CHAPTER XIII. THE TWO ROGUES RELEASED.
THE whole assembly was so full of other matters, that no one gave athought to Ganelon or Wolf. Pinabel, the nephew of the Count of Mayence,was the first to recollect them. Approaching Charlemagne, he inquired ifit would not be proper to release the two suspended knights, and if theking would entrust the task to him.
"That concerns Roland," said the king; "he has achieved theirdeliverance, and therefore they are his property. Go, then, nephew,and take down the two heroes, who are cutting so very sorry a figureup yonder. You will, of course, think it proper to give them the use oftheir wings."
Roland was talking with Aude, and was not particularly pleased at theinterruption. However, he went to the chapel, where he arrived in a verybad humour.
"It is very hard," said he to Ganelon, "to be put to inconvenience everyminute for people who are not the least grateful for what one does.When a man hasn't the strength to carry out an enterprise, he should notattempt it. This is the second time that I have had to release you froma state of suspense, and for no fault of mine. For Heaven's sake, infuture don't put the credit of France in jeopardy lightly. Remember, youare not the only Frenchman in the world, and also that I cannot alwaysbe close at your heels to repair your blunders." And, without furtherdelay, he restored the two suspended knights to the ground, and returnedto the fair Aude.
"Well," said Wolf to Ganelon, "are you in the humour to digest affrontslike those?"
"I fancy, my lord duke, you have had your share of them too, and theydon't seem to disagree with you."
"It would be only right to chastise him for his insolence."
"And pray what hinders you?" said the count, smiling.
"The same reason that teaches you patience. This Roland is a brute anda----"
Cut here the idlers congregated around the two vanquished knights, andmocked at them unsparingly. Not being anxious to supply public amusementgratis, they thought fit to retreat, and returned to their tents, wherethey passed the night in the formation of projects that were far fromChristian, though they originated in Christian brains.
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