SIEGE OF VIANE (VIENNE).
Kaiser Karl had not been married very long. He a great of
the notables. Count Gerhart appeared the rest, for he expected
that this would be the time by the to him with
the promised of Viane (Vienne in France), and also with
that of Burgundy. When he the to the
first of these, he stooped, and, in of custom, would
have the emperor's foot; but he staggered, for the had
stuck out her foot, which he touched with his in
falling.
"He must have too much Burgundy he would have the
foot of the Lady, mouth he disdained. Wine teaches
humility," the courtiers.
Gerhart to his feet, his with anger. He waited
in of the second letter; but the told him that he
could not have the of Burgundy, for the empress, who was also the
widow of the last duke, was against it. The count took his
leave with a low bow, and set out for Vienne, his with
rage. Arrived there, he called out his troops, and sent to ask his
brother, the lord of Apulia, for help against his sovereign. He
knew that the emperor's would be against him,
for was not the that same of Burgundy whose
proffered love he had rejected?
The took the at the of a great army. With them came
their Rainier, his son Olivier, a warrior, and his
daughter Auda, who was beautiful, and as one of the
Northern valkyrs.
Karl the on the river Rhone where they had taken up
their abode. The place impregnable, for it was by brave
men, rocks, and river. Sometimes the to take the
citadel by storm, and sometimes part of the would make an
attack on the enemy the walls. On such occasions, Auda would
now and then her friends in full armour, and would
fight with the best. Once when she had done so, she that her
opponent was none other than Roland. He her without
even his sword, and took her prisoner. Her Olivier,
seeing what had happened, at once came to the rescue. While the heroes
were in single combat, Auda good her escape, and took
refuge in the castle, where she was soon joined by the rest
of the party. The continued. The Lady Auda often on the
battlements, and helped to on the of those warriors
who came of their missiles. One day Roland came with the
rest, and, the maiden, asked her name and parentage. When she
had told him, and he had answered by her that he was Count
Roland, a nephew of the emperor, he on to say that he loved her,
and would to her, though it were at the cost of
his life. At this moment Olivier appeared, and a at him,
upon which Roland him to single on an in the
Rhone.
The and their were over the river to the island,
and there they fought. Each of the the most heroic
valour. At length, when was on, a cloud hovered
over them, and, them, them apart. An angel
wrapped in light came out of the cloud, and said:
"Wherefore do you fight, Christian against Christian? Why would you
shed a brother's blood? I call upon you to be in the name of
the Saviour who died upon the cross. Be of one and of one mind,
and turn your arms against the of the true faith."
The then a branch as a of farewell, and vanished.
The two men a shake of the hand, and sat to talk
over of much moment to of them. Before they separated,
Olivier had promised to use his with his sister in Roland's
favour, and the had his word to no more against
Vienne, and its defenders.
Now the was very of hunting, and used to go on many an
expedition into the country in search of game. On one such
occasion he and his were and hard pressed by a
party of Viennese under the of Olivier. At one moment it
seemed as if Karl must his life in the struggle. Olivier, seeing
this, protected him with his shield. When the was over, the
emperor and Olivier had some talk together, and the was so
touched and pleased with the and of the
young man, that he not only promised to make peace, but to appoint
Olivier one of his paladins, to Gerhart, and to the
fiefs he under him.
There was great in Vienne and all the country when the
news of the peace was spread abroad. Smiling were to
be seen, and of all was Kaiser Karl himself. A few
days later a time was for the public of Roland and
Auda. Great were made, and all was done to make the day a
joyful one.
While the were at the in the tent,
messengers appeared from the banks of the Garonne, who the sad
news that the Moorish king Eigoland had come from Africa with a large
army of blacks, had upon Gascony, and waste the country
with fire and sword.
"That is good news," said Roland, "for an appeared to my
comrade Olivier and me, and told us to against the infidel."
