 Section 0 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 0, Introduction Those who have investigated the origin of the romantic fables relating to Charlemagne and his peers are of opinion that the deeds of Charles Martel and perhaps of other Charleses have been blended in popular tradition with those properly belonging to Charlemagne. It was indeed a most momentous era, and if our readers will have patience before entering on the perusal of the fabulous annals which we are about to lay before them to take a rapid survey of the real history of the times, they will find it hardly less romantic than the tales of the poets. In the century beginning from the year 600, the countries bordering upon the native land of our Saviour to the east and south had not yet received his religion. Arabia was the seat of an idolatrous religion resembling that of the ancient Persians who worshipped the sun, moon, and stars. In Mecca in the year 571, Muhammad was born, and here at the age of forty he proclaimed himself the prophet of God, indignity as superior to Christ as Christ had been to Moses. Having obtained by slow degrees a considerable number of disciples, he resorted to arms to diffuse his religion. The energy and zeal of his followers, aided by the weakness of the neighboring nations, enabled him and his successors to spread the sway of Arabia and the religion of Muhammad over the countries to the east as far as the Indus, northward over Persia and Asia Minor, westward over Egypt and the southern shores of the Mediterranean, and thence over the principal portion of Spain. All this was done within one hundred years from the Hajira or flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, which happened in the year 622, and is the era from which Muhammadans reckoned time as we do from the birth of Christ. From Spain the way was open for the Saracens, so the followers of Muhammad were called, into France, the conquest of which, if achieved, would have been followed very probably by that of all the rest of Europe, and would have resulted in the banishment of Christianity from the earth. For Christianity was not at that day universally professed, even by those nations which we now regard as foremost in civilization. Great parts of Germany, Britain, Denmark and Russia were still pagan or barbarous. At that time there ruled in France, though without the title of King, the first of those illustrious Charleses of whom we have spoken, Charles Martel, the grandfather of Charlemagne. The Saracens of Spain had made incursions into France in 712 and 718 and had retired carrying with them a vast booty. In 725 Anbesa, who was then the Saracen governor of Spain, crossed the Pyrenees with a numerous army and took by storm the strong town of Carcassonne. So great was the terror excited by this invasion that the country for a wide extent submitted to the conqueror and a Muhammadan governor for the province was appointed and installed at Narbonne. Anbesa however received a fatal wound in one of his engagements and the Saracens being thus checked from further advance retired to Narbonne. In 732 the Saracens again invaded France under Abdulrahman, advanced rapidly to the banks of the Garan and laid siege to Bordeaux. The city was taken by assault and delivered up to the soldiery. The invaders still pressed forward and spread over the territories of Orléans, Ossère and Sainte. Their advanced parties were suddenly called in by their chief who had received information of the rich abbey of Saint-Martin of Tours and resolved to plunder and destroy it. Charles during all this time had done nothing to oppose the Saracens for the reason that the portion of France over which their incursions had been made was not at that time under his dominion but constituted an independent kingdom under the name of Aquitaine of which Ayude was king. But now Charles became convinced of the danger and prepared to encounter it. Abdulrahman was advancing toward Tours when intelligence of the approach of Charles and the head of an army of Franks compelled him to fall back upon Poitiers in order to seize an advantageous field of battle. Charles Martel had called together his warriors from every part of his dominions and at the head of such an army as had hardly ever been seen in France crossed the Loire, probably at Orléans and being joined by the remains of the army of Aquitaine on the side of the Arabs in the month of October 732. The Saracens seemed to have been aware of the terrible enemy they were now to encounter and for the first time these formidable conquerors hesitated. The two armies remained in presence during seven days before either ventured to begin the attack. But at length the signal for battle was given by Abdulrahman and the immense mass of the Saracen army rushed with fury on the Franks. The heavy line of the northern warriors remained like a rock and the Saracens, during nearly the whole day, expended their strength in vain attempts to make any impression upon them. At length about four o'clock in the afternoon when Abdulrahman was preparing for a new and desperate attempt to break the line of the Franks a terrible clamour was heard in the rear of the Saracens. It was King Ayyuday who with his Aquitanians had attacked their camp and a great part of the Saracen army rushed tumultuously from the field to protect their plunder. In this moment of confusion the line of the Franks advanced and sweeping the field before it carried fearful slaughter amongst the enemy. Abdulrahman made desperate efforts to rally his troops but when he himself with the bravest of his officers beneath the swords of the Christians all order disappeared and the remains of his army sought refuge in their immense camp from which Ayyuday and his Aquitanians had been repulsed. It was now late and Charles unwilling to risk an attack on the camp in the dark withdrew his army and passed the night in the plain expecting to renew the battle in the morning. Accordingly when daylight came the Franks drew up in order of battle and no enemy appeared. And when at last they ventured to approach the Saracen camp they found it empty. The invaders had taken advantage of the night to begin their retreat and were already on their way back to Spain leaving their immense plunder behind to fall into the hands of the Franks. This was the celebrated Battle of Tour in which vast numbers of the Saracens were slain and only fifteen hundred of the Franks. Charles received the surname of Martel, the Hammer, in consequence of this victory. The Saracens notwithstanding this severe blow continued to hold their ground in the south of France but Pépin, the son of Charles Martel who succeeded to his father's power and assumed the title of King successively took from them the strong places they held and in 759 by the capture of Narbonne their capital extinguished the remains of their power in France. Charlemagne or Charles the Great succeeded his father Pépin on the throne in the year 768. This prince, though the hero of numerous romantic legends appears greater in history than in fiction. Whether we regard him as a warrior or as a legislator as a patron of learning or as the civiliser of a barbarous nation he is entitled to our warmest admiration. Such he is in history but the romancers represent him as often weak and passionate the victim of treacherous counsellors and at the mercy of turbulent barons on whose prowess he depends for the maintenance of his throne. The historical representation is doubtless the true one for it is handed down in trustworthy records and is confirmed by the events of the age. At the height of his power the French Empire extended over what we now call France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and great parts of Italy. In the year 800 Charlemagne being in Rome whether he had gone with a numerous army to protect the Pope was crowned by the pontiff Emperor of the West. On Christmas Day Charles entered the Church of St. Peter as if merely to take his part in the celebration of the Mass with the rest of the congregation. When he approached the altar and stooped in the act of prayer the Pope stepped forward and placed a crown of gold upon his head and immediately the Roman people shouted Life and victory to Charles the August crowned by God the great and Pacific Emperor of the Romans. The Pope then prostrated himself before him and paid him reverence according to the custom established in the times of the ancient emperors and concluded the ceremony by anointing him with consecrated oil. Charlemagne's wars were chiefly against the pagan and barbarous people who under the name of Saxons inhabited the countries now called Hanover and Holland. He also led expeditions against the Saracens of Spain but his wars with the Saracens were not carried on as the romances assert in France but on the soil of Spain. He entered Spain by the Eastern Pyrenees and made an easy conquest of Barcelona and Papaluna but Saragossa refused to open her gates to him and Charles ended by negotiating and accepting a vast sum of gold as the price of his return over the Pyrenees. On his way back he marched with his whole army through the gorges of the mountains by way of the valleys of Anguis, Eno and Ronseval. The chief of this region had waited upon Charlemagne on his advance as a faithful vassal of the monarchy but now on the return of the Franks he had called together all the wild mountaineers who acknowledged him as their chief and they occupied the heights of the mountains under which the army had to pass. The main body of the troops met with no obstruction and received no intimation of danger but the rearguard which was considerably behind and encumbered with its plunder was overwhelmed by the mountaineers in the pass of Ronseval and slain to a man. Some of the bravest of the Frankish chiefs perished on this occasion among whom is mentioned Roland or Orlando, Governor of the marches or frontier of Brittany. His name became famous in after times and the disaster of Ronseval and death of Roland became eventually the most celebrated episode in the vast cycle of romance. Though after this there were hostile encounters between the armies of Charlemagne and the Saracens they were of small account and generally on the soil of Spain. Thus the historical foundation of the stories of the Romancers is but scanty unless we suppose the events of an earlier and of a later age to be incorporated with those of Charlemagne's own time. There is, however, a pretended history which for a long time was admitted as authentic and attributed to Turpin, Archbishop of France a real personage of the time of Charlemagne. Its title is History of Charles the Great and Orlando. It is now unhesitatingly considered as a collection of popular traditions produced by some credulous and unscrupulous monk who thought to give dignity to his romance by ascribing its authorship to a well-known and eminent individual. It introduces its pretended author, Bishop Turpin, in this manner. Turpin, Archbishop of France the friend and secretary of Charles the Great excellently skilled in sacred and profane literature of a genius equally adapted to prose and verse the advocate of the poor, beloved of God in his life and conversation who often fought the Saracens hand-to-hand by the Emperor's side, he relates the acts of Charles the Great in one book and flourished under Charles and his son Louis to the year of our Lord, 830. The titles of some of Archbishop Turpin's chapters will show the nature of his history. They are these of the walls of Pamplona that fell of themselves of the War of the Holy