 section 25 of bullfinches the legends of Charlemagne this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the age of Charlemagne by Thomas Bullfinch section 25 Huon of Bordeaux part 2 Huon having traversed the Apennines and Italy arrived at the environs of Rome where laying aside his armor he assumed the dress of a pilgrim in this attire he presented himself before the Pope and not till after he had made a full confession of his sins did he announce himself as his nephew ah my dear nephew exclaimed the Holy Father what harder penance could I impose than the Emperor has already done go in peace my son he added absolving him I go to intercede for you with the most high then he led his nephew into his palace and introduced him to all the cardinals and princes of Rome as the Duke of Guyenne son of the Duchess Alice his sister he won't at setting out had made a vow not to stop more than three days in a place the Holy Father took advantage of this time to inspire him with zeal for the glory of Christianity and with confidence in the protection of the most high he advised him to embark for Palestine to visit the Holy Sepulchre and to depart thence for the interior of Asia loaded with the blessings of the Holy Father he won obeying his councils embarked for Palestine arrived and visited with the greatest reverence the holy places he then departed and took his way toward the East but ignorant of the country and of the language he lost himself in a forest and remained three days without seeing a human creature living on honey and wild fruits which he found on the trees the third day seeking a passage through a rocky defile he beheld a man in tattered clothing whose beard and hair covered his breast and shoulders this man stopped on seeing him observed him and recognized the arms and bearing of a French knight he immediately approached and exclaimed in the language of the south of France God be praised do I indeed behold a chevalier of my own country after 15 years passed in this desert without seeing the face of a fellow countryman he want to gratify him still more unlaced his helmet and came towards him with a smiling countenance the other regarded him with more surprise than at first good heaven he exclaimed was there ever such a resemblance on noble sir he added tell me I beseech you of what country and race you come I require replied you all before telling you mine that you first reveal your own let it suffice you at present to know that I am a Christian and that in Guillen I was born a heaven grant that my eyes and my heart do not deceive me exclaimed the unknown my name is Charisman I am brother to gear the mayor of Bordeaux I was taken prisoner in the battle where my dear and illustrious master Savinas lost his life for three years I endured the miseries of slavery at length I broke my chains and escaped to this desert where I have sustained myself in solitude ever since your features recall to me my beloved sovereign in whose service I was from my infancy till his death you all made no reply but by embracing the old man with tears in his eyes then Charisman learned that his arms enfolded the son of the Duke Savinas he led him to his cabin and spread before him the dry fruits and honey which formed his only element you all recounted his adventures to Charisman who was moved to tears at the recital he then consulted him on means of conducting his enterprise Charisman hesitated not to confess that success seemed impossible nevertheless he swore a solemn oath never to abandon him the Saracen language which he was master of would be serviceable to them when they should leave the desert and mingle with men they took the route of the Red Sea and entered Arabia their way lay through a region which Charisman described as full of terrors it was inhabited by Oberon King of the fairies who made captive such nights as were rash enough to penetrate into it and transformed them into hobgoblins it was possible to avoid this district at the expense of somewhat lengthening their route but no dangers could deter Huon of Bordeaux and the brave Charisman who had now resumed the armor of a knight reluctantly consented to share with him the dangers of the shorter route they entered the wood and arrived at a spot whence alleys branched off in various directions one of them seemed to be terminated by a superb palace whose gilded roofs were adorned with brilliant weathercocks covered with diamonds a superb chariot issued from the gate of the palace and drove toward Huon and his companion as if to meet them halfway the prince saw no one in the chariot but a child apparently about five years old very beautiful and clad in a robe which glittered with precious stones at the site of him Charisman's terror was extreme he seized the reins of Huon's horse and turned him about hurrying the prince away and assuring him that they were lost if they stopped to parley with this mischievous dwarf who though he appeared a child was full of years and of treachery Huon was sorry to lose sight of the beautiful dwarf whose aspect had nothing in it to alarm yet he followed his friend who urged on his horse with all possible speed presently a storm began to roar through the forest the daylight grew dim and they found their way with difficulty from time to time they seemed to hear an infantine voice which said stop Duke Huon listen to me it is in vain you fly me Charisman only fled the faster and stopped not until he had reached the gate of a monastery of monks and nuns the two communities of which were assembled at that time in a religious procession Charisman feeling safe from the malice of the dwarf in the presence of so many holy persons and the sacred banners stopped to ask an asylum and made Huon dismount also but at that moment they were joined by the dwarf who blew a blast upon an ivory horn which hung from his neck immediately the good Charisman in spite of himself began to dance like a young collegian and seizing the hand of an aged nun who felt as if it would be her death they footed it briskly over the grass and were imitated by all the other monks and nuns mingled together forming the strangest dancing party ever beheld Huon alone felt no disposition to dance but he came near dying of laughter at seeing the ridiculous postures and leaps of the others the dwarf approaching Huon said in a sweet voice and in Huon's own language Duke of Guiyan why do you shun me I conjure you in heaven's name speak to me Huon hearing himself addressed in this serious manner and knowing that no evil spirit would dare to use the holy name in aid of his schemes replied sir whoever you are I am ready to hear and answer you Huon my friend continued the dwarf I always loved your race and you have been dear to me ever since your birth the gracious state of conscience in which you were when you entered my wood has protected you from all enchantments even if I had intended to practice any upon you if these monks these nuns and even your friend Charisman had had a conscience as pure as yours my horn would not have set them dancing but where is the monk or the nun who can always be deaf to the voice of the tempter and Charisman in the desert has often doubted the power of providence at these words Huon saw the dancers overcome with exertion he begged mercy for them the dwarf granted it and the effect of the horn ceased at once the nuns got rid of their partners smoothed their dresses and hastened to resume their places in the procession Charisman overcome with heat panting and unable to stand on his legs threw himself on the grass and began did I not tell you he was going on in an angry tone but the dwarf approaching said Charisman why have you murmured against providence why have you thought evil of me you deserved this light punishment but I know you to be good and loyal I mean to show myself your friend as you shall soon see at these words he presented him a rich goblet make the sign of the cross on this cup said he and then believe that I hold my power from the god you adore whose faithful servant I am as well as you Charisman obeyed and on the instant the cup was filled with delicious wine a draft of which restored vigor to his limbs and made him feel young again overcome with gratitude he threw himself on his knees but the dwarf raised him and bad him sit beside him and thus commenced his history Julius Caesar going by sea to join his army was driven by a storm to take shelter in the island of Solia where dwelt the fairy Glorianda from this renowned pair I draw my birth I am the inheritor of that which was most admirable in each of my parents my father's heroic qualities and my mother's beauty and magic art but a malicious sister of my mother's in revenge for some slight offense touched me with her wand when I was only five years old and forbade me to grow any bigger and my mother with all her power was unable to annul the sentence I have thus continued infantile in appearance though full of years and experience the power which I derive from my mother I use sometimes for my own diversion but always to promote justice and to reward virtue I am able and willing to assist you Duke of