UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES 517 CHARLEMAGNE ROMANCE OF THE MIDDLE AGES THOMAS 'BULFINCH AUTHOR OF "TUB AOK OF FABLE," "THE AGE OF CHIVALRY," KTC. NEW EDITION WITH AN EXPLANATORY INTRODUCTION BT AKTIIL'K RICHMOND MARSH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE LITERATURE IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY BOSTON LEE AND SHEI'AKI) PUBLISHERS 1903 147335 . Entered according to Act ot Oonirrw. In the year l&ttt, b? THOMAS BUIFINCH, la UM Ctart Uffloe of the District Court of the District of M>uwaehuMca Copyright, 1896. S. W. T1LTON. P/V PREFACE. BESIDES the education which schools and colleges impart, there is still another kind necessary to completeness. It is that which has for its object a knowledge of polite literature. In the intercourse of polished society a young person will more frequently need an acquaintance with the creations of fancy than with the discoveries of science or the speculations of philosophy. In an age when intellectual darkness enveloped West- ern Europe, a constellation of brilliant writers arose in Italy. Of these, Pulci (born in 1431), Boiardo (1434), and Ariosto (1474) took for their subjects the romantic fables which had for many ages been transmitted in the lays of bards and the legends of monkish chroni- clers. These fables they arranged in order, adorned with the embellishments of fancy, amplified from their own invention, and stamped with immortality. It may safely be asserted, that as long as civilization shall en IV PREFACE dure, these pi eductions will retain their place among the most cherished creations of human genius. In two previous works, "The Age of Fable" am' "The Age of Chivalry," the author of this volume has endeavored to supply to the modern reader such knowl- edge of the fal.Iee of classical and mediaeval literature as is needed to render intelligible the allusions which occur in reading and conversation. This volume is in tended to carry out the same design. Like its prede- cessors, it aspires to a higher character than that of a work of mere amusement. It claims to be useful, in acquainting its readers with the subjects of the works of the great poets of Italy. Some knowledge of these is expected of every well-educated young person. In reading these romances, we cannot fail to observe how the primitive inventions have been used, again and again, by successive generations of fabulists. The Siren of Ulysses is the prototype of the Siren of Orlando, and the character of Circe reappears in Alcina. The foun- tains of Love and Hatred may be traced to the story of Cupid and Psyche : and similar effects produced by a magic draught appear in the tale of Tristram and Isoude, and, substituting a flower for the draught, in Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Drearn." There an many other instances of the same kind which the reader will recognize without our assistance. The sources whence we derive these stories are, first, PREFACE. * the Italian poets named above ; next, the " Romans de Chevalerie " of the Comte de Tressan ; lastly, certain German collections of popular tales. Some chapters have been borrowed from Leigh Hunt's Translations from the Italian Poets. It seemed unnecessary to do over again what he had already done so well ; yet, on the other hand, those stories could not be omitted from the sories without leaving it incomplete. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION THE PEERS, OB PALADINS 1 THE TOURNAMKNT II THE SIEOB OF ALBRACCA 89 ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND OKLANDO .... 49 THE INVASION OF FRANCE 64 THE INVASION OF FRANCE, CONTINUED .... 79 BRADAMANTE AND KOOERO 96 ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS 118 THE ORO .... .... ISO ABTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED, AMD ISABELLA'S BEGUN 143 MEDORO 153 ORLANDO MAD ......... 166 ZERBINO AND ISABELLA . 180 ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA ... . 195 THE WAR IN AFRICA . . .... 908 KOOERO AND BRADAMANTB .... . W8 THE BATTLE or RONCBSVALLM . . 249 Vlll CONTENTS. KlNALDO AND BATARD 270 DEATH OF RINALDO 28C HOOK OP BORDEAUX 290 HUON OF BORDEAUX, CONTINUED ...... 302 Huos OF BORDEAUX, CONTINUED . . 319 OOIER, THE DANS . .331 OOIER, THE DANE, CONTINUED ... . 346 OOIER, THE DANE, CONTINUED . . m INTRODUCTION. IN the immortal book of the Spanish Cervantes there is a passage which, perhaps better than anv other ever penned, sets forth the excellences of the best of those literary works, to destroy which the story of Don Quixote was itself written, the romances of chiv- alry. It occurs in the course of the conversation between the priest of Don Quixote's native village and the Canon of Toledo, as they journey in the melancholy procession that attends the Knight of the Rueful Feature, under mock enchantment and confined in a cage, back to his home. Priest and Canon are of one mind about the baneful effects of much reading of these fantastic tales ; and yet the Canon is unwilling to dismiss the subject without some setting forth of their more favorable side. "They present," he says, " a large and spacious field through which the pen may run without let or hin- drance, describing shipwrecks, tempests, strifes, and , battles ; painting a valiant captain with all the parts ; required to make him such ; showing him prudent in frustrating the wiles of his enemies, and eloquent in oratory, persuading or dissuading his soldiers ; ripe in counsel, prompt in resolve, as courageous in awaiting as in delivering the assault; depicting now a tragic and lamentable incident, now a joyful and unlooked-for X INTRODUCTION. event ; here a beauteous lady, chaste, witty, and modest ; there a Christian knight, brave and gentle ; in one place a monstrous barbarian braggart, in another a courteous prince, valorous and wise ; representing the faith and loyalty of vassals, the greatness and generosity of noble- men. . . . And this being done in a pleasant style, with ingenious invention, inclining as near as possible to truth, the author will, without doubt, com- pose a web so woven of various and beautiful threads, that when finished it shall exhibit that beauty and per- fection which reach the best end aimed at in these works, which is at once to instruct and to delight. For the free method of writing these books gives the author room to display his talent in the epic, the lyric, the tragic, and the comic, with all the parts included in the sweet and delightful sciences of poesy and oratory." If the man who more than any other is held to have brought to an end the popularity of the romances of chivalry could thus write of the pleasures they are capable of giving the reader, we can the better under- stand (he remarkable attraction they had for all kinds of people, serious as well as frivolous, at the time when their vogue was greatest, between three and four hun- dred years ago. Indeed, we need some such help in order to understand it, for it is an obvious fact that, as the centuries have gone on, there has been a steadily declining interest in them. It seems sometimes as if in dealing with them the Zeitgeist, or Time-Spirit, as the Germans like to call the imperceptible but steady change in men's tastes and sympathies, due to the lapse of years, had played the part of an enlarged and pervasive Cer- vantes, teaching us to ridicule and scorn what our ancestors highly prized. So we now find it hard to INTRODUCTION. XI comprehend how grave and serious men can ever have found delight in following the impossible and often absurd adventures that constitute the ordinary material of chivalrous tales. Yet Spenser and Milton were grave and serious men, and we know that they read them with enthusiasm, and, what is more, constantly copied and imitated them in their own poems. Indeed, it would be difficult to mention the great poet of Eng- land or any other country, for some hundreds of years, who did not do this ; so that we may say without exag- geration that much the best poetry of the modern world is full of reminiscences of them. This fact alone should cause all cultivated people to feel an interest in the heroes and the heroic adventures of these old romances. For nothing, surely, is a better sign of true cultivation than interest in those things which have seemed precious to the best intelligences of the past. The education of our imaginations so that we can sym- pathize with the emotions of delight experienced by those whom generations of men have agreed to call masters is an imperative duty for all of us, in spite of its being now- adays so generally neglected. And if we find ourselves cold and critical in the presence of that which moved Spenser and Milton, we may be certain that the defect is in ourselves, and ought to be corrected at once. There is, however, another reason for interest in the tales of chivalry besides the general duty of cultivated sym- pathy. In recent years many eminent scholars have been investigating their character and history, and it has been discovered that they are connected in a much more inti- mate manner than was formerly supposed with the politi- cal and social development of the modern world. In all sorts of ways they help us to understand better both how Xll INTRODUCTION. modern society came to be what it is, and how modern literature, as distinguished from Greek and Latin litera- ture, acquired many of its most interesting characteristics. Duite apart, then, from the mere stories they tell, the romances of chivalry deserve the attention of all those /who are concerned to know how we came to have our /best conceptions of conduct in the world, our noblest /ideals of behavior in the strife and tumult of life, our I highest ambitions in practical affairs. It is in these tales ' that we get our earliest glimpses of the modern gentle- man, the modern soldier, the modern patriot, the modern lover ; and although the lapse of centuries has of course greatly modified the circumstances of our lives, the atten- tive eye can still follow back the unbroken thread of tradi- tion to these first types of the modern man. If the romances of chivalry, however, are thus instruc- tive for the general history of the world we live in, the student of literature finds them hardly less so by reason of their own development and century-long story. As we moderns generally think of them, they present themselves to our minds as they were in the last important stage of their evolution, that is, in the forms they had assumed in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. At that time, speaking very generally, there appear to be three main masses, or groups, of these tales. One includes the stories connected with King Arthur and his Round Table ; a second, those dealing with the heroic figures of Charlemagne and his vassals ; and the third, less closely united, those concerned with Amadis of Gaul and various heroes modelled after him. Though the stories of each of these groups were, in the period of which we are speak- ing, well known in all the civilized countries of Europe, it had come about that the most famous and remarkable INTRODUCTION. Xlll examples of the literary use of them were to be found in three different regions or countries. The Arthurian tales were most cultivated in Northern Europe, in France, Germany, and England. The stories about Charlemagne had been taken up by several of the most gifted poets of Italy. And the romances of the Amadis group owed most to the fancy and imagination of Spaniards and Portuguese. It is accordingly natural that we of the present should associate the stories of Arthur and his knights with such works as Sir Thomas Malory's " Morte d'Arthur " ; those of Charlemagne with the poems of Pulci, Boiardo, and Ariosto ; and all the train of Amadis with the " Amadis de Gaula" itself, and with the other books covered by the mockeries of Cervantes. A closer study of the matter, however, shows us that it will not do to accept this first impression as a complete or even tolerably just appreciation of the true relations of these mediaeval legends to each other. The fact is, they had had a long history, and had undergone many transforma- tions, before they arrived at the stage in which we chiefly know them. Among other incidents in this history had been the highly important one of a change of fatherland. The Arthurian stories were not originally French or German or English, but Celtic, the peculiar property of that once great but now diminished race to which the Welsh, the Irish, and the inhabitants of French Brittany belong. The legends about Charlemagne, as their central figure indicates, had their rise, not in Italy, but in France. While the material of the Amadis talcs was at first only in small part Portuguese or Spanish, much of it being but a working over of stories derived from France and from the Celts. Besides all the changes necessarily caused by these XIV INTRODUCTION. migrations of the tales, numerous and profound modifica- tions in the character of each group of them had resulted from the influence of the other groups. At the start, the Charlemagne legends, which in their cosmopolitan form are the oldest of all, had a character very different from that of the Arthurian stories. In fact, they were not romances at all, but in the minds both of those who made them and of those who heard or read them, they were esteemed to be heroic accounts of what had actually taken place in the past. Accordingly, they were not made up of imaginary relations of the adventures of lovers and their ladies, or of the strange and often impossible exploits of knights-errant upon land and sea. Their purpose was to relate history, not, to be sure, in the form of a dry chronicle, but so as to interest all kinds of people, stirring in them the desire to emulate the heroic men and deeds of the past. Long before it occurred to the Italians Pulci, Boiardo, and Ariosto, however, to write their Charlemagne poems, the ancient character of the legends had been forgotten. The example of the Arthurian romances had brought about the introduction into them of all the fantastic elements that strike us so strangely as we read them. It was no longer the heroic struggle of French heroes on behalf of their country and their religion that interested the readers of the Italian poems, but rather the picture they now afforded of chivalrous loves detailed in innumerable episodes, each more improbable than the other. Now this was exactly what the Arthurian stories had aimed at from their first appearance. An old French poet of the thirteenth century, Jean Bodel by name, had marked the distinction that existed in his time between the Charlemagne and the Arthurian tales when he said INTRODUCTION. XV that the former are " true and instructive," while the latter are "pleasing but deceitful." But in the time of the Italian poets this distinction had been wholly lost. So the works of these poets do not tell the stories of Charlemagne and his paladins in the spirit or manner of the old French heroic poems, or chansons de geste, as they were called. Many of the incidents in them would indeed have seemed to the older and in some ways better makers of the chansons de geste very unsuitable for poems aiming to describe historical persons and events. The legends of Charlemagne and his warriors con- tained in the present volume are in the main based upon the words of the Italian poets whom we have just been mentioning, Pulci, Boiardo, and Ariosto. When Mr. Bulfinch, more than thirty years ago, undertook to tell again for American readers these famous stories, he wisely decided to give them in the form in which they had had their greatest fame and widest circulation in the modern world. He was not aiming at a complete and technical survey of the whole mass of such legends ; and, indeed, at the time that kind of survey would have been impossible, for nobody had the information necessary for it. So he endeavored, and with remarkable success, to reproduce in simple form the intricate and often per- plexing inventions of the last great writers who had used the Charlemagne material. The result was a work which several generations of young readers have found a delightful means of obtaining acquaintance with some of the most famous heroes of modern romance, and which many older readers have perused, not without profit. It has not seemed desirable to change this plan in this new edition of Mr. Bulfinch'a book. The body of it remains as he wrote it, depicting the adventures of INTRODUCTION. Charlemagne's knights as they are described in Pulci's " Morgan te,*' Boiardo'a "Orlando Innamorato," and Ariosto's " Orlando Furioso." Much, accordingly, in the book is not properly legend at all, but directly the invention of the Italian poets themselves. Much also not absolutely invented by them was taken either by them or by their predecessors from the Arthurian romances and from a great variety of other sources. The reader must therefore not suppose that he has before him what can be called the veritable legendary history of Charlemagne and his time. This, veritable legend no one has ever attempted to describe in detail in English, though a learned French scholar, Monsieur Gaston Paris, has undertaken the task in French, in his book called " Histoire Poetique de Charlemagne " (Paris, 1865), but not for the benefit of the general public. In spite of this necessary warning, however, the reader will find in Mr. Bulfinch's tales what may now be called the accepted form of the legends of Charlemagne. The genius of the three Italian poets was so great as to super- sede, except for scholars, the more ancient and purer versions of their predecessors. Modern poets, accord- ingly, when they have mentioned the adventures of the famous paladins, have almost invariably had in mind, not the chansons de yetite, but the Italian poems. It is to be hoped, then, that the attraction of this volume will not be diminished by the fact that it rests upon only a late and in many ways altered rendering of the traditional legendary material. What the reader chiefly wants, after all, is to know Orlando and Rinaldo, Angelica and Bradamante, as Spenser and Milton and other modern poets have known them. The extent to which these characters and their stories reflect the primi- INTRODUCTION. live legends will not much concern him. In case, how- ever, his curiosity should be aroused to know how these primitive legends came to exist at all, and what was the general character of them, it has seemed well to put in this introduction a brief account of them and of their history up to the time when they came into the hands of the great Italians. It has been said above that the birthplace of the Charlemagne stories was France, and not Italy. How they passed from one country to the other we shall see presently ; but our first business is to ascertain how they came to exist in France itself. This is a question which scholars have been studying very carefully of late, and the principal fact discovered by them, which we now need to note, is that we must go considerably back of Charlemagne in order to get the real beginning of such legends. Indeed, their beginning is to be found at the time when the Roman Empire was over-run and broken up by the barbarous Germans from the North, in the fifth and sixth centuries after Christ. This event, or series of events, has ever since been rightly regarded as one of the most terrible in the annals of the human race. The Romans who had for nearly ten centuries been ex- tending and perfecting their power, represented at that time all that we now regard as civilization. They had settled abodes, laws, cultivated manners, education, literature, and art. They strove for peace and justice as the highest aims of the state. The Germans, on the other hand, were unsettled, restless, fond of war, mainly lawless, and quite devoid of literature and art. The victory of the latter, accordingly, meant the temporary destruction of the greater part of what had been achieved after centuries of effort. Law and order largely came XVH1 INTRODUCTION. to an end, education almost ceased, literature was hardly produced at all ; and had it not been for Christianity, which had already been adopted by the Romans and was soon accepted by the Germans, it would seem that the higher life of men must have been entirely neglected. This general confusion, however, had some redeem- ing features. The Germans were fierce and barbarous, but they were also fresh and vigorous, so that they proved a valuable addition to the somewhat over-refined and enervated Roman population. They were ready, moreover, to mingle with the Romans, and to adopt from them whatever they could understand of their manners and ideas. So they did not remain an isolated mass of conquerors in the midst of a cowering multitude of the vanquished, but speedily identified themselves witji the new countries in which they found themselves, and were ready to undertake the task of developing a new civili- zation to replace that which they had been obliged to destroy. Furthermore, in spite of their own compara- tive barbarism, they brought with them several customs which proved useful in the forming of the new society of Europe. It was probably one of these customs, a peculiar devotion of soldiers to their leaders, that was the starting-point of the whole feudal system. ( This is apart from our present matter and we will not dwell upon it here. Another German custom, however, of a character that we may call almost literary, deserves our attention, as it furnished the beginnings of all that mass of mediaeval legends about great leaders and heroic events, of which the legends of Charlemagne are now the best-known. Briefly put, this custom was to maintain a class of professional singers, or poets, held in high esteem by all, INTRODUCTION. XIX whose duty it was to recite on occasions of festivity or solemnity, and also when battle was impending, the heroic achievements of great leaders of the race, whether living or dead. The Germans found in these recitals the greatest delight when they were feasting and the great- est encouragement and inspiration when they were called upon to show their own prowess. Furthermore, their songs served a double purpose for the Germans. They were at one and the same time their poetry and their history. This was noticed by the earliest writer who has given us a detailed account of Germany and its inhabitants, the Roman historian, Tacitus. Speaking of the ancient songs of the Germans, in celebration of the origin and founders of their race, Tacitus remarks that these "are their only kind of tradition and annals." He also mentions the fact that the name of Arminius, the German chief so greatly dreaded by the Romans in the time of the Emperor Augustus, was long kept alive by barbarian songs. Nor are other testimonies of a similar kind lacking. Indeed, from the time of Tacitus on, we hardly ever get an account of any of the German races, without finding some allusion to the songs in which had been preserved their historic recollections and heroic traditions. And as the cen- turies proceed, we begin to get somewhat more extended accounts of the place and duties of the German poets. For example, in the year 448 A.I), an embassy was sent from Byzantium to the court of the terrible king of the Huns, Attila, God's Scourge, as he was called. One of the embassadors, named Prisons, has left us an account of what he saw there. It appears that Attila, though a Hun, had adopted many customs from the Goths, and such must probably have been an incident related by XX INTRODUCTION. Priscus of the banquet given by the king to the embas- sadors. As the feast was drawing to a close, in the early evening, says the Greek, " the torches were lighted, and two barbarians appeared and took their places over opposite Attila. Then the recited songs, in which they celebrated his victories and his warlike virtues. And all those who sat at the banquet kept their eyes fixed on the singers ; and soon took delight in the poetry itself; others, recalled to the remembrance of their own past wars, felt their spirits excited ; others still, whose bodies weakened by old age condemned them to inactivity, could not restrain their tears." This is a fine and stirring picture of the effect of such songs as we have been describing upon the rude warriors of the as yet uncivilized German and Ilunnish races. Nor is this by any means the only one we have. Some indeed composed by men of German blood have been preserved to us. We know, for example, that our own ancestors, the Anglo-Saxons as we generally call them, had singers,, whom they called scops, held in the highest esteem. It is an interesting fact that what is probably the very first bit of Anglo-Saxon literature (and so, of English literature) is a little poem in which such a scop gives an account of his own life and wanderings. "Widsith, the Wanderer," is the name the poem bears, by reason of the character of its hero. And we find this poet journeying far and wide through the Ger- man land, visiting the courts of the great leaders of the race, Hermauric, the Ostrogoth ; Offa of Ongle ; Gun- ther, the Burgundian ; and even Attila, the Hun. In the halls of these warrior- kings Widsith sang, winning applause, and also no doubt obtaining further materials for his professional uses. Yet another Anglo-Saxon INTRODUCTION. XXI poem, the "Beowulf," contains numerous allusions to the importance attributed in that primitive society to the f jnction of the scop. Whenever the banqueters gather, we are sure to find that the poet was present too, cheer- ing and inspiring by his recital of the glories of the great heroes and great deeds of the past. These, and many other similar evidences, make us certain that long before the various German races began their general advance towards the south of Europe in the fifth century of our era, they had a well-defined tradition of heroic poetry. This poetry was not written down in books, but handed down from singer to singer from memory. It was consequently not rigidly fixed in its form or matter. Perhaps we shall best understand its general character if we think of our English and Scottish ballads, which in fact represent the same poeti- cal habit, persisting in England till a comparatively recent time. When heroes or events, accordingly, had attracted attention and admiration, the singers began at once to tell about them in their poems. Of course, it was impossible in this way to preserve the real facts very long. Both heroes and events speedily became confused with other heroes and events. Every singer made some change in the way in which he told his story, adding or omitting according to the tastes of his hearers. So the heroic annals quickly became heroic legends, and often- times it would have been impossible to find any detail of a ftory connected with some historical character that really belonged to him. Only the most general linos of true history could be preserved in this way ; and yet it was still possible for both poet and audience to suppose that historical truth was unpervertcd. We are now ready to come back to the matter with XX11 INTRODUCTION. which we started ; namely, the question how the heroic legends about Charlemagne and his paladins had their beginning in France. The reader will remember that in the fifth century no less than three great German races came into France and settled there. The first was the race of the Visigoths, which, after sacking Rome in 410, moved westward into the south of France (or Gaul, as it was then called), and founded a kingdom with Toulouse as its capital. The second race was that of the Burgun- dians, which a generation later occupied nearly the whole eastern side of the land. The last, and in many ways the most formidable of all, was the race of the Franks, which late in the century, under the leadership of the famous Clovis, seized the entire northern section as far south as the river Loire. Of these three races, the last speedily proved itself the strongest ; and in the course of the sixth century it had reduced the other two to sub- mission to it. From this race of the Franks, the whole country has received the name of France. Now there can be no doubt that all these races brought with them into France that practice of heroic song which has been described above. The Visigoths have not indeed left us any remains of such songs composed while they dwelt in Gaul ; but later, when they had been forced by the Franks over into Spain, they had not ceased to delight in them, and speedily began to celebrate the fresh events of their history in this way. And centuries later we see in the countless Spanish heroic ballads (or, as the Spaniards call them, romances the rich fruits of this old Germanic custom, transplanted thus to Spanish soil. That the Burgundians had the same custom is abun- dantly proved by the fact that several of the most famous heroes of later German tradition are of this race, and INTBODUCTION. XXlii also by the location of the first part of the action of the famous German epic, the Xibelungenlied, in Burgundy. It is with the Franks, however, that we are here mainly concerned ; and in their case, as we shall immediately see, we have the best reasons for believing that there was the same eager interest on the part of all classes in this heroic poetry. Before proceeding to discuss the details of the Prankish poetry, however, it is well to pause for a moment upon a change in character and position of the professional poets, which resulted from the mingling of the Germans with the more cultivated Roman population of Gaul. We have seen that among the Germans themselves in their native land, the poet, whether called by the name scop or by some other, was held in high respect and esteem. He was in a sense the only intellectual member of society. His duties as annalist or historian, as well as entertainer, gave him a kind of authority. But down in the Roman world it proved to be impossible for him to maintain this place. For, first, the Christian clergy afforded a whole class of men much more truly learned and authoritative than he; and, second, it was impossible that he should not soon be confused with a numerous body of Roman entertainers, or amuscrs of the public, descendants of the old Roman actors, clowns, jesters, etc., who were held in very low esteem by the clergy and by all respectable people. These disreputa- ble performers were known as mitnt, ttcurrue, sal ta tore 8, and so on ; and also, as time went on, by the generic name joculatoreSf or jocularex; that is, makers of sport. Gradually, then, the old German names, like scop, were forgotten, and all popular poets were called indis- criminately joculatorvH or j'oculares. From these XXIV INTRODUCTION. words were derived the French names jogledor, joug- leor, and \aterjongleur, as well as the English juggler. For many centuries, then, there was in France a nu- merous body of Jongleurs, partly retaining the cheap Roman forms of popular entertainment, and partly continuing the German tradition of heroic poetry. It is to be feared that they were far from being a respecta- ble lot, for the Church was continually denouncing them, and declaring them to be damndbiles; though we do, indeed, occasionally find an exception made to this general anathema in favor of such jongleurs as sing the lives of saints and the deeds of princes. In spite of their low character, however, it is to these persons that we mainly owe the perpetuation of the heroic legends of the French kings and warriors ; and they finally com- posed the greater part of those chansons de geste, or heroic poems, which became famous in Italy as well as France, and afforded Pulci, Boiardo, and Ariosto the basis for their splendid works. From the first moment when Clovis and his Franks established themselves on the soil of Gaul, we know that the popular poets were busy making a legendary history of the king and his achievements. None of their poems, to be sure, are preserved, but it has recently been shown that numerous traces of their influence can be found in the works of the chroniclers who describe the period. In the same way Clovis's descendants, the kings of what is called the Merovingian family, were regularly celebrated ; and one of these, either one of his sons Theodoric and Clothaire, or his great-great-grandson Dagobert I., became so well known in this way that he lived for centuries in the popular tradition, under the name Flovent, and gave rise to a number of poems in INTRODUCTION. XXV several languages, which are preserved. It is to be noticed here that the Romanization of the Franks and their gradual adoption of the Roman (or, as we had bet- ter call it at this stage, the Romance) tongue, seems to have interrupted their acquaintance with the legends cur- rent among other Germans, and to have restricted their poets to material drawn from the history of France itself. So we do not find in the French poems the figures of the Goths Hermanric and Theodoric, of the Burgundians Gunther and Hagen, of the Hun Attila, or even of the old Frankish Siegfried, though the memory of these persons remained strong in Germany proper, and later gave rise to some of the most splendid poems of the Middle Ages. The French poets related the histories of French heroes alone, and hence gave a distinctively national color to their work. The Merovingian kings of France had no sooner completed the task of assuring the Frankish ascendency in the whole country than they began to decline in vigor, and to grow more and more corrupt. The land was again and again divided up among several sons of a king, and these speedily fell to quarrelling with each other and distracted the kingdom with their strife and their crimes. The way was thus opened for a new authority, and this appeared in the seventh century in certain officials known as Mayors of the Palace. At last one family of these Mayors, beginning with a certain Pippin of Heristal in the division of the kingdom called Australia, began to acquire such ascendency as was virtually royal ; and Pippin's son Charles, known in history as Charles Martel (the Hammer), early in the eighth century obtained all of kingship except the name. At the very same time it happened that the most XXVI INTRODUCTION. terrible danger that hud ever menaced France called into action both the patriotism and the religious zeal of the whole population. This was the impending invasion of the country by those Moslem hordes who in the year 711 had destroyed the Gothic kingdom of Spain and possessed themselves of nearly the whole Spanish penin- sula. The awful peril of the Mohammedan invasion pro- duced the profoundest changes in the people which we may now fairly call French. In the first place, it de- stroyed the last lingering antagonisms between the Ger- man conquerors of the country and the older Roman population. All classes of society saw the need of unit- ing against the terrible foe ; and for the first time some- thing like patriotism began to be felt. In the second place, it was perceived from the start that the struggle was one of religions, and that victory for the Moslems meant something very different from a conquest of one Christian race by another. The French thus came to regard themselves as special champions of the true faith, as warriors of God himself; and an indescribable Chris- tian enthusiasm took possession of the whole people. The leaders who directed the struggle were felt to be heroes specially consecrated by divine grace, glorious representatives at once of France and of Christianity. Compared with them and their deeds, the exploits of the traditional heroes of the German race seemed of small account, and were speedily forgotten. And this is a further reason why the names and deeds of the purely German heroes ceased to be heard in the songs of the French popular poets. A new heroic tradition, purely French and purely Christian, began to develop, the tradition which furnished the material for the chansons INTRODUCTION. XXV11 de geste and for all of the true Charlemagne legends, wherever we find them. As has been said above, it was in the time of Charles Martel, grandfather of Charlemagne, that France was most seriously threatened by the Mohammedans. And because this leader gathered the great host of Christians which met the Mohammedans under Abderrahman, the Moorish governor of Spain, not far from the city of Tours, in the year 732, and destroyed it, he became the first of the new national heroes of the French. We may be sure that immediately after this glorious victory had been won, and the country had been freed from the fear of conquest by its deadly foes, the popular singers, or jongleurs, everywhere began to recite to eager audi- ences, in the streets and in the castles, the tale of the battle and the exploits of the great general who had won it. Thus the family of the Charleses, or Carolingian family as it is called, displaced the Merovingian family as the favorite theme of popular song. Charles Martel died in the year 741, never having borne the title of king, though he had exercised an authority greater than that of most kings known to history. He left his power divided between two sons, Kuril ii in m and Pippin, the latter commonly known as Pippin the Short. In 74(>, however, Karl man n abdi- cated in favor of his brother; and in 751 Pippin assumed the name, as well as the authority, of king. Thus the famous Carolingian family became the royal family of France. Pippin the Short has not left a name so famous in history as those of his father and his son, but he was a man of great powers and added much to the influence and prestige of France. It was he who finally got the Mohammedans completely out of France, XXV111 INTRODUCTION. after capturing their chief stronghold on French soil, the city of Narbonne, in 759. He also still more com- pletely identified his nation with the cause of Chris- tianity by becoming the defender of the Pope against the encroachments of the fierce Lombards, who had occupied the entire north of Italy, and were looking with greedy eyes upon the rest of the Italian peninsula. On the death of Pippin, in 768, his kingdom was left to his sons Karlmann and Charles ; but the former lived only three years, and after his death there began the long reign of Charles, that Charles whom we always speak of as Charles the Great, or Charlemagne (in Latin, Carolus Magnus). Of all the Carolingian kings of France he was the most splendid from almost every point of view. He was one of the greatest warriors the world has ever seen, and before his death he had extended his kingdom in all directions. On the south he had pressed back the Mohammedans till he controlled a considerable territory in Spain. On the north and east he had brought to a victorious end the long struggle against the Saxons and other unchristianized Germans, which had lasted ever since the time of the sons of Clovis. As a champion of the Church he had reduced practically the whole of Italy under his sway. He had been successful in keeping back the terrible Northmen who were beginning to be restless in their bleak northern homes and to crave some part of the wealth and luxury of the south. No less remarkable than the warlike achievements of Charlemagne were his abilities as a statesman. The skill with which he organized his vast empire, composed of peoples so different in race, in character, and in tra- ditions, is beyond all praise. Though a German by INTRODUCTION. XXIX descent, and the heir of kings whose notions of govern- ment had been in many ways barbarous and brutal, he conceived the proper objects of the state to be the establishment of order and peace, the administration of justice, the diffusion of education, and the fostering of sound morals and true religion. He exacted from his officers the strictest responsibility in the exercise of their duties ; and he had a corps of trusted men (missidomi- nici, as they were oalled) , whose business was to traverse the empire, even in its remotest parts, and inspect the manner in which affairs were administered. That de- cayed learning might be restored, he gathered about himself the most famous scholars of Italy, Spain, and England, and established a kind of court school (schola palaiina), which he forced his own children and those of his chief nobles to attend. From this school the be- ginning of modern education may be said to date. He was unwearied in his admonitions to the clergy of his domains to educate themselves, and to establish monastic and cathedral schools, at which all who had a desire for knowledge, whether rich or poor, might be trained. Above all, he desired that his kingdom might rival in civilization, as well as in power and magnificence, that ancient Roman Empire which his own German ances- tors had helped to destroy. And it was a fitting recog- nition of his true aims and his true place in history, when in the year 800, on Christmas Day, Pope Leo III. crowned him Holy Roman Emperor, making him the champion at once of the highest ideal of earthly peace then known, and of the Christian faith as embodied in the Catholic Church. It was natural that a heroic figure like this should arouse the greatest enthusiasm among the French, and XXX INTRODUCTION. that all classes of the population should take the keenest pleasure in remembering his achievements. His great campaigns, especially, whether against the Mohamme- dans in Spain, or against the enemies of the Church in Italy, or against the obstinate and unconverted Saxons, became the themes of countless popular tales and songs. His glory, moreover, was participated in by all of his line, whether before or after him. His grandfather, Charles Martel, to be sure, and his father, Pippin the Short, had great merits of their own, as we have seen ; but his son Louis the Pious was compara- tively weak both as a soldier and as a king, and his four grandsons, Lothaire, Pippin, Louis the German, and Charles the Bald, were so absorbed in their mutual rival- ries, in their animosities against their father, and in their personal greeds, that they shattered the vast fabric of the empire and endangered the best results of Charlemagne's efforts. Indeed, the Treaty of Verdun, executed in 843 between Lothaire, Louis the German, and Charles the Bald (Pippin having died in 838), in which a parti- tion of the realm was made between them, practically ended the union of the French and German races which Charlemagne had accomplished, and initiated that long rivalry and hatred between France and Germany which continues till the present day. Each succeeding genera- tion of Carolingian kings, moreover, proved weaker than the last, and gradually the family both in France and in Germany fell into the most inglorious impotence and insignificance. And yet, despite this melancholy history, the French could not forget the greatness of Charlemagne and his family. Mindful of him and of his wonderful career, they even strove to find something of interest in his INTRODUCTION. XXXI degenerate descendants. The glory of a great race is not easily or quickly exhausted. And it is important to insist upon the fact that it was the whole French people that took such pride in its great king and emperor. Of course, the more cultivated classes that is, the clergy and the learned retained a much more exact concep- tion of the real history of Charlemagne's time than did the uncultivated ; but they did not surpass the latter in patriotic interest and pride. And just as the clergy read eagerly their histories and biographies, so the common people listened to the poetic tales in which the jongleurs kept alive the remembrance of the glorious past. It is indeed difficult for us, at the present day, to realize the delight taken by people in the Middle Ages in the re- citals of these popular poets. For us almost the only representatives of this once numerous class are the hand- organ men and the cheap minstrels. If we go to Spain or certain parts of Italy, however, we can still find sing- ers and reciters more like the mediaeval jongleurs, and still, like them, greatly enjoyed by the populace. In France, then, we know that there used to be vast num- bers of these poets, and that a favorite theme of their recitals was the patriotic one of the greatest period in French history. Thus for generations and centuries the story of Charlemagne and his deeds was kept alive in the memory of every son of France. We must note, however, one inevitable characteristic of history thus composed. It could not possibly be authentic and exact history. With all the help of books and scholars, nothing is harder than to relate events ex- actly as they happened. But the jongleur* did not have even this assistance. Their knowledge of the p-ist was derived mainly from tales that they had received by word XXXU INTRODUCTION. of mouth from predecessors of their own kind. Each generation of them handed down to the next its stock in o trade of songs ; and, naturally, these songs had to be con- stantly modified to suit new tastes in the audiences and new conditions of the recital. So it was impossible that many changes should not be made and many confusions creep in. How could it be expected that after several hundred years a popular poet, who could generally neither read nor write, should distinguish precisely be- tween kings of the same name, like Charles Mart el, Charles the Great, and Charles the Bald? As time went on, there came about in the popular poetry an in- extricable confusion of the events of the lives of these three Charleses. Or how should the ignorant jongleur know that the campaigns of Charles the Great in Spain had been against the Mohammedans, in Italy against the Lombards, a German people, and in their way Christian, and in the North against the Saxons, another German people, though pagan? The main thing remembered was that Charles had been a champion of Christianity against the infidels, and it was easy to suppose that all his enemies had been Mohammedans, wherever he found them. Or, again, how was it to be known that the great Saxon war, brought to a close by Charles, had really lasted, intermittently, more than two centuries, having been begun in the Merovingian time, long before the Carolingian family was even heard of? The natural thing for the jonyleur to do was to put all the events of this long struggle, so far as he had heard of them, into the life of the hero who had at last obtained the victory in it. Thus, in spite of the fact that the jongleurs be- lieved themselves to be telling what had actually hap- pened, and that their audiences thought the talcs to be INTRODUCTION. XXX1H true, there was often very little authentic history in them. There was still a further consequence of the necessaiy looseness of this method of transmitting history ; that is, that many minor persons, whose names had for one reason or another come to be commemorated by the side of the kings, obtained, as time went on, an altogether dispro- portionate importance. Indeed, several of these persons finally became quite as prominent in the popular recol- lection as Charlemagne himself. This is well illustrated by that hero whose story is in a sense the chief theme of the present volume, Orlando, or as he is called in French, Roland. In the authentic history of Charlemagne's reign there is but a single brief mention of this person- age. It is in the biography of Charlemagne written by Einhard, and occurs in the course of a reference to an expedition into Spain undertaken by the king in the year 777. In this campaign Charlemagne was able to conquer part of the peninsula from the Mohammedans ; he captured Pampeluna, but failed to win Saragossa. In 778 he started through the defiles of the Pyrenees mountains on his return to France. But in the pass of Roncevaux (in Spanish, Roncesvalles), the Basques, who dwelt in that mountainous country, on the fifteenth of August, 778, fell on the rear-guard of the army and destroyed it. Among those who perished Einhard men- tions a certain Rnndlfindus, Britctnnici liniitix pwtc- fectus, Roland, prefect of the marches of Brittany. So much and no more authentic history tells us about Orlando; and yet for reasons beyond our ken the man, as well as the terrible disaster in which he lost his lite, made a profound impression upon the popular imagina- tion. For centuries his story was kept alive among the XXXIV INTRODUCTION. vulgar ; and at last, almost exactly three hundred years after the battle of Roncevaux, an unknown poet composed a poem on the subject which deserves to be ranked among the most powerful and splendid poems of the world. The name of this is in French the "Chanson de Koland," in English the "Song of Roland." And this poem was written nearly four hundred years before our Italian poets began their work. In the same way, many other personages of the Caro- lingian time, some barely mentioned in history proper, others absolutely unknown, obtained in the popular poetry a fame quite out of proportion to their actual importance. And gradually the stories of all of these were brought into relations with each other, were grouped about the greater themes of the history of Charlemagne and the other Carolingian kings, and so came to make a great body of poetic material from which all the jongleurs freely drew. As we should expect, none of the earlier compositions of these poets are preserved to us. They were not written down by their authors, and they were generally disdained by the learned. But we may be sure that they were constantly improving both in scope and in general poetic excellence ; and in the second half of the eleventh century some of them attracted the attention of people who thought it worth while to preserve them in written form. ' Among the earliest so to be preserved was the " Song of Roland " which we have just mentioned. From this time for more than two centuries there was in France the greatest & activity in composing and writing down these chansons de geste ; and a very large number (considerably over one hundred) have been discovered by modern scholars and printed. From these we are able to form an idea INTRODUCTION. XXXV of the popularity and of the richness of such works in the Middle Ages. The reader is now in position to understand how it is that there should exist side by side with the authentic history of Charlemagne and his time another history mainly legendary in its character. Still a further matter, however, needs explanation, if we are to comprehend how the great and famous poems on the subject by Pulci, Boiardo, and Ariosto came to be written ; namely, how the Italians learned to know and imitate these French works of which we have been speaking. But before proceeding to discuss this question, it will be well to make a preliminary remark. This is that before the chansons de geste passed out of France into Italy they had begun to undergo a considerable modification in their spirit. The older poems were essentially national and warlike, devoted to the recital of heroic deeds wrought by Frenchmen in defence of their country, their religion, or their feudal rights. But early in the twelfth century French society underwent a profound change. It began to be what we call chivalrous. People began to think and talk much of social virtues and knightly be- havior. Women became much more important than they had been in the earlier time, and men devoted much more of attention to them. Love grew to be an absorbing theme in the thoughts of all cultivated persons, and knighthood was thought to consist very largely in the formal service of love and of ladies. This change of social sentiment was immediately reflected in the poetry of the time. The lyric poets known as trouba- dours (if they wrote in the language of the south of France, Provencal) or trouveres (if in the language of the north) devoted themselves mainly to describing the XXXVI INTRODUCTION. joys and pains of serving ladies with love. And soon also tales of love became very popular. Of these the most famous are those about the knights of the court of King Arthur, which were derived first from the Welsh and Bretons, but which began to be written in large numbers in France soon after 1150. It was natural, then, that the Jongleurs who made a business of reciting the chan- sons de geste, seeing how popular these love-tales were, should wish to insert similar ones in their own poems, and that they should try to make of the old national heroes, knights as good as any. Accordingly, we find in the later chansons de geste numerous episodes quite out of harmony with the good old tradition, episodes in which the heroes appear less as great warriors than as mere carpet-knights in search of amorous exploits. And yet to the end much of the old spirit remained, distinguishing the national poems from the fashionable poetry of adventure. We are now ready to see how the Italians became interested in the legends about Charlemagne and his warriors, and how they began to use these legends in their own poetry. The first spread of the stories beyond the Alps was probably due to the fact that in the later Middle Ages France was the most splendid and in- fluential country in Europe. Whatever was popular in France was speedily taken up and imitated in all the adjacent countries. Particularly was this true of every- thing that concerned social manners and customs. As French society delighted in chansons de yesteand poems of adventure, it quickly occurred to the poets of Eng- land and Germany and Spain and Italy (and indeed of even more remote countries) to translate or imitate them in their native tongues. It may almost be said that all INTRODUCTION. XXXVii the chief modern literatures of Europe begin with such translations or imitations. This is true of Italian litera- ture as well as of the rest. In the thirteenth century we begin to find abundant signs of the popularity of the French stories in Italy. Several early Italian versions both of the Charlemagne and of the Arthurian tales, of interest only to scholars, have been discovered in recent years. Furthermore, we know that French jongleurs actually came into northern Italy and recited their poems, and that these poets speedily found imitators among the Italians. A very curious ordinance of the authorities of the city of Bologna, adopted in 1288, proves how genuine was the delight of the Italian popu- lace in these tales. The ordinance prohibits the singers of stories of French origin from taking their stand to recite in the public places of the city. Evidently the crowds that .gathered about these singers proved a seri- ous interruption to traffic. At first the attempt was made to retain the original language of the poems ; but it soon appeared that some modification of it, so as to make it more intelligible to Italian ears, was desirable. So we have a number of works of this kind written neither in French nor in Italian, but in a kind of mixture of the two tongues. Finally, the step was taken of composing in Italian alone. As time went on, the popularity of this poetry in no wise abated in Italy. On the contrary, the populace everywhere took the keenest delight in listening to it. Professional reciters of it became common in every part of the country, in Florence and Naples, as well as Bologna and Venice. The cultivated classes, to be sure, somewhat looked down upon it ; but perhaps even they found it not unattractive. And gradually persons of XXXviii INTRODUCTION. more and more intelligence took it up. One of the most interesting examples of this is a certain Tuscan named Andrea da Barberino, who at the end of the fourteenth century wrote a whole series of works in prose, in which he used the material he found in the chansons de geste in a kind of commercial way. One of his books, entitled " The Royalties of France " ("I Reali di Francia ") , has perhaps the honor, if such it be, of being the most popular book ever written in Italian. From its appearance about the year 1400 down to the present day, it has enjoyed an undiminished circulation among the Italian lower class. Wherever the Italian emigrant has gone, he has carried this book with him ; and it forms a staple of the trade of every Italian bookstore in New York and Boston and New Orleans, as much as in its native land. Its con- tents are simply the legendary history of the Mero- vingian and Carolingian kings of France, as derived from the vast mass of poems of which we have been speaking. In many different forms, then, the legendary history of the most glorious period of mediaeval France had become familiar to the Italians of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Charlemagne, Orlando, Oliver, Rinaldo, Gano, and the rest, were names well known to every Italian boy and girl. Almost any day you could go out into the market-place of one of the larger towns and find a story-teller (cantastorie, or, as they called him in Naples from