Facundus where spears grew certain of the Christians fixed their spears in the evening erect in the ground before the castle and found them in the morning covered with bark and branches. How the sun stood still for three days and of the slaughter of 4,000 Saracens. Turpin's history has perhaps been the source of the marvelous adventures which succeeding poets and romancers have accumulated around the names of Charlemagne and his paladins or peers. But Ariosto and the other Italian poets are drawn from different sources and doubtless often from their own invention numberless other stories which they attribute to the same heroes, not hesitating to quote as their authority the good Turpin, though his history contains no trace of them. And the more outrageous the improbability or rather the impossibility of their narrations the more attentive they are to cite the Archbishop generally adding their testimonial to his unquestionable veracity. The principal Italian poets who have sung the adventures of the peers of Charlemagne are Pulci, Boyardo and Ariosto. The characters of Orlando, Rinaldo, Astolfo, Gano and others are the same in all though the adventures attributed to them are different. Boyardo tells us of the loves of Orlando Ariosto of his disappointment and consequent madness Pulci of his death. Augier the Dane is a real personage. History agrees with romance in representing him as a powerful lord who originally from Denmark and a pagan embraced Christianity and took service under Charlemagne. He revolted from the emperor and was driven into exile. He afterwards led one of those bands of piratical Northmen which ravaged France under the reins of Charlemagne's degenerate successors. The description which an ancient chronicler gives of Charlemagne as described by Augier is so picturesque that we are tempted to transcribe it. Charlemagne was advancing to the siege of Pavia. Didier, king of the Lombards, was in the city with Augier to whom he had given refuge. When they learned that the king was approaching they mounted a high tower whence they could see far and wide over the country. Quote They first saw advancing the engines of war fit for the armies of Darius or Julius Caesar. There is Charlemagne said Didier. No said Augier. The Lombard next saw a vast body of soldiers who filled all the plain. Certainly Charles advanced with that host said the king. Not yet replied Augier. What hope for us resumed the king if he brings with him a greater host than that? At last Charles appeared, his head covered with an iron helmet, his hands with iron gloves, his breast and shoulders with a queer ass of iron, his left hand holding an iron lance while his right hand grasped his sword. Those who went before the monarch, those who marched at his side and those who followed him all had similar arms. Iron covered the fields and the roads. Iron points reflected the rays of the sun. This iron so hard was born by a people whose hearts were harder still. The blaze of the weapons flashed terror into the streets of the city. End quote. This picture of Charlemagne in his military aspect would be incomplete without a corresponding one of his mood of peace. One of the greatest of modern historians, Monsieur Guizot, has compared the glory of Charlemagne to a brilliant meteor rising suddenly out of the darkness of barbarism to disappear no less suddenly in the darkness of feudalism. But the light of this meteor was not extinguished and reviving civilization owed much that was permanently beneficial to the great emperor of the Franks. His ruling hand is seen in the legislation of his time as well as in the administration of the laws. He encouraged learning. He upheld the clergy who were the only peaceful and intellectual class against the encroaching and turbulent barons. He was an affectionate father and watched carefully over the education of his children, both sons and daughters. Of his encouragement of learning we will give some particulars. He caused learned men to be brought from Italy and from other foreign countries to revive the public schools of France which had been prostrated by the disorders of preceding times. He recompensed these learned men liberally and kept some of them near himself, honoring them with his friendship. Of these the most celebrated is Alcuin, an Englishman whose writing still remain and prove him to have been both a learned and a wise man. With the assistance of Alcuin and others like him he founded an academy, or royal school, which should have the direction of the studies of all the schools of the kingdom. Charlemagne himself was a member of this academy on equal terms with the rest. He attended its meetings and fulfilled all the duties of an academician. Each member took the name of some famous man of antiquity. Alcuin called himself Horace. Another took the name of Augustine. A third of Pindar. Charlemagne, who knew the Psalms by heart and who had an ambition to be, according to his conception, a king after God's own heart, received from his brother academicians the name of David. Of the respect entertained for him by foreign nations an interesting proof is afforded in the embassy sent to him by the Caliph of the Arabians, the celebrated Haroun al-Rashid, a prince in character and conduct not unlike to Charlemagne. The ambassadors brought with them besides other rich presents, a clock, the first that was seen in Europe, which excited universal admiration. It had the form of a twelve-sided edifice with twelve doors. These doors formed niches, in each of which was a little statue representing one of the hours. At the striking of the hour the doors, one for each stroke, were seen to open and from the doors to issue as many of the little statues, which following one another, marched gravely round the tower. The motion of the clock was caused by water and the striking was affected by balls of brass equal to the number of the hours, which fell upon a symbol of the same metal, the number falling being determined by the discharge of the water, which as it sunk in the vessel, allowed their escape. Charlemagne was succeeded by his son Louis, a well-intentioned but feeble prince, in whose reign the fabric reared by Charles began rapidly to crumble. Louis was followed successively by two Charles's incapable princes, whose weak and often tyrannical conduct is no doubt the source of incidents of that character ascribed in the romances to Charlemagne. The lawless and disobedient deportment of Charles's paladins, instances of which are so frequent in the romantic legends, was also a trait of the declining empire, but not of that of Charlemagne. End of introduction. Section 1 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 1. The Peers or Paladins. The twelve most illustrious knights of Charlemagne were called Peers, for the equality that reigned among them, while the name of paladins, also conferred on them, implies that they were inmates of the palace and companions of the king. Their names are always given alike by the romancers, yet we may enumerate the most distinguished of them as follows. Orlando or Roland, the former the Italian, the latter the French form of the name, favorite nephew of Charlemagne, Rinaldo of Montalvin, cousin of Orlando, Namo duke of Bavaria, Solomon king of Brittany, Turpin the Archbishop, Astolfo of England, Ogier the Dain, Maligigi the Enchanter, and Floresmart, the friend of Orlando. There were others who are sometimes named as paladins, and the number cannot be strictly limited to twelve. Charlemagne himself must be counted one, and Ganylon or Gano of Mayence, the treacherous enemy of all the rest, was rated high on the list by his deluded sovereign, who was completely the victim of his arts. We shall introduce more particularly to our readers a few of the principal peers, leaving the others to make their own introduction as they appear in the course of our narrative. We begin with Orlando. Orlando. Milan or Milan, a knight of a great family and distantly related to Charlemagne, having secretly married Bertha, the emperor's sister, was banished from France and excommunicated by the Pope. After a long and miserable wandering on foot as mendicans, Milan and his wife arrived at Sutri in Italy, where they took refuge in a cave, and in that cave Orlando was born. There his mother continued, deriving a scanty support from the compassion of the neighbouring peasants, while Milan, in quest of honour and fortune, went into foreign lands. Orlando grew up among the children of the peasantry, surpassing them all in strength and manly graces. Among his companions in age, though in station far more elevated, was Oliver, son of the governor of the town. Between the two boys a feud arose that led to a fight, in which Orlando thrashed his rival, but this did not prevent a friendship springing up between the two, which lasted through life. Orlando was so poor that he was sometimes half-naked, as he was a favourite of the boys, one day four of them brought some cloth to make him close. Two brought white and two red, and from this circumstance Orlando took his coat of arms, or quarterings. When Charlemagne was on his way to Rome to receive the imperial crown, he dined in public in Sutri. Orlando and his mother that day had nothing to eat, and Orlando, coming suddenly upon the royal party, and seeing abundance of provisions, seized from the attendants as much as he could carry off, and made good his retreat in spite of their resistance. The emperor, being told of this incident, was reminded of an intimation he had received in a dream, and ordered the boy to be followed. This was done by three of the knights, whom Orlando would have encountered with a cudgel on their entering the grotto, had not his mother restrained him. When they heard from her who she was, they threw themselves at her feet, and promised to obtain her pardon from the emperor. This was easily affected. Orlando was received into favour by the emperor, returned with him to France, and so distinguished himself that he became the most powerful support of the throne and of Christianity. Roland and Farragas Orlando or Roland particularly distinguished himself by his combat with Farragas. Farragas was a giant, and moreover, his skin was of such impenetrable stuff that no sword could make any impression upon it. The giant's mode of fighting was to seize his adversary in his arms and carry him off in spite of all the struggles he could make. Roland's utmost skill only availed to keep him out of the giant's clutches, but all his efforts to wound him with the sword were useless. After long fighting Farragas was so weary that he proposed a truce, and when it was agreed upon he lay down and immediately fell asleep. He slept in perfect security, for it was against all the laws of chivalry to take advantage of an adversary under such circumstances. But Farragas lay so uncomfortably for the want of a pillow that Orlando took pity upon him and brought a smooth stone and placed it under his head. When the giant woke up after a refreshing nap and perceived what Orlando had done he seemed quite grateful, became sociable, and talked freely in the usual boastful style of such characters. Among other things he told Orlando that he need not attempt to kill him with a sword, for that every part of his body was invulnerable, except this, and as he spoke he put his hand to the vital part, just in the middle of his breast. Aided by this information Orlando succeeded, when the fight was renewed, in piercing the giant in the very spot he had pointed out, and giving him a death wound. Great was the rejoicing in the Christian