Guyan for I know the errand on which you come hither I presage for you if you follow my counsels complete success and the beautiful Clara Munda for a wife when he had thus spoken he presented to you on the precious and useful cup which had the faculty of filling itself when a good man took it in his hand he gave him also his beautiful horn of ivory saying to him you won't when you sound this gently you will make the hearer's dance as you have seen but if you sound it forcibly fear not that I shall hear it though at a hundred leagues distance and will fly to your relief but be careful not to sound it in that way unless upon the most urgent occasion Oberon directed you on what course he should take to reach the country of the Sultan Godiso you will encounter great perils said he before arriving there and I fear me he added with tears in his eyes that you will not in everything obey my directions and in that case you will suffer much calamity then he embraced Huon and Charisman and left them Huon and his follower traveled many days through the desert before they reached any inhabited place and all this while the wonderful cup sustained them furnishing them not only wine but food also at last they came to a great city as day was declining they entered its suburbs and Charisman who spoke the Saracen language perfectly inquired for an inn where they could pass the night a person who appeared to be one of the principal inhabitants seeing two strangers of respectable appearance making this inquiry stepped forward and begged them to accept the shelter of his mansion they entered and there hosted the honors of his abode with a politeness which they were astonished to see in a Saracen he had them served with coffee and sherbet and all was conducted with great decorum till one of the servants awkwardly overturned a cup of hot coffee on the host's legs when he started up exclaiming in very good gas-gun blood and thunder you blockhead you deserve to be thrown over the mosque Huon could not help laughing to see the vivacity and the language of his country thus break out unawares the host who had no idea that his guests understood his words was astonished when Huon addressed him in the dialect of his country immediately confidence was established between them especially when the domestics had retired the host seeing that he was discovered and that the two pretended Saracens were from the borders of the Garon embraced them and disclosed that he was a Christian Huon who had learned prudence from the advice of Oberon to test his host's sincerity drew from his robe the cup which the fairy king had given him and presented it empty to the host a fair cup said he but i should like it better if it was full immediately it was so the host astonished dared not put it to his lips drink boldly my dear fellow countrymen said huon your truth is proved by this cup which only fills itself in the hands of an honest man the host did not hesitate longer the cup passed freely from hand to hand their mutual cordiality increased as it passed and each recounted his adventures those of huon redoubled his host's respect for he recognized in him his legitimate sovereign while the host's narrative was in these words my name is floriac this great and strong city you will hear with surprise and grief is governed by a brother of duke saviness and your uncle you have no doubt heard that a young brother of the duke of guian was stolen away from the seashore with his companions by some corsairs i was then his page and we were carried by those corsairs to barberry where we were sold for slaves the barberry prince sent us as part of the tribute which he yearly paid to his sovereign the sultan god iso your uncle who had been somewhat puffed up by the flattery of his attendance thought to increase his importance with his new master by telling him his rank the sultan who like a true musselman detested all christian princes exerted himself from that moment to bring him over to the sarasen faith he succeeded but too well your uncle seduced by the arts of the santans and by the pleasures and indulgences which the sultan allowed him committed the horrid crime of apostasy he renounced his baptism and embraced mohammedanism god iso then loaded him with honors made him espouse one of his nieces and sent him to reign over this city and adjoining country your uncle preserved for me the same friendship which he had had when a boy but all his caresses and efforts could not make me renounce my fate perhaps he respected me in his heart for my resistance to his persuasions perhaps he had hopes of inducing me in time to imitate him he made me accompany him to this city of which he was master he gave me his confidence and permits me to keep in my service some christians whom i protect for the sake of their faith exclaimed huon take me to this guilty uncle a prince of the house of guian must he not blush at the cowardly abandonment of the faith of his fathers alas replied floriac i fear he will neither be sensible of shame at your reproaches nor of pleasure at the side of a nephew so worthy of his lineage brutified by sensuality jealous of his power which he often exercises with cruelty he will more probably restrain you by force or put you to death be it so said the brave and fervent huon i could not die in a better cause and i demand of you to conduct me to him tomorrow after having told him of my arrival and my birth floriac still objected but huon would take no denial and he promised obedience next morning floriac waited upon the governor and told him of the arrival of his nephew huon of bordeaux and of the intention of the prince to present himself at his court that very day the governor surprised did not immediately answer though he had 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 devan to be assembled and after giving some secret orders went himself to meet his nephew whom he introduced under his proper name and titled to all the great officers of his court huon burned with indignation at seeing his uncle with forehead encircled with a rich turban surmounted with a crescent of precious stones his natural candor made him receive with pain the embraces which the treacherous governor lavished upon him meanwhile the hope of finding a suitable moment to reproach him for his apostasy made him submit to those honors which his uncle caused to be rendered to him the governor evaded with address the chance of being alone with huon and spent all the morning in taking him through his gardens and palace at last when the hour of dinner approached and the governor took him by the hand to lead him into the dining hall huon seized the opportunity and said to him in a low voice oh my uncle oh prince brother of the duke saviness 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 tomorrow 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 caddies agas and santons filled the other places sheriff's men sat down with them but floriak 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 anti chambers connected with the dining hall he was about to enter to give his guests notice of what he had seen when he heard a violent noise and commotion in the hall the cause was this huon and sheriff's men were well enough suited with the first course and ate with good appetite but the people of their country not being accustomed to drink only water at their meals huon and sheriff's men looked at one another not very well pleased at such a regimen huon laughed outright at the impatience of sheriff's men 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 sheriff's men who followed his example the governor and his officers seeing this abhorred sign contracted their brows and sat in silent consternation huon pretended not to observe it and having filled the cup again handed it to his uncle saying pray join us dear uncle it is excellent for dough wine the drink that will be to you like mother's milk the governor who often drank in secret with his own favorite sultanas the wines of grease and shiraz never in public drank anything but water he had not for a long time tasted the excellent wines of his native land he was sorely tempted to drink what was now handed to him it looked so bright in the cup outshining the gold itself he stretched forth his hand took the brimming goblet and raised it to his lips when immediately it dried up and disappeared huon and sheriff's men like gas guns as they were laughed at his astonishment christian dogs he exclaimed do you dare to insult me at my own table but i will soon be revenged at these words he threw the cup at the head of his nephew who caught it with his left hand while with the other he snatched the turban with its crescent from the governor's head and threw it on the floor all the serizans started up from the table with loud out cries and prepared to avenge the insult huon and sheriff's men put themselves on their defense and met with their swords the scimitar's directed against them at this moment the doors of the hall opened in a crowd of soldiers and armed eunuchs rushed in who joined in the attack upon huon and sheriff's men the prince and his follower took refuge