the hero, Rinaldo), with his crowd of eager listeners about him, holding them entranced by the old yet ever-new tales. In the brilliant society of scholars and artists which then existed in several of the Italian cities, however, it was not at first realized what literary possibilities these popular fictions possessed. It INTRODUCTION. XXXIX was a period in which the minds of cultivated men were greatly attracted to the study of the Greek and Latin classics, which had been much neglected during the long mediaeval time ; and everything in the way of liter- ature not written by Greeks and Romans seemed to most of these men barbarous and unprofitable. But it was certain that a material so rich and various as that we have been describing would at length draw the attention even of these prejudiced scholars and poets, and that some among them would endeavor to show what use could be made of it. This is what happened toward the end of the fifteenth century ; and two men in particular have the honor of having seen, at about the same time, and apparently independently of one another, that out of the legends of Charlemagne and his knights poems could be made that would interest even the severest critics of the time. These two men were the Florentine Luigi Pulci, and the Ferrarese, Matteo Maria Boiardo, Count of Scandiano. It is interesting to see just how these two poets came to undertake the works which have given them such fame in the modern world. The first of them, Pulci, was an intimate member of the brilliant society of artists and poets and scholars which the princely family of the Medici, so famous in the history of Florence, had gathered about itself. He was not himself remarkable as a scholar, though he had some practice as a poet, and was a very witty and delightful man. Keenly alive to all that was brilliant and gay and amusing, his attention was attracted by the recitations of the popular reciters, and by the similar stories current in written form ; and it was perhaps his enthusiasm for this unfashionable poetry that led the gifted Lucrezia Tornabuoni, wife xl INTRODUCTION. of Piero de Medici and mother of Lorenzo the Magnifi- cent, to suggest that he should compose for recitation at her table the episodes of a poem upon his favorite theme. Accordingly, Pulci set himself to work, and as fast as he completed a portion of the story, it was recited by him for the amusement of the courtiers. The name later given to the poem, " II Morgante," derived from n minor character in it, the giant Morgante, does not at first sight indicate the real material of it, which is an account of the adventures of Orlando from the time of his banish- ment from Charlemagne's court through the wiles of the traitor Gano down to his death at the battle of llonce- vaux. Written under these conditions, the poem could not possibly show the characteristics of the old, patriotic, sincerely religious chansons de geste, like the " Song of Roland." Pulci was by nature a good deal of a scoffer, and his aim was after all chiefly to amuse. Conse- quently, he has introduced into his work much that is intentionally grotesque. But he was a capital story- teller, and he found the capacities of the matter to be such that the total effect he produced was in many ways fine and splendid. The second of the poets we have mentioned, Boiardo, was a very different person from Pulci. A nobleman \y birth, he was nearly all his life connected with the mag- nificent court of the Este family at Ferrara, where some- thing of mediaeval love of chivalry and admiration for knightly virtues still survived, in spite of the popularity of the Greek and Latin classics and of the new ideas derived from them. And Boiardo was by temperament even more inclined to the old ideals than others about him. Though he could see the many extravagances and absurdities of the old tales of knightly adventures, INTRODUCTION. xli he yet believed in his heart that the highest type of man is the knight, whose life is passed in fighting for his country, his faith, and the honor of his lady. To Boi- ardo then, the old romantic poems, in spite of the im- possibility of many of their incidents, were at bottom serious and instructive. All they needed was to be retold with the literary skill which the high culture of his own time made possible. Furthermore, of the old romances by far the most powerful and interesting were those dealing with Charlemagne and his peers, in par- ticular with Orlando and the group of heroes of which he was the centre. One defect, however, Boiardo felt to diminish the attractiveness of Orlando's history ; namely, the small part love played in it. Accordingly, he con- ceived a poem in which Orlando should be represented as deeply in love (innamorato) , and as going through a long series of adventures and trials by reason of his love. In composing this work the poet felt himself at liberty to be very free with the materials he was using. lie need not confine himself exclusively to the facts told of Orlando in the French chansons de geste, but might add interesting episodes from whatever source. So he borrowed largely from the Arthurian stories, and also from Greek and Latin authors. He also invented and inserted many characters, some of them among the most important in the poem. One of these is Angelica, who is made by Boiardo the object of Orlando's love, and occupies the attention of the reader quite as much as the hero himself. Consequently the "Orlando Innamorato" gives us not the purely popular legends about Charle- magne, such as they appeared and were developed in France, but rather those legends plus large additions of Boiardo's own imagining, mid with their original xlii INTRODUCTION. patriotic and religious spirit replaced by the zeal for romantic adventure. Pulci and Boiardo showed in their great poems what could be done to make an old literary material, which had long been thought of interest only to the vulgar, attractive to the most cultivated and critical society of a highly refined time and country. After they had pointed the way, numerous other poets thought to win fame by continuing or imitating their poems. Of these, however, we need remember only one, who carried farther the story of Boiardo, because in some ways he was a greater and more famous poet than either of his predecessors. This was Lodovico Ariosto. Like Boiardo, Ariosto was connected with the court of the Este at Ferrara, and, like him, he was a man of very broad and deep cultivation. He was not, however, like him an idealist, who found something in the old romances similar to what he would have liked himself to be and to do. On the contrary, he was a man of the world, per- fectly aware of the absurdity and entire impossibility of the extravagances that the knightly ideal seemed to im- ply. Gay, witty, often sceptical and even cynical, he had observed much of the ways of men and women, and had penetrated many of the vanities of human life. He had only one real passion, the passion for splendor and beauty ; and he loved to work in poetry as one of the great Venetian painters worked on canvas, depicting brilliant and poetic scenes with all the grace and color the imagination is capable of attaining. His poem is perhaps not properly a continuation of the story of Orlando, though it purports to be such, but rather a new series of episodes in which Orlando and the other knights of Charlemagne's time, whether Christian or INTKODUCTION. xliii pagan, are made to take part. In order to distinguish his work from Boiardo's, Ariosto supposed Orlando's love for Angelica to have gone so far as to make him for a time insane ; and hence the title " Orlando Ftirioso." Es- sentially, however, we have in it only new adventures in which the traditional knights (with some additional ones of the poet's own invention) are involved. What is really remarkable about it is not its treatment of the veritable legends of Charlemagne, but the beauty of its style, the wealth of imagination shown by the poet, and the sceptical humor that plays through it, making us feel that in the author's opinion there is after all no such great difference in absurdity between these knights and amazons of old and the gentlemen and ladies of to day. We have thus followed the history of the legends of Charlemagne and the heroes of his time from their beginning down to the moment when they received their final form at the hands of the great Italian poets, from whom Mr. Bulfinch derived the greater part of the material of the present volume. One word more should perhaps be said in regard to the two last tales in the book, that of Huon of Bordeaux and that of Ogier the Dane. In these we have stories originally told in French chS OF CHARLEMAGNE. had struck feebly, for he did not know that the skin of that horse was so tough that the keenest sword could make no impression upon it. Whistling fell the sword once more, and struck with greater force, and the fierce horse felt it, and drooped his head under the blow, but the next moment turned npon his foe with such a buffet that the Pagan fell stunned and lifeless to the earth. Rinaldo, who saw Isolier fall, and thought that his life was reft, darted towards the horse, and, with his fist, gave him such a blow on the jaws that the blood tinged his mouth with vermilion. Quicker than an arrow leaves the bow the horse turned upon him, and tried to seize his arm with his teeth. The knight stepped back, and then, repeating his blow, struck him on the forehead. Bayard turned, and kicked with both his feet with a force that would have shattered a mountain. Rinaldo was on his guard, and evaded his attacks, whether made with head or heels. He kept at his side, avoiding both ; but, making a false step, he at last received a terrible blow from the horse's foot, and at the shock almost fainted away. A second such blow would have killed him. but the horse kicked at random, and a second blow did not reach Rinaldo, who in a moment recovered himsplf. Thus the contest continued until by chance THE PEERS, OK PALADINS. Jj Bayard's foot got caught between the branches of an oak. Rinaldo seized it, and putting forth all his strength and address, threw him on the ground. No sooner had Bayard touched the ground, than all his rage subsided. No longer an object of terror, he became gentle and quiet, yet with dignity in his mild- ness. The paladin patted his neck, stroked his breast, and smoothed his mane, while the animal neighed and showed delight to be caressed by his master. Rinaldo, seeing him now completely subdued, took the saddle and trappings from the other horse, and adorned Bay- ard with the spoils. Rinaldo became one of the most illustrious knights of Charlemagne's court, indeed, the most illustrious. if we except Orlando. Yet he was not always so obe- dient to the Emperor's commands as he should have been, and every fault he committed was sure to be aggravated by the malice of Gan, Duke of Maganza the treacherous enemy of Rinaldo and all his house. At one time Rinaldo had incurred the severe dis- pleasure of Charlemagne, and been banished from court. Seeing no chance of being ever restored to favor, he went to Spain, and entered into the service of the Saracen king, Ivo. His brothers, Alardo, Ricardo, and Ricciardctto, accompanied him, and all 14 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE four served the king so faithfully that they rose to high favor with him. The king gave them land in the mountains on the frontiers of France and Spain, and subjected all the country round to Rinaldo's authority. There was plenty of marble in the moun- tains, the king furnished workmen, and they built a castle for Rinaldo, surrounded with high walls, so ah to be almost impregnable. Built of white stone, and placed on the brow of a marble p romontory, the castle shone like a star, and Rinaldo gave it the name of Montalban. Here he assembled his friends, many of whom were banished men like himself, and the country people furnished them with provisions in re- turn for the protection the castle afforded. Yet some of Rinaldo's men were lawless, and sometimes the sup- plies were not furnished in sufficient abundance, so that Rinaldo and his garrison got a bad name for taking by force what they could not obtain by gift ; and we sometimes find Montalban spoken of as a nest of free- booters, and its defenders called a beggarly garrison. Charlemagne's displeasure did not last long, and, at the time our history commences, Rinaldo and his brothers were completely restored to the favor of the Emperor, and none of his cavaliers served him with greater zeal and fidelity than they, throughout all his wars with the Saracens and Pagans. THE TOURNAMENT. IT was the month of May and the feast of Pente- cost. Charlemagne had ordered magnificent fes- tivities, and summoned to them, besides his paladins and vassals of the crown, all strangers, Christian or Saracen, then sojourning at Paris. Among the guest* were King Grandonio, from Spain ; and Ferrau, the Saracen, with eyes like an eagle ; Orlando and Ri- naldo, the Emperor's nephews ; Duke Namo ; Astolpho, of England, the handsomest man living; Malagigi, the Enchanter ; and Gano, of Magan/a, that wily traitor, who had the art to make the Emperor think he loved him, while he plotted against him. 16 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. High sat Charlemagne at the head of his vassals and his paladins, rejoicing in the thought of theii number and their might, while all were sitting and hearing music, and feasting, when suddenly there came into the hall four enormous giants, having between them a lady of incomparable beauty, attended by a single knight. There were many ladies present who had seemed beautiful till she made her appearance, but after that they all seemed nothing. Every Christian knight turned his eyes to her, and every Pagan crowded round her, while she, with a sweetness that might have touched a heart of stone, thus addressed the Emperor. " High-minded lord, the renown of your worthiness, and of the valor of these your knights, which echoes from sea to sea, encourages me to hope that two pil- grims, who have come from the ends of the world to behold you, will not have encountered their fatigue in vain. And, before I show the motive which has brought us hither, learn that this knight is my brother Uberto, and that I am his sister Angelica. Fame haa told us of the jousting this day appointed, and so the prince my brother has come to prove his valor, and to say that, if any of the knights here assembled choose to meet him in the joust, he will encounter them, one by one, at the stair of Merlin, by the Fountain of the THE TOURNAMENT. 17 Pine. And his conditions are these: No knight who chances to be thrown shall be allowed to renew the rombat, but shall remain prisoner to my brother, but if my brother be overthrown, he shall depart out of the country, leaving me as the prize of the con queror." Now it must be stated that this Angelica and hex brother who called himself Uberto, but whose real name was Argalia, were the children of Galafron, king of Cathay, who had sent them to be the destruc- tion of the Christian host; for Argalia was armed with an enchanted lance, which unfailingly overthrew everything it touched, and he was mounted on a horse, a creature of magic, whose swiftness outstripped the wind. Angelica possessed also a ring which was a defence against all enchantments, and when put into the mouth rendered the bearer invisible. Thus Arga- lia was expected to subdue and take prisoners what- ever knights should dare to encounter him ; and the charms of Angelica were relied on to entice the pala- dins to make the fatal venture, while her ring would afford her oasy means of escape. When Angelica ceased speaking, she knelt before the king and awaited his answer, and everybody gazed on her with admiration. Orlando especially felt irre- fiatibly drawn towards her, so that he trembled and 18 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. changed countenance. Every knight in the hall wa.s infected with the same feeling, not excepting old white- headed Duke Namo and Charlemagne himself. All stood for a while in silence, lost in the delight of looking at her. The fiery youth Ferrau could hardly restrain himself from seizing her from the giants and carrying her away ; Rinaldo turned as red as fire, while Malagigi, who had discovered by his art that the stranger was not speaking truth, muttered softly, as he looked at her, " Exquisite false creature ! I will play thee such a trick for this, as will leave thee no cause to boast of thy visit." Charlemagne, to detain her as long as possible be- fore him, delayed his assent till he had asked her a number of questions, all which she answered discreetly, and then the challenge was accepted. As soon as she was gone, Malagigi consulted his book, and found out the whole plot of the vile, infidel king Galafron, as we have explained it, so he deter- mined to seek the damsel and frustrate her designs. He hastened to the appointed spot, and there found the prince and his sister in a beautiful pavilion, where they lay asleep, while the four giants kept watch. Malagigi took his book and cast a spell out of it, and immediately the four giants fell into a deep sleep. Drawing his sword (for he was a belted knight), he THE TOURNAMENT. 19 softly approached the young lady, intendii g to de- spatch her at once ; but, seeing her look so lovely, he paused for a moment, thinking there was no need of hurry, as he believed his spell was upon her, and she could not wake. But the ring which she wore secured her from the effect of the spell, and some slight noise, or whatever else it was, caused her at that moment to awake. She uttered a great cry, and flew to her brother, and waked him. By the help of her knowl- edge of enchantment, they took and bound fast the magician, and, seizing his book, turned his arts against himself. Then they summoned a crowd of demons, and bade them seize their prisoner and bear him to king Galafron, at his great city of Albracca, which they did, and, on his arrival, he was locked up in a rock under the sea. While these things were going on, all was uproar at Paris, since Orlando insisted upon being the first to try the adventure at the stair of Merlin. This was resented by the other pretenders to Angelica, and all contested his right to the precedence. The tumult was stilled by the usual expedient of drawing lots, and the first prize was drawn by Astolpho. Ferrau, the Saracen, had the second, and Grandonio the third. Next came Berlinghieri, and Otho ; then Charles him- self, and, as his ill-fortune would have it, after tliirtj more, the indignant Orlando. 20 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Astolpho, who drew the first lot, was handsome, brave, and rich. But, whether from heedlessness or want of skill, he was an unlucky jouster, and very apt to be thrown, an accident which he bore with (Krfect good-humor, always ready to mount again and try to mend his fortune, generally with no better sut cess. Astolpho went forth upon his adventure with great gayety of dress and manner, encountered Argalia, and was immediately tilted out of the saddle. He railed at fortune, to whom he laid all the fault ; but his painful feelings were somewhat relieved by the kind- ness of Angelica, who, touched by his youth and good looks, granted him the liberty of the pavilion, and caused him to be treated with all kindness and respect. The violent Ferrau had the next chance in the en- counter, and was thrown no less speedily than Astol- pho ; but he did not so easily put up with his mischance. Crying out, " What are the emperor's engagements to me?" he rushed with his sword against Argalia, who, being forced to defend himself, dismounted and drew his sword, but got so much the worse of the fight that he made a signal of surrender, and, after some words, listened to a proposal of mar- riage from Ferrau to his sister. The beauty, however THE TOURNAMENT. 21 feeling no inclination to match with such a rough and savage-looking person, was so dismayed at the offer, that, hastily bidding her brother to meet her in the forest of Arden, she vanished from the sight of both by means of the enchanted ring. Argalia, seeing this, took to his horse of swiftness, and dashed away in the same direction. Ferrau pursued him, and As- tolpho, thus left to himself, took possession of the en- chanted lance in place of his own, which was broken, not knowing the treasure he possessed in it, and returned to the tournament. Charlemagne, finding the lady and her brother gone, ordered the jousting to proceed as at first intended, in which Astolpho, by aid of the enchanted lance, unhorsed all comers against him, equally to their astonishment and his own. The paladin Rinaldo, on learning the issue of the combat of Ferrau and the stranger, galloped after the fair Fugitive in an agony of love and impatience. Or- lando, perceiving his disappearance, pushed forth in like manner; and, at length, all three are in the forest of Arden, hunting about for her who is invisible. Now in this forest there were two fountains, the one constructed by the sage Merlin, who designed it for Tristram and the fair Isoude ; * for such was the virtue of this fountain, that a draught of its waters * S their tory in " The Age of Chivalry." I'l LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. produced an oblivion of the love which the drinkei might feel, and even produced aversion for the object formerly beloved. The other fountain was endowed with exactly opposite qualities, and a draught of it in- spired love for the first living object that was seen after tasting it. Rinaldo happened to come to the first-mentioned fountain, and, being flushed with heat, dismounted, and quenched in one draught both his thirst and his passion. So far from loving Angelica as before, he hated her from the bottom of his heart, became disgusted with the search he was upon, and, feeling fatigued with his ride, finding a sheltered and flowery nook, laid himself down and fell asleep. Shortly after came Angelica, but, approaching in a different direction, she espied the other fountain, and there quenched her thirst. Then resuming her way, she came upon the sleeping Rinaldo. Love instantly seized her, and she stood rooted to the spot. The meadow round was all full of lilies of the val- ley and wild roses. Angelica, not knowing what to do, at length plucked a handful of these, and dropped them, one by one, on the face of the sleeper. He woke up, and, seeing who it was, received her saluta- tions with averted countenance, remounted his horse, and galloped away. In vain the beautiful creature followed and called after him, in vain asked him THE TOURNAMENT. 28 what she had done to be so despised. Rinaldo dis- appeared, leaving her in despair, and she returned in tears to the spot where she had found him sleeping. There, in her turn, she herself lay down, pressing the pot of earth on which he had lain, and, out of fatigue and sorrow, fell asleep. As Angelica thus lay, fortune conducted Orlando to the same place. The attitude in which she was sleeping was so lovely, that it is not to be conceived, much less expressed. Orlando stood gazing like a man who had been transported to another sphere. " Am I on earth," he exclaimed, " or am I in Paradise ? Surely it is I that sleep, and tlus is my dream." But his dream was proved to be none in a manner which he little desired. Ferrau, who had slain Arga- lia, came up, raging with jealousy, and a combat ensued which awoke the sleeper. Terrified at what she beheld, she rushed to her palfrey, and, while the fighters were occupied with one another, fled away through the forest. The cham- pions continued their fight till they were interrupted by a messenger, who brought word to Ferrau that king Marsilius, his sovereign, was in pressing need of his assistance, and conjured him to return to Spain. Ferrau, upon this, proposed to suspend the comliut, to which Orlando, eager to pursue Angelica, agreed. 24 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Ferrau, on the other hand, departed with the messen- ger to Spain. Orlando's quest for the fair fugitive was all in vain. Aided by the powers of magic, she made a speed) return to her own country. But the thought of Rinaldo could not be banished from her mind, and she determined to set Malagigi al liberty, and to employ him to win Rinaldo, if possible, to make her a return of affection. She accordingly freed him from his dungeon, unlocking his fetters with her own hands, and restored him his book, promising him ample honors and rewards, on condition of his bringing Rinaldo to her feet. Malagigi accordingly, with the aid of his book, called up a demon, mounted him, and departed. Arrived at his destination, he inveigled Rinaldo into an enchanted bark, which conveyed him, without any visible pilot, to an island where stood an edifice called Joyous .Castle. The whole island was a garden. On the western side, close to the sea, was the palace, built of marble, so clear and polished that it reflected the landscape about it. Rinaldo leapt ashore, and soon met a lady, who invited him to enter. The house was as beautiful within as without, full of rooms adorned with azure and gold, and with noble paintings. The lady led the knight into an apartment painted with stories, and THK TOURNAMENT. 25 opening to the garden, through pillars of crystal, with golden capitals. Here he found a bevy of ladies, three of whom were singing in concert, while another played on an instrument of exquisite accord, and the rest danced round about them. When the ladies be- held him coming, they turned the dance into a circuit round him, and then one of them, in the sweetest manner, said, " Sir knight, the tables are set, and the hour for the banquet is come " ; and, with these words, still dancing, they drew him across the lawn in front of the apartment, to a table that was spread with cloth of gold and fine linen, under a bower of damask roses by the side of a fountain. Four ladies were already seated there, who rose, and placed Rinaldo at their head, in a chair set with pearls. And truly indeed was he astonished. A re- past ensued, consisting of viands the most delicate, and wines as fragrant as they were fine, drunk out of jewelled cups ; and, when it drew towards its conclu- sion, harps and lutes were heard in the distance, and one of the ladies said in the knight's ear: "This house \nd all that you see in it are yours ; for you alone *as it built, and the builder is a queen. Happy in- deed must you think yourself, for she loves you, and he is the greatest beauty in the world. Her name is Angelica." 26 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. The moment Rinnldo heard the name he so detest- ed, he started up, with a changed countenance, and, in spito of all that the lady could say, broke off across the garden, and never ceased hastening till he reached the place where he landed. The bark was still on the shore. He sprang into it, and pushed off, though he saw nobody in it but himself. It was in vain for him to try to control its movements., for it dashed on as if in fury, till it reached a distant shore covered with a gloomy forest. Here Rinaldo, surrounded by enchant- ments of a very different sort from those which he had lately resisted, was entrapped into a pit. The pit belonged to a castle called Altaripa, which was hung with human heads, and painted red with blood. As the paladin was viewing the scene with amazement, a hideous old woman made her appear- ance at the edge of the pit, and told him that he was destined to be thrown to a monster, who was only kept from devastating the whole country by being supplied with living human flesh. Rinaldo said, " Be it so ; let me but remain armed as I am, and I fear nothing." The old woman laughed in derision. Ri- naldo remained hi the pit all night, and the next morning was taken to the place where the monster had his den. It was a court surrounded by a high wall. Rinaldo was shut in with the beast, and a terri- THE TOURNAMENT. 27 Die combat ensued. Rinaldo was unable to make any impression on the scales of the monster, while he, on the contrary, with his dreadful claws, tore away plate and mail from the paladin. Rinaldo began to think his last hour was come, and cast his eyes around and above to see if there was any means of escape. He perceived a beam projecting from the wall at the height of some ten feet, and, taking a leap almost miraculous, he succeeded in reaching it, and in fling- ing himself up across it. Here he sat for hours, the hideous brute continually trying to reach him. All at once, he heard the sound of something coming through the air like a bird, and suddenly Angelica herself alighted on the end of the beam. She held something in her hand towards him, and spoke to him in a loving voice. But the moment Rinaldo saw her, he com- manded her to go away, refused all her offers of as- sistance, and at length declared that, if she did not leave him, he would cast himself down to the monster, and meet his fate. Angelica, saying she would lose her life rather than displease him, departed ; but first she threw to the monster a cake of wax she had prepared, and spread around him a rope knotted with nooses. The beast took the bait, and, finding his teeth glued together by the wax, vented his fury in bounds and leaps, and. 28 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. soon getting entangled in the nooses, drew them tight by his struggles, so that he could scarcely move a limb. Rinaldo, watching his chance, leapt down upon his back, seized him round the nock, and throttled him, not relaxing his gripe till the beast fell dead. Another difficulty remained to be overcome. The walls were of immense height, and the only opening in them was a grated window of such strength that he could not break the bars. In his distress Rinaldo found a file which Angelica had left on the ground, and, with the help of this, effected his deliverance. What further adventures he met wklr viil be toJd in another chapter. THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. AT the very time when Charlemagne was holding his plenary court and his great tournament, his kingdom was invaded by a mighty monarch, who was moreover so valiant and strong in battle that no one could stand against him. He was named Gradasso, and his kingdom was called Sericane. Now, as it often happens to the greatest and the richest to lon<: for what they cannot have, and thus to lose what they already possess, this king could not rest content without Durindana, the sword of Orlando, and Bay- ard, the horse of Rinaldo. To obtain these he deter- mined to war upon France, and for this purpose pul in array a mighty army. SO LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. He took his way through Spain, and, after defeat- ing Marsilius, the king of that country, in several battles, was rapidly advancing on France. Charle- magne, though Marsilius was a Saracen, and had been his enemy, yet felt it needful to succor him in thia extremity from a consideration of common danger, and, with the consent of his peers, despatched Rinaldo with a strong body of soldiers against Gradasso. There was much fighting, with doubtful results, and Gradasso was steadily advancing into France. But, impatient to achieve his objects, he challenged Rinaldo to single combat, to be fought on foot, and upon these conditions: If Rinaldo conquered, Gradasso agreed to give up all his prisoners and return to his own country ; but if Gradasso won the day, he was to have Bayard. The challenge was accepted, and would have been fought had it not been for the arts of Malagigi, who just then returned from Angelica's kingdom with set purpose to win Rinaldo to look with iavor upon the fair princess who was dying for love of him. Malagigi drew Rinaldo away from the army, by putting on the semblance of Gradasso, and, after a short contest, pretending to fly before him, by which means Rinaldo was induced to follow him into a boat, in which he was borne away, and entangled in various adventures, as we have alreadv related. THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. 31 The army, left under the command of Ricciardetto, Rinaldo's brother, was soon joined by Charlemagne and all his peerage, but experienced a disastrous rout, and the Emperor and many of his paladins were taken prisoners. Gradasso, however, did not abuse his victory ; he took Charles by the hand, seated him by his side, and told him he warred only for honor. He renounced all conquests, on condition that the Emperor should deliver to him Bayard and Durin- dana, both of them the property of his vassals, the former of which, as he maintained, was already for- feited to him by Rinaldo's failure to meet him as agreed. To these terms Charlemagne readily acceded. Bayard, after the departure of his master, had been taken in charge by Ricciardetto, and sent back to Paris, where Astolpho was in command, in the ab- sence of Charlemagne. Astolpho received with gr-?at indignation the message despatched for Bayard, and replied by a herald that " he would not surrender the horse of his kinsman Rinaldo, without a contest. If Gradasso wanted the steed, he mipht come and take him, and that he, Astolpho, was ready to meet him ir the field." Gradasso was only amused at this answer, for AB- tolpho's fame as a successful warrior was nut high, and (JradaHso willingly n-newed with him the bargain 32 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. which he had made with Rinaldo. On these condi tions the battle was fought. The enchanted lance, in the hands of Astolpho, performed a new wonder; and Gradasso, the terrible Gradasso, was unhorsed. He kept his word, set free his prisoners, and put his army on the march to return to his own country, renewing his oath, however, not to rest till he had taken from Rinaldo his horse, and from Orlando hia sword, or lost his life in the attempt. Charlemagne, full of gratitude to Astolpho, would nave kept him near his person and loaded him with honors, but Astolpho preferred to seek Rinaldo, with the view of restoring to him his horse, and departed from Paris with that design. Our story now returns to Orlando, whom we left fascinated with the sight of the sleeping beauty, who, however, escaped him while engaged in the combat with Ferrau. Having long sought her in vain through the recesses of the wood, he resolved to follow her to her father's court. Leaving, therefore, the camp of Charlemagne, he travelled long in the direction of the East, making inquiry everywhere, if, perchance, he might get tidings of the fugitive. After many ad- 7entures, he arrived one day at a place where many THE SIEGE OF ALRRACCA. 33 roads crossed, and, meeting there a courier, he asked him for news. The courier replied, that he had beeD despatched by Angelica to solicit the aid of Sacripant, king of Circassia, in favor of her father Galafron, who was besieged in his city, Albracca, by Agrican, king of Tartary. This Agrican had been an unsuccessful suitor to the damsel, whom he now pursued with arms. Orlando thus learned that he was within a day's journey of Albracca ; and feeling now secure of An- gelica, he proceeded with all speed to her city. Thus journeying he arrived at a bridge, under which flowed a foaming river. Here a damsel met him with a goblet, and informed him that it was the usage of this bridge to present the traveller with a cup. Orlando accepted the offered cup and drank ita contents. He had no sooner done so than his brain reeled, and he became unconscious of the object of his journey, and of everything else. Under the in- fluence of this fascination he followed the damsel into a magnificent and marvellous palace. Here he found himself in company with many knights, unknown to him and to each other, though if it had not been for the Cup of Oblivion of which they all had partaken, fhej would have found themselves brothers in arms. 34 LEGEN'DS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Astolplio, proceeding on his way to seek Rinaldo, splendidly dressed and equipped, as was his wont, ar- rived in Circassia, and found there a great army encamped under the command of Sacripant, the king of that country, who was leading it to the defence of Gralafron, the father of Angelica. Sacripant, much struck by the appearance of Astolpho and his horse, accosted him courteously, and tried to enlist him in his service ; but Astolpho, proud of his late victories, scornfully declined his offers, and pursued his way. King Sacripant was too much attracted by his appear- ance to part with him so easily, and, having laid aside his kingly ornaments, set out in pursuit of him. Astolpho next day encountered on his way a stranger knight, named Sir Florismart, Lord of the Sylvan Tower, one of the bravest and best of knights, having as his guidje a damsel, young, fair, and virtu- ous, to whom he was tenderly attached, whose name was Flordelis. Astolpho, as he approached, defied the knight, bidding him yield the lady, or prepare to maintain his right by arms. Florismart accepted the contest, and the knights encountered. Florismart wax unhorsed and his steed fell dead, while Bayard sus- tained no injury by the shock. Florismart was so overwhelmed with despair at his iwn disgrace and the sight of the damsel's distress, THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. 36 k hat he drew his sword, and was about to plunge it into his own bosom. But Astolpho held his hand, told him that he contended only for glory, and was contented to leave him the lady. While Florismart and Flordelis were vowing eter- nal gratitude, king Sacripant arrived, and coveting the damsel of the one champion as much as the horse and arms of the other, defied them to the joust. Astolpho met the challenger, whom he instantly overthrew, and presented his courser to Florismart, leaving the king to return to his army on foot. The friends pursued their route, and erelong Flor- delis discovered, by signs which were known to her, that they were approaching the waters of Oblivion, and advised them to turn back, or to change their course. This the knights would not hear of, and, continuing their march, they soon arrived at the bridge where Orlando had been taken prisoner. The damsel of the bridge appeared as before with the enchanted cup, but Astolpho, forewarned, rejected it with scorn. She dashed it to the ground, and a fire blazed up which rendered the bridge unapproach- able. At the same moment the two knights were assailed by sundry warriors, known and unknown, who, having no recollection of anything, joined blindly in defence of their prison-house. Among these was 86 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Orlando, at sight of whom Astolpho, with all his confidence not daring to encounter him, turned and fled, owing his escape to the strength and fleetness of Bayard. Florismart, meanwhile, overlaid by fearful odds, was compelled to yield to necessity, and comply with the usage of the fairy. He drank of the cup, and remained prisoner with the rest. Flordelis, deprived of her two friends, retired from the scene, and devoted herself to untiring efforts to effect her lover's deliver- uice. Astolpho pursued his way to Albracca, which Agrican was about to besiege. He was kindly welcomed by Angelica, and enrolled among her de- fenders. Impatient to distinguish himself, he one night sallied forth alone, arrived in Agrican's camp, and unhorsed his warriors right and left by means of the enchanted lance. But he was soon surrounded and overmatched, and made prisoner to Agrican. Relief was, however, at hand ; for as the citizens and soldiers were one day leaning over their walls, they descried a cloud of dust, from which horsemen were seen to prick forth, as it rolled on towards the camp of the besiegers. This turned out to be the army of Sacripant, which immediately attacked that of Agrican, with the view of cutting a passage through his camp to the besieged city. But Agrican, mounted THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. 37 upon Bayard, taken from Astolpho, but not armed with the lance of gold, the virtues of which were un- known to him, performed wonders, and rallied his scattered troops, which had given way to the sudden and unexpected assault. Sacripant, on the other hand, encouraged his men by the most desperate acts of valor, having as an additional incentive to his courage the sight of Angelica, who showed herself upon the city walls. There she witnessed a single combat between the two leaders, Agrican and Sacripant. In this, at length, her defender appeared to be overmatched, when the Circassians broke the ring, and separated the combatants, who were borne asunder in the rush. Sacripant, severely wounded, profited by the con- fusion, and escaped into Albracca, where he was kindly received and carefully tended by Angelica. The battle continuing, the Circassians were at last put to flight, and, being intercepted between the enemy's lines and the town, sought fur refuge under the walls. Angelica ordered the drawbridge to be let down, and the gates thrown open to the fugitives. With these Agrican, not distinguished in the crowd, entered the place, driving both Circassians and Ca- thayans before him, and the portcullis being dropped^ he was shut in. 4 7 3 3 5 38 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. For a time the terror which he inspired put to flight all opposers, but when at last it came to be known that few or none of his followers had effected an entrance with him, the fugitives rallied and sur- rounded him on all sides. While he was thus appar- ently reduced to the last extremities, he was saved by the very circumstance which threatened him with destruction. The soldiers of Angelica, closing upon him from all sides, deserted their defences ; and his own besieging army entered the city in a part where the wall was broken down. In this way was Agrican rescued, the city taken, and the inhabitants put to the sword. Angelica, how- ever, with some of the knights who were her defend- ers, among whom was Sacripant, saved herself in the citadel, which was planted upon a rock. The fortress was impregnable, but it was scantily victualled, and ill provided with other necessaries. Under these circumstances, Angelica announced to those blockaded with her in the citadel her intention to go in quest of assistance, and, having plighted her promise of a speedy return, she set out, with the en- chanted ring upon her finger. Mounted upon her pal- frey, the damsel passed through the enemy's lines, and by sunrise was many miles clear of their encamp oaent. THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. 89 It so happened that her road led her near the fatal bridge of Oblivion, and, as she approached it, she met a damsel weeping bitterly. It was Flordelis, whose lover, Florismart, as we have related, had met the fate of Orlando and many more, and fallen a victim to the enchantress of the cup. She related her ad- ventures to Angelica, and conjured her to lend what aid she might to rescue her lord and his companions. Angelica, accordingly, watching her opportunity and aided by her ring, slipped into the castle unseen, when the door was opened to admit a new victim. Here she speedily disenchanted Orlando and the rest by a touch of her talisman. But Florismart was not there. He had been given up to Falerina, a more powerful enchantress, and was still in durance. Angelica con- jured the rescued captives to assist her in the recovery of her kingdom, and all departed together for Al- bracca. The arrival of Orlando, with his companions, nine In all, and among the bravest knights of France, changed at once the fortunes of the war. Wherevei the great paladin came, pennon and standard fell be- fore him. Agrican in vain attempted to rally his troops. Orlando kept constantly in his front, forcing him to attend to nobody else. The Tartar king at length bethought him of a stratagem. He turned his 10 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. horse, and made a show of flying in despair. Orlando dashed after him as he desired, and Agrican fled till he reached a green place in a wood, where there was i fountain. The place was beautiful, and the Tartar dismounted to refresh himself at the fountain, but without taking off his helmet, or laying aside any of his armor. Or- lando was quickly at his back, crying out, " So bold, and yet a fugitive! How could you fly from a single arm, and think to escape?" The Tartar king had leaped on his saddle the moment he saw his enemy, and when the paladin had done speaking, he said, in a mild voice, " Without doubt you are the best knight I ever encountered, and fain would I leave you untouched for your own sake, if you would cease to hinder me from rallying my people. I pretended to fly, in order to bring you out of the field. If you insist upon fighting, I must needs fight and slay you, but I call the sun in the heavens to witness I would rather not. I should be very sorry for your death. The Count Orlando felt pity for so much gallantry, and he said, " The nobler you show yourself, the more it grieves me to think that, in dying without a knowledge of the true faith, you will be lost in the other world. Let me advise you to save body and THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. 41 BOU! at once. Receive baptism, and go your way in peace." * Agrican replied : " I suspect you to be the paladin Orlando. If you are, I would not lose this opportuni- ty of fighting with you to be king of Paradise. Talk to me no more about your things of another world for you will preach in vain. Each of us for himself, and let the sword be umpire." The Saracen drew his sword, boldly advancing upon Orlando, and a combat began, so obstinate and so long, each warrior being a miracle of prowess, tha* the story says it lasted from noon till night. Orlando then, seeing the stars come out, was the first to pro- pose a respite. " What are we to do," said he, " now that daylight has left us ? " Agrican answered readily enough, " Let us repose in this meadow, and renew the combat at dawn." The repose was taken accordingly. Each tied up his horse, and reclined himself on the grass, not far from the other, just as if they had been friends, Orlando by the fountain, Agrican beneath a pine. It uras a beautiful clear night, and, as they talked to- gether before addressing themselves to sleep, the champion of Christendom, looking up at the firma- ment, said, That is a fine piece of workmanship, t'J LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. that starry spectacle ; God made it all, that moon ol silver, and those stars of gold, and the light of day, and the sun, all for the sake of human kind." " You wish, I see, to talk of matters of faith," said the Tartar. " Now I may as well tell you at once, that I have no sort of skill in such matters, nor learn- ing of any kind. I never could leani anything when I was a boy. I hated it so that I broke the man's head who was commissioned to teach me ; and it pro- duced such an effect on others, that nobody ever afterwards dared so much as show me a book. My boyhood was therefore passed, as it should be, in horsemanship and hunting, and learning to fight. What is the good of a gentleman's poring all day over a book? Prowess to the knight, and preaching to the clergyman, that is my motto." " 1 acknowledge," returned Orlando, " that arms are the first consideration of a gentleman ; but not at all that he does himself dishonor by knowledge. On the contrary, knowledge is as great an embellishment of the rest of his attainments, as the flowers are to the meadow before us; and as to the knowledge of his Maker, the man that is without it is no better than a stock or a stone or a brute beast. Neither without study can he reach anything of a due sense of the depth and divineness of the contemplation.'' THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA 43 " Learned or not learned," said Agrican, " yot might show yourself better bred than by endeavoring to make me talk on a subject on which you have me at a disadvantage. If you choose to sleep, I wish you good night ; but if you prefer talking, I recommend you to talk of fighting or of fair ladies. And, by the way, pray tell me, are you not that Orlando who makes such a noise in the world ? And what is it, pray, that brings you into these parts? Were you ever in love ? I suppose you must have been ; for to be a knight, and never to have been in love, would be like being a man without a heart in his breast." The Count replied : " Orlando I am, and in love I am. Love has made me abandon everything, and brought me into these distant regions, and, to tell you all in one word, my heart is in the hands of the daughter of King Galafron. You have come against him with fire and sword, to get possession of his cas- tles and his dominions ; and I have come to help him, for no object in the world but to please his daughter and win her beautiful hand. I care for nothing else in existence." Now when the Tartar king, Agrican, heard hifl antagonist speak in this manner, and knew him to be indeed Orlando, and to be in love with Angelica, his fkce changed color for grief and jYalousy, though il 44 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. could not be seen for the darkness. His heart began beating with sucn violence that he felt as if he should have died. " Well," said he to Orlando, " we are to fight when it is daylight, and one or other is to be left here, dead on the ground. I have a proposal to make to you, nay, an entreaty. My love is so exces- sive for the same lady, that I beg you to leave her to me. I will owe you my thanks, and give up the siege and put an end to the war. I cannot bear that any one should love her, and that I should live to see it. Why, therefore, should either of us perish ? Give her up. Not a soul shall know it." " I never yet," answered Orlando, " made a prom- ise which I did not keep, and nevertheless I own to you that, were I to make a promise like that, and even swear to keep it, I should not. You might as well ask me to tear away the limbs from my body, and the eyes out of my head. I could as well live without breath itself as cease loving Angelica." Agrican had hardly patience to let him finish speak- ing, ere he leapt furiously on horseback, though it was midnight. " Quit her," said he, " or die I " Orlando seeing the infidel getting up, and not bem^ sure that he would not add treachery to fierceness, had been hardly less quick in mounting for the com- bat. " Never," exclaimed he ; "I never could have THE SIEGE OF ALBRAGGA. 45 quitted her if I would, and now 1 would nut if I could. You must seek her by other means than these." Fiercely dashed their horses together, in the night- time, on the green mead. Despiteful and terrible were the blows they gave and took by the moonlight. Agrican fought in a rage, Orlando was cooler. And now the struggle had lasted more than five hours, and day began to dawn, when the Tartar king, furious to find so much trouble given him, dealt his enemy a blow sharp and violent beyond conception. It cut the shield in two as if it had been made of wood, and, though blood could not be drawn from Orlando, because he was fated, it shook and bruised him as if it had started every joint in his body. His body only, however, not a particle of his soul. So dreadful was the blow which the paladin gave in return, that not only shield, but every bit of mail on the body of Agrican was broken in pieces, and three of his ribs cut asunder. The Tartar, roaring like a lion, raised his sword with still greater vehemence than before, and dealt a blow on the paladin's helmet, such as he had never yet received from mortal man. For a moment it took away his senses. His sight failed, his ears tinkled, his frightened horse turned about to fly ; and 46 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE he was falling from the saddle, when the very actioi. of falling threw his head upwards, and thus recalled his recollection. 44 What a shame is this ! " thought he ; " how shall I ever again dare to face Angelica I I have been fight- ing, hour after hour, with this man, and he is but one, and I call myself Orlando I If the combat last any longer, I will bury myself in a monastery, and never look on sword again." Orlando muttered with his lips closed and his teeth ground together ; and you might have thought that fire instead of breath came out of his nose and mouth. He raised his sword Durindana with both his hands, and sent it down so tremendously on Agrican's shoulder, that it cut through breastplate down to the very haunch, nay, crushed the saddle-bow, though it was made of bone and iron, and felled man and horse to the earth. Agrican turned as white as ashes, and felt death upon him. He called Orlando to come close to him, with a gentle voice, and said, as well as he could : " I believe on Him who died on the cross. Baptize me, I pray thee, with the foun- tain, before my senses are gone. I have lived an evil life, but need not be rebellious to God in death also May He who came to save all the rest of the world, aave me I" And he shed tears, that great king, though he had been so lofty and fierce. THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA. 47 Orlando dismounted quickly, with his own face in (ears. He gathered the king tenderly in his arms, and took and laid him by the fountain, on a marble riin that it had, and then he wept in concert with him heartily, and asked his pardon, and so baptized him in the water of the fountain, and knelt and prayed to God for him with joined hands. He then paused and looked at him ; and when he perceived his countenance changed, and that his whole person was cold, he left him there on the marble rim of the fountain, all armed as he was, with the sword by Ills side, and the crown upon his head. ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO. WE left Rinaldo when, having overcome the monster, he quitted the castle of Altaripa, and pursued his way on foot. He soon met with a weeping damsel, who, being questioned as to the cause of her sorrow, told him she was in search of one to do battle to rescue her lover, who had been made prisoner by a vile enchantress, together with Orlando and many more. The damsel was Flordelis, the lady-love of Florismart, and Rinaldo promised hia assistance, trusting to accomplish the adventure either 1>V ralor or skill. Flordelis insisted upon Rinaldo's ADVENTURES OP BINALDO AND ORLANDO. 