camp, and many the praises showered upon the victorious paladin by the emperor and all his host. On another occasion Orlando encountered a puissant Saracen warrior and took from him, as the prize of victory, the sword Durandana. His famous weapon had once belonged to the illustrious prince Hector of Troy. It was of the finest workmanship and of such strength and temper that no armor in the world could stand against it. A Rowland for an Oliver Grand de Montglove held the lordship of Vienne, subject to Charlemagne. He had quarreled with his sovereign and Charles laid siege to his city, having ravaged the neighbouring country. Guerin was an aged warrior, but relied for his defence upon his four sons and two grandsons, who were among the bravest knights of the age. After the siege had continued two months, Charlemagne received tidings that Marcellius, king of Spain, had invaded France, and finding himself unopposed was advancing rapidly in the southern provinces. At this intelligence Charles listened to the council of his peers and consented to put the quarrel with Guerin to the decision of heaven by single combat between two knights, one of each party selected by lot. The proposal was acceptable to Guerin and his sons. The names of the four together with Guerin's own who would not be excused and of the two grandsons who claimed their lot, being put into a helmet, Oliver's was drawn forth and to him the youngest of the grandsons was assigned the honour and the peril of the combat. He accepted the award with delight, exulting in being thought worthy to maintain the cause of his family. On Charlemagne's side Rowland was the designated champion and neither he nor Oliver knew who his antagonist was to be. They met on an island in the Rhône and the warriors of both camps were ranged on either shore, in battle. At the first encounter both lances were shivered but both riders kept their seats immovable. They dismounted and drew their swords then ensued a combat which seemed so equal that the spectators could not form an opinion as to the probable issue. Two hours and more the knights continued to strike in Perry to thrust and ward neither showing any sign of weakness nor even being taken at unawares. At length Orlando struck furiously upon Oliver's shield burying Durandana in its edge so deeply that he could not draw it back and Oliver almost at the same moment thrust so vigorously upon Orlando's breastplate that his sword snapped off at the handle. Thus were the two warriors left weaponless. Scarcely pausing a moment they rushed upon one another each driving to throw his adversary to the ground and failing in that each snatched at the other's helmet to tear it away. They seated and at the same moment they stood bare-headed face to face and Roland recognized Oliver and Oliver Roland. For a moment they stood still and the next with open arms rushed into one another's embrace. I am conquered," said Orlando. I yield me," said Oliver. The people on the shore knew not what to make of all this. Presently they saw the two late antagonists standing hand in hand and it was evident the battle was at an end. They surrounded them and with one voice hailed them as equals in glory. If there were any who felt disposed to murmur that the battle was left undecided they were silenced by the voice of Oshie the Dane, who proclaimed aloud that all had been done that honor required and declared that he would maintain that award against all gainsayers. The quarrel with Geraint and his sons being left undecided a truce was made for four days and in that time by the efforts of Duke Namo on the one side and of Oliver on the other a reconciliation was affected. Charlemagne, accompanied by Geraint and his valiant family, marched to meet Marsilius who hastened to retreat across the frontier. Rinaldo Rinaldo was one of the four sons of Amon who married Aya, the sister of Charlemagne. Thus Rinaldo was nephew to Charlemagne and cousin of Orlando. When Rinaldo had grown old enough to assume arms Orlando had won for himself his name by his exploits against the Saracens whom Charlemagne and his brave knights had driven out of France. Orlando's fame excited a noble emulation in Rinaldo. Eager to go in pursuit of glory he wandered in the country near Paris and one day saw at the foot of a tree a superb horse fully equipped and loaded with a complete suit of armor. Rinaldo clothed himself in the armor and mounted the horse, but took not the sword. On the day when with his brothers he had received the honor of knighthood from the Emperor, he had sworn never to bind a sword till aside till he had rested one from some famous knight. Rinaldo took his way to the forest of Ardennes, celebrated for so many adventures. Hardly had he entered it when he met an old man, bending under the weight of years and learned from him that the forest was infested with a wild horse, untameable, that broke and overturned everything that opposed his career. To attack him, he said, or even to meet him, was certain death. Rinaldo, far from being alarmed, showed the most eager desire to combat the animal. This was the horse Bayard, afterwards so famous. He had formerly belonged to Amidus of Gaul. After the death of that hero he had been held under enchantment by the power of a magician, who predicted that, when the time came to break the spell, he should be subdued by night of the lineage of Amidus and not less brave than he. To win this wonderful horse it was necessary to conquer him by force or skill, for from the moment when he should be thrown down he would become docile and manageable. His habitual resort was a cave on the borders of the forest, but woe be to any one who should approach him unless gifted with strength and courage more than mortal. Having told this, the old man departed. He was not, in fact, an old man, but Milagigi, the enchanter, cousin of Rinaldo, who, to favour the enterprises of the young knight, had procured for him the horse and armor which he so opportunely found and now put him in the way to acquire a horse unequaled in the world. Rinaldo plunged into the forest and spent many days in seeking Bayard but found no traces of him. One day he encountered a Saracen knight with whom he made acquaintance as often happened to knights by first meeting him in combat. The knight, whose name was Isolier was also in quest of Bayard. Rinaldo succeeded in the encounter and so severe was the shock that Isolier was a long time insensible. When he revived and was about to resume the contest a peasant who passed by, it was Milagigi, interrupted them with the news that the terrible horse was near at hand, advising them to unite their powers to subdue him for it would require all their ability. Rinaldo and Isolier now become friends, proceeded together to the attack of the horse. They found Bayard and stood a long time concealed by the wood, admiring his strength and beauty. A bright bay in color, whence he was called Bayard with a silver star in his forehead and his hind feet white, his body slender, his head delicate, his ample chest filled out with swelling muscles, his shoulders broad and full, his legs straight and sinewy, his thick mane falling over his arching neck. Bayard came rushing through the forest, regardless of rocks, bushes or trees, rending everything that opposed his way and neighing defiance. He first described Isolier and rushed upon him. The night received him with a lance in rest, but the fierce animal broke the spear and his course was not delayed by it for an instant. The Spaniard adroitly stepped aside and gave way to the rushing tempest. Bayard checked his career and turned again upon the night who had already drawn his sword. He drew his sword for he had no hope of taming the horse. That, he was satisfied, was impossible. Bayard rushed upon him, fiercely rearing, now on this side, now on that. The night struck him with his sword where the white star adorned his forehead, but struck in vain and felt ashamed, thinking that he had struck feebly, for he did not know that the skin of the horse was so tough that the keenest sword could make the whistling fell the sword once more and struck with greater force, and the fierce horse felt it and drooped his head under the blow, but the next moment turned upon his bow with such a buffet that the pagan fell stunned and lifeless to the earth. Ronaldo, who saw Isolier fall and thought that his life was reft, darted towards the horse and with his fist gave him such a blow on the jaws that the blood tinged his mouth with vermilion. Quicker than an arrow leaves the bow, and tried to seize his arm with his teeth. The night stepped back and then repeating his blow struck him on the forehead. Bayard turned and kicked with both his feet with a force that would have shattered a mountain. Ronaldo was on his guard and evaded his attacks, whether made with head or heels. He kept at his side avoiding both, but making a false step he at last received a terrible blow from the horse's foot, and at the shock almost faded away. A second such blow would have killed him but the horse kicked at random and a second blow did not reach Ronaldo who in a moment recovered himself. Thus the contest continued until, by chance, Bayard's foot got caught between the branches of an oak. Ronaldo seized it and putting forth all his strength and address threw him on the ground. No sooner had Bayard touched the ground than all his rage subsided. No longer an object of terror he became gentle and quiet, with dignity in his mildness. The paladin patted his neck, stroked his breast and smoothed his mane while the animal nade and showed delight to be caressed by his master. Ronaldo, seeing him now completely subdued, took the saddle and trappings from the other horse and adorned Bayard with the spoils. Ronaldo became one of the most illustrious knights of Charlemagne's court, indeed the most illustrious if we accept Orlando. Yet he was not always so obedient to the emperor's commands as he should have been, and every fault he committed was sure to be aggravated by the malice of Ghan, Duke of Maganzo, the treacherous enemy of Ronaldo in all his house. At one time Ronaldo had incurred the severe displeasure of Charlemagne and been banished from court. Seeing no chance of being ever restored to favor he went to Spain and entered into the service of the Saracen king, Ivo. His brothers, Alardo, Ricardo and Ricciardetto, accompanied him, and all four served the king so faithfully that they rose to high favor with him. The king gave them land in the mountains on the frontier of France and Spain and subjected all the country round to Ronaldo's authority. There was plenty of marble in the mountains, the king furnished workmen and they built a castle for Ronaldo surrounded with high walls so as to be almost impregnable. Built of white stone and placed on the brow of a marble promontory the castle shone like a star and Ronaldo gave it the name of Montalban. Here he assembled his friends, many of whom were banished men like himself and the country people furnished them with provisions in return for the protection the castle afforded. Yet some of Ronaldo's men were lawless and sometimes the supplies were not furnished in sufficient abundance so that Ronaldo and his garrison got a bad name for taking by force what they could not obtain by gift what Montalban spoke of as a nest of free-booters and its defenders called a beggarly garrison. Charlemagne's displeasure did not last long and at the time our history commences Ronaldo and his brothers were completely restored to the favor of the emperor and none of his cavaliers served