on a broad shelf or sideboard where they kept at bay the crowd of assailants making the most forward of them smart for their audacity but more troops came pressing in and the brave huon inspired by the wine of bordeaux and not angry enough to lose his relish for a joke blew a gentle note on his horn and no sooner was it heard than it quelled the rage of the combatants and set them to dancing huon and sheriff's men 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 sultanah seized upon a young santan who performed jumps two feet high but soon the long dresses of this couple got intermingled and threw them down the santan's beard was caught in the sultanah'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 santan but he stumbled over a prostrate dervish 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 sheriff's men 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 godiso the two friends hastened to avail themselves of this favorable turn and taking leave of floriak pursued their journey end of section 25 section 26 of bullfinches the legends of charlemagne this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org the age of charlemagne by thomas bullfinch section 26 huon of bordeaux part 3 huon had seen many beauties at his mother's court but his heart had never been touched with love honor had been his mistress and in pursuit of that he had never found time to give a thought to softer cares strange that a heart so insensible should first be touched by something so unsubstantial as a dream but so it was the day after the adventure with his uncle night overtook the travelers as they passed through a forest a grotto offered them shelter from the night dues the magic cups supplied their evening meal for such was its virtue that it afforded not only wine but more solid fare when desired fatigue soon threw them into profound repose lulled by the murmur of the foliage and breathing the fragrance of the flowers huon dreamed that a lady more beautiful than he had ever before seen hung over him and imprinted a kiss upon his lips as he stretched out his arms to embrace her a sudden gust of wind swept her away huon awoke in an agony of regret a few moments sufficed to afford some consolation in showing him that what had passed was but a dream but his perplexity and sadness could not escape the notice of sheriff's men huon hesitated not to inform his faithful follower of the reason for his pensiveness and got nothing in return but his rallyings for allowing himself to be disturbed by such a cause he recommended a draft from the fairy goblet and huon tried it with good effect at early dawn they resumed their way they traveled till high noon but said little to one another huon was musing on his dream and sheriff's men's thoughts flew back to his early days on the banks of the flowery garonne on a sudden they were startled by the cry of distress and turning an angle of the wood came where a night hard pressed was fighting with a furious lion the night's horse lay dead and it seemed as if another moment would end the combat for terror and fatigue had quite disabled the night for further resistance he fell and the lion's paw was raised over him when a blow from huon's sword turned the monster's rage upon a new enemy his roar shook the forest and he crouched in act to spring when with the rapidity of lightning huon plunged his sword into his side he rolled over on the plane in the agonies of death they raised the night from the ground and sheriff's men hastened to offer him a draft 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 mohammed rather yourself said he for he has led you this day to render service to no less a personage than the prince of herkania at the sound of this blasphemy huon drew his sword and turned upon the miscreant who little disposed to encounter the prowess of which he had so lately seen proof betook himself to flight he ran to huon's horse and lightly vaulting on his back clapped spurs to his side and galloped out of sight the adventure was vexatious yet there was no remedy the prince and sheriff's men continued their journey with the aid of the remaining horse as they best might at length as evening set in they described the pinnacles and towers of a great city full before them which they knew to be the famous city of bagdad they were well nigh exhausted with fatigue when they arrived at its precincts and in the darkness not knowing what course to take were glad to meet an aged woman who in reply to their inquiries offered them such accommodations as her cottage could supply they thankfully accepted the offer and entered the low door the good dame busily prepared the best fair 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 fair 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 honour of the marriage of the sultan's daughter which was to take place on the morrow they asked who the bridegroom was to be and the old lady answered the prince of hercania but added our princess hates him and would rather wed a dragon than him how know you that asked you and the dame informed him that she had it from the princess herself who was her foster child huon inquired the reason of the princess's aversion and the woman pleased to find her chat excite so much interest replied that it was all in consequence of a dream a dream exclaimed huon yes a dream she dreamed that she was a hind and that the prince as a hunter was pursuing her and had almost overtaken her when a beautiful dwarf appeared in view drawn in a golden car having by his side a young man of yellow hair and fair complexion like one from a foreign land she dreamed that the car stopped where she stood and that having resumed her own form she was about to ascend it when suddenly it faded from her view and with it the dwarf and the fair haired youth but from her heart that vision did not fade and from that time her affianced bridegroom the hercanean prince had become odious to her sight yet the sultan her father by no means regarding such a cause as sufficient to prevent the marriage had named the morrow as the time when it should be solemnized in presence of his court and many princes of the neighboring countries whom the fame of the princess's beauty and the bridegroom's splendor had brought to the scene we may suppose this conversation woke a tumult of thoughts in the breast of huon was it not clear that providence led him on and cleared the way for his happy success sleep did not early visit the eyes of huon that night but with a 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 godiso 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 fault he ran forward to the second gate and cried to the porter dog of a misbeliever i command you in the name of him who died on the cross open to me the points of a hundred weapons immediately opposed his passage huon then remembered for the first time the ring he had received from his uncle the governor he produced it and demanded to be led to the sultan's presence the officer of the guard recognized the ring made a respectful obeisance and allowed him free entrance in the same way he passed the other doors to the rich salon where the great sultan was at dinner with his tributary princes at sight of the ring the chief attendant led huon to the head of the hall and introduced him to the sultan and his princes as the ambassador of charlemagne a seat was provided for him near the royal party the prince of herkania the same whom huon had rescued from the lion and who was the destined bridegroom of the beautiful clarimunda sat on the sultan's right hand and the princess herself on his left it chanced that huon found himself near the seat of the princess and hardly were the ceremonies of reception over before he made haste to fulfill the commands of charlemagne by imprinting a kiss upon her rosy lips and after that a second not by command but by goodwill the prince of herkania cried out audacious infidel take the reward of thy insolence and aimed a blow at huon which if it had reached him would have brought his embassy to a speedy termination but the ingrate failed of his aim and huon punished his blasphemy and ingratitude at once by a blow which severed his head from his body so suddenly had all this happened that no hand had been raised to arrest it but now godiso 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 roncival it was in vain oberon heard it but the sin of which huon had been guilty in bearing though but for a moment the character of a believer in the false prophet had put it out of oberon's power to help him huon finding himself deserted and conscious of the cause lost his strength and energy was seized loaded with chains and plunged into a dungeon his life was spared for the time merely that he might be reserved for a more painful death the sultan meant that after being made to feel all the torments of hunger and despair he should be flayed alive but an enchanter more ancient and more powerful than oberon himself interested himself for the brave huon the enchanter was love the princess claramunda learned with horror the fate to which the young prince was destined by the aid of her