49 taking her horse, which he consented to do, on con- dition of her mounting behind him. As they rode on through a wood, they heard strange noises, and Rinaldo, reassuring the damsel, pressed forward towards the quarter from which they proceeded. He soon perceived a giant standing under a vaulted cavern, with a huge club in his hand, and of an appearance to strike the boldest spirit with dread. By the side of the cavern was chained a griffin, which, together with the giant, was stationed there to guard a wonderful horse, the same which was once Argalia's. This horse was a creature of enchantment, matchless in vigor, speed, and form, which disdained to share the diet of his fellow-steeds, corn or grass, and fed only on air. His name was Rabican. This marvellous horse, after his master Ar^alia had 7 ~ been slain by Ferrau, finding himself at liberty, re- turned to his native cavern, and was here stabled under the protection of the giant and the griffin. As Rinaldo approached, the giant assailed him with his club. Rinaldo defended himself from the giant's blows, and gave him one in return, which, if his skin had not been of the toughest, would have finished the combat. But the giant, though wounded, escaped, and let loose the griffin. This monstrous bird towered in 50 LEGENDS OK CHARLEMAGNE. air, and thence pounced down upon Rinaldo, who, watching his opportunity, dealt her a desperate wound. She had, however, strength for another flight, and kept repeating her attacks, which Rinaldo parried as he could, while the damsel stood trembling by, witnessing the contest. The battle continued, rendered more terrible by the approach of night, when Rinaldo determined upon a desperate expedient to bring it to a conclusion. He fell, as if fainting from his wounds, and, on the close approach of the griffin, dealt her a blow which sheared away one of her wings. The beast, though sinking, griped him fast with her talons, digging through plate and mail ; but Rinaldo plied his sword in utter desperation, and at last accomplished her de- struction. Rinaldo then entered the cavern, and found there the wonderful horse, all caparisoned. He was coal- jlack, except for a star of white on his forehead, and one white foot behind. For speed he was unrivalled, though in strength he yielded to Bayard. Rinaldo oiounted upon Rabican, and issued from the cavern. As he pursued his way, he met a fugitive from Agrican's army, who gave such an account of the prowess of a champion who fought on the side of Angelica, that Rinaldo was persuaded this must be ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO. 51 Orlando, though at a loss to imagine how he could have been freed from captivity. He determined to repair to the scene of the contest to satisfy his curi- osity, and Flordelis, hoping to find Florismart with Orlando, consented to accompany him. While these things were doing, all was rout ami dismay in the Tartarian army, from the death of Agrican. King Galafron, arriving at this juncture with an army for the relief of his capital, Albracca, assaulted the enemy's camp, and carried all before him. Rinaldo had now reached the scene of action, and was looking on as an unconcerned spectator, when he was espied by Galafron. The king instantly recognized the horse Rabican, which he had given to Argalia when he sent him forth on his ill-omened mission to Paris. Possessed with the idea that the rider of the horse was the murderer of Argalia, Gala- fron rode at Rinaldo, and smote him with all his force. Rinaldo was not slow to avenge the blow, and it would have gone hard with the king had not his fol- lowers instantly closed round him and separated the combatants. Rinaldo thus found himself, almost without his own choice, enlisted on the side of the enemies of Angel- ica, which gave him no concern, so completely had his draught from the fountain of hate steeled his mind against her. 62 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGMh. For several successive days the struggle continued without any important results, Rinaldo meeting the bravest knights of Angelica's party, and defeating them one after the other. At length he encountered Orlando, and the two knights bitterly reproached one another for the cause they had each adopted, and en- gaged in a furious combat. Orlando was mounted upon Bayard, Rinaldo's horse, which Agrican had by chance become possessed of, and Orlando had taken from him as the prize of victory. Bayard would not fight against his master, and Orlando was getting the worse of the encounter, when suddenly Rinaldo, seeing Astolpho, who for love of him had arrayed himself on his side, hard beset by numbers, left Oi'lando, to rush to the defence of his friend. Night prevented the combat from being renewed ; but a challenge was given and accepted for their next meeting. But Angelica, sighing in her heart for Rinaldo, waf not willing that he should be again exposed to so ter- rible a venture. She begged a boon of Orlando, promising she would be his, if he would do her bid- ding. On receiving his promise, she enjoined him to set out without delay to destroy the garden of the enchantress Falerina, in which many valiant knights had been entrapped, and were imprisoned. Orlando departed, on his horse Brigliadoro, leaving ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO. 53 Bayard in disgrace for his bad deportment the day before. Angelica, to conciliate Rinaldo, sent Bayard to him ; but Rinaldo remained unmoved by this, as by all ner former acts of kindness. When Rinaldo learned Orlando's departure, he yielded to the entreaties of the lady of Florismart, and prepared to fulfil his promise, and rescue her lover from the power of the enchantress. Thus both Rinaldo and Orlando were bound upon the same ad- venture, but unknown to one another. The castle of Falerina was protected by a river, which was crossed by a bridge, kept by a ruffian, who challenged all comers to the combat; and such was his strength that he had thus far prevailed HI every encounter, as appeared by the arms of various knights which he had taken from them, and piled up as a trophy on the shore. Rinaldo attacked him, but with as bad success as the rest, for the bridge-ward struck him so violent a blow with an iron mace, that he fell to the ground. But when the villain ap- proached to strip him of his armor, Rinaldo seized him, and the bridge-ward, being unable to free him- self, leapt with Rinaldo into the lake, where they both disappeared. Orlando meanwhile, in discharge of his promise to Angelica, pursued his way in quest of the same adven 54 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. ture. In passing through a wood he saw a cavalier armed at all points, and mounted, keeping guard ovel a lady who was bound to a tree, weeping bitterly. Orlando hastened to her relief, but was exhorted by the knight not to interfere, for she had deserved her late by her wickedness. In proof of which he made i'1'itain charges against her. The lady denied them all, and Orlando believed her, defied the knight, over- threw him, and, releasing the lady, departed with her seated on his horse's croup. While they rode, another damsel approached on a white palfrey, who warned Orlando of impending danger, and informed him that he was near the gar- den of the enchantress. Orlando was delighted with the intelligence, and entreated her to inform him how he was to procure access. She replied that the garden could only be entered at sunrise, and gave him such instructions as would enable him to gain O admittance. She gave him also a book in which was painted the garden and all that it contained, together with the palace of the false enchantress, where she had secluded herself for the purpose of executing a magic work in which she was engaged. This was the manufacture of a sword capable of cutting even through enchanted substances. The object of this labor, the damsel told him, was the destruction of a ADVENTURES OF BINALDO AND ORLANDO. 56 knight of the west, by name Orlando, who, she had read in the book of Fate, was coming to demolish her garden. Having thus instructed him, the damsel departed. Orlando, finding he must delay his enterprise till ths next morning, now lay down and was soon asleep. Seeing this, the base woman whom he had rescued, and who was intent on making her escape to rejoin her paramour, mounted Brigliadoro, and rode off, carrying away Durindana. When Orlando awoke, his indignation, as may be supposed, was great on the discovery of the theft ; but, like a good knight and true, he was not to be di- verted from his enterprise. He tore off' a huge branch of an elm to supply the place of his sword ; and, as the sun rose, took his way towards the gate of the garden, where a dragon was on his watch. This he slew by repeated blows, and entered the garden, tli2 gate of which closed behind him, barring retreat. Looking round him, he saw a fair fountain, which overflowed into a river, and in the centre of the fountain a figure, over whose forehead was written, "The stream which waters violet and rose, From hence to the enchanted palace goes." Following the banks of this flowing stream, and rapt in the delights of the charming garden, Orlando an D6 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. rived at the palace, and entering it, found the mistress, clad in white, with a crown of gold upon her head m the act of viewing herself in the surface of tht magic sword. Orlando surprised her before she could escape, deprived her of the weapon, and holding her fast by her long hair, which floated behind, threatened her with immediate death if she did not yield up her prisoners, and afford him the means of egress. She, however, was firm of purpose, making no reply, and Orlando, unable to move her either by threats or en- treaties, was under the necessity of binding her to a beech, and pursuing his quest as he best might. He then bethought him of his book, and consults ing it, found that there was an outlet to the south, but that to reach it, a lake was to be passed, inhab- ited by a siren, whose song was so entrancing as to be quite irresistible to whoever heard it ; but his book instructed him how to protect himself against this danger. According to its directions, while pur- suing his path, he gathered abundance of flowers, which sprung all around, and filled his helmet and his ears with them : then listened if he heard the birds sing. Finding that, though he saw the gaping beak, the swelling throat, and ruffled plumes, he could not catch a note, he felt satisfied with his de- fence, and advanced toward the lake. It was small ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO. 57 but deep, and so clear and tranquil that the eye could penetrate to the bottom. He had no sooner arrived upon the banks than the waters were seen to gurgle, and the siren, rising midway out of the pool, sung so sweetly that birds and oeasts came trooping to the water-side, to listen. Of this Orlando heard nothing, but, feigning to yield to the charm, sank down upon the bank. The siren issued from the water with the intent to accomplish his destruction. Orlando seized her by the hair, and while she sang yet louder (song being her only de- fence) cut off her head. Then, following the direc- tions of his book, he stained himself all over with her blood. Guarded by this talisman, he met successively all the monsters set for defence of - the enchantress and her garden, and at length found himself again at ;he spot where he had made captive the enchantress, who still continued fastened to the beech. But the icene was changed. The garden had disappeared, and Falerina, before so haughty, now begged for mercy ; assuring him that many lives depended upon the preservation of hers. Orlando promised hjr life upon her pledging herself for the deliverance of her captives. This, however, was no easy task. They were not * 58 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. in her possession, but in that of a much more pow erful enchantress, Morgana, the Lady of the Lake, the very idea of opposing whom made Falerina turn pale with fear. Representing to him the hazards of the enterprise, she led him towards the dwell- ing of Morgana. To approach it he had to en- counter the same uncourteous bridge-ward who had already defeated and made captive so many knights, and last of all, Rinaldo. He was a churl of the most ferocious character, named Arridano. Morgana had provided him with impenetrable armor, and en- dowed him in such a manner that his strength always increased in proportion to that of the adver- sary with whom he was matched. No one had ever yet escaped from the contest, since, such was his power of endurance, he could breathe freely under water. Hence, having grappled with a knight, and sunk with him to the bottom of the lake, he re- turned, bearing his enemy's arms in triumph to the surface. While Falerina was repeating her cautions and hex counsels, Orlando saw Rinaldo's arms erected in form of a trophy, among other spoils made by the villain, and, forgetting their late quarrel, determined upon revenging his friend. Arriving at the pass, the churl presuming to bar the way, a desperate contest en- ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO. 59 sued, during which Falerina escaped. The churl finding himself overmatched at a contest of arms, resorted to his peculiar art, grappled his antagonist, and plunged with him into the lake. When he reached the bottom Orlando found himself in another world, upon a dry meadow, with the lake overhead, through which shone the beams of our sun, while the water stood on all sides like a crystal wall. Here the battle was renewed, and Orlando had in his magic sword an advantage which none had hith- erto possessed. It had been tempered by Falerina so that no spells could avail against it. Thus armed, and countervailing the strength of his adversary by his superior skill and activity, it was not long before he laid him dead upon the field. Orlando then made all haste to return to the upper air, and, passing through the water, which opened a way before him, (such was the power of the magic sword,) he soon regained the shore, and found himself in a field, as thickly covered with precious stones as the sky is with stars. Orlando crossed the field, not tempted to delay his enterprise by gathering any of the brilliant gems spread all around him. He next passed into a flow- ery meadow, planted with trees, covered with fruit and flowers, and full of all imaginable delights. 60 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. In the middle of this meadow was a fountain, and, fast by it lay Morgana asleep ; a lady of a lovel) aspect, dressed in white and vermilion garments, her forehead well furnished with hair, while she had scarcely any behind. While Orlando stood in silence contemplating her beauty, he heard a voice exclaim, " Seize the fairy by the forelock, if thou hopest fair success." But his attention was arrested by another object, and he heed- ed not the warning. He saw on a sudden an array of towers, pinnacles and columns, palaces, with bal- conies and windows, extended alleys with trees, in short a scene of architectural magnificence surpassing all he had ever beheld. While he stood gazing in silent astonishment, the scene slowly melted away and disappeared.* When he had recovered from his amazement, he looked again toward the fountain. The fairy had awaked and risen, and was dancing round its border with the lightness of a leaf, timing her footsteps to this song : " Who in this world would wealth and treasure share, Honor, delight, and state, and what is best, Quick let him catch me by the lock of hair Which flutters from my forehead ; and be blest This is a poetical description of a phenomenon which is said to be really exhibited in the strait of Messina, between Sicily and Calabria. Ii w called Fata Morgana, or Mirage. ADVENTUKES OF BINALDO AND ORLANDO. 61 Bat let him not the proffered good forbear, Nor till he seize the fleeting blessing rest ; For present loss is sought in Tain to-morrow, And the deluded wretch is left in sorrow." The fairy, having sung thus, bounded off, and fled from the flowery meadow over a high and inaccessible mountain. Orlando pursued her through thorns and rocks, while the sky gradually became overcast, and at last he was assailed by tempest, lightning, and hail. While he thus pursued, a pale and meagre woman issued from a cave, armed with a whip, and, treading close upon his steps, scourged him with vigorous strokes. Her name was Repentance, and she told him it was her office to punish those who neglected to obey the voice of Prudence, and seize the fairy Fortune when he might. Orlando, furious at this chastisement, turned upon his tormentor, but might as well have stricken the wind. Finding it useless to resist, he resumed his chase of the fairy, gained upon her, and made frequent snatches at her white and vermilion garments, which still eluded his grasp. At last, on her turning her head for an instant, he profited by the chance, and seized her by the forelock. In an instant the tempest ceased, the sky became serene, and Repentance re- treated to her cave. Orlando now demanded of Morgana the keys of 62 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. her prison, and the fairy, feigning a complacetv aspect, delivered up a key of silver, bidding him t< be cautious in the use of it, since to break the lock would be to involve himself and all in inevitable de- struction ; a caution which gave the Count room for long meditation, and led him to consider How few amid the suitors who importune The dame, know how to turn the keys of Fortune. Keeping the fairy still fast by the forelock, Orlando proceeded toward the prison, turned the key, without occasioning the mischiefs apprehended, and delivered the prisoners. Among tl ese were Florismart, Rinaldo, and many others of t\ e bravest knights of France. Morgana had disappej red, and the knights, under the guidance of Orlanda, retraced the path by which he had come. They soon reached the field of treasure. Rinaldo, Hnding hinv elf amidst this mass of wealth, remembered his needy j irrison of Montalban, and could not resist the tempta; on of seizing part of the booty. In par- ticular a g' .den chain, studded with diamonds, was too much for J s self-denial, and he took it and was bear- .ng it off, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Orlan- do, when / violent wind caught him and whirled him back, as : 5 approached the gate. This happened a second an a third time, and Rinaldo at length yield- ADVENTURES OF R1NALDO AND ORLANDO. 68 ed to necessity, rather than to the entreaties of his friends, and cast away his prize. They soon reached the bridge and passed over with- out hinderance to the other side, where they found the trophy decorated with their arms. Here each knight resumed his own, and all, except the paladins and their friends, separated as their inclinations or duty prompted. Dudon, the Dane, one of the rescued knights, informed the cousins that he had been made prisoner by Morgana while in the discharge of an em- bassy to them from Charlemagne, who called upon them to return to the defence of Christendom. Orlan- do was too much fascinated by Angelica to obey this summons, and, followed by the faithful Florismart, who would not leave him, returned towards Albracca. Ri- naldo, Dudon, Iroldo, Prasildo, and the others, took their way toward the west. THE INVASION OF FRANCE. AGRAMANT, King of Africa, convoked thfe kings, his vassals, to deliberate in council. He reminded them of the injuries he had sustained from France, that his father had fallen in battle with Charle- magne, and that his early years had hitherto not allowed him to wipe out the stain of former defeats. He now proposed to them to carry war into France. Sobrino, his wisest councillor, opposed the project, representing the rashness of it ; but Rodomont, the young and fiery king of Algiers, denounced Sobrino's counsel as base and cowardly, declaring himself impa- tient for the enterprise. The king of the Garamantes, THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 66 venerable for his age and renowned for his prophetic lore, interposed, and assured the King that such an attempt would be sure to fail, unless he could first get on his side a youth marked out by destiny as the fitting compeer of the most puissant knights of France, the young Rogero, descended in direct line from Hector of Troy. This prince was now a dweller upon the mountain Carena, where Atlantes, his foster- father, a powerful magician, kept him in retirement, having discovered by his art that his pupil would be lost to him if allowed to mingle with the world. To break the spells of Atlantes, and draw Rogero from his retirement, one only means was to be found. It was a ring possessed by Angelica, Princess of Cathay, which was a talisman against all enchantments. If this ring could be procured, all would go well ; with- out it, the enterprise was desperate. Rodomont treated this declaration of the old prophet with scorn, and it would probably have been held of little weight by the council, had not the aged king, oppressed by the weight of years, expired in the very act of reaffirming his prediction. This made so deep an impression on the council, that it was unanimously received to postpone the war until an effort should be made to win Rogero to the camp. King Agramant thereupon proclaimed that the 66 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE; ereignty of a kingdom should be the reward of who- ever should succeed in obtaining the ring of Angelica. Brunello, the dwarf, the subtlest thief in all Africa, undertook to procure it. In prosecution of this design, he made the best uf his way to Angelica's kingdom, and arrived be- neath the walls of Albracca while the besieging annv was encamped before the fortress. While the atten- tion of the garrison was absorbed by the battle that raged below, he scaled the walls, approached the Princess unnoticed, slipped the ring from her finger, and escaped unobserved. He hastened to the seaside, and, finding a vessel ready to sail, embarked, and ar- rived at Biserta, in Africa. Here he found Agramant, impatient for the talisman which was to foil the en- chantments of Atlantes and to put Rogero into his hands. The dwarf, kneeling before the King, pre- sented him with the ring, and Agramant, delighted at the success of his mission, crowned him in recompense King of Tingitana. All were now anxious to go in quest of Rogero. The cavalcade accordingly departed, and in due time arrived at the mountain of Carena. At the bottom of this was a fruitful and well-wood- ed plain, watered by a large river, and from this olain was descried a beautiful garden on the moun- O THK INVASION OF FRANCE. 67 tain-top, which contained the mansion of Atlantes ; but the ring, which discovered what was before invisi ble, could not, though it revealed this paradise, enable Agramant or his followers to enter it. So steep and smooth was the rock by nature, that even Brunello tailed in every attempt to scale it. He did not, for this, despair of accomplishing the object ; but, having obtained Agramant's consent, caused the assembled courtiers and knights to celebrate a tournament upon the plain below. This was done with the view of seducing Rogero from his fastness, and the stratagem was attended with success. Rogero joined the tourney, and was presented by Agramant with a splendid horse, Frontino, and a magnificent sword. Having learned from Agramant his intended invasion of France, he gladly consented to join the expedition. Rodomont, meanwhile, was too impatient to wait for Agramant's arrangements, and embarked with all the forces he could raise, made good his landing on the coast of France, and routed the Christians in several encounters. Previously to this, however, Gano, nr Ganelon (as he is sometimes called), the traitor, enemy of Orlando and the other nephews of Charle- magne, had entered into a traitorous correspondence with Marsilius, the Saracen king of Spain, whom In- Gd LKOKXU& UF CHAKLKMAGNE invited into France. Marsilius, thus encouraged, led :n army across the frontiers, and joined Rodomont This was the situation of things when Rinaldo and the other knights who had obeyed the summons of Dudon set forward on their return to France. When they arrived at Buda in Hungary, the> found the king of that country about despatching his son, Ottachiero, with an army to the succor of Charle- magne. Delighted with the arrival of Rinaldo, he placed his son and troops under his command. In due time the army arrived on the frontiers of France, and, united with the troops of Desiderius, king of Lombardy, poured down into Provence. The con- federate armies had not marched many days through this gay tract, before they heard a crash of drums and trumpets behind the hills, which spoke the conflict between the paynims, led by Rodomont, and the Christian forces. Rinaldo, witnessing from a moun- tain the prowess of Rodomont, left his troops in charge of his friends, and galloped towards him with his lance in rest. The impulse was irresistible, and Rodomont was unhorsed. But Rinaldo, unwilling to O avail himself of his advantage, galloped back to the hill, and, having secured Bayard among the baggage, returned to finish the combat on foot. During this interval the battle had become general THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 69 the Hungarians were routed, and Rinaldo, on his re- turn, had the mortification to find that Ottachiero was wounded, and Dudon taken prisoner. While he sought Rodoraont in order to renew the combat, a new sound of drums and trumpets was heard, and Charlemagne, with the main body of his army, was descried advancing in battle array. Rodomont, seeing this, mounted the horse of Dudon, left Rinaldo, who was on foot, and galloped off to encounter this new enemy. Agramant, accompanied by Rogero, had by this time made good his landing, and joined Rodomont with all his forces. Rogero eagerly embraced this first opportunity of distinguishing himself, and spread terror wherever he went, encountering in turn, and overthrowing many of the bravest knights of France. At length he found himself opposite to Rinaldo, who, being interrupted, as we have said, in his combat with Rodomont, and unable to follow him, being on foot, was shouting to his late foe to return and finish their combat. Rogero also was on foot, and seeing the Christian knight so eager for a contest, proffered him- self to supply the place of his late antagonist. Ri- naldo saw at a glance that the Moorish prince was a champion worthy of his arm, and gladly accepted the defiance. The combat was stoutly maintained for a 70 LEGENDS OF CHAKLEMAGNK time; but now fortune declared decisively in fa ror of the infidel army, and Charlemagne's forces gave way at -all points in irreparable confusion. The two com- batants were separated by the crowd of fugitives and pursuers, and Hinaldo hastened to recover possession of his horse. But Bayard, in the confusion, had got loose, and Rinaldo followed him into a thick wood, thus becoming effectually separated from Rogero. Rogero, also seeking his horse in the medley, came where two warriors were engaged in mortal combat. Though he knew not who they were, he could dis- tinguish that one was a paynim and the other a Christian ; and, moved by the spirit of courtesy, he approached them, and exclaimed, " Let him of the two who worships Christ pause, and hear what I have to say. The army of Charles is routed and in flight, so that if he wishes to follow his leader he has no time for delay." The Christian knight, who was none other than Bradamante, a female warrior, in prowess equal to the best of knights, was thunderstruck with the tidings, and would gladly leave the contest unde- cided, and retire from the field ; but Rodomont, her antagonist, would by no means consent. Rogero, indignant at his discourtesy, insisted upon her depart- ure, while he took up her quarrel with Rodomont. The combat, obstinately maintained on both sides. THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 7J was interrupted by the return of Bradamante. Find- ing herself unable to overtake the fugitives, and reluc- tant to leave to another the burden and risk of a contest which belonged to herself, she had returned to reclaim the combat. She arrived, however, when her champion had dealt his enemy such a blow as obliged him to drop both his sword and bridle. Kogero, dis- daining to profit by his adversary's defenceless situa- tion, sat apart, upon his horse, while that of Rodo- mont bore his rider, stunned and stupefied, about the field. Bradamante approached Rogero, conceiving a yet higher opinion of his valor on beholding such an in- stance of forbearance. She addressed him, excusing herself for leaving him exposed to an enemy from his interference in her cause ; pleading her duty to her sovereign as the motive. While she spoke, Rodomont, recovered from his confusion, rode up to them. His bearing was, however, changed ; and he disclaimed all thoughts of further contest with one who, he said, " had already conquered him by his courtesy." So saying, he quitted his antagonist, picked up his sword, and spurred out of sight. Bradamante was now again desirous of retiring from the field, and Rogero insisted on accompanying her though vet unaware of her sex. 72 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. As they pursued their way, she inquired the name and quality of her new associate ; and Rogero informed her of his nation and family. He told her that Asty- anax, the son of Hector of Troy, established the king- dom of Messina in Sicily. From him were derived two branches, which gave origin to two families of renown. From one sprang the royal race of Pepin and Charlemagne, and from the other, that of Reggio, in Italy. " From that of Reggio am I derived," he continued. " My mother, driven from her home by the chance of war, died in giving me life, and I was taken in charge by a sage enchanter, who trained me to feats of arms amidst the dangers of the desert and the chase." Having thus ended his tale, Rogero entreated a similar return of courtesy from his companion, who replied, without disguise, that she was of the race of Clermont, and sister to Rinaldo, whose fame was per- laps known to him. Rogero, much moved by this ntelligence, entreated her to take off her helmet, and, at the discovery of her face, remained transported with delight. While absorbed in this contemplation, an unexpected danger assailed them. A party which was placed in a wood, in order to intercept the retreating Christians, broke from its ambush upon the pair, and Bra da THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 78 mante, who was uncasqued, was wounded in the head. Rogero was in fury at this attack ; and Bradamante, replacing her helmet, joined him in taking speedy ven- geance on their enemies. They cleared the field of them, but became separated in the pursuit ; and Roge- ro, quitting the chase, wandered by hill and vale in search of her whom he had no sooner found than lost. While pursuing this quest, he fell in with two knights, whom he joined, and engaged them to assist him in the search of his companion, describing her arms, but concealing, from a certain feeling of jealousy, her quality and sex. It was evening when they joined company, and having ridden together through the night, the morn- ing was beginning to break, when one of the strangers, fixing his eyes upon Rogero's shield, demanded of him by what right he bore the Trojan arms. Rogero de- clared his origin and race, and then, in his turn, inter- rogated the inquirer as to his pretensions to the cog- nizance of Hector, which he bore. The stranger replied, " My name is Mandricardo, son of Agrican, the Tartar king, whom Orlando treacherously slew. 1 say treacherously ', for in fair fight he could not have done it. It is in search of him that I have come tc France, to take vengeance for my father, and to wresl from him Durindana, that famous sword, which be- 74 IJ:GENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. lonjs to me, and not to him." When the knights .lemanded to know by what right he claimed Durin- dana, Mandricardo thus related his history: " I had been, before the death of my father, a wild iid reckless youth. That event awakened my ener- gies, and drove me forth to seek for vengeance. Determined to owe success to nothing but my own exertions, I departed without attendants or horso or arms. Travelling thus aloi\e, and on foot, I espied one day a pavilion, pitched near a fountain, and en- tered it, intent on adventure. I found therein a dam- sel of gracious aspect, who replied to my inquiries, that the fountain was the work of a fairy, whose castle stood beyond a neighboring hill, where she kept watch over a treasure which many knights had tried to win, but fruitlessly, having lost their life or liberty in the attempt. This treasure was the armor of Hector, prince of Troy, whom Achilles treacherously slew. Nothing was wanting but his sword Durindana, and this had fallen into the possession of a queen named Penthesilea, from whom it passed through her descend ants to Almontes, whom Orlando slew, and thus became possessed of the sword. The rest of Hector's arms vere saved and carried off by ^Eneas, from whom this fairy received them in recompense of ser- rice rendered. " If you have the courage to attempt THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 76 their acquisition," said the damsel, "I will be your guide." Mandricardo went on to say that he eagerly em- braced the proposal, and being provided with horse and armor by the damsel, set forth on his enterpr^, the lady accompanying him. As they rode, she explained the dangers of the quest. The armor was defended by a champion, one of the numerous unsuccessful adventurers for the prize, all of whom had been made prisoners by the fairy and compelled to take their turn, day by day, in defending the arms against all comers. Thus speaking they arrived at the castle, which was of alabaster, overlaid with gold. Before it, on a lawn, sat an armed knight on horseback, who was none other than Gradasso, king of Sericane, who, in his return home from his unsuccessful inroad into France, had fallen into the power of the fairy, and was held to do her bidding. Mandricardo, upon seeing him, dropt his visor, and laid his lance in rest. The champion of the castle was equally ready, and each spurred towards his op- ponent. They met one another with equal force, splintered their spears, and, returning to the charge, encountered with their swords. The contest was long and doubtful, when Mandricardo, determined to bring it to an end, threw his arms about Gradasso, grappled 76 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. with him, and both fell to the ground. Mandricardi-, however, fell uppermost, and, preserving his adva.i- tage, compelled Gradasso to yield himself conquered. The damsel now interfered, congratulating the victor, and consoling the vanquished as well as she might. Mandricardo and the damsel proceeded to the gale of the castle, which they found undefended. As they entered, they beheld a shield suspended from a pilastei of gold. The device was a white eagle on an azure- field, in memory of the bird of Jove, which bore away Ganymede, the flower of the Phrygian race. Beneath was engraved the following couplet: " Let none with hand profane my buckler wrong Unless he be himself as Hector strong." The damsel, alighting from her palfrey, made obei- sance to the arms, bending herself to the ground. The Tartar king bowed his head with equal rever- ence ; then advancing towards the shield, touched it with his sword. Thereupon an earthquake shook the ground, and the way by which he had entered closed. Another and an opposite gate opened, and displayed a field bristling with stalks and grain of gold. The damsel, upon this, told him that he had no means of retreat but by cutting down the harvest ffhich was before him, and by uprooting a tree which grew in the middle of the field Mandri- THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 77 sardo, without replying, began to mow the harvest w'th his sword, but had scarce smitten thrice when he perceived that every stalk that fell was instantly transformed into some poisonous or ravenous animal, which prepared to assail him. Instructed by the damsel, he snatched up a stone and cast it among the pack. A strange wonder followed ; for no sooner had the stone fallen among I he oeasts, than they turned their rage against one another, and rent each other to pieces. Mandricardo did not stop to marvel at the miracle, but proceeded to fulfil his task, and uproot the tree. He clasped it round the trunk, and made vigorous efforts to tear it up by the roots. At each effort fell a shower of leaves, that were in- stantly changed into birds of prey, which attacked the knight, flapping their wings in his face, with horrid screeching. But undismayed by this new an- noyance, he continued to tug at the trunk till it yield- ed to his efforts. A burst of wind and thunder followed, and the hawks and vultures flew scream- ing away. But these only gave place to a new foe ; for frcm the hole made by tearing up the tree issued a furi- jus serpent, and, darting at Mandricardo, wound her- self about his limbs with a strain that almost crushed aim. Fo-tune, however, again stocxl his friend, for, 78 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. writhing under the folds of the monster, he fell back wards into the hole, and his enemy was crushed be- neath his weight. Mandricardo, when he was somewhat recovered, and assured himself of the destruction of the serpent, began to contemplate the place into which he had fallen, and saw that he was in a vault, incrusted with costly metals, and illuminated by a live coal. In the middle was a sort of ivory bier, and upon this was extended what appeared to be a knight in armor, but was in truth an empty trophy, composed of the rich and precious arms once Hector's, to which nothing was wanting but the sword. While Mandricardo stood contemplating the prize, a door opened behind him, and a bevy of fair damsels en- tered, dancing, who, taking up the armor, piece by piece, led him away to the place where the shield was suspended ; where he found the fairy of the castle seated in state. By her he was invested with the arms he had won, first pledging his solemn oath to wear no other blade but Durindana, which he was to wrest from Orlando, and thus complete the con quest of Hector's arms. THE INVASION OF FRANCE. CONTINUED. MANDRICARDO, having completed his story now turned to Rogero, and proposed that arms should decide which of the two was most worthy to bear the symbol of the Trojan knight. Rogero felt no other objection to this proposal than the scruple which arose on observing that his antagonist was without a sword. Mandricardo in- eisted that this need be no impediment, since his oath prevented him from using a sword until he should have achieved the conquest of Durindana. This was no sooner said than a new antagonist 80 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. started up in Gradasso, who now accompanied Man- dricardo. Gradasso vindicated his prior right to Du- rindana, to obtain which he had embarked (as was related in the beginning) in that bold inroad upon France. A quarrel was thus kindled between the kings of Tartary and Sericane. While the dispute was raging, a knight arrived upon the ground, ac- companied by a damsel, to whom Rogero related the cause of the strife. The knight was Florismart, and his companion Flordelis. Florismart succeeded in bringing the two champions to accord, by inform- ing them that he could bring them to the presence of Orlando, the master of Durindana. Gradasso and Mandricardo readily made truce, m order to accompany Florismart, nor would Rogero be left behind. As they proceeded on their quest, they were met by a dwarf, who entreated their assistance in behalf of his lady, who had been carried off by an en- chanter, mounted on a winged horse. However un willing to leave the question of the sword undecided, it was not possible for the knights to resist this appeal Two of their number, Gradasso and Rogero, there- fore accompanied the dwarf, Mandricardo persisted in his search for Orlando, and Florismart, with Florde- lis, pursued their way to the camp of Charlemagne. THE IN V ASIC X OK KKANCE. 8] A t Ian t os, the enchanter, who had brought up Roge- ro, and cherished for him the warmest affection, knew by his art that his pupil was destined to be severed I'rom him, and converted to the Christian faith through the influence of Bradamante, that royal maiden with whom chance had brought him acquainted. Thinking to thwart the will of Heaven in this respect, he no\i put forth all his arts to entrap Rogero into his power. By the aid of his subservient demons, he reared a cas- tle on an inaccessible height, in the Pyrenean moun- tains, and, to make it a pleasant abode to his pupil, contrived to entrap and convey thither knights and damsels many a one, whom chance had brought into the vicinity of his castle. Here, in a sort of sensual paradise, they were but too willing to forget glory and duty, and to pass their time in indolent enjoy- It was by the enchanter that the dwarf had now been sent to tempt the knights into his power. But we must now return to Rinaldo, whom we left interrupted in his combat with Rodomont. In search of his late antagonist, and intent on bringing their combat to a decision, he entered the forest of Arden, whither he suspected Rodomont had gone. While en- gaged on this quest, lie was surprised by the vision of beautiful child danciiii' naked, with three damsels ui 82 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. beautiful as himself. While he was lost in admiration at the sight, the child approached him, and, throwing at him handfuls of roses and lilies, struck him from his horse. He was no sooner down than he was seized by the dancers, by whom he was dragged about and scourged with flowers till he fell into a swoon. When O he began to revive, one of the group approached him, and told him that his punishment was the consequence of his rebellion against that power before whom all tlu'ngs bend ; that there was but one remedy to heal the wounds that had been inflicted, and that was to drink of the waters of Love. Then they left him. Rinaldo, sore and faint, dragged himself toward a fountain which flowed near by, and, being parched with thirst, drank . greedily and almost unconsciously of the water, which was sweet to the taste, but bitter at the heart. After repeated draughts he recovered his strength and recollection, and found himself in the same place where Angelica had formerly awakened him with a rain of flowers, and whence he had fled in contempt of her courtesy. This remembrance of the scene was followed by the recognition of his crime ; and, repenting bitterly his ingratitude, he leaped upon Bayard, with the in- tention of hastening to Angelica's country, and solicit ing his pardon at her feet. THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 83 Let us now retrace our steps, and revert to the time when the paladins, having learned from Dudon the summons of Charlemagne to return to France to repel the invaders, had all obeyed the command with the exception of Orlando, whose passion for Angelica still held him in attendance on her. Orlando, arriving before Albracca, found it closely beleaguered. He, however, made his way into the citadel, and related his adventures to Angelica, from the time of his de- parture up to his separation from Rinaldo and the rest, when they departed to the assistance of Charle- magne. Angelica, in return, described the distresses of the garrison, and the force of the besiegers ; and in conclusion prayed Orlando to favor her escape from the pressing danger, and escort her into France. Or- lando, who did not suspect that love for Rinaldo was her secret motive, joyfully agreed to the proposal, and the sally was resolved upon. Leaving lights burning in the fortress, they departed at nightfall, and passed in safety through the enemy's camp. After encountering numerous adventures, they reached the sea-side, and embarked on board a pinnace for France. The vessel arrived safely, and the travel- lers, disembarking in Provence, pursued their way by .and. One day, heated and weary, they sought rhel- 'tar from the sun in the forest of Arden, and chance 64 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE directed Angelica to the fountain of Disdain, of whose waters she eagerly drank. Issuing thence, the Count and damsel encountered a stranger-knight. It was no other than Rinaldo, who was just on the point of setting off on a pilgrimage in search of Angelica, to implore her pardon for his in- sensibility, and urge his new-found passion. Surprise and delight at first deprived him of utterance, but soon recovering himself, he joyfully saluted her, claim- ing her as his, and exhorting her to put herself under his protection. His presumption was repelled by Angelica with disdain, and Orlando, enraged at the invasion of his rights, challenged him to decide their claims by arms. Terrified at the combat which ensued, Angelica fled amain through the forest, and came out upon a plain covered with tents. This was the camp of Charle- magne, who led the army of reserve destined to sup- port the troops which had advanced to oppose Mar- silius. Charles, having heard the damsel's tale, with difficulty separated the two cousins, and then con- signed Angelica, as the cause of quarrel, to the care of Namo, Duke of Bavaria, promising that she should be his who should best deserve her in the impending battle. But these plans and hopes were frustrated. Th THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 85 Christian army, beaten at all points, fled from the Saracens ; and Angelica, indifferent to both her lovers, mounted a swift palfrey and plunged into the forest, rejoicing, in spite of her terror, at having regained her liberty. She stopped at last in a tufted grove, where a gentle zephyr blew, and whose young trees were watered by two clear runnels, which came and mingled their waters, making a pleasing murmur. Believing herself far from Rinaldo, and overcome by fatigue and the summer heat, she saw with delight a bank covered with flowers, so thick that they almost hid the green turf, inviting her to alight and rest. She dismounted from her palfrey, and turned him loose to recruit his strength with the tender grass which bordered the streamlets. Then, in a sheltered nook tapestried with moss and fenced in with roses and hawthorn-flowers, she yielded herself to grateful repose. She had not slept long when she was awakened by the noise made by the approach of a horse. Starting up she saw an armed knight who had arrived at the bank of the stream. Not knowing whether he was to be feared or not, her heart beat with anxiety. She pressed aside the leaves to allow her to see who it was, but scarce dared to breathe .In* fear of bet raying herself. Soon the kniglit throw 86 LKGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. himself on the flowery bank, and, leaning his head on his hand, fell into a profound reverie. Then arousing himself from his silence, he began to pour forth complaints, mingled with deep sighs. Rivers of tears flowed down his cheeks, and his breast seemed to labor with a hidden flame. " Ah, vain regrets ! " he exclaimed ; " cruel fortune I others triumph, while I endure hopeless misery I Better a thousand times to lose life, than wear a chain so disgraceful and so oppressive ! " Angelica by this time had recognized the stranger, and perceived that it was Sacripant, king of Circassia, one of the worthiest of her suitors. This prince had followed Angelica from his country, at the very gates of the day, to France, where he heard with dismay that she was under the guardianship of the Paladin Orlando, and that the Emperor had announced his decree to award her as the prize of valor to that one of his nephews who should best deserve her. As Sacripant continued to lament, Angelica, who had always opposed the hardness of marble to his sighs, thought with herself that nothing forbade her employing his good offices in this unhappy crisis. Though firmly resolved never to accept him as a - proached the fiery courser, and attempted to seize his bridle, but the disdainful animal, turning from him, launched at him a volley of kicks enough tc have shattered a wall of marble. Bayard then approached Angelica with an air as gentle and loving as a faith- 90 LKUKNDB OF CHARLEMAGNE. nil dog could his master, after a long separation. Foi he remembered how she had caressed him, and even fed him, in Albracca. She took his bridle in her left hand, while with her right she patted his neck. The beautiful animal, gifted with wonderful intelligence, seemed to submit entirely. Sacripant, seizing the moment to vault upon him, controlled his curvetings, and Angelica, quitting the croup of the palfrey, re- gained her seat. But, turning his eyes toward a place where was heard a noise of arms, Sacripant beheld Rinaldo. That hero now loves Angelica more than his life, and she flies him as the timid crane the falcon. The fountain of which Angelica had drunk produced such an effect on the beautiful queen, that, with dis- tressed countenance and trembling voice, she conjured Sacripant not to wait the approach of Rinaldo, but to join her in flight. " Am I, then," said Sacripant, " of so little esteem with you that you doubt my power to defend you? Do you forget the battle of Albracca, and how, in your defence, I fought single-handed against Agrican and all his knights?" Angelica made no reply, uncertain what to do ; but already Rinaldo was too near to be escaped. He advanced menacingly to the Circassian king, for he recognized his horse. THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 91 " Vile thief," he cried, " dismount from that horse, and prevent the punishment that is your due foi daring to rob me of my property. Leave, also, the princess in my hands ; for it would indeed be a sin to suffer so charming a lady and so gallant a charger to remain hi such keeping." The king of Circassia, furious at being thus insulted, cried out, " Thou liest, villain, in giving me the name of thief, which better belongs to thyself than to me. It is true, the beauty of this lady and the perfection of this horse are unequalled ; come on, then, and let us try which of us is most worthy to possess them." At these words the king of Circassia and Rinaldo attacked one another with all their force, one fighting >n foot, the other on horseback. You need not, how- ver, suppose that the Saracen king found any ad van- age in this ; for a young page, unused to horseman- ship, could not have failed more completely to manage Bayard than did this accomplished knight. The faith- ful animal loved his master too well to injure him, and refused his aid as well as his ol>edience to the hand of Sacripant, who could strike but ineffectual blows, the horse backing when he wished him to go forward, and dropping his head and arching his back, throwing out with his legs, so as almost to shake the knight out of the saddle. Sacripant, seeing that h 92 LfcGKNDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. could not manage him, watched his opportunity, rose on his saddle, and leapt lightly to the earth ; then, relieved from the embarrassment of the horse, renewed the combat on more equal terms. Their skill to thrust and parry were equal ; one rises, the other stoops ; with one foot set firm, they turn and wind, to lay on strokes or to dodge them. At last Rinaldo, throwing himself on the Circassian, dealt him a blow so terrible that Fusberta, his good sword, cut in two the buckler of Sacripant, although it was made of bone, and covered with a thick plate of steel well tempered. The arm of the Saracen was deprived of its defence, and almost palsied with the stroke. Angelica, per- ceiving how victory was likely to incline, and shud- dering at the thought of becoming the -prize of Rinaldo, hesitated no longer. Turning her horse's head, "she fled with the utmost speed; and, in spite of the round pebbles which covered a steep descent, she plunged into a deep valley, trembling with the fear that Rinaldo was in pursuit. At the bottom of this valley she encountered an aged hermit, whose white beard flowed to his middle, and whose venerable ap- pearance seemed to assure his piety. This hermit, who appeared shrunk by age and fast- ing, travelled slowly, mounted upon a wretched ass. The princess, overcome with fear, conjured him to THE INVASION OF FRANCE. 93 save her life, and to conduct her to some port of the sea, whence she might embark and quit France, never more to hear the odious name of Rinaldo. The old hermit was something of a wizard. He comforted Angelica, and promised to protect her from all peril. Then he opened his scrip, and took from thence a book, and had read but a single page when a goblin, obedient to his incantations, appeared, under the form of a laboring man, and demanded his orders. He received them, transported himself to the place ^here the knights still maintained their conflict, and wldly stepped between the two. " Tell me, I pray you," he said, " what benefit will accrue to him who shall get the better in this con- test? The object you are contending for is already disposed of; for the Paladin Orlando, without effort and without opposition, is now carrying away the princess Angelica to Paris. You had better pursue them promptly, for if they reach Paris, you will never see her again." At these words you might have seen those rival warriors confounded, stupefied, silently agreeing that they were affording their rival a fair opportunity t( triumph over them. Rinaldo, approaching Bayard, breathes a sigh of shame and rage, and awears a terrible oath that, if he overtakes Orlando, he will 94 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. tear his heart out. Then mounting Bayard and press- ing his flanks with his spurs, he leaves the king of Circassia on foot in the forest. Let it not appear strange that Rinaldo found Bay- ard obedient at last, after having so long prevented any one from even touching his bridle ; for that fine animal had an intelligence almost human ; he had fled from his master only to draw him on the track of Angelica, and enable him to recover her. He saw when the princess fled from the battle, and Rinaldo being then engaged in a fight on foot, Bayard found himself free to follow the traces of Angelica. Thus he had drawn his master after him, not per- mitting him to approach, and had brought him to the sight of the princess. But Bayard now, deceived like his master with the false intelligence of the goblin, submits to be mounted and to serve his master as usual, and Rinaldo, animated with rage, makes him fly toward Paris, more slowly than his wishes, though the speed of Bayard outstripped the winds. Full of impatience to encounter Orlando, he gave but a few hours that night to sleep. Early the next day he saw before him the great city, under the walls of which the Emperor Charles had collected the scattered re- mains of his army. Foreseeing that he would soon be attacked on all sides, the Emperor had caused the THF INVASION OF FRANCE. 9t> ancient fortifications to be repaired, and new ones to be built, surrounded by wide and deep ditches. The desire to hold the field against the enemy made him seize every means of procuring new allies. He hoped to receive from England aid sufficient to enable him to form a new camp, and as soon as Rinaldo rejoined him, he selected him to go as his ambassador into England, to plead for auxiliaries. Rinaldo was far from pleased with this commission, but he obeyed the Emporor's commands, without giving himself time to devote a single day to the object nearest his heart. He hastened to Calais, and lost not a moment in embarking for England, ardently desiring a hasty de- spatch of his commission, and a speedy return to France. BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO. BRADAMANTE, the knight of the white plume and shield, whose sudden appearance and en- counter with Sacripant we have already told, was in quest of Rogero, from whom chance had separated aer, almost at the beginning of their acquaintance. After her encounter with Sacripant, Bradamante pur- sued her way through the forest, in hopes cf rejoining Rogero, and arrived at last on the brink of a fair fountain. This fountain flowed through a broad meadow. Ancient trees overshadowed it, and travellers, attracted by the sweet murmur of its waters, stopped there tc P, RADAMANTK AND HOGERO. 97 cool themselves. Bradamante, casting her eyes on at sides to enjoy the beauties of the spot, perceived, under the shade of a tree, a knight reclining, who seemed to be oppressed with the deepest grief. Bradamante accosted him, and asked to be informed of the cause of his distress. " Alas ! my lord," said he, " I lament a young and charming friend, my affianced wife, who has been torn from me by a vil- lain, let me rather call him a demon, who, on a winged horse, descended from the air, seized her, and bore her screaming to his den. I have pursued them over rocks and through ravines till my horse is no longer able to bear me, and I now wait only for death." He added, that already a vain attempt on his behalf had been made by two knights whom chance had brought to the spot. Their names were Gradasso, king of Sericane, and Rogero, the Moor. Both had been overcome by the wiles of the enchant- er, and were added to the number of the captives, whom he held in an impregnable castle, situated on the height of the mountain. At the mention of Itogero's name, Bradamante started with delight, which was soon changed to an opposite sentiment when she heard that her lover was a prisoner in tho toils of the enchanter. " Sir Knight," she said, " do not surrender yourself to despair ; this day may Iw 98 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE more happy for you than you think, if you will only lead me to the castle which enfolds her whom you deplore." The knight responded, "After having lost all tha; made life dear to me, I have no motive to avoid the dangers of the enterprise, and I will do as you re- quest ; but I forewarn you of the perils you will have to encounter. If you fall, impute it not to me." Having thus spoken, they took their way to the cas- tle, but were overtaken by a messenger from the camp, who had been sent in quest of Bradamante to summon her back to the army, where her presence was needed to reassure her disheartened forces, and withstand the advance of the Moors. The mournful knight, whose name was Pinabel, thus became aware that Bradamante was a scion of the house of Clermont, between which and his own of Mayence there existed an ancient feud. From this moment the traitor sought only how he might be rid of the company of Bradamante, from whom he feared no good would come to him, but rather mortal injury, if his name and lineage became known to her. For he judged her by his own base model, and, knowing hie ill deserts, he feared to receive his due. Bradamante, in spite of the summons to return to the army, could not resolve to leave her lover in cap- BRADAMANTL AND ROGERO. 