him with greater zeal and fidelity than they throughout all his wars with the Saracens and pagans. End of Section 1 Section 2 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 2 The Tournament It was the month of May and the Feast of Pentecost Charlemagne had ordered magnificent festivities and summoned to them besides his paladins and vassals of the crown all strangers, Christian or Saracen then sojourning at Paris Among the guests were King Grandoniot from Spain and Pharaoh the Saracen with eyes like an eagle Orlando and Ronaldo the emperor's nephews Duke Nemo Astolfo of England the handsomest man living Malagiji the Enchanter and Gano of Maganza that wily traitor who had the art to make the emperor think he loved him while he plotted against him High sat Charlemagne at the head of his vassals and his paladins rejoicing in the thought of their number and their might while all were sitting and hearing music and feasting when suddenly there came into the hall more enormous giants having between them a lady of incomparable beauty attended by a single knight there were many ladies present who had seemed beautiful till she made her appearance but after that they all seemed nothing every Christian knight turned his eyes to her and every pagan crowded round her while she with a sweetness that might have touched a heart of stone thus addressed the emperor High-minded Lord the renown of your worthiness and the valor of these your knights which echoes from sea to sea encourages me to hope that two pilgrims who have come from the ends of the world to behold you will not have encountered their fatigue in vain and before I show the motive which has brought us hither learn that this knight is my brother Uberto and that I am his sister Angelica fame has told us of the jousting this day appointed and so the prince my brother has come to prove his valor and to say that if any of the knights here assembled choose to meet him in the joust he will encounter them one by one at the stair of Merlin by the fountain of the pine and his conditions are these no knight who chances to be thrown shall be allowed to renew the combat but shall remain prisoner to my brother be overthrown he shall depart out of the country leaving me as the prize of the conqueror now it must be stated that this Angelica and her brother who called himself Uberto but whose real name was Argelia were the children of Gallifron King of Cathay who had sent them to be the destruction of the Christian host for Argelia was armed with an enchanted lance which unfailingly overthrew and he was mounting it touched and he was mounted on a horse a creature of magic whose swiftness outstripped the wind Angelica possessed also a ring which was a defense against all enchantments and when put into the mouth rendered the bearer invisible thus Argelia was expected to subdue and take prisoners whatever knight should dare to encounter him and the charms of Angelica were relied on to entice the paladins to make the fatal venture while her ring would afford her easy means of escape when Angelica ceased speaking she knelt before the king and awaited his answer and everybody gazed on her with admiration Orlando especially felt irresistibly drawn towards her so that he trembled and changed countenance every night in the hall was infected with the same feeling not accepting old white-headed Duke Nemo and Charlemagne himself all stood for a while in silence lost in the delight of looking at her the fiery youth pharaoh could hardly restrain himself from seizing her from the giants and carrying her away Ronaldo turned red as fire while Malagueji who had discovered by his art that the stranger was not speaking truth muttered softly as he looked at her exquisite false creature I will play thee such a trick for this as will leave thee no cause to boast of thy visit Charlemagne to detain her as long as possible before him delayed his assent till he had asked her a number of questions all which she answered discreetly and then the challenge was accepted as soon as she was gone Malagueji consulted his book and found out the whole plot of the vile infidel King Gallifran as we have explained it so he determined to seek the damsel and frustrate her designs he hastened to the appointed spot and there found the prince and his sister in a beautiful pavilion where they lay asleep while the four giants kept watch Malagueji took his book and cast a spell out of it and immediately the four giants fell into a deep sleep drawing his sword for he was a belted knight he softly approached the young lady intending to dispatch her at once but seeing her look so lovely he paused for a moment thinking there was no need of hurry as he believed his spell was upon her and she could not wake but the ring which she wore secured her from the effect of the spell and some slight noise or whatever else it was caused her at that moment to awake she uttered a great cry and flew to her brother and waked him by the help of her knowledge of enchantment they took and bound fast the magician and seizing his book turned his arts against himself then they summoned a crowd of demons and bade them seize their prisoner and bear him to King Gallifran at his great city of Albraca which they did and on his arrival to the sea while these things were going on all was uproar at Paris since Orlando insisted upon being the first to try the adventure at the Stare of Merlin this was resented by the other pretenders to Angelica and all contested his right to the precedents the tumult was stilled by the usual expedient of drawing lots and the first prize was drawn by a stalfo Pharaoh the Saracen had the second and Grandonio the third next came Berling Jerry and Otto then Charles himself and as his ill fortune would have it after thirty more the indignant Orlando a stalfo who drew the first lot was handsome, brave and rich but whether from heedlessness or want of skill he was an unlucky jouster and very apt to be thrown at which he bore with perfect good humour always ready to mount again and try to mend his fortune generally with no better success a stalfo went forth upon his adventure with great gaiety of dress and manner and countered Argelia and was immediately tilted out of the saddle he railed at fortune to whom he laid all the fault but his painful feelings were somewhat relieved by the kindness of Angelica who touched by his youth and good looks granted him the liberty of the pavilion and caused him to be treated with all kindness and respect the violent Pharaoh had the next chance in the encounter and was thrown no less speedily than a stalfo but he did not so easily put up with his mischance crying out what are the emperor's engagements to me he rushed with his sword against Argelia who being forced to defend himself dismounted and drew his sword but got so much the worse of the fight that he made a signal of surrender and after some words listened to a proposal of marriage from Pharaoh to his sister the beauty however, feeling no inclination to match with such a rough and savage looking person was so dismayed at the offer that hastily bidding her brother to meet her in the forest of Arden she vanished from the sight of both by means of the enchanted ring Argelia seeing this took to his horse of swiftness and dashed away in the same direction Pharaoh pursued him and a stalfo thus left to himself took possession of the enchanted lance in place of his own which was broken not knowing the treasure he possessed in it and returned to the tournament Charlemagne finding the lady and her brother gone ordered the jousting to proceed as at first intended in which a stalfo by aid of the enchanted lance unhorsed all comers against him equally to their astonishment and his own the paladin Rinaldo on learning the issue of the combat of Pharaoh and the stranger galloped after the fair fugitive in an agony of love and impatience Orlando perceiving his disappearance pushed forth in like manner and at length all three are in the forest of Arden hunting about for her who is invisible now in this forest there were two fountains the one constructed by the sage Merlin who designed it for Tristram and the fair Isolde for such was the virtue of this fountain that a draft of its waters produced an oblivion of the love which the drinker might feel and even produced a version for the object formerly beloved the other fountain was endowed with exactly opposite qualities and a draft of it inspired love for the first living object that was seen after tasting it Rinaldo happened to come to the first mentioned fountain and being flushed with heat dismounted and quenched in one draft both his thirst and his passion so far from loving Angelica as before he hated her from the bottom of his heart became disgusted with the search he was upon and feeling fatigued with his ride finding a sheltered and flowery nook laid himself down and fell asleep shortly after came Angelica but approaching in a different direction she aspired the other fountain and there quenched her thirst then resuming her way she came upon the sleeping Rinaldo love instantly seized her and she stood rooted to the spot the meadow round was all full of lilies of the valley and wild roses Angelica not knowing what to do at length plucked a handful of these and dropped them one by one on the face of the sleeper he woke up and seeing who it was received her salutations with averted countenance remounted his horse and galloped away in vain the beautiful creature followed and called after him in vain asked him what she had done to be so despised Rinaldo disappeared leaving her in despair and she returned in tears to the spot where she had found him sleeping there in her turn she herself lay down on the earth on which he had lain and out of fatigue and sorrow fell asleep as Angelica thus lay fortune conducted Rinaldo to the same place the attitude in which she was sleeping was so lovely that it was not to be conceived much less expressed Rinaldo stood gazing like a man who has been transported to another sphere am I on earth he exclaimed or am I in paradise surely it is I that sleep and this is my dream but his dream was proved to be none in a manner which he little desired Ferro who had slain Argelia came up raging with jealousy and a combat ensued which awoke the sleeper terrified at what she beheld she rushed to her palfry and while the fighters were occupied with one another fled away through the forest the champions continued their fight till they were interrupted by a messenger who brought word to Ferro that King Marsilius his sovereign was in pressing need of his assistance and conjured him to return to Spain Ferro upon this proposed to suspend the combat to which Orlando eager to pursue Angelica agreed Ferro on the other hand departed with the messenger to Spain Orlando's quest for the fair fugitive was all in vain aided by the powers of magic she made a speedy return to her own country but the thought of Ronaldo could not be banished from her mind and she determined to set Maligigi at liberty and to employ him to win Ronaldo if possible to make her a return of affection she accordingly freed him from his dungeon unlocking his fetters with her own hands and restored him his book promising him ample honors and rewards on condition of his bringing Ronaldo to her feet Maligigi accordingly with the aid of his book called up a demon mounted him and departed arrived at his destination he invagled Ronaldo into an enchanted bark which conveyed him without any visible pilot to an island where stood an edifice called joyous castle the whole island was a garden on the