government 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 thence forth wholly to her after the most tender explanations the princess departed promising to repeat her visit on the morrow the next day she came according to promise and again brought supplies of food these visits were continued during a whole month huon was too good a son of the church to forget that the amiable princess was a saracen and he availed himself of these interviews to instruct her in the true fate how easy it is to believe the truth when uttered by the lips of those we love claramunda ere long professed her entire belief in the christian doctrines and desired to be baptized meanwhile the sultan had repeatedly inquired of the jailer how his prisoner bore the pains of famine and learned to his surprise that he was not yet much reduced thereby on his repeating the inquiry after a short interval the keeper replied that the prisoner had died suddenly and had been buried in the cavern the sultan could only regret that he had not sooner ordered the execution of the sentence while these things were going on the faithful sharersman who had not accompanied huon in his last adventure but had learned by common rumor the result of it came to the court in hopes of doing something for the rescue of his master he presented himself to the sultan as solario his nephew god iso received him with kindness and all the courtiers loaded him with attentions he soon found means to inform himself how the princess regarded the brave but unfortunate huon and having made himself known to her confidence was soon established between them claramunda readily consented to assist in the escape of huon and to quit with him her father's court to repair to that of charlemagne their united efforts had nearly perfected their arrangement a vessel was secretly prepared and all things in forwardness for the flight when an unlooked-for obstacle presented itself huon himself positively refused to go leaving the orders of charlemagne unexecuted sharersman was in despair bitterly he complained of the fickleness and cruelty of oberon in withdrawing his aid at the very crisis when it was most necessary earnestly he urged every argument to satisfy the prince that he had done enough for honor and could not be held bound to achieve impossibilities but all was of no avail and he knew not which way to turn when one of those events occurred which are so frequent under turkish despotisms a courier arrived at the court of the sultan bearing the ring of his sovereign the mighty agra part caliph of arabia and bringing the boasting for the neck of god iso 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 boasting had persuaded the caliph that god iso whose rapacity was well known had accumulated immense treasures which he had not duly shared with his sovereign and thus had obtained an order to supersede him in his emir ship the body of god iso would have been cast out a prey to dogs and vultures had not cherism under the character of nephew of the deceased been permitted to receive it and give it a 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 roam in their way where the holy father himself blessed the union of his nephew duke huon of bordeaux with the princess claire amunda 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 guian and his city of bordeaux where the pair were received with transports of joy end of section 26 section 27 of bullfinches the legends of charlemagne this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org the age of charlemagne by thomas bullfinch section 27 ogier the dain part one ogier the dain was the son of jeffroy who rested denmark from the pagans and reigned the first christian king of that country when ogier was born and before he was baptized six ladies of ravishing beauty appeared all at once in the chamber of the infant they encircled him and she who appeared the eldest took him in her arms kissed him and laid her hand upon his heart i give you said she to be the bravest warrior of your times she delivered the infant to her sister who said i give you abundant opportunities to display your valor sister said the third lady you have given him a dangerous boon i give him that he shall never be vanquished the fourth sister added as she laid her hand upon his eyes and his mouth i give you the gift of pleasing the fifth said lest all these gifts serve only to betray i give you sensibility to return the love you inspire then spoke morgana the youngest and handsomest of the group charming creature i claim you for my own and i give you not to die till you shall have come to pay me a visit in my isle of avalan 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 night 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 jeffroy ogier's father had omitted to render the homage due to him as emperor and sovereign lord of denmark one of the grand fiefs of that empire he accordingly sent an embassy to demand of the king of denmark this homage and on receiving a refusal couched in haughty terms sent an army to enforce the demand jeffroy after an unsuccessful resistance was forced to comply and as a pledge of his sincerity delivered ogier his eldest son a hostage to charles to be brought up at his court he was placed in charge of the duke namo of bavaria the friend of his father who treated him like his own son ogier grew up more and more handsome and amiable every day he surpassed in form strength and address all the noble youths his companions he failed not to be present at all turnies he was attentive to the elder knights and burned with impatience to imitate them yet his heart rose sometimes in secret against his condition as a hostage and as one apparently forgotten by his father the king of denmark in fact was at this time occupied with new loves ogier's mother having died he had married a second wife and had a son named guillon the new queen had absolute power over her husband and fearing that if he should see ogier again he would give him the preference over guillon she had adroitly persuaded him to delay rendering his homage to charlemagne till now four years had passed away since the last renewal of that ceremony charlemagne irritated at this delinquency drew closer the bonds of ogier's captivity until he should receive a response from the king of denmark to a fresh summons which he caused to be sent to him the answer of jeffroy was insulting and defiant and the rage of charlemagne was roused in the highest degree he was at first disposed to wreak his vengeance upon ogier his hostage but at the entreaties of duke namo who felt towards his pupil like a father consented to spare his life if ogier would swear fidelity to him as his liege lord and promise not to quit his court without his permission ogier accepted these terms and was allowed to retain all the freedom he had before enjoyed the emperor would have immediately taken arms to reduce his disobedient vassal if he had not been called off in another direction by a message from pope leo imploring his assistance the saracens had landed in the neighborhood of roam occupied mount janiculum and prepared to pass the tiber and carry fire and sword to the capital of the christian world charlemagne hesitated not to yield to the entreaties of the pope he speedily assembled an army crossed the alps traversed italy and arrived at spoleto a strong place to which the pope had retired leo at the head of his cardinals advanced to meet him and rendered him homage as to the son of pepe the illustrious protector of the holy sea coming as his father had done to defend it in the hour of need charlemagne stopped but two days at spoleto and learning that the infidels having rendered themselves masters of roam were besieging the capital 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 ojie waited as his squire he did not yet bear arms not having received the order of knighthood the aura flam the royal standard was born by a knight named allery who showed himself unworthy of the honor duke namo seeing a strong body of the infidels advancing to attack him gave the word to charge them ojie remained in the rear with the other youth grieving much that he was not permitted to fight very soon he saw allery lower the aura flam and turn his horse in flight ojie pointed him out to the young men and seizing a club rushed upon allery and struck him from his horse then with his companions he disarmed him clothed himself in his armor raised the aura flam and mounting the horse of the unworthy knight flew to the front rank where he joined duke namo drove back the infidels and carried the aura flam quite through their broken ranks the duke thinking it was allery whom he had not held in high esteem was astonished at his strength and valor ojie's young companions imitated him supplying themselves with armor from the bodies of the slain they followed ojie and carried death into the ranks of the serasins who fell back in confusion upon their main body duke namo now ordered a retreat and ojie obeyed with reluctance when they perceived charlemagne advancing to their assistance the combat now became general and was more terrible than ever charlemagne