99 tivity, and determined first to finish the adventure on which she was engaged. Pinabel leading the way, they at length arrived at a wood, in the centre of which rose a steep, rocky mountain. Pinabel, who now thought of nothing else but how he might escape from Bradamante, proposed to ascend the mountain to extend his view, in order to discover a shelter for the night, if any there might be within sight. Under this pretence he left Bradamante, and advanced up the side of the mountain till he came to a cleft in the rock, down which he looked, and perceived that it widened below into a spacious cavern. Meanwhile Bradamante, fearful of losing her guide, had followed close on his footsteps, and rejoined him at the mouth of the cavern. Then the traitor, seeing the impossi- bility of escaping her, conceived another design. He told her that before her approach he had seen in the cavern a young and beautiful damsel, whose rich dress announced her high birth, who with tears and lamen- tations implored assistance ; that before he could de- scend to relieve her, a ruffian had seized her, and hurried her away into the recesses of the cavern. Bradamante, full of truth and courage, readily believed this lie of the Mayencian traitor. Eager to succor the damsel, she looked round for the means of facilitating the descent, and swing a large elm with spreading brunches, 100 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. she lopped off with her sword one of the largest, anc thrust it into the opening. She told Pinabel to hold fast to the larger end, while, grasping the branches with her hands, she let herself down into the cavern. The traitor smiled at seeing her thus suspended, and, asking her in mockery, " Are you a good leaper ? " he let go the branch with perfidious glee, and saw Brada- mante precipitated to the bottom of the cave. " I wish your whole race were there with you," he muttered, " that you might all perish together." But Pinabel's atrocious design was not accomplished. The twigs and foliage of the branch broke its descent, and Bradamante, not seriously injured, though stunned with her fall, was reserved for other adventures. As soon as she recovered from the shock, Bradamante cast her eyes around and perceived a door, through which she passed into a second cavern, larger and loftier than the first. It had the appearance of a subterranean temple Columns of the purest alabaster adorned it, and supported the roof; a simple altar rose in the middle; a lamp, whose radiance was reflected by the alabaster walls, cast a mild light around. Bradamante, inspired by a sense of religious awe, approached the altar, and, falling on her knees, poured forth her prayers and thanks to the Preserver of hei life, invoking the protection of his power. At that mo- BBADAMANTE AND ROGERO 101 ment a small door opened, and a female issued from it with naked feet, and flowing robe and hair, who called her by her name, and thus addressed her. " Brave and generous Bradamante, know that it is a power from above that has brought you hither. The spirit of Merlin, whose last earthly abode was in this place, has warned me of your arrival, and of the fate that awaits you. This famous grotto," she continued, " was the work of the enchanter Merlin ; here his ashes repose. You have no doubt heard how this sage and virtuous enchanter ceased to be. Victim of the artful fairy of the lake, Merlin, by a fatal compliance with her request, laid him- self down living in his tomb, without power to resist the spell laid upon him by that ingrate, who retained him there as long as he lived. His spirit hovers about this spot, and will not leave it, until the last trumpet shall summon the dead to judgment. He answers the questions of those who approach his tomb, where per- haps you may be privileged to hear his voice." Bradamante, astonished at these words, and the objects which met her view, knew not whether she was awake or asleep. Confused, but modest, she cast down her eyes, and a blush overspread her face. " Ah, what am I," said she, " that so great a prophet should deign to speak to me ! " Still, with a secret satisfaction, she fol- lowed the priestess, who led her to the tomb of Merlin 102 LEGENDS OK CHARLEMAGNE. This tomb wa& constructed of a species of stone hard and lesplendent like fire. The rays which beamed from the stone sufficed to light up that terrible place, where the sun's rays never penetrated ; but I know not whether that light was the effect of a certain phosphorescence of the stone itself, or of the many talismans and charms with which it was wrought over. Bradamante had hardly passed the threshold of this sacred place, when the spirit of the enchanter saluted her with a voice firm and distinct. " May thy de- signs be prosperous, O chaste and noble maiden, the future mother of heroes, the glory of Italy, and des- tined to fill the whole world with their fame. Great captains, renowned knights, shall be numbered among your descendants, who shall defend the Church and restore their country to its ancient splendor. Princes, wise as Augustus and the sage Numa shall bring back the age of gold.* To accomplish these grand destinies it is ordained that you shall wed the illustrious Rogero. Fly then to his deliverance, and lay prostrate in the dust the traitor who has snatched him from you, and now holds him in chains I " Merlin ceased with these words, and left to Melissa, This prophecy ia introduced by Ariosto in this place to compliment the noble house of Kte. the princes of his native stuta, the dukedom ot tttnn. BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO. the priestess, the charge of more fully instructing the maiden in her future course. "To-morrow," said she, " I will conduct you to the castle on the rock where Rogero is held captive. I will not leave you till I have guided you through this wild wood, and I will direct you on your way so that you shall be in no danger of mistaking it." The next morning Melissa conducted Bradamante, between rocks and precipices, crossing rapid torrents, and traversing intricate passes, employing the time in imparting to her such information as was necessary tc enable her to bring her design to a successful issue. " Not only would the castle, impenetrable by force, and that winged horse of his baffle your efforts, but know that he possesses also a buckler whence flashes a light so brilliant that the eyes of all who look upon it are blinded. Think not to avoid it by shutting your eyes, for how then will you be able to avoid his blows, and make him feel your own ? But I will teach you the proper course to pursue. " Agramant, the Moorish prince, possesses a ring stolen from a queen of India, which has power to render of no avail all enchantments. Agramant, know- ing that Rogero is of more importance to him than any one of his warriors, is desirous of rescuing him fiom the power of the enchanter, and has sent for 104 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. that purpose Brunello, the most crafty and sagacbua of his servants, provided with his wonderful ring, and he is even now at hand, bent on this enterprise. But, beautiftil Bradamante, as I desire that no one but yourself shall have the glory of delivering from thraldom your future spouse, listen while I disclose the means of success. Following this path which leads by the sea-shore, you will come erelong to a hostelry, where the Saracen Brunello will arrive short- ly after you. You will readily know him by his stature, under four feet, his great disproportioned head, his squint eyes, his livid hue, his thick eyebrows join- ing his tufted beard. His dress, moreover, that of a courier, will point him out to you. " It will be easy for you to enter into conversation with him, announcing yourself as a knight seeking combat with the enchanter, but let not the knave suspect that you know anything about the ring. I doubt not that he will offer to be your guide to the castle of the enchanter. Accept his offer, but take care to keep behind him till you come in sight of the brilliant dome of the castle. Then hesitate not to strike him dead, for the wretch deserves no pity, and take from him the ring. But let him not suspect your intention, for by putting the ring into his mouth he will instantly become invisible, and disappear from your eyes." BBADA11ANTE AND ROGERO. lOo Saying thus, the sage Melissa and the fair Brada- mante arrived near the city of Bordeaux, where the rich and wide river Garonne pours the tribute of its waves into the sea. They parted with tender em- braces. Bradamante, intent wholly on her purpose, hastened to arrive at the hostelry, where Brunello had preceded her a few moments only. The young heroine knew him without difficulty. She acr-osted him, and put to him some slight questions, to which he replied with adroit falsehoods. Bradamante, on her part, concealed from him her sex, her religion, her country, and the blood from whence she sprung. While they talk together, sudden cries are heard from all parts of the hostelry. " O queen of heaven ! " exclaimed Bradamante, " what can be the cause of this sudden alarm ? " She soon learned the cause. Host, children, domestics, all, with uptunied eyes, as if they saw a comet or a great eclipse, were gazing on a prodigy which seemed to pass the bounds of possibil- ity. She beheld distinctly a winged horse, mounted with a cavalier in rich armor, cleaving the air with rapid flight. The wings of this strange courser were wide extended, and covered with feathers of various colors. The polished armor of the knight made them shine with rainbow tints. In a short time, the horse and rider disappeared behind the summits of the mountains. * I0t) LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. " It 18 an enchanter," said the host, " a magician who often is seen traversing the air in that way Sometimes he flies aloft as if among the stars, and at others, skims along the land. He possesses a won- derful castle on the top of the Pyrenees. Many knights have shown their courage by going to attack him, but none have ever returned, from which it is to be feared they have lost either their life or their liberty." Bradamante, addressing the host, said, " Could you furnish me a guide to conduct me to the castle of this enchanter?" "By my faith," said Brunello, in- terrupting, " that you shall not seek in vain ; I have it all in writing, and I will myself conduct you." Bradamante, with thanks, accepted him for her guide. The host had a tolerable horse to dispose of, which Bradamante bargained for, and the next day, at the first dawn of morning, she took her route by a narrow valley, taking care to have the Saracen Brunello lead the way. They reached the summit of the Pyrenees, whence one may look down on France, Spain, and the two seas. From this height they descended again by a fatiguing road into a deep valley. From the middle of this valley an isolated mountain rose, composed of rough and perpendicular rock, on whose summit was BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO. 107 the castle, surrounded with a wall of brass. Brunello said, " Yonder is the stronghold where the enchanter keeps his prisoners ; one must have wings to mount thither ; it is easy to see that the aid of a flying horse must be necessary for the master of this castle, which he uses for his prison and for his abode." Bradamante, sufficiently instructed, saw that the time had now come to possess herself of the ring ; but she could not resolve to slay a defenceless man. She seized Brunello before he was aware, bound him to a tree, and took from him the ring which he wore on one of his fingers. The cries and entreaties of the perfidious Saracen moved her not. She advanced to the foot of the rock whereon the castle stood, and, to draw the magician to the combat, sounded her horn, adding to it cries of defiance. The enchanter delayed not to present himself, mounted on his winged horse. Bradamante was O struck with surprise mixed with joy when she saw that this person, described as so fonnidable, bore no lance nor club, nor any other deadly weapon. He had only on his arm a buckler, covered with a cloth, and in his hand an open book. As to the winged horse, there was no enchantment about him. He was a natural animal, of a species which exists in the Ri- phaean mountains. Like a griffin, he had the head of 108 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. an eagle, claws armed with talons, and wings covered with feathers, the rest of his body being that of a horse. This strange animal is called a Hippogriff. The heroine attacked the enchanter on his approach, striking on this side and on that, with all the energy of a violent combat, but wounding only the wind , and, after this pretended attack had lasted some time, dismounted from her horse, as if hoping to do battle more effectually on foot. The enchanter now prepares to employ his sole weapon, by uncovering the magic buckler which never failed to subdue an enemy by depriving him of his senses. Bradamante, confiding in her ring, observed all the motions of her adversary, and, at the unveiling of the shield, cast herself on the ground, pretending that the splendor of the shield had overcome her, but in reality to induce the en chanter to dismount and approach her. It happened according to her wish. When the enchanter saw her prostrate, he made his horse alight on the ground, and, dismounting, fixed the shield on the pommel of his saddle, and approached in order to rtecure the fallen warrior. Bradamante, who watched him intently, as soon as she saw him near at hand, sprang up, seized him vigorously, threw him down, and, with the same chain which the enchanter had prepared for herself, bound him fast, without his being able to make any effectual resistance. RBADAMANTE AND ROGERO. 109 The enchanter, with the accents of despair, ex- claimed, "Take my life, young man!'' but Brada- mante was far from complying with such a wish. Desirous of knowing the name of the enchanter, and for what purpose he had formed with so much art this impregnable fortress, she commanded him to in- form her. " Alas I " replied the magician, while tears flowed down his cheeks, " it is not to conceal booty, nor for any culpable design, that I have built this castle ; it was only to guard the life of a young knight, the object of my tenderest affection, my art having taught me that he is destined to become a Christian, and to perish, shortly after, by the blackest of treasons. "This youth, named Rogero, is the most beautiful and most accomplished of knights. It is I, the unhap- py Atlantes, who have reared him from his childhood. The call of honor and the desire of glory led him from me to follow Agramant, his prince, in his invasion of France, and I, more devoted to Rogero than the ten- derest of parents, have sought the means of bringing him back to this abode, in the hope of saving him from the cruel fate that menaces him. " For this purpose I have got him in my possession by the same means as I attempted to employ against you ; and by which I have succeeded in collecting a 110 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. great many knights and ladies in my castle. My pur- pose was to render my beloved pupil's captivity light, by affording him society to amuse him, and keep his thoughts from running on subjects of war and glory. Alas ! my cares have been in vain ! Yet, take, I beseech you, whatever else I have, but spare me my beloved pupil. Take this shield, take this winged courser, deliver such of your friends as you may find among my prisoners, deliver them all if you will, but leave me my beloved Rogero; or if you will snatch him too from me, take also my life, which will cease then to be to me worth preserving." Bradamante replied : " Old man, hope not to move me by your vain entreaties. It is precisely the liberty of Rogero that I require. You would keep him here in bondage and in slothful pleasure, to save him from a fete which you foresee. Vain old man! how can you foresee his fate when you could not foresee your own? You desire me to take your life. No, my arm and my soul refuse the request." This said, she required the magician to go before, and guide her to the castle. The prisoners were set at liberty, though some, in their secret hearts, regretted the voluptuous life which was thus brought to an end. Bradamantp nd Rogero met one another with transports of joy. They descended from the mountain to the spot BRADAMANTE AND UOGEKO. Ill where the encounter had taken place. There they found the Hippogriff, with the magic buckler in its wrapper, hanging to his saddle-bow. Bradamante ad- vanced to seize the bridle ; the Hippogriff seemed to wait her approach, but before she reached him he spread his wings and flew away to a neighboring hill, and in the same manner, a second time, eluded her efforts. Rogero and the other liberated knights dis- persed over the plain and hill-tops to secure him, and at last the animal allowed Rogero to seize his rein. The fearless Rogero hesitated not to vault upon his back, and let him feel his spurs, which so roused his mettle that, after galloping a short distance, he sud- denly spread his wings, and soared into the air. Bradamante had the grief to see her lover snatched away from her at the very moment of reunion. Rogero, who knew not the art of directing the horse, was unable to control his flight. He found himself carried over the tops of the mountains, so far above them that he could hardly distinguish what was land and what water. The Hippogriff directed his flight to the west, and cleaved the air as swiftly as a new- rigged vessel cuts the waves, impelled by the freshest and most favorable gales. ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS. IN the long flight which Rogero took on the back of the Hippogriff, lie was carried over land and sea, unknowing whither. As soon as he had gained some control over the animal, he made him alight on the nearest land. When he came near enough to earth, Rogero leapt lightly from his back, and tied the animal to a myrtle-tree. Near the spot flowed the pure waters of a fountain, surrounded by cedars and palm-trees. Rogero laid aside his shield, and, re- moving his helmet, breathed with delight the fresh air, %nd cooled his lips with the waters of the fountain. For we cannot wonder that he was excessively fatigued, ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS. considering the ride he had taken. He was preparing to taste the sweets of repose, when he perceived that the Hippogriff, which he had tied by the bridle to a myrtle- tree, frightened at something, was making violent efforts to disengage himself. His struggles shook the myrtle- tree so that many of its beautiful leaves were torn off, and strewed the ground. A sound like that which issues from burning wood seemed to come from the myrtle-tree, at first faint and indistinct, but growing stronger by degrees, and at length was audible as a voice which spoke in this manner : " O knight, if the tenderness of your heart corresponds to the beauty of your person, relieve me, I pray you, from this tormenting animal. I suffer enough inwardly without having outward evils added to my lot." Rogero, at the first accents of this voice, turned his eyes promptly on the myrtle, hastened to it, and stood fixed in astonishment when he perceived that the voice issued from the tree itself. He imme- diately untied his horse, and, flushed with surprise and regret, exclaimed, " Whoever thou art, whether mor- tal or the goddess of these woods, forgive me, I be- seech you, my involuntary fault. Had I imagined that this hard bark covered a being possessed of feel- big, could I have exposed sur-h a beautiful myrtle to 114 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. the insults of this steed? May the sweet influences of the sky and air speedily repair the injury I have done I For my part, I promise by the sovereign lady of my heart to do everything you wish in order tr merit your forgiveness." At these words the myrtle seemed to tremble from root to stem, and Rogero remarked that a moisture as of tears trickled down its bark, like that which exudes from a log placed on the fire. It then spoke : " The kindness which inspires your words compels me to disclose to you who I once was, and by what fatality I have been changed into this shape.' My name was Astolpho, cousin of Orlando and Rinaldo, whose fame has filled the earth. I was myself reckoned among the bravest paladins of France, and was by birth enti- tled to reign over England, after Otho, my father. Returning from the distant East, with Rinaldo and many other brave knights, called home to aid with our arms the great Emperor of France, we reached a spot where the powerful enchantress Alcina possessed a castle on the borders of the sea. She had gone to the water-side to amuse herself with fishing, and we paused to see how, by her art, without hook or line, she drew from the water whatever she would. "Not far from the shore an enormous whale showed % back so broad and motionless that it looked like an ASTOLl'HU AND THE ENCHANTRESS. 115 island. Alcina had fixed her eyes on me, and planned to get me into her power. Addressing us, she said: 4 This is the hour when the prettiest mermaid in the sea comes regularly every day to the shore of yondei island. She sings so sweetly that the very waves flow smoother at the sound. If you wish to hear her, come with me to her resort.' So saying, Alcina point- ed to the fish, which we all supposed to be an island I, who was rash, did not hesitate to follow her; but swam my horse over, and mounted on the back of the fish. In vain Rinaldo and Dudon made signs to me to beware ; Alcina, smiling, took me in charge, and led the way. No sooner were we mounted upon him than the whale moved off, spreading his great fins, and cleft rapidly the waters. I then saw my folly, but it was too late to repent. Alcina soothed my anger, and professed that what she had done was for love of me. Erelong we arrived at this island, where at first everything was done to reconcile me to my lot, and to make my days pass happily away. But soon Alcina, sated with her conquest, grew indifferent, then weary of me, and at last, to get rid of me, changed me into this form, as she had done to mary lovers before me, making some of them olives, some palms, some cedars, changing others into fountains, rocks, or even into wild beasts. And thou, courteous LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. knight, whom accident has brought to this enchanted isle, beware that she get not the power over thee, 01 thou shalt haply be made like us, a tree, a fountain, or a rock." Rogero expressed his astonishment at this recital. Astolpho added, that the island was in great part sub ject to the sway of Alcina. By the aid of her sistei Morgana, she had succeeded in dispossessing a third sister, Logestilla, of nearly the whole of her patri- mony, for the whole isle was hers originally by her father's bequest. But Logestilla was temperate and sage, while the other sisters were false and voluptuous. Her empire was divided from theirs by a gulf and chain of mountains, which alone had thus far prevent- ed her sisters from usurping it. Astolpho here ended his tale, and Rogero who knew that he was the cousin of Bradamante, would gladly have devised some way for his relief; but, as that was out of his power, he consoled him as well as he could, and then begged to be told the way to the palace of Logestilla, and how to avoid that of Alcina. Astolpho directed him to take the road to the left, though rough and full of rocks. He warned him that *.his road would present serious obstacles ; that troops of monsters would oppose his passage, employed by the art of Alcina to prevent her subjects from escaping ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS 117 from her dominion. Rogero thanked the myrtle, and prepared to set out on his way. He at first thought he would mount the winged horse, and scale the mountain on his back ; but he was too uncertain of his power to control him to wish to encounter the hazard of another flight through the air, besides that he was almost famished for the want of food. So he led the horse after him, and took the road on foot, which for some distance led equally to the dominions of both the sisters. He had not advanced more than two miles when he saw before him the superb city of Alcina. It was surrounded with a wall of gold, which seemed to reach the skies. I know that some think that this wall was not of real gold, but only the work of alchemy ; it matters not ; I prefer to think it gold, for it certainly shone like gold. A broad and level road led to the gates of the city, and from this another branched off, narrow and rough, which led to the mountain region. Rogero took with- out hesitation the narrow road; but he had no sooner entered upon it than he was assailed by a numerous troop which opposed his passage. You never have seen anything so ridiculous, so Wtraordinary, as this host of hobgoblins were. Some of them bore the human form from the neck to the 118 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE feet, but had the head of a monkey or a cat; others had the legs and the ears of a horse; old men and women, bald and hideous, ran hither and thither as if out of their senses, half clad in the shaggy skins of leasts ; one rode full speed on a horse without a bridle, another jogged along mounted on an ass or a cow ; others, full of agility, skipped about, and dung to the tails and manes of the animals which their companions rode. Some blew horns, others brandished drinking- cups ; some were armed with spits, and some with pitchforks. One, who appeared to be the captain, had an enormous belly and a gross fat head ; he was mounted on a tortoise, that waddled, now this way, now that, without keeping any one direction. One of these monsters, who had something aj)- proaching the human form, though he had the neck, ears, and muzzle of a dog, set himself to bark furiously at Rogero, to make him turn off to the right, and re- enter upon the road to the gay city ; but the brave chevalier exclaimed, " That will I not, so long as I can use this sword," and he thrust the point directly at his face. The monster tried to strike him with, a lance, but Rogero was too quick for him, and thrust his sword through his body, so that it appeared a hand's breadth behind his back. The paladin, now giving full vent to his rage, laid about him vigorously ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS. 119 among the rabble, cleaving one to the teeth, another to the girdle ; but the troop was so numerous, and in spite of his blows pressed around him so close, that, to clear his way, he must have had as many arms as Briareus. If Rogero had uncovered the shield of the enchanter which hung at his saddle-bow, he might easily have vanquished this monstrous rout ; but perhaps he did not think of it, and perhaps he preferred to seek his defence nowhere but in his good sword. At that moment, when his perplexity was at its height, he saw issue from the city gate two young beauties, whose air and dress proclaimed their rank and gentle nurture. Each of them was mounted on a unicorn, whose whiteness surpassed that of ermine. They advanced to the meadow where Rogero was contending so valiantly against the hobgoblins, who all retired at their -tpproach. They drew near, they extended their hands to *he young warrior, whose cheeks glowed with the flush f.f exercise and modesty. Grateful for their assistance, he expressed his thanks, and, having no heart to refuse them, followed their guidance to the gate of thj city. This g-and and beautiful entrance was adorned by a porti^* of four vast columns, all of diamond. Whetlip vhey were real diamond or artificial, I can- 120 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. not say. What matter is it, so long as they appeared to the eye like diamond, ind nothing could be more gay and splendid. On the threshold, and between the columns, was seui a bevy of charming young women, who played ind frolicked together. They all ran to receive Rogero, and conducted him into the palace, which appeared like a paradise. We might well call by that name this abode, where the hours flew by, without account, in ever-new de- lights. The bare idea of satiety, want, and, above all, of age, never entered the minds of the inhab- itants. They experienced no sensations except those of luxury and gayety ; the cup of happiness seemed for them ever-flowing and exhaustless. The two young damsels to whom Rogero owed his deliverance from the hobgoblins, conducted him to the apartment of their mistress. The beautiful Alcina advanced, and greeted him with an air at once dignified and cour- teous. All her court surrounded the paladin, and rendered him the most flattering attentions. The cas- tle was less admirable for its magnificence than for the charms of those who inhabited it. They were of either sex, well matched in beauty, youth, and grace ; but among this charming group the brilliant Alcina hone, as the sun outshines the stars. The young ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS. 121 warrior was fascinated. All that he had heard from the myrtle-tree appeared to him but a vile calumny. How could he suspect that falsehood and treason veiled themselves under smiles and the ingenuous air of truth ? He doubted not that Astolpho had de- served his fate, and perhaps a punishment more severe ; he regarded all his stories as dictated by a disappointed spirit, and a thirst for revenge. But we must not condemn Rogero too harshly, for he was the victim of magic power. They seated themselves at table, and immediately harmonious lyres and harps waked the air with the most ravishing notes. The charms of poetry were added, in entertaining recitals ; the magnificence of the feast would have done credit to a royal board. The traitress forgot nothing which might charm the paladin, and attach him to the spot, meaning, when she should grow tired of him, to metamorphose him as she had done others. In the same manner passed each suc- ceeding day. Games of pleasant exercise, the chase, the dance, or rural sports, made the hours pass quickly ; while they gave zest to the refreshment of the bath, or sleep. Thus Rogero led a life of ease and luxury, while Charlemagne and Agratnant were struggling for em- pire. But I cannot linger with him, while the amiable 122 LEGENDS OF CH AKLEM AGNE. and courageous Bradamante is night and day directing her uncertain steps to every spot where the slightest chance invites her, in the hope of recovering Rogero. I will therefore say, that, having sought him in vain in fields and in cities, she knew not whither luxt to direct her steps. She did not apprehend tlu Jeath of Rogero. The fall of such a hero would have re-echoed from the Hydaspes^to the farthest river of the West ; but, not knowing whether he was on the 'arth or in the air, she concluded, as a last resource, to return to the cavern which contained the tomb of Merlin, to ask of him some sure direction to the object of her search. While this thought occupied her mind, Melissa, the sage enchantress, suddenly appeared before her. This virtuous and beneficent magician had discovered by her spells that Rogero was passing his time in pleasure and idleness, forgetful of his honor and his sovereign. Not able to endure the thought that one who was born to be a hero should waste his years in base repose, and, leave a sullied reputation hi the memory of survivors, she saw that vigorous measures must be employed to draw him forth into the paths of virtue. Melissa was not blinded by her affection for the amiable paladin, like .Atlantes, who, intent on preserving Rogero's life, cared nothing foi ASTOLPHO AND THE EXCHAN TKJiSS. ois fame. It was that old enchanter whose arts had guided the Hippogriff to the isle of the too charming Alcina, where he hoped his favorite would learn to forget honor, and lose the love of glory. At the sight of Melissa, joy lighted up the coun- tenance of Bradamante, and hope animated her breast. Melissa concealed nothing from her, but told her how Rogero was in the toils ojf Alcina. Bradamante was plunged in grief and terror; but the kind enchantress calmed her, dispelled her fears, and promised that be- fore many days she would lead back the paladin to her feet. "My daughter," she said, "give me the ring which you wear, and which possesses the power to overcome enchantments. By means of it, I doubt not but that I may enter the stronghold where the false Alcina holds Rogero in durance, and may succeed in van- quishing her, and liberating him." Bradamante un- hesitatingly delivered her the ring, recommending Rogero to her best efforts. Melissa then summoned by her art a huge palfrey, black as jefy excepting one foot, which was bay. Mounted upon this animal, she rode with such speed that by the next morning shf had reached the abode of Alcina. She here transformed herself into the perfect re- semblance of the old magician Atlantes, adding a 124 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. palm-breadth to her height, and enlarging her whole figure. Her chin she covered with a long beard, and seamed her whole visage well with wrinkles. She assumed also his voice and manner, and watched her chance to find Rogero alone. At last she found him, dressed in a rich tunic of silk and gold, a collar of precious stones about his neck, and his arms, once s( rough with exercise, decorated with bracelets. Hh air and his every motion indicated effeminacy, and he seemed to retain nothing of Rogero but the name ; such power had the enchantress obtained over him. Melissa, under the form of his old instructor, pre- sented herself before him, wearing a stern and serious visage. " Is this, then," she said, " the fruit of all my labors? Is it for this that I fed you on the mar- row of bears and lions, that I taught you to subdue dragons, and, like Hercules, strangle serpents in your youthful grasp, only to make you, by all my cares, a feeble Adonis? My nightly watchings of the stars of the yet warm fibres of animals, the lots I have ast, the points of nativity that I have calculated, have they all falsely indicated that you were born for greatness ? Who could have believed that you would become the slave of a base enchantress? O Rogero, learn to know this Alcina, learn to understand her arts and to countervail them. Take this ring, place ASTUl.riiu AND TUK ENCHANTRESS. 125 it on your finger, return to her presence, and see for yourself what are her real charms." At these words, Rogero, confused, abashed, cast his eyes upon the ground, and knew not what to answer. Melissa seized the moment, slipped the ring on his finger, and the paladin was himself again. What a thunder-clap to him I Overcome by sliame, he dared not to encounter the looks of his instructor. When at last he raised his eyes, he beheld not that venerable form, but the priestess Melissa, who in virtue of the ring now appeared in her true person. She told him of the motives which had led her to come to his rescue, of the griets and regrets of Bradamante, and of her unwearied search for him. " That charming Amazon," she said, u sends you this ring, which is a sovereign antidote to all enchantments. She would have sent you her heart in my hands, if it would have had greater power to serve you." It was needless for Melissa to say more. Rogero's love for Alcina, being but the work of enchantment, vanished as soon as the enchantment was withdrawn, and he now hated her with an equal intensity, seeing no longer anything in her but her vices, and fueling only resentment for the shame that she had put upon him. His surprise when he again beheld Alcina was no 126 LEGENDS UK CHAKLEMAGKE. less than his indignation. Fortified by his ring front her enchantments, he saw her as she was, a monster of ugliness. All her charms were artificial, and, truly viewed, were rather deformities. iShe was, in fact, older than Hecuba or the Sibyl of Cumte ; but an art, which it is to be regretted our times have lost, enabled her to appear charming, and to clothe herself in all the attractions of youth. Rogero now saw all this, but, governed by the counsels of Melissa, he concealed his surprise, assumed under some pretext his armor, long neglected, and bound to his side Belisarda, his trusty sword, taking also the buckler of Atlantes, covered with its veil. He then selected a horse from the stables of Alcina, without exciting her suspicions ; but he left the Hippo- grift', by the advice of Melissa, who promised to take him in charge, and train him to a more manageable state. The horse he took was Rabican, which be- longed to Astolpho. He restored the ring to Melissa. Rogero had not ridden far when he met one of the huntsmen of Alcina, bearing a falcon on his wrist, and followed by a dog. The huntsman was mounted on a powerful horse, and came boldly up to the pala- din, demanding, in a somewhat imperious manner, whither he was going so rapidly. Rogero disdained to stop or to reply ; whereupon the huntsman, not ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS. 121 doubting that he was about making his escape, said, " What if I, witn my falcon, stop your ride ? " So saying, he threw off the bird, which even Rabican could not equal in speed. The huntsman then leapt from his horse, and the animal, open-mouthed, darted after Rogero with the swiftness of an arrow. The huntsman also ran as if the wind or fire bore him, and the dog was equal to Rabican in swiftness. Rogero, finding flight impossible, stopped and faced his pursuers; but his sword was useless against such foes. The insolent huntsman assailed him with words, and struck him with his whip, the only weapon he had ; the dog bit his feet, and the horse drove at him with his hoofs. At the same time, the falcon flew over his head and over Rabican's, and attacked them with claws and wings, so that the horse in his fright began to be unmanageable. At that moment the sound of trumpets and cymbals was heard in the valley, and it was evident that Alcina had ordered out all her array to go in pursuit. Rogero felt that there was no time to be lost, and luckily remembered the shield of Atlantes, which he bore suspended from his neck. He unveiled it, and the charm worked wonderfully. The hunts- man, the dog, the horse, fell flat ; the trembling wings of the falcon could no longer sustain her, and she fell senseless to the ground. Rogero, rid of their annoy ancea. left their iit their trance, and rode away. 128 I.KGKNDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Meanwhile Alcina, with all the force she could mus- ter, sallied forth from her palace in pursuit. Melissa, left behind, took advantage of the opportunity to ran- sack all the rooms, protected by the ring. She undid one by one all the talismans and spells which she found, broke the seals, burned the images, and untied the hag-knots. Thence, hurrying through the fields, she disenchanted the victims changed into trees, fountains, stones, or brutes ; all of whom recovered their liberty, and vowed eternal gratitude to their deliverer. They made their escape, with all possible despatch, to the realms of the good Logestilla, whence they departed to their several homes. Astolpho was the first whom Melissa liberated, for Rogero had particularly recommended him to her care. She aided him to recover his arms, and particularly that precious golden-headed lance which once was Argalia's. The enchantress mounted with him upon the winged horse, and in a short time arrived through the air at the castle of Logestilla, where Hogero joined them soon after. In this abode the friends passed a short period of delightfiil and improving intercourse with the sage Logestilla and her virtuous court; and then each departed, Rogero with the Hippogriff, ring, and buck ler, Astolpho with his golden lance, and mounted ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS. 129 on Rabican, the fleetest of steeds. To Rogero Loge- stilla gave a bit and bridle suited to govern the Hip- pogriff; and to Astolpho a horn of marvellous powers, to be sounded only when all other weapons were unavailing. THE ORC. WE left the charming Angelica at the moment when, in her flight from her contending lovers, Sacripant and Rinaldo, she met an aged her- mit. We have seen that her request to the hermit was to furnish her the means of gaining the sea-coast, eager to avoid Rinaldo, whom she hated, by leaving France and Europe itself. The pretended hermit, who was no other than a vile magician, knowing well that it would not be agreeable to his false gods to aid Angelica in this undertaking, feigned to comply with her desire. He supplied her a horse, into which he had by his arts caused a subtle devil to enter, and THE OBC. 131 having mounted Angelica on the animal, lirected hei what course to take to reach the sea. Angelica rode on her way without suspicion, but when arrived at the shore, the demon urged the ani- mal headlong into the water. Angelica in vain at- tempted to turn him back to the land ; he continued his course till, as night approached, he landed with his burden on a sandy headland. Angelica, finding herself alone, abandoned hi this frightful solitude, remained without movement, as if stupefied, with hands joined and eyes turned towards heaven, till at last, pouring forth a torrent of tears, she exclaimed : " Cruel fortune, have you not yet ex- hausted your rage against me ! To what new miseries do you doom me? Alas! then, finish your work! Deliver me a prey to some ferocious beast, or by whatever fate you choose bring me to an end. I will be thankful to you for terminating my life and my misery." At last, exhausted by her sorrows, she fell asleep, and sunk prostrate on the sand. Before recounting what next befell, we must declare what place it was upon which the unhappy lady was now thrown. In the sea that washes the coast of Ireland there is an island called Ebuda, whose inhab- itants, once numerous, had been wasted by the anger of Proteus till there were now but few left. Thii UJ2 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. deity was incensed by some neglect of the usua honors which he had in old times received from the inhabitants of the land, and, to execute his vengeance, had sent a horrid sea-monster, called an Ore, to devoui them. Such were the terrors of his ravages, that the whole people of the isle had shut themselves up in the principal town, and relied on their walls alone to pro tect them. In this distress they applied to the Oraclt for advice, and were directed to appease the wrath of the sea-monster by offering to him the fairest virgin that the country could produce. Now it so happened that the very day when this dreadful oracle was announced, and when the fata* mandate had gone forth to seek among the faires 4 maidens of the land one to be offered to the monster, some sailors, landing on the beach where Angelica was. beheld that beauty as she lay asleep. O blind Chance! whose power in human affairs is but too great, canst thou then abandon to the teeth of a horrible monster those charms which different sover- eigns took arms against one another to possess ? Alas the lovely Angelica is destined to be the victim of those cruel islanders. Still asleep, she was bound by the Ebudians, and it was not until she was carried on board the vessel tha she came to a knowledge of her situation. The win, THE ORC. 133 Hlled the sails and waited the ship swiftly to the port, where all that beheld her agreed that she was un- questionably the victim selected by Proteus himself to be his prey. Who can tell the screams, the morta anguish of this unhappy maiden, the reproaches she addressed even to the heavens themselves, when the dreadful information of her cruel fate was made known to her ? I cannot ; let me rather turn to a happier part of my story. Rogero left the palace of Logestilla, careering on his flying courser far above the tops of the mountains, and borne westward by the Hippogriff, which he guided with ease, by means of the bridle that Melissa had given him. Anxious as he was to recover Brada- tnante, he could not fail to be delighted at the view his rapid flight presented of so many vast regions and populous countries as he passed over in his career. At last he approached the shores of England, and per- ceived an immense army in all the splendor of mili tary pomp, as if about to go forth flushed with hopes of victory. He caused the Hippogriff to alight not for from the scene, and found himself immediately sur- rounded by admiring spectators, knights and soldiers, who could not enough indulge their curiosity and wonder. Rogero learned, in reply to his questions, that the fine array of troops before him was the army 131 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAJNE. destined to go to the aid of the French Emperor, in compliance with the request presented by the illustrious Rinaldo, as ambassador of King Charles, his uncle. By this time the curiosity of the English chevaliera was partly gratified in beholding the Hippogriff at rest, and Rogero, to renew their surprise and delight, remounted the animal, and, clapping spurs to his sides, made him launch into the air with the rapidity of a meteor, and directed his flight still westwardly, till he came within sight of the coasts of Ireland. Here he descried what seemed to be a fair damsel, alone, fast chained to a rock which projected into the sea. What was his astonishment when, drawing nigh, he beheld the beautiful princess Angelica. That day she had been led forth and bound to the rock, there to wait till the sea-monster should come to devour her. Roge- ro exclaimed as he came near, " What cruel hands, what barbarous soul, what fatal chance can have loaded thee with those chains ? " Angelica replied by a tor- rent of tears, at first her only response ; then, in a trembling voice, she disclosed to him the horrible des- tiny for which she was there exposed. While she spoke, a terrible roaring was heard far off on the sea. The huge monster soon came in sight, part of his body appearing above the waves, and part concealed. Angelica, half dead with fear, abandoned herself tc despair. THE ORC. 135 Rogero, lance in rest, spurred his HippogrifF toward the Ore, and gave him a thrust. The horrible mon- ster was like nothing that nature produces. It was but one mass of tossing and twisting body, with nothing of the animal but head, eyes, and mouth, the last furnished with tusks like those of. the wild boar. Rogero's lance had struck him between the eyes ; but rock and iron are not more impenetrable than were his scales. The knight, seeing the fruitlessness of the first blow, prepared to give a second. The animal, beholding upon the water the shadow of the great wings of the Hippogriff, abandoned his prey, and turned to seize what seemed nearer. Rogero took the opportunity, and dealt him furious blows on various parts of his body, taking care to keep clear of his murderous teeth ; but the scales resisted every attack. The Ore beat the water with his tail till he raised a foam which enveloped Rogero and his steed, so that the knight hardly knew whether he was in the water or the air. He began to fear that the wings of the Hippogriff would be so drenched with water that they would cease to sustain him. At that moment Rogero bethought him of the magic shield which hung at his Badile-bow; but the fear that Angelica would also be blinded by its glare, discouraged him from employing it. Then he remembered the ring which Melissa had 136 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. given him, the power of which he had so lately proved. He hastened to Angelica, and placed it or her finger. Then, uncovering the buckler, he tunied its bright disk full in the face of the detestable Ore. The effect was instantaneous. The monster, deprived of sense and motion, rolled over on the sea, and lay floating on his back. Rogero would fain have tried the effect of his lance on the now exposed parts, but Angelica implored him to lose no time in delivering her from her chains, before the monster should revive, llogero, moved with her entreaties, hastened to do so, and, having unbound her, made her mount behind him on the Hippogriff. The animal, spurning the earth, shot up into the air, and rapidly sped his way through it. Rogero, to give time to the princess to rest after her cruel agitations, soon sought the earth again, alighting on the shore of Brittany. Near the shore a thick wood presented itself, which resounded with the songs of birds. In the midst, a fountain of transparent water bathed the turf of a little meadow. A gentle lull rose near by. Rogero, making the Hippogriff alight in the meadow, dismounted, and took Angelica from the horse. When the first tumults of emotion had subsided, Angelica, casting her eyes downward, beheld the precious ring upon her finger, whose virtues she wa THE OBC. 131 well acquainted with, for it was the very ring which the Saracen Brunello had robbed her of. She drew it from her finger and placed it in her mouth, and, quicker than we can tell it, disappeared from the sight jf the paladin. Rogero looked around him on all sides, like one frantic, but soon remembered the ring which he had so lately placed on her finger. Struck with the in- gratitude which could thus recompense his services, he exclaimed : " Thankless beauty, is this then the re- ward you make me? Do you prefer to rob me of my ring rather than receive it as a gift? Willingly would I have given it to you, had you but asked it." Thus he said, searching on all sides, with arms extended, like a blind man, hoping to recover by the touch what was lost to sight ; but he sought in vain. The cruel beauty was already far away. Though sensible of her obligations to her deliverer, her first necessity was for clothing, food, and repose. She soon reached a shepherd's hut, where, entering unseen, she found what sufficed for her present reJef. An old herdsman inhabited the hut, whose cliarge consisted of a drove of mares. When recruited by repose, Angelica selected one of the mares from the flock, and, mounting the animal, felt the desire revive m her mind of returning to her home in the East, 138 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. and for that purpose would gladly have accepted the protection of Orlando or of Sacripant across those wide regions which divided her from her own country. In hopes of meeting with one or the other of them, she pursued her way. Meanwhile, Rogero, despairing of seeing Angelica again, returned to the tree where he liad left his winged horse, but had the mortification to find that O * die animal had broken his bridle and escaped. This loss, added to his previous disappointment, overwhelmed him with vexation. Sadly he gathered up his arms, threw his buckler over his shoulders, and, taking the first path that offered, soon found himself within the verge of a dense and wide-spread forest. He had proceeded for some distance when he heard a noise on his right, and, listening attentively, dis- tinguished the clash of arms. He made his way toward the place whence the sound proceeded, and found two warriors engaged in mortal combat. One of them was a knight of a noble and manly bearing, the other a fierce giant. The knight appeared to exert consummate address in defending himself against the massive club of the giant, evading his strokes, or parrying them with sword or shield. Rogero stood spectator of the combat, for he did not allow himself to interfere in it, though a secret sentiment inclined THE ORC. 139 aim strongly to take part with the knight. At length he saw with grief the massive club fall directly on the head of the knight> vho yielded to the blow, and fell prostrate. The giant sprang forward to despatch him, and for that purpose unlaced his helmet, when Rogero, with dismay, recognized the face of Bradamante. He cried aloud, "Hold, miscreant I" and sprang forwaid with drawn sword. Whereupon the giant, as if he cared not to enter upon another combat, lifted Brada- mante on his shoulders, and ran with her into the forest. Rogero plunged after him, but the long legs of the giant carried him forward so fast that the paladin could hardly keep him in sight. At length they issued from the wood, and Rogero perceived before him a rich palace, built of marble, and adorned with sculptures executed by a master hand. Into this edifice, through a golden door, the giant passed, and Rogero followed ; but, on looking round, saw nowhere either the giant or Bradamante. He ran from room to room, calling aloud on his cowardly foe to turn and meet him : but got no response, nor caught another g'impse of the giant or his prey. In his vain pursuit he met, with- out knowing them, Ferrau, Florismart, Kin^ Gradasso, Orlando, and many others, all of whom had leen en- trapped like himself into this enchanted castle. It WM 140 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. a new stratagem of the magician Atlantes to draw Rogero into his power, and to secure also those who might by any chance endanger his safety. What Ro- gero had taken for Bradamante was a mere phantom. That charming lady was far away, full of anxiety for her Rogero, whose coming she had long expected. The Emperor had committed to her charge the city and garrison of Marseilles, and she held the post against the infidels with valor and discretion. One day Melissa suddenly presented herself before her. Anticipating her questions, she said, " Fear not for Rogero; he lives, and is as ever true to you; but he nas lost his liberty. The fell enchanter has again suc- ceeded in making him a prisoner. If you would de- liver him, mount your horse and follow me." She told her in what manner Atlantes had deceived Rogero, in deluding his eyes with the phantom of herself in peril. " Such," she continued, " will be his arts in your own case, if you penetrate the forest and approach that castle. You will think you behold Rogero, when, in feet, you see only the enchanter himself. Be not de- ceived, plunge your sword into his body, and trust me when I tell you that, in slaying him, you will restore not only Rogero, but with him many of the bravest knights of France, whom the wizard's arts have with- drawn from the camp of their sovereign." THE ORC. 141 I Bradamante promptly armed herself, and mounted her horse. Melissa led her by forced journeys, by field and forest, beguiling the way with conversation on the theme which interested her hearer most. When at last they reached the forest, she repeated once more her instructions, and then took her leave, for fear tho enchanter might espy her, and be put on his guard. Bradamante rode on about two miles when suddenly she beheld Rogero, as it appeared to her, hard pressed by two fierce giants. While she hesitated, she heard his voice calling on her for help. At once the cau- tions of Melissa lost their weight. A sudden doubt of the faith and truth of her kind monitress flashed across her mind. " Shall I not believe my own eyes and ears?" she said, and rushed forward to his defence. Rogero fled, pursued by the giants, and Bradamante followed, passing with them through the castle gate. When there, Bradamante was undeceived, for neither giant nor knight was to be seen. She found herself a prisoner, but had not the consolation of knowing that she shared the imprisonment of her beloved. She saw various forms of men and women, but could rccogniy none of them ; and their lot was the same with respect to her. Each viewed the others under some illusion of the fancy, wearing the semblance of giants, dwarfs, or even four-footed animals, so that there was no com- panionship or communication between them. ASTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTIN- UED, AND ISABELLA'S BEGUN. WHEN Astolpho escaped from the cruel Alcina, after a short abode in the realm of the virtu- ous Logestilla, he desired to return to his native country. Logestilla lent him the best vessel of her fleet to convey him to the mainland. She gave him at parting a wonderful book, which taught the secret of overcoming all manner of enchantments, and begged him to carry it always with him, out of regard for her. She also gave him another gift, which surpassed everything of the kind that mortal workmanship can frame; yet it was nothing in appearance but a simple horn. Astolpho, protected by these gifts, thanked the gooU fairy, took leave of her, and set out on his return tc France. His voyage was prosperous, and on reaching the desired port he took leave of the faithful mariners, and continued his journey by land. As he proceeded over mountains and through valleys, he often met with bands of robbers, wild beasts, and venomous ser- ASTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED. 143 pents, but he had only to sound his horn to put them all to flight. Having landed in France, and traversed many provinces on his way to the army, he one day, in crossing a forest, arrived beside a fountain, and alight- ed to drink. While he stooped at the fountain, a young rustic sprang from the copse, mounted Rabican, and rode away. It was a new trick of the enchanter Atlantes. Astolpho, hearing the noise, turned his head just in time to see his loss ; and, starting up, pursued the thief, who, on his part, did not press the horse to his full speed, but just kept in sight of his pursuer till they both issued from the forest ; and then Rabican and his rider took shelter in a castle which stood near. Astolpho followed, and penetrated without difficulty within the court-yard of the castle, where he looked around for the rider and his horse, but could see no trace of either, nor any person of whom he could make inquiry. Suspecting that en- chantment was employed to embarrass him, he be- thaught him of his book, and on consulting it dis- covered that his suspicions were well founded. He also learned what course to pursue. He was directed to raise the stone which served as a threshold, under which a spirit lay pent, who would willingly escape, and leave the castle free of across. Astolpho applied 144 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. his strength to lift aside the stone. Thereupon th magician put his arts in force. The castle was ftill of prisoners, and the magician caused that to all of them Astolpho should appear in some false guise, to some a wild beast, to others a giant, to others a bird of prey. Thus all assailed him, and would quickly have made an end of him, if he had not bethought him of his horn. No sooner had he blown a blast than, at the horrid larum, fled the cavaliers and the necromancer with them, like a flock of pigeons at the sound of the fowler's gun. Astolpho then renewed his efforts on the stone, and turned it over. The under face was all inscribed with magical characters, which the knight defaced, as directed by his book; and no sooner had he done so, than the castle, with its walls and turrets, vanished into smoke. The knights and ladies set at liberty were, besides Rogero and Bradamante, Orlando, Gradasso, Floris- mart, and many more. At the sound of the horn they fled, one and all, men and steeds, except Rabi- can, which Astolpho secured, in spite of his terror. As soon as the sound had ceased, Rogero recognized Bradamante, whom he had daily met during their imprisonment, but had been prevented from know- ing by the enchanter's arts. No words can tell the delight with which they recognized each other, and ASTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED. 145 recounted mutually all that had happened to each since they were parted. Rogero took advantage of the opportunity to press his suit, and found Bradamante as propitious as he could wish, were it not for a single obstacle, the difference of their faiths. " If he would obtain her in marriage," she said, " he must in due form demand her of her father, Duke Aymon, and must abandon his false prophet, and become a Christian." The latter step was one which Rogero had for some time intended taking, for reasons of his own. He therefore gladly accepted the terms, and proposed that they should at once repair to the abbey of Vallom- brosa, whose towers were visible at no great distance. Thither they turned their horses' heads, and we will leave them to find their way without our company. I know not if my readers recollect that, at the moment when Rogero had just delivered Angelic*. from the voracious Ore, that scornful beauty placed her ring in her mouth, and vanished out of sight. At the same time the Hippogriff shook off his bridle, oared away, and flew to rejoin his former master, very naturally returning to his accustomed stable. Here Astolpho found him, to his very great delight. He knew the animal's powers, having seen Rogero ride him, and he longed to fly abroad over all the earth, and see various nations and peoples from his airy 7 1 146 LEGKNDS OF Cll AKLKM A G X fc. course. He had heard Logestilla's directions how lo guide the animal, and saw her fit a bridle to his head. He therefore was able, out of all the bridles he found in the stable, to select one suitable, and, placing Rabi- can's saddle on the Hippogriff's back, nothing seemed to prevent his immediate departure. Yet before he went, he bethought him of placing Rabican in hands where he would be safe, and whence he might recover him in time of need. While he stood deliberating where he should find a messenger, he saw Brada- mante approach. That fair warrior had been parted from Rogero on their way to the abbey of Vallom- brosa, by an inopportune adventure which had called the knight away. She was now returning to Mont- alban, having arranged with Rogero to join her there. To Bradamante, therefore, his fair cousin, Astolpho committed Rabican, and also the lance of gold, which would only be an encumbrance in his aerial excursion. Bradamante took charge of both; and Astolpho, bid ling her farewell, soared in air. Among those delivered by Astolpho from the magi cian's castle was Orlando. Following the guide of chance, the paladin found himself at the close of day in a forest, and stopped at the foot of a mountain. ISABELLA'S ADVENTURES BEGUN. 