western side close to the sea was the palace built of marble so clear and polished that it reflected the landscape about it Ronaldo leapt ashore and soon met a lady who invited him to enter the house was as beautiful within as without full of rooms adorned with azure and gold and with noble paintings the lady led the night into an apartment painted with stories and opening to the garden through pillars of crystal with golden capitals here he found a bevy of ladies three of whom were singing in concert while another played on an instrument of exquisite accord and the rest danced round about them when the ladies beheld him coming they turned their dance into a circuit round him and then one of them in the sweetest manner said Sir Knight the tables are set and the hour for the banquet is come and with these words still dancing they drew him across the lawn in front of the apartment to a table that was spread with cloth of gold and fine linen under a bower of damask roses by the side of a fountain four ladies were already seated there who rose and placed Ronaldo at their head in a chair set with pearls and indeed was he astonished a repast ensued consisting of vians the most delicate and wines as fragrant as they were fine drunk out of jeweled cups and when it drew towards its conclusion harps and lutes were heard in the distance and one of the ladies said in the night's ear this house and all that you see in it are yours for you alone was it built and the builder is a queen happy indeed must you think yourself for she loves you and she is the greatest beauty in the world her name is Angelica the moment Ronaldo heard the name he so detested he started up with a changed countenance and in spite of all that the lady could say broke off across the garden and never ceased hastening till he reached the place where he landed the bark was still on the shore he sprang into it and pushed off though he saw nobody in it but himself it was in vain for him to try to control its movements for it dashed on as if in fury till it reached a distant shore covered with a gloomy forest here Ronaldo surrounded by enchantments of a very different sort from those which he had lately resisted was entrapped into a pit the pit belonged to a castle called Alteripa which was hung with human heads and painted red with blood as the paladin was viewing the scene with amazement a hideous old woman made her appearance at the edge of the pit and told him that he was destined to be thrown to a monster who was only kept from devastating the whole country by being supplied with living human flesh Ronaldo said be it so let me but remain armed as I am and I fear nothing the old woman laughed in derision Ronaldo remained in the pit all night and the next morning was taken to the place where the monster had his den it was a court surrounded by a high wall Ronaldo was shut in with the beast and a terrible combat ensued Ronaldo was unable to make any impression on the scales of the monster while he on the contrary with his dreadful claws tore away plate and mail from the paladin Ronaldo began to think his last hour was come and cast his eyes around and above to see if there was any means of escape he perceived a beam projecting from the wall at the height of some ten feet and taking a leap almost miraculous he succeeded in reaching it and in flinging himself up across it here he sat for hours the hideous brute continually trying to reach him all at once he heard the sound of something coming through the air like a bird and suddenly Angelica herself alighted on the end of the beam she held something in her hand towards him and spoke to him in a loving voice but the moment Ronaldo saw her he commanded her to go away refused all her offers of assistance and at length declared that if she did not leave him he would cast himself down to the monster to meet his fate Angelica, saying she would rather lose her life than displease him, departed but first she threw to the monster a cake of wax she had prepared and spread around him a rope knotted with nooses the beast took the bait and finding his teeth glued together by the wax vented his fury in bounds and leaps and soon getting entangled in the nooses drew them tight by his struggles so that he could scarcely move a limb Ronaldo watching his chance leapt down upon his back seized him round the neck and throttled him not relaxing his grip till the beast fell dead another difficulty remained to be overcome the walls were of immense height and the only opening in them was a graded window of such strength that he could not break the bars and in a stress Ronaldo found a file which Angelica had left on the ground and with the help of this effected his deliverance what further adventures he met with will be told in another chapter End of section 2 Section 3 of Bullfinches The Legends of Charlemagne This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information At the very time when Charlemagne was holding his plenary court and his great tournament, his kingdom was invaded by a mighty monarch, who was moreover so valiant and strong in battle that no one could stand against him. He was named Gradasso, and his kingdom was called Seracane. Now as it often happens to the greatest and the richest to long for what they cannot have, and thus to lose what they already possess, this king could not rest content without Durindana, the sword of Orlando, and Bayard, the horse of Ronaldo. To obtain these he determined to war upon France, and for this purpose put in array a mighty army. He took his way through Spain, and after defeating Marsilius, the king of that country in several battles, was rapidly advancing on France. Charlemagne, though Marsilius was a seracene and had been his enemy, yet felt it needful to succour him in this extremity from a consideration of common danger, and with the consent of his peers, dispatched Ronaldo with a strong body of soldiers against Gradasso. There was much fighting with doubtful results, and Gradasso was steadily advancing into France. But impatient to achieve his objects he challenged Ronaldo to single combat to be fought on foot and upon these conditions. If Ronaldo conquered, Gradasso agreed to give up all his prisoners and return to his own country, but if Gradasso won the day he was to have Bayard. The challenge was accepted, and would have been fought had it not been for the arts of Malagigi, who just then returned from Angelica's kingdom with set purpose to win Ronaldo to look with favour upon the Fair Princess, who was dying for love of him. Malagigi drew Ronaldo away from the army by putting on the semblance of Gradasso, and after a short contest, pretending to fly before him, by which means Ronaldo was induced to follow him into a boat in which he was born away and entangled in various adventures as we have already related. The army, left under the command of Ricciardetto, Ronaldo's brother, was soon joined by Charlemagne and all his peerage, but experienced a disastrous route, and the emperor and many of his paladins were taken prisoners. Gradasso, however, did not abuse his victory. He took Charles by the hand, seated him by his side, and told him he warred only for honour. He renounced all conquests on condition that the emperor should deliver to him Bayard and Durandana, both of them the property of his vassals, the former of which, as he maintained, was already forfeited to him by Ronaldo's failure to meet him as agreed. To these terms Charlemagne readily exceeded. Bayard, after the departure of his master, had been taken in charge by Ricciardetto and sent back to Paris where Astolfo was in command in the absence of Charlemagne. Astolfo received with great indignation the message dispatched for Bayard and replied by a herald that he would not surrender the horse of his kinsman Ronaldo without a contest. If Gradasso wanted the steed he might come and take him, and that he Astolfo was ready to meet him in the field. Gradasso was only amused at this answer, for Astolfo's fame as a successful warrior was not high, and Gradasso willingly renewed with him the bargain which he had made with Ronaldo. On these conditions the battle was fought. The enchanted lance in the hands of Astolfo performed a new wonder, and Gradasso, the terrible Gradasso, was unhorsed. He kept his word, set free his prisoners, and put his army on the march to return to his own country, renewing his oath, however, not to rest till he had taken from Ronaldo his horse and from Orlando his sword or lost his life in the attempt. Charlemagne, full of gratitude to Astolfo, would have kept him near his person and loaded him with honors, but Astolfo preferred to see Ronaldo with the view of restoring to him his horse, and departed from Paris with that design. Our story now returns to Orlando, whom we left fascinated with the sight of the sleeping beauty, who, however, escaped him while engaged in the combat with Ferro. Having long sought her in vain through the recesses of the wood, he resolved to follow her to her father's court. Leaving, therefore, the camp of Charlemagne, he traveled long in the direction of the east, making inquiry everywhere if perchance he might get tidings of the fugitive. After many adventures he arrived one day at a place where many roads crossed, and meeting there a courier he asked him for news. The courier replied that he had been dispatched by Angelica to solicit the aid of Sacrepante, King of Circusia, in favour of her father Gallifran, who was besieged in his city Albraca by Agricon, King of Tartary. This Agricon had been an unsuccessful suitor to the damsel whom he now pursued with arms. Orlando thus learned that he was within a day's journey of Albraca and, feeling now secure of Angelica, he proceeded with all speed to her city. Thus journeying he arrived at a bridge, under which flowed a foaming river. Here a damsel met him with a goblet and informed him that it was the usage of this bridge to present the traveller with a cup. Orlando accepted the offered cup and drank its contents. He had no sooner done so than his brain reeled and he became unconscious of the object of his journey and of everything else. Under the influence of this fascination he followed the damsel into a magnificent and marvellous palace. Here he found himself in company with many knights unknown to him and to each other, though if it had not been for the cup of oblivion of which they all had partaken they would have found themselves brothers in arms. Astolfo, proceeding on his way to seek Ronaldo, splendidly dressed and equipped as was his want, arrived in Circassia and found there a great army and camped under the command of Sacrapont, the king of that country, who was leading it to the defense of Gallifran, the father of Angelica. Sacrapont much struck by the appearance of Astolfo and his horse accosted him courteously and tried to enlist him in his service, but Astolfo, proud of his late victories, scornfully declined his offers and pursued his way. King Sacrapont was too much attracted by his appearance to part with him so easily and having laid aside his kingly ornaments set out in pursuit of him. Astolfo next day encountered on his way a stranger knight, named Sir Floris Mart, Lord of the Sylvan Tower, one of the bravest and best of knights, having as his guide a damsel, young, fair and virtuous, to whom he was tenderly attached, whose name was Florideles. Astolfo, as he approached, defied the knight, bidding him yield to the lady, or prepared to maintain his right by arms. Floris Mart accepted the contest and the knight's encounter. Floris Mart was unhorsed and