had overthrown corsable the commander of the serasins and had drawn his famous sword joyeuse to cut off his head when two seras and knight 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 ojie who saw him fall flew to his rescue though embarrassed with the aura flam he pushed his horse against one of the serasins and knocked him down and with his sword dealt the other so vigorous a blow that he fell stunned to the earth then helping the emperor to rise he remounted him on the horse of one of the fallen knights brave and generous allery charles exclaimed i owe to you my honor and my life ojie made no answer but leaving charlemagne surrounded by a great many of the knights who had flown to his sucker he plunged into the thickest ranks of the enemy and carried the aura flam followed by a gallant train of youthful warriors till the standard of mohammed turned in retreat and the infidels sought safety in their entrenchments then the good arch bishop turpan 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 crozier and intoned tedium at this moment ojie covered with blood and dust came to lay the aura flam at the feet of the emperor he was followed by a train of warriors of short stature who walked ill at ease loaded with armor too heavy for them ojie knelt at the feet of charlemagne who embraced him calling him allery while turpan from the height of the altar blessed him with all his might then young orlando son of the count melone and nephew of charlemagne no longer able to endure this misapprehension threw down his helmet and ran to unlace ojie'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 ojie in his arms and the happy fathers of those brave youths embraced them with tears of joy the good dupe namo stepped forward and charlemagne yielded ojie to his embrace how much do i owe you he said good and wise friend for having restrained my anger my dear ojie 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 joyous and while ojie and the rest knelt before him gave them the acolad conferring on them the order of knighthood the young orlando and his cousin oliver could not refrain even in the presence of the emperor from falling upon ojie's neck and pledging with him that brotherhood in arms so dear and so sacred to the knights of old times but charlo the emperor's son at the sight of the glory with which ojie had covered himself conceived the blackest jealousy and hate the rest of the day and the next were spent in the rejoicings of the army terpan in a solemn service implored the favor of heaven upon the youthful knights and blessed the white armor which was prepared for them duke namo presented them with golden spurs charles himself girded on their swords but what was his astonishment when he examined that intended for ojie the loving fairy morgana had had the art to change it and to substitute one of her own procuring and when charles drew it out of the scabbard these words appeared written on the steel my name is cortana of the same steel and temper as joyeuse and durandana charles saw that a superior power watched over the destiny of ojie he vowed to love him as a father would and ojie promised him the devotion of a son happy had it been for both if they had always continued mindful of their promises the sarasen army had hardly recovered from its dismay when carahue king of moritania who was one of the knights overthrown by ojie at the time of the rescue of charlemagne determined to challenge him to single combat with that view he assumed the dress of a herald resolved to carry his own message the french knights admired his air and said to one another that he seemed more fit to be a knight than a bearer of messages carahue began by passing the warmest eulogium upon the knight who bore the aura flam on the day of the battle and concluded by saying that carahue king of moritania respected that knight so much that he challenged him to the combat ojie had risen to reply when he was interrupted by charlo who said that the gauge of the king of moritania could not be fitly received by a vassal living in captivity by which he meant ojie who was at that time serving as hostage for his father fire flashed from the eyes of ojie but the presence of the emperor restrained his speech and he was calmed by the kind looks of charlemagne who said with an angry voice silence charlo by the life of bertha my queen he who has saved my life is as dear to me as yourself ojie 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 ojie the dain accepts of his and i myself am his security carahue profoundly bowing replied my lord i was sure that the sentiments of so great a sovereign as yourself would be worthy of your high and brilliant fame i shall report your answer to my master who i know admires you and unwillingly takes arms against you then turning to charlo whom he did not know as the son of the emperor he continued as for you sir knight if the desire of battle inflames you i have it in charge from cedon cousin of the king of morotania to give the like defiance to any french knights who will grant him the honor of the combat charlo inflamed with rage and vexation at the public reproof which he had just received hesitated not to deliver his gauge carahue received it with ojie's and it was agreed that the combat should be on the next day in a meadow envired by woods and equally distant from both armies the perfidious charlo meditated the blackest treason during the night he collected some nights unworthy of the name and like himself in their ferocious manners he made them swear to avenge his injuries armed them in black armor and sent them to lie in ambush in the woods with orders to make a pretended attack upon the whole party but in fact to lay heavy hands upon ojie and the two seresons at the dawn of day cedon and carahue attended to only by two pages to carry their spears took their way to the appointed meadow and charlo and ojie repaired thither also but by different paths ojie advanced with a calm air saluted courteously the two sereson knights and joined them in arranging the terms of combat while this was going on the perfidious charlo remained behind and gave his men the signal to advance that cowardly troop issued from the wood and encompassed the three knights all three were equally surprised at the attack but neither of them suspected the other to have any hand in the treason seeing the attack made equally upon them all they united their efforts to resist it and made the most forward of the assailants bite the dust courtana 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 ojie who saw it ran to his defense and leaping to the ground covered the prince with his shield supplied him with the sword of one of the fallen ruffians and would have him mount his own horse at that moment charlo inflamed with rage pushed his horse upon ojie knocked him down and would have run him through with his lands if cedon who saw the treason had not sprung upon him and thrust him back carahue leapt lightly upon the horse which ojie presented him and had time only to exclaim brave ojie i am no longer your enemy i pledged to you an eternal friendship when numerous saras and knights were seen approaching having discovered the treachery and charlo with his followers took refuge in the wood the troop which advanced was commanded by danamont the exiled king of denmark whom jeffroy ojie's father had driven from his throne and compelled to take refuge with the saracens learning who ojie was he instantly declared him his prisoner in spite of the urgent remonstrances and even threats of carahue and cedon and carried him under a strong guard to the saracen camp here he was at first subjected to the most rigorous captivity but carahue and cedon insisted so vehemently on his release threatening to turn their arms against their own party if it was not granted while danamont as eagerly opposed the measure that corsable the saracen commander consented to a middle course and allowed ojie the freedom of his camp upon his promise not to leave it without permission carahue was not satisfied with his partial concession he left the city next morning proceeded to the camp of charlemagne and demanded to be led to the emperor when he reached his presence he dismounted from his horse took off his helmet drew his sword and holding it by the blade presented it to charlemagne as he knelt before him illustrious prince he said behold before you the herald who brought the challenge to your knights from the king of morotania the cowardly old king danamond has made the brave ojie 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 morotania your prisoner charlemagne with all his peers admired the magnanimity of carahue he raised him embraced him and restored to him his sword prince said he your presence and the bright example you afford my knights consoles me for the loss of ojie 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 morotania charlo 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 would meanwhile the saracen army was rent by discord the troops of carahue clamored against the commander in chief because their king was left in captivity they even