CHAPTER III. HOW THE EMPEROR CHARLEMAGNE SAW A VISION.
CHARLEMAGNE only took repose in order to give others an opportunity ofresting. The chronicles tell us that he used to break off his slumbersfour or five times during the night, rise, dress himself, and dispatchsome matters of business. At Paderborn he occupied a chamber on theground floor, and was often seized with the inclination to go down intothe park, where, being alone with his thoughts, he used to allow himselfto become lost in reverie.
One beautiful night in the spring he perceived in the heavens whatseemed like an immense causeway, paved with stars, which commencedabove the Gulf of Friesland and disappeared about the Galician frontier,passing over Germany, Aquitaine, Gascony, and Navarre.
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Little by little there seemed to him to glitter an unusual number ofluminaries; they increased in size, changed their forms, and began tomove all in the same direction from the northeast to the south-west,and presently he beheld, moving across the heavens, crowds of armedwarriors. He had mistaken for stars the glint of the moon upon theirarmour. For a whole hour troop succeeded troop; the horses, excited toa mad ardour, galloped among the clouds, raising a dust of star-sparkleswith their hoofs. Then all became motionless as at first. The night grewdark and silent, and Charles, lost in reflection, turned his eyes toearth. The sight he saw froze for some seconds the blood in his veins.It appeared like a moving light, which had assumed a human shape--alingering sunbank forgotten by the twilight, and animated by somesupernatural power. It advanced slowly, its outline showing clearlyagainst the darkness of the park. At last the Emperor could distinguisha form more beautiful than is granted to the mortal inhabitants of theglobe. The figure spoke, and the air became laden with odours. Itsvoice hushed the songs of the nightingales, who perched on the boughs tolisten.
"My son, why have you forgotten me?"
"My lord, who are you?" inquired Charles.
"I am St. James, the apostle, the brother of St. John the Evangelist."
The Emperor fell on his knees.
"You called upon me at the tournament of Fronsac, and promised me achapel in exchange for Oliver's life, and I heard you. Oliver lives, andnine years have passed and still my bones lie in Galicia, forgotten byChristians and given up to Saracens. You have led your legions to theRoman shores, to the ocean, and to the Gulf of Friesland. One part ofEurope only have you omitted to visit: it is that where my bones arelaid, and to which you swore to me to make an expedition in my honour.I am sent to you from above. If Heaven makes you the most powerful amongthe mighty ones of earth, it is that you may accomplish its designs.Arise, then; rescue my remains from profane hands, and open the routefor pilgrims to my shrine. Arm your brave Franks, Lombards, Saxons, andAustrians, and march straight for the Saracens of Spain. I shall be withyou in danger, and by-and-by you will find me ready to conduct you toHeaven."
The vision vanished. Two hours later Eginhard, coming to seekCharlemagne, found him still upon his knees in the park praying, withtears in his eyes.
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