his steed fell dead, while Byard sustained no injury by the shock. Floris Mart was so overwhelmed with despair at his own disgrace and the sight of the damsel's distress that he drew his sword and was about to plunge it into his own bosom, but Astolfo held his hand, told him that he contended only for glory and was contented to leave him the lady. While Floris Mart and Florideles were vowing eternal gratitude, King Sacrepant arrived, and coveting the damsel of the one champion as much as the horse and arms of the other, defied them to the joust. Astolfo met the challenger whom he instantly overthrew and presented his coarser to Floris Mart, leaving the king to return to his army on foot. The friends pursued their route and ere long Florideles discovered by signs which were known to her that they were approaching the waters of Oblivion and advised them to turn back or to change their course. This the knights would not hear of and continuing their march they soon arrived at the bridge where Orlando had been taken prisoner. The damsel of the bridge appeared as before with the enchanted cup, but Astolfo forewarned, rejected it with scorn. She dashed it to the ground and a fire blazed up which rendered the bridge unapproachable. At the same moment the two knights were assailed by sundry warriors known and unknown who, having no recollection of anything, joined blindly in defense of their prison house. Among these was Orlando, at sight of whom Astolfo, with all his confidence not daring to encounter him, turned and fled, owing his escape to the strength and fleetness of Bayard. Floris Mart, meanwhile, overlaid by fearful odds, was compelled to yield to necessity and comply with the usage of the fairy. He drank of the cup and remained prisoner with the rest. Florideles deprived of her two friends, retired from the scene, and devoted herself to untiring efforts to effect her lover's deliverance. Astolfo pursued his way to Albraca, which Agrikan was about to besiege. He was kindly welcomed by Angelica and enrolled among her defenders. Impatient to distinguish himself, he one night sallied forth alone, arrived in Agrikan's camp, and unhorsed his warriors right and left by means of the enchanted lands. But he was soon surrounded and overmatched and made prisoner to Agrikan. The grief was, however, at hand, for as the citizens and soldiers were one day leaning over their walls, they described a cloud of dust from which horsemen were seen to prick forth as it rolled on towards the camp of the besiegers. This turned out to be the army of Sacrapont, which immediately attacked that of Agrikan, with the view of cutting a passage through his camp to the besieged city. But Agrikan, mounted upon Bayard, taken from Astolfo, but not armed with the lands of gold, the virtues of which were unknown to him, performed wonders, and rallied his scattered troops, which had given way to the sudden and unexpected assault. Sacrapont, on the other hand, encouraged his men by the most desperate acts of valor, having as an additional incentive to his courage the sight of Angelica, who showed herself upon the city walls. There she witnessed a single combat between the two leaders, Agrikan and Sacrapont. In this at length her defender appeared to be overmatched, when the Circassians broke the ring and separated the combatants who were born asunder in the rush. Sacrapont severely wounded, profited by the confusion and escaped into Albraca, where he was kindly received and carefully tended by Angelica. The battle continuing, the Circassians were at last put to flight and, being intercepted between the enemy's lines and the town, sought for refuge under the walls. Angelica ordered the drawbridge to be let down and the gates thrown open to the fugitives. With these, Agrikan, not distinguished in the crowd, entered the place, driving both Circassians and Cathayans before him, and the Porcullus being dropped, he was shut in. For a time the terror which he inspired put to flight all opposers, but when at last it came to be known that few or none of his followers had effected an entrance with him. The fugitives rallied and surrounded him on all sides. While he was thus apparently reduced to the last extremities, he was saved by the very circumstance which threatened him with destruction. The soldiers of Angelica, closing upon him from all sides, deserted their defenses and his own besieging army entered the city in a part where the wall was broken down. In this way was Agrikan rescued, the city taken and the inhabitants put to the sword. Angelica, however, with some of the knights who were her defenders, among whom was Sacrepante, saved herself in the citadel which was planted upon a rock. Section 4 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 4 The Siege of Albraca, Part II. The fortress was impregnable, but it was scantily victualed and ill-provided with other necessaries. Under these circumstances Angelica announced to those blockaded with her in the citadel her intention to go in quest of assistance, and, having plighted her promise of a speedy return, she set out with the enchanted ring upon her finger. Mounted upon her palfrey, the damsel passed through the enemy's lines, and by sunrise was many miles clear of their encampment. It so happened that her road led her near the fatal bridge of Oblivion, and as she approached it, she met a damsel weeping bitterly. It was Flor Delis, whose lover, Floris Mart, as we have related, had met the fate of Orlando and many more, and fallen a victim to the enchantress of the cup. She related her adventures to Angelica and conjured her to lend what aid she might to rescue her lord and his companions. Angelica, accordingly, watching her opportunity and aided by her ring, slipped into the castle unseen when the door was opened to admit a new victim. Here she speedily disenchanted Orlando and the rest by a touch of her talisman, but Floris Mart was not there. He had been given up to Falrena, a more powerful enchantress, and was still in endurance. Angelica conjured the rescued captives to assist her in the recovery of her kingdom and all departed together for Albraca. The arrival of Orlando with his companions, nine in all, and among the bravest knights of France, changed at once the fortunes of the war. Wherever the great paladin came, pen and standard fell before him. Agrican in vain attempted to rally his troops. Orlando kept constantly in his front, forcing him to attend to nobody else. The Tartar King at length bethaw him of a stratagem. He turned his horse and made a show of flying in despair. Orlando dashed after him as he desired, and Agrican fled till he reached a green place in a wood where there was a fountain. The place was beautiful, and the Tartar dismounted to refresh himself at the fountain but without taking off his helmet or laying aside any of his armor. Orlando was quickly at his back, crying out, so bold and yet a fugitive! How could you fly from a single arm and think to escape? The Tartar King had leaped on his saddle the moment he saw his enemy, and when the paladin had done speaking he said in a mild voice, Without doubt you are the best knight I ever encountered, and fame would I leave you untouched for your own sake, if you would cease to hinder me from rallying my people. I pretended to fly in order to bring you out of the field. If you insist upon fighting I must needs fight and slay you, but I call the sun in the heavens to witness I would rather not. I should be very sorry for your death. The Count Orlando felt pity for so much gallantry, and he said, The nobler you show yourself, the more it grieves me to think that in dying without a knowledge of the true faith you will be lost in the other world. Let me advise you to save body and soul at once, receive baptism, and go your way in peace. Agrican replied, I suspect you to be the paladin Orlando. If you are I would not lose this opportunity of fighting with you to be king of paradise. Talk to me no more about your things of another world, for you will preach in vain, each of us for himself, and let the sword be the umpire. The Saracen drew his sword boldly advancing upon Orlando, and a combat began, so obstinate and so long, each warrior being a miracle of prowess, that the story says it lasted from noon till night. Orlando, then seeing the stars come out, was the first to propose arrest it. What are we to do, said he, now that daylight has left us. Agrican answered readily enough, let us repose in this meadow and renew the combat at dawn. The repose was taken accordingly. Each tied up his horse and reclined himself on the grass, not far from the other, just as if they had been friends. Orlando by the fountain, Agrican beneath a pine. It was a beautiful, clear night, and as they talked together before addressing themselves to sleep, the champion of Christendom, looking up at the firmament, said, that is a fine piece of workmanship that starry spectacle, God made it all that moon of silver and those stars of gold, and the light of day and the sun, all for the sake of humankind. You wish I see to talk of matters of faith, said the Tartar. Now I may as well tell you at once that I have no sort of skill in such matters nor learning of any kind. I never could learn anything when I was a boy. I hated it so that I broke the man's head who was commissioned to teach me, and it produced such an effect on others that nobody ever afterward dared so much as show me a book. My boyhood was therefore past as it should be, in horsemanship and hunting, and learning to fight. What is the good of a gentleman's pouring all day over a book, prowess to the night, and preaching to the clergyman, that is my motto? I acknowledge, returned Orlando, that arms are the first consideration of a gentleman, but not at all that he does himself dishonor by knowledge. On the contrary, knowledge is as great an embellishment of the rest of his attainments as the flowers are to the meadow before us. And as to the knowledge of his maker, the man that is without it is no better than a stalk or a stone or a brute beast. Neither without study can he reach anything of a due sense of the depth and divineness of the contemplation. Learn it or not, learned, said Agra Khan, you might show yourself better bread than by endeavouring to make me talk on a subject on which you have me at a disadvantage. If you choose to sleep I wish you good night, but if you prefer talking I recommend you to talk of fighting or of fair ladies. And by the way, pray tell me, are you not that Orlando who makes such a noise in the world, and what is it pray that brings you into these parts? Were you ever in love? I suppose you must have been, for to be a knight and never to have been in love would be like being a man without a heart in his breast. The count replied, Orlando I am and in love I am. Love has made me abandon everything and brought me into these distant regions, and to tell you all in one word my heart is in the hands of the daughter of King Gallifran. You have come against him with fire and sword to get possession of his castles and dominions, and I have come to help him for no object in the world but to please his daughter and win her beautiful hand. I care for nothing else in existence. Now when the Tartar king, Agra Khan, heard his antagonist speak in this manner, and knew him to be indeed Orlando and to be in love with Angelica, his face changed colour for grief and jealousy, though it could not be seen for the darkness. His heart began beating with such violence that he felt as if he should have died. Well said he to Orlando, we are to fight