threatened to desert the cause and turn their arms against their allies charlemagne pressed the siege vigorously till at length the saracen leaders found themselves compelled to abandon the city and take themselves to their ships a truce was made ojie was exchanged for carahue and the two friends embraced one another with vows of perpetual brotherhood the pope was reestablished in his dominions and italy being tranquil charlemagne returned with his peers and their followers to france end of section 27 section 28 of bullfinches the legends of charlemagne this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org the age of charlemagne by thomas bullfinch section 28 ojie the dain part too charlemagne had not forgotten the offense of jeffroy the king of denmark in withholding homage and now prepared to enforce submission but at this crisis he was waited upon by an embassy from jeffroy acknowledging his fault and craving assistance against an army of invaders who had attacked his states with a force which he was unable to repel the soul of charlemagne was too great to be implacable and he took this opportunity to test that of ojie who had felt acutely the unkindness of his father in leaving him without regard or notice fifteen years in captivity charles asked ojie 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 ojie and great numbers more volunteered to march under so distinguished a leader he flew to the sucker of his father repelled the invaders and drove them in confusion to their vessels ojie then hastened to the capital but as he drew near the city he heard all the bells sounding a knell he soon learned the cause it was the obsequies of jeffroy the king ojie felt keenly the grief of not having been permitted to embrace his father once more and to learn his latest commands but he found that his father had declared him air to his throne he hastened to the church where the body lay he knelt and bathed the lifeless form with his tears at that moment a celestial light beamed all around and a voice of an angel said ojie leave thy crown to guillon thy brother and bear no other title than that of the dain thy destiny is glorious and other kingdoms are reserved for thee ojie obeyed the divine behest he saluted his stepmother respectfully and embracing his brother told him that he was content with his lot and being reckoned among the paladins of charlemagne and resigned all claims to the crown of denmark ojie 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 ojie 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 bellicine and became the father of young baldwin a youth who seemed to inherit in full measure the strengthened courage of his father and the beauty of his mother when the lad was old enough to be separated from his mother ojie 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 ojie himself as he was when a youth and this resemblance won for the lad their kind regards even charlo at first seemed to be fond of him though after a while the resemblance to ojie which he noticed had the effect to excite his hatred baldwin was attentive to charlo and lost no occasion to be serviceable the prince loved to play chess and baldwin who played well often made a party with him one day charlo was netled 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 checkmate charlo rose in a fury seized the rich and heavy chessboard and dashed it with all his strength on the head of baldwin who fell and died where he fell frightened at his own crime and fearing the vengeance of the terrible ojie charlo concealed himself in the interior of the palace a young companion of baldwin hastened and informed ojie of the event he ran to the chamber and beheld the body of his child bathed in blood and it could not be concealed from him that charlo gave the blow transported with rage ojie sought charlo through the palace and charlo feeling safe nowhere else took refuge in the hall of charlemagne where he seated himself at table with duke namo and salomon duke of britany ojie with sword drawn followed him to the very table of the emperor when a cupbearer attempted to bar his way he struck the cup from his hand and dashed the contents in the emperor's face charles rose in a passion seized a knife and would have plunged it into his breast had not salomon and another baron thrown themselves between while namo who had retained his ancient influence over ojie drew him out of the room for seeing the consequence of this violence pitying ojie 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 ojie and bring him to condine punishment ojie on his part sent messages to the emperor offering to give himself up on condition that charlo should be punished for his atrocious crime the emperor would listen to no conditions and went in pursuit of ojie at the head of a large body of soldiers ojie on the other hand was warmly supported by many knights who pledged themselves in his defense the contest raged long with no decisive results ojie more than once had the emperor in his power but declined to avail himself of his advantage and released him without conditions he even implored pardon for himself but demanded at the same time the punishment of charlo but charlemagne was too blindly fond of his unworthy son to subject him to punishment for the sake of conciliating one who had been so deeply injured at length distressed at the blood which his friends had lost in his cause ojie dismissed his little army and slipping away from those who wished to attend him took his course to rejoin the duke guillon 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 unsettled bay frore relieved himself of his helmet lay down on the turf rested his head on his shield and slept it so happened that terpen who occasionally recalled to mind that he was archbishop of rense 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 marshal spirit which caused him to be reckoned among the pruche valier 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 ojie 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 ojie the first impulse of the good and generous terpen was to save his friend for whom he felt the warmest attachment but his archdeacons and knights who also recognized ojie reminded the archbishop of the oath which the emperor had exacted of them all terpen could not be false to his oath but it was not without a groan that he permitted his followers to bind the sleeping knight the archbishop's attendance secured the horse and arms of ojie and conducted their prisoner to the emperor at soison the emperor had become so much embittered by ojie's obstinate resistance added to his original fault that he was disposed to order him to instant death but terpen seconded by the good dukes namo and salomon prayed so hard for him that charlemagne consented to remit a violent death but sentenced him to close imprisonment under the charge of the archbishop strictly limiting his food to one quarter of a loaf of bread per day with one piece of meat and a quarter of a cup of wine in this way he hoped to quickly put an end to his life without bringing on himself the hostility of the king of denmark and other powerful friends of ojie he exacted a new oath of terpen to obey his order strictly the good archbishop loved ojie too well not to cast about for some means of saving his life which he foresaw he would soon lose if subjected to such scanty fare for ojie was seven feet tall and had an appetite in proportion terpen remembered moreover that ojie was a true son of the church always zealous to propagate the faith and subdue unbelievers so he felt justified in practicing on this occasion what in later times has been entitled mental reservation without swerving from the letter of the oath which he had taken this is the method he hit upon every morning he had his prisoner supplied with a quarter of a loaf of bread made of two bushels of flour to this he added a quarter of a sheep or a fat calf and he had a cup made which held forty pints of wine and allowed ojie a quarter of it daily ojie'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 terpen the good archbishop replying on his own understanding of the words did not hesitate to affirm positively that he allowed his prisoner no more than the permitted ration we forgot to say that when ojie was led prisoner to soison the habit of saint ferron observing the fine horse befrere and not having at the time any other favor to ask of charlemagne begged the emperor to give him the horse and had him taken to his abbey he was impatient to try his new acquisition and when he had arrived in his litter at the foot of the mountain where the horse had been brought to meet him mounted him and rode onward the horse accustomed to bear the enormous weight of ojie in his armor when he perceived nothing on his back but the lightweight of the abbot whose long robes fluttered against his sides ran away making prodigious leaps over the steep aclivities of the mountain till he reached the convent of joueur where inside of the abbas and her nuns he threw the abbot already half dead with fright to the ground the abbot bruised and mortified revenged himself on poor befrere