will follow you +to France, and that he will receive the law of +Christ, and will become your vassal holding +the kingdom of Spain from you." "Thanks +be to God for all these blessings," cried the +King. And to Ganelon he said, "You have +served me well, and shall have due recompense." +</p> + +<p> +Then the trumpets sounded, and the army +went on its way to France. That night the +King had a certain dream in his sleep. He +thought that he stood in the pass of Cizra, +holding in his hand an ashen spear, and that +Ganelon laid hold of it and shook it in such +a fashion that it was broken into a thousand +pieces, and the fragments flew up to the sky. +After this he had another dream. He was in +his chapel at his city of Aachen, and a bear bit +him so cruelly on the right arm that the flesh +was broken even to the bone. After the bear +there came a leopard from the Ardennes, which +made as if it would attack him. And lo! a +greyhound came forth from the hall, and ran +to him with great bounds. First the greyhound +laid hold of the bear by the right ear, and then +it assailed the leopard furiously. "'Tis a great +fight," cried they who stood by, but no one +knew who would prevail. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the King called his lords +together. "You see," said he, "these narrow +passes. Whom shall I place to command the +rearguard? Choose you a man yourselves." Said +Ganelon, "Whom should we choose but +my son-in-law, Count Roland? You have no +man in your host so valiant. Of a truth he +will be the salvation of France." The King +said when he heard these words, "What ails +you, Ganelon? You look like to one possessed. +But tell me—who shall command my vanguard?" "Let +Ogier the Dane be the man," answered +Ganelon. "There is no one who could acquit +himself better." +</p> + +<p> +When Count Roland knew what was proposed +concerning him, he spake out as a true +knight should speak. "I am right thankful to +you, my father-in-law, that you have caused +me to be put in this place. Of a truth the +King of France shall lose nothing by my +means, neither charger, nor mule, nor +pack-horse, nor beast of burden." "You speak +truly," said Ganelon; "I know it well." Then +Roland turned to him again, and said, "Villain +that you are, and come of a race of villainy, +did you think perchance that I should let the +gauntlet fall, as you let it fall when you would +have taken it from the King?" +</p> + +<p> +Then Roland turned to the King and said, +"Give me the bow that you hold in your hand. +It shall not fall from my hand as the gauntlet +fell when Ganelon would have taken it from +your hand." The King said to Roland, +"Nephew, I will gladly give you the half of +my army. That will provide for your safety +without fail." "Not so, my lord," answered +Roland, "I need no such multitude. Give me +twenty thousand only, so they be men of +valour, and I will keep the passes in all safety. +So long as I shall live, you need fear no man." +</p> + +<p> +Then Roland mounted his horse. With +him were Oliver his comrade, and Otho and +Berenger, and Gerard of Roussillon, an aged +warrior, and others, men of renown. And +Turpin the Archbishop cried, "By my head, +I will go also." So they chose twenty thousand +warriors with whom to keep the passes. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King Charles had entered the +valley of Roncesvalles, his vanguard being led +by Ogier the Dane. High were the mountains +on either side of the way, and the valleys were +gloomy and dark. But when they had passed +through the valley, then they saw the fair land +of Gascony, and as they saw it they thought +of their homes and their wives and daughters. +There was not one of them but wept for very +tenderness of heart. But of all that company +there was none sadder of heart than the King +himself, when he thought how he had left his +nephew Count Roland behind him in the +passes of Spain. Duke Naymes, who rode +beside him, said, "What troubles you?" "There +is cause enough," answered Charles. +"I fear me much that this Ganelon will be the +ruin of France. Did he not cause me to leave +Roland behind me in the passes? And if I +lose my nephew when shall I find his like +again?" And he told the Duke of his dream, +how Ganelon had broken the spear that he +held in his hands. +</p> + +<p> +And now King Marsilas began to gather his +army. He laid a strict command on all his +nobles and chiefs that they should bring with +them to Saragossa as many men as they could +gather together. And when they were come +to the city, it being the third day from the +issuing of the King's command, they saluted +the great image of Mahomet, the false prophet +that stood on the topmost tower. This done +they went forth from the city gates. They +made all haste, marching across the mountains +and valleys of Spain till they came in sight of +the Standard of France, where Roland and +Oliver and the Twelve Peers were ranged in +battle array. +</p> + +<p> +The nephew of King Marsilas rode to the +front of the army and said to his uncle, "Sire, +I have served you faithfully, enduring much +labour and trouble, fighting many battles, and +winning not a few victories. And now all the +reward that I ask is that you suffer me to +smite down this Roland. I will slay him with +the point of my spear if Mahomet will help +me. So shall I deliver Spain from the enemy, +these Frenchmen will give themselves up to +you, and you shall have no more wars all the +days of your life." +</p> + +<p> +When King Marsilas heard these words, he +reached out his hand, and gave his gauntlet to +his nephew. Then said the young man, "You +have given me a noble gift, my uncle. Now +choose me eleven of your nobles, and we will +fight with the Twelve Peers of France." +</p> + +<p> +The first that came forth to offer himself for +the battle was Fausseron, the King's brother. +"My lord nephew," said he, "we will go +together, you and I—between us we shall win +this victory. Woe to King Charles's +rearguard. We will destroy it to a man." +</p> + +<p> +The next that stood up was Corsablis, King +of Barbary. He was an evil man and a +treacherous, but that day he spoke as a loyal +vassal of the King. "This is no time," he +said, "for drawing back. If I find Roland, I +will attack him without delay." After him rose +nine other chiefs, till the number of champions +was accomplished, twelve against the Twelve +Peers of France. +</p> + +<p> +The Saracen champions donned their coats +of mail, of double substance most of them, and +they set upon their heads helmets of Saragossa +of well-tempered metal, and they girded +themselves with swords of Vienna. Fair were their +shields to view, their lances were from Valentia, +their standards were of white, blue, and red. +Their mules they left with their servants, and, +mounting their chargers, so moved forwards. +Fair was the day and bright the sun, as their +armour flashed in the light and the drums were +beaten so loudly that the Frenchmen heard the +sound. +</p> + +<p> +Said Oliver to Roland, "Comrade, methinks +we shall soon do battle with the Saracens." "God +grant it," answered Roland. "'Tis our +duty to hold the place for the King, and we +will do it, come what may. As for me, I will +not set an ill example." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap28"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXVIII +<br><br> +HOW THE HEATHEN AND THE FRENCH PREPARED FOR BATTLE +</h3> + +<p> +Oliver climbed to the top of a hill, and +saw from thence the whole army of the +heathen. He cried to Roland his companion, +"I hear a great sound of men coming by way +of Spain, and I see the flashing of arms. We +men of France shall have no small trouble +therefrom. This is the doing of Ganelon the +traitor." +</p> + +<p> +"Be silent," answered Roland, "till you +shall know; say no more about him." +</p> + +<p> +Oliver looked from the hilltop, and saw how +the Saracens came on. So many there were +that he could not count their battalions. He +descended to the plain with all speed, and +came to the array of the French, and said, "I +have seen more heathen than man ever yet +saw together upon the earth. There are a +hundred thousand at the least. We shall have +such a battle with them as has never before +been fought. My brethren of France, quit you +like men, be strong; stand firm that you be +not conquered." And all the army shouted +with one voice, "Cursed be he that shall fly." +</p> + +<p> +Then Oliver turned to Roland, and said, +"Sound your horn, my friend, Charles will +hear it, and will return." "I were a fool," +answered Roland, "so to do. Not so; but I +will deal these heathen some mighty blows +with Durendal my sword. They have been +ill-advised to venture into these passes. I +swear that they are condemned to death one +and all." +</p> + +<p> +After a while, Oliver said again, "Friend +Roland, sound your horn of ivory. Then will +the King return, and bring his army with him, +to our help." But Roland answered again, +"I will not do dishonour to my kinsmen, or to +the fair land of France. I have my sword; +that shall suffice for me. These evil-minded +heathen are gathered together against us to +their own hurt. Surely not one of them shall +escape from death." "As for me," said +Oliver, "I see not where the dishonour would +be. I saw the valleys and the mountains +covered with the great multitude of Saracens. +Theirs is, in truth, a mighty array, and we are +but few." "So much the better," answered +Roland. "It makes my courage grow. 'Tis +better to die than to be disgraced. And +remember, the harder our blows the more the +King will love us." +</p> + +<p> +Roland was brave, but Oliver was wise. +"Consider," he said, "comrade. These +enemies are over-near to us, and the King +over-far. Were he here, we should not be in +danger; but there are some here to-day who +will never fight in another battle." +</p> + +<p> +Then Turpin the Archbishop struck spurs +into his horse, and rode to a hilltop. Then +he turned to the men of France, and spake: +"Lords of France, King Charles has left us +here; our King he is, and it is our duty to die +for him. To-day our Christian Faith is in +peril: do ye fight for it. Fight ye must; be +sure of that, for there under your eyes are the +Saracens. Confess, therefore, your sins, and +pray to God that He have mercy upon you. +And now for your soul's health I will give you +all absolution. If you die, you will be God's +martyrs, every one of you, and your places are +ready for you in His Paradise." +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the men of France dismounted, +and knelt upon the ground, and the Archbishop +blessed them in God's name. "But look," +said he, "I set you a penance—smite these +pagans." Then the men of France rose to +their feet. They had received absolution, and +were set free from all their sins, and the +Archbishop had blessed them in the name of God. +After this they mounted their swift steeds, and +clad themselves in armour, and made +themselves ready for the battle. +</p> + +<p> +Said Roland to Oliver, "Brother, you know +that it is Ganelon who has betrayed us. Good +store he has had of gold and silver as a reward; +'tis the King Marsilas that has made merchandise +of us, but verily it is with our swords +that he shall be paid." So saying, he rode on +to the pass, mounted on his good steed Veillantif. +His spear he held with the point to the sky; +a white flag it bore with fringes of gold which +fell down to his hands. A stalwart man was +he, and his countenance was fair and smiling. +Behind him followed Oliver, his friend; and +the men of France pointed to him, saying, +"See our champion!" Pride was in his eye +when he looked towards the Saracens; but to +the men of France his regard was all sweetness +and humility. Full courteously he spake to +them: "Ride not so fast, my lords," he said; +"verily these heathen are come hither, seeking +martyrdom. 'Tis a fair spoil that we shall +gather from them to-day. Never has King of +France gained any so rich." And as he spake, +the two hosts came together. +</p> + +<p> +Said Oliver, "You did not deem it fit, my +lord, to sound your horn. Therefore you lack +the help which the King would have sent. +Not his the blame, for he knows nothing of +what has chanced. But do you, lords of +France, charge as fiercely as you may, and +yield not one whit to the enemy. Think upon +these two things only—how to deal a straight +blow and to take it. And let us not forget +King Charles's cry of battle." Then all the +men of France with one voice cried out, +"Mountjoy!" He that heard them so cry +had never doubted that they were men of +valour. Proud was their array as they rode +on to battle, spurring their horses that they +might speed the more. And the Saracens, +on their part, came forward with a good heart. +Thus did the Frenchmen and the heathen meet +in the shock of battle. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap29"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIX +<br><br> +THE BATTLE +</h3> + +<p> +The first that rode forth from the array +of the heathen was Ælroth, nephew to +King Marsilas. Good were his arms, and his +horse was both swift and strong. Grievous +were the reproaches that he uttered against +the men of France. "Are you come," said +he, "ye robbers of France, to fight with us +to-day? Know ye not that he who should +have helped you has betrayed you? Verily, +a fool was your Emperor to leave you in these +passes, for the honour of fair France has +perished to-day, and the great Charles has +lost, as it were, the right arm from his body. +So shall Spain have peace at last." +</p> + +<p> +Roland heard these words with great grief +in his heart. He spurred his steed with spurs +of gold, and smote the heathen warrior with all +his might. He brake his shield in twain, and +severed the mail of his hauberk, and clave his +body into two parts. A mighty stroke it was, +and Roland cried aloud as he dealt it, "Learn +now, thou wretch, that King Charles knows +well what he does. He loves not treason or +traitors. It was well done of him to leave us +in these passes. France shall have no loss of +honour this day. Strike, men of France, +strike! The first blood is for us; these dogs +of heathen shall suffer for their misdeeds." +</p> + +<p> +Then came forth a Duke from the host of the +Saracens, brother to King Marsilas, Fausseron +by name. Never was a man on the earth more +insolent and villainous. When he saw that his +nephew was dead it cut him to the heart. He +rushed out of the crowd, and, shouting out the +battle-cry of the heathen, hurled himself on the +ranks of France. "Fair France," said he, +"shall lose her honour this day." Great was +the rage of Oliver when he heard these +mischievous words. He struck his spurs of gold +into his charger's flanks, and smote Fausseron +with a right knightly blow. His shield he +shore in twain, and burst the links of his +hauberk, and hurled him dead from his saddle. +"Lie there," he said. "Who cares for thy +threats, thou coward!" And, turning to the +Frenchmen, he cried, "Strike, friends, strike! and +we shall conquer the enemy. <i>Mountjoy!</i> 'Tis +the King's own battle-cry!" +</p> + +<p> +Then came forth another King, Corsablis +by name. From the distant land of Barbary +he came. He cried to his fellows in the army +of the heathen, "Easily can we bear up the +battle. Few are these Frenchmen, and of no +account. Not a man of them shall escape, nor +shall Charles their King help them. Verily +the day has come for them to die." Turpin +the Archbishop heard him—not one was there +in all the heathen host whom Turpin more +hated—and charged him, spear in hand, and +bore him dead to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Full many of the heathen warriors fell that +day. Not one of the Twelve Peers of France +but slew his man. But of all none bare +himself so valiantly as Roland. Many a blow did +he deal to the enemy with his mighty spear, +and when the spear was shivered in his hand, +fifteen warriors having fallen before it, then he +seized his good sword Durendal, and smote +man after man to the ground. Red was he +with the blood of his enemies. Red was his +hauberk, red his arms, red his shoulders, +aye, and the neck of his horse. Not one of +the Twelve lingered in the rear, or was slow +to strike, but Count Roland was the bravest of +the brave. "Well done, Sons of France!" +cried Turpin the Archbishop, when he saw +them lay on in such sort. +</p> + +<p> +Next to Roland for valour and hardihood +came Oliver, his companion. Many a heathen +warrior did he slay, till at last his spear was +shivered in his hand. "What are you doing, +comrade?" cried Roland, when he was aware +of the mishap. "A man wants no staff in +such a battle as this. 'Tis the steel and nothing +else that he must have. Where is your sword +Hautclere, with its hilt of gold and its pommel +of crystal?" "On my word," said Oliver. +"I have not had time to draw it; I was so +busy with striking." But as he spake he drew +the good sword from its scabbard, and smote a +heathen knight, Justin of the Iron Valley. A +mighty blow it was, cleaving the man in twain +down to his saddle—aye, and the saddle itself +with its adorning of gold and jewels, and the +very backbone also of the steed whereon he +rode, so that horse and man fell dead together +on the plains. "Well done!" cried Roland; +"you are a true brother of mine. 