when it is daylight and one or other is to be left here dead on the ground. I have a proposal to make to you, nay and entreaty. My love is so excessive for the same lady that I beg you to leave her to me. I will owe you my thanks and give up the siege and put an end to the war. I cannot bear that anyone should love her and that I should live to see it. Why therefore should either of us perish? Give her up. Not a soul shall know it. I never yet answered Orlando made a promise which I did not keep, and nevertheless I own to you that were I to make a promise like that and even swear to keep it I should not. You might as well ask me to tear away the limbs from my body and the eyes out of my head. I could as well live without breath itself as cease loving Angelica. Agrican had hardly patience to let him finish speaking ere he leapt furiously on horseback though it was midnight. Quit her, said he, or die. Orlando seeing the infidel getting up and not being sure that he would not add treachery to fierceness had been hardly less quick in mounting for the combat. Or exclaimed he, I never could have quit it or if I would and now I would not if I could. You must seek her by other means than these. Fiercely dashed their horses together in the nighttime on the green mead, despiteful and terrible were the blows they gave and took by the moonlight. Agrican fought in a rage, Orlando was cooler, and now the struggle had lasted more than five hours and day began to dawn when the Tartar king, furious to find so much trouble given him, dealt his enemy a blow sharp and violent beyond conception. It cut the shield in two as if it had been made of wood, and though blood could not be drawn from Orlando because he was faded, it shook and bruised him as if it had started every joint in his body. His body only, however, not a particle of his soul. So dreadful was the blow which the Paladin gave in return that not only shield but every bit of mail on the body of Agrican was broken in pieces and three of his ribs cut asunder. The Tartar, roaring like a lion, raised his sword with still greater vehemence than before and dealt a blow on the Paladin's helmet such as he had never yet received from mortal man. For a moment it took away his senses. His sight failed, his ears tingled, his frightened horse turned about to fly, and he was falling from the saddle when the very action of falling through his head upwards and thus recalled his recollection. What a shame is this, thought he. How shall I ever again dare to face Angelica? I have been fighting hour after hour with this man and he is but one, and I call myself Orlando. If the combat lasts any longer I will bury myself in a monastery and never look on sword again. Orlando muttered with his lips closed and his teeth ground together and you might have thought that fire instead of breath came out of his nose and mouth. He raised his sword during Dana with both his hands and sent it down so tremendously on Agrican's shoulder that it cut through breastplate down to the very haunch, nay crushed the saddle-bow, though it was made of bone and iron, and felled man and horse to the earth. Agrican turned as white as ashes and felt death upon him. He called Orlando to come close to him with a gentle voice and said as well as he could. I believe in him who died on the cross. Baptized me I pray thee with the fountain before my senses are gone. I have lived an evil life, but need not be rebellious to God in death also. May he who came to save all the rest of the world save me. And he shed tears, that great king, though he had been so lofty and fierce. Orlando dismounted quickly with his own face in tears. He gathered the king tenderly in his arms and took and laid him by the fountain on a marble rim that it had, and then he wept in concert with him heartily and asked his pardon and so baptized him in the water of the fountain and Nelton prayed to God for him with joined hands. He then paused and looked at him, and when he perceived his countenance changed and that his whole person was cold, he left him there on the marble rim of the fountain all armed as he was with the sword by his side and the crown upon his head. ADVENTURES OF RELONDO AND ORLANDO We left Ronaldo when, having overcome the monster, he quitted the castle of Altarapa and pursued his way on foot. He soon met with a weeping damsel who, being questioned as to the cause of her sorrow, told him she was in search of one to do battle to rescue her lover, who had been made prisoner by a vile enchantress, together with Orlando and many more. The damsel was Flordelis, the lady-love of Floresmart, and Ronaldo promised his assistance, trusting to accomplish the adventure either by valor or skill, Flordelis insisted upon Ronaldo's taking her horse, which he consented to do on condition of her mounting behind him. As they rode on through a wood they heard strange noises, and Ronaldo, reassuring the damsel, pressed forward towards the quarter from which they proceeded. He soon perceived a giant, standing under a vaulted cavern with a huge club in his hand and of an appearance, to strike the boldest spirit, was dread. By the side of the cavern was chained a griffin, which, together with the giant, was stationed there to guard a wonderful horse, the same which was once Argellius. This horse was a creature of enchantment, matchless in vigor, speed, and form, which disdained to share the diet of his fellow-steeds, corn or grass, and fed only on air. His name was Rabacan, this marvelous horse, after his master Argellius had been slain by Feral, finding himself at liberty, returned to his native cavern, and was here stabled under the protection of the giant and the griffin. As Ronaldo approached, the giant assailed him with his club. Ronaldo defended himself from the giant's blows, and gave him one in return, which, if his skin had not been of the toughest, would have finished the combat. But the giant, though wounded, escaped, and let loose the griffin. This monstrous bird towered in air, and thence pounced down upon Rolando, who, watching his opportunity, dealt her a desperate wound. She had, however, strength for another flight, and kept repeating her attacks which Ronaldo parried as he could, all the damsel stood trembling by, witnessing the contest. The battle continued, rendered more terrible by the approach of night, when Rolando determined upon a desperate expedient to bring it to a conclusion. He fell, as if fainting from his wounds and, on the close approach of the griffin, dealt her a blow which sheared away one of her wings. The beast, though sinking, gripped him fast with her talons, digging through plate and mail, but Rolando applied his sword in utter desperation, and at last accomplished her destruction. Rolando then entered the cavern, and found there the wonderful horse, all comparisoned. He was cold black, except for a star of white on his forehead, and one white foot behind. For speed he was unrivaled, though in strength he yielded to by-yard. Rolando mounted upon Rabacan and eschewed from the cavern. As he pursued his way he met a fugitive from Agra Khan's army, who gave such an account of the prowess of a champion who fought on the side of Angelica that Ronaldo was persuaded this must be Orlando, though at a loss to imagine how he could have been freed from captivity. He determined to repair to the scene of the contest to satisfy his curiosity, and Florideles, hoping to find Floris Mart with Orlando, consented to accompany him. While these things were doing, all was routed and dismayed in the Tartarian army from the death of Agra Khan. King Gallifron, arriving at this juncture with an army for the belief of his capital, Albraca, assaulted the enemy's camp and carried all before him. Rolando had now reached the scene of action and was looking on as an unconcerned spectator when he was despised by Gallifron. The king instantly recognized the horse Rabacan, which he had given to Argalea when he set him forth on his ill-omined mission to Paris. Possessed with the idea that the rider of the horse was the murderer of Argalea, Gallifron rode at Ronaldo and smote him with all his force. Ronaldo was not slow to avenge the blow, and it would have gone hard with the king, had not his followers instantly closed round him and separated the combatants. Ronaldo, thus found himself almost without his own choice, enlisted on the side of the enemies of Angelica, which gave him no concern, so completely had his draft from the fountain of hate steal his mind against her. For several successive days the struggle continued without any important results. Ronaldo meeting the bravest knights of Angelica's party and defeating them one after the other. At length he encountered Orlando, and the two knights bitterly reproached one another for the cause that each adopted and engaged in a furious combat. Orlando was mounted upon Bayard, Ronaldo's horse, which Agrakan had by chance become possessed of, and Orlando had taken from him as the prize of victory. Bayard would not fight against his master, and Orlando was getting the worst of the encounter when suddenly Ronaldo, seeing Astafal, who for love of him had arrayed himself on his side, hard beset by numbers, left Orlando to rush to the defense of his friend. Knight prevented the combat from being renewed, but a challenge was given and accepted for their next meeting. But Angelica, sighing in her heart for a Rolando, was not willing that he should be again exposed to so terrible a venture. She begged a boon of Orlando, promising she would be his if he would do her bidding. Upon receiving his promise, she enjoined him to set out without delay to destroy the garden of the enchantress Valerina in which many valiant knights had been entrapped and were imprisoned. Orlando departed on his horse, Brigliadoro, leaving Bayard in disgrace for his bad deportment the day before. Angelica, to conciliate Rolando, sent Bayard to him, but Rolando remained unmoved by this as by all her former acts of kindness. When Rolando learned Orlando's departure, he yielded to the entreaties of the Lady of Florismart and prepared to fulfill his promise and rescue her lover from the power of the enchantress. Thus Rolando and Rolando were bound upon the same adventure, but unknown to one another. The castle of Valerina was protected by a river which was crossed by a bridge, kept by a ruffian who challenged all comers to the combat, and such was his strength that he had thus far prevailed in every encounter, as appeared by the arms of various knights which he had taken from them and piled up as a trophy on the shore. Rolando attacked him, but with as bad success as the rest, for the bridgeward struck him so violent a blow with an iron mace that he fell to the ground. But when the villain approached to strip him of his armor, Rolando seized him, and the bridgeward, being unable to free himself, leapt with Rolando into the lake, where they both disappeared. Rolando, meanwhile, in discharge of his promise to Angelica, pursued his way in quest of the same adventure. In passing through a wood, he saw a cavalier armed at all points and mounted, keeping guard over a lady who was bound to a tree, weeping bitterly. Rolando hastened to her relief, but was exhorted by the knight not to interfere, for she had deserved her fate by her wickedness, in proof of which he made certain charges against her. The lady denied them all, and Rolando believed her, defied the knight, overthrew him, and, releasing the lady, departed with her seated on his horse's crop. While they rode, another damsel approached on a white palfrey who warned Rolando of impending danger, and informed him that he was near the garden of the Enchantress. Rolando was delighted with the intelligence, and entreated her to inform him how he was to gain admittance. She replied that the garden could only be entered at sunrise, and gave him such instructions as would enable him to gain admittance. She gave him also a book, in which was painted the garden and all that it contained, together with the palace of the false Enchantress, where she had secluded herself for the purpose of executing a magic work in which she was engaged. This was the manufacture of a sword capable of cutting even through enchanted substances. The object of this labor, the damsel told him, was the destruction of a knight of the west by name Rolando. Who she had read in the Book of Fate was coming to demolish her garden. Having thus instructed him, the damsel departed. Rolando, finding he must delay his enterprise till the next morning, now lay down and was soon asleep, seeing this, the base woman whom he had rescued, and who was intent on making her escape to rejoin her paramour, mounted Brigledoro and rode off carrying away during Dana. When Rolando awoke, his indignation, as may be supposed, was great on the discovery of the theft, but, like a good night and true, he was not to be diverted from his enterprise. He tore off a huge branch of an elm to supply the place of his sword, and as the sun rose took his way towards the gate of the garden, where a dragon was on his watch. This he slew by repeated blows and entered the garden, the gate of which closed behind him, barring retreat. Looking round him he saw a fair fountain, which overflowed into a river, and then the center of the fountain a figure, on whose forehead was written, the stream which waters violet and rose, from hints to the enchanted palace goes. Following the banks of this flowing stream, and wrapped in the delights of the charming garden, Rolando arrived at the palace and entered it, found the mistress, clad in white, with a crown of gold upon her head, in the act of viewing herself in the surface of the magic sword. Rolando surprised her before she could escape, deprived her of the weapon, and, holding her fast by her long hair, which floated behind, threatened her with immediate death if she did not yield up her prisoners and afford him the means of egress. She, however, was firm of purpose, making no reply, and Rolando, unable to move her, either by threats or in treaties, was under the necessity of binding her to a beach, and pursuing his quest as he best might. He then bethought him of his book, and, consulting it, found that there was an outlet to the south, but that to reach it a lake was to be passed, inhabited by a sirene, whose song was so entrancing as to be quite irresistible to whoever heard it. But his book instructed him how to protect himself against this danger. According to its directions, while pursuing his path, he gathered abundance of flowers, which sprung all around, and filled his helmet and his ears with them. Then listened if he heard the birds sing. Finding that, though he saw the gaping beak, the swelling throat, and ruffle plumes, he could not catch a note. He felt satisfied with his defense, and advanced toward the lake. It was small but deep, and so clear and tranquil that the eye could penetrate to the bottom. He had no sooner arrived upon the banks than the waters were seen to gurgle, and the sirene rising midway out of the pool sung so sweetly that birds and beasts came trooping to the waterside to listen. Of this Orlando heard nothing, but, feigning to yield to the charm, sank down upon the bank. The sirene issued from the water with the intent to accomplish his destruction. Orlando seized her by the hair, and, while she sang yet louder, song being her only defense, cut off her head. Then, following the directions of the book, he stained himself all over with her blood. Guarded by this tall zeeman, he met successfully all the monsters set for defense of the enchantress and her garden, and at length found himself again at the spot where he had made captive the enchantress, who still continued fastened to the beach. But the scene was changed. The garden had disappeared, and Valerina, before so haughty, now begged for mercy, assuring him that many lives depended upon the preservation of hers. Orlando promised her life upon her pledging herself for the deliverance of her captives. This, however, was no easy task. They were not in her possession. But, in that of a much more powerful enchantress, Morgana, the Lady of the Lake, the very idea of opposing, whom made Valerina turn pale with fear, representing to him the hazards of the Enterprise, she led him towards the dwelling of Morgana. To approach it, he had to encounter the same uncourteous bridgeward who had already defeated and made captive so many nights, and last of all, Ronaldo. He was a churl of the most ferocious character, named Aridano. Morgana had provided him with impenetrable armor, and endowed him in such a manner that his strength always increased in proportion to that of the adversary with whom he was matched. No one had ever yet escaped from the contest. Since such was his power of endurance, he could breathe freely underwater. Hence, having grappled with a knight and sunk with him to the bottom of the lake, he returned, burying his enemy's arms in triumph to the surface. While Valerina was repeating her cautions and councils, Orlando saw Ronaldo's arms erected in form of a trophy, among other spoils made by the villain, and, forgetting their late quarrel, determined upon revenging his friend, arriving at the pass, the churl presumed to bar the way, a desperate contest ensued, during which Valerina escaped. The churl, finding himself overmatched at a contest of arms, resorted to his peculiar art, grappled his antagonist and plunged with him into the lake when he reached the bottom. Orlando found himself in another world, upon a dry meadow, with the lake overhead, through which shone the beams of our sun, while the water stood on all sides like a crystal wall. Here the battle was renewed, and Orlando had in his magic sword an advantage which none had hitherto possessed. It had been tempered by Valerina, so that no spells could avail against it. Thus armed, and counter-veiling the strength of his adversary by his superior skill and activity, it was not long before he laid him dead upon the field. Orlando then made all haste to return to the upper air, and passing through the water which opened away before him, such was the power of the magic sword, he soon regained ashore and found himself in a field as thickly covered with precious stones as the sky is with stars. Orlando crossed the field, not tempted to delay his enterprise by gathering any of the brilliant gems spread all around him. He next passed into a flowery meadow, planted with trees, covered with fruit and flowers, and full of all imaginable delights. In the middle of this meadow was a fountain, and fast by it lay Morgana asleep. A lady of a lovely aspect, dressed in white and vermilion garments, her forehead well furnished with hair, while she had scarcely any behind. While Orlando stood in silence contemplating her beauty, he heard a voice exclaim, seize the ferry by the forelock if thou hopeest fair success. But his attention was arrested by another object, and he heeded not the warning. He saw on a sudden an array of towers, pinnacles and columns, palaces with balconies and windows, extended alleys with trees, in short, a scene of architectural magnificence surpassing all he had ever beheld. While he stood gazing in silent astonishment, the scene slowly melted away and disappeared. When he had recovered from his amazement he looked again toward the fountain. The ferry had awaked and risen, and was dancing round its border with the lightness of a leaf, timing her footsteps to this song. Who in this world would wealth and treasure share, honor, delight, and state, and what is best? Quick, let him catch me by the lock of hair which flutters from my forehead, and be blessed. But let him not the proffered good forbear, nor till he sees the fleeting blessing rest, for present loss is sought in vain to-morrow, and the diluted wretch is left in sorrow. The ferry, having sung thus, bounded off and fled from the flowery meadow over a high and inaccessible mountain. Orlando pursued her through thorns and rocks, while the sky gradually became overcast, and at last he was assailed by tempest, lightning, and hail. While he thus pursued, a pale and bigger woman issued from a cave, armed with a whip, and treading close upon his steps, scourged him with vigorous strokes. Her name was Repentance, and she told him it was her office to punish those who neglected to obey the voice of prudence, and seize the ferry fortune when he might. Orlando, furious at this chastisement, turned upon his tormentor, but might as well have stricken the wind. Finding it useless to resist, he resumed his chase of the ferry, gained upon her, and made frequent snatches at her white and vermilion garments, which still eluded his grasp. At last, on her turning her head for an instant, he profited by the chance, and seized her by the forelock. In an instant, the tempest ceased, the sky became serene, and Repentance retreated to her cave. Orlando, now demanded of Morgana the keys of her prison, and the ferry, feigning a complacent aspect, delivered up a key of silver, bidding him to be cautious in the use of it, since to break the lock would be to involve himself and all in inevitable destruction. A caution which gave the Count room for long meditation, and led him to consider how few among the suitors who opportune, the dame, know how to turn the keys of fortune. Keeping the ferry still fast by the forelock, Orlando proceeded toward the prison, turned the key without occasioning the mischiefs apprehended, and delivered the prisoners. Among these were Floresmart, Ronaldo, and many others of the bravest knights of France. Morgana had disappeared, and the knights, under the guidance of Orlando, retraced the path by which he had come. They soon reached the field of treasure. Ronaldo, finding himself amidst this mass of wealth, remembered his needy garrison of Montalbonde, and could not resist the temptation of seizing part of the booty. In particular, a golden chain, studded with diamonds, was too much for his self-denial, and he took it, and was bearing it off, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Orlando, when a violent wind caught him, and whirled him back as he approached the gate. This happened a second and a third time, and Ronaldo, at length, yielded to necessity, rather than to the entreaties of his friends, and cast away his prize. They soon reached the bridge, and passed over without hindrance to the other side, where they found the trophy, decorated with their arms. Here, each knight resumed his own and all, except the paladins and their friends, separated as their inclinations or duty prompted. Doudon, the Dane, one of the rescued knights, informed the cousins that he had been made prisoner by Morgana, while in the discharge of an embassy to them from Charlemagne, who called upon them to return to the defense of Christendom. Orlando was too much fascinated by Angelica to obey the summons, and, followed by the faithful florist-mart, who would not leave him, returned towards Albraca. Ronaldo, Doudon, Iroldo, Prasildo, and the others took their way toward the West. End of Section 5, Recording by Jim Clevenger, Lilaroff, Arkansas, Jim, at joclev.com