whom he condemned in his wrath to be given to the workmen to drag stones for a chapel that he was building near the abbey thus ill fed hard worked and often beaten the noble horse befrere 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 ojie at liberty the emperor learned at the same time that carahue king of moratania was assembling an army to come and demand the liberation of ojie that guillon king of denmark was prepared to second the enterprise with all his forces and worse than all that the seracins under bruyer 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 ojie was to him but in spite of the representations of nemo and salomon he could not bring himself to consent to surrender charlot to such punishment as ojie should see fit to impose besides he believed that ojie was without strength and vigor weakened by imprisonment and long abstinence at this crisis he received a message from bruyer 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 counselors all opposed it the herald was therefore told that the emperor would take time to consider his proposition and give his answer the next day it was during this interval that the three dukes succeeded in prevailing upon charlemagne to pardon ojie and to send for him to combat the quiescent enemy who now defied him but it was no easy task to persuade ojie the idea of his long imprisonment and the recollection of his son bleeding and dying in his arms by the blow of the ferocious charlot made him long resist the urgency of his friends though glory called him to encounter bruyer and the safety of christendom demanded the destruction of this proud enemy of the faith ojie only yielded at last on condition that charlot should be delivered into his hands to be dealt with as he should see fit the terms were hard but the danger was pressing and charlemagne with a returning sense of justice and a strong confidence in the generous though passionate soul of ojie at last consented to them ojie was led into the presence of charlemagne by the three peers the emperor faithful to his word had caused charlot to be brought into the hall where the high barons were assembled his hands tied and his head uncovered when the emperor saw ojie approach he took charlot by the arm led him towards ojie and said these words i surrender the criminal do with him as you think fit ojie without replying seized charlot by the hair forced him on his knees and lifted with the other hand his irresistible sword charlemagne who expected to see the head of his son rolling at his feet shut his eyes and uttered a cry of horror ojie had done enough the next moment he raised charlot cut his bonds kissed him on the mouth and hastened to throw himself at the feet of the emperor nothing can exceed the surprise and joy of charlemagne at seeing his son unharmed and ojie kneeling at his feet he folded him in his arms bathed him with his tears and exclaimed to his barons i feel at this moment that ojie is greater than i as for charlot his base soul felt nothing but the joy of having escaped death he remained such as he had been and it was not till some years afterwards he received the punishment he deserved from the hands of huon of bordeaux as we have seen in a former chapter end of section 28 section 29 of bullfinches the legends of charlemagne this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org the age of charlemagne by thomas bullfinch section 29 ojie the dain part three when charlemagne had somewhat recovered his composure he was surprised to observe that ojie appeared in good case and had a healthy color in his cheeks he turned to the archbishop who could not help blushing as he met his eye by the head of bertha my queen said charlemagne ojie has had good quarters in your castle my lord archbishop but so much the more am i indebted to you all the barons laughed and gested with turpin who only said laugh as much as you please my lords but for my part i am not sorry to see the arm in full vigor that is to avenge us on the proud serison charlemagne immediately dispatched his herald accepting the challenge and appointing the next day but one for the encounter the proud and crafty brew yer laughed scornfully when he heard the reply accepting his challenge for he had a reliance on certain resources besides his natural strength and skill however he swore by muhammad to observe the conditions as proposed and agreed upon ojie 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 ojie bent their backs to the ground in this embarrassment the archbishop remembered that the emperor had given bay frore to the abbot of saint ferron and sent off a courier in haste to redemand him monks are hard masters and the one who directed the laborers at the abbey had but too faithfully obeyed the orders of the abbot poor bay frore was brought back lean spiritless and chafed with the harness of the vile cart that he had had to draw so long he carried his head down and trod heavily before charlemagne but when he heard the voice of ojie he raised his head he made his eyes flashed his former ardor showed itself by the fourth with which he pawed the ground ojie caressed him and the good steed seemed to return his caresses ojie mounted him and bay frore proud of carrying his master again leapt and coveted with all his youthful vigor nothing now being 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 saint denis where the battle was to be fought when the appointed day came the duke's nemo and salomon as seconds of ojie accompanied him to the place marked out for the lists and brouillère with two distinguished amirs presented himself on the other side brouillère was in high spirits and gested with his friends as he advanced upon the appearance of bay frore is that the horse they presumed to match with marshal valet the best steed that ever fed in the veils of mount atlas but now the combatants having met and saluted each other ride apart to come together in full career bay frore flew over the plain and met the adversary more than halfway the lances of the two combatants were shivered at the shock and brouillère was astonished to see almost at the same instant the sort of ojie gleaming above his head he parried it with his buckler and gave ojie 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 brouillère's helmet and with it his ear and part of his cheek ojie seeing the blood did not immediately repeat his blow and brouillère seized the moment to gallop off at one side as he rode he took a vase of gold which hung at his saddle bow and bathed with its contents the wounded part the blood instantly ceased to flow the ear and the flesh were restored quite whole and the dame was astonished to see his antagonist returned to the ground as sound as ever brouillère laughed at his amazement no said he that i possessed the precious bomb that joseph of aramathia 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 ojie though boiling with rage forgot not to implore the assistance of heaven oh lord he exclaimed suffer not the enemy of thy name to profit by the powerful help of that which owes all its virtue to thy divine blood at these words he attacked brouillère again with more vigor than ever both struck terrible blows and made grievous wounds but the blood flowed from those of ojie while brouillère staunched his by the application of his bomb ojie 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 brouillère at the same time launched one at ojie which missing him struck the head of bay frore and the good horse fell and drew down his master in his fall brouillère had time to leap to the ground to pick up his arm and apply his balsam then before ojie had recovered his footing he rushed forward with sword uplifted to complete his destruction charlemagne from the height of momartre seeing the brave ojie in this situation groaned and was ready to murmur against providence but the good turpin raising his arms with a faith like that of moses drew down upon the christian warrior the favor of heaven ojie promptly disengaging himself pressed brouillère with so much impetuosity that he drove him to a distance from his horse to whose saddle bow the precious bomb was suspended and very soon charlemagne saw ojie now completely in the advantage bring his enemy to his knees tear off his helmet and with a sweep of his sword strike his head from his body after the victory ojie seized marsh valet 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 brouillère's captives now released pressed round ojie to thank him for their deliverance charlemagne and his nobles as soon as their attention was relieved from the single combat perceived from their elevated position and unusual agitation in the enemy's camp they attributed it at first to the death of their general but soon the noise of arms the cries of combatants and new standards which advanced disclosed to them the fact that brouillère's army was attacked by a new enemy the emperor was right it was the brave carahue of moritania who with an army had arrived in france resolved to attempt the liberation of ojie his brother in arms learning on his arrival the changed aspect of affairs he hesitated not