'Tis such +strokes as this that makes the Emperor love us." +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, for all the valour of Roland +and his fellows the battle went hardly with the +men of France. Many lances were shivered, +many flags torn, and many gallant youths cut +off in their prime. Never more would they +see mother and wife. It was an ill deed that +the traitor Ganelon wrought when he sold his +fellows to King Marsilas! +</p> + +<p> +And now there befell a new trouble. King +Almaris, with a great host of heathen, coming +by an unknown way, fell upon the rear of the +host where there was another pass. Fiercely +did the noble Walter that kept the same charge +the new-comers, but they overpowered him and +his followers. He was wounded with four +several lances, and four times did he swoon, +so that at the last he was constrained to leave +the field of battle, that he might call the Count +Roland to his aid. But small was the aid +which Roland could give him or any one. +Valiantly he held up the battle, and with him +Oliver, and Turpin the Archbishop, and others +also; but the lines of the men of France were +broken, and their armour thrust through, and +their spears shivered, and their flags trodden in +the dust. For all this they made such slaughter +among the heathen that King Almaris, who +led the armies of the enemy, scarcely could +win back his way to his own people, wounded +in four places and sorely spent. A right good +warrior was he; had he but been a Christian +but few had matched him in battle! +</p> + +<p> +He came to King Marsilas, where he stood +among his princes, and fell at his feet; for +indeed there was no strength left in him. "To +horse!" he cried, "my lord, to horse! You +will find the men of France worn out with the +slaughter that they have wrought among us. +Their spears are shivered and their swords +broken; a full half of them are dead, and they +that are left have no strength remaining in +them. It will cost you but little to take +vengeance for the multitudes whom they have +slain. Believe me, my lord, these Frenchmen +are ready to be conquered." +</p> + +<p> +Then King Marsilas bade his host advance. +A mighty army it was, divided into twenty +columns, and the trumpets sounded the charge. +Never was heard such a din in the land! +"Oliver, my comrade," said Roland, when he +heard it, "this traitor Ganelon has sworn our +death. But if he compass it, surely our King +will take a terrible vengeance. But as for us, +we must do our duty as good knights, for +verily this battle will be no child's play. Strike +thou with thy sword Hautclere, and I will +strike with my sword Durendal. Many a time +have we wielded them side by side; many a +victory have we won with them. Verily if we +fall this day, these pagans shall not despise us." +</p> + +<p> +The Archbishop, on his part, spake words +of comfort to his people. "Let no one think +of flight," he said; "never shall these heathen +make songs upon us. 'Tis better far to die +in battle. And if we die, as well may be, +there is this of which I can assure you: the +gates of Paradise shall be open to you. +To-morrow, if so it be, you shall have a place +among the saints." Then the men of France +took fresh courage and made themselves ready +for the battle. +</p> + +<p> +King Marsilas said to his people, "Listen +to me. This Roland is a great warrior; it will +be no easy thing to conquer him. One battle +we have fought against him and not prevailed; +now will we fight another; if need be, and +you will follow me, we will fight even a third. +Of these twenty columns ten shall set themselves +in array against the men of France, and +ten shall remain with me. As I live, before +this day is over, the power of King Charles +shall be broken." So saying he gave a +banner, richly embroidered, to the Emir +Grandoigne; "Lead your men against the French," +said he; "this shall be your warrant from me." +</p> + +<p> +So the King abode where he was on the +hilltop, but Grandoigne descended into the +plain, having his banner carried before him. +"To horse!" he cried, and the trumpets +sounded, and the host moved on to the battle. +And the French cried when they saw it, "Now +what shall we do? Curses on this traitor +Ganelon, who has sold us to the heathen!" But +Turpin the Archbishop bade them be of +good courage. "Bear you as men!" said he, +"and God shall give you the crown of glory +in Paradise. Only know that into Paradise a +coward can in nowise come." "So be it," +said the men of France, "we are few indeed, +but we will not fail of our duty." +</p> + +<p> +The first to charge from out of the ranks +of the heathen was Chimborin, the same that +had given to Ganelon the helmet with the +great carbuncle on the vizor. His horse, +Barbemouche by name, was swifter than a +sparrow-hawk or a swallow. He rode at full +speed, levelling his lance at Engelier the +Gascon, and smote him through shield and +hauberk so stoutly that the spear stood out +of his body on the other side. "These Frenchmen +are easy to conquer," he cried. "Strike, +comrades, strike, and break their rank!" But +all the Frenchmen cried out, "This is a grievous +thing that so brave a warrior should be slain!" +</p> + +<p> +Said Roland to Oliver, "Comrade, see +Engelier the Gascon is slain; we had no +braver knight in the host." "God grant that I +may avenge him," answered Oliver, and struck +spurs into his horse. In his hand was his +trusty sword Hautclere, its blade red with +blood. Therewith he smote Chimborin so +mighty a blow that he slew both man and +horse. Next he slew the Duke Alphais. +Eight other Arab warriors he struck down +from their saddles, and in such sort they would +never join in the battle any more. "My comrade +is in a goodly rage," cried Roland; "these +are the blows that make King Charles love +us. Strike, men of France, strike and cease +not!" +</p> + +<p> +The next that rode forth was the Emir +Valdabrun, the same that had given to Ganelon +the sword. He was a great ruler of the sea. +Four hundred ships he had, and there was not +a sailor but complained of his robberies. The +same had taken by treachery, and slain the +Patriarch of Antioch with the sword. This +man smote Duke Samson, breaking with his +spear both shield and hauberk, and so did him +to death. "So shall all these wretches perish," +he cried. And the men of France were sorely +dismayed. +</p> + +<p> +When Roland saw that the Duke Samson +was dead, he rode fiercely at Valdabrun, and +smote him so mightily with his great sword +Durendal that he clave in twain helmet, head, +and body, and saddle, and the very backbone +of the horse, so that both fell dead together, +both man and horse. +</p> + +<p> +After this Malquidant, son of King Malquid +of Africa slew Ansol. Him the Archbishop +speedily avenged. Never priest that sang +mass was so sturdy a warrior as he. With one +blow of his good Toledo sword he slew the +African. "He smites sore, does the +Archbishop!" cried all the men of France when +they saw the deed. +</p> + +<p> +After this Grandoigne who was the leader +of the host of heathen entered the battle. +Five knights, valiant men of war all of them, +he slew one after the other, so that the men of +France cried, "How fast they fall, these +champions of ours!" +</p> + +<p> +Roland heard the cry, and it went near to +break his heart, so great was his wrath. He +rode straight at Grandoigne, and these two +met in the middle space between the hosts. +Among the heathen no man was braver or +better at arms than Grandoigne, but he was no +match for Roland. They had scarce met in +the shock of battle when Roland with one +mighty blow cleft him to his saddle, aye, and +slew the horse on which he rode. Many other +valiant deeds he wrought that day, nor did +Oliver lag behind, nor Turpin the Archbishop, +riding on the famous horse which he took +from the King of Denmark. But though these +and others also bore themselves right bravely, +such was the multitude of the Saracens that in +the end it carried all before it. Four times +did the host of the Saracens advance, four +times did the Frenchmen beat it back. But +when it advanced for the fifth time, things +went ill for the Christians. Great was the +price at which they sold their lives; but +scarcely threescore were left. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap30"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXX +<br><br> +HOW ROLAND SOUNDED HIS HORN +</h3> + +<p> +Count Roland saw how grievously his +people had suffered and spake thus to +Oliver his comrade: "Dear comrade, you see +how many brave men lie dead upon the ground. +Well may we mourn for Fair France, widowed +as she is of so many valiant champions. But +why is our King not here? O Oliver, my +brother, what shall we do to send him tidings +of our state?" "I know not," answered +Oliver. "Only this I know—that death is to +be chosen rather than dishonour." +</p> + +<p> +After a while Roland said again, "I shall +blow my horn; King Charles will hear it, +where he has encamped beyond the passes, +and he and his host will come back." "That +would be ill done," answered Oliver, "and +shame both you and your race. When I gave +you this counsel you would have none of it. +Now I like it not. 'Tis not for a brave man +to sound the horn and cry for help now that +we are in such case." "The battle is too +hard for us," said Roland again, "and I +shall sound my horn, that the King may +hear." And Oliver answered again, "When I gave +you this counsel, you scorned it. Now I +myself like it not. 'Tis true that had the King +been here, we had not suffered this loss. But +the blame is not his. 'Tis your folly, Count +Roland, that has done to death all these men +of France. But for that we should have +conquered in this battle, and have taken and +slain King Marsilas. But now we can do +nothing for France and the King. We can +but die. Woe is me for our country, aye, and +for our friendship, which will come to a grievous +end this day." +</p> + +<p> +The Archbishop had perceived that the two +were at variance, and spurred his horse till he +came where they stood. "Listen to me," he +said, "Sir Roland and Sir Oliver. I implore +you not to fall out with each other in this +fashion. We, sons of France, that are in this +place, are of a truth condemned to death, +neither will the sounding of your horn save us, +for the King is far away, and cannot come in +time. Nevertheless, I hold it to be well that +you should sound it. When the King and his +army shall come, they will find us dead—that I +know full well. But they will avenge us, so +that our enemies shall not go away rejoicing. +And they will also recover our bodies, and +will carry them away for burial in holy places, +so that the dogs and wolves shall not devour +them." +</p> + +<p> +"You say well," cried Roland, and he put +his horn to his lips, and gave so mighty a blast +upon it, that the sound was heard thirty leagues +away. King Charles and his men heard it, +and the King said, "Our countrymen are +fighting with the enemy." But Ganelon +answered, "Sire, had any but you so spoken, +I had said that he spoke falsely." +</p> + +<p> +Then Roland blew his horn a second time; +with great pain and anguish of body he blew +it, and the red blood gushed from his lips; +but the sound was heard yet further than at +first. The King heard it, and all his nobles, +and all his men. "That," said he, "is Roland's +horn; he never had sounded it were he not in +battle with the enemy." But Ganelon answered +again: "Believe me, Sire, there is no battle. +You are an old man, and you have the fancies +of a child. You know what a mighty man of +valour is this Roland. Think you that any +one would dare to attack him? No one, of a +truth. Ride on, Sire, why halt you here? +The fair land of France is yet far away." +</p> + +<p> +Roland blew his horn a third time, and +when the King heard it he said, "He that +blew that horn drew a deep breath." And +Duke Naymes cried out, "Roland is in +trouble; on my conscience he is fighting with +the enemy. Some one has betrayed him; 'tis +he, I doubt not, that would deceive you now. +To arms, Sire! utter your war-cry, and help +your own house and your country. You have +heard the cry of the noble Roland." +</p> + +<p> +Then King Charles bade all the trumpets +sound, and forthwith all the men of France +armed themselves, with helmets, and hauberks, +and swords with pummels of gold. Mighty +were their shields, and their lances strong, and +the flags that they carried were white and red +and blue. And when they made an end of +their arming they rode back with all haste. +There was not one of them but said to his +comrade, "If we find Roland yet alive, what +mighty strokes will we strike for him!" +</p> + +<p> +But Ganelon the King handed over to the +knaves of his kitchen. "Take this traitor," +said he, "who has sold his country." Ill did +Ganelon fare among them. They pulled out +his hair and his beard and smote him with +their staves; then they put a great chain, such +as that with which a bear is bound, about his +neck, and made him fast to a pack-horse. +</p> + +<p> +This done, the King and his army hastened +with all speed to the help of Roland. In the +van and the rear sounded the trumpets as +though they would answer Roland's horn. +Full of wrath was King Charles as he rode; +full of wrath were all the men of France. +There was not one among them but wept and +sobbed; there was not one but prayed, "Now, +may God keep Roland alive till we come to +the battlefield, so that we may strike a blow +for him." Alas! it was all in vain; they could +not come in time for all their speed. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap31"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXI +<br><br> +HOW OLIVER WAS SLAIN +</h3> + +<p> +Count Roland looked round on the +mountain-sides and on the plains. Alas! how +many noble sons of France he saw lying +dead upon them! "Dear friends," he said, +weeping as he spoke, "may God have mercy +on you and receive you into His Paradise! +More loyal followers have I never seen. How +is the fair land of France widowed of her +bravest, and I can give you no help. Oliver, +dear comrade, we must not part. If the enemy +slay me not here, surely I shall be slain by +sorrow. Come, then, let us smite these +heathen." +</p> + +<p> +Thus did Roland again charge the enemy, +his good sword Durendal in his hand; as the +stag flies before the hounds, so did the heathen +fly before Roland. "By my faith," cried the +Archbishop when he saw him, "that is a right +good knight! Such courage, and such a steed, +and such arms I love well to see. If man be +not brave and a stout fighter, he had better +by far be a monk in some cloister where he +may pray all day long for our sins." +</p> + +<p> +But Roland cried again, "Strike home, men; +have no mercy on these heathen dogs." So +saying he charged the enemy, and on the other +side King Marsilas came out to meet him. A +great warrior was he, and his horse was fleeter +than a falcon. First he slew Beuvon of +Burgundy, and Ivan, and Gerard and other +two: five knights he met, five he slew, but the +sixth was the Count Roland himself. "Curse +upon you!" cried the Count; "you have slain +my comrades; verily you shall not go +scatheless hence." Thereupon with one blow he +smote off his right hand, and with another he +shore off the head of the king's son Jurfalew. +"Help us, Mahomet!" cried the heathen. +"How these villains fight! They die rather +than fly from the field of battle!" And King +Marsilas, throwing down his shield upon the +ground, fled from out the battle, and thousands +fled with him, crying aloud, "Verily, the +nephew of King Charles has won the day." +</p> + +<p> +But alas! though the King fled, the Caliph +remained. He was King of Carthage and of +the whole land of Ethiopia. Chief of the +black race was he, and a mighty man of valour. +Fifty thousand warriors followed him; blacker +than ink were they all, and with nothing that +was white about them save only their teeth. +"We have but a short time to live," cried +Roland, when he saw the new host advancing +to the battle. "But cursed would he be that +does not sell his life dearly! Strike, comrades, +strike! Let what will befall us, France shall +not suffer disgrace. When the King shall come +to see this field of battle, for one of us that he +shall find dead there shall be full fifteen of the +Saracens. He cannot but bless us for such +valour." And Oliver cried aloud, "Ill luck to +all laggards!" And the men of France that +remained threw themselves upon the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +But the heathen, when they saw how few +they were, took fresh courage. And the +Caliph, spurring his horse, rode against Oliver +and smote him in the middle of his back, +making his spear pass right through him. +"That is a shrewd blow," he cried; "I have +avenged my friends and countrymen upon +you." +</p> + +<p> +Then Oliver knew he was stricken to death, +but he would not fall unavenged. With his +great sword Hautclere he smote the Caliph +on his head and cleft it to the teeth. "Curse +on you, pagan. Neither your wife nor any +woman in the land of your birth shall boast +that you have taken a penny's worth from +King Charles!" But to Roland he cried, +"Come, comrade, help me; well I know that +we two shall part in great sorrow this +day." Roland came with all speed, and saw his +friend, how he lay all pale and fainting on +the ground and how the blood gushed in great +streams from his wound. "I know not what +to do," he cried. "This is an ill chance that +has befallen you. Truly France is bereaved of +her bravest son." So saying he went near to +swoon in the saddle as he sat. Then there +befell a strange thing. Oliver had lost so +much of his blood that he could not any more +see clearly or know who it was that was near +him. So he raised up his arm and smote with +all his strength that yet remained to him on +the helmet of Roland his friend. The helmet +he cleft in twain to the vizor; but by good +fortune it wounded not the head. Roland +looked at him and said in a gentle voice, +"Did you this of set purpose? I am Roland +your friend, and have not harmed you." "Ah!" +said Oliver, "I hear you speak, but I +cannot see you. Pardon me that I struck you; +it was not done of set purpose." "It harmed +me not," answered Roland; "with all my +heart and before God I forgive you." And +this was the way these two friends parted at +the last. +</p> + +<p> +And now Oliver felt the pains of death come +over him. He could no longer see nor hear. +He clomb down from his horse, and laid +himself upon the ground, and clasping his hands +lifted them to heaven and made his confession. +"O Lord," he said, "take me into Paradise. +And do Thou bless King Charles and the +sweet land of France." And when he had +said thus he died. And Roland looked at him +as he lay. There was not upon earth a more +sorrowful man than he. "Dear comrade," he +said, "this is indeed an evil day. Many a +year have we two been together. Never have +I done wrong to you; never have you done +wrong to me. How shall I bear to live +without you?" And again he swooned where he +sat on his horse. But the stirrup held him up +that he did not fall to the ground. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap32"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXII +<br><br> +HOW ARCHBISHOP TURPIN DIED +</h3> + +<p> +When Roland came to himself he looked +about him and saw how great was the +calamity that had befallen his army. For now +there were left alive to him two only, Turpin +the Archbishop and Walter of Hum. Walter +had but that moment come down from the hills +where he had been fighting so fiercely with the +heathen that all his men were dead; now he +cried to Roland for help. "Noble Count, +where are you? I am Walter of Hum, and +am not unworthy to be your friend. Help me +therefore. For see how my spear is broken +and my shield cleft in twain, my hauberk is in +pieces, and my body sorely wounded. I am +about to die; but I have sold my life at a +great price." When Roland heard him cry he +set spurs to his horse and galloped to him. +"Walter," said he, "you are a brave warrior +and a trustworthy. Tell me now where are +the thousand valiant men whom you took from +my army. They were right good soldiers, and +I am in sore need of them." +</p> + +<p> +"They are dead," answered Walter; "you +will see them no more. A sore battle we had +with the Saracens yonder on the hills; they +had the men of Canaan there and the men of +Armenia and the Giants; there were no better +men in their army than these. We dealt with +them so that they will not boast themselves of +this day's work. But it cost us dear; all the +men of France lie dead on the plain, and I am +wounded to the death. And now, Roland, +blame me not that I fled; for you are my +lord, and all my trust is in you." +</p> + +<p> +"I blame you not," said Roland, "only as +long as you live help me against the heathen." And +as he spake he took his cloak and rent +it into strips and bound up Walter's wounds +therewith. This done he and Walter and the +Archbishop set fiercely on the enemy. +Five-and-twenty did Roland slay, and Walter slew +six, and the Archbishop five. Three valiant +men of war they were; fast and firm they +stood one by the other; hundreds there were +of the heathen, but they dared not come near +to the three valiant champions of France. +They stood far off, and cast at the three spears +and darts and javelins and weapons of every +kind. Walter of Hum was slain forthwith; +and the Archbishop's armour was broken, and +he wounded, and his horse slain under him. +Nevertheless he lifted himself from the ground, +still keeping a good heart in his breast. "They +have not overcome me yet"; said he, "as long +as a good soldier lives, he does not yield." +</p> + +<p> +Roland took his horn once more and sounded +it, for he would know whether King Charles +were coming. Ah me! it was a feeble blast +that he blew. But the King heard it, and he +halted and listened. "My lords!" said he, +"things go ill for us, I doubt not. To-day we +shall lose, I fear me much, my brave nephew +Roland. I know by the sound of his horn that +he has but a short time to live. Put your +horses to their full speed, if you would come +in time to help him, and let a blast be sounded +by every trumpet that there is in the army." So +all the trumpets in the host sounded a blast; +all the valleys and hills re-echoed with the +sound; sore discouraged were the heathen +when they heard it. "King Charles has come +again," they cried; "we are all as dead men. +When he comes he shall not find Roland +alive." Then four hundred of them, the +strongest and most valiant knights that were +in the army of the heathen, gathered +themselves into one company, and made a yet +fiercer assault on Roland. +</p> + +<p> +Roland saw them coming, and waited for +them without fear. So long as he lived he +would not yield himself to the enemy or give +place to them. "Better death than flight," +said he, as he mounted his good steed Veillantif, +and rode towards the enemy. And by his side +went Turpin the Archbishop on foot. Then +said Roland to Turpin, "I am on horseback +and you are on foot. But let us keep together; +never will I leave you; we two will stand +against these heathen dogs. They have not, +I warrant, among them such a sword as +Durendal." "Good," answered the +Archbishop. "Shame to the man who does not +smite his hardest. And though this be our +last battle, I know well that King Charles will +take ample vengeance for us." +</p> + +<p> +When the heathen saw these two stand +together they fell back in fear and hurled at +them spears and darts and javelins without +number. Roland's shield they broke and his +hauberk; but him they hurt not; nevertheless +they did him a grievous injury, for they killed +his good steed Veillantif. Thirty wounds did +Veillantif receive, and he fell dead under his +master. Roland stood alone, for the heathen +had fled from his presence, alone and on foot. +Fain would he have followed after the enemy; +but he could not. Then he bethought him of +the Archbishop; when he looked, he saw him +laid upon the plain. He unlaced his helmet +and took the corslet from off him, and bound +up his wounds with strips of his shirt of silk, +and taking him in his arms laid him down +softly on the grass. This done, he said to +him, "Dear friend, suffer me to leave you +awhile. All our comrades, the men whom we +loved so much, are dead. Yet we must not +leave them lying where they are. Listen then. +I will go and seek for their bodies, and I will +bring them hither, and set them in order before +you." "Go," said the Archbishop, "and come +back as soon as you may. The field is left to +me and to you. Thanks be to God for the +same!" +</p> + +<p> +Then Roland went to seek his comrades. +Alone he went, and passed over all the field +of battle. He searched the mountains, he +searched the valley. There he found the dead +bodies of Gerier and of Engelier the Gascon, +of Berenger and of Otho; and of others also. +All the Peers of France he found where they +lay. Then he carried them one by one and +set them all on their knees before the +Archbishop. Turpin could not choose but weep +when he saw these brave comrades dead. He +raised his hand and gave them his blessing. +"Friends," said he, "an evil fate has overtaken +you in this world; may the God of glory +receive you in the world to come!" +</p> + +<p> +Now Roland went again and searched the +plain till he found the body of his comrade +Oliver. Under a thorn he found it, and he +raised it tenderly in his arms, and brought it +back to where the Archbishop sat, and put it +hard by the other Peers of France. And +Turpin gave him also blessing and absolution. +This done, Roland said with many tears, +"Oliver, my brave comrade, never was there +a better knight than you to break a lance, +and shatter a shield, to give good counsel to +the brave, and to put to shame traitors and +cowards." And when he had said this he +looked round on that fair company of the dead, +and his heart failed within him. Such goodly +knights they were, and so dear to him, and +now they were gone. And he fell in a swoon +upon the ground. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-290"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-290.jpg" alt="ON THE FIELD OF RONCESVALLES."> +<br> +ON THE FIELD OF RONCESVALLES. +</p> + +<p> +When the Archbishop saw him fall he reached +out his hand and laid hold of the horn. There +was a spring of water in the place, and he +would fain give a draught to his comrade. +Gathering all that he had of strength together, +he lifted himself from the ground, stumbling +and staggering he went, but his strength did +not suffice for the task; before he had gone the +length of a furlong he fell staggering to the +ground, and the agony of death came upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Roland came out of his swoon and lifted +himself from the ground. He looked down +and he looked up, and lo! on the other side +of his dead comrades, stretched on the green +grass, lay the great prince, the Archbishop. +His life was well-nigh spent. "I have +sinned," he said, and he clasped his hands +and lifted them to heaven, and prayed to God +that he would take him into Paradise. And +with these words he died. This was the end +of Turpin. Never was there a man who dealt +with the heathen with mightier blows or +weightier discourse. May the blessing of +God be upon him! +</p> + +<p> +When Roland saw that the Archbishop was +dead, his heart was sorely troubled in him. +Never did he feel a greater sorrow for comrade +slain, save Oliver only. "Charles of France," +he said, "come as quickly as you may, many +a gallant knight have you lost in Roncesvalles. +But King Marsilas, on his part, has lost his +army. For one that has fallen on this side +there has fallen full forty on that." So saying +he turned to the Archbishop; he crossed the +dead man's hands upon his breast and said, "I +commit thee to the Father's mercy. Never +has man served his God with a better will, +never since the beginning of the world has +there lived a sturdier champion of the faith. +May God be good to you and give you all +good things!" +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap33"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXIII +<br><br> +THE DEATH OF ROLAND +</h3> + +<p> +Now Roland felt that death was near at +hand. In one hand he took his horn, +and in the other his good sword Durendal, and +made his way the distance of a furlong or so +till he came to a plain, and in the midst of the +plain a little hill. On the top of the hill in the +shade of two fair trees were four marble steps. +There Roland fell in a swoon upon the grass. +There a certain Saracen spied him. The fellow +had feigned death, and had laid himself down +among the slain, having covered his body and +his face with blood. When he saw Roland, he +raised himself from where he was lying among +the slain and ran to the place, and, being full of +pride and fury, seized the Count in his arms, +crying aloud, "He is conquered, he is +conquered, the famous nephew of King Charles! +See, here is his sword; 'tis a noble spoil that I +shall carry back with me to Arabia." Thereupon +he took the sword in one hand, with the +other he laid hold of Roland's beard. But as +the man laid hold, Roland came to himself, and +knew that some one was taking his sword from +him. He opened his eyes but not a word did +he speak save this only, "Fellow, you are none +of ours," and he smote him a mighty blow upon +his helmet. The steel he brake through and +the head beneath, and laid the man dead at his +feet. "Coward," he said, "what made you so +bold that you dared lay hands on Roland? +Whosoever knows him will think you a fool for +your deed." +</p> + +<p> +And now Roland knew that death was near +at hand. He raised himself and gathered all +his strength together—ah me! how pale his +face was!—and took in his hand his good sword +Durendal. Before him was a great rock, and +on this in his rage and pain he smote ten +mighty blows. Loud rang the steel upon the +stone; but it neither brake nor splintered. +"Help me," he cried, "O Mary, our Lady. O +my good sword, my Durendal, what an evil lot +is mine! In the day when I must part with +you, my power over you is lost. Many a battle +I have won with your help; and many a +kingdom have I conquered, that my Lord +Charles possesses this day. Never has any +one possessed you that would fly before +another. So long as I live, you shall not be +taken from me, so long have you been in the +hands of a loyal knight." +</p> + +<p> +Then he smote a second time with the sword, +this time upon the marble steps. Loud rang +the steel, but neither brake nor splintered. +Then Roland began to bemoan himself, "O +my good Durendal," he said, "how bright and +clear thou art, shining as shines the sun! Well +I mind me of the day when a voice that seemed +to come from heaven bade King Charles give +thee to a valiant captain; and forthwith the +good King girded it on my side. Many a land +have I conquered with thee for him, and now +how great is my grief! Can I die and leave +thee to be handled by some heathen?" And +the third time he smote a rock with it. Loud +rang the steel, but it brake not, bounding back +as though it would rise to the sky. And when +Count Roland saw that he could not break the +sword, he spake again but with more content in +his heart. "O Durendal," he said, "a fair +sword art thou, and holy as fair. There are +holy relics in thy hilt, relics of St. Peter and +St. Denis and St. Basil. These heathen shall +never possess thee; nor shalt thou be held but +by a Christian hand." +</p> + +<p> +And now Roland knew that death was very +near to him. He laid himself down with his +head upon the grass, putting under him his +horn and his sword, with his face turned towards +the heathen foe. Ask you why he did so? To +shew, forsooth, to Charlemagne and the men of +France, that he died in the midst of victory. +This done he made a loud confession of his +sins, stretching his hand to heaven. "Forgive +me, Lord," he cried, "my sins, little and great, +all that I have committed since the day of my +birth to this hour in which I am stricken to +death." So he prayed; and, as he lay, he +thought of many things, of the countries which +he had conquered, and of his dear Fatherland +France, and of his kinsfolk, and of the good +King Charles. Nor, as he thought, could he +keep himself from sighs and tears; yet one +thing he remembered beyond all others—to pray +for forgiveness of his sins. "O Lord," he said, +"who art the God of truth, and didst save +Daniel Thy prophet from the lions, do Thou +save my soul and defend it against all perils!" So +speaking he raised his right hand, with the +gauntlet yet upon it, to the sky, and his head +fell back upon his arm and the angels carried +him to heaven. So died the great Count +Roland. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap34"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXIV +<br><br> +HOW CHARLEMAGNE SOUGHT VENGEANCE +</h3> + +<p> +Not many hours after these things King +Charles came to Roncesvalles. It was +a grievous sight that he saw; there was not a +foot of earth on which there lay not the body of +some Frenchman or heathen. And the King +cried aloud, calling the dead men by name. +"Where are you, Roland?" he said; "and you, +Oliver?" All the Twelve Peers whom he had +left behind to guard the passes he called, but +no man answered. Charles wept for sadness +of heart, and his nobles wept with him; there +was not one of all that company but had lost +son or brother or comrade or friend. Then +spake up the Duke Naymes, "Sire," said he, +"see you that cloud of dust, two leagues away? +'Tis the dust of a great multitude, even of the +heathen army. Ride, Sire, and take vengeance +for these warriors whom you have lost." "What!" +answered the King, "are they +already so far? Then must we make haste, +for they have robbed me of the very flower of +France." Then he turned to his nobles, and +called four by name, and said to them, "Guard +this field, these valleys and these hills. Let +the dead lie as they are, but take good care +that no beast of the field touch them, nor any +follower of the camp. Make sure that no one +lay a hand upon them till I come back." And +the four answered, "So will we do, Sire;" and +the King left with them a thousand horsemen +for a guard. +</p> + +<p> +This done, he made haste to pursue the army +of the heathen. The day was drawing to +sunset, but yet he overtook the enemy before +darkness fell. Some say that God wrought a +great miracle for the King, staying the sun in +the heaven, till he should have avenged him of +his enemies. Be that as it may, this is certain, +that he overtook the Saracens and slew them +with a great slaughter. Many fell by the +sword, and they who escaped the sword threw +themselves into the river, the river Ebro, and +thus perished by drowning. And the men of +France cried, mocking them, "You have seen +Roland; but it has not turned to your good." +</p> + +<p> +And now the night came on, and the King +said, "We must think of our camp; 'tis over-late +to return to Roncesvalles." "It is well," +answered his nobles. So they unsaddled their +horses, and laid themselves down on the green +grass and slept. None kept watch that night. +As for the King, he lay down to rest in a certain +meadow, his spear by his pillow, for he would +not be far from his arms. His good sword +Joyous was on his side. It was a marvellous +weapon, for it had in its hilt the iron of the +spear with which the side of the Lord Christ +was pierced as He hung upon the cross. For +a time the King thought with tears about the +good knights whom he had lost, Roland his +nephew, and many another who had fallen on +his field. But at last his weariness overcame +him, and he slept. And as he slept he dreamed +two dreams. In the first dream he saw how +there gathered a great tempest in the heavens, +with thunders and lightnings and hail and wind, +and how this fell upon his army, and how the +lances caught fire, and how the shields glowed +with heat, and the corslets rattled with the +stroke of the hail. After this he saw how a +multitude of wild beasts, bears, and leopards, +and snakes, and monsters such as griffins rushed +upon the host as to devour them. And he +heard the men cry, "Help us, King Charles, help +us!" But when he would have gone to help +them a great lion out of the forest flew on him. +Then he and the great beast wrestled together. +But who prevailed, he knew not. He did not +wake from his sleep, but his dream was changed. +And the second dream that he dreamed was +this: He thought he was at his palace at +Aachen, and that he sat upon steps, holding a +bear that was bound with a double chain. And +in his dream he saw how that there came out of +the forest of Ardennes thirty other bears who +spake each with the voice of a man. "Give +him back to us, Sire," they said. "It is not +right that you should keep him so long. He is +our kinsman, and we must help him." And +then—this was his dream—a fair greyhound came +and attacked the greatest of these wild beasts. +But who was the conqueror in this conflict also, +he could not see. After this King Charles +awoke from his sleep. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King Marsilas came in his flight +to Saragossa. He gave his sword and his +armour to his servants, and laid himself down +in sore distress upon the green grass under an +olive-tree. He had lost his right hand, and +was faint with the bleeding. Loudly did his +Queen Branimonde lament over him. As for +his servants they cursed King Charles and the +land of France, and vehemently reproached +their god Apollyon. "Villain of a god!" they +cried, "why dost thou put us to such shame? +Why dost thou so confound our King? This +is an ill return to those who do thee honour." So +saying they took from the god his sceptre +and crown, and brake him to pieces with their +staves. Never before was a god so ill-treated +of his worshippers. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Queen to herself, in the midst +of her tears, "Now a curse upon these gods +who have failed us in the day of battle. We +have the Emir only who can help us. Surely +he cannot be so base as not to fight against +these men of France!" So King Marsilas +sent an ambassador praying him for help. +"Of a truth," he said, "if you fail me I will +cast away my gods, and take upon me the +faith of Christ, and make peace with King +Charles." +</p> + +<p> +When the Emir heard this he gathered +together the people of his four kingdoms, and +put them on board a fleet of ships, and set +forth to sea. Quickly did they come to the +land of Spain; nor did they halt till they came +to the city of Saragossa. Then the servants +of the Emir spread on the grass a carpet of +white silk, and on it they set an ivory chair. +The Emir sat upon it, and his chiefs stood +round about. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen!" said the Emir, "This Charles +has troubled the land of Spain too long. I +will attack him in his own country, even in +France. Nothing shall hinder me from bringing +him to my feet or slaying him." And as he +spake he struck his knee with the gauntlet of +his right hand. Then he called to him two +of his chiefs and said, "Go now to King +Marsilas and say to him: I come to help you +against the men of France. Come and pay +me homage, and I will make war upon King +Charles, even in his own land of France. Verily +if he do not fall at my feet and beg for pardon, +and renounce the faith of Christ, I will tear his +crown from his head. Take him also, for a +token, this gauntlet and this staff of gold." And +all his nobles cried, "It is well said." +</p> + +<p> +So the two envoys went, carrying, one the +gauntlet and the other the staff. When they +had passed through the gates of Saragossa, +they saw a great multitude of men lamenting. +"The gods have dealt ill with us," said they; +"our King is wounded to the death, and his +son is dead, and Spain will be the prey of the +Christian dogs." When they were come to +the palace they made their salutations, saying, +</p> + +<p> +"Now may Apollyon and Mahomet have King +Marsilas and Queen Branimonde in their +keeping!" "Nay," said the Queen, "what folly +is this? Our gods have deserted us. See +what they suffered to befall the King my +husband." The envoy answered, "A truce +to such words! The Emir our master bade +us say, 'I will deliver King Marsilas; as for +this Charles, I will attack him in his own land +of France. This gauntlet and this staff he +sends for a proof of his words.'" Queen +Branimonde made answer, "You have no +need to go to France. Here in this land of +Spain you may meet King Charles, and of a +truth you will find him a great warrior." +</p> + +<p> +Then said the King, "You see, my lords, +that I am in evil case. I have none to come +after me, neither son nor daughter. A son +I had but yesterday, but the Count Roland +slew him. Say to your master for me, I yield +you this land of Spain; only guard it against +the Christians! And bid him come to me; +I will give him useful counsel about King +Charles; and take him the keys of this city +of Saragossa. As for Charles he is encamped +by the river Ebro, seven leagues hence. There +will the Emir find him, for of a truth the men +of France will not refuse the battle." +</p> + +<p> +Then the envoys returned to the Emir, and +told him all that happened—how King Charles +had left Roland and the Peers to guard the +passes, and how they had been slain, and what +great loss King Marsilas had suffered, and how +he yielded to him the whole land of Spain, and +how King Charles and his men were in camp +by the Ebro. Then the Emir commanded his +men that they should make ready for the +march. "Make haste," he said, "or these +Frenchmen will escape us." +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile King Charles had made search +for the body of his nephew, the Count Roland, +and for the others that had fallen with him. +And when these had been found, he caused +that the rest should be buried with great +honour, but three of the bodies, Roland, to +wit, and Oliver, and Turpin the Archbishop, +he commanded to be set aside. The hearts +of these three were taken out of their bodies +and wrapped in silk, and then enclosed in +coffins of white marble. But the bodies were +wrapped in deer-skins, with store of spices, +and set each in a carriage, that they might +be taken to the town of Blois. +</p> + +<p> +When these things had been done, there +came two envoys from the Emir, bearing +this message. "The Emir brings against +you a great army from the land of Arabia. +Take heed, therefore, for he will make proof +of you to-day, whether you are indeed a man +of courage." +</p> + +<p> +The King made no answer to these words, +save that he cried to his men, with a loud +voice, "To arms! To arms!" Then without +delay he armed himself, donning his corslet +and lacing his helmet, and taking in his hand +his good sword Joyous, and when he had +mounted his good steed he rode forth in front +of his army. "Never was more kingly man!" +said all the army. And the King said, as +he looked upon the army, "Who would not +trust such men? If only these heathen stand +their ground, surely they shall pay dearly for the +death of Roland." "God grant it be so!" said +the Duke Naymes. Then the King called to +him two lords: "You shall take the place of +Roland and Oliver; one of you shall carry the +sword, and one the horn." And after this he +set his whole army in array. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the envoys of the Emir returned +to him. "We have seen King Charles," they +said. "He is brave, and brave are they that +follow him, nor will they fail the King. You +will have to do battle with them. Therefore +arm yourself." "That is good news for all +that are of a good courage," said the Emir. +"Sound the trumpets, that my people may +make themselves ready." A mighty warrior +was he, with deep chest and broad shoulders, +over which his hair fell in curls, with fair face +and shining eyes; of his courage he had given +proofs without number. What a gallant knight +he had been, were he but a Christian man! +He had a sword of renown, which he called +Precious, and a great bear-spear, Matté by +name. A gallant knight also was the Prince +Malprime, his son. "Forward, Sire," said the +Prince to his father. "Shall we see King +Charles to-day?" "Yes," answered the Emir, +"for he is a brave man, and all speak of him +with honour. Nevertheless, now that he has +lost the Count Roland his nephew, he can +scarcely hold his ground before us. Yet we +shall have a great battle to fight." "Be it so," +said the Prince. "I ask from you the honour +of striking the first blow." "It shall be yours," +said the Emir. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Emir set his battle in array, so +that the two hosts stood over against each +other. There was neither hill nor valley nor +forest between them; each was in full sight of +the other. Splendid and terrible they were to +view, so brightly shone the helmets and bucklers +and shields and spears. And bright and clear +was the sound of the trumpets; but the brightest +and clearest of all was the horn of Charles the +great King. And first the Emir rode forth in +front of his army. "Follow me!" he cried to +his army, "I will show you the way." And he +brandished his spear, turning the point towards +the King of France. And King Charles, on +his part, when he saw the Emir, and his +standard, the Dragon, borne after him, cried +with a loud voice, "Lords of France, you have +fought many battles, and now there is yet one +more for you to fight. See, then, this host of +heathens. Many they are in number. But +what matters the multitude of them? Follow +me!" Thereupon he spurred his charger. The +good steed bounded forward, and all the men +of France cried out, "A brave man is our +King; not one of us will fail him." The first +that dealt a blow to the enemy was the Count +Rabel. Spurring his horse, he charged Torlen, +the King of Persia, and struck his shield fairly +with his spear. The good steel pierced shield +and corslet, and the King fell dead upon the +field. "Strike! strike for Charles and the +Right!" cried all the men of France when +they saw the Persian fall. +</p> + +<p> +On the other side the Prince Malprime, son +to the Emir, rode forward on his white horse, +charging into the midst of the army of France, +and striking down warrior after warrior. +"See!" cried the Emir, "see, my son, how +he is seeking for the King of the French! +There is no better soldier than he. Follow +him and the victory shall be yours, and all the +prizes of victory, lands, and castles, and gold +and fair women." Nor did the chiefs of the +heathen delay to charge. Fiercely did they +ride forward, and the battle raged over the +plain. When the Duke Naymes saw how the +Prince Malprime was breaking the ranks of +France, dealing death at every blow, he +charged him, spear in rest. He drave the +point through the upper rim of his shield and +through his corslet, deep into his side, and +laid him dead on the field. But when King +Canaben, who was uncle to the Prince, saw +what had befallen his nephew, he rode at the +Duke, and, drawing his sword, dealt him a +great blow on the helmet. Half of the helmet +and laces wherewith it was laced were shorn +off by the stroke, and the edge of the sword +touched the flesh itself. The Duke yet clung +with one arm to the neck of his horse; if the +heathen deal him another such blow he is lost. +But, thanks to God, King Charles came to +his help. He struck King Canaben through +the vizor of his helmet with his boar-spear, +and with the one blow laid him dead to the +ground. +</p> + +<p> +Elsewhere in the field the Emir wrought +great havoc in the ranks of France, slaying +chief after chief, among them the old man +Richard, Duke of the Normans. Behind +him followed many heathen knights. Many +valorous deeds they did. Where the Emir +led the ranks of the heathen there the men +of France suffered grievous loss, and now there +came one who brought him tidings of ill. +"The Prince Malprime, your son, is slain," +said the man; "also King Canaben, your +brother, is slain." The Emir had well-nigh +died of grief to hear such evil news; but he +called to him one of his wisest counsellors. +"Come near," said he; "you are loyal and +wise, and I have ever followed your counsel. +Tell me now, will the day go for the Arabs +or for the men of France?" "Sire," the sage +replied, "you are in evil case. As for your +gods, look not to them for help. Call now +your Turks and Arabs, and, above all, your +Giants to the front. With them you may yet +win the day." +</p> + +<p> +Then the Emir put his horn to his mouth +and blew a call, loud and clear. The Turks +and the Arabs and the Giants answered +thereto. Mighty warriors they were, and fierce +was the charge they made; so fierce that they +brake the army of France in twain. But when +Ogier the Dane saw what had befallen the +King's army he said to him, "See you how the +heathen are breaking our ranks and slaying our +men. If you would bear your crown where it +should be borne you must strike with all your +might." +</p> + +<p> +Then the King rode forward, and with him +the Duke Naymes, and Ogier the Dane, and +Geoffrey Count of Anjou. All quitted themselves +as good knights, but there was none who +bore himself so bravely as Ogier the Dane. +Many he slew, among them the heathen knight +who carried the Emir's standard. Sore +discouraged was the Emir when he saw his +standard in the dust, but the heart of King +Charles was high with hope. "Sons of +France, will you help me?" he cried. "'Tis +a wrong even to ask us," said they; "cursed +be he who shall not strike with his whole +heart!" And now, as the day drew to the +evening, these two met in combat, King +Charles and the Emir. Fierce was the +encounter between them, and many and sore +were the blows they dealt the one to the +other. At last it chanced that the bands of +each man's saddle was cleft through, so that +they fell both to the ground. Quickly did +they rise to their feet, and drawing their +swords, closed fiercely in fight. It was, indeed, +a battle to the death. First the Emir spoke, +saying, "King Charles, you have slain my +son; you have wrongfully invaded my land. +Yet if you will pay me homage I will grant it +to you to hold in fief." "That were a foul +disgrace," King Charles made answer; "never +will I grant to a heathen either peace or life. +Become a Christian, and you shall have all that +I have to give." "These are but idle words," +answered the Emir; "I had sooner die." And +as he spake he dealt King Charles a mighty +blow upon the helmet. The sword brake the +iron, and shore away a palm's breadth of the +scalp. The King reeled in his place, and had +well-nigh fallen to the ground. But God willed +otherwise, for the angel that guarded him +whispered in his ear, "Charles, what doest +thou?" And when he heard the angel's voice +he thought no more of danger or death. +Gathering all his strength into one mighty +blow, he severed the enemy's head in twain. +Down to the chin he cleft it, and the Emir +fell dead upon the plain. +</p> + +<p> +So soon as the heathen saw that their leader +was slain they fled in hot haste, and the men +of France pursued them even to the walls of +Saragossa. There stood Queen Branimonde, +with her priests about her, waiting and watching +for news of the war. But when the Queen +saw the multitude of them that fled she hastened +to King Marsilas, and said to him, "O Sire, our +people are vanquished, and the Emir is dead." When +King Marsilas heard these words he +turned him to the wall, and covered his face +and wept. So great was his grief that his +heart was broken in his breast, and he died. +</p> + +<p> +As for the town, none of the heathen had +any thought of defending it. They suffered +the gates to be broken down without any +hindrance, and the Queen surrendered to +King Charles all the towers, great and small. +Of a truth, he works well who works with +God. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it was day King Charles bade +his men break down all the things that the +heathen counted holy. As for the people, +they were brought to the water of baptism. +Such as were not willing to be baptized into +the faith, these the King caused to be hanged, +or slain with the sword, or burnt with the fire. +But the greater part readily obeyed the King's +command, and were made good Christians, one +hundred thousand of them at the least. +</p> + +<p> +After these things the King departed from +Saragossa, leaving a thousand men to keep +the town for him. He took Queen Branimonde +with him; also he took the bodies of Roland +and Oliver and of Turpin the Archbishop, and +caused them to be honourably buried at Blois. +</p> + +<p> +When King Charles was come back to the +fair town of Aachen, it was told him that a fair +lady desired to see him. So he commanded +that she should be brought before him. When +she came back she was Alda the Fair. She +said, "Tell me, O King, where is the Earl +Roland? He is promised to be my husband." The +King was greatly troubled to hear these +words. He wept and tore his white beard. +"My sister," he said, when he found his speech, +"my dear sister. You ask me news of a dead +man. But comfort yourself. Roland we shall +see no more, but you shall have my son Lewis, +he that is to be Warden of the Marches, in +his place." "These are strange words," said +Alda the Fair; "God and His blessed saints +forbid that I should live now that my Roland +is dead," and as she spake she grew deadly +pale, and fell at the King's feet, and when they +took her up, lo! she was dead. When the +King saw this he called to him four countesses +and bade them carry her to a nunnery that +was hard by. All that night these noble +ladies watched by her dead body; the day +following she was buried by the altar with +great honour. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap35"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXV +<br><br> +OF THE PUNISHMENT OF GANELON +</h3> + +<p> +The King sent messengers to all parts of +his dominions, bidding all the judges +learned in the law come to him at his palace at +Aachen. So the judges came as he commanded, +and were gathered together on the Feast of +St. Silvester, which was the last day of December. +When they were all assembled he bade the +Serjeants fetch Ganelon out of his prison, and +bring him before the judges. When they had +done this, the King said, "My Lords, I would +have you judge this man Ganelon. He came +with me when I went with my army to the land +of Spain; he has robbed me of twenty +thousand men of France; he has robbed me of +Roland my nephew, whom we shall see no +more, and of Oliver the courteous knight, and +of the Twelve Peers of France—and all this he +has done for the sake of money." +</p> + +<p> +"It is true," said Ganelon; "may a curse fall +on me if I deny it. But listen; Roland did +me wrong in the matter of gold and silver. +Therefore I sought to revenge myself upon +him; and I compassed his death. That I +confess; but I deny that I wrought any +treason." So Ganelon spake, as he stood +before the King. He was of a fair presence, +and had been a noble knight if only he had +been true of heart. +</p> + +<p> +Ganelon spake again, saying, "I beseech +you, my lords, to hear my defence. When I +was in the King's army I served him loyally +and well. But my nephew Roland cherished +in his heart a great hatred of me, and would +have done me to death. Did he not bring it +about that I was sent on an embassy to King +Marsilas? If I escaped, it was of my own +contriving. Thereupon I bade defiance to Roland +and to Oliver and to all his company, as the +King and all here present will bear witness. +This was revenge, I confess, but I affirm it +was not treason." +</p> + +<p> +Now there had come to the support of +Ganelon thirty men of his kindred, of whom +the chief was a certain Pinabel. A great +orator was this Pinabel, when there was need +of pleading a cause, and a good soldier also, +when there was need of arms. To him said +Ganelon, "I trust in you, and you only; you +can deliver me from dishonour and death." "You +shall have a champion," answered +Pinabel; "the first man that shall pronounce +against you the sentence of death, to him will +I give the lie with the edge of this sword." Thereupon +Ganelon fell at his feet and thanked +him. +</p> + +<p> +A great company from many regions were +gathered together to the King at Aachen; +men from Saxony and from Bavaria, and from +Poitou, Normans, and French, and Germans +from beyond the Rhine. And of all none had +more favour for Ganelon than the barons of +Auvergne. "Let the matter rest where it is," +said they. "We will beseech the King to +show mercy to Ganelon. Roland is dead, and +all the gold and silver in the world will not +bring him back. As for fighting, it is sheer +folly." To this all the barons agreed—all save +one, Thierry, to wit, that was brother to +Geoffrey of Anjou. Thereupon the barons of +Auvergne went to the King and said, "Sire, +we beseech you, to hold the Count quit of this +charge. Henceforth he will serve you with all +good faith and loyalty. Suffer him to live, for +he is a nobleman. As for Roland, he is dead +and neither gold nor silver will bring him +back." "You are nothing but traitors, all of you!" cried +the King in great anger. But when he saw +how the barons favoured these words, he was +greatly troubled. Thereupon Thierry, that +was brother to Geoffrey of Anjou, stood before +him, and said, "Trouble not yourself, my good +lord. Beyond all doubt, this Ganelon is a +traitor. Though Roland may have done him +wrong, for your sake he should have suffered +him to go unscathed. Therefore I pronounce +sentence of death upon him, that he be hanged +by the heels till he die, and that they throw his +carcase to the dogs. This is the just punishment +of traitors. And if any kinsman of his +say me nay, then will I give him the lie with +the edge of the sword." So spake the Count +Thierry, and all the men of France cried with +one voice, "It is well said." +</p> + +<p> +Pinabel, when he heard these words, came +near to the King. "Sire," said he, "bid them +cease from this clamour. The Count Thierry +has given his judgment; I, for my part, say +that he has lied. Let us put the matter to the +trial of the sword." "So be it," answered the +King; "but I must have hostages." Thereupon +thirty kinsmen of the Count offered themselves. +And the King, on his part offered +hostages also. +</p> + +<p> +First the two champions made confession +and received absolution. Also they gave great +alms to the poor. After this they armed +themselves for the battle. There is a great plain +near to the city of Aachen; on this the two +champions met to do battle, the one for the +good name of Roland and his comrades, the +other for Ganelon. First they charged with +their spears in rest. So equally matched were +they that neither gained any advantage in the +encounter. The spurs of both were broken; +the corslets of both were broken through, and +the belts of the horses were so torn that the +saddles turned in their place. So the two +champions were unhorsed. Quickly did they +leap to their feet, and fall to with their swords. +Mighty blows did they both deal, and the men +of France were in great fear. Then Pinabel +cried aloud, "Take back your words, Count +Thierry, I will be your friend and comrade, +and divide my wealth with you, if only you will +make Ganelon friends with the King." "Far +be it from me!" answered Thierry. "Never +will I do such a thing. God shall judge +between us." After a while he spake again; +"Pinabel, you are a true knight, strong, and +of a noble presence, and all men know your +courage. Have done with this battle. I will +make peace between you and the King. As +for Ganelon, let him have his deserts." "God +forbid," answered Pinabel, "that I should +desert my kinsman." So the champions turned +again to the duel. First Pinabel struck a +mighty blow, and wounded Thierry on the +right cheek, coming near to slay him outright. +But God preserved him, for was he not +champion of the right! Then Thierry, in his +turn, smote his adversary. On the helmet fell +the blow, cleaving it in twain, and the skull +beneath, so that the man's brain was scattered +on the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the punishment. The King +asked, "What shall we do with those that +pledged themselves for the traitor's innocence?" "Let +them be hanged," answered the nobles. +And this was done. As for Ganelon, they +lashed his limbs to four horses, so that he was +torn into four pieces. This was the end of the +traitor. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap36"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXVI +<br><br> +HOW KING CHARLES SENT HUON ON AN ERRAND +</h3> + +<p> +King Charles, being now advanced +in years and desiring rest, was minded +to lay down his power. He called, therefore, +his Barons together and said to them, "I am +weary of my kingship. Say now to which of +my two sons, Charlot and Lewis, I shall resign +it. For Lewis indeed is over young, and +Charlot is not of such conditions as to be +fit for such dignity." The Barons answered, +"Sire, let us consider the matter by +ourselves." So they went apart and considered +it, and it seemed meet to them that Prince +Charlot should be King. +</p> + +<p> +Now there was among the Barons a certain +Amaury, who was of kin to the traitor Ganelon. +This Amaury said to the King, "It would be +well to try the Prince Charlot. Now there +is the Duchy of Bordeaux, whose Princes, +Huon and Gerard, have not yet taken the +oath to you. If you will give me some +soldiers I will bring them prisoners hither, +and your son Charlot shall have their land. +This shall be his trial before he have the +kingdom of France." +</p> + +<p> +But the Duke Naymes, being both wise and +true of heart, said to the King, "This is no +good counsel of Amaury. The Princes are +young, and, maybe, they have not failed in +their duty to you of set purpose, but rather +unknowingly. Send therefore messengers to +Bordeaux and bid them come to your Court. +If they obey, well; but if not, then you shall +deal with them by Amaury's counsel." +</p> + +<p> +So the King sent messengers to Bordeaux, +and the Princes received them with great +honour. And when they had delivered their +message, the Duchess said, "I thank the +King; my sons will certainly come to do +him homage when I shall have made them +ready for their journey." So the messengers +went back to the King and told him these +words, and he was very glad, and said, "A +good tree puts forth good fruit; Duke Sevyn +of Bordeaux was a good man, and his sons +are good men also. But as for this mischief-maker +Amaury, I banish him from the land +of France." +</p> + +<p> +Then went Amaury to Prince Charlot and +said: "I had thought to win for you the +Duchy of Bordeaux. But the Duke Naymes +has thwarted me. Nevertheless, the lands +may yet be yours if only we can be rid of the +Princes Huon and Gerard. Let us fall on +them when they ride this way." +</p> + +<p> +These two, then, lay in wait in a wood +by which they knew the two should pass. +Now Amaury's purpose was double, either +that Huon and his brother should be slain, +or if they should slay Charlot, then they +should be accused to the King of this deed +and suffer accordingly. So now he said to +Charlot, "Yonder are Huon and Gerard; ride +out against them, for they are but weaklings." To +his men he said, "Let the Prince go alone; +he needs not your help." +</p> + +<p> +So Charlot rode forth and held the way by +which the two brothers must pass. Then +Huon said to his brother, "Go now and see +what this knight demands; if he ask for toll, +being master of the way, we will pay it." So +Gerard rode forward. Prince Charlot said to +him, "Who are you?" Gerard answered, +"We are sons of Sevyn that was Duke of +Bordeaux, on whom God have mercy." "Then," +said the Prince, "you are sons of +a villain. Sevyn took from me three castles, +and I could never have justice of him. Now, +therefore, you shall suffer for this +wrong." "Sir," answered Gerard, "you see that I +am without arms. It were a foul shame +if you should slay me. But if you have +suffered wrong we will make you amends." "I +will have no amends," cried the Prince, "but +vengeance." And when Gerard turned to +flee, being unarmed, and fearing for his life, +he rode at him and smote him with his spear, +so that he fell to the ground as one dead. +</p> + +<p> +When Huon saw this deed he was greatly +troubled, thinking that his brother was slain. +Spurring his horse, he rode with all haste, and +overtook the Prince ere ever he came to the +wood. He cried, "Who are you that have +slain my brother without any cause?" Charlot +answered, "I am son of Duke Thierry," for +he would not be known; also he had disguised +his shield, "and this I have done because your +father took from me three castles, and I could +never have justice of him." Huon said, "You +are a false knight and a murderer, and I defy +you." Then he wrapped his scarlet cloak +about his arm and drew his sword, for other +arms or armour he had none, and rode against +the Prince. The Prince, on his part, spurred +his horse and charged Huon with his spear in +rest. He drave his spear through the cloak +and through the gown that Huon wore, and +through the shirt that was under the gown, but +the body he missed. Huon, on his part, +raising his sword in both his hands, smote +Charlot as he passed so fierce a blow that he +brake his helmet in twain. So, the steel +entering his brain, he fell dead upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Then Huon, lighting from his horse, searched +for Gerard's wound, and finding that it was of +less account than he had thought, bound it up +with a strip of his shirt. Then he set him +on an ambling nag that he had in his train, +that he might ride the more easily. So the +two went forward on their way to Paris, for +Huon would make complaint to the King that, +having a safe conduct, he had been so foully +assailed. +</p> + +<p> +Amaury's knights said to him, "What shall +we do now? The Prince lies dead on the +plain. It were ill done if he that slew him +should be suffered to escape." Amaury +answered, "We will take up the body and carry +it to Paris, and so accuse him before the +King." So he and his knights followed Huon and his +company, carrying the body of Charlot with +them. +</p> + +<p> +Huon, when he was come to Paris, went +in and stood before the King, and told him +what things had befallen him. First he said, +"Sire, see this my brother, how he has been +wounded." And as he spoke he pulled aside +Gerard's doublet and his shirt, and showed the +wound beneath. And the lad fell in a swoon +before the King and his lords, so great was the +pain that he suffered. The King had a great +pity for the wounded man, and bade fetch his +own surgeon that he might dress the wound. +He said also, "If I find out the man that has +done this deed, I will deal with him in such +fashion as shall never be forgotten." +</p> + +<p> +After this Huon told the story how he had +been assailed, and how he had slain his +adversary. When the King heard it he said, "Now +were this false knight my own son Charlot, +whom I love with all my heart, I should not +deny that he had met with his deserts." +</p> + +<p> +While the King was yet speaking there was +heard a great outcry in the street, for the body +of the Prince was being carried through the +town and the people lamented over it. The +King said to the Duke Naymes, "Go now +and see what this outcry may mean." So the +Duke went, but when he came to the great +gate of the palace there was the body of Prince +Charlot lying on a shield and borne by four knights. +</p> + +<p> +When the body was brought in and laid +down before the King he said in a loud voice, +"Tell me now who has done this deed and +for what cause." Amaury answered, "The +man who did this deed sits yonder. He is +none other than Huon of Bordeaux." When +the King heard these words he would have +fallen on Huon and slain him, only the Duke +Naymes and others of his Barons held him back. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Huon to the King, "Believe me, +Sire, that I knew not this knight to be your +son; verily, had I known it I should not have +come to make my complaint to you as I have +done this day. Rather should I have fled +away and hidden myself as best I could." +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Duke Naymes to the King, +"Let now Amaury stand forth and tell us why +he lay in ambush in the wood with your son, +and what purpose he had in his mind." +</p> + +<p> +And Amaury stood forth and told this tale: +"Sir, your son sent a message to me, desiring +that I should go a-hawking with him. So I +went with him, only we went armed, for +I feared the men of Ardennes lest they +should fall upon us. It chanced that we +came to a little wood, and there we cast our +hawks, and one of the hawks was lost. While +we sought for it there came by Huon and his +brother, and Huon had the hawk on his fist. +Then your son full courteously required his +own again, and Huon for answer drew his +sword and slew your son, which when he +had done he rode away so fast that we could +not overtake him; and now I challenge him +to say that he knew not the knight that +demanded the hawk to be your son." +</p> + +<p> +Then said Huon, "I will prove that this +Amaury is a false liar, and will make him +confess that I knew not the knight whom I +slew to be the King's son. And for my surety +I give my brother Gerard, than whom there is +none nearer of kin to me." Amaury on his +part gave as surety two nephews that he had. +</p> + +<p> +The King said to the Duke Naymes, "Let +them prepare a field where these two shall +fight, and till it be prepared shut them up +in a tower, and let a hundred knights +be ready to keep the field when it is +prepared. For I will not suffer my son to be +buried till the vanquished man be hanged, +if he have not been already slain in the +field." +</p> + +<p> +When all was ready, the two champions took +each his oath upon the holy relics that he had +spoken the truth, and then made themselves +ready for the fight. But men noted that +Amaury, when he would have mounted his +horse, stumbled so that he had well-nigh fallen +to the ground. Then, after proclamation made +that no one should presume under pain of +death to make any sign to either of the +combatants, the King stood up and said, "My +pleasure is that if no confession be made of the +truth, then the vanquisher shall forfeit all his +land and be banished from this realm." And +from this judgment he would not depart, +though the Duke Naymes and the other +Barons did protest that the King was unjust. +</p> + +<p> +After this the two knights joined battle. +First they charged on horseback, breaking +both of them their spears, and with so great +a shock that their horses fell to the ground. +Then both of them rose to their feet, and +fought with their swords. First Amaury smote +Huon on the helmet so strongly that he +well-nigh stunned him. Indeed Huon was fain to +rest for a space on one knee. When Amaury +saw this, he cried, "Huon, you cannot hold +out longer; it were well for you to confess +your ill-doing." But Huon answered, "Be +silent, false traitor," and he made as if he +would strike him on the helmet; but when +Amaury raised his sword to guard the blow, +then Huon turned suddenly his stroke, and +smote the man under his guard so that he +lopped off his left arm. When Amaury saw +that he was so disabled, he bethought him of a +base device. He said to Huon, "I do confess +that I spoke falsely and that you knew not that +the knight was Charlot. Therefore I yield me +to your grace. Come, therefore, and receive +my sword, which I willingly yield to you." But +when Huon came near to take the sword, +Amaury smote him on the arm, thinking to do +him the same damage that he had himself +endured. This stroke he missed, yet made a +great wound, so that the blood flowed down. +Then said Huon, "Take this, false traitor!" +and he slew the man with one stroke, but for +repentance or confession there was no space of +time. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the King, "Did the vanquished +man confess?" And when he heard that no +confession had been made he said to Huon, +"I banish you for ever from this realm. +Never shall you hold one foot of land in +Bordeaux or Aquitaine." Nor would he abate one +jot from this sentence, for all that Huon +begged him to have mercy, and the Duke +Naymes with the other Barons were urgent +with him that he should not do this great +injustice. Nevertheless at the last when he +saw that he was left alone, for the Duke with +his fellows had departed from the palace, he +was constrained to relent somewhat from his +purpose. So he called the Barons, saying, +"Come back to me, for I must perforce yield +to your desire." To Huon he said, for the +young man knelt before him with much +humbleness, "Will you do that thing which I +command?" And Huon answered, "Sire, +there is nothing in the whole world that I +would not do at your bidding, if I might +thereby be restored to your grace. Verily I +would go to the gates of hell, as did Hercules, +if you should send me thither." The King +answered, "Maybe, Huon, I shall send you +to a worse place than that to which went +Hercules, for of fifteen messengers that have +already gone thither there has not come back +to me a single one. Hear then what I shall +say: you shall go to the city of Babylon and +enter the palace of Gaudys that is Admiral of +the city when he sits at his dinner. And you +shall defy him, and shall take the sceptre from +his hand. This sceptre shall you render into +my hands. After this I will take you again +into favour, and will give back to you your +lands." The Barons said, "Sir, you must +greatly desire the death of him whom you +send on such an errand." The King answered, +"Let him never come back to France except +he bring the Admiral's sceptre with him." Nor +would he grant him any further grace, +save that ten knights should go with him. So +Huon made ready to go. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap37"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXVII +<br><br> +HOW HUON MET WITH KING OBERON +</h3> + +<p> +There is no need to tell all Huon's +journeyings after he had departed from +Paris. Let it suffice to say that he went to +Rome and there received the blessing of the +Pope; and that he took ship at Brandys,[<a id="chap37fn1text"></a><a href="#chap37fn1">1</a>] and, +traversing the Inland Sea, so came to Holy +Land, and, having landed at Jaffa, he came on +the second day to Jerusalem. And he had for +his comrade a certain Garyn, who was his +mother's brother, for Huon was son to Duke +Sevyn of Bordeaux. At Jerusalem, when they +had worshipped at the Holy Sepulchre, Huon +said to his uncle, "I thank you much for +your great kindness in that you have borne +me company so far. Now then return to your +lady, my aunt, and to your children." "Not +so," answered Garyn, "I will not leave you +till you shall return yourself to your own +land." +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap37fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap37fn1text">1</a>] Brindisi. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +From Jerusalem they passed through the +desert suffering much from heat and thirst. On +their way they saw a hut, in the door of which +sat an old man with a long white beard, who, +when Huon saluted him in the name of God, +first began to weep, and then caught Huon's +hand, and kissed it many times. "'Tis thirty +years," he said, "since I have seen the face of +a Christian man. And now looking upon you +I remember me of a noble peer whom I knew +long since in the land of France, Duke Sevyn +of Bordeaux. But now I pray you rest +awhile." +</p> + +<p> +So Huon and Garyn tied their horses to +trees, and sat down and talked with the old +man. And when Huon had told his story, +then the old man related how he had been sent +on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, because he had +slain a knight in a tourney, and how on his +way home he had been taken prisoner by +Saracens and carried to Babylon, from which +place he had escaped after two years. "But," +said he, "I have not been able to return home, +but have dwelt in this place ever since." +</p> + +<p> +Huon said, "It is to Babylon that I go. +Tell me now what road I should follow." The +old man answered, "There are two roads to +Babylon, one of forty days' journey and one of +fifteen only. But the shorter road is beset by +a certain Oberon, King of the Fairies. This +Oberon is very pleasant to look upon, and his +voice very sweet, but be sure that you do not +speak to him, for he that speaks to him is lost +for ever. Yet, if you will not speak to him, he +will hinder your journey by his magic. I +counsel you, therefore, that you take not the +shorter way." +</p> + +<p> +This counsel did not please Huon, who said, +"If I can gain so much time by only keeping +my tongue from speech, I will surely do so." "If +this be your will," answered the old man, +whose name, it should be said, was Gerames, +"I will go with you." +</p> + +<p> +The next day they set forth. At noon they +rested awhile under an oak, and as they rested, +Oberon came by, very richly clad in a garment +garnished with precious stones, and holding in +his hand a very precious bow. A horn also +hung to his neck by two chains of gold. +There never was such a horn in this world. +One note of it could cure all kinds of sickness; +another could satisfy hunger and thirst, yet +another could lighten all heaviness of heart, +and a fourth could draw any one that heard it +even against his will. +</p> + +<p> +As Oberon rode by, he blew a note upon +his horn, and when he heard it, Huon forgot +all the hunger and thirst that he had. And +Oberon cried, "I pray you speak to me." But +Huon, mindful of the counsel of Gerames, +answered not a word, but rode away. Then +Oberon in his anger blew again on his horn, +and straightway there arose a great storm, so +that they could scarcely win their way against +it; after the storm there appeared a great river +in their way, very black and deep, and rushing +with a terrible noise; also on the other side of +the river there appeared a very fair castle, +which when they had looked on it awhile +vanished out of their sight. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-336"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-336.jpg" alt="HUON MEETING WITH OBERON."> +<br> +HUON MEETING WITH OBERON. +</p> + +<p> +Gerames said, "Ride on now, taking no +account of these things." And this they did. +When they had ridden some five leagues, and +had seen nothing more, Huon said, "We are +well escaped from this Oberon." Gerames +answered, "Not so; we shall see him again." And +while he spake, they saw Oberon on the +other side of a bridge by which they must pass. +Huon said, "See, there is the devil who makes +all this trouble." Oberon heard these words, +and cried, "Sir, you do me wrong; I am no +devil, nor of an ill nature, and I entreat you +that you speak with me." But Huon answered +him not a word. +</p> + +<p> +After certain days, Oberon appeared again +and said, "I conjure you by the name of God +that you speak to me. I know who you are, +and why you are come hither"—and he told +him all that had befallen him, the slaying of +Charlot and the anger of the King—"and be +sure that you cannot accomplish the thing for +which you are come, save by my help." "Sir," +answered Huon, "you are welcome." And +Oberon said, "You will win for yourself a great +reward by those words." +</p> + +<p> +He had scarcely said these words when there +rose up before them a very fair palace, and in +the palace there was a hall, and in the hall a +table of gold, set with cups and plates and +dishes and all manner of meats thereon. At +this they sat down, and feasted joyously. And +Oberon told Huon how he came to be as he +was, for he was but as a child to look upon. +"When I was christened," said he, "my father +gave a royal feast to all the people, and called +the fairies also. But one fairy was not called, +and she, being, greatly angered, said, 'This +child shall not grow one whit after his third +year.' But afterwards repenting said, 'Though +this be so, yet there shall not be a fairer child +than he." And when they were satisfied, +Huon said, "Have we your leave to depart?" Oberon +answered, "You shall go when you +wish, but first I would show you something." And +he said to a knight, "Go, fetch me my +cup." So the knight brought him a cup. This +Oberon took in his hands, and made over it the +sign of the cross, and straightway the cup was +filled to the brim with wine. "See," said he, +"this cup. If a man be in deadly sin, there +shall be never a drop of wine in the cup when +he holds it; but if he be out of sin, then it shall +fill for him. Take it now and make a trial of +it." Huon answered, "I count not myself to +be worthy of such a thing; yet thus much will +I say, that I do repent me of all that I have +done amiss, and that I forgive all men what +they may have done amiss to me." Then he +took the cup in his hands, and straightway it +was full of wine. Then Oberon said, "Take +this cup, for you are worthy of it, and this horn +also. But beware that you use it not except of +necessity." And when he had looked upon +Huon awhile, he said, "Huon, I love you well, +but I foresee that you will suffer many things +by reason of your folly." And he suffered +him and his companions to depart. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap38"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXVIII +<br><br> +OF THE END OF THE FALSE DUKE MACAIRE +</h3> + +<p> +Huon and his companions rode on till +they came to the city of Tormont. At +the gate they met a man with a bow in his +hand, who had been hunting in the wood. +Huon saluted him in the name of God, and +would know by what name the city was called. +When the man heard the salutation, he said, +"Sir, speak softly, I pray you; if the Duke of +this city should know you to be Christian +man, he would assuredly slay you. I am a +Christian man myself, but keep it hidden for +fear of my life." +</p> + +<p> +"I am journeying to Babylon," said Huon, +"and would fain tarry a night in the city, for I +and my company are weary." "Sir," answered +the stranger, "I counsel you not to tarry; +should the Duke know of your coming, you +would hardly save your lives." But Huon +said, "The day is far spent, and we are weary. +Nor does a wise traveller leave a good town." Then +said the stranger, "If you are purposed +to do this thing, I will take you to a lodging, +where you shall be safe." So the man took +Huon and his companions to the house of the +Provost of the city. +</p> + +<p> +Huon greeted the Provost, as he had greeted +the man at the gate, and the Provost answered +him in the same fashion: "Speak softly," he +said, "for if the Duke should hear of this, you +would be lost. Nevertheless you are right +welcome to my house." Then he bade Huon +and his companions enter, and when they had +refreshed themselves, they supped with great +plenty. Supper being ended, Huon said to +Gerames, "Cause now that proclamation be +made that any man in the city that will may +come and sup free of all cost. And go you +into the city, and buy bread and meat and +other things needful, and I, with my cup, will +give them drink." And so it was done, and +there was never a beggar or vagabond in the +whole city but came to the supper. And Huon +ministered to them wine from the cup. +</p> + +<p> +Now it should be told that the Duke of the +city of Tormont was by name Macaire, and +was uncle to Huon. But he had forsworn his +Christian faith, and was full of hatred against +all Christian men. About this time he chanced +to send his steward into the city to buy +provisions. But when the steward found that +everything had been sold, he came again to +his master, and said, "I can get nothing in the +town for your supper. There is a young man +lodged in the Provost's house that has bought +all the victuals that were in the city, and has +feasted therewith all the rogues and vagabonds +in it." When the Duke heard this he said, "I +will go and see this fellow." And he bade his +knights arm themselves, and come with him. +As he went there came one that had been at +the supper, who said, "There is a young man +that has a most wonderful cup. If all the +people from the east to the west should +drink thereof, it would not fail." Then the +Duke said to himself, "I will have that cup." So +he and his men went to the Provost's house. +</p> + +<p> +When the Provost saw the Duke coming, he +said to Huon, "Here comes the Duke; I know +not how you will fare." "Trouble not +yourself," answered Huon; and when the Duke +came into the house, he said to him in a +cheerful voice, "Sir, you are welcome." "What +mean you by this tumult? Why did you bid +all these rogues to supper?" "Sir," answered +Huon, "I am bound on a journey to the Red +Sea; these poor folk I have thus entertained +that they may pray for me that I may come +back safely." "This is foolishness," said the +Duke; "what will their prayers profit you if +you lose your head?" "Sir," answered Huon, +"be content. Sit down now with your knights, +and sup with us; if I have done aught amiss I +will make due amends." +</p> + +<p> +So the Duke and his knights sat down, +seeming to be content. And when they had +supped, Huon serving them all the time full +courteously, he took the cup and showed it to +the Duke, saying, "Is not this cup empty?" "'Tis +so," said the Duke, "I see nothing +therein." Then Huon made the sign of the +cross over the cup, and straightway it was full +of wine. But when he gave it to the Duke, +lo! in a moment it was empty. Said the +Duke, "What magic is this?" "'Tis no +magic," answered Huon. "Because you are +in sin, therefore the cup became empty in your +hands." +</p> + +<p> +The Duke was not a little wroth; nevertheless +he dissembled his anger, and said, "Tell +me now your name and your kindred, and of +what country you are." And when he heard +these things, he said, "Fair sir, you are my +nephew; you should lodge nowhere but with +me." "I thank you, sir," answered Huon. +But Gerames said, "'Tis safer lodging with the Provost." +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow Huon would have departed, +but the Duke said, "Tarry awhile, fair nephew, +till my Barons shall come, for I would have +them go with you to your journey's end." "I +am content," answered Huon, "if you will have it so." +</p> + +<p> +The Duke, purposing to slay his nephew, +said to a certain Geoffrey, a knight who had +come with him from France, and had also +renounced the Christian faith, "Bring now five +or six score of soldiers, and let them slay this +Huon and all his train. Let not one escape, +if you would not lose my favour." To this +Geoffrey consented. +</p> + +<p> +But when Geoffrey was gone out from the +Duke's presence, he said to himself, "This is a +villainous deed that the Duke would have me +to do, the slaying of his own nephew. I +remember what great service this man's father, +the Duke Sevyn, did me when I was in France, +saving my life when I was overpowered by my +enemies. It were a shameful thing to deal +with his son in this fashion." +</p> + +<p> +Now there were in the castle some six score +prisoners out of the land of France who had +been taken captive on the seas. Geoffrey, +having charge of these prisoners, for he was in +high authority under the Duke, went to the +dungeons where they lay, and said to them, +"Sirs, if you would save your lives, follow +me." This they were well content to do. So he +took them to the chamber where the arms +were kept, and armed them all. Having done +this he said, "Sirs, now it is time to show your +courage, if you would have