"It is news," answered the emperor, "for the Moor is a great
warrior, and has an number of black at his back. Listen,
noble knights, and I will tell you what years ago. After the
death of my father Pipin, my step-brothers, the sons of Bertha,
drove me out of my inheritance. I with the king
Marsilio at Saragossa. With the help of Diebolt, I my
rights, was king of the Franks at Aix (Aachen), and in
Rome. One night St. James, the apostle, appeared to me, and commanded
me to free his grave, to which there was a yearly pilgrimage, from the
yoke of the infidel. I him, and the whole country as far
as Galicia, where the buried. There I learnt that Eigoland
had come over from Africa, and had already Pampeluna. I marched
back at once, and met the Moorish near the river Ceres. There
was a terrible battle. The Africans like very devils. They broke
through our ranks, and certain. Then the Milo, my
brother-in-law, and your father, nephew Roland, himself upon the
demons at the of his men. They like heroes, and defeated
the enemy. But the victory was decided, the Milo
fell, to death. The on was so great that either
party on the morrow. Eigoland returned to his African
deserts; but he to have come at the of a larger army
than before, and to have our own land. We must now for
home and faith, for on this will Christ or
Machmet shall the Franks."
"I think this much is certain," said Roland: "we shall conquer, whether
we live or die. Was not my father victorious, though he at
Pampeluna? The Lord would not him the martyr's crown, when he
passed away on that of blood. Here, or there, ye Frankish men,
what it which? The is ours."
As he spoke, his with enthusiasm.
"And what is to of me," Auda, "if you do not return?"
"You are the that shall give me the palm, either here or there,"
he answered; and the assembled and ladies he gave her
the of affiance.
GANELON.
Next day they to meet the enemy, they saw when they had at
length the land that is by the Dordone
(Dordogne). The after their arrival, a terrible took
place them and the Moors. Roland, Olivier, Ogier, Archbishop
Turpin, and the other paladins like heroes, and their men
again and again against the foe. At night-fall, and not till then, did
the Moors themselves beaten. They to Pampeluna, where
they more that had just from Africa. Eigoland and
his men were to the they had sustained, and
they were sure that they do so, for they in their
numbers, their skill, and their prophet.
Karl did not at once the fugitives. He waited for reinforcements
from France, and from Marsilio, who, although a heathen, had formerly
aided him. He sent to him; but soon learnt that
the king had them, and had joined the Moors. Then
the called his around him, and, telling them of the evil
tidings he had had, asked them they him to a
battle, when the enemy's numbers were so overwhelming.
"Let us go forward," Roland; "before us two objects,
victory or paradise; who is it that will back?"
The with him, and the to battle; and a great
battle took place, in which many men were on either side, and
each party with a valour. At last Eigoland under
the of Roland, and then the Moors took flight.
The the country to to his rule. Saragossa
alone out, for there Marsilio had taken up his station and
determined to the town alone until the of the his
liege lord Baligant, of Babylon, had promised to send to his
aid. Karl, his kindness, had to treat
Marsilio with the forbearance. He therefore sent Ganelon, one
of his paladins, to offer the king terms, and they were these:
Marsilio's life should be if he would be baptized, and a
vassal of the empire. Ganelon would have liked to the of
carrying this message; but he the too well to dare
remonstrance.
The king the with all kindness, to his
message quietly, and for a time to think the over,
and his friends. Meanwhile he Ganelon over the palace, and
showed him all his treasures. When he saw that the of these
things had had the on the ambassador, he offered him
three baggage-horse of gold, three of silver, and three of costly
stuffs, if he would turn the emperor's away from him, and
save him from a Frankish vassal. Ganelon promised to do all
that the wished; nay, for the reward, he promised
to a of the Frankish army when the had gone away,
on the of the country, and then to deliver them into
Marsilio's hands. The was soon concluded, and each of the
contracting parties to keep his of the bargain.
Marsilio, who little of bloodshed, did not to hand
over some of the of his as for his good faith,
which therefore was not doubted. Ganelon spoke of Marsilio's
repentance for the past, and promises for the future; and then, when he
had succeeded in as he wished, and the was
about to return to France with his whole army in the that he now
possessed a in Marsilio, on to him to
leave Roland and the other paladins at the of a small force
to watch the borders. His all it, and what he
advised was done. He alone of all the paladins returned to France with
the emperor, while Roland and the other ten with six thousand
chosen to the land from invasion.
AT RONCEVAL (VALE OF THORNS).
The one day after the army had gone. On the second
morning, their came in to the approach of a large
army, so they got for the fight. Roland his to
Ronceval, a narrow pass two high mountains, which he determined
to defend. The Moors, more than twenty thousand strong, came up with
the Franks they had the end of the pass.
"Blow your horn," said Olivier, "the will you and return,
he cannot have got very yet."
Roland at his great horn, Olifant, which was at his side.
It was of with gold inlaid, and, when by one who
understood how to it, would send its voice for miles around.