147 Surprised to discern a light which came from a clefl in the rock, he approached, guided by the ray, and discovered a narrow passage hi the mountain -side, which led into a deep grotto. Orlando fastened his horse, and then, putting aside the bushes that resisted his passage, stepped down from rock to rock till he reached a sort of cavern. Enter- ing it, he perceived a lady, young and handsome, as well as he could discover through the signs of distress which agitated her countenance. Her only companion was an old woman, who seemed to be regarded by her young partner with terror and indignation. The courteous paladin saluted the women respectfully, and begged to know by whose barbarity they had been subjected to such imprisonment. The younger lady replied, in a voice often broken with sobs: " Though I know well that my recital will subject me to worse treatment by the barbarous man who keeps me here, to whom this woman will not fail to report it, yet I will not hide from you the facts. Ah! why should I fear his rage? If he should take my life, I know not what better boon than death I can ask. " My name is Isabella. I am the daugh ter of the king of Galicia, or rather I should say misfortune 148 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. and grief are my parents. Young, rich, modest, and of tranquil temper, all things appeared to combine to render my lot happy. Alas ! I see myself to-day poor, humbled, miserable, and destined perhaps to yet further afflictions. It is a year since, my father having given notice that he would open the lists for a tour- nament at Bayonne, a great number of chevaliers from all quarters came together at our court. Among these, Zerbino, son of the king of Scotland, victorious in all combats, eclipsed by his beauty and his valor all the rest. Before departing from the court of Galicia he testified the wish to espouse me, and I consented that he should demand my hand of the king, my father. But I was a Mahometan, and Zerbino a Christian, and my father reftised his consent. The prince, called home by his father to take command of the forces destined to the assistance of the French Emperor, pre- vailed on me to be married to him secretly, and to follow him to Scotland. He caused a galley to be prepared to receive me, and placed in command of it the chevalier Oderic, a Biscayan, famous for his ex- ploits both by land and sea. On the day appointed, Oderic brought his vessel to a sea-side resort of my father's, where I embarked. Some of my domestics accompanied me, and thus I departed from my native 'and. ISABELLA'S ADVENTURES BEGUN. 149 " Sailing with a fidr wind, after some hours we were assailed by a violent tempest. It was to no purpose that we took in all sail ; we were driven before the wind directly upon the rocky shore. Seeing no other hopes of safety, Oderic placed me in a boat, followed himself with a few of his men, and made for land. Wo reached it through infinite peril, and I no sooner felt the firm land beneath my feet, than I knelt down and poured out heart-felt thanks to the Providence that had preserved me. " The shore where we landed appeared to be unin- habited. We saw no dwelling to shelter us, no road to lead us to a more hospitable spot. A high moun- tain rose before us, whose base stretched into the sea It was here the infamous Oderic, in spite of my tears and entreaties, sold me to a band of pirates, who fan- cied I might be an acceptable present to their prince, the Sultan of Morocco. This cavern is their den, and here they keep me under the guard of this woman, un- til it shall suit their convenience to carry me away." Isabella had hardly finished her recital, when a troop of armed men began to enter the cavern. Seeing the prince Orlando, one said to the rest, " What bird is this we have caught, without even setting a snare for him?" Then addressing Orlando, "It was truly civil in you, friend, to come hither with that handsome 150 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. coat of armor and vest, the very things I want.' ** You shall pay for them, thon," said Orlando ; and, seizing a half-burnt brand from the fire, he hurled it at him, striking his head, and stretching him lifeless on the floor. There was a massy table in the middle of the cavern, used for the pirates' repasts. Orlando lifted it and hurled it at the robbers as they stood clustered in a group toward the entrance. Half the gang wen- laid prostrate, with broken heads and limbs; the rest got away as nimbly as they could. Leaving the den and its inmates to their fete, Or- lando, taking Isabella under his protection, pursued his way, for some days, without meeting with any adventure. One day they saw a band of men advancing, who seemed to be guarding a prisoner, bound hand and foot, as if being carried to execution. The prisoner was a youthful cavalier, of a noble and ingenuous appearance. The band bore the ensigns of Count An- selm, head of the treacherous house of Maganza. Or- lando desired Isabella to wait, while he rode forward to inquire the meaning of this array. Approaching, he demanded of the leader who his prisoner was, and of what crime he had been guilty. The man replied, that the prisoner was a murderer, by whose hand ISABELLA'S ADVENTURES BEGUN. 151 Pinabel, the son of Count Anselra, had been treacher- ously slain. At these words, the prisoner" exclaimed, "I am no murderer, nor have I been in any way the cause of the young man's death." Orlando, knowing the cruel and ferocious character of the chiefs of the house of Maganza, needed no more to satisfy him that the youth was the victim of injustice. He com- manded the leader of the troop to release his victim, and, receiving an insolent reply, dashed him to the earth with a stroke of his lance ; then, by a few vigorous blows, dispersed the band, leaving deadly marks on those who were slowest to quit the field. Orlando then hastened to unbind the prisoner, and to assist him to reclothe himself in his armor, which the false Magencian had dared to assume. He then led him to Isabella, who now approached the scene of action. How can we picture the joy, the astonish- ment, with which Isabella recognized in him Zerbino, her husband, and the prince discovered her whom he had believed overwhelmed hi the waves ! They em- braced one another, and wept for joy. Orlando, sharing in their happiness, congratulated himself in having been the instrument of it. The princess recounted to Zer- bino what the illustrious paladin had done for her, and the prince threw himself at Orlando's feet, and thanked him as having twice preserved hia life. 152 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. While these exchanges of congratulation and thank- fulness were going on, a sound in the underwood attracted their attention, and caused the two knights to brace their helmets and stand on their guard. What the cause of the interruption was, we shall rjcord in another chapter. MEDORO. F FRANCE was at this time the theatre of dreadful events. The Saracens and the Christians, in numerous encounters, slew one another. On one oc- casion Rinaldo led an attack on the infidel columns, broke and scattered them, till he found himself oppo- site to a knight whose armor (whether by accident or choice, it matters not) bore the blazon of Orlando. It was Dardinel, the young and brave prince of Zu- mara, and Rinaldo remarked him by the slaughter he spread all around. " Ah," said he to himself, u let us pluck up this dangerous plant before it has grown to its full height." 154 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. As Rinaldo advanced, the crowd opened before him, the Christians to let his swcrd have free course, the Pagans to escape its sweep. Dardinel and he stood face to face. Rinaldo exclaimed, fiercely, "Young man, whoever gave you that noble buckler to bear made you a dangerous gift; I should like to see how you are able to defend those quarterings, red and white. If you cannot defend them against me, how pray will you do so when Orlando challenges them?" Dardinel replied : " Thou shalt learn that I can defend the arms I bear, and shed new glory upon them. No one shall rend them from me but with life." Saying these words, Dardinel rushed upon Rinaldo with sword uplifted. The chill of mortal terror filled the souls of the Saracens when they beheld Rinaldo advance to attack the prince, like a lion against a young bull. The first blow came from the hand of Dardinel, and the weapon rebounded from Mambrino's helmet without effect. Rinaldo smiled, and said, " I will now show you if my strokes are more effectual." At these words, he thrust the unfortunate Dardinel in the middle of his breast. The blow was so violent, that the cruel weapon pierced the body, and came out a palm-breadth behind his back. Through this wound the life of Dardinel issued with his blood, and his body fell helpless to the ground. MEDORO. 156 As a flower which the passing plough has uprooted .anguishes, and droops its head, so Dardinel, his visage covered with the paleness of death, expires, and the hopes of an illustrious race perish with him. Like waters kept back by a dike, which, when the dike is broken, spread abroad through all the country, 10 the Moors, no longer kept in column by the example of Dardinel, fled in all directions. Rmaldo despised too much such easy victories to pursue them ; he wished for no combats but with brave men. At the same time, the other paladins made terrible slaugh- ter of the Moors. Charles himself, Oliver, Guido, and Ogier the Dane, carried death into their ranks on all sides. The infidels seemed doomed to perish to a man on that dreadful day ; but the wise king, Marsilius, at last put some slight degree of method into the general rout. He collected the remnant of the troops, formed tfiem into a battalion, and retreated in tolerable order to his camp. That camp was well fortified by in trenchments and a broad ditch. Thither the fugitives hastened, and by degrees all that remained of tho Moorish army was brought together there. The Emperor might perhaps that night have crushed his enemy entirely ; but not thinking it prudent to expose his troops, fatigued as they were, to an attack LEGENDS OF CHAKLEMAGNK. upon a camp so well fortified, he contented himself with encompassing the enemy with his troops, pre- pared to make a regular siege. During the night, the Moors had time to see the extent of their loss. Their tents resounded with lamentations. This warrior had to mourr a brother, that a friend ; many suffered with grievous wounds, all trembled at the fate hi store for them. There were two young Moors, both of humble rank, who gave proof at that time of attachment and fidelity rare in the history of man. Cloridan and Medoro had followed their prince, Dardinel, to the wars of France. Cloridan, a bold huntsman, combined strength with activity. Medoro was a mere youth, his cheeks yet fair and blooming. Of all the Saracens, no one united so much grace and beauty. His light hair was set off by his black and sparkling eyes. The two friends were together on guard at the rampart. About midnight they gazed on the scene hi deep dejection. Medoro, with tears in his eyes, spoke of the good prince Dardinel, and could not endure the thought that his body should be cast out on the plain, deprived of funeral honors. " O my friend," said he, " must then the body of our prince be the prey of wolves and ravens ? Alas ! when I remember how he loved me, I feel that, if I should sacrifice my life MEDOBO. 157 tc> do him honor, I should not do more than my duty. I wish, dear friend, to seek out his body on the battle- Held, and give it burial, and I hope to be able to pass through King Charles's camp without discovery, as they are probably all asleep. You, Cloridan, will be able to say for me, if I should die in the adventure, that gratitude and fidelity to my prince were my in- ducements." Cloridan was both surprised and touched with this proof of the young man's devotion. He loved him tenderly, and tried for a long time every effort to dis- suade him from his design ; but he found Medoro de termined to accomplish his object or die in the endeavor. Cloridan, unable to change his purpose, said, "I will go with you, Medoro, and help you in this gener- ous enterprise. I value not life compared with honor, and if I did, do you suppose, dear friend, that I could live without you ? I would rather fall by the arms of our enemies than die of grief for the loss of you." When the two friends were relieved frcoa their guard duty, they went without any followers into the camp of the Christians. All there was still ; the fires were dying out ; there was no fear of any attempt on the part of the Saracens, and the soldiers, overcome by fatigue or wine, slept secure, lying upon the ground in lr>8 LEGENDS OK CHARLEMAGNE. the midst of their arms and equipage. Cloridan stopped, and said, " Medoro, I am not going to quit this camp without taking vengeance for the death of our. prince. Keep watch, be on your guard that no one shall sur- rrise us ; I mean to mark a road with my swonl ihrough the ranks of our enemies." So saying, ho entered the tent where Alpheus slept, who a year before had joined the camp of Charles, and pretended to be a great physician and astrologer. But his science had deceived him, if it gave him hope of dying peacefully in his bed at a good old age ; his lot was to die with little warning. Cloridan ran his sword through his heart. A Greek and a German followed, who had been playing late at dice : fortunate if they had continued their game a little longer ; but they never reckoned a throw like this among their chances. Cloridan next came to the unlucky Grillon, whose head lay softly on his pillow. He dreamed probably of the feast from which he had but just retired ; for when Cloridan cut off his head, wine flowed forth with the blood. The two young Moors might have penetrated even to the tent of Charlemagne ; but knowing that the paladins encamped around him, kept watch by turns, and judging that it was impossible they should all be asleep, they were afraid to go too near. They might MEDORO 159 also have obtained rich booty; but, intent only on their object, they crossed the camp, and arrived at length at the bloody field, where bucklers, lances, and swords lay scattered in the midst of corpses of poor and rich, '-ommon soldier and prince, horses and pools of blood. This terrible scene of carnage would have destroyed all hope of finding what they were in search of until dawn of day, were it not that the moon lent the aid of her uncertain rays. Medoro raised his eyes to the planet, and exclaimed, ' O holy goddess, whom our fathers have adored under three different forms, thou who displayest thy power in heaven, on earth, and in the under-world, thou who art seen foremost among the nymphs chasing the beasts of the forest, cause me to see, I implore thee, the spot where my dear master lies, and make me all my life long follow the example which thou dost exhibit of works of charity and love." Either by accident, or that the moon was sensible of the prayer of Medoro, the cloud broke away, and the moonlight burst forth as bright as day. The rays seemed especially to gild the spot where lay the body of Prince Dardinel ; and Medoro, bathed in tears and with bleeding heart, recognized him by the quarterings of red and white on his shield With groans stifled by his tears, and lamentations 160 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. in accents suppressed, not from any fear for himself, for he cared not for life, but lest any one should be roused to interrupt their pious duty while yet incom- plete, he proposed to his companion that they should together bear Dardinel on their shoulders, sharing the burden of the beloved remains. Marching with rapid strides under their preciotus load, they perceived that the stars began to grow pale, and that the shades of night would soon be dispersed by the dawn. Just then Zerbino, whose extreme valor had urged him far from the camp in pursuit of the fugitives, returning, entered the wood in which they were. Some knights in his train perceived at a dis- tance the two brothers-in-arms. Cloridan saw the troop, and, observing that they dispersed themselves over the plain as if in search of booty, told Medoro to lay down the body, and let each save himself by flight. He dropped his part, thinking that Medoro would do the same ; but the good youth loved his prince too well to abandon him, and continued to carry his load singly as well as he might, while Clori- dan made his escape. Near by there was a part of the wood tufted as if nothing but wild animals had ever penetrated it. The unfortunate youth, loaded with the weight of his dead master, plunged into ita recesses. MEDORO. 161 Cloridan, when he perceived that he had evaded his foes, discovered that Medoro was not with him. " Ah I " exclaimed he, " how could I, dear Medoro, BO forget myself as to consult my own safety without heeding yours?" So saying, he retraced the tangled passes of the wood toward the place from whence he had fled. As he approached, he heard the noise of horses, and the menacing voices of armed men. Soon he perceived Medoro, on foot, with the cavaliers surrounding him. Zerbino, their commander, bade them seize him. The unhappy Medoro turned now this way, now that, trying to conceal himself be- hind an oak or a rock, still bearing the body, which he would by no means leave. Cloridan, not knowing how to help him, but resolved to perish with him, if he must perish, takes an arrow, fits it to his bow, dis- charges it, and pierces the breast of a Christian knight, who falls helpless from his horse. The others look this way and that, to discover whence the fatal bolt was sped. One, while demanding of his com- rades in what direction the arrow came, received a second in his throat, which stopped his words, and Boon closed his eyes to the scene. Zerbino, furious at the death of his two comrades, ran upon Modoro, seized his golden hair, and dragged him forward to slay him. But the sight of so much 162 LEGENDS OF CH A RLEM AGflE. youth and beauty commanded pity. He stayed his arm The young man spoke in suppliant tones. " All 1 signer," said he, " I conjure you by the God whom you serve, deprive me not of life until I shall have buried the body of the prince, my master. Fear no! that I will ask you any other favor ; life is not deai to me; I desire death as soon as I shall have per- formed this sacred duty. Do with me then as you please. Give my limbs a prey to the birds and beasts; only let me first bury my prince." Medoro pro- nounced these words with an air so sweet and tender, that a heart of stone would have been moved by them. Zerbino was so to the bottom of his soul. He was on the point of uttering words of mercy, when a cruel subaltern, forgetting all respect to his com- mander, plunged his lance into the breast of the young Moor. Zerbino, enraged at this brutality, turned upon the wretch to take vengeance, but he saved himself by a precipitate flight. Cloridan, who saw Medoro fall, could contain him- self no longer. He rushed from his concealment, threw down his bow, and, sword in hand, seemed only desirous of vengeance for Medoro, and to die with him. In a moment, pierced through and through with many wounds, he exerts the last remnant of hia strength in dragging himself to Medoro, to die em* MEDORO. 163 bracing him. The cavaliers left them thus, to rejoin Zerbino, whose rage against the murdenr of Medorc had drawn him away from the spot. Cloridan died ; and Medoro, bleeding copiously, vraa drawing near his end when help arrived. A young maiden approached the fallen knights at this critical moment. Her dress was that of a peasant- girl, but her air was noble and her beauty celestial ; sweetness and goodness reigned in her lovely counte- nance. It was no other than Angelica, the Princess of Cathay. When she had recovered that precious ring, as we have before related, Angelica, knowing its value, felt proud in the power it conferred, travelled alone with- out fear, not without a secret shame that she had ever been obliged to seek protection in her wanderings of the Count Orlando and of Sacripant. She reproached herself too as with a weakness, that she had ever thought of marrying Rinaldo ; in fine, her pride grew no high as to persuade her that no man living was worthy to aspire to her hand. Moved with pity at the sight of the young man wonnded, and melted to tears at hearing the cause, she quickly recalled to remembrance the knowledge she had acquired in India, where the virtues of planta and the art of healing formed part of the education Ifi-t LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNF even of princesses. The beautiful queen ran into the adjoining meadow to gather plants of virtue ,to stanch the flow of blood. Meeting on her way a countryman on horseback seeking a strayed heifer, she begged him to come to her assistance, and en- deavor to remove the wounded man to a more secure asylum. Angelica, having prepared the plants by bruising them between two stones, laid them with her fair hand on Medoro's wound. The remedy soon restored in some degree the strength of the wounded man, who, before he would quit the spot, made them cover with earth and turf the bodies of his friend and of the prince. Then surrendering himself to the pity of his deliverers, he allowed them to place him on the horse of the shepherd, and conduct him to his cottage. It was a pleasant farm-house on the borders of the wood, bearing marks of comfort and competency. There the shepherd lived with his wife and children. There Angelica tended Medoro, and there, by the devoted care of the beautiful queen, his sad wcund closed over, and he recovered lu's perfect health. O Count Rinaldo, O King Sacripant ! what availed it you to possess so many virtues and such fame? What advantage have you derived from all your high deserts? O hapless king, great Agricanl if you MEDORO. 16,1 could return to life, how would you endure to see yourself rejected by one who will bow to the yoke of Hymen in favor of a young soldier of humble birth? And thou, Ferrau, and ye numerous others who a hundred times have put your lives at hazard for tliu cruel beauty, how bitter will it be to you to see her sacrifice you all to the claims of the humble Medoro ! There, under the low roof of a shepherd, the flame of Hymen was lighted for this haughty queen. She takes the shepherd's wife to serve in place of mother, the shepherd and his children for witnesses, and mar' ries the happy Medoro. Angelica, after her marriage, wishing to endow Medoro with the sovereignty of the countries which yet remained to her, took with him the road to the East. She had preserved through all her adventures a bracelet of gold enriched with precious stones, the present of the Count Orlando. Having nothing else wherewith to reward the good shepherd and his wife, who had served her with so much care and fidelity, she took the bracelet from her arm and gave it tc them, and then the newly-married couple directed their steps toward those mountains which separate France and Spain, intending to wait at Barcelona a vessel which should take them on their way to the Bast. ORLANDO MAD. ORLANDO, on the loss of Angelica, laid aside his crest and arms, and arrayed himself in a suit of black armor, expressive of his despair. In this guise he carried such slaughter among the ranks of the infidels, that both armies were astonished at the achievements of the stranger knight. Mandricardo, who had been absent from the battle, heard the report of these achievements, and determined to test for him- self the valor of the knight so extolled. He it was who broke in upon the conference of Zerbino and Isabella, and their benefactor Orlando, as they stood occupied in mutual felicitations, after the happy re union of the lovers by the prowess of the paladin. OBLANDO MAD. 167 Mandricardo, after contemplating the group for a moment, addressed himself to Orlando in these words-. " Thou must be the man I seek. For ten days and more I have been en thy track. The feme of thy exploits has brought me hither, that I may measure my strength with thine. Thy crest and shield prove thee the same who spread such slaughter among our troops. But these .marks are superfluous, and if I saw thee among a hundred I should know thee by thy martial bearing to be the man I seek.'' " I respect thy courage," said Orlando ; " such a design could not have sprung up in any but a brave and generous mind. If the desire to see me has brought thee hither, I would, if it were possible, show thee my inmost soul. I will remove my visor, that you may satisfy your curiosity ; but when you have done so, I hope that you will also try and se^ if my valor corresponds to my appearance." " Come on," said the Saracen, " my first wish was to see and know thee ; I will now gratify my second." Orlando, observing Mandricardo, was surprised to see no sword at his side, nor mace at his saddle-bow. " And what weapon hast thou," said he, " if thy lance fail thee?" " Do not concern yourself about that," said Mandri- rardo; "I have made many good knights give ground 168 LEGENDS OP CHARLEMAGNE. with no other weapon than you see. Know that 1 have sworn an oath never to bear a sword until I win back that famous Durindana that Orlando, the paladin, carries. That sword belongs to the suit of armor which I wear; that only is wanting. Without doubt h was stolen, but how it got into the hands of Orlan- do I know not. But I will make him pay dearly for it when I find him. I seek him the more anxiously that I may avenge with his blood the death of King Agrican, my father, whom he treacherously slew. 1 am sure he must have done it by treachery, for it was not in his power to subdue in fair fight such a warrior as my father." " Thou liest," cried Orlando ; " and all who say so lie. I am Orlando, whom you seek ; yes, I am he who slew your father honorably. Hold, here is the sword: you shall have it if your courage avails to merit it. Though it belongs to me by right, I will not use it in this dispute. See, I hang it on this tree: you shall be master of it, if you bereave me of life ; not else." At these words, Orlando drew Durindana, and hung it on one of the branches of a tree near by. Both knights, boiling with equal ardor, rode off in a semicircle ; then rushed together with reins thrown loose, and struck one another with their lances. Both OBLANDO MAD. 169 kept their seats, immovable. The splinters of their lances flew into the air, and no weapon remained lor either but the fragment which he held in his hand. Then those two knights, covered with iron mail, were reduced to the necessity of fighting with staves, in the manner of two rustics, who dispute the boundary of a meadow, or the possession of a spring. These clubs could not long keep whole in the hands of such sturdy smiters, who were soon reduced to fight with naked fists. Such warfare was more painful to him that gave than to him that received the blows. They next clasped, and strained each his adversary, as Hercules did Antaeus. Mandricardo, more enraged than Orlando, made violent efforts to unseat the pala- din, and dropped the rein of his horse. Orlando, more calm, perceived it. With one hand he resisted Mandricardo, with the other he twitched the horse's bridle over the ears of the animal. The Saracen dragged Orlando with all his might, but Orlando's thighs held the saddle like a vise. At last the efforts of the Saracen broke the girths of Orlando's horsr ; the saddle slipped ; the knight, firm in his stirrups, slipped with it, and came to the ground hardly con- scious of his fall. The noise of his armor in fulling startled Mandricardo's horse, now without a briMIe. He started off in full career, heeding neither tree* a 170 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. nor rocks nor broken ground. Urged by fright, he ran with furious speed, carrying his master, who, almost distracted with rage, shouted and beat the ani- mal with his fists, and thereby impelled his flight. After running thus three miles or more, a deep ditch opposed their progress. The horse and rider fell head- long into it, and did not find the bottom covered with feather-beds or roses. They got sadly bruised ; but were lucky enough to escape without any broken limbs. Mandricardo, as soon as he gained his feet, seized the horse by his mane with fury, but, having no bridle, could not hold him. He looked round in hopes of finding something that would do for a rein. Just then fortune, who seemed willing to help him at last, brought that way a peasant with a bridle in his hand, who was in search of his farm horse that had strayed away. Orlando, having speedily repaired his horse's girths, remounted, and waited a good hour for the Saracen to return. Not seeing him, he concluded to go in search of him. He took an affectionate leave of Zer- bino and Isabella, who would willingly have followed him ; but this the brave paladin would by no means permit. He held it unknightly to go in search of an enemy accompanied by a friend, who might act as a defender. Therefore, desiring them to say to Man- ORLANDO MAD 171 dricardo, if they should meet him, that his purpose was to tarry in the neighborhood three days, ami then repair to the camp of Charlemagne, he took down Durindana from the tree, and proceeded in the direc- tion which the Saracen's horse had taken. But the animal, having no guide but its terror, had so doubled and confused its traces that Orlando, after two days spent in the search, gave up the attempt. It was about the middle of the third day when the paladin arrived on the pleasant bank of a stream which wound through a meadow enamelled with flowers. High trees, whose tops met and formed an arbor, overshadowed the fountain ; and the breeze which blew through their foliage tempered the heat. Hither the shepherds used to resort to quench their thirst, and to enjoy the shelter from the midday sun. The air, perfumed with the flowers, seemed to breathe fresh strength into their veins. Orlando felt the in- fluence, though covered with his armor. He stopped in this delicious arbor, where everything seemed to imite to repose. But he could not have chosen & more fatal asylum. He there spent the most miser- able moments of his life. He looked around, and noted with pleasure all the charms of the spot. He saw that some of the treea were carved with inscriptions, he drew near, and 172 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. read them, and what was his surprise to find that they composed the name of Angelica. Farther on, he found the name of Medoro mixed with hers. The paladin thought he dreamed. He stood like one amazed, like a bird that, rising to fly, finds its feet caught in a net. Orlando followed the course of the stream, and came to one of its turns where the rocks of the moun- tain bent in such a way as to form a sort of grotto. The twisted stems of ivy and the wild vine draped the entrance of this recess, scooped by the hand of nature. The unhappy paladin, on entering the grotto, saw letters which appeared to have been lately carved. They were verses which Medoro had written in honor of his happy nuptials with the beautiful queen. Or- lando tried to persuade himself it must be some other Angelica whom those verses celebrated, and as for Medoro, he had never heard his name. The sun was now declining, and Orlando remounted his horse, and went on his way. He soon saw the roof of a cot- tage whence the smoke ascended ; he heard the barking of dogs and the lowing of cattle, and arrived at a humble dwelling which seemed to offer an asylum for the night. The inmates, as soon as they saw him, hastened to render him service. One took hia horse, ORLANDO MAD. 173 another his shield and cuirass, another his golden spurs. This cottage was the very same where Medoro had been carried, deeply wounded, where Angelica had tended him, and afterwards married him. The shepierd who lived in it loved to tell everybody the story of this marriage, and soon related it, with all its details, to the miserable Orlando. Having finished it, he went away, and returned with the precious bracelet which Angelica, grateful for his services, had given him as a memorial. It was the one which Orlando had himself given her. This last touch was the finishing stroke to the excited paladin. Frantic, exasperated, he exclaimed against the ungrateful and cruel princess who had dis- dained him, the most renowned, the most indomitable of all the paladins of France, him, who had rescued her from the most alarming perils, him, who had fought the most terrible battles for her sake, she to prefer to him a young Saracen ! The pride of the noble Count was deeply wounded. Indignant, frantic, a victim to ungovernable rage, he rushed into the lorest, uttering the most frightful shrieks. " No, no ! " cried he, " I am not the man they take me for ! Orlando is dead ! I am only the wander- ing ghost of that unhappy Count, *ho is now suffering the torments of hell I " 174 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Orlando wandered all night, as chance directed, through the wood, and at sunrise his destiny led him to the fountain where Medoro had engraved the fatal inscription. The frantic paladin saw it a second lime with fury, drew his sword, and hacked it from ths rock. Unlucky grotto I you shall no more attract by your shade and coolness, you shall no more shelter with your arch either shepherd or flock. And you, fresh ind pure fountain, you may not escape the rage of the furious Orlando I He cast into the fountain branches, trunks of trees which he tore up, pieces of rocks which he broke off, plants uprooted, with the earth adhering, and turf and bushes, so as to choke the fountain, and destroy the purity of its waters. At length, exhausted by his violent exertions, bathed in sweat, breathless, Orlando sunk panting upon the earth, and lay there insensible three days and three nights. The fourth day he started up and seized his arms. His helmet, his buckler, he cast far from him ; his haul>erk and his clothes he rent asunder; the frag- ments were scattered through the wood. In fine, he became a furious madman. His insanity was such that he cared not to retain even his sword. But he had no need of Durindana, nor of other arms, to do ORLANDO MAD. 175 wonderful things. His prodigious strength sufficed. At the first wrench of his mighty arm, he tore up a pine-tree by the roots. Oaks, beeches, maples, what- ever he met in his path, yielded in like manner. The ancient forest soon became as bare as the borders of a morass, where the fowler has cleared away the bushes to spread his nets. The shepherds, hearing the horrible crashing in the forest, abandoned their flocks to run and see the cause of this unwonted up- roar. By their evil star, or for their sins, they were led thither. When they saw the furious state the Count was in, and his incredible force, they would fain have fled out of his reach, but in their fears lost their presence of mind. The madman pursued them, seized one and rent him limb from limb, as easily as one would pull ripe apples from a tree. He took another by the feet, and used him as a club to knock down a third. The shepherds fled ; but it would have been hard for any to escape, if he had not at that moment left them to throw himself with the same fury upon their flocks. The peasants, abandoning their ploughs and harrows, mounted on the roofe of buildings and pinnacles of the rocks, afraid to trust themselves even to the oaks and pines. From such heights they looked on, trembling at the raging fury of the unhappy Orlando. His fists, his teeth, his nails, 176 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. his feet, seize, break, and tear cattle, sheep, and swine the most swift in flight alone being able to escape him. When at last terror had scattered everything before liiin, he entered a cottage which was abandoned by its inhabitants, and there found that which served foi food. His long fast had caused him to feel tlin moat ravenous hunger. Seizing whatever he found that was eatable, whether roots, acorns, or bread, raw meat or cooked, he gorged it indiscriminately. Issuing thence again, the frantic Orlando gave chase to whatever living thing he saw, whether men or animals. Sometimes he pursued the deer and hind, sometimes h>- attacked bears and wolves, and with his naked hands killed and tore them, and devoured their flesh. Thus he wandered, from place to place, through France, imperilling his life a thousand ways, yet always preserved by some mysterious providence from a fetal result. But here we leave Orlando for a time, that we may record what befell Zerbino and Isabella after their parting with him. The prince and his fair bride waited, by Orlando's request, near the scene of the battle for three days, that, if Mandricardo should return, they might inform him where Orlando would give him another meeting ORLANDO MAD 177 At the end of that time, their anxiety to know the issue led them to follow Orlando's traces, which led them at last to the wood where the trees were in- scribed with the names of Angelica and Medorc. They remarked how all these inscriptions were de- faced, and how the grotto was disordered, and the fountain clogged with rubbish. But that which sur- prised them and distressed them most of all was to find on the grass the cuirass of Orlando, and not far from it his helmet, the same which the renowned Al- montes once wore. Hearing a horse neigh in the forest, Zerbino turned his eyes in that direction, and saw Brigliadoro, with the bridle yet hanging at the saddle-bow. He looked round for Durindana, and found that famous sword, without the scabbard, lying on the grass. He saw also the fragments of Orlando's other arms and cloth- ing scattered on all sides over the plain. Zerbino and Isabella stood in astonishment and grief, not knowing what to think, but little imagining the true cause. If they had found any marks of blood on the arms or on the fragments of the clothing, they would have supposed him slain, but there were r.Dne. While they were in this painful uncertainty, they saw a young peasant approach. He, not yet recovered from the terror of the scene which he had witnessed t 178 LEGENDS OF CHAKLEMAGNE. from, the top of a rock, told them the whole of the sad events. Zerbino, with his eyes full of tears, carefully col- lected all the scattered arms. Isabella also dismounted lo aid him in the sad duty. When they had collected all the pieces of that rich armor, they hung them like a trophy on a pine; and to prevent their being vio- lated by any passers-by, Zerbino inscribed on the bark tliis caution : " These are the arms of the Paladin Orlando." Having finished this pious work, he remounted his horse, and just then a knight rode up, and requested Zerbino to tell him the meaning of the trophy. The prince related the facts as they had happened ; and Mandricardo, for it was that Saracen knight, fall of joy, rushed forward, and seized the sword, saying, " No one can censure me for what I do ; this sword is mine ; I can take my own wherever I find it. It is plain that Orlando, not daring to defend it against me, has counterfeited madness to excuse him in surrendering it" Zerbino vehemently exclaimed, " Touch not that sword. Think not to possess it without a contest. H it be true that the arms you wear are those of Hector, you must have got them by theft, and not by proweas." ORLANDO MAD. 179 Immediately they attacked one another with the utmost fury. The air resounded with tliick-falling blows. Zerbino, skilful and alert, evaded for a tun* with good success the strokes of Durindana ; but at length a terrible blow struck him on the neck. He fell from his horse, and the Tartar king, possessed cf the spoils of his victory, rode away. ZERBINO AND ISABELLA. ZEKBINO'S pain at seeing the Tartar prince go off with the sword surpassed the anguish of his wound; but now the loss of blood so reduced his strength, that he could not move from where ho fell. Isabella, not knowing whither to resort for help, could only bemoan him, and chide her cruel fate. Zerbino said, "If I could but leave thec, my best be- loved, in some secure abode, it would not distress me to die; but to abandon thee so, without protection, is snd indeed." She replied, "Think not to leave me, dearest; our souls shall not be parted; this sword will give me the means to follow thee." Zerbino's last ZERBINO AND ISABELLA. 181 words implored her to banish such a thought, but live, and be true to his memory. Isabella promised, with many tears, to be faithful to him so long as life should last. When he ceased to breathe, Isabella's cries resounded through the forest, and reached the ears of a reverend hermit, who hastened to the spot. He soothed and cJmed her, urging those consolations which the word of God supplies ; and at last brought her to wish for nothing else but to devote herself for the rest of life wholly to religion. As she could not bear the thoughts of leaving her dead lord abandoned, the body was, by the good her- mit's aid, placed upon the horse, and taken to the nearest inhabited place, where a chest was made for it, suitable to be carried with them on their way. The hermit's plan was to escort his charge to a monas- tery, not many days' journey distant, where Isabella resolved to spend the remainder of her life. Thus they travelled day after day, choosing the moat re- tired ways, for the country was full of ann<;-{ men. One day a cavalier met them, and barred their way. It was no other than Rodomont, king of Algiers, who had just left the camp of Agramant, full of indigna don for a fancied wrong received from that leader At sight of the lovely lady and her reverend attendant, 182 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. with their horse laden with a burden draped with black he asked the meaning of their journey. Isabella told him her affliction, and her resolution to renounce the world and devote herself to religion, and to the memory of the friend she had lost. Rodomont laughed scornfully at this, and told her that her pro- ject was absurd ; that charms like hers were meant to be enjoyed, not buried, and that he himself would more than make amends for her dead lover. The monk, who promptly interposed to rebuke this impious talk, was commanded to hold his peace ; and still per- sisting, was seized by the knight and hurled over the edge of the cliff, where he fell into the sea, and was drowned. Rodomont, when he had got rid of the hermit, again applied to the sad lady, heartless with affright, and, in the language used by lovers, said, " she was his very heart, his life, his light." Having laid aside all violence, he humbly sued that she would accompany him to his retreat, near by. It was a ruined chape! from which the monks had been driven by the dis- orders of the time, and which Rodomont had taken possession of. Isabella, who had no choice but to obey, followed him, meditating as she went what re- source she could find to escape out of his power, and keep her vow to her dead husband, to be faithful to ZEBBINO AND ISABELLA. 183 his memory as long as life should last. At length she said, ** If, my lord, you will let me go and fulfil my vow, and my intention, as I have already declared it, I will bestow upon you what will be to you of more value than a hundred women's hearts. I know an herb, and I have seen it on our way, which, rightly prepared, affords a juice of such power, that the flesh, if laved with it, becomes impenetrable to sword or tire. This liquor I can make, -and will, to-day, if you will accept my offer ; and when you have seen its vir- tue, you will value it more than if all Europe were made your own." Rodomont, at hearing this, readily promised all that was asked, so eager was he to learn a secret that would make him as Achilles was of yore. Isabella, having collected such herbs as she thought proper, and Soiled them, with certain mysterious signs and words, at length declared her labor done, and, as a test, offered to try its virtue on hen-elf. She bathed her neck and bosom with the liquor, and then called on Rodomont to smite with all his force, and see whether his sword had power to harm. The pagait, whr during the preparations had taken frequent draughts of wine, and scarce knew what he did, drew his sword at the word, and struck across her neck with all his might, and the fair head leapt sundered from the snowv neck and breast. 184 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Rude and unfeeling as he was, the pagan knight lamented bitterly this sad result. To honor her mem- ory he resolved to do a work as unparalleled as her devotion. From all parts round he caused laborers to be brought, and had a tower built to enclose th chapel v within which the remains of Zerbino and Isabella were entombed. Across the stream which flowed near by he built a bridge, scarce two yards wide, and added neither parapet nor rail. On the top of the tower a sentry was placed, who, when any traveller approached the bridge, gave notice to liis master. Rodomont thereupon sallied out, and defied the approaching knight to fight him upon the bridge, where any chance step a little aside would plunge the rider headlong in the stream. This bridge he vowed to keep until a thousand suits of armor should be won from conquered knights, wherewith to build a trophy to his victim and her lord. Within ten days the bridge was built, and the tower v"as in progress. In a short time many knights, eithei seeking the shortest route, or tempted by a desire of adventure, had made the attempt to pass the bridge. All, without exception, had lost either arms or life, ci both; seme falling before Rodomont's lance, othera precipitated into the river. One day, as Rodomont stood urging his workmen, it chanced that Orlando ir ZERBINO AND ISABELLA. 186 bis furious mood came thither, and approached the bridge. Rodoinont halloed to him, "Halt, churl; presume not to set foot upon that bridge ; it was not made for such as you ! " Orlando took no notice, lmt pressed on. Just then a gentle damsel rode up. It was Flordelis, who was seeking her Florismart, She saw Orlando, and, in spite of his strange appear- ance, recognized him. Rodomont, not used to have his commands disobeyed, laid hands on the madman, and would have thrown him into the river, but to his astonishment found himself in the gripe of one not so easily disposed of. " How can a fool have such strength ? " he growled between his teeth. Flordelis stopped to see the issue, where each of these two puissant warriors strove to throw the other from the bridge. Orlando at last had strength enough to lift his foe with all his armor, and fling him over the side, but had not wit to clear himself from him, so both fell together. High flashed the wave as they together smote its surface. Here Orlando had the advantage ; he was naked, and could swim like a Hsli. He soon reached the bank, and, careless of praise or blame, stopped not to see what came of the advonture. Rodomont, entangled with his armor, escaped with difficulty to the bank. Meantime, Flordelis passed the bridge unchallenged. 186 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNK. After long wandering without success she returned to Paris, and there found the object of her search; for Florismart, after the fall of Albracca, had repaired thither. The joy of meeting was clouded to Floris- mart by the news which Flordelis brought of Or- lando's wretched plight. The last she had seen of him was when he fell with Rodomont into the stream. Florismart, who loved Orlando like a brother, resolved to set out immediately, under guidance of the lady, to find him, and bring him where he might receive the treatment suited to his case. A few days brought them to the place where they found the Tartar king still guarding the bridge. The usual challenge and defiance was made, and the knights rode to encounter one another on the bridge. At the first encounter both horses were overthrown ; and, having no space to regain their footing, fell with their riders into the water. Rodomont, who knew the soundings of the stream, soon recovered the land; but Florismart was carried downward by the current, and landed at last on a bank of mud where his horse could hardly find footing. Flordelis, who watched the battle from the bridge, seeing her lover in- this piteous case, exclaimed aloud, "Ah! Rodomont, for love of her whom dead you honor, have pity on me, who love this knight, and slay him not. Let it suffice he yields his armoi ZEBBINO AND ISABELLA. 187 to the pile, and none more glorious will it bear than hia." Her prayer, so well directed, touched the pagan's heart, though hard to move, and he lent hia aid to help the knight to land. He kept him a prisoner, however, and added his armor to the pile. Flordelis, with a heavy heart, went her way. We must now return to Rogero, who, when wo parted with him, was engaged in an adventure which arrested his progress to the monastery whither he was bound with the intention of receiving baptism, and thus qualifying himself to demand Bradamante as his bride. On his way he met with Mandricardo, and the quarrel was revived respecting the right to wear the badge of Hector. After a warm discussion, both parties agreed to submit the question to King Agramant, and for that purpose took their way to the Saracen camp. Here they met Gradasso, who had his contro- versy also with Mandricardo. This warrior claimed the sword of Orlando, denying the right of Mandricardo to possess it in virtue of his having found it aban- doned by its owner. King Agramant strove in v'm to reconcile these quarrels, and was forced at last to consent that the points in dispute should be settled by one combat, in which Mandricardo should nvet one of the other champions, to whom should be committed tho cause of both. Rogero was chosen by lot to maintain 188 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Gradasso's cause and his own. Great preparations were made for this signal contest. On the appointed day it was fought in the presence of Agramant, and of the whole army. Rogero won it; and Mandricardo, the conqueror of Hector's arms, the challenger of Orlando, and the slayer of Zerbino, lost his life. Gradasso received Durindana as his prize, which lost half its value in his eyes, since it was won by another's prowess, not his own. Rogero, though victorious, was severely wounded, and lay helpless many weeks in the camp of Agra- mant, while Bradamante, ignorant of the cause of his delay, expected him at Montalban. Thither he had promised to repair in fifteen days, or twenty at furthest, hoping to have obtained by that time an honorable discharge from his obligations to the Sara- cen commander. The twenty days were passed, and a month more, and still Rogero came not, nor did any tidings reach Bradamante accounting for his absence. At the end of that time, a wandering knight brought news of the famous combat, and of Rogero's wound He added, what alarmed Brad a- mantt still more, that Marphisa, a female warrior, young and fair, was in attendance on the wounded knight. He added, that the whole army expected that, as soon as Rogero's wounds were healed, the pail would be united in marriage. ZERBINO AND ISABELLA. 