CHAPTER IX. WHEREIN THE EAGLE STOOPS, THE RAVEN CROAKS, THE WOLF HOWLS,AND THE LION ROARS.
LARGE tears coursed down the cheeks of Charlemagne, as he gazed sadlyon his nobles and knights, and asked himself if Heaven would permit suchheroes to fall ingloriously by the hand of a miscreant.
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Oliver crossed himself, and rode at the giant. All trembled; Oliveralone trembled not.
It is hardly necessary to say that the usual conditions of this classof duel were, perforce, somewhat modified on this occasion, for theyforbade any blows except at the body, and permitted only cuts, notthrusts. As Angoulaffre was six times the height of Oliver, it wasimpossible they could be strictly adhered to.
The two combatants rushed at each other, and quickly disappeared in acloud of dust. Then came the clash of steel, which sent a chill to allhearts. Was Could that be the noise of his fall? No! the dust clearedaway, and Oliver was seen firmly seated in his saddle at the end of thelists, prepared for another course. His lance had broken the buckle ofAngoulaffre's sword-belt. The huge weapon, in falling, had made a greatdent in the soil.
Frantic cries of "Hurrah for the brave knight!" rent the air.
"Charge!"
Again they dashed forward, and disappeared in the storm of dust. Thistime, too, Oliver escaped unharmed; but the giant, confused by thelimited area of the lists, and miscalculating his distance, came downfull tilt upon the public gallery, his terrible lance made a deadlypassage through the crowd, and smashed the timber-work, which fellin upon the sitters. In the crash Angoulaffre's horse lost itsbreast-piece.
Ganelon had never been so delighted. He hated Oliver, whose friendshipfor Roland was proverbial. "This evening," said he to himself, "theseboasters will sleep between four planks."
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Wolf was as pleased and malicious as Ganelon.
The Duke of Aquitaine, you must know, had been struck with Aude'sbeauty, and had demanded her hand; but Gerard de Vienne had rejected theoffer with scorn, and Oliver had said, with a laugh, "Go and ask Rolandfor it."
Wolf and Ganelon were made to understand each other: they did not failto joke together in a whisper while Oliver was doing battle.
Now Charlemagne was never particularly pleased to see people jestingon such occasions, and he was not slow to perceive their smotheredlaughter, and grew very angry at it. This sarcastic sniggering enragedhim. The words of Angoulaffre still grated in his ears, and he fanciedthat he was the subject of pleasantry for his vassals. Turning round,delighted at a chance of relieving his anger, he said to Ganelon andWolf--
"The wolf and the crow, Heaven help us! dare to laugh at the eagle! Hashe sunk so low that he must submit to this?"
"Nay, His Majesty must not misunderstand us thus," said Wolf. "Ourrecent submission to his commands should place our loyalty beyondsuspicion of that sort."