to render a signal service to the emperor by attacking the army of brouillère in the midst of the consternation occasioned by the loss of its commander ojie recognized the standard of his friend and leaping upon marsh valet 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 ojie and carahue was such as might be anticipated of two such attached friends and accomplished knights charlemagne went to meet them embraced them and putting the king of moritania on his right and ojie 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 agon heart chamberlain and secretary of the emperor wrote all these great events in his history a few days after guillon king of danmark 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 night 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 danmark these great princes being assembled at the court of charles held council together and the ancient and sage barons were called to join it it was decided that the united danish and moritanian armies should cross the sea and carry the war to the country of the saracens and that a thousand french knights should range themselves under the banner of ojie the dain 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 ojie and his allies in this war suffice it to say they subdued the saracens of tolemaeus and judaea and erecting those regions into a kingdom placed the crown upon the head of ojie guion and carahue then left him to return to their respective dominions ojie adopted walter the son of guion of danmark to be his successor in his kingdom he superintended his education and saw the young prince grow up worthy of his cares but ojie in spite of all the honors of his rank often regretted the court of charlemagne the duke namo and salomon of britainy for whom he had the respect and attachment of a son at last finding walter old enough to sustain the weight of government ojie caused a vessel to be prepared secretly and attended only by one squire left his palace by night and embarked to return to france the vessel driven by a fair wind cut the sea with the swiftness of a bird but on a sudden it deviated from its course no longer obeyed the helm and sped fast towards a black promontory which stretched into the sea this was a mountain of lodestone 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 ojie alone saved himself and reached the shore on a fragment of the wreck ojie 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 ojie drew his sword and prepared to defend himself but the monsters terrific as they appeared made no attempt to assail him and the horse papillon knelt down and appeared to court ojie to mount upon his back ojie 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 ojie time to admire it crossed a grand courtyard adorned with colonnades and entered a garden where making his way through alleys of myrtle he checked his course and knelt down on the enameled turf of a fountain ojie dismounted and took some steps along the margin of the stream but was soon stopped by meeting a young beauty such as they paint the graces and almost as lightly attired as they at the same moment to his amazement his armor fell off of its own accord the young beauty advanced with a tender air and placed upon his head a crown of flowers at that instant the danish hero lost his memory his combats his glory charlemagne and his court all vanished from his mind he saw only morgana he desired nothing but to sigh forever at her feet we have bridged the narrative of all the delights which ojie enjoyed for more than a hundred years time flew by leaving no impression of its flight morgana's youthful charms did not decay and ojie had none of those warnings of increasing years which less favored mortals never fail to receive there is no knowing how long this blissful state might have lasted if it had not been for an accident by which morgana one day in a sportive moment snatched the crown from his head that moment ojie regained his memory and lost his contentment the recollection of charlemagne and of his own relatives and friends saddened the hours which he passed with morgana the fairy saw with grief the changed looks of her lover at last she drew from him the acknowledgement 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 ojie 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 ojie 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 ojie on the coast of languedoc and then plunged into the sea and disappeared ojie 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. jean vieve had not caught his eye he went straight to the palace of charlemagne which seemed to him to have been entirely rebuilt his surprise was extreme and increased still more on finding that he understood with difficulty the language of the guards and attendants in replying to his questions and seeing them smile as they tried to explain to one another the language in which he addressed them presently the attention of some of the barons who were going to court was attracted to the scene and ojie who recognized the badges of their rank addressed them and inquired if the duke's namo and salomon were still residing at the emperors court at this question the barons looked at one another in amazement and one of the eldest said to the rest how much this night resembles the portrait of my granduncle ojie the dain ah my dear nephew i am ojie the dain 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 huca pay the brave ojie entered the palace without hesitation but when on reaching the royal hall the barons directed him to make his obeisance to the king of france he was astonished to see a man of short stature and large head whose air nevertheless was noble and marshal seated upon the throne on which he had so often seen charlemagne the tallest and handsomest sovereign of his time ojie recounted his adventures with simplicity and effectiveness huca pay was slow to believe him but ojie recalled so many proofs and circumstances that at last he was forced to recognize the aged warrior to be the famous ojie the dain the king informed ojie 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 serocins were still troublesome and that at that very time an army of those miscreants was besieging the city of chartre to which he was about to repair in a few days to its relief ojie 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 ojie was redoubled when he saw the new ornaments and headdresses of the ladies still the beautiful hair which they built up on their foreheads and the feathers interwoven which waved with so much grace gave them a noble air that delighted him his admiration increased when instead of the old empress bertha he saw a young queen who combined a majestic mean with the graces of her time of life and manners candid and charming suited to attach all hearts ojie saluted the youthful queen with a respect so profound that many of the courtiers took him for a foreigner or at least for some nobleman brought up at a distance from paris who retained the manners of what they called the old court when the queen was informed by her husband that it was the celebrated ojie the dain 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 the 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 ojie was at that time enabled to make to the popular narratives of his exploits that we are indebted for the perfect accuracy and trustworthiness of all the details of our own history king yukapay having received that same evening couriers from the inhabitants of chartre informing him that they were hard-pressed by the besiegers resolved to hasten with ojie to their relief ojie terminated this affair as expeditiously as he had so often done others the saracens having dared to offer battle he bore the aura flam through the thickest of their ranks papillon breathing fire from his nostrils threw them into disorder and cortana wielded by his invincible arm soon finished their overthrow the king victorious over the saracens led back the danish hero to paris where the deliverer of france received the honors due to his valor ojie continued some time at the court detained by the favor of the king and queen but ere long he had the pain to witness the death of the king then it was that impressed with all the perfections which he had discerned in the queen he could not withhold the tender homage of the offer of his hand the queen would perhaps have accepted it she had even called a meeting of her great barons to deliberate on the proposition when the day before the meeting was to be held at the moment when ojie was kneeling at her feet she perceived a crown of gold which an invisible hand had placed on his brow and in an instant a cloud enveloped ojie and he disappeared forever from her sight it was morgana the fairy whose jealousy was awakened at what she beheld who now resumed her power and took him away to dwell with her in the island of avalon there in company with the great king arthur of britain he still lives and when his illustrious friend shall return to resume his ancient reign he will doubtless return with him and share his triumph end of section 29 end of the legends of charlemagne by thomas bullfinch