189 Bradamante, distressed by this news, though she believed it but in part, resolved to go immediately and see for herself. She mounted Rabican, the horse of Astolpho, which he had committed to her care, and took with her the lance of gold, though unaware ot its wonderful powers. Thus accoutred, she left the castle, and took the road toward Paris and the camp of the Saracens. Marphisa, whose devotion to Rogero in his illness had so excited the jealousy of Bradamante, was the twin sister of Rogero. She, with him, had been taken in charge when an infant by Atlantes, the magician, but while yet a child she had been stolen away by an Arab triba. Adopted by their chief, she had early learned horsemanship and skill in arms, and at this time had come to the camp of Agramant with no other view than to see and test for herself the prowess of the warriors of either camp, whose fame rang through the world. Arriving at the very moment of the late encounter, the name of Rogero, and some few facts of his story which she learned, were enough to suggest the idea that it was her broth 3r whom she saw victorious in the single combat. Inquiry satisfied the two of their near kindred, and from that moment Marphisa devoted herself to the care of her new-frond and much-loved brother. 190 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. In those moments of seclusion Rogero informed his sister of what he had learned of their parentage from old Atlantes. Rogero, their father, a Christian knight, had won the heart of Galaciella, daughter of the Sul- tan of Africa, and sister of King Agramant, con- verted her to the Christian faith, and secretly married her. The Sultan, enraged at his daughter's marriage, drove her husband into exile, and caused her with her infant children, Rogero and Marphisa, to be placed in a boat and committed to the winds and waves, to perish ; from which fate they were saved by At- lantes. On hearing this, Marphisa exclaimed, " How can you, brother, leave our parents unavenged so long, and even submit to serve the son of the tyrant who so wronged them ? " Rogero replied, that it was but lately he had learned the full truth ; that when he learned it he was already embarked with Agra- mant, from whom he had received knighthood, and that he only waited for a suitable opportunity when he might with honor ioccit his standard, and at the same time return to the faith of his fathers. Mar phisa hailed this resolution with joy, and declare J her intention to join with him in embiacing Uit 1 Christian faith. ZEKBINO AND ISABELLA. 191 We left Bradamante when, mounted on Rabican and armed with Astolpho's lance, she rode forth, de- termined to learn the cause of Rogero's long absence. One day, as she rode, she met a damsel, of visage and of manners fair, but overcome with grief. It was Flordelis, who was seeking far and near a champion capable of liberating and avenging her lord. Flordelis marked the approaching warrior, and, judging from appearances, thought she had found the champion she sought. " Are you, Sir Knight," she said, " so daring and so kind as to take up my cause against a fierce and cruel warrior who has made prisoner of my lord, and forced me thus to be a wanderer and a suppli- ant ? " Then she related the events which had hap- pened at the bridge. Bradamante, to whom noble enterprises were always welcome, readily embraced this, and the rather as in her gloomy forebodings she felt as if Rogero was forever lost to her. Next day the two arrived at the bridge. The sentry descried them approaching, and gave notice to liis lord, who thereupon donned his armor and went forth to meet them. Here, as usual, he called on the advancing warrior to yield his horse and anna an oblation to the tomb. Bradamante replied, asking by what right he called on the innocent to do penance for his crime. " Your life and your armor," she 192 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. added, "are the fittest offering to her tomb, and I, a woman, the fittest champion to take them." With that she couched her spear, spurred her horse, and ran to the encounter. King Rodomont came on with speed. The trampling sounded on the bridge like thunder. It took but a moment to decide the contest. The golden lance did its office, and that fierce Moor, so renowned in tourney, lay extended on the bridge. " Who is the loser now ? " said Bradamante : : ut Rodomont, amazed that a woman's hand should have laid him low, could not or would not answer. Silent and sad, he raised himself, unbound his helm and mail, and flung them against the tomb; then, sullen and on foot, left the ground ; but first gave orders to one of his squires to release all his prisoners. They had been sent, off to Africa. Besides Florismart, there were Sausonnet and Oliver, who had ridden that way in quest of Orlando, and had both in turn been over- thrown in the encounter. Bradamante after her victory resumed her route, riid in due time reached the Christian camp, where sne readily learned an explanation of the mystery which had caused her so much anxiety. Rogero and his fair and brave sister, Marphisa, were too illustri- ous by their station and exploits not to be the fre- quent topic of discourse even among their adversaries, 2ERBINO AND ISABELLA. 193 and all that Bradamante was anxious to know reached her ear, almost without inquiry. We now return to Gradasso, who by Rogero's victory had been made possessor of Durindana. There now only remained to him to seek the horse of Rinaldo ; and the challenge, given and accepted, was yet to be fought with that warrior, for it had been interrupted by the arts of Malagigi. Gradasso now sought another meeting with Rinaldo, and met with no reluctance on his part. As the combat was for the possession of Bayard, the knights dismounted and fought on foot. Long time the battle lasted. Rinaldo, knowing well the deadly stroke of Durindana, used all his art to parry or avoid its blow. Gradasso struck with might and main, but wellnigh all his strokes were spent in air, or if they smote, they fell obliquely and did little harm. Thus had they fought long, glancing at one an- other's eyes, and seeing naught else, when their attention was arrested perforce by a strange noise. They turned, and beheld the good Bayard attacked ly a monstrous bird. Perhaps it was a bird, for such it seemed ; but when or where such a bird was ever seen I have nowhere read, except in Turpin ; and I am inclined to believe that it WM not a bird, but a fiend, evoked from underground 9 M 194 LEGENDS OF CHARLKMAGNE. by Malagigi, and thither sent on purpose to interrupt the fight. Whether a fiend or a fowl, the monster flew right at Bayard, and clapped his wings in his face. Thereat the steed broke loose, and ran madly across the plain, pursued l>y the bird, till Bayard plunged into the wood, and was lost to sight. Rinaldo and Gradasso, seeing Bayard's escape, agreed to suspend their battle till they could re- cover the horse, the object of contention. Gradasso mounted his steed, and followed the foot-marks of Bayard into the forest. Rinaldo, never more vexed in spirit, remained at the spot, Gradasso having promised to return thither with the horse, it' he found him. He did find him, after long search, for he had the good fortune to hear him neigh. Thus he be- came possessed of both the objects for which he had led an army from his own country, and invaded France. He did not forget his promise to bring Bayard back to the place where he had left Ri- naldo ; but, only muttering, " Now I have got him, he little knows me who expects me to give him up ; if Rinaldo wants the horse, :;t him seek him in India, as I have sought him in France," he made the best of his way to Aries, where his vessels lay ; and in possession of the two objects of his ambition, the horse and the sword, sailed away to his own country. ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA. \ "Jt THEN we last parted with the adventurous " paladin Astolpho, he was just commencing that flight over the countries of the world from which he promised himself so much gratification. Our read- ers are aware that the eagle and the falcon have not so swift a flight as the Hippogriflf on which Astolpho rode. It was not long, therefore, hefore the pnladin, directing his course toward the southeast, arri"ei over that part of Africa where the great river Nile has it.s source. Here he alighted, and found himself in the neigh borhood of the capital of Abyssinia, ruled br Senajnis, whose riches and powur were immense. Hi* 196 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. palace was of surpassing splendor ; the bars of the gates, the hinges and locks, were all of pure gold ; in fact this metal, in that country, is put to all those uses for wliich we employ iron. It is so common that they prefer for ornamental purposes rock crystal, of which ah 1 the columns were made. Precious stones of differ- ent kinds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and topazes were set in ornamental designs, and the walls and ceilings were adorned with pearls. It is in this country those famous balms grow of which there are some few plants in that part of Ju- daea called Gilead. Musk, ambergris, and numerous gums, so precious in Europe, are here in their native climate. It is said the Sultan of Egypt pays a vast tribute to the monarch of this country to hire him not to cut off" the source of the Nile, which he might easily do, and cause the river to flow in some other direction, thus depriving Egypt of the source of its fertility. At the time of Astolpho's arrival in his dominions, this monarch was in great affliction. In spite of his riches and the precious productions of his country, he was in danger of dying of hunger. He was a prey to a flock of obscene birds called Harpies, which Attacked him whenever he sat at meat, and with their claws snatched, tore, and scattered everything, over- ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA. 197 turning the vessels, devouring the food, and infecting what they left with their filthy touch. It was said this punishment was inflicted upon the king because when young, and filled with pride and presumption, he had attempted to invade with an army the terres- trial paradise, which is situated on the top of a moun- tain whence the Nile draws its source. Nor was this his only punishment. He was struck blind. Astolplio, on arriving in the dominions of this monarch, hastened to pay him his respects. King Senapus received him graciously, and ordered a splen- did repast to be prepared in honor of liis arrival. While the guests were seated at table, Astolpho filling the place of dignity at the king's right hand, the horrid scream of the Harpies was heard in the air, and soon they approached, hovering over the tables, seizing the food from the dishes, and overturning everything with the flapping of their broad wings. In vain the guests struck at them with knives and any weapons which they had, and Astolpho drew his word and gave them repeated blows, which seemed to have no more effect upon them than if their Uxlies had been made of tow. At last Astolpho thought of his horn. He first gave warning to the king and his guests to stop their ears ; then blew a blast. The Harpies, terrified at the 198 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. sound, flew away as fast as their wings could carry them. The paladin mounted his Hippogriff, and pur- sued them, blowing his horn as often as he came near them. They stretched their flight towards the great mountain, at the foot of which there is a cavern, which is thought to be the mouth of the infernal abodes. Hither those horrid birds flew, as if to their home. Having seen them all disappear in the recess, Astolpho cared not to pursue them father, but, alighting, rolled huge stones into the mouth of the cave, and piled branches of trees therein, so that he effectually barred their passage out, and we have no evidence of their ever having been seen since in the outer air. After this labor, Astolpho refreshed himself by bath- ing hi a fountain whose pure waters bubbled from a cleft of the rock. Having rested awhile, an earnest desire seized him of ascending the mountain which towered above him. The Hippogriff bore him swiftly upwards, and landed him on the top of the mountain, which he found to be an extensive plain. A splendid palace rose hi the middle of this . plain, whose walls shone with such brilliancy that mortal eyes could hardly bear the sight. Astolpho guided the winged horse towards this edifice, and made him poise himself in the air whiJe he took a leisurely stirvey of A8TOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA. 199 this favored spot and its environs. It seemed as if nature and art had striven with one another to see which could do the most for its embellishment. Astolpho, on approaching the edifice, saw a venera- ble man advance to meet him. This personage was clothed in a long vesture as white as snow, while a mantle of purple covered his shoulders, and hung down to the ground. A white beard descended to his middle, and his hair, of the same color, overshadowed his shoulders. His eyes were so brilliant, that Astol- pho felt persuaded that he was a blessed inhabitant of the heavenly mansions. The sage, smiling benignantly upon the paladin, who from respect had dismounted from his horse, said to him : " Noble chevalier, know that it is by the Divine will you have been brought to the terrestrial paradise. Your mortal nature could not have borne to scale these heights and reach these seats of bliss if it were not the will of Heaven that you should br instructed in the means to succor Charles, and to sustain the glory of our holy faith. I am prepared to impart the needed counsels ; but before I begin, let me welcome you to our sojourn. I doubt not your long fast and distant journey have given you a good appetite.*' The aspect of the venerable man filled the prince with admiration ; but his surprise ceased when ha 2UU LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. learned from him that he was that one of the Apostles of our Lord to whom he said, " I will that thou tarry till I come." St. John, conducting Astolpho, rejoined his com- panions. These were the patriarch Enoch and the prophet Elijah ; neither of whom had yet seen his dying day, but, taken from our lower world, were dwelling in a region of peace and joy, in a climate of eternal spring, till the last trumpet shall sound. The three holy inhabitants of the terrestrial paradise received Astolpho with the greatest kindness, carried him to a pleasant apartment, and took great care of the Hippogriff, to whom they gave such food as suited him, while to the prince they presented fruits so delicious that he felt inclined to excuse our first parents for their sin in eating them without per- mission. Astolpho, having recruited his strength, nc* only by these excellent fruits, but also by sweet sleep, roused himself at the first blush of dawn, and, as soon as he left his chamber, met the beloved Apostle coming to seek him. St. John took him by the hand, and told him many things relating to the past and the future. Among others, he said, " Son, let me tell you what is now going on in France. Orlando, the illustrious prince who received at his birth tlr ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA. 201 endowment of strength and courage more than mortal, raised up as was Samson of old to be the champion of the true faith, has been guilty of the basest ingrati- tude in leaving the Christian camp when it most needed the support of his arm, to run after a Saracen princess, whom he would fain marry, though she scorns him. To punish him, his reason has been taken away, so that he runs naked through the land, over mountains and through valleys, without a ray of in- telligence. The duration of his punishment has been fixed at three months, and that time having nearly expired, you have been brought hither to learn from us the means by which the reason of Orlando may be restored. True, you will be obliged to make a journey with me, and we must even leave the earth, and ascend to the moon, for it is in that planet we are to seek the remedy for the madness of the paladin. I propose to make our journey this evening, as soon as the moon appears over our head." As soon as the sun sunk beneath the seas, and the moon presented its luminous disk, the holy man had the chariot brought out in which he was accustomed to make excursions among the stars, the same which vras employed long ago to convey Elijah up from earth. The saint made Astolpho seat himself beside him, took the reins, and giving the word to th< * 202 LEGENDS OP CH ARLEM AQNE. coursers, they bore them upward with astonishing celerity. At length they reached the great continent of the Moon. Its surface appeared to be of polished steel, with here and there a spot which, like rust, obscured its brightness. The paladin was astonished to see that the earth, with all its seas and rivers, seemed but an insignificant spot in the distance. The prince discovered in this region so new to him rivers, lakes, plains, hills, and valleys. Many beaiiti- rul cities and castles enriched the landscape. He saw also vast forests, and heard in them the sound of horns and the barking of dogs, which led him to conclude that the nymphs were following the chase. The knight, filled with wonder at all he saw, was conducted by the saint to a valley, where he stood amazed at the riches strewed all around him. Well he might be so, for that valley was the receptacle of things lost on earth, either by men's fault, or by the effect of time and chance. Let no one suppose we speak here of kingdoms or of treasures ; they are the toys of Fortune, which she dispenses in turning her wheel ; we speak of things which she can neither give nor take away. Such are reputations, which appear at one time so brilliant, and a short time after are heard of no more. Here, also, are countless vows and A8TOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA 208 prayers for unattainable objects, lovers' sighs and tears, time spent in gaming, dressing, and doing nothing, the leisure of the dull and the intentions of the lazy, baseless projects, intrigues and plots ; these and such like things fill all the valley. Astolpho had a great desire to understand all that he saw, and which appeared to him so extraordinary Among the rest, he observed a great mountain of blown bladders, from which issued indistinct noises. The saint told him these were the dynasties of Assy- rian and Persian kings, once the wonder of the earth, of which now scarce the name remains. Astolpho could not help laughing when the saint said to him, " All these hooks of silver and gold that you see are the gifts of courtiers to princes, made in the hope of getting something better in return." He also showed him garlands of flowers in which snares were concealed ; these were flatteries and adulations, meant to deceive. But nothing was so comical as the sight of numerous grasshoppers which had hurst their lungs with chirping. These, he told him, were son- nets, odes, and dedications, addressed by venal poets to great people. The paladin beheld with wonder what seemed a lak'. 1 of spilled milk. " It is," said the saint, " the charity done by frightened misers on their death-beds." It 204 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. would take too long to tell all that the valley con- tained : meannesses, affectations, pretended virtues, and concealed vices were there in abundance. Among the rest, Astolpho perceived many days of his own lost, and many imprudent sallies which he had made, and would have been glad not to have been reminded of. But he also saw among so many lost things a great abundance of one thing which men are apt to think they all possess, and do not think it neces- sary to pray for, good sense. This commodity aj>- peared under the form of a liquor, most light and apt to evaporate. It was therefore kept in vials, firmly sealed. One of these was labelled, " The sense of the Paladin Orlando." All the bottles were ticketed, and the sage placed one in Astolpho's hand, which he found was his own. It was more than hah full. He was surprised to find there many other vials which contained almost the whole of the wits of many persons who passed among men for wise. Ah, how easy it is to lose one's reason! Some lose theirs by yielding to the sway of the pas- sions ; some, in braving tempests and shoals in search of wealth ; some, by trusting too much to the promises of the great ; some, by setting their hearts on trifles. As might have been expected, the bottles which held tL^ wits of astrologers, inventors, metaphysicians, and ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA. 205 above all, of poets, were in general the best filled of all. Astolpho took his bottle, put it to his nose, and in- haled it all ; and Turpin assures us that he was for a long time afterwards as sage as one could wish ; but the Archbishop adds, that there was reason to fear that some of the precious fluid afterwards found its way back into the bottle. The paladin took also the bottle which belonged to Orlando. It was a large one, and quite full. Before quitting the planetary region, Astolpho was conducted to an edifice on the borders of a river. Ho was shown an immense hall full of bundles of silk, linen, cotton, and wool. A thousand different colors, brilliant or dull, some quite black, were among these skeins. In one part of the hall an old woman was busy winding off yarns from all these different bundles. When she had finished a skein, another ancient dame took it and placed it with others ; a third selected from the fleeces spun, and mingled them in due proportions. The paladin inquired what all this might be. " Th? old women," said the saint, "are the Fates, who spin, measure, and terminate the lives of mortals. As lonr as the thread stretches in one of those skeins, so long Joes the mortal enjoy the light of day ; but nature and death are on the alert to shut the eyes of those whose thread is spun. 206 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Each one of the skeins had a label of gold, silver, or iron, bearing the name of the individual to whom it belonged. An old man, who, in spite of the burden of years, seemed brisk and active, ran without ceasing to fill his apron with these labels, and carried them away to throw them into the river, whose name was Lethe. When he reached the shore of the river, the old man shook out his apron, and the labels sunk to the bottom. A small number only floated for a time, hardly one in a thousand. Numberless birds, hawks, crows, and vultures hovered over the stream, with clamorous cries, and strove to snatch from the water some of these names ; but they were too heavy for them, and after a while the birds were forced to let them drop into the river of oblivion. But two beauti- ful swans, of snowy whiteness, gathered some few of the names, and returned with them to the shore, where a lovely nymph received them from their beaks, and carried them to a temple placed upon a hill, and suspended them for all time upon a sacred column, on which stood the statue of Immortality. Astolpho was amazed at all this, and asked his guide to explain it. He replied, " The old man is Time. All the names upon the tickets would be im- mortal if the old man did not plunge them into the river of oblivion. Those clamorous birds which make ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA. 207 rain efforts to save certain of the names are flatterers, pensioners, venal rhymesters, who do their best to rescue from oblivion the unworthy names of tlu-ir patrons ; but all in vain ; they may keep them from their fate a little while, but erelong the river ol oblivion must swallow them all. 44 The swans, that with harmonious strains carry certain names to the temple of Eternal Memory, are the great poets, who save from oblivion worse than death the names of those they judge worthy of im- mortality. Swans of this kind are rare. Let monarch? know the true breed, and fail not to nourish with care such a& may chance to appear in their time." THE WAP IN AFRICA. WHEN Astolpho had descended to the earth with the precious phial, St. John showed him a plant of marvellous virtues, with which he told him he had only to touch the eyes of the king of Abyssinia to restore him to sight. "That impor- tant service," said the saint, " added to your having delivered him from the Harpies, will induce him to give you an army wherewith to attack the Africans in their rear, and force them to return from France to defend their own country." The saint also in- structed him how to lead his troops in safety across the great deserts, where caravans are often over- THE WAR IN AFRICA. 209 whelmed with moving columns of sand. Astolpho ; fortified with ample instructions, remounted the Hip- pogriff, thanked the saint, received his blessing, a-.id took his flight down to the level country. Keeping the course of the river Nile, he soon arrived at the capital of Abyssuiia, anc! r-r-jine-.l Senapus. The joy of the king was great when he heard again the voice of the hero who had delivered him from the Harpies. Astolpho touched his eyes with the plant which he had brought from the ter- restrial paradise, and restored their sight. The king's gratitude was unbounded. He begged him to name a reward, promising to grant it, whatever it might be. Astolpho asked an army to go to the assistance of Charlemagne, and the king not only granted him a hundred thousand men, but offered to lead them himself. The night before the day appointed for the de- parture of the troops, Astolpho mounted his winged horse, and directed his flight towards a mountain, whence the fierce South-wind issues, whose blast raises the sands of the Nubian desert, and whir!.; them onward in overwhelming clouds. The paladin, by the advice of St. John, had prepared himself with a leather bag, which he placed adroitly, with it: mouth open, over the vent whence Lssuos this terri- 210 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. ble wind. At the first dawn of morning the wind rushed from its cavern to resume its daily course, and was caught in the bag, and securely tied up. Astolpho, delighted with his prize, returned to his army, placed himself at their head, and commenced his march. The Abyssinians traversed without danger or difficulty those vast fields of sand which separate their country from the kingdoms of Northern Africa, for the terrible South-wind, taken completely captive, had not force enough left to blow out a candle. Senapus was distressed that he could not ftirnish any cavalry, for his country, rich in camels and ele- phants, was destitute of horses. This difficulty the saint had foreseen, and had taught Astolpho the means of remedying. He now put those means in operation. Having reached a place whence he beheld a vast plain and the sea, he chose from his troops those who appeared to be the best made and the most intelligent. These he caused to be arranged in squadrons at the foot of a lofty mountain which bordered the plain, and he himself mounted to the summit to carry into effect his great design. Here he found vast quantities of fragments of rock and pebbles. These he set rolling down the mountain's side, and. wonderful to relate, as they rolled they grew in size, made themselves bodies, legs, necks, and long faces. THE WAR IN AFRICA. 211 Next they began to neigh, to curvet, to scamper on all sides over the plain. Some were bay, some roan, some dapple, some chestnut. The troops at the foot of the mountain exerted themselves to catch these new-created horses, which they easily did, for the miracle had been so considerate as to provide all the horses with bridles and saddles. Astolpho thus sud- denly found himself supplied with an excellent corps of cavalry, not fewer (as Archbishop Turpin asserts) than eighty thousand strong. With these troops As- tolpho reduced all the country to subjection, and at last arrived before the walls of Agramant's capital city, Biserta, to which he laid siege. We must now return to the camp of the Chris- tians, which lay before Aries, to which city the Sara- cens had retired after being defeated in a night attack led on by Rinaldo. Agramant here received the tidings of the invasion of his country by a fresh enemy, the Abyssinians, and learned that Biserta was in danger of falling into their hands. He took coun- sel of his officers, and decided to send an embassy to Charles, proposing that the whole quarrel should I* submitted to the combat of two warriors, one from ^ach side, according to the issue of which it should be decide- 1 which party should pay tribute to thf other, and the war should cease. Charlemagne, whr 212 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. had not heard of the favorable turn which affairs had taken in Africa, readily agreed to this proposal, and Rinaldo was selected on the part of the Christians to sustain the combat. The Saracens selected Rogero for their champion. Rogero was still in the Saracen camp, kept there by honor alone, for his mind had been opened to the truth of the Christian faith by the arguments of Bradamante, and he had resolved to leave the party of the infidels on the first favorable opportunity, and to join the Christian side. But his honor forbade him to do this while his former friends were in distress ; and thus he waited for what time might bring forth, when he was startled by the announcement that he had been selected to uphold the cause of the Saracens against the Christians, and that his foe was to be Ri- naldo, the brother of Bradamante. While Rogero was overwhelmed with this intelli- gence, Bradamante on her side felt the deepest dis- tress at hearing of the proposed combat. If Rogero should fall, she felt that no other man living was worthy of her love ; and if, on the other hand, Heaven should resolve to punish France by tht deatli of her chosen champion, Bradamante would have to deplore her brother, so dear to her, and be no less completely severed from the object of her affections, THE WAR IN AFRICA. 213 While the fair lady gave herself up to these sad thoughts, the sage enchantress, Melissa, suddenly ap- peared before her. "Fear not, my daughter," said she, "I shall find a way to interrupt this combat which so distresses you." Meanwhile Rinaldo and Rogero prepared their weapons for the conflict. Rinaldo had the choice, and decided that it should be on foot, and with no weapons but the battle-axe and poniard. The place assigned was a plain between the camp of Charle- magne and the walls of Aries. Hardly had the dawn announced the day appointed for this memorable combat, when heralds proceeded from both sides to mark the lists. Erelong the Afri- can troops were seen to advance from the city, Agramant at their head ; his brilliant arms adorned in the Moorish fashion, his horse a bay, with a white star on his forehead. Rogero marched at his side, and some of the greatest warriors of the Saracen camp attended him, bearing the various parts of his armor and weapons. Charlemagne, on his part, proceeded from his intrenchments, ranged his troops in semi- circle, and stood surroundwl by his peers and paladins. Some of them bore portions of the armor of Rinaldo, the celebrated Ogier, the Dane, bearing the helmet which Kinaldo took from Mainbrino. Duke Nann 214 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. of Bavaria and Salomon of Bretagne bore two axes, of equal weight, prepared for the occasion. The terms of the combat were then sworn to with the utmost solemnity by all parties. It was agreed that, if from either part any attempt was made to in- terrupt the battle, both combatants should turn their arms against the party which should be guilty of the interruption ; and both monarchs assented to the con- dition, that in such case the champion of the offending party should be discharged from his allegiance, and at liberty to transfer his arms to the other side. When all the preparations were concluded, the monarchs and their attendants retired each to his own side, and the champions were left I'one. The two warriors advanced with measured steps towards each other, and met in the middle of the space. They attacked one another at the same moment, and the air resounded with the blows they gave. Sparks flew from their battle-axes, while the velocity with which they managed their weapons astonished the beholders. Rogero, always remembering that his antagonist was the brother of his betrothed, could not aim a deadly wound ; he strove only to ward off those levelled against himself. Rinaldo, on the other hand, much as he esteemed Rogero, spared not his blows, for he eagerly desired victory for his own sake, and for the sake of his country and his faith. THE WAR IN AFRICA. The Saracens soon perceived that their champion fought feebly, and gave not to Rinaldo such blows as he received from him. His disadvantage was so marked, that anxiety and shame were manifest on the countenance of Agramant. Melissa, one of the most acute enchantresses that ever lived, seized this moment to disguise herself under the form of Rodo- mont, that rude and impetuous warrior, who had now for some time been absent from the Saracen camp. Approaching Agramant, she said, " How could you, my lor-'., have the imprudence of selecting a young man without experience to oppose the most redoubta- ble warrior of France ? Surely you must have been regardless of the honor of your arms, and of the fate of your empire! But it is not too late. Break with- out delay the agreement which is sure to result in your ruin." So saying, she addressed the troops who stood near. " Friends," said she, " follow me ; under my guidance every one of you will be a match for a score of those feeble Christians." Agramant, delighted at seing Rodomont once more at his side, gave hia consent, and the Saracens, at the instant, couched their lances, set spurs to their steeds, and swept down upon the French. Melissa, when she saw her work luccessftil, disappeared. Rinaldo and Rogero, seeing the truce broken, and 216 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. the two armies engaged in general conflict, stopped their battle ; their martial fury ceased at once, they joined hands, and resolved to act no more on either side until it should be clearly ascertained which party had failed to observe its oath. Both renewed their promise to abandon forever the party which had been thus false and perjured. Meanwhile, the Christians, after the first moment of surprise, met the Saracens with courage redoubled by rage at the treachery of their foes. Guido the Wild, brother and rival of Rinaldo, Griffon and Aqui- lant, sons of Oliver, and numerous others whose names have already been celebrated in our recitals, beat back the assailants, and at last, after prodigious slaughter, forced them to take shelter within the walls of Aries. We will now return to Orlando, whom we last heard of as furiously mad, and doing a thousand acts of violence in his senseless rage. One day he came to the borders of a stream which intercepted his course. He swam across it, for he could swim like an otter, and on the other side saw a peasant watering his horse. He seized the animal, in spite of the re- sistance of the peasant, and rode it with furious speed tlfl he en-ived at the sea-coast, where Spain is divided frctn Afiica by only a narrow strait. At the moment THE WAR IN AFRICA. 217 f iiis arrival, a vessel had just put off to cross the strait. She was fall of people who, with glass ir. hand, seemed to be taking a merry farewell of the land, wafted by a favorable breeze. The frantic Orlando cried out to them to stop and take him in ; but they, having no desire to admit a madman to their company, paid him no attention. The paladin thought this behavior very uncivil ; and by force of blows made his horse carry him into the water in pursuit of the ship. The wretched animal soon had only his head above water ; but as Orlando urged him forward, nothing was left for the poor beast but either to die or swim over to Africa. Already Orlando had lost sight of the bark ; dis- tance and the swell of the sea completely hid it from his sight. He continued to press his horse forward, till at last it could struggle no more, and sunk be- neath him. Orlando, nowise concerned, stretched out his nervous arms, puffing the salt water from before his mouth, and carried his head above the waves. Fortunately they were not rough, scarce a breath of wind agitated the surface ; otherwise, the invinci- ble Orlando would then have met his death. Hut fortune, which it is said favors foo's, delivered him from this danger, and landed him safe on the shore of Ceuta. Here he rambled along the shore till he 218 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. rame to where the black army of Astolpho held ila camp. Now it happened, just before this time, that a vessel filled with prisoners which Rodomont had taken at die bridge had arrived, and, not knowing of the presence of the Abyssinian army, had sailed right into port, where of course the prisoners and their captors changed places, the former being set at liberty and received with all joy, the latter sent to serve in the galleys. Astolpho thus found himself surrounded with Christian knights, and he and his friends were exchanging greetings and felicitations, when a noise was heard in the camp, and seemed to increase every jQoment. Astolpho and his friends seized their weapons, mounted their horses, and rode to the quarter whence the noise proceeded. Imagine their astonishment when they saw that the tumult was caused by a single man, perfectly naked, and browned with dirt and exposure, but of a force and fury so terrible that he overturned all that offered to lay hands on him. Astolpho, Dudon, Oliver, and Florismart gazed at him with amazement. It was with difficulty they knew him. Astolpho, who had been warned of hia condition by hia holy monitor, was the first to recog- nize him. As the paladins closed round Orlando, THE WAR IN AFRICA. 219 the madman dealt one and another a blow of his fist, which, if they had not been in armor, or he had } _d any weapoii, would probably have despatched them ; as it was, Dudon and Astolpho measured their length on the sand. But Florismart seized him from behind, Sansonnet and another grasped his legs, and at last they succeeded in securing him with ropes. Thej took him to the water-side and washed him well, and then Astolpho, having first bandaged his mouth so that he could not breathe except through his nose, brought the precious phial, uncorked it, and placed it adroitly under his nostrils, when the good Orlando took it all up in one breath. O marvellous prodigy 1 The paladin recovered in an instant all hit intelli- gence. He felt like one who had awaked from a pain- ful dream, in which he had believed that monsters were about to tear him to pieces. He seemed pros- trated, silent, and abashed. Florismart, Oliver, and As- tolpho stood gazing upon him, while he turned his eyes around and on himself. He seemed surprised to find himself naked, bound, and" stretched on the sea-shore. After a few moments he recognized his friends, and spoke to them in a tone so tender that they hastened to unbind him, and to supply him with garments. Then they exerted themselves to console him, to di- minish the weight with which his spirits wen op- 220 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. pressed, and to make him forget the wretched cor dition into which he had been sunk. Orlando, in recovering his reason, found himself also delivered from his insane attachment to the queen of Cathay. His heart felt now no further influenced by the recollection of her than to be moved with an ardent desire to retrieve his fame by some distin- guished exploit. Astolpho would gladly have yielded to him the chief command of the army, but Or- lando would not take from the friend to whom he owed so much the glory of the campaign ; but in everything the two paladins acted in concert, and united their counsels. They proposed to make a general assault on the city of Biserta, and were only waiting a favorable moment, when their plan was in- terrupted by new events. Agramant, after the bloody battle which followed the infraction of the truce, found himself so weak that he saw it was in vain to attempt to remain in France. So, in concert with Sobrino, the bravest and most trusted of his chiefs, he embarked to return to his own country, having previously sent off his few re- maining troops in the same direction. The vessel which carried Agramant and Sobrino approached the shore where the army of Astolpho lay encamped be- fore Biserta, and, having discovered this fact before THE WAR IN AFRICA 221 it was too late, the king commanded the pilot to steer eastward, with a view to seek protection of the king of Egypt. But the weather becoming rough, he con- sented to the advice of his companions, and sought harbor in an island which lies between Sicily and Africa. There he found Gradasso, the warlike king of Sericane, who had come to France to possess him- self of the horse Bayard and the sword Durindana ; and, having procured both these prizes, was returning to his own country. The two kings, who had been companions in arms under the walls of Paris, embraced one another affec- tionately. Gradasso learned with regret the reverses of Agramant, and offered him his troops and his person. He strongly deprecated resorting to Egypt for aid. " Remember the great Pompey," said he, "and shun that fatal shore. My plan," he continued, "is this: I mean to challenge Orlando to single com- bat. Possessed of such a sword and steed as mine, if he were made of steel or bronze, he could not escape me. He being removed, there will be no diffi- culty in driving back the Abyssinians. We will rouse against them the Moslem nations from the oth-r side of the Nile, tin- Arabians, Persians, and Chal deans, who will soon make Senapus recall hia nnj to defend hin own territories." 222 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAJNE. Agramant approved this advice except in one par- ticular. " It is for me," said he, " to combat Or- lando ; I cannot with honor devolve that duty on another." " Let us adopt a third course," said the aged war- rior Sobrino. " I would not willingly remain a simple spectator of such a contest. Let us send three squires to the shore of Africa to challenge Orlando and any two of his companions in arms to meet us three in this island of Lampedusa." This counsel was adopted ; the three squires sped on their way ; and now presented themselves, and re- hearsed their message to the Christian knights. Orlando was deh'ghted, and rewarded the squires with rich gifts. He had already resolved to seek Gradasso and compel him to restore Durindana, which he had learned was in his possession. For his two companions, the Count chose his faithful friend Floris- mart and his cousin Oliver. The three warriors embarked, and sailing with a favorable wind, the second morning showed them, on their right, the island where this important battle was to be fought. Orlando and his two companions, having landed, pitched their tent. Agramant had placed his opposite. Next morning, as soon as Aurora brightened the THE WAR IN AFRICA. 228 odges of the horizon, the warriors of both parties armed themselves and mounted their horses. They took their positions, face to face, lowered their lances, placed them in rest, clapped spurs to their horses, and flew to the charge. Orlando met the charge of Gra- dasso. The paladin was unmoved, but his horse could not sustain the terrible shock of Bayard. He recoiled, staggered, and fell some paces behind. Orlando tried to raise him, but, finding his efforts unavailing, seized his shield, and drew his famous Balisardo. Meanwhile fc. Agramant and the brave Oliver gained no advan- tage, one or the other ; but Florisinart unhorsed the King Sobrino. Having brought his foe to the ground, he would not pursue his victory, but hastened to at- tack Gradasso, who had overthrown Orlando. Seeing him thus engaged, Orlando would not interfere, but ran with sword upraised upon Sobrino, and with one blow deprived him of sense and motion. Believing him dead, he next turned to aid his beloved Florisinart. That brave paladin, neither in horse nor arms equal to his antagonist, could but parry and evade the blows of the terrible Durindana. Orlando, eager to succor him, was delayed for a moment in securing and mounting the horse of the King Sobrino. It was but an instant, and with sword upraised, he rushed upon Gradasso; who, noways disconcerted at the onset of 224 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. this second foe, shouted his defiance, and thrust at him with his sword, but, having miscalculated the distance, scarcely reached him, and failed to pierce his mail. Orlando, in return, dealt him a blow with Balisardo, which wounded as it fell, face, breast, and thigh, and, if he had been a little nearer, would have cleft him in twain. Sobrino, by this time recovered from his swoon, though severely wounded, raised him- self on his legs, and looked to see how he might aid his friends. Observing Agramant hard pressed by Oliver, he thrust his sword into the bowels of the latter's horse, which fell, and bore down his master, entangling his leg as he fell, so that Oliver could not extricate himself. Florismart saw the danger of his friend, and ran upon Sobrino with his horse, over- threw him, and then turned to defend himself from Agramant. They were not unequally matched, foi though Agramant, mounted on Brigliadoro, had an advantage over Florismart, whose horse was but in- different, yet Agramant had received a serious wound in his encounter with Oliver. Nothing could exceed the fury of the encounter between Orlando and Gradasso. Durindana, in the hands of Gradasso, clove asunder whatever it struck ; but such was the skill of Orlando, who perfectly knew the danger to which he was exposed from a stroke THE WAR IN AFRICA. 225 of that weapon, it had not yet struck him in such a way as to inflict a wound. Meanwhile, Gradasso was bleeding from many wounds, and his rage and in- caution increased every moment. In his desperation, he lifted Durindana with both hands, and struck sc terrible a blow full on the helmet of Orlando, that foi a moment it stunned the paladin. He dropped the reins, and his frightened horse scoured with him over the plain. Gradasso turned to pursue him, but at that moment saw Florismart in the very act of striking a fetal blow at Agramant, whom he had unhorsed. While Florismart was wholly intent upon completing his victory, Gradasso plunged his sword into his side. Florismart fell from his hone, and bathed the plain with his blood. Orlando recovered himself just in time to see the deed. Whether rage or grief predominated in his breast, I cannot tell ; but, seizing Balisardo with fury, his first blow fell upon Agramant, who was nearest to him, and smote his head from his shoulders. At this sight, Gradasso, for the first time, felt his courage sink, and a dark presentiment of death come over him. He hardly stood on his defence when ( )rlando cast himself upon him, and gave him a fatal thrust. The sword ]>enetrated his ribs, and came out a palm't breadth on the other side of his body. lo* o 226 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Thus fell beneath the sword of the most illustrious paladin of France the bravest warrior of the Saracen host. Orlando then, as if despising his victory, leaped lightly to the ground, and ran to his dear friend Florismart, embraced him, and bathed him with his tears. Florismart still breathed. He could even com- mand his voice to utter a few parting words : " Dear friend, do not forget me, give me your prayers, and oh ! be a brother to Flordelis." He died in utter- ing her name. After a few moments given to grief, Orlando turned to look for his other companion and his late foes. Oliver lay oppressed with the weight of his horse, from which he had in vain struggled to liberate him- self. Orlando extricated him with difficulty ; he then raised Sobrino from the earth, and committed him to his squire, treating him as gently as if he had been his own brother. For this terrible warrior was the most generous of men to a fallen foe. He took Bay- ard and Brigliadoro, with the arms of the conquered knights ; their bodies and their other spoils he remit- ted to their attendants. But who can tell the grief of Flordelis when she saw the warriors return, and found not Florismart as usual :ifter absence hasten to her side. She knew by the aspect of the others that her lord was slain. At THE WAR IN AFRICA. '2'2't the thought, and before the question could pass her lips, she fell senseless upon the ground. When life returned, and she learned the truth of her \\orst fears, she bitterly upbraided herself that she had let him depart without her. " I might have saved him by a single cry when his enemy dealt him that treacher- ous blow, or I might have thrown myself between, and given my worthless life for his. Or if no more, I might have heard his last words, I might have given him a last kiss." So she lamented, and could not be comforted. ROGERO AND BRADAMANTt. AFTER the intcnruptun of the combat with Ri- naldo, as we have related, Rogero was per- plexed with doubts what course to take. The terms of the treaty required him to abandon Agramant, who had broken it, and to transfer his allegiance to Charle- magne ; and his love for Bradamante called him in the same direction ; but unwillingness to desert his prince and leader in the hour of distress forbade this course. Embarking, therefore, for Africa, he took his way to rejoin the Saracen army ; but was arrested midway by a gta*m which drove the vessel on a rock. The crew took to their boat, but that was quickly ROGEBO AND BBADAMANTE. 229 swamped in the waves, and Kogeru with the rest were compelled to swim for their lives. Then while buffeting the waves Rogero bethought him of his sin in so long delaying his Christian profession, and vowed in his heart that, if he should live to reach the laud, he would no longer delay to be baptized. His vows were heard and answered; he succeeded in reaching the shore, and was aided and relieved on landing by a pious hermit, whose cell overlooked the sea. From him he received baptism, having first passed some days with him, partaking his humble fare, and re- ceiving instruction in the doctrines of the Christian faith. While these things were going on, Rinaldo, who had set out on his way to seek Gradasso and recover Bayard from him, hearing on his way of the great things which were doing in Africa, repaired thither to bear his part in them. He arrived too late to do more than join his friends in lamenting the loss of Florismart, and to rejoice with them in their victory over the Pagan knights. On the death of their king, the Africans gave up the contest, Biserta submitted, and the Christian knights had only to dismiss their forces, and return home. Astolpho took leave of hia Abyssinian army, and sent them bark \aden with spoil to their own country, not forgetting to intrust U30 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. to them the bag which held the winds, by means of which they were enabled to cross the sandy desert again without danger, and did not untie it till they reached their own country. Orlando now, with Oliver, who much needed the surgeon's care, and Sobrino, to whom equal attention was shown, sailed in a swift vessel to Sicily, bearing with him the body of Florismart, to be laid in Chris- tian earth. Rinaldo accompanied them, as did San- sonnet and the other Christian leaders. Arrived at Sicily, the funeral was solemnized with all the rites of religion, and with the profound grief of those who had known Florismart, or had heard of his fame. Then they resumed their course, steering for Mar- seilles. But Oliver's wound grew worse instead of better, and his sufferings so distressed his friends that they conferred together, not knowing what to do. Then said the pilot, " We are not far from an isle, where a holy hermit dwells alone in the midst of the sea, It is said none seek his counsel or his aid in vain. He hath wrought marvellous cures, and if you resort to that holy man, without doubt he can heal the knight." Orlando bade him steer thither, and soon the bark was laid safely beside the lonely rock ; the wounded man was lowered into their boat, and carried by the crew to the hermit's cell. It was the BOGERO AND BRADAMANTE. 231 same hermit with whom Rogero had taken refuge after his shipwreck, by whom he had been baptized, and with whom he was now staying, absorbed in sacred studies and meditations. The holy man received Orlando and the rest with kindness, and inquired their errand ; and being told that they had come for help for one who, warring for the Christian faith, was brought to perilous pass by a sad wound, he straightway undertook the cure. His applications were simple, but they were seconded by his prayers. The paladin was soon relieved from pain, and in a few days his foot was perfectly restored to soundness. Sobrino, as soon as he perceived the holy monk perform that wonder, cast aside his false prophet, and with contrite heart owned the true God, and demanded baptism at his hands. The hermit granted his request, and also by his prayers restored him to health, while all the Christian knights rejoiced in his conversion almost as much as at the restoration of Oliver. More than all, Rogero felt joy and grati- tude, and daily grew in grace and faith. Rogero was known by fame to all the Christian knights, but not even Rinaldo knew him by sight, though he had proved his prowess in combat. Sobrino made him known to them, and great was the joy of a!l when they found one whose valor and courtroj 232 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. were renowned through the world no longer an enemy and unbeliever, but a convert and champion of the true faith. All press about the knight; one grasps his hand, another locks him fast in his embrace ; but more than all the rest, Rinaldo cherished him, for he more than any knew his worth. It was not long before Rogero confided to his friend the hopes he entertained of a union with his sister, and Rinaldo frankly gave his sanction to the proposal. But causes unknown to the paladin were at that very time interposing obstacles to its success. The fame of the beauty and worth of Bradamante had reached the ears of the Grecian Emperor Constan- tine, and he had sent to Charlemagne to demand the hand of his niece for Leo, his son, and the heir to his dominions. Duke Aymon, her father, had only re- served his consent until he should first have spoken with his son Rinaldo, now absent. The warriors now prepared to resume their voyage. Rogero took a tender farewell of the good hermit who liad taught him the true faith. Orlando restored to him the horse and arms which were rightly his, not even asserting his claim to Balisarda, that sword which he himself had won from the enchantress. The hermit gave his blessing to the band, and they re-embarked. The passage was speedy, and ve*y soop they arrived in the harbor of Marseilles. BOGEBO AND BKADAMANTE. 2o3 Astoipho, when he had dismissed his troops, mount- ed the Hippogriff, and at one flight shot over to Sardinia, thence to Corsica, thence, turning slightly to the left, hovered over Provence, and alighted in the neighborhood of Marseilles. There he did what he had been commanded to do by the holy saint ; he unbridled the Hippogriff, and turned him loose to seek his own retreats, never more to be galled with saddle or bit. The horn had lost its marvellous power ever since the visit to the moon. Astoipho reached Marseilles the very day when Orlando, Rinaldo, Oliver, Sobrino, and Rogero arrived there. Charles had already heard the news of the defeat of the Saracen kings, and all the accompany- ing events. On learning the approach of the gallant knights, he sent forward some of his most illustrious nobles to receive them, and himself, with the rest of his court, kings, dukes, and peers, the queen, and a fan- and gorgeous band of ladies, set forward from Aries to meet them. No sooner were the greetings interchanged, than Orlando and his friends led forward Rogero, and presented him to the Emperor. They vouch him son of Rogero, Duke of Risa, one of the most renowned of Christian warriors, by adverse fortune stolen in hi* infancy, and brought up by Saracens in the false faith. 