freedom instead of +bondage." And he told them how the Duke +had sent for pagan men to slay his nephew. +"But you," he said, "when the time comes, +will not slay but succour him." +</p> + +<p> +So the prisoners, being clad in armour, and +having swords by their sides, followed Geoffrey +to the hall where the Duke and Huon sat at +dinner; and when they had entered the hall, +Huon said to his uncle, "Are these the Barons +who shall conduct me on my journey?" for he +was very desirous to depart. The Duke, +thinking that Geoffrey had fulfilled his +commandment, said, "Not so, my nephew; these +are soldiers whom I have sent for that they +may slay you." +</p> + +<p> +When Huon heard this he stood upon his +feet, and put his helmet on his head and +prepared to fight for his life. Geoffrey, on his +part, said to the prisoners, "Show yourselves +men, fair sirs, and suffer not a single pagan to +escape!" And the prisoners fell on the company +that was gathered at dinner with the Duke, and +slew them. +</p> + +<p> +As for the Duke, when he saw how he had +been deceived, he fled by a secret way that he +knew, and, leaping from a window, so escaped. +But Geoffrey and the Frenchmen shut to the +gates, and drew up the drawbridge, thinking to +defend themselves in the castle, for they knew +that the Duke would not be content till he had +recovered it. +</p> + +<p> +In no long time the Duke, having gathered +together a great company of men, laid siege to +the castle. He had engines of war with him, +and ladders wherewith his men might climb on +to the walls and make a breach with pikes and +mattocks. And this the pagans did, and for +all the valour of Huon and Geoffrey and the +prisoners the castle was very like to be taken. +</p> + +<p> +Gerames said to Huon, "Now, sir, it is time +for you to blow your horn, for unless there +come to us some help we shall scarce see +another day." Huon answered, "I would +willingly do so, but my horn I have not, for I +left it with the Provost." +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Provost had come to the +Duke, and said to him, "Sir, this is but ill +counsel that you are pulling down your own +castle. Make peace with your nephew on this +condition, that he and his company straightway +depart from out of your city. Let me go, +therefore, and persuade him." "You shall +go," answered the Duke. +</p> + +<p> +So the Provost, coming to the castle gate, +said that he greatly desired to see Huon, who +coming, desired to know who he was. When +he heard that he was the Provost, he said to +him, "Now if you would serve me, give me the +horn which I left in your keeping." "That is +easily done," answered the Provost, and he +drew it from his bosom and gave it to Huon. +</p> + +<p> +Gerames, though he had counselled the +blowing of the horn, when he saw Huon now +ready to do so, repented, for he mistrusted +King Oberon, and would gladly have done +without his help. He said, therefore, to Huon, +"Sir, I doubt whether you are even now in +such a strait that you should blow the horn. +Haply King Oberon would not desire that it +should be done." +</p> + +<p> +"What mean you?" answered Huon. +"Shall I tarry till I am slain before I ask for +help?" and putting the horn to his lips he blew +it with all his might. +</p> + +<p> +King Oberon heard the blast of the horn +where he sat in his city of Mommure, and he +said to himself, "Doubtless my friend has need +of me; I wish that I were with him and ten +thousand men with me." No sooner had he +wished it than he and the ten thousand men +were in the city of Tormont. A great slaughter +did they make of the pagans, but they that were +willing to be christened King Oberon saved +alive. As for the Duke, he was slain without +mercy, for he was an evil man, and had sinned +against knowledge, and they hanged his body +on a gibbet that was set upon the wall, that his +end might serve as an example for others. +</p> + +<p> +After these things Oberon took leave of +Huon. At the same time he said, "I foresee +that you will run into many dangers by your +rashness. I counsel you, therefore, that you +undertake no adventures but such as are +necessary." To these words Huon answered, +that when he departed from France, he had +resolved that he would refuse no adventure, +how perilous soever it might be. "That is +foolishness," said Oberon; "and mark this: if +you blow the horn when you are on any of such +adventures, I will not heed it, no, not though +you should even break the horn in the blowing +of it." "Sir," said Huon, when he heard these +words, "you will do your pleasure, as I will do +mine own." But Oberon answered nothing. +So these two parted in anger. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap39"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXIX +<br><br> +HOW HUON, HAVING SLAIN A GIANT, CAME TO BABYLON +</h3> + +<p> +After these things it was told Huon +that there was a certain tower not far +from the city of Tormont, a very marvellous +place where there dwelt a giant, Angolafer by +name. The gate of this tower, for so the story +ran, was kept by two men of brass, each of +whom held in his hand an iron flail. These +two beat with their flails without ceasing for +one single moment, the one striking while the +other ceased; and this they did so quickly that +not even a swallow could fly between them +without taking harm. But if a man could by +any means pass into the tower, and overcome +the giant, then he would find treasures without +end. +</p> + +<p> +When Huon heard of these things, he +thought in himself, "This is an adventure +after my own heart." So he made his way +to the tower. When he saw the men of brass +striking with their flails, he wondered much +how he might win by them. After a while +he spied a bason of gold, tied with a chain to +a marble pillar; on this he struck three great +strokes with his sword, for he said to himself, +"If I may come to speech with some human +creature 'twere better than dealing with these +men of brass." And so it fell out. There was +a certain damsel in the tower, Sybil by name, +whom the giant kept prisoner, and she, hearing +the sound, ran to a window and looked out. +When she saw Huon, she said, "Who is this? +He is a fair knight. I judge him to be of +France, for I see on his shoulder three crosses, +gules; 'twere a pity that he should come to +harm; yet what could fifty knights do against +this giant? Yet if he is come for some good +end, I would fain help him." +</p> + +<p> +Now there was a handle which, being turned, +stayed the beating of the flails. The Lady +Sybil thought within herself, "Dare I do this +thing? Yet it were better to die than to remain +in this bondage." Also she heard the breathing +of the giant, as of one in deep sleep. +Thereupon she turned the handle, and Huon +entered the palace. But when he passed from +the gates to the hall, and from the hall to a +chamber, and from this to other chambers, +and saw no one, only dead men lying here and +there, he was not a little astonished. +</p> + +<p> +After he had so wandered awhile, he heard +the voice of a damsel that wept, which sound +he followed till he came to the place where she +sat. "Why weep you?" he said. "I weep," +she answered, "because you are in great peril. +Know that I am a Christian woman, though I +have not talked with a Christian these seven +years. My father, making pilgrimage to the +Holy Sepulchre, was shipwrecked in this place. +Him, with all his train, the giant slew, but me +he kept alive." "Tell me, lady," said Huon, +"who you are?" "I am daughter," she +answered, "to Guynemer, that was Earl of +St. Omer, and married to a sister of Duke +Sevyn of Bordeaux." "Then," said he, "you +are my kinswoman, for I am the elder son of +the same Duke Sevyn;" and he greeted her +full courteously. "And now I am on the way +to the Admiral of Babylon, having been sent +on an errand by Charlemagne. But tell me of +this giant." "Nay," said she, "you would +do well to depart while he sleeps." But Huon +would have none of this counsel. "I should +take to myself shame," said he, "if I should +fear this villain." "If you are so minded," +answered Sybil, "you will find him in the +fourth chamber from this." When Huon was +come to the fourth chamber, he saw the giant, +a most monstrous creature to behold, asleep on +a bed, and cried aloud, "Rise up, thou heathen +dog, or I will strike off thy head!" The giant +answered, "Not a hundred such as you would +prevail over me were I armed; even now I fear +you not." "Gird on your armour," said Huon, +"I would not fight with a naked man." "That +is bravely and courteously said," quoth the +giant. "Tell me your name and country." Huon +answered, "I am a poor knight of +France, whom Charlemagne has sent on an +errand to the Admiral of Babylon." "From +that same Admiral," said the giant, "I have +taken not one town only, but many. This +tower I took from Oberon, who is a great +Prince in these parts, and with it a suit of +armour which no one may wear save he be +without guilt. Now, for your courtesy, you +shall try it, if you will." +</p> + +<p> +Then Huon took the armour, and put it on +him, and lo! he bare it easily. "I see," said +the giant, "that you are a worthy knight; now +that you have proved the armour, deliver it +to me again." "That will not I," answered +Huon, "not for twelve of the fairest cities +that are between this place and Paris." "Friend," +said the giant again, "if you will but +deliver to me the armour, I will let you depart +hence without harm; also I will give you a +ring of gold which I had of this same Admiral +of Babylon. Whoso has this ring can pass +where he will." +</p> + +<p> +"I owe you no thanks for the gift," said +Huon, "for the ring I can take at my pleasure, +when you shall have been slain." Thereat the +giant, in great wrath, made at him with a +falchion that he carried in his hand, but +missing his stroke, he smote a pillar that +stood hard by so sharply that the steel +fixed itself in the stone. When Huon saw +what had befallen, he smote the giant and +struck off both his hands. The giant turned +to flee, but the Lady Sybil, for she had come +desiring to save the Christian knight, threw a +staff between his legs so that he fell headlong +to the earth: when Huon saw him lie thus, he +smote off his head with one stroke of his +sword. +</p> + +<p> +This done, Huon looked forth from a +window of the tower, and cried to his +comrades, where they stood in no little fear, +"Come up hither, I have slain the giant." Then +the Lady Sybil turned the handle as +before, so that the flails were stayed and they +entered the tower. The day being now far +spent, they sat down to supper, and made good cheer. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow, Huon said to his companions, +"Tarry you here in the tower with +the Lady Sybil, for I will go to Babylon alone. +If I come not again in fifteen days, then take +ship, and depart to the land of France." But +Gerames said, "Not so, my lord; we will +tarry for you the space of a whole year." And +to this they all agreed. +</p> + +<p> +Huon, therefore, journeyed to Babylon. +When he came near to the city, he perceived +that the woods were crowded with wayfarers, +some that went a-hawking and some that +came back from their sport, and merchants, +and travellers, with horses and carriages. He +marvelled to see them, for they were strange of +aspect to him; and they also marvelled at him, +for the fashion of his armour was not the fashion +of their country. So much was he occupied +with the sight, that the giant's ring passed +wholly from his mind, from which forgetting +there came to him, as will be seen, much trouble. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to the Admiral's palace, he +cried to the porter that he should open the +gate. The porter would know whether he +was a Saracen. "That am I," answered +Huon, thinking that otherwise he would not +be suffered to enter. So the porter opened +to him. Then Huon straightway remembered +the ring, and said to himself, "I have sinned +in lying to this fellow, and this to no purpose, +having the ring." +</p> + +<p> +After this he came to a second gate, and a +porter thereat, who opened to him at the sight +of the ring; and after the second, a third, and +after the third, a fourth, which he passed in +the same way. +</p> + +<p> +Being now in the very middle of the palace, +he bethought him, "There are doubtless many +Saracens in this place, and I only a Christian. +'Tis time to blow the horn and I may have +help from King Oberon." Thereupon he blew +a great blast. +</p> + +<p> +King Oberon heard the blast where he sat +in his palace. But he said to himself, "There +has been a lie upon the lips that blew this horn, +for the note is false. Though he burst his +throat with blowing, I will not go to help him." +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral heard it, he said to his +lords that sat with him, "There is a magician +in the palace. Go bring him to me before he +do us any mischief." +</p> + +<p> +Huon was not a little troubled when he +found that no one came to his blowing of the +horn. "I am in an evil case," he said, "nor +shall I see my people or my country any more. +Nevertheless it becomes a man to keep a good +courage." And when the Admiral's lords came +to him, he took no heed of them, but walked +straight forward, and they feared to lay hands +on him. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to where the Admiral sat, he +made no obeisance, but drew his sword, and +said, "I come from the great King Charles." Before +he could say more, the Admiral cried +aloud, "Seize me this villain!" And the lords +made as if they would seize him. Then Huon +took the ring from his finger, and showed it to +the Admiral, saying not a word. +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral saw the ring, he said, +"Leave this man alone; he is here of right." Then +Huon said, "I am a Christian man, and +I come from the great King of the Christians. +Hear, therefore, the message that he sends: +'Turn from your false gods; confess the faith +of Christ; acknowledge that you hold your +kingdom of me; and send me for token your +royal sceptre. If you will not +I will come with an army, and utterly destroy +both you and your people.' This is the King's +message, and I counsel you to take heed +thereto." +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral heard these words, his +anger passed all bounds. "Know," he cried, +"that before you fifteen messengers have come +to me making this same demand, and these +fifteen have been hanged by the neck in +the very same place; and you shall be the +sixteenth." And he said to his men, "Seize +me this fellow." Then Huon, setting his back +to the wall, and drawing his sword, fought +with all his might. Many he slew; but when +he had fought for an hour or more, and the +number of the enemy was increased rather than +diminished, and he had grown faint with heat +and toil, then he was constrained to yield. So +the Saracens bound him, and set him before the +Admiral. +</p> + +<p> +The Admiral said to his lords, "What shall +we do with this fellow?" and the lords answered +with one voice, "Let him be slain +forthwith." Nevertheless there was one lord, an old man, +and held in great repute for his wisdom, who +did not consent to this counsel. "Sir," said he +to the Admiral, "our law forbids that any man +should be put to death this day. I advise, +therefore, that he be kept in custody for a +year; after that we will take counsel about him +again. Also there is another matter that I fain +would know. How came this man hither? +Ask him, my lord." +</p> + +<p> +So the Admiral said, "Fellow, declare to me +by what means you passed the gates." Then +Huon said to himself, "I will speak no more +falsehoods, though I perish for it." And he +held up the ring, saying, "I passed the gates +by virtue of this ring." And he told how he +came by the ring, and how he had slain the +giant in the tower. +</p> + +<p> +When the old councillor heard these things, +he said to the Admiral, "Sir, we ought to +thank this man rather than harm him, seeing +that he has slain the giant that was wont to do +us so much mischief." The Admiral answered, +"I know not how to thank the man who brought +me a message so insolent. But as to the +keeping of him alive, it shall be done as you +say. I will not depart from the customs of my +forefathers. Let him be kept in prison for a +space." So the Admiral's yeomen took Huon, +and cast him into a dungeon that was under +the palace. +</p> + +<p> +Now it so chanced that when Huon was +brought before the Admiral, the Admiral's fair +daughter, Esclairmonde by name, was standing +behind a curtain, where she could hear all the +words that were said and could also see what +was done, being herself unseen. This maiden, +beholding Huon, and seeing how fair a knight +he was, and how boldly he bare himself both in +the fight and when he was brought before her +father, conceived for him in her heart no small +love. When, therefore, she heard that he was +to be slain, she had much ado to refrain herself +from crying out. But when she knew that he +was to be put in prison for a space, she thought +within herself how she might help him. +</p> + +<p> +When it was now midnight, and every one +in the palace slept, she issued from her +chamber, carrying a torch of wax in her hand. +When she came to the door of the dungeon, +by good luck she found the jailor asleep, +and taking his keys, opened the door of the +dungeon. +</p> + +<p> +She said to Huon, "Fair sir, I am Esclairmonde, +and am daughter to the Admiral, and +I saw you when you were brought before my +father, and also when you fought against his +men, and knew you to be a fair knight and a +gallant. Now, therefore, I desire greatly to +help you; nor is there anything which I would +not do for your sake," speaking more boldly +because the dungeon was a darksome place, +and neither could she see the knight's face nor +could the knight see hers. +</p> + +<p> +When Huon heard the maiden thus speak, +he said to himself, "Now must I be true as +becomes a Christian man. I must tell this +maiden that I, being a Christian man, may not +have friendship with a Saracen; but of love I +will not speak, lest it should shame her." So he +said, "Fair lady, for fair you must be, seeing +that you are so gracious, I thank you much for +your kindness, nor will I refuse such service as +you may find it in your heart to render me. +Only you must know that I, being a +Christian man, can have no friendship with +a Saracen." +</p> + +<p> +The Lady Esclairmonde, hearing him thus +speak, was filled with anger against him. "If +you will not have me for a friend," she said, +"verily you shall have me for an enemy, and +will find that you have chosen the worst +part." Then she went out from the dungeon, and +said to the jailor, "See that this fellow have +neither meat nor drink for three days." And +the jailor said, "Lady, it shall be done as you +command." +</p> + +<p> +Before the three days were passed, Esclairmonde +repented in her heart that she had +done this thing. She went, therefore, to the +jailor, and said to him, "Open the door, for I +would speak with this prisoner." And when +he had opened the door, she said to Huon, +"Sir Knight, I do greatly admire your +constancy, in that you hold out against hunger +and thirst, which to many, I doubt not, are +harder to be borne than any perils or hurts of +battle. Hear me, therefore: I do promise that +if I can escape from this land, I will be +christened as soon as I come to any land +where this may be done." Huon answered +her, "You make me right glad, fair lady; I do +thank you with all my heart." +</p> + +<p> +Esclairmonde said to the jailor, "Now set +before the prisoner meat and drink, and take +such care of him as you best can. Only tell +the Admiral that the man is dead of hunger." The +jailor answered, "It shall be done as you +desire." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap40"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XL +<br><br> +HOW HUON RETURNED, HIS ERRAND FULFILLED +</h3> + +<p> +When Gerames and the Lady Sybil had +tarried for three months in the tower, +and had heard no tidings of Huon, they were +greatly troubled and doubted what they should +do. And while they doubted, it chanced that +certain pagans came in a ship bringing tribute +to the giant. When Gerames perceived them, +he said to his company, "We do ill to tarry +here, when Huon, it may be, needs our help. +Let us take this ship, therefore, and sail over +the sea till we come to Babylon." So they +took the ship, the pagans not being able to +hinder them. +</p> + +<p> +When they were come to Babylon, Gerames +led his company to the Admiral's palace, and +went in and saluted him where he sat with his +lords, saying, "Now may Mahomet, of whose +gift both corn and wine come to the sons of +men, preserve the Admiral Gaudys!" "Friend," +said the Admiral, "you are welcome to this +place. Tell me your name and country." "I +come," answered Gerames, "from the city of +Mombraunt, and I am son to King Ivoryn." Now +Ivoryn was brother to the Admiral. The +Admiral rose up from his place and said, "Then +are you doubly welcome. Pray tell me how +fares my brother, King Ivoryn?" "He is in +good health," answered Gerames. "And who +are these that are with you?" said the Admiral. +"These," said Gerames, "are Frenchmen, +whom the King took when they were sailing +on the sea. He sends them to you for your +sport, that on the feast of St. John Baptist +you may set them bound to stakes in the +meadow, and let the archers shoot at them, +trying who shall shoot the best. This damsel +whom I have with me shall, if it please you, +be put with your daughter that she may learn +the French tongue more perfectly." "All +this," answered the Admiral, "shall be done +as you desire. Now, for the present, put these +caitiffs in prison, and see that they have enough +of meat and drink that they die not of famine, +as there lately died in this place one Huon of +Bordeaux. A fair knight he was, albeit he was +a Christian." +</p> + +<p> +When Gerames heard these words he was +greatly troubled. Such was his anger that he +had much ado to keep himself from running +at the Admiral to slay him; but with a staff +that he had, he smote the false prisoners that +he had so hardly that the blood ran down. +And they, for fear of the Admiral, durst not +stir; nevertheless they cursed Gerames in their +hearts. Said the Admiral, "Fair nephew, it +seems to me that you have but little love for +Christian men." "Even so, sir," answered +Gerames; "three times a day do I beat them +in honour of my God Mahomet." Then he +led the Frenchmen to prison, beating them +as he went, but none of them durst say one +word. +</p> + +<p> +As they went, they met the Lady Esclairmonde, +who said, "Cousin, I am right glad of +your coming, and now let me tell you of a +private matter, if you will promise to keep +it secret." "That will I do right willingly," +answered Gerames. "Listen, then," said the +damsel. "There came to this place some five +months since a French knight, bringing a +message from King Charlemagne. Him, my +father, taking the message that he brought +very ill, put in prison. I persuaded my father, +for a reason that I had, that this Huon is dead +of hunger, but in truth he is alive, and, indeed, +is as well served with meat and drink as is my +father himself." +</p> + +<p> +Gerames made no answer, doubting what +might be in the damsel's heart, and fearing +that it might be a device for discovering the +truth concerning himself. He spake no word, +therefore, but thrust the Frenchmen roughly +into the prison. +</p> + +<p> +Now the prison was so dark that Huon could +not by any means discover who they might be +that had thus been brought into his company. +But in a short space he heard one of them +lamenting his hard fate, and praying to the +Lord Christ that He would succour them, +"For," said he, "Thou knowest that we have +done no wrong that we should be cast into this +place, having come hither for the sake of our +young lord Huon." When Huon heard this, +he knew that they were Frenchmen, and said, +"Tell me now, fair sir, what has befallen +you." So the lord told him his story. And Huon, +when he had heard it, said, "I am Huon, safe, +and in good health, thanks to the fair +Esclairmonde, who is, indeed, a Christian damsel at +the heart." Then the Frenchmen began to +complain right bitterly concerning Gerames, +saying that he was the worst and cruellest +traitor on earth. "Nay," said Huon, "be +content, Gerames has done all this to deliver +us, as you will soon know for a certainty." And +so it happened, for Gerames, having had +more talk with the fair Esclairmonde, and +having heard that she was well disposed in her +heart to Huon and his companions, came that +night to the dungeon, and declared the truth. +"Only," said he, "we must wait awhile till +there shall be a fitting opportunity." +</p> + +<p> +After seven days there came to the palace +a great giant, Agrapart by name, brother to +Angolafer, whom Huon had slain. The +purpose of his coming was to demand from the +Admiral the tribute that had been paid by +custom to his brother. Now the Admiral was +sitting at dinner when he came, and the giant +came to the table, and said, "You are a false +traitor, for you harbour a villain that by some +foul means slew my brother Angolafer." And +when he had so spoken, he reached out his +hand, and dragged the Admiral from his seat +so rudely that the crown upon his head fell to +the ground. This, done, he himself sat down +in the Admiral's chair, and said, "My will is +that you pay me the tribute that you were wont +to pay my brother, for that which was his has +by right come to me. Yet I offer you this +grace, you shall choose you two men who may +fight a joust with me. If they can overcome +me, then shall you and your land be free of +your tax; but if I overcome them, then shall +you pay the double." +</p> + +<p> +When the Admiral heard these words, he +said to his knights, "Now is the time that you +may requite all the kindness that I have done +you, and all the gifts which I have given you. +And if gratitude be lacking, then I will say this +also; if any man will come forth to fight in +single combat with this giant, to him will I +give my daughter Esclairmonde in marriage, +and after my death he shall have all my lands +for his inheritance." +</p> + +<p> +For all this no man came forth, for the +Saracens were sorely afraid of the giant. +Then said Esclairmonde to her father, "Sir, +it was told you that the French knight, Huon +by name, whom you cast into prison, was dead +of hunger. This is not so in truth. Huon +yet lives, and I promise you that he will fight +with this giant." +</p> + +<p> +So the Admiral sent to the dungeon for +Huon and his company. And when Huon +was set before him, it could be seen that he +was in good case, though somewhat pale +because of being shut up. "You have found +a good prison," said the Admiral. "Yea," +answered Huon, "and I thank your daughter +therefor. But tell me now why you have sent +for me." Said the Admiral, "See you that +giant? He has challenged any man, yea, any +two men, and I can find none that are willing +to fight with him. Now, therefore, if you will +fight with him and overcome him, then you and +all your company shall return to King +Charlemagne. Also I will give into your hands a +present for the King; I will engage also to +send him year by year a like present for head +money; also I will bind myself to serve him +with such a host as he may require. Verily I +would sooner be his bond-slave than pay tribute +to this evil giant. But if you rather choose to +abide with me, then will I give you my daughter +Esclairmonde in marriage, and with her the +half of my kingdom." +</p> + +<p> +"Sir," said Huon, "willingly will I fight +with this giant. But first you must give me +back my horn and my cup that were taken +from me." "It shall be done," said the Admiral, +and he commanded that they should give the +horn and the cup to Huon. These Huon +delivered to Gerames to keep for him. After +this he armed himself for battle. And when +the Admiral saw him duly equipped for the +fight, he said, "This is as goodly a knight as +ever I beheld." +</p> + +<p> +When the giant and Huon came together in +the field, the giant asked this question, "What +is your kinship to the Admiral that you are +willing to fight for him?" Huon answered +him, "I am not of kin to him, I am a Frenchman +born, and I slew your brother." "That +is ill hearing," said the giant; "nevertheless I +am thankful to Mahomet that he gives me +occasion to revenge my brother's death; yet, +for I see that you are a brave man, if you will +worship Mahomet, I will give you my sister in +marriage—and she is a foot higher than I +and black as a coal—and the half of my +lands." Huon answered, "I will have none +of your lands or your sister. It is time to +fight." +</p> + +<p> +Then the two, setting their spears in rest, +charged at each other, and this so fiercely that +their spears were broken in pieces and their +horses borne to the ground. But the two +leapt lightly to their feet, and next the giant +would have stricken Huon with a great blow, +but Huon leapt lightly to one side so that the +giant missed his stroke. But Huon in his turn +smote the giant in the helm, and cut off his +ear. Then the giant was sore afraid and cried +to Huon, "I yield me to you; I pray you to +do me no hurt." +</p> + +<p> +The Admiral was greatly pleased with the +victory, and Esclairmonde had even greater +joy. When Gerames saw what had befallen, +he said to the Admiral, "Know that I am no +Saracen, no, nor nephew of yours, but I came +to look for my lord, Huon of Bordeaux." The +Admiral, when he heard this, said, "Of a truth +it is hard to be aware of the craft and subtlety +of these Frenchmen." +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Huon came and delivered up the +giant to the Admiral. The giant knelt down, +and said, "I did think myself the most mighty +man upon the whole face of the earth, and that +not ten men could prevail over me, but now +am I overcome by one only. Therefore I +submit myself to you and crave your pardon." "My +pardon you shall have," answered the +Admiral, "if you will promise not to trespass +against me hereafter, and will swear to be my +man so long as you shall live." "I promise," +and kneeling down in the sight of all, he swore +he would be the Admiral's man. +</p> + +<p> +These things finished, the Admiral and his +chief lords, with the Frenchmen, sat down to +dinner. At dinner Huon took the cup that +Oberon had given him, and showed it to the +Admiral saying, "See now what happens +when I make this sign." And when he had +made the sign of the cross, lo! the cup was +filled with wine. Then he gave the cup into +the Admiral's hand, and straightway the wine +vanished away. The Admiral greatly +marvelled at the sight, and said, "You have +enchanted me." "Nay, sir," answered Huon, +"this is no enchantment. This thing is a sign +that you are full of sin. And now I beseech +you to forsake your false gods and to be +christened. Verily if you will not do this +thing, I will overrun your palace and your +whole city with armed men." "Now listen," +cried the Admiral, "to this over-bold Frenchman! +He hath lain in my prison for the half +of a year, and now, forsooth, he will overrun +my city with armed men. I marvel much where +he will find them!" "Nevertheless," said Huon, +"you had better do this thing." "I would not +do it," answered the Admiral, "if Charlemagne +and all his host were here." +</p> + +<p> +Then Huon blew the horn. And Oberon +heard it where he sat in his palace, and said, +"Hark! there is the horn once more, and +methinks it sounds true." And he wished, +"I would be in Babylon with one hundred +thousand armed men." And straightway it +happened as he wished. So Oberon and +Huon overran the city of Babylon. All that +would not be baptized they slew, and among +them the Admiral, who was stout in refusing +to leave his false gods, and all that consented +to be baptized he saved alive. And Huon +took to himself the Admiral's sceptre, and then +Oberon wished again, and straightway he and +Huon and all his company and the fair +Esclairmonde were on the shore of the sea. +And he caused that a goodly ship should be +ready to take them to their own land. So +Huon embarked with the fair Esclairmonde +and all his people; also they took with them +the chief treasures of the city of Babylon. +</p> + +<p> +Then Oberon bade farewell to Huon, saying, +"See now that you tell the truth and keep you +from sin; so shall you prosper all your days, +and come to bliss when your days are ended. +And now render me again the cup and the +horn, for you need them no more." +</p> + +<p> +Then Huon and his company and the fair +Esclairmonde departed in the ship, and in +time came to the land of France. There did +Huon render to Charlemagne the Admiral's +sceptre; and the King received him into his royal +favour, and gave him back his lands. Then +was Huon wedded to the fair Esclairmonde, +and these two lived together in great happiness +to their lives' end. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Not long after that Huon had been restored +to his Duchy of Bordeaux, the Emperor +Charlemagne died, having been seized by a +fever, which, as being now old and worn out +by many labours both in war and peace, he +was unable to resist. There had been, it is +said, many signs of his death—eclipses of the +sun and moon, and other marvellous things. +Also, when he was making his last expedition +against the Danes, he saw a great light, as it +were a blazing torch, pass through a clear +sky and fall to the ground; and the horse on +which he was riding fell to the ground with +great violence. Also the palace in which he +dwelt at Aachen was shaken by earthquakes, +and in the Church which he himself had +founded there happened this portent, that the +word PRINCEPS, in the inscription which +recorded this his munificence, so faded away +that it could no longer be read. So Charlemagne +died on the 28th of January in the year +of Our Salvation, 814. He was buried in +a sepulchral chamber in this same Church +of Aachen. Many years after, the chamber +having been opened, the body of the Emperor +was found seated on a throne as if he yet lived, +clothed with imperial robes, bearing on his +head the crown, and grasping the sceptre in +his hand, while by his side lay his sword +Joyous, and on his knees was a book of the +Gospels. +</p> + +<p> +In life he was of a tall and strong person, +being seven feet in height. His eyes were +large and piercing, his hair and beard long. +He was of pleasant speech, and could speak +other tongues besides his own. Writing he +strove to acquire in his mature years, but +could not learn the art. He was in truth a +very noble and mighty prince. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> +UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, PRINTERS, WOKING AND LONDON. +</p> + + +<p><br><br><br><br></p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75339 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + |