CHAPTER XI. HOW ANGOULAFFRE HAD AN ATTACK OF TOOTHACHE, WHICH WAS THEDEATH OF HIM.
ROLAND heard no further. The insolence of the giant had aroused in hisheart one of those fits of fury which, when coupled with strength andcourage like his, nothing can resist. The dishonour done to Ganelon andWolf enraged him, for he no longer saw in them either rivals or unworthyopponents. They were knights--they were Christians, and he felt a shareof the insult offered to them.
He sprang on the back of Veillantif, and dashed into the lists. A murmurof applause saluted his entrance. People felt that the real struggle wasonly now commencing, and that if Roland were vanquished there was no oneto take his place. The honour of the French name was the stake of thiscontest.
Three pages ran to pick up the gauntlet which Angoulaffre had flungdown in defiance, and dragged it with difficulty into the middle of thelists. Roland stooped, picked it up, and flung it in the giant's face.
On receiving this insult the Saracen lost his self-possession, and gavevent to an oath so terrible that all the assemblage crossed themselves.You will not, therefore, be surprised, my friends, that I do not repeatit, although it formed the entire speech of the Governor of Jerusalem.He felt himself in the presence of an enemy worthy of him, andunderstood that the time for words was gone by. As an habitual drinkerlikes wine that is rough, warriors delight in foemen who smite hard.
This time the giant assumed his lance and his vast shield. Thespectators had not a drop of blood left in their veins, and many prayerswere breathed to Heaven for the success of the Christian knight.
The signal was given. The combatants dashed forward and encounteredhalf way. Angoulaffre had stooped down to await Roland, but he, withsuperhuman activity, avoided the fearful blow which was aimed at him,and struck his adversary on the face with his lance.
The spear lodged between two of his teeth and broke.
The greatest courage is often accompanied by little weaknesses.
The hero who sports with life on the battle-field will often shrink atthe sight of a spider. Angoulaffre, now, had a horror of a dentist--as,my young readers, is the case, I conjecture, with most of you.
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A decayed grinder had given him considerable pain for the last sixweeks. Imagine his rage, then, when he received a tremendous blow from alance on that particular tooth. He ceased to be a man--to be a giant:he was a wild beast, mad with fury. He lost his presence of mind, whichuntil now had lent him double strength. Flinging aside his arms he flunghimself blindly upon his foe.
But Roland, whom danger never stirred, evaded him craftily, and harassedhim. He seemed to be playing with his formidable adversary. A deftstroke severed the girths of Angoulaffre's horse; the saddle turnedround; the giant lost his balance, and fell to earth amid shouts oflaughter from the spectators. Roland approached him, gave him his hand,and assisted him to rise. Then he asked him if he required rest.
"I never leave a fight half finished," said the giant; "but I amthirsty, that is all."
Charlemagne, hearing these words, ordered his pages to roll a hogs-headof Spanish wine into the middle of the lists. Angoulaffre broached itwith one blow of his fist, emptied it at one draught, and then, flingingthe cask beyond the barriers, remounted his steed.
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The combatants selected fresh spears, and, having taken their placeson the field, rode at each other once more. This time they smote oneanother full on the breast. What a terrific crash, my young friends! Noironclad of our day could have resisted it. Angoulaffre was driven backon his horse's crupper; he stuck his knees in so tight, to save himselffrom a second fall, that the unhappy animal had all the breath knockedout of its body. It was a misery to hear it cough.
Roland had bent beneath the stroke. His back had touched the crupper ofVeillantif, but the brave knight did not lose his seat. The spear hadglanced off his excellent armour from girdle to shoulder, and he escapedunhurt, though the blood flowed from his mouth.
"I should be loth to kill so brave a knight," said the Governor ofJerusalem. "I offer you your life; take it at my hands."
"I can accept nothing from you but blows," said Roland, quietly;"because I feel certain I can give you as good as I take, and perhapseven throw in a little over."
"As you please," said Angoulaffre; and once more they resumed the fight.
The giant flung aside his lance, and took a battle-axe, the sight ofwhich gave the spectators a fit of cold shivers. Roland also laid asidehis spear, and drew Durandal from its sheath.
Veillantif seemed endowed with human intelligence. The brave creaturedivined the slightest wish of its master. Now it bounded, now it scouredthe plain; anon it charged or it reared, and ever it went unhurt throughthe shower of blows. The horse of the Saracen was not worth half ofRoland's. Its size and weight rendered it difficult to manage. For someminutes it coughed incessantly, and scarcely obeyed bit or spur. Roland,by a clever turn, took the giant in flank, and with one blow of histremendous sword clove in two the horse of his opponent.
Angoulaffre came to earth, seated between the two severed halves of hissteed, and bellowing with astonishment and anger.
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The Saracens had left off laughing now. Their music was silenced. Garlanthe Bearded, who commanded them, foamed with rage; he tore out a goodtenth of his beard by the roots. The Alcalde of Valentia foresaw thefate of Angoulaffre, and was asking himself whether he and his menshould ever see Spain again.
Roland was loudly cheered; but, without taking any heed of it, hedismounted, and, approaching the colossus, who had not yet regained hisfeet, he said---
"Keep your seat, governor, and while you rest yourself, send some ofyour warriors to me; there will then be no time lost."
"May I be struck by a thousand thunderbolts, if I give you a moment'srespite! Mount, and defend yourself!"
"I am not in the habit of taking any advantage in a combat. Since youare dismounted, I will continue the contest on foot."
During this conversation ten horses had drawn from the lists the remainsof Angoulaffre's steed.
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Then began a combat yet more terrible than any of its predecessors. Themarvel was how Roland escaped the rain of blows aimed at him; but thebold knight managed so admirably, that he got close to the monster, andcut off his right leg at the knee.
You will guess, my friends, how sad a figure the Governor of Jerusalemcut with such a very ill-assorted pair of legs. He fell, biting theground with rage, and rolling to and fro in his attempt to rise, untilhe wept at his own impotence. Roland approached him.
"You cannot continue the struggle. Your life is in my power. AcceptChristian baptism, and I will spare you."
Angoulaffre, without answering, rolled himself to the place where hisaxe had fallen, seized it, and cut off his left leg at the knee. Thenraising himself on his stumps, he gazed sternly at Roland, and said,simply--
"I am ready!"
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At the sight of this act of Spartan heroism both Christians and Pagansapplauded. Charlemagne himself was touched.
"Governor of Jerusalem," said he, "desist from this useless struggle.What greater proof could you give of your courage? Believe me, when youappear again before your king in this guise, and tell him, 'It is Rolandwho has conquered me,' you will not see him sneer at you."
"You--you Christians, then--can live after the shame of having beenvanquished? That, and that only, is beyond our power. Behold, fainthearts! You have seen how we can fight; see now how well we know how todie!"
I will not, my dear young friends, relate to you the end of this fearfulconflict. It was no longer a battle--it was a butchery. Blows followedone another without pause. Roland was covered with wounds; his armourwas hacked away piece by piece, but he did not give ground. He felt hisstrength failing, and desired at any price to bring the contest to anend. Without regarding the almost certain death to which he exposedhimself, he closed with his foe, and dealt him a tremendous blow, whichstretched him at his fee
t.
There was one short minute, during which the impressed spectators keptsilence. The respect which bravery always commands restrained the burstof the general rejoicing; but, these first few seconds past, every onefelt himself relieved of an immense peril.
The sight of Roland, to whom Charlemagne had hastened, was the signalfor an outburst of frantic cheering from every side.
The king embraced his nephew, and said--
"I would reward you for so splendid a victory. What would you have? Mygratitude is unbounded: let your desire be without limit. Which of myprovinces shall I bestow on you?"
"I am yet more ambitious. When I wish to own a province, I will go winit with my sword."
"What would you have, then?"
Aude had just left Oliver, who had no longer need of her care. She feltthat the triumph of her lover would not be complete if she did not shareit.
Roland gazed at her so meaningly, that Charles turned to Gerard deVienne, and said--
"Here is an ambitious gallant, who seeks his reward at your hands. Whatsay you, Gerard, and you, Lady Guibourg? Does it not seem to you thatyour niece will be fortunate in having for a spouse my friend andnephew, Roland? I ask her hand of you for him."
"Sire," said Gerard, "it is doing us too great an honour."
"Aude could not have a nobler husband than Roland, who comes of yourroyal line, sire," said the Lady Guibourg.
"I was not rich enough to satisfy this grasping soul," repliedCharlemagne, "and I thank you, Gerard, for coming to my help. Ah!Turpin, here is work for you. No other is worthy to celebrate suchnuptials as these. Have ready a splendid sermon for the occasion, forthe wedding shall take place on our return to Cologne."
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