234 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. now by a kind Providence converted, and restored to fill the place his father once held among the foremost champions of the throne and Church. Rogero had alighted from his horse, and stood respectfully before the Emperor. Charlemagne bade him remount and ride beside him ; and omitted nothing which might do him honor in sight of his martial train. With pomp triumphal and with festive cheer the troop returned to the city ; the streets were deco- rated with garlands, the houses hung with rich tapes- try, and flowers fell like rain upon the conquering host from the hands of fair dames and damsels, from every balcony and window. So welcomed, the mighty Emperor passed on till he reached the royal palace, where many days he feasted, high in hall, with his ords, amid tourney, revel, dance, and song. When Rinaldo told his father, Duke Aymon, how he had promised his sister to Rogero, his father heard him with indignation, having set his heart on seeing her united to the Grecian Emperor's son. The Lady Beatrice, her mother, also appealed to Bradamante herself to reject a knight who had neither tide nor lands, and give the preference to one who would make her Empress of the wide Levant. But Bradamante, though respect forbade her to refuse her mother's entreaty, would not promise to do what her heart BOGERO AND BRADAMANTE 2 repelled, and answered only with a sigh, until she was alone, and then gave a loose to tears. Meanwhile Rogero, indignant that a stranger should presume to rob him of his bride, determined to seek the Prince of Greece, and defy him to mortal combat. With this design he donned his armor, but exchanged his crest and emblazonment, and bore instead a white unicorn upon a crimson field. He chose a trusty squire, and, commanding him not to address him as Rogero, rode on his quest. Having crossed the Rhine and the Austrian countries into Hungary, he followed the course of the Danube till he readied Belgrade. There he saw the imperial ensigns spread, and white pavilions, thronged with troops, before the town. For the Emperor Constantino was laying siege to the city to recover it from the Bulgarians, who had taken it from him not long before. A river flowed between the camp of the Emperor and the Bulgarians, and at the moment when Rogero approached, a skirmish had begun between the parties from either camp, who had approached the stream for the purpose of watering. The Greeks in that affray were four to one, and drove back the Bulgarians in precipitate rout. Rogero, seeing this, and animated only by his hatred of the Grecian prince, dashed into the middle of the flying mass, railing aloud on the 236 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. fugitives to turn. He encountered first a leader of the Grecian host in splendid armor, a nephew of the Emperor, as dear to him as a son. Rogero's lance pierced shield and armor, and stretched the warrior breathless on the plain. Another and another fell before him, and astonishment and terror arrested the advance of the Greeks, while the Bulgarians, catch- ing courage from the cavalier, rally, change front, and chase the Grecian troops, who fly in their turn. Leo, the prince, was at a distance when this sudden skirmish rose, but not so for but that he could see distinctly, from an elevated position which he held, how the changed battle was all the work of one man, and could not choose but admire the bravery and prowess with which it was done. He knew by the blazonry displayed that the champion was not of the Bulgarian army, though he furnished aid to them. Although he suffered by his valor, the prince could not wish him ill, for liis admiration surpassed his re- sentment. By this time the Greeks had regained the river, and, crossing it by fording or swimming, some made their escape, leaving many more prisoners in the hands of the Bulgarians. Rogero, learning from some of the captives that Leo was at a point some distance down the river, rode thither with a view to i meet him, but arrived not before the Greek prince ROGERO AND BRADAMANTE. 237 bad retired beyond the stream, and broken up the bridge. Day was spent, and Rogero, wearied, looked round for a shelter for the night. He found it in a cottage, where he soon yielded himself to repose. It so happened, a knight who had narrowly escaped Rogero's sword in the late battle also found shelter in the same cottage, and, recognizing the armor of the unknown knight, easily found means of securing him as he slept, and next morning carried him in chains, and delivered him to the Emperor. By him he was in turn delivered to his sister Theodora, mother of the young knight, the first victim of Rogero's spear. H^ her he was cast into a dungeon, till her ingenuity could devise a death sufficiently painful to satiate her revenge. Bradamante, meanwhile, to escape her father's and mother's importunity, had begged a boon of Charle- magne, which the monarch pledged his royal word to grant ; it was that she should not be compelled to marry any one unless he should first vanquish her in single combat. The Emperor, therefore, proclaimed a tournament in these words : " He that would wed Duke Aymon's daughter must contend with the sword :igainst that dame, from the sun's rise to his setting ; and if, in that time, he \a not overcome, the lady shall be his." 238 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Duke Aymon and the Lady Beatrice, though much incensed at the course things had taken, brought their daughter to court, to await the day appointed for the tournament. Bradamante, not finding there him \vhcm her heart required, distressed herself with doubts what could be the cause of his absence. Of all fancies, the most painful one was that he had gone away to leam to forget her, knowing her father's and her mother's opposition to their union, and despairing to contend against them. But O how much worse would be the maiden's woe, if it were known to her what her be- trothed was then enduring ! He was plunged in a dungeon where no ray of day- light ever penetrated, loaded with chains, and scantily supplied with the coarsest food. No wonder despair took possession of his heart, and he longed for death as a relief, when one night (or one day, for both were equally dark to him) he was roused with the glare of a torch, and saw two men enter his cell. It was the Prince Leo, with an attendant, who had come as soon as he had learned the wretched fate of the brave knight whose valor he had seen and admired on the field of battle. " Cavalier," said he, " I am one whom thy valor hath so bound to thee, that I willingly peril my own safety to lend thee aid." " Infinite thanks I owe you," replied Rogero, u and the life you give me I ROGERO AND BRADAMANTK. '2o$ promise faithfully to render back upon your call, and promptly to stake it at all times for your service." The prince then told Rogero his name and rank, at hearing which a tide of contending emotions almost overwhelmed Rogero. He was set at liberty, and had his horse and arms restored to him. Meanwhile, tidings arrived of King Charles's decree- that whoever aspired to the hand of Bradamante must first encounter her with sword and lance. This news made the Grecian prince turn pale, for he knew he was no match tor her in tight. Communing with him- self, he sees how he may make his wit supply the place of valor, and employ the French knight, whose name was still unknown to him, to tight the battle for him. Rogero heard the proposal with extreme distress ; yet it seemed worse than deatli to deny the first request of one to whom he owed his life. Hastily he gave his assent " to do in all things that which Leo should command." Afterward, bitter repentance came over him ; yet, rather than confess liis change of mind, deatli itself would be welcome. Death seems his only remedy ; but how to die '( Sometimes he thinks tc make none but a feigned resistance, and allow her sword a ready actress, for never can death come more happily than if her hand guide the weapon. Yet thia will not avail, tor, unless he wins the maid for the 240 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Greek prince, his debt remains unpaid. He had prom ised to maintain a real, not a feigned encounter. He will then keep his word, and banish evt;ry thought from his bosom except that which moved him to main- tain his truth. The young prince, richly attended, set out, and with him Rogero. They arrived at Paris, but Leo preferred not to enter the city, and pitched his tents without the walls, making known his arrival to Charlemagne by an embassy. The monarch was pleased, and testified his courtesy by visits and gifts. The prince set forth the purpose of his coming, and prayed the Emperor to dispatch his suit, " to send forth the damsel who refused ever to take in wedlock any lord inferior to herself in fight ; for she should be his bride, or he would perish beneath her sword." Kogero passed the night before the day assigned for the battle like that which the felon spends, con- demned to pay the forfeit of his life on the ensuing day. He chose to tight with sword only, and on foot, or he would not let her see Frontino, knowing that she would recognize the steed. Nor would he use Balisarda. for against that enchanted blade all armor would be of no avail, and the sword that he did take he hammered well upon the edge to abate its sharp- ness. He wore the surcoat of Prince Leo, and his BOGKBO AND BBADAMANTE. 24] shield, emblazoned with a golden, double-headed eagle. The prince took care to let himself be seen by none Bradamante, meanwhile, prepared herself for th combat far differently. Instead of blunting the edge of her falchion, she whets the steel, and would fain infuse into it her own acerbity. As the moment ap- proached, she seemed to have fire within her veins, and waited impatiently for the trumpet's sound. At the signal, she drew her sword, and fell with fury upon her Rogero. But as a well-built wall or aged rock stands unmoved the fury of the storm, so Rogero, clad in those arms which Trojan Hector once wore, withstood the strokes which stormed about his head and breast and flank. Sparks flew from liis shield, his helm, his cuirass ; from direct and back strokes, aimed now high, now low, falling thick and fast, like hailstones on a cottage roof; but Rogero, with skilful ward, turns them aside, or receives them where his armor is a sure protection, careful only to protect him- self, and with no thought of striking in return. Thus the hours passed away, and, as the sun approached the west, the damsel began to despair. But so much the more her anger increases, and she redoubles her ef forts, like the craftsman who sees his work unfinished while the day is wellnigh spent. O miserable dam- el 1 didst thou know whom thou \vouldst kill, if, in 11 r 242 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. that cavalier matched against thee thou didst but know Hogero, on whom thy very life-threads hang, rather th:i- kill him thou wouldst kill thyself, for he is dearer to thee than life. King Charles and the peers, who thought the cava- lier to be the Grecian prince, viewing such force and skill exhibited, and how without assaulting her the knight defended himself, were filled with admiration, and declared the champions well matched, and worthy of each other. When the sun was set, Charlemagne gave the sig- nal for terminating the contest, and Bradamante was awarded to Prince Leo as a bride. Rogero, in deep distress, returned to his tent. There Leo unlaced his helmet, and kissed him on both cheeks. " Hence- forth," said he, " do with me as you please, for you cannot exhaust my gratitude." Rogero replied little, laid aside the ensigns he had worn, and resumed the unicorn, then hasted to withdraw himself from aL eyes. When it was midnight he rose, saddled Fron- tino, and sallied from his tent, taking that direction which pleased his steed. All night he rode absorbed in bitter woe, and called on Death as alone capable of relieving his sufferings. At last he entered a forest, and penetrated into its deepest recesses. There he unharnessed Frontino, and suffered him to wander BOGEBO AND BBADAMANTE. 243 where he would. Then he threw himself down on the ground, and poured forth such bitter wailings that the birds and beasts, for none else heard him, were moved to pity with his cries. Not less was the distress of the lady Bradamante, who, rather than wed any one but Rogero, resolved to break her word, and defy kindred, court, and Charlemagne himself; and, if nothing else would do, to die. But relief came from an unexpected quarter. Marphisa, sister of Rogero, was a heroine of warlike prowess equal to Bradamante. She had been the confidante of their loves, and felt hardly less distress than themselves at seeing the perils which threatened their union. " They are already united by mutual vows," she said, "and in the sight of Heaven what more is necessary ? " Full of this thought she pre- sented herself before Charlemagne, and declared that she herself was witness that the maiden had spoken to Rogero those words which they who marry swear ; and that the compact was so sealed between the pair that they were no longer free, nor could forsake, the one the other, to take another spouse. This her assertion she offered to prove, in single comluit, against Prince Leo, or any one else. Charlemagne, sadly perplexed at this, commanded Bnulamanti) to be called, and told her what the bold 244 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Marphisa had declared. Bradamante neither denied nor confirmed the statement, but hung her head, and kept silence. Duke Aymon was enraged, and would fain have set aside the pretended contract on the ground that, if made at all, it must have been made before Rogero was baptized, and therefore void. But not so thought Rinaldo, nor the good Orlando, and Charlemagne knew not which way to decide, when Marphisa spoke thus : " Since no one else can marry the maiden while my brother lives, let the prince meet Rogero in mor- tal combat, and let him who survives take her for his bride." This saying pleased the Emperor, and was accepted by the prince, for he thought that, by the aid of his unknown champion, he should surely triumph in the fight. Proclamation was therefore made for Rogero to appear and defend his suit ; and Leo, on his part, caused search to be made on all sides for the knight of the Unicorn. Meanwhile Rogero, overwhelmed with despair, lay stretched on the ground in the forest night and day without food, courting death. Here he was discovered by one of Leo's people, who, finding him resist all attempts to remove him, hastened to his master, who was not far off, and brought him to the spot. As he BOGERO AND BRADAMANTE. 246 approached, he heard words which convinced him that love was the cause of the knight's despair ; but no clew was given to guide him to the object of that love. Stooping down, the prince embraced the weeping war- rior, and, in the tenderest accents, said : " Spare not, I entreat you, to disclose the cause of your distress, for few such desperate evils betide mankind as are wholly past cure. It grieves me much that you would hide your grief from me, for I am bound to you by ties that nothing can undo. Tell me, then, your grid, and leave me to try if wealth, art, cunning, force, or persuasion cannot relieve you. If not, it will be time enough, after all has been tried in vain, to die." He spoke in such moving accents, that Rogero could not choose but yield. It was some time before he could command utterance ; at last he said, " My lord, when you shall know me for what I am, I doubt not you, like myself, will be content that I should die. Know, then, I am that Rogero whom you have so much cause to hate, and who so hated you that, in- tent on putting you to death, he went to seek you at your father's court. This I did because I could not submit to see my promised bride borne off by you. But, as man purposes and Geen killed long ago, for I ask alms in churches and convents, and wherever I can." "You say true,' replied Rinaldo, " if you did not ask, none would relieve you." The old man said, " True, noble sir, therefore I pray if you have anything more to spare, give it me/ Rinaldo gave him his mantle, and said. u Take it, pilgrim. I give it you for the love of 274 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Christ, that God would save my brothers from a shameful death, and help me to escape out of King Charles's power." The pilgrim took the mantle, folded it up, and put it into his bag. Then a third time he said to Ri- naldo, " Sir, have you nothing left to give me that I may remember you in my prayers ? " " Wretch ! " exclaimed Rinaldo, " do you make me your sport ? " and he drew his sword, and struck at him ; but the old man warded off the blow with his staff, and said. " Rinaldo, would you slay your cousin, Malagigi ? " When Rinaldo heard that he stayed his hand, and gazed doubtingly on the old man, who now threw aside his disguise, and appeared to be indeed Malagigi. "Dear cousin," said Rinaldo, "pray forgive me. I did not know you. Next to God, my trust is in you. Help my brothers to escape out of prison, I entreat you. I have lost my horse, and therefore cannot render them any assistance." Malagigi answered, " Cousin Rinaldo, I will enable you to recover your horse. Meanwhile, you must do as I say." Then Malagigi took from his sack a gown, and gave it to Rinaldo to put on over his armor, and a hat that was full of holes, and an old pair of shoes to put on. They looked like two pilgrims, very old and poor. Then they went forth from the wood, and, RINALDO AND BAYARD. 275 after a little while, saw four monks riding along the road. Malagigi said to Rinaldo, '" I will go meet the monks, and see what news I can learn." Malagigi learned from the monks that on the ap- proaching festival there would be a great crowd of people at court, for the prince was going to show the ladies the famous horse Bayard that used to belong to Rinaldo. " What ! " said the pilgrim ; " is Bayard there ? " " Yea," answered the monks ; " the xing has given him to Chariot, and, after the prince has ridden him, the king means to pass sentence on the brothers of Rinaldo, and have them hanged." Then Malagigi asked alms of the monks, but they would give him none, till he threw aside his pilgrim garb, and lot them see his armor, when, partly for charity and partly for terror, they gave him a golden cup, adorned with precious stones that sparkled in the sun- ehine. Malagigi then hastened back to Rinaldo, and told him what he had learned. The morning of the feast-day Rinaldo and Malagigi came to the place where the sports were to be held. Malagigi gave Rinaldo his spurs back again, and said, " Cousin, put on your spurs, for you will need them." " How shall I need them," said Rinaldo, " since J have lost my horse ? " Yet he did as Malagigi d* rected him. -76 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. When the two had taken their stand on the border of the field among the crowd, the princes and ladies of the court began to assemble. When they were all assembled, the king came also, and Chariot with him, near whom the horse Bayard was led, in the charge of grooms, who were expressly enjoined to guard him safely. The king, looking round on the circle of spectators, saw Malagigi and Rinaldo, and observed the splendid cup that they had, and said to Chariot, " See, my son, what a brilliant cup those two pilgrims have got. It seems to be worth a hundred ducats." " That is true," said Chariot ; " let us go and ask where they got it." So they rode to the place where the pilgrims stood, and Chariot stopped Bayard close to them. The horse snuffed at the pilgrims, knew Rinaldo, and caressed his master. The king said to Malagigi, " Friend, where did you get that beautiful cup ? " Malagigi replied, " Honorable sir, I paid for it all the money I have saved from eleven years' begging in churches and convents. The Pope himself has blessed it, and given it the power that whosoever eats or drinks out of it shall be pardoned of all his sins." Then said the king to Chariot, " My son, these are right holy men ; see how the dumb beast worships them." BINALDO ANE BAfABD 277 Then the king said to Malagigi, " Give me a mor- pel from your cup, that I may be cleared of my sins." Malagigi answered, " Illustrious lord, I dare not do it, unless you will forgive all who have at any time offended you. You know that Christ for- gave all those who had betrayed and crucified him." The king replied, " Friend, that is true ; but Rinaldo has so grievously offended me, that I cannot forgive him, nor that other man, Malagigi, the magician. These two shall never live in my kingdom again. If I catch them, I will certainly have them hanged. But tell me, pilgrim, who is that man who stands beside you ? " " He is deaf, dumb, and blind,'' said Malagigi. Then the king said again, " Give me to drink of your cup, to take away my sins." Malagigi answered, " My lord king, here is my poor brother, who for fifty days has not heard, spoken, nor seen. This misfortune befell him in a house where we found shelter, and the day before yesterday we met with a wise woman, who told him the only hope of a cure for him was to come to some place where Bayard was to be ridden, and to mount and ride him ; that would do him more uood than anything else." Then said the king, " Friend, you have come to the right place, for Bayard is to be ridden here to-day. Give me a draught from your cup, and youi LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. companion shall ride upon Bayard." Malagigi, hear- ing these words, said, " Be it so." Then the king, with great devotion, took a spoon, and dipped a por- tion from the pilgrim's cup, believing that his sins should be thereby forgiven. When this was done, the king said to Chariot, " Son, I request that you will let this sick pilgrim sit on your horse, and ride if he can, for by so doing he will be healed of all his infirmities." Chariot replied, " That will I gladly do." So saying, he dis- mounted, and the servants took the pilgrim in their arms, and helped him on the horse. When Rinaldo was mounted, he put his feet in the stirrups, and said, " I would like tc ride a little." Malagigi, hearing him speak, seemed de- lighted, and asked him whether he could see and hear also. " Yes," said Rinaldo, " I am healed of all my infirmities." When the king heard it, he <:aid to Bishop Turpin, " My lorjd bishop, we must cele- brate this with a procession, with crosses and ban- ners, for it is a great miracle." When Rinaldo remarked that he was not carefully watched, \v- spoke to the horse, and touched him with the spurs. Bayard knew that his master was upon him, and he started off upon a rapid pace, and in a few moments was a good way off. Malagigi BINALDO AND BAYARD. 279 pretended to be in great alarm. " O noble king and master," he cried, " my poor companion is run away with ; he will fall and break his neck." The king ordered his knights to ride after the pilgrim, and bring him back, or help him if need were. They did so, but it was in vain. Rinaldo left them all behind him, and kept on his way till he reached Montalban. Malagigi was suffered to depart, unsus- pected, and he went his way, making sad lamenta- tion for the fete of his comrade, who he pretended to think must surely be dashed to pieces. Malagigi did not go far, but, having changed his disguise, returned to where the king was, and em- ployed his best art in getting the brothers of Rinaldo out of prison. He succeeded ; and all three got safely to Montalban, where Rinaldo's joy at the res- cue of his brothers and the recovery of Bayard was more thai, tongue can tell. DEATH OF RINALDO. THE distress in Rinaldo's castle for want of food grew more severe every day, under the pres- sure of the siege. The garrison were forced to kill their horses, both to save the provision they would consume, and to make food of their flesh. At last, all the horses were killed except Bayard, and Rinaldo said to his brothers, " Bayard must die, for we have nothing else to eat." So they went to the stable and brought out Bayard to kill him. But Alardo said, "Brother, let Bayard live a little longer; who knows *rhat God may do for us." Bayard heard these words, and understood them as DEATH OF BINALDO. 281 if he was a man, and fell on his knees, as if he would beg for mercy. When Rinaldo saw the distress of his horse his heart failed him, and he let him live. Just at this time, Aya, Rinaldo's mother, who was the sister of the Emperor, came to the camp, attended by knights and ladies, to intercede for her sons. Siu fell on her knees before the king, and besought IWL that he would pardon Rinaldo and his brothers ; ana all the peers and knights took her side, and entreated the king to grant her prayer. Then said the king, 44 Dear sister, you act the part of a good mother, and I respect your tender heart, and yield to your en- treaties. I will spare your sons their lives, if they submit implicitly to my will." When Chariot heard this, he approached the king and whispered in his ear. And the king turned to his sister and said, " Chariot must have Bayard, be- cause I have given the horse to him. Now go, my si?ter, and tell Rinaldo what I have said." When the Lady Aya heard these words, she was ielighted, thanked God in her heart, and said, " Wor- thy king and brother, I will do as you bid me." So she went int ) the castle, where her sons received her most joyfully and affect' on?.tely, and she told them the king's offer. Then Alardo said, " Brother, I would rather have the king's enmity than give Bayard to 282 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Chariot, for I believe he will kill him." Likewise said all the brothers. When Rinaldo heard them, he said, " Dear brothers, if we may win our forgiveness by giving up the horse, so be it. Let us make our peace, for we cannot stand against the king's power." Then he went to his mother, and told her they would give the horse to Chariot, and more, too, if the king would pardon them, and forgive all that they had done against his crown and dignity. The lady returned to Charles and told him the answer of her sons. When the peace was thus made between the king and the sons of Ayrnon, the brothers came forth from the castle, bringing Bayard with them, and, falling at the king's feet, begged his forgiveness. The king bade them rise, and received them into favor in the sight of all his noble knights and counsellors, to the great joy of all, especially of the Lady Aya, their mother. Then Rinaldo took the horse Bayard, gave him to Chariot, and said, " My lord and prince, this horse I give to you ; do with him as to you seems good." Chariot took him, as had been agreed on. Then he made the servants take him to the bridge, and throw him into the water. Bayard sank to the bottom, but soon came to the surface again and swam, saw Ri- naldo looking at him, came to land, ran to his old master, and stood by him as proudly as if he had DEATH OF RINALDO. 288 understanding, and would say, "Why did you treat me so ? " When the prince saw that, he said, " Rinaldo, give me the horse again, for he must die." Rinaldo replied, " My lord and prince, he is yours without dispute," and gave him to him. The prince then had a millstone tied to each foot, and two to his neck, and made them thro^r him again into the water. Bayard struggled in the water, looked up to his master, threw off the stones, and came back to Rinaldo. When Alardo saw that, he said, " Now must thou be disgraced forever, brother, if thou givn up the horse again." But Rinaldo answered, " Brother, be still. Shall I for the horse's life provoke the anger of the king again ? " Then Alardo said, " Ah, Bayard ! what a return do we make for all thy true love and service ! " Rinaldo gave the horse to the prince again, and said, " My lord, if the horse comes out again, I cannot return him to you any more, for it wrings my heart too much." Then Chariot had Bayard loaded with the stones as before, and thrown : nto the water ; and commanded Rinaldo that he should not stand where the horse would see him. When Bayard rose to the surface he stretched his neck out of the water and looked round for his master, but sav him not. Then he sunk to the bottom. 284 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE, Rinaldo was so distressed for the loss of Bayard, that he made a vow to ride no horse again all his life long, nor to bind a sword to his side, but to become a hermit. He resolved to betake himself to some wild wood, but first to return to his castle, to see his children, and to appoint to each liis share of his estate. So he took leave of the king and of his brothers, and returned to Montalban, and his brothers re- mained with the king. Rinaldo called his children to him, and he made his eldest born, Aymeric, a knight, and made him lord of his castle and of his land. He gave to the rest what other goods he had, and kissed and embraced them all, commended them to God, and then departed from them with a heavy heart. He had not travelled tar when he entered a wood, and there met with a hermit, who had long been retired from the world. Rinaldo greeted him, and the hermit replied courteously, and asked him who lie was and what was his purpose. Rinaldo replied, " Sir, I have led a sinful life ; many deeds of vio- lence have I done, and many men have I slain, not always in a good cause, but often under the im- pulse of my own headstrong passions. I have also been the cause of the death of many of my friends, DEATH OF RINALDO. 285 who tcok my part, not because they thought me in the right, but only for love of me. And now I come to make confession of all my sins, and to do penance for the rest of my life, if perhaps the mercy of God will forgive me." The hermit said, " Friend, I perceive you have fallen into great sins, and have broken the commandments of God, but his mercy is greater than your sins ; and if you repent from your heart, and lead a new life, there is yet hope for you that he will forgive you what is past." So Rinaldo was comforted, and said, " Master, I will stay with you, and what you bid me I will do." The hermit replied, " Roots and vegetables will be your food ; shirt or shoes you may not wear ; your lot must be poverty and want, if you stay with me." Rinaldo replied, " I will cheerfully bear all this, and more." So he remained three whole years with the hermit, and after that his strength failed, and it seemed as if he was like to die. One night the hermit had a dream, and heard a yoice from heaven, which commanded him to say to his comprnion that he must without delay go to the Holy Land, and fight against the heathen. The hermit, when he heard that voice, was glad, and, ca'ling Rinaldo, he said, " Friend, God's angel has commanded me to say to you that you must with 286 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. out delay go to Jerusalem, and help our fellow- Christians in their struggle with the Infidels." Then said Rinaldo, " Ah I master, how can I do that? It is over three years since I made a vow no more to ride a horse, nor take a sword or spear in my hand." The hermit answered, " Dear friend, obey God, and do what the angel commanded." " I will do so," said Rinaldo, " and pray for me, my master, that God may guide me right." Then he departed, and went to the seaside, and took ship and came to Tripoli in Syria. And as he went on his way his strength returned to him, till it was equal to what it was in his best days. And though he never mounted a horse, nor took a sword in his hand, yet with his pilgrim's stafl he did good service in the armies of the Christians ; and it pleased God that he escaped unhurt, though he was present in many battles, and his courage inspired the men with the same. At last a truce was made with the Saracens, and Rinaldo, now old and infirm, wishing to see his native land again before he died, took ship and sailed for France. When he arrived, ha shunned to go to the resorts of the great, and pre- ferred to live among the humble folk, where he was unknown. He did country work and lived on milk and bread, drank water, and was therewith content. While he so lived, he heard that the city of Cologno DEATH OF RINALDO. 287 was the holiest and best of cities, on account of the relics and bodies of saints who had there poured out their blood for the faith. This induced him to betake himself thither. When the pious hero arrived at Cologne, he went to the monastery of St. Peter, and lived a holy life, occupied night and day in devotion. It so happened that at that time, in the next town to Cologne, there raged a dreadful pestilence. Man} people came to Rinaldo, to beg him to pray for them, that the plague might be stayed. The holy man prayed fervently, and besought the Lord to take away the plague from the people, and his prayer was heard. The stroke of the pestilence was arrested, and all the people thanked the holy man and praised God. Now there was at this time at Cologne a Bishop, called Agilolphus, who was a wise and understanding man, who led a pure and secluded life, and set a good example to others. This Bishop undertook to build the Church of St. Peter, and gave notice to all stone- masons and other workmen round about to come to Cologne, where they should find work and wages. Among others came Rinaldo ; and he worked amonj: the laborers and did more than four or five common workmen. When they went to dinner, he brought stone and mortar so that they had enough for tha whole day. When the others went to bed, he atretched 288 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. himself out on the stones. He ate bread only, and drank nothing but water; and had for his wages but a penny a day. The head-workman asked him his name, and where he belonged. He would not tell, but said nothing and pursued his work. They called him St. Peter's workman, because he was so devoted to his work. When the overseer saw the diligence of this holy man, he chid the laziness of the other workmen, and said, " You receive more pay than this good man, but do not do half as much work." For this reason the other workmen hated Rinaldo, and made a secret agreement to kill him. They knew that he made it a practice to go eeery night to a certain church to pray and give alms. So they agreed to lay wait for him with the purpose to kill him. When he came to the spot, they seized him, and beat him over the head till he was dead. Then they put his body into a sack, and stones with it, and cast it into the Rhine, in the hope the sack would sink to the bottom, and be there concealed. But God willed not that it should be s^, but caused the sack to float on the surface, and be thrown upon the hank. And the soul of the holy martyr was carried by angels, with songs of praise, up to the heavens. Now at that time the people of Dortmund had DEATH OF RINALDO. 289 become converted to the Christian faith ; and they =53nt to the Bishop of Cologne, and desired him to give them some of the holy relics that are in such abundance in that city. So the Bishop called together his clergy to deliberate what answer they should give to this request. And it was determined to give to the people of Dortmund the body of the holy man who had just suffered martyrdom. When now the body with the coffin was put on the cart, the cart began to move toward Dortmund without horses or help of men, and stopped not till it reached the place where the church of St. Rinaldo now stands. The Bishop and his clergy followed the holy man to do him honor, with singing of hymns, for a space of three miles. And St. Rinaldo has ever since been the patron of that place, and many wonderful works has God done through him, as may be seen in the legends. HUON OF BORDEAUX. WHEN Charlemagne grew old he felt the bur- den of government become heavier year by year, till at last he colled together his high barons and peers to propose to abdicate the empire and the throne of France in favor of his sons, Chariot and Tjewis. The Emperor was unreasonably partial to his eldest son ; he would have been glad to have had the barons and peers demand Chariot for their only sovereigr. : but that prince was so infamous, for his falsehood ant] cruelty, that the council strenuously opposed the Em- peror's proposal of alxlicating, and implored him to HUON OF BORDEAUX. 291 continue to hold a sceptre which he wielded with so much glory. Amaury of Hauteville, cousin of Ganelon, and now bead of the wicked branch of the house of Maganza, was the secret partisan of Chariot, whom he resem- bled in his loose morals and bad dispositions. Amau- ry nourished the most bitter resentment against the house of Guienne, of which the former Duke, Sevinus, had often rebuked his misdeeds. He took advantage of this occasion to do an ' injury to the two young children whom the Duke Sevinus had left under the charge of the Duchess Alice, their mother ; and, at the same time, to advance his interest with Chariot by increasing his wealth and power. With this view, he suggested to the prince a new idea. He pretended to agree with the opinion of the barons ; he said that it would be best to try Chariot's capacity for government, by giving him some rich provinces, before placing him upon the throne ; and that the Emperor, without depriving himself of any part of his realm, might give Chariot the investiture of Guienne. For although seven years had passed since the death of Sevinus, the young Duke, his son, had not yet repaired to the court of Charlemagne to render the homage due to his lawful sovereign. We have often had occasion to admire the justice 292 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. and wisdom of the advice which on all occasions the Duke Namo of Bavaria gave to Charlemagne, and lie now discountenanced, with indignation, the selfish ad- vice of Amaury. He represented to the Emperor the early age of the children of Sevinus, and the use- ful and glorious services of their late father, and pro- posed to Charlemagne to send two knights to the Duchess, at Bordeaux, to summon her two sons to the court of the Emperor, to pay their respects and render homage. Charlemagne approved this advice, and sent two chevaliers to demand the two young princes of their mother. No sooner had the Duchess learned the ap- proach of the two knights, than she sent distinguished persons to receive them ; and as soon as they entered the palace she presented herself before them, with her elder and younger sons, Huon and Girard. The deputies, delighted with the honors and ca- resses they received, accompanied with rich presents, left Bordeaux with regret, and, on their return, rep- resented to Charlemagne that the young Duke Huon seemed born to tread in the footsteps of his brave father, informing him that in three months the young princes of Guienne would present themselves at his court. The Duchess employed the short interval in giving HUON OF BORDEAUX. 293 her sons her last instructions. Huon received them in his heart, and Girard gave as much heed to them as could be expected from one so young. The preparations for their departure having been made, the Duchess embraced them tenderly, commend- ing them to the care of Heaven, and charged them to call, on their way, at the celebrated monastery of Cluny, to visit the Abbot, the brother of their father. This Abbot, worthy of his high dignity, had never lost an opportunity of doing good, setting an example of every excellence, and making virtue attractive by his example. He received his nephews with the greatest magnifi- cence ; and, aware how useful his presence might be to them with Charlemagne, whose valued counsellor he was, he took with them the road to Paris. When Amaury learned what reception the two dep- uties of Charlemagne had received at Bordeaux, and the arrangements made for the visit of the young princes to the Emperor's court, he suggested to Chariot to give him a troop of his guards, with which he pro- posed to lay wait for the young men in the wood of Montlery, put them to death, and thereby give the prince Chariot possession of the duchy of Guk'iine. A plan of treachery and violence agreed but too well with Chariot's disposition. He not only adopted 294 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. the suggestion of Amaury, but insisted upon taking a part in it. They went out secretly, by night, followed by a great number of attendants, all armed in black, to lie in ambuscade in the wood where the brothers were to pass. Girard, the younger of the two, having amused himself as he rode by flying his hawk at such game as presented itself, had ridden in advance of his broth- er and the Abbot of Cluny. Chariot, who saw him coming, alone and unarmed, went forth to meet him, sought a quarrel with him, and threw him from his horse with a stroke of his lance. Girard uttered a cry as he fell ; Huon heard it, and flew to his de- fence, with no other weapon than his sword. He came up with him, and saw the blood flowing from his wound. " What has this child done to you, wretch ? " he exclaimed to Chariot. " How cow- ardly to attack him when unprepared to defend himself ! " " By my faith," said Chariot, " I mean to do the same by you. Know that I am the son of Duke Thierry of Ardennes, from whom your father, Sevinus, took three castles ; I have sworn to avenge him, and I defy you." " Coward," answered Huon, " I know well the baseness that dwells in your race ; worthy son cf Thierry, use al>!v restrain you by force or put you to death." " Be it so," said the brave and fervent Huon, " I could not die in a better cause ; and I demand of you to conduct me to him to-morrow, after having told him of my arrival, and my birth." Floriac still objected, 14 814 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. but Huon would take no denial, and he promised obedience. Next morning Floriac waited upon the Governor, and told him of the arrival of his nephew, Huon of Bordeaux ; and of the intention of the prince to present himself at his court that very day. The Governor, surprised, did not immediately answer ; thougn he at once made up his mind what to do. He knew that Floriac loved Christians and the princes of his native land too well to aid in any treason to one of them ; he therefore feigned great pleasure at hearing of the arrival of the eldest born of his family at his court. He immediately sent Floriac to find him ; he caused his palace to be put in festal array, his divan to be assembled, and, after giving some secret orders, went himself to meet his nephew, whom he introduced under his proper name and title to all the great offi- cers of his court. Huon burned with indignation at seeing his uncle with forehead encircled with a rich turban, surmounted with a crescent of precious stones. His natural can- dor made him receive with pain the embraces which the treacherous Governor lavished upon him. Mean while the hope of finding a suitable moment to reproach him for his apostasy made him submit to those honors which his uncle caused to be rendered HUON OF BORDEAUX. 315 to him. The Governor evaded with address the chance of being alone with Huon, and spent all the morning in taking him through his gardens and palace. At last, when the hour of dinner approached, and the Governor took him by the hand to lead him into the dining-hall, Huon seized the opportunity, and said to him in a low voice, " O my uncle ! O Prince, brother of the Duke Sevinus ! in what condition have I the grief and shame of seeing you ! " The Governor pretended to be moved, pressed his hand, and whispered in his ear, " Silence ! my dear nephew ; to-morrow morning I will hear you fully." Huon, comforted a little by these words, took his seat at the table by the side of the Governor. The Mufti, some Cadis, Agas, and Santons, filled the other places. Sherasmin sat down with them ; but Floriac, who would not lose sight of his guests, remained standing, and passed in and out to observe what was going on within the palace. He soon perceived a number of armed men gliding through the passages and antechambers connected with the dining-hall. lie was about to enter to give his guests notice of what he had seen, when he heard a violent noise and commotion in the hall. The cause was this. Huon and Sherasmin were well enough suited with the first course, and ate with good appetite ; but the 316 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. people of their country not being accustomed to drink only water at their meals, Huon and Sherasmin looked at one another, not very well pleased at sucli a regimen. Huon laughed outright at the impatience of Sherasmin, but soon, experiencing the same want himself, he drew forth Oberon's cup, and made the sign of the cross. The cup filled, and he drank it off, and handed it to Sherasmin, who followed his example. The Governor and his officers, seeing this abhorred sign, contracted their brows, and sat in silent con- sternation. Huon pretended not to observe it, and having filled the cup agf a, handed it to his uncle, saying, " Pray join us, v^ear uncle ; it is excellent Bordeaux wine, the drip that will be to you like mother's milk." The C 'ernor, who often drank in secret with his favorite .uiltanas the wines of Greece 1 and Shiraz, never in public drank anything but water. He had not for a long time tasted the excellent wines of his native land ; he was sorely tempted to drink what was now handed to him, it looked so bright in the cup, outsliining the gold itself. He stretched forth his hand, took the brimming goblet and raised it to his lips, when immediately it dried up and dis- appeared. Huon and Sherasmin, like Gascons as they were, laughed at his astonishment. " Christian dogs ! " lie exclaimed, " do you dare to insult me at my own HUON OF BORDEAUX 317 table? But I will soon be revenged." At these worda o lie threw the cup at the head of his nephew, who caught it with his left hand, while with the other he snatched the turban, with its crescent, from the Gov- ernor's head, and threw it on the floor. All the Saracens started up from table, with loud outcries, and prepared to avenge the insult. Huon and Sherasmin put themselves on their defence, and met with their swords the scimitars directed against them. At this moment the doors of the hall opened, and a crowd of soldiers and armod eunuchs rushed in, who joined in the attack upon Jrtuon and Sherasmin. The Prince and his followers took refuge on a broad shelf or sideboard, where they pt at bay the crowd of assailants, making the mast >rward of them smart for their audacity. But more roops came pressing in, and the brave Huon, inspired by the wine of Bordeaux, and not angry enough to lose his relish for a joke, blew a gentle note on his horn, and no sooner was it heard than it quelled the rage of the combatants and set them to dancing. Huon and Sherasmin, no longer attacked, looked down from their elevated position on a scene the most singular and amusing. Very soon the Sultanas, hearing the sound of the dance, and finding their guards withdrawn, came into the hall and mixed with the dancers. The favorite Sultana 818 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. seized upon a young Santon, wno performed jumps two feet high ; but soon the long dresses of this couple got intermingled and threw them down. The Santon 's beard was caught in the Sultana's necklace, and they could not disentangle them. The Governor by no means approved this familiarity, and took two steps forward to get at the Santon, but he stumbled over a prostrate Dervise and measured his length on the floor. The dancing continued till the strength of the performers was exhausted, and they fell, one after the other, and lay helpless. The Governor at length made signs to Huon that he would yield everything, if he would but allow him to rest. The bargain was ratified; the Governor allowed Huon and Sherasmin to depart on their way, and even gave them a ring which would procure them safe passage through his country and access to the Sultan Gaudisso. The two friends hastened to avail themselves of this favorable turn, and, taking leave of Floriac, pursued their journey. HUON OF BORDEAUX. CONTINUED. HUON had seen many beauties at his mother's court, but his heart had never been touched with love. Honor had been his mistress, and in pur- suit of that he had never found time to give a thought to softer cares. Strange that a heart so in- sensible should first be touched by something so unsub- stantial as a dream ; but so it was. The day after the adventure with his uncle, night overtook the travellers as they passed through a tbrest. A. grotto offered them shelter from the night dews. The magic cup supplied their evening meal ; for such 320 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. was its virtue that it afforded not only wine, but more solid fare when desired. Fatigue soon threw them into profound repose. Lulled by the murmur of the foliage, and breathing the fragrance of the flowers, Huon dreamed that a lady more beautiful than he had ever before seen hung over him, and imprinted a kiss upon his lips. As he stretched out his arms to embrace her, a sudden gust of wind swept her away. Huon awoke in an agony of regret. A few moments sufficed to afford some consolation in show- ing him that what had passed was but a dream ; but his perplexity and sadness could not escape the notice of Sherasmin. Huon hesitated not to inform his faith- ful follower of the reason of his. pensiveness ; and got nothing in return but his rallyings for allowing himself to be disturbed by such a cause. He recom- mended a draught from the fairy goblet, and Huon tried it with good effect. At early dawn they resumed their way. They travelled till high noon, but said little to one another. Huon was musing on his dream, and Sherasmin's thoughts flew back to his early days on the banks of the flowery Garonne. On a sudden they were startled by the cry of dis- tress, and, turning an angle of the wood, came where HUON OF BORDEAUX. 321 ft knight hard pressed was fighting with a furious lion. The knight's horse lay dead, and it seemed as if another moment would end the combat, for terror and fatigue had quite disabled the knight for farther resist- ance. He fell, and the lion's paw was raised over him, when a blow from Huon's sword turned the monster's rage upon a new enemy. His roar shook the forest, and he crouched in act to spring, when, with the rapidity of lightning, Huon plunged his sword into his side. He rolled over on the plain in the agonies of death. They raised the knight from the ground, and She- rasmin hastened to offer him a draught from the fairy cup. The wine sparkled to the brim, and the warrior put forth his lips to quaff it, but it shrunk away, and did not even wet his lips. He dashed the goblet angrily on the ground, with an exclamation of resentment. This incident did not tend to make either party more acceptable to the other ; and what followed was worse. For when Huon said, " Sir knight, thank God for your deliverance," " Thank Mahomet, rather, yourself," said he, " for he has led you this day to render service to no less a personage than the Prince of Hyrcania." At the sound of this blasphemy Huon drew his word and turned upon the miscreant, who, little LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. to encounter the prowess of which he had so lately seen proof, betook himself to flight. He ran to H uon's horse, and, lightly vaulting on his back, clapped spurs to his side, and galloped out of sight. The adventure was vexatious, yet there was no remedy. The prince and Sherasmin continued their journey with the aid of the remaining horse as they best might. At length, as evening set in, they de- scried the pinnacles and towers of a great city full before them, which they knew to be the famous city of Bagdad. They were wellnigh exhausted with fatigue when they arrived at its precincts, and in the darkness, not knowing what course to take, were glad to meet an aged woman, who, in reply to their inquiries, offered them such accommodations as her cottage could sup- ply. They thankfully accepted the offer, and entered the low door. The good dame busily prepared the best fare her stores supplied, milk, figs, and peaches, deeply regretting that the bleak winds had nipped her almond-trees. Sir Huon thought he had never in his life tasted any fare so good. The old lady talked while her guests ate. She doubted not, she said, they had come to be present at the great feast in honor of the marriage of the Sultan's daughter, which was to take HUON OF BORDEAUX. place on the morrow. They asked who the bride- groom was to be, and the old lady answered, " The Prince of Hyrcania," but added, " Our princess hates him, and would rather wed a dragon than him." " How know you that ? " asked Huon ; and the dame informed him that she had it from the princess her- self, who was her foster-child. Huon inquired the reason of the princess's aversion ; and the woman, pleased to find her chat excite so much interest, re- plied that it was all in consequence of a dream. " A dream ! " exclaimed Huon. " Yes ! a dream. She dreamed that she was a hind, and that the Prince, as a hunter, was pursuing her, and had almost overtaken her, when a beautiful dwarf appeared in view, drawn in a golden car, having by his side a young man of yellow hair and fair complexion, like one from a foreign land. She dreamed that the car stopped where she stood, and that, having resumed her own form, she was about to ascend it, when suddenly it faded from her view, and with it the dwarf and the fair-haired youth. But from her heart that vision did not fade, and from that time her affianced bride- groom, the Hyrcanian prince, had become odious to her sight. Yet the Sultan, her father, by no means regarding such a cause as sufficient to prevent the marriage, had named the morrow as the time when 324 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. it should be solemnized, in presence of his court and many princes of the neighboring countries, whom the fame' of the princess's beauty and the bridegroom's splendor had brought to the scene." We may suppose this conversation woke a tumult of thoughts in the breast of Huon. Was it not clear that Providence led him on, and cleared the way for his happy success ? Sleep did not early visit the eyes of Huon that night ; but, with the sanguine temper of youth, he indulged his fancy in imagining the sequel of his strange experience. The next day, which he could not but regard as the decisive day of his fate, he prepared to deliver the message of Charlemagne. Clad in his armor, fortified with his ivory horn and his ring, he reached the palace of Gaudisso when the guests were assembled at the banquet. As he approached the gate, a voice called on all true believers to enter ; and Huon, the brave and faithful Huon, in his impatience passed in under that false pretension. He had no sooner passed the barrier than he felt ashamed of his baseness, and was overwhelmed with regret. To make amends for his Emit he ran forward to the second gate, and cried to the porter, " Dog of a misbeliever, I command you in the name of Him who died on the cross, open to me I" The points of a hundred weapons immediately opposed HUON OF BORDEAUX. 325 his passage. Huon then remembered for the first time the ring he had received from his uncle, the Governor. He produced it, and demanded to be led to the Sul- tan's presence. The officer of the guard recognized the ring, made a respectful obeisance, and allowed him free entrance. In the same way he passed the other doors to the rich saloon where the great Sultan was at dinner with his tributary princes. At sight of the ring the chief attendant led Huon to the head of the hall, and introduced him to the Sultan and his princes as the ambassador of Charlemagne. A seat was pro- vided for him near the royal party. The Prince of Hyrcania, the same whom Huon had rescued from the lion, and who was the destined bridegroom of the beautiful Clarimunda, sat on the Sultan's right hand, and the princess herself on his left. It chanced that Huon found himself near the seat of the princess, and hardly were the ceremonies of reception over, before he made haste to fulfil the commands of Charlemagne by imprinting a kiss upon her rosy lips, and after that a second, not by com- mand, but by good-will. The Prince of Hyrcania cried out, " Audacious infidel ! take the reward of thy in- solence ! " and aimed a blow at Huon, which, if it had reached him, would have brought his embassy to a speedy termination. But the ingrate failed of hi* LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. aim, and Huon punished his blasphemy and ingratitude at once by a blow which severed . his head from hig body. So suddenly had all this happened, that no hand had been raised to arrest it ; but now Gaudisso cried out, " Seize the murderer ! " Huon was hemmed in on all sides, but his redoubtable sword kept the crowd of courtiers at bay. But he saw new combatants enter, and could not hope to maintain his ground against so many. He recollected his horn, and, raising it to his lips, blew a blast almost as loud as that of Roland at Roncesvalles. It was in vain. Oberon heard it ; but the sin of which Huon had been guilty in bearing, though but for a moment, the character of a believer in the false prophet, had put it out of Oberon's power to help him. Huon, finding himself deserted, and conscious of the cause, lost his strength and energy, was seized, loaded with chains, and plunged into a dungeon. His life was spared for the time, merely that he might be reserved for a more painful death. The Sultan meant that, after being made to feel all th> torments of hunger and despair, he should be flayed alive. But an enchanter more ancient and moie powerful than Oberon himself interested himself for the brave HUON OF BORDEAUX. 