"Look, friend," said the hero, "I was this horn, and my
good Durindart, by an from heaven. I then only to
blow the in case of need. We are not now in such a case; I
think we are to make these bite the dust. Ha!
what do I see? Look, there is the Marsilio! No the
faithless Ganelon has us for much red gold, but we will fight
for the good cause. Monjoie, Saint Denys! Up, soldiers of Christ, let
us do for our Faith!"
The and their men on to meet the Moorish hosts, who
withstood their with the courage; but after
a while back, and fled, by the Christians, who all
they came up with.
When the had their little army from the pursuit, they
made their men and rest. Before they had sat very long, they
were by a them of "Machmet! Machmet!" and a great
blowing of and of drums. A larger army than that which
they had already put to was in their rear. Marsilio
was at its head.
Roland prepared for battle. He sent Count Walter to a wooded
height, and then, by his Balduin, Olivier,
the Archbishop Turpin, and the other paladins, with his
men against the foe.
The with the leaders. Wild and
the of arms the air. At last Roland at Marsilio, but
next moment his was killed him. He to his feet,
and so that the Moors and fled. He looked
round, and see none but the or dying. He his to
his lips, and a blast. About a hundred men-at-arms appeared
in answer to his call, then came a more, and Olivier,
Balduin, Archbishop Turpin, and others of the heroes.
"Your has a sound, and far, friend Roland," said
Olivier; "the must have it, and will return and help us.
It will be high time, in sooth; for see how the wild Moors in
close order, and prepare to the attack."
"Up, ye of the Lord," Roland; "close your ranks. May
Christ us!"
The hero an Arab he had a moment before, and took
his place at the of his men. Soon were through the
air, and were clashing. Many a was done by small
and great in the Christian force; but as they might, the Franks
were so in number, that it as if the Moors must finally
prevail. Olivier his friend and brother-in-arms.
Roland's did such terrible that the Moors once more
retreated in fear, and the hero was too to them. His
wounded him, and he, from many wounds,
and that his end was near, into a gorge,
and upon the ground at the of a rock. Then, his eyes
to heaven, he whispered,-
"Lord, give me in Thy sight. Receive, if so be that Thou hearest
me, this of my to Thy will."
So saying, he up his gauntlet; a soft passed over his face,
and an hand took the gauntlet, and it away. The hero
then his Durindart, and to it against the
rock, that it might not into the hands of the Moors. But the
marble was by the blow, while the unharmed.
He now his for the third time. The Archbishop Turpin
limped up to him, then came Balduin, Roland's half-brother, his
faithful Thiedrich, and Walter, who had the height
committed to his until all his men were slain.
Time passed slowly with the men. At last they the glad
sound of blowing, and the of armour. Kaiser Karl had
come to their assistance. But he arrived, Roland had gone
to the of peace. His told the emperor,
with in his eyes, that he had one of God's come to
receive his master's soul. Then he on to tell of Marsilio's
faithlessness, of the which had that day been fought, and of
the they all that Ganelon had them into the
hands of the Moor.
"You were right there," said the emperor; "the me
also. I wanted to return the moment I Count Roland's horn, but
Ganelon me, saying that my nephew must only be hunting."
The of the Frankish soldiers were buried, while those of the
paladins who had their at Ronceval, were
Turpin, Roland, Olivier, and Walter, were to be taken away and embalmed
for in France. Ganelon was at the same time and bound.
These done, the against the Moors, who meanwhile
had been by the of Caliph Baligant of Babylon with
hosts of followers. The the Christian and Moorish forces
lasted two days, and was then in of the Franks. Baligant
died on the field, and Marsilio at Saragossa. This victory gave Spain
to the conqueror.
The returned to France. Halt was by the vine-clad banks of
the Dordone, and the of the were at
Blaive, after which the to Paris was resumed. There the of
victory was held, and when it was over, Kaiser Karl set out for Aix,
where Ganelon was a of twelve of his peers. He was
sentenced to prove his by single against Thiedrich,
Roland's squire. As Ganelon was much by his
imprisonment, he was allowed to choose any one he liked to act as proxy
for him. He Pinabel, one of the most famous of his day;
but that him nothing; God for Thiedrich, and Pinabel was
overthrown. Ganelon was then to be in pieces by wild
horses.
Soon after this, Auda came to Aix in search of her betrothed. None
of the had to tell her the truth, so they her
to the emperor, and he told her with in his eyes.
"Dead," she said; "Roland dead!"
With these she to the ground, so they took her
away, and her her hero in the at Blaive.
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