327 Huon. That enchanter was Love. The Princess Clarimunda learned with horror the fate to which the young prince was destined. By the aid of her governante she gained over the keeper of the prison, and went herself to lighten the chains of her beloved. It was her hand that removed his fetters, from her he received supplies of food to sustain a life which he devoted from thenceforth wholly to her. After the most tender explanations the princess departed, promis- ing to repeat her visit on the morrow. The next day she came according to promise, and again brought supplies of food. These visits were con- tinued during a whole month. Huon was too good a son of the Church to forget that the amiable prin- cess was a Saracen, and he availed himself of these interviews to instruct her in the true faith. How easy it is to believe the truth when uttered by the lips of those we love ! Clarimunda erelong professed her entire belief in the Christian doctrines, and de- sired to be baptized. Meanwhile the Sultan had repeatedly inquired of the 1 jailer how his prisoner bore the pains of famine, ;uul learned to his surprise that he was not yet much reduced thet 'by. On his repeating the inquiry, after a short interval, the keeper replied that the prisoner had died suddenly, anl had been buried in the cavern. * ' 328 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. * The Sultan could only regret that he had not sooner ordered the execution of the sentence. While these things were going on, the faithful She- rasmin, who had not accompanied Huon in his last adventure, but had learned by common rumor the result of it, came to the court in hopes of doing some- thing for the rescue of his master. He presented him- self to the Sultan as Solario, his nephew. Gaudisso received him with kindness, and all the courtiers 'oaded him with attentions. He soon found means to 'nform himself how the Princess regarded the brave but unfortunate Huon, and, having made himself known to her, confidence was soon established between them. Clarimunda readily consented to assist in the escape of Huon, and to quit with him her father's court to repair to that of Charlemagne. Their united efforts had nearly perfected their arrangement, a vessel was secretly prepared, and all things in forwardness for the flight, when an unlooked-for obstacle pre- sented itself. Huon himself positively refused to go, leaving the orders of Charlemagne unexecuted. Sherasmin was in despair. Bitterly he complained of the fickleness and cruelty of Oberon in withdraw- ing his aid at the very crisis when it was most neces- sary. Earnestly he urged every argument to satisfy the prince that he had done enough for honor, and HUON OF BORDEAUX 329 rould not be held bound to achieve impossibilities. But all was of no avail, and he knew not which way to turn, when one of those events occurred which are so frequent under Turkish despotisms. A courier arrived at the court of the Sultan, bearing the ring ol his sovereign, the mighty Agrapard, Caliph of Ara bia, and bringing the bow-string for the neck ol Gaudisso. No reason was assigned ; none but the pleasure of the Caliph is ever required in such cases ; but it was suspected that the bearer of the bow-string had persuaded the Caliph that Gaudisso, whose ra- pacity was well known, had accumulated immense treasures, which he had not duly shared with his sovereign, and thus had obtained an order to super- sede him in his Emirship. The body of Gaudisso would have been cast out a prey to dogs and vultures, had not Sherasmin, under the character of nephew of the deceased, been permit- ted to receive it, and give it decent burial, which he did, but not till he had taken possession of the beard and grinders, agreeably to the orders of Charlemagne. No obstacle now stood in the way of the lovers and their faithful follower in returning to France. They sailed, taking Rome in their way, where the Holy Father himself blessed the union of his nephew, Duke Huon of Bordeaux, with the Princess Clarimunda. 830 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Soon afterward they arrived in France, where Huon laid his trophies at the feet of Charlemagne, and, being restored to the favor of the Emperor, hastened to present himself and his bride to the Duchess, his mother, and to the faithful liegemen of his province of Guienne and his city of Bordeaux, where the pair were received with transports of joy. OGIER, THE DANE. OGIER, the Dane, was the son of Geoffrey, who wrested Denmark from the Pagans, and reigned the first Christian king of that country. When Ogier was born, and before he was baptized, six ladies of ravishing beauty appeared all at once in the chamber of the infant. They encircled him, and she who appeared the eldest took him in her arms, kissed him, and laid her hand upon his heart. 44 1 give you," said she, " to be the bravest warrior of your times." She delivered the infant to her sister, who said, " I give you abundant opportuni- ties to display your valor." ' Sister," said the third 332 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. i lady, " you have given him a dangerous boon ; I give him that he shall never be vanquished." The fourth sister added, as she laid her hand upon his eyes and his mouth, " I give you the gift of pleas- ing." The fifth said, " Lest all these gifts serve only to betray, I give you sensibility to return the love you inspire." Then spoke Morgana, the youngest and handsomest of the group, " Charming creature, I claim you for my own ; and I give you not to die till you shall have come to pay me a visit in my isle of Avalon." Then she kissed the child and departed with her sisters. After this the king had the child carried to the font and baptized with the name of Ogier. In his education nothing was neglected to elevate him to the standard of a perfect knight, and render him accomplished in all the arts necessary to make him a hero. He had hardly reached the age of sixteen years, when Charlemagne, whose power was established over all the sovereigns of his time, recollected that Geof- froy, Ogier's father, had omitted to render the hom- age due to him as Emperor, and sovereign lord of Denmark, one of the grand fiefs of the empire. He accordingly sent an embassy to demand of the king of Denmark this homage, and on receiving a refusal. OGIER, THE DANE. 333 couched in haughty terms, sent an army to enforce the demand. Geoffrey, after an unsuccessful resist- ance, was forced to comply, and as a pledge of hia sincerity delivered Ogier, his eldest son, a hostage to Charles, to be brought up at his court. He was placed in charge of the Duke Namo of Bavaria, the friend of his father, who treated him like his own son. Ogier grew up more and more handsome and amiable every day. He surpassed in form, strength, and address all the noble youths his companions ; he failed not to be present at all tourneys ; he was attentive to the elder knights, and burned with im- patience to imitate them. Yet his heart rose some- tunes in secret against his condition as a hostage, and as one apparently forgotten by his father. The king of Denmark, in fact, was at this time occupied with new loves. Ogier's mother having died, he had married a second wife, and had a son named Guyon. The new queen had absolute power over her husband, and fearing that, if he should see Ogier again, he would give him the preference ovei Guyon, she had adroitly persuaded him to delay rendering his homage to Charlemagne, till now four years had passed away since the last renewal of that ceremony. Charlemagne, irritated at tliis de- 334 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. linquency, drew closer the bonds of Ogier's captivity until he should receive a response from the king of Denmark to a fresh summons which he caused to be sent to him. The answer of Geoffrey was insulting and defiar.t. and the rage of Charlemagne was roused in the highest degree. He was at first disposed to wreak his vengeance upon Ogier, his hostage ; but at the entreaties of Duke Namo, who felt towards his pupil like a father, consented to spare his life, if Ogier would swear fidelity to him as his liege-lord, and promise not to quit his court without his permission. Ogier accepted these terms, and was allowed to re- tain all the freedom he had before enjoyed. The Emperor would have immediately taken arms to reduce his disobedient vassal, if he had not been called off in another direction by a message from Pope Leo, imploring his assistance. The Saracens had landed in the neighborhood of Rome, occupied Mount Janiculum, and prepared to pass the Tiber and carry fire and sword to the capital of the Chris- tian world. Charlemagne hesitated not to yield to the entreaties of the Pope. He speedily assembled an army, crossed the Alps, traversed Italy, and ar- rived at Spoleto, a strong place to which the Pope had retired. Leo, at the head of his Cardinals, OGIER, THE DANE. 335 advanced to meet him, and rendered him homage, as to the son of Pepin, the illustrious protector of the Holy See, coming, as his father had done, to de- fend it in the hour of need. Charlemagne stopped but two days at Spoleto, and learning that the Infidels, having rendered them- selves masters of Rome, were besieging the Capitol, which could not long hold out against them, marched promptly to attack them. The advanced posts of the army were commanded by Duke Namo, on whom Ogier waited as his squire. He did not yet bear arms, not having received the order of knighthood. The Oriflamme, the royal standard, was borne by a knight named Alory, who showed himself unworthy of the honor. Duke Narao, seeing a strong body of the Infidels advancing to attack him, gave the word to charge them. Ogier remained in the rear, with the other youths, grieving much that he was not permitted to fight. Very soon he saw Alory lower the Ori- flamme, and turn his horse in flight. Ogier pointed him out to the young men, and, seizing a club, rushed upon Alory and struck him from his horse. Then, with his companions, he disarmed him, clothed himself in his armor, raised the Oriflamme, and, mount- ing the horse of the unworthy knight, flew to th 336 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. front rank, where he joined Duke Namo, drove back the Infidels, and carried the Oriflamme quite through their broken ranks. The Duke, thinking it was Alory, whom he had not held in high esteem, was astonished at his strength and valor. Ogier's young companions imitated him, supplying themselves with armor from the bodies of the slain ; they followed Ogier and carried death into the ranks of the Sara- cens, who fell back in confusion upon their main body. Duke Namo now ordered a retreat, and Ogier obeyed with reluctance, when they perceived Charle- magne advancing to their assistance. The combat now became general, and was more terrible than ever. Charlemagne had overthrown Corsuble, the commander of the Saracens, and had drawn his famous sword, Joyeuse, to cut off his head, when two Saracen knights set upon him at once, one of whom slew his horse, and the other overthrew the Emperor on the sand. Perceiving by the eagle on his casque who he was, they dismounted in haste to give him his death-blow. Never was the life of the Emperor in such peril. But Ogier, who saw him fall, flew to his rescue. Though embarrassed with the Oriflamme, he pushed his horse against one of the Saracens and knocked him down ; and with OGIER, THE DANE. 337 his sword dealt the other so vigorous a blow that he fell stunned to the earth. Then helping the Em- peror to rise, he remounted him on the horse of one of the fallen knights. " Brave and generous Alory ! " Charles exclaimed, " I owe to you my honor and my life ! " Ogier made no answer ; but, leaving Charlemagne surrounded by a great many of the knights who had flown to his succor, he plunged into the thickest ranks of the enemy, and carried the Oriflamme, followed by a gallant train of youthful warriors, till the standard of Mahomet turned in re- treat and the Infidels sought safety in their in- trenchments. Then the good Archbishop Turpin laid aside his helmet and his bloody sword, (for he always felt that he was clearly in the line of his duty while slaying infidels,) took his mitre and his crosier, and intoned Te Deum. At this moment, Ogier, covered with blood and dust, came to lay the Oriflamme at the feet of the Emperor. He was followed by a train of warriors I' short stature, who walked ill at ease loaded with urtnor too heavy for them. Ogier knelt at the fret of Charlemagne, who embraced him, calling him Alory, while Turpin, from the height of the altar, blessed him with all his might. Then young Or- 16 * 338 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE lando, son of tl.e Count Milone and nephew of Charlemagne, no longer able to endure this mis- apprehension, threw down his helmet, and ran to unlace Ogier's, while the other young men laid aside theirs. Our author says he cannot express the surprise, the admiration, and the tenderness of the Emperor and his peers. Charles folded Ogier in his arms, and the happy fathers of those brave youths embraced them with tears of joy. The good Duke Namo stepped forward, and Charlemagne yielded Ogier to his embrace. " How much do I owe you," he said, " good and wise friend, for having restrained my anger ! My dear Ogier ! I owe you my life ! My sword leaps to touch your shoulder, yours, and those of your brave young friends." At these words he drew that famous sword, Joy- euse, and, while Ogier and the rest knelt before him, gave them the accolade conferring on them the order of knighthood. The young Orlando and his cousin Oliver could not refrain, even in the presence of the Emperor, from felling upon Ogier's neck, and pledging with him that brotherhood in arms, so dear and so sacred to the knights of old times ; but Chariot, the Emperor's son, at the sight of the glory with which Ogier had covered himself, conceived the blackest jealousy and hate. OGIER, THE DANE. 839 The rest of the day and the next were spent in the rejoicings of the army. Turpin in a solemn service implored the favor of Heaven upon the youthful knights, and blessed the white armor which was prepared for them. Duke Namo presented them with golden spurs, Charles himself girded on their swords. But what was his astonishment when he ex- amined that intended for Ogier! The loving Fairy, Morgana, had had the art to change it, and to substitute one of her own procuring, and when Charles drew it out of the scabbard, these words appeared written on the steel : " My name is Cor- tana, of the same steel and temper as Joyeuse and Durindana." Charles saw that a superior power watched over the destinies of Ogier ; he vowed to love him as a father would, and Ogier promised him the devotion of a son. Happy had it been for both if they had always continued mindful of their promises. The Saracen army had hardly recovered from \ls dismay when Carahue, King of Mauritania, who wa< one of the knights overthrown by Ogier at tlu> time of the rescue of Charlemagne, determined to challenge him to single combat. With that view, he assumed the dress of a herald, resolved to cairy hii own message. The French knight* admired hw 840 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. air, and said to one another that he seemed more fit f to be a knight than a bearer of messages. Carahue began by passing the warmest eulogium upon the knight who bore the Oriflamme on the day of the battle, and concluded by saying that Carahue, King of Mauritania, respected that knight so much that he challenged him to the combat. Ogier had risen to reply, when he was interrupted by Chariot, who said that the gage of the King of Mauritania could not fitly be received by a vassal, living in captivity ; , by which he meant Ogier, who was at that time serving as hostage for his father. Fire flashed from the eye*, of Ogier, but the presence of the Emperor restrain* d his speech, and he was calmed by the kind look; of Charlemagne, who said, with an angry voice, " 8' nee, Chariot ! By the life of Bertha, my queen, he who has saved my life is as dear to me as yourself. ^gier," he continued, " you are no longer a hostage Herald ! report my answer to your master, that never does knight of my court refuse a challenge on equal terms. Ogier, the Dane, accepts of his, and I myself am his security." Carahue, profoundly bowing, replied, " My lord, I was sure that the sentiments of so great a sovereign as yourself would be worthy of your high and bril- liant fame ; I shall report your answer to my master, OGIER, THE DANE. 341 who I know admires you, and unwillingly takes arms against you." Then, turning to Chariot, whom he did not know as the son- of the Emperor, he con tinned, " As for you, Sir Knight, if the desire of battle inflames you, I have it in charge from Sadon, cousin of the King of Mauritania, to give the like defiance to any French knights who will grant him the honor of the combat." .' Chariot, inflamed with ''rage and vexation at the public reproof which he had just received, hesitated not to deliver his gage. Carahue received it with Ogier's, and it was agreed &hat the combat should be on the next day, in a mcfadow environed by woods and equally distant from b$h armies. The perfidious Chariot roditated the blackest trea- sdh. During the night " /<$ collected some knights unworthy of the name, iftfl like himself in their ferocious manners ; he n r' black armor, and sent them to lie in ambush in fhe wood, with orders to make a pretended attack uf>6n the whole party, but in fact to lay heavy hands upon Ogier and the two Saracens. At the dawn of day Sadon and Carahue, attended only by two pages to carry their spears, took tlu-ir to the appointed meadow ; and Chariot and 542 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Ogier repaired tliither also, but by different paths. Ogier advanced with a calm air, saluted courteously the two Saracen knights, and joined them in arranging the terms of combat. While this was going on, the perfidious Chariot re- mained behind and gave his men the signal to advance. That cowardly troop issued from the wood and encompassed the three knights. All three were equally surprised at the attack, but neither of them suspected the other to have any hand in the treason. Seeing the attack made equally upon them all, they united their efforts to resist it, and made the most forward of the assailants bite the dust. Cortana fell on no one without inflicting a mortal wound, but the sword of Carahue was not of equal temper and broke in his hands. At the same instant his horse was slain, and Carahue fell, without a weapon and entangled with his prostrate horse. Ogier, who saw it, ran to his defence, and, leaping to the ground, covered the prince with liis shield, supplied him with the sword of one of the fallen ruffians, and would have had him mount his own horse. At that mo- ment Chariot, inflamed with rage, pushed his horse upon Ogier, knocked him down, and would have run him through with his lance if Sadon, who saw the treason, had not sprung upon him and thrust OGIER, TrfE DANE. 343 him back. Carahuc leapt lightly upon the horse which Ogier presented him, and had time only to exclaim, " Brave Ogier, I am no longer your enemy, I pledge to you an eternal friendship," when numer- ous Saracen knights were seen approaching, having discovered the treachery, and Chariot with his fol- lowers took refuge in the wood. The troop which advanced was commanded by Dannemont, the exiled king of Denmark, whom Geoffroy, Ogier's father, had driven from his throne and compelled to take refuge with the Saracens. Learning who Ogier was he instantly declared him his prisoner, in spite of the urgent remonstrances and even threats of Carahue and Sadon, and carried him, under a strong guard, to the Saracen camp. Here he was at first subjected to the most rigor- ous captivity, but Carahue and Sadon insisted so vehemently on his release, threatening to turn their arms against their own party if it was not granted, while Dannemont as eagerly opposed the measure, that Corsuble, the Saracen commander, consented to a middle course, and allowed Ogier the freedom of his -camp, upon his promise not to leave it without permission. Carahue was not satisfied with this partial conces- sion. He left the city next morning, proceeded to 344 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. the camp of Charlemagne, and demanded to be led to the Emperor. When he reached his presence he dis- mounted from his horse, took off his helmet, drew his sword, and, holding it by the blade, presented it to Charlemagne as he knelt before him. " Illustrious prince," he said, " behold before you the herald who brought the challenge to your knights from the King of Mauritania. The cowardly old King Dannemont has made the brave Ogier prisoner, and has prevailed on our general to refuse to give him up. I come to make amends for this ungenerous conduct by yielding myself, Carahue, King of Mauri- tania, your prisoner." Charlemagne, with all his peers, admired the mag- nanimity of Carahue ; he raised him, embraced him, and restored to him his sword. " Prince," said he, " your presence and the bright example you afford my knights consoles me for the loss of Ogier. Would to God you might receive our holy faith, and be wholly united with us." All the lords of the court, led by Duke Namo, paid their respects to the King of Mauri- tania. Chariot only failed to appear, fearing to be recognized as a traitor ; but the heart of Carahue. was too noble to pierce that of Charlemagne by telling him the treachery of his son. Meanwhile the Saracen army was rent by discord- OGIER, THE DANE. 345 The troops of Carahue clamored against the com- mander-in-chief because their king was left in cap- tivity. They even threatened to desert the cause, and turn their arms against their allies. Charlemagne pressed the siege vigorously, till at length the Sara- cen leaders found themselves compelled to abandon the city and betake themselves to their ships. A truce was made ; Ogier was exchanged for Carahue, and the two friends embraced one another with vows of perpetual brotherhood. The Pope was re- established in his dominions, and Italy being tranquil, Charlemagne returned, with liis peers and their fol- lowers, to France. OGIER, THE DANE. CONTINUED. /CHARLEMAGNE had not forgotten the offence ^-^ of Geoffrey, the King of Denmark, in with- holding homage, and now prepared to enforce sub- mission. But at this crisis he was waited upon by an embassy from Geoffrey, acknowledging his fault, and craving assistance against an army of invaders who had attacked his states with a force which he. was unable to repel. The soul of Charlemagne was too great to be implacable, and he took this oppor- tunity to test that of Ogier, who had felt acutely the unkindness of his father, in leaving him, without regard OGIER, THE DANE. 347 or notice, fifteen years in captivity. Charles asked Ogier whether, in spite of his father's neglect, he was disposed to lead an army to his assistance. He replied, " A son can never be excused from helping his father by any cause short of death." Charlemagne placed an army of a thousand knights under the command of Ogier, and great numbers more volunteered to march under so distinguished a leader. He flew to the succor of his father, repelled the invaders, and drove them in confusion to their vessels. Ogier then has- tened to the capital, but as he drew near the city he heard all the bells sounding a knell. He soon learned the cause; it was the obsequies of Geoffrey, the King. Ogier felt keenly the grief of not having been per- mitted to embrace his father once more, and to learn his latest commands ; but he found that his father had declared him heir to his throne. He hastened to the church where the body lay; lie knelt and bathed the lifeless form with his tears. At that moment a celestial light beamed all around, and a voice as of an angel said, " Ogier, leave thy crown to Guyon, thy brother, and bear no other title than that of * The Dane.' Thy destiny is glorious ; and other kingdoms are reserved for thee." Ogier obeyed the divine behest. He saluted his stepmother respect- fully, and, embracing his brother, told him that he vra* 348 LEGENDS OF GHARLEMAGNK. content with his lot in being reckoned among the paladins of Charlemagne, and resigned all claims to the crown of Denmark. Ogier returned covered with glory to the court of Charlemagne, and the Emperor, touched with this proof of his attachment, loaded him with caresses, and treated him almost as an equal. We pass in silence the adventures of Ogier for several ensuing years, in which the fairy-gifts of his infancy showed their force in making him successful in all enterprises, both of love and war. He married the charming Belicene, and became the father of young Baldwin, a youth who seemed to inherit in full measure the strength and courage of his father and the beauty of his mother. When the lad was old enough to be separated from his mother, Ogier took him to court and presented him to Charlemagne, who embraced him, and took him into his service. It seemed to Duke Namo, and all the elder knights, as if they saw in him Ogier himself, as he was when a youth ; and this resemblance won for the lad their kind regards. Even Chariot at first seemed to be fond of him, though after a while the resemblance to Ogier which he noticed had the effect to excite his hatred. Baldwin was attentive to Chariot, and lost no occa- OGIER, THE DANE. 349 ion to be serviceable. The Prince loved to play chess, and Baldwin, who played well, often made a party with him. One day Chariot was nettled at losing two pieces in succession ; he thought he could, by taking a piece from Baldwin, get some amends for his loss ; but Baldwin, seeing him fall into a trap which he had set for him, could not help a slight laugh, as he said, " Check-mate." Chariot rose in a fury, seized the rich and heavy chess-board, and dashed it with all his strength on the head of Baldwin, who fell, and died where he fell. Frightened at his own crime, and fearing the ven- geance of the terrible Ogier, Chariot concealed himself in the interior of the palace. A young companion of Baldwin hastened and informed Ogier of the event. He ran to the chamber, and beheld the body of his cliild bathed in blood, and it could not be concealed from him that Chariot gave the blow. Transported with rage, Ogier sought Chariot through the palace, :md Chariot, feeling safe nowhere else, took reftige in the hall of Charlemagne, where he seated himself at table with Duke Namo and Salomon, Duke of Brittany. Ogicr, with sword drawn, followed him to the very table of the Emperor. When a cupbearer attempted to bar his way, he struck the cup from 350 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. his hand and dashed the contents in the Emperor's face. Charles rose in a passion, seized a knife, and would have plunged it into his breast, had not Salomon and another baron thrown themselves be- tween, while Namo, who retained his ancient influence over Ogier, drew him out of the room. Foreseeing the consequences of this violence, pitying Ogier, and in his heart excusing him, Namo hurried him away before the guards of the palace could arrest him, made him mount his horse, and leave Paris. Charlemagne called together his peers, and made them take an oath to do all in their power to arrest Ogier, and bring him to condign punishment. Ogier on his part sent messages to the Emperor, offering to give himself up on condition that Chariot should be punished for his atrocious crime. The Emperor would listen to no conditions, and went in pursuit of Ogier at the head of a large body of soldiers. Ogier, on the other hand, was warmly supported by many knights, who pledged themselves in his defence. The contest raged long, with no decisive results. Ogier more than once had the Emperor in his power, but declined to avail himself of his advantage, and released him with- out conditions. He even implored pardon for himself, but demanded at the same time the punishment of Chariot. But Charlemagne was too blindly fond of his OGIER, THE DANE. 351 unworthy son to subject him to punishment for the sake of conciliating one who had been so deeply in- jured. At length, distressed at the blood which his friends had lost in his cause, Ogier dismissed his little army, and, slipping away from those who wished to attend him, took his course to rejoin the Duke Guyon, his brother. On his way, having reached the forest of Ardennes, weary with long travel, the freshness of a retired valley tempted him to lie down to take some repose. He unsaddled Beiffror. relieved himself of his helmet, lay down on the turf, rested his head on his shield, and slept. It so happened that Turpin, who occasionally re- called to mind that he was Archbishop of Rheims, was at that time in the vicinity, making a pastoral visit to the churches under his jurisdiction. But his dignity of peer of France, and his martial spirit, which caused him to be reckoned among the " preux chevaliers " of his time, forbade him to travel without as large a retinue of knights as he had of clergymen. One of these was thirsty, and knowing the fountain on the borders of which Ogier was reposing, he rode to it, and was struck by the sight of a knight stretched on the ground. He hastened back, and let the Archbishop know, who approached the fountain, and recognized Ogier. 352 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMA3NE. The first impulse of the good and generous Turpin was to save his friend, for whom lie felt the warmest attachment ; but his archdeacons and knights, who also recognized Ogier, reminded the Archbishop of the oath which the Emperor had exacted of them all. Turpin could not be false to his oath ; but it was not with )ut a groan that he permitted his followers to bind the sleeping knight. The Archbishop's attendants secured the horse and arms of Ogier, and conducted their prisoner to the Emperor at Soissons. The Emperor had become so much imbittered by Ogier's obstinate resistance, added to his original fault, that he was disposed to order him to instant death. But Turpin, seconded by the good Dukes Namo and Salomon, prayed so hard for him, that Charlemagne consented to remit a violent death, but sentenced him to close imprisonment, under the charge of the Arch- bishop, strictly limiting his food to one quarter of a loaf of bread per day, with one piece of meat, and a quarter of a cup of wine. In this way he hoped to quickly put an end to his life without bringing on himself the hostility of the King of Denmark, and other powerful friends of Ogier. He exacted a new oath of Turpin to obey his orders strictly The good Archbishop loved Ogier too well not to cast about for some means of saving his life, which OGIER, THE DANE. 353 he foresaw he would soon lose if subjected to such scanty fare, for Ogier was seven feet tall, and had an appetite in proportion. Turpin remembered, more- over, that Ogier was a true son of the Church, always zealous to propagate the faith and subdue unbelievers ; so he felt justified in practising on this occasion what in later times has been entitled " mental reservation," without swerving from the letter of the oath which he had taken. This is the method he hit upon. Every morning he had his prisoner supplied witn a quarter of a loaf of bread, made of two bushels of flour ; to this he added a quarter of a sheep or a fat calf, and he had a cup made which held forty pints of wine, and allowed Ogier a quarter of it daily. Ogier's imprisonment lasted long, Charlemagne was astonished to hear, from time to time, that he still held out ; and when he inquired more particularly of Turpin, the good Archbishop, relying on his own understanding of the words, did not hesitate to affirm positively that he allowed his prisoner no more than the pennitted ration. We forgot to say that, when Ogier waa led pris- oner to Soisson.s, the Abbot of Saint Karon, observ- ing the fine horse Beiffror, and not having at the time any other favor to ask of Charlemagne, begged the Emperor to give him the horse, and had him 354 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. taken to his abbey. He was impatient to try his new acquisition, and, when he had arrived in his litter at the foot of the mountain where the horse had been brought to meet him, mounted him and rode onward. The horse, accustomed to bear the enormous weight of Ogier in his armor, when he perceived nothing on his back but the light weight of the Abbot, whose long robes fluttered against his sides, ran away, making prodigious leaps over the steep acclivities of the mountain, till he reached the convent of Jouaire, where, in sight of the Abbess and her nuns, he threw the Abbot, already half dead with fright, to the ground. The Abbot, bruised and morti- fied, revenged himself on poor Beiffror, whom he con- demned, in his 'wrath, to be given to the workmen to drag stones for a chapel that ne was building near the abbey. Thus, ill-fed, hard-worked, and often beaten, the noble horse Beiffror passed the time while his master's imprisonment lasted. That imprisonment would have been as long as his life if it had not been for some important events which forced the Emperor to set Ogier at liberty. The Emperor learned at the same time, that Cara- hue, King of Mauritania, was assembling an army to come and demand the liberation of Ogier ; that Gnyon, King of Denmark, was prepared to second UGIER, THE DANE. 356 the enterprise with all his forces ; and, worse than all. that the Saracens, under Bruhier, Sultan of Arabia, had landed in Gascony, taken Bordeaux, and were marching with all speed for Paris. Charlemagne now felt how necessary the aid of Ogier was to him. But, in spite of the representa lions of Turpin, Namo, and Salomon, he could not bring himself to consent to surrender Chariot to sudi punishment as Ogier should see fit to impose. Be- sides, he believed that Ogier was without strength and vigor, weakened by imprisonment and long absti- nence. At this crisis he received a message from Bruhier, proposing to put the issue upon the result of a combat between himself and the Emperor or his champion ; promising, if defeated, to withdraw his army. Charlemagne would willingly have accepted the challenge ; but his counsellors all opposed it. The herald was therefore told that the Emperor would take time to consider his proposition, and give his answer the next day. It was during this interval that the three Dukm succeeded in prevailing upon Charlemagne to pardon Ogier, and to send for him to combat the puissant enemy who now defied him ; but it was no easy task to penmade Ogier. The idea of his long imprison- 356 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMABNE. mi-lit and the recollection of his son, bleeding and dying in his arms by the blow of the ferocious Chariot, made him long resist the urgency of his friends. Though glory called him to encounter Bruhier, and the safety of Christendom demanded the destruction of this proud enemy of the faith, Ogier only yielded at last on condition that Chariot should be delivered into his hands to be dealt with as he should see fit. The terms were hard, but the danger was press- ing, and Charlemagne, with a returning sense of justice, and a strong confidence in the generou though passionate soul of Ogier, at last consented to them. Ogier was led into the presence of Charlemagne by the three peers. The Emperor, faithful to his word, had caused Chariot to be brought into the hall where the high barons were assembled, his hands tied, and his head uncovered. When the Emperor saw Ogier approach, he took Chariot by the arm, led him towards Ogier, and said these words : " I surrender the criminal ; do with him as you think fit." Ogier, without replying, seized Char- lot by the hair, forced him on his knees, and lifted with the other hand his irresistible sword. Charle- magne, who expected to see the head of his son roll- OGIER, THE DANE. 3/>7 ing at his feet, shut his eyes and uttered a cry of horror. Ogier had done enough. The next momont he raised Chariot, cut his bonds, kissed him on the mouth, and hastened to throw himself at the feet of the Emperor. Nothing can exceed the surprise and joy of Charle- magne at seeing his son unharmed and Ogier kneel- ing at his feet. He folded him in his arms, bathed him with tears, and exclaimed to his barons, " I feel at this moment that Ogier is greater than I.' As for Chariot, his base soul felt nothing but the joy of having escaped death ; he remained such as he had been, and it was not till some years after- wards he received the punishment he deserved, from the hands of Uuon of Bordeaux, as wo have seen in A former chapter. OGIER, THE DANE CONTINUED. WHEN Charlemagne had somewhat recovered his composure, he was surprised to observe that Ogier appeared in good case, and had a healthy color in his cheeks. He turned to the Archbishop, who could not help blushing as he met his eye. " By the head af Bertha, my queen," said Charlemagne, " Ogier has had good quarters in your castle, my Lord Arch- bishop ; but so much the more am I indebted to you." All the barons laughed, and jested with Turpin, who only said, " Laugh as much rs you please, my Wds ; but for my part I am not sorry to see the OGIER, THE DANE. 359 in full vigor that is to avenge us on the proud Saracen." Charlemagne immediately despatched his herald, accepting the challenge, and appointing the next day but one for the encounter. The proud and crafty Bruhier laughed scornfully when he heard the reply accepting his challenge, for he had a roliance on cer- tain resources besides his natural strength and skill. However, he swore by Mahomet to observe the condi- tions as proposed and agreed upon. Ogier now demanded his armor, and it was brought to him in excellent condition, for the good Turpin had kept it faithfully ; but it was not easy to provide a horse for the occasion. Charlemagne had the best horses of his stables brought out, except Blanchard, his own charger ; but all in vain, the weight of Ogier bent their backs to the ground. In this embarrass* ment the Archbishop remembered that the Emperor had given BeiflTror to the Abbot of St. Faron, and sent off a courier in haste to re-demand him. Monks are hard masters, and the one who directed the laborers at the abtay had but too faithfully obeyed the orders of the Abbot. Poor Beiffror was brought back lean, spiritless, and chafed with the harness of the vile cart that he had had to draw so lon. He carried his head down, and tnx! heavily before Charle> 860 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. magne ; but when he heard the voice of Ogier he raised his head, he neighed, his eyes flashed, his former ardor showed itself by the force with which he pawed the ground. Ogier caressed him, and the ood steed seemed to return his caresses ; Ogier mounted him, and Beiffror, proud of carrying his master again, leapt and curvetted with all his youth- ful vigor. Nothing being now wanted, Charlemagne, at the head of his army, marched forth from the city of Paris, and occupied the hill of Montmartre, whence the view extended over the plain of St. Denis, where the battle was to be fought. When the appointed day came, the Dukes Namo and Salomon, as seconds of Ogier, accompanied him to the place marked out for the lists, and Bruhier, with two distinguished Emirs, presented himself on che other side. Bruhier was in high spirits, and jested with his friends, as he advanced, upon the appearance of Beif- fror. " Is that the horse they presume to match with Marchevalle'e, the best steed that ever fed in the vales of Mount Atlas ? " But now the combatants, having met and saluted each other, ride apart, to come to- gether in full career. Beiffror flew over the plain, and met the adversary more than half-way. The lances OGIER, THE DANE. 361 of the two combatants were shivered at the shock, and Bruhier was astonished to see almost at the same instant the sword of Ogier gleaming above his head. He parried it with his buckler, and gave Ogier a blow on his helmet, who returned it with another, better aimed or better seconded by the temper of his blade, for it cut away part of Bruhier's helmet, and with it his ear and part of his cheek. Ogier, seeing the blood, did not immediately repeat his blow, and Bru- hier seized the moment to gallop off" on one side. As he rode he took a vase of gold which hung at his saddle-bow, and bathed with its contents the wounded part. The blood instantly ceased to flow, the ear and the flesh were restored quite whole, and the Dane was astonished to see his antagonist return to the ground as sound as ever. Bruhier laughed at his amazement. " Know," said he, " that I possess the precious balm that Joseph of Arimathea used upon the body of the crucified one, whom you worship. If I should lose an arm, I could restore it with a few drops of this. It is useless for you to contend with me. Yield yourself, and, as you appear to be a strong fellow, I will make you first oarsman in one of my galleys." Ogier, though boiling with rage, forgot not to im- plore the assistance of Heaven. " O Lord," he ex- 16 362 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Claimed , " suffer not the enemy of thy name to profit by the powerful help of that which owes all its virtue to thy divine blood." At these words he attacked Bruhier again with more vigor than ever ; both struck terrible blows, and made grievous wounds ; but the blood flowed from those of Ogier, while Bruhier stanched his by the application of his balm. Ogier, desperate at the unequal contest, grasped Cortana with both hands, and struck his enemy such a blow that it cleft his buckler, and cut off his arm with it ; but Bruhier at the same time launched one at Ogier, which, missing him, struck the head of Beiffror, and the good horse fell, and drew down his master in his fall. Bruhier had time to leap to the ground, to pick up his arm and apply his balsam ; then, before Ogier had recovered his footing, he rushed forward with sword uplifted to complete his destruction. Charlemagne, from the height of Montmartre, seeing the brave Ogier in this situation, groaned, and was ready to murmur against Providence ; but the good Purpin, raising his arms, with a faith like that of Moses, drew down upon the Christian warrior the favor of Heaven. Ogier, promptly disengaging himself, pressed Bruhier with so much impetuosity that he drove him to a OGIER, THE DANE. 363 distance from his horse, to whose saddle-bow the precious balm was suspended ; and very soon Charle- magne saw Ogier, now completely in the advantage, bring his enemy to his knees, tear off his helmet, and, with a sweep of his sword, strike his head from hia body. After the victory, Ogier seized Marchevalle'e, leaped upon his back, and became possessed of the precious flask, a few drops from which closed his wounds and restored his strength. The French knights who had been B miner's captives, now released, pressed round Ogier to thank him for their deliverance. Charlemagne and his nobles, as soon as their atten- tion was relieved from the single combat, perceived from their elevated position an unusual agitation in the enemy's camp. They attributed it at first to the death of their general, but soon the noise of arms, the cries of combatants, and new standards which advanced, dis- closed to them the fact that Bruliier's army was attacked by a new enemy. The Emperor was right ; it was the brave Carahue of Mauritania, who, with an army, had arrived in France, resolved to attempt the liberation of Ogier, hia brother in arms. Learning on his arrival the changed aspect of affairs, he hesitated not to render a signal ervice to the Emperor, by attacking the army of 304 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Bruhier in the midst of the consternation occasioned by the loss of its commander. Ogier recognized the standard of his friend, and, leaping upon Marchevalle'e, flew to aid his attack. Charlemagne followed with his army ; and the Saracen host, after an obstinate conflict, was forced to surrender unconditionally. The interview of Ogier and Carahue was such as might be anticipated of two such attached friends and accomplished knights. Charlemagne went to meet th?m, embraced them, and putting the King of Mauritania on his right and Ogier on his left, returned with triumph to Paris. There the Empress Bertha and the ladies of her court crowned them with laurels, and the sage and gallant Eginhard, chamberlain and secretary of the Emperor, wrote all these great events in his history. A few days after, Guyon, King of Denmark, arrived In France with a chosen band of knights, and sent an ambassador to Charlemagne, to say that he came, not as an enemy, but to render homage to him as the best knight of the time and the head of the Christian world. Charlemagne gave the ambassador a cordial reception, and, mounting his horse, rode forward to meet the King of Denmark. These great princes, being assembled at the court OGIER, THE DANE. 366 of Charles, held council together, and the ancient and sage barons were called to join it. It was decided that the united Danish and Mauri- tanian armies should cross the sea and carry the war to the country of the Saracens, and that a thouuind French knights should range themselves under the banner of Ogier, the Dane, who, though not a king, should have equal rank with the two others. We have not space to record all the illustrious actions performed by Ogier and his allies in this war. Suffice it to say, they subdued the Saracens of Ptole- mais and Judaea, and, erecting those regions into a kingdom, placed the crown upon the head of Ogier. Guyon and Carahue then letl him, to return to their respective dominions. Ogier adopted Walter, the son of Guyon of Denmark, to be his successor in his kingdom. He superintended his education, and saw the young prince grow up worthy of his cares. But Ogier, in spite of all the honors of his rank, often regretted the court of Charlemagne, the Duke Nuino, and Salomon of Brittany, for whom he had the re- spect and attachment of a son. At last, finding Walter old enough to sustain the weight of government, Ogier caused a vessel to be prepan-H *n*t!y, and, attended only by one squire, letl his palace by night, ami embarked to return to France. 366 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. The vessel, driven by a fair wind, cut the sea with the swiftness of a bird ; but on a sudden it deviated from its course, no longer obeyed the helm, and sped fast towards a black promontory which stretched into the sea. This was a mountain of loadstone, and, its attractive power increasing as the distance diminished, the vessel at last flew with the swiftness of an arrow towards it, and was dashed to pieces on its rocky base. Ogier alone saved himself, and reached the shore on a fragment of the wreck. Ogier advanced into the country, looking for . some marks of inhabitancy, but found none. On a sudden he encountered two monstrous animals, covered with glittering scales, accompanied by a horse breathing fire. Ogier drew his sword and prepared to defend himself; but the monsters, terrific as they appeared, made no attempt to assail him, and the horse, Papil- n, knelt down, and appeared to court Ogier to mount upon his back. Ogier hesitated not to see the adventure through ; he mounted Papillon, who ran with speed, and soon cleared the rocks and precipices which hemmed in and concealed a beautiful landscape. He continued his course till he reached a magnificent palace, and, without allowing Ogier time to admire it, crossed a grand court-yard adorned with colonnades, and entered a garden, where, making his way through OGIER, THE DANE. 867 alleys of myrtle, he checked his course, and knelt down on the enamelled turf of a fountain. Ogier dismounted and took some steps along the margin of the stream, but was soon stopped by meet- ing a young beauty, such as they paint the Graces, and almost as lightly attired as they. At the same moment, to his amazement, his armor fell off of its own accord. The young beauty advanced with a tender air, and placed upon his head a crown of flowers. At that instant the Danish hero lost his memory ; his combats, his glory, Charlemagne and his court, all vanished from his mind ; he saw only Morgana, he desired nothing but to sigh forever at her feet. We abridge the narrative of all the delights which Ogier enjoyed for more than a hundred years. Time flew by, leaving no impression of its flight. Morgana's youthful charms did not decay, and Ogier had none of those warnings ot increasing years which less- favored mortals never fail to receive. There is no knowing how long this blissful state night have lasted, if it had not been for an accident, by which Morgana one day, in a sportive moment, snatched the crown from his head. That moment Ogier regained hii memory, and lost his contentment. The recollection of Charlemagne, and of his own relatives and friends. 368 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. saddened the hours which he passed with Morgan*. The fairy saw with grief the changed looks of hei lover. At last she drew from him the acknowledg- ment that he wished to go, at least for a time, to revisit Charles's court. She consented with reluctance, and with her own hands helped to reinvest him with his armor. Papillon was led forth, Ogier mounted him, and, taking a tender adieu of the tearful Morgana, crossed at rapid speed the rocky belt which separated Morgana's palace from the borders of the sea. The sea-goblins which had received him at his coming awaited him on the shore. One of them took Ogier on his back, and the other placing himself under Papillon, they spread their broad fins, and in a short time traversed the wide space that separates the isle of Avalon from France. They landed Ogier on the coast of Languedoc, and then plunged into the sea and disappeared. Ogier remounted on Papillon, who carried him across the kingdom almost as fast as he had passed the sea. He arrived under the walls of Paris, which he would scarcely have recognized if the high towers of St. Genevieve had not caught his eye. He went straight to the palace of Charlemagne, which seemed to him to have been entirely rebuilt. His surprise was extreme, and increased still more on finding thai OGIER, THE DANE. 369 he understood with difficulty the language of the guards and attendants in replying to his questions ; and seeing them smile as they tried to explain to one another the language in which he addressed them. Presently the attention of some of the barons who were going to court was attracted to the scene, and Ogier, who recognized the badges of their rank, ad- dressed them, and inquired if the Dukes Namo and Salomon were still residing at the Emperor's court. At this question the barons looked at one another in amazement ; and one of the eldest said to the rest, " How much this knight resembles the portrait of my grand-uncle, Ogier the Dane." " Ah ! my dear nephew, I am Ogier the Dane," said he; and he remembered that Morgana had told him that he was little aware of the flight of time during his abode with her. The barons, more astonished than ever, concluded to conduct him to the monarch who then reigned, the great Hugh Capet. The brave Ogier entered the palace without hesi- tation ; but when, on reaching the royal hall, the barons directed him to make hia obeisance to the King of France, he was astonished to see a man of hort stature and large head, whose air, nevertheless was noble and martial, seated upon the throne on 16* * 370 LEGENDS Of CHARLEMAGNE. which he had so often seen Charlemagne, the tallest and handsomest sovereign of his time. Ogier recounted his adventures with simplicity and unaffectedness. Hugh Capet was slow to believe him; but Ogier recalled so many proofs and circumstances, that at last he was forced to recognize the aged war- rior to be the famous Ogier the Dane. The king informed Ogier of the events which had taken place during his long absence; that the line of Charlemagne was extinct; that a new dynasty had commenced ; that the old enemies of the kingdom, the Saracens, were still troublesome ; and that at that very time an array of those miscreants was besieging the city of Chartres, to which he was about to repair in a few days to its relief. Ogier, always inflamed with the love of glory, offered the service of his arm, which the illustrious monarch accepted graciously, and conducted him to the queen. The astonishment of Ogier was redoubled when he saw the new ornaments and head-dresses of the ladies; still, the beautiful hair which they built up on their foreheads, and the feathers interwoven, which waved with so much grace, gave them a noble air that delighted him. His ad- miration increased when, instead of the old Empress Bertha, he saw a young queen who combined a ma- jestic mien with the graces of her time of life, and OG1EB, THE DANE. 371 manners candid and charming, suited to attach all hearts. Ogier saluted the youthful queen with a re- spect so profound that many of the courtiera took him for a foreigner, or at least for some nobleman brought up at a distance from Paris, who retained the manners of what they called the old court. When the queen was informed by her husband that it was the celebrated Ogier the Dane whom he presented to her, whose memorable exploits she had often read in the chronicles of antiquity, her surprise was extreme, which was increased when she remarked the dignity of his address, the animation and even the youthfulness of his countenance. This queen had too much intelligence to believe hastily; proof alone could compel her assent ; and she asked him many questions about the old court of Charlemagne, and received such instructive and appropriate answers as removed every doubt. It is to the corrections which Ogier was at that time enabled to make to the popu- lar narratives of his exploits, that we are indebted for the perfect accuracy and trustworthiness of all the details of our own history. King Hugh Capet, having received that same even- ing couriers from the inhabitants of Chartres, inform- ing him that they were hard pressed by the besiegers, resolved to hasten with Ogier to their relief. 372 LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE. Ogier terminated this affair as expeditiously as he had so often done others. The Saracens having dared to offer battle, he bore the Oriflamme through the thickest of their ranks ; Papillon, breathing fire from his nostrils, threw them into disorder, and Cortana, wielded by his invincible arm, soon finished their over throw. The king, victorious over the Saracens, led back the Danish hero to Paris, where the deliverer of France received the honors due to his valor. Ogier continued some time at the court, detained by the favor of the king and queen ; but erelong he had the pain to witness the death of the king. Then it was that, impressed with all the perfections which he had discerned in the queen, he could not withhold thfl tender homage of the offer of his hand. The o queen would perhaps have accepted it, she had even called a meeting of her great barons to deliberate on the proposition, when, the day before the meeting was to be held, at the moment when Ogier was kneeling at her feet, she perceived a crown of gold which an invisi- ble hand had placed on his brow, and in an instant a cloud enveloped Ogier, and he disappeared forever from her sight. It was Morgana, the fairy, whose jealousy was awakened at what she beheld, who now resumed her power, and took him away to dwell with OOIER, THE DANE. 379 her in the island of Avalon. There, in company with the great King Arthur of Britain, he still lives, and when his illustrious friend shall return to resume his ancient reign, he will doubtless return wild him, aii-l share his triumph. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES COLLEGE LIBRARY This book is due on the last date stamped below. 27 63 Jan 3 64 Jan 1064 Nov 23 6 ^ Dec 1365 Ov 6- sea si ian V!ir25'66 ua V-L 030 03H Book Slip-15m-8,'58(5890s4)4280 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANUtiLES LIBRARY UCLA-College Library PN 687 C3B81 1896 L 005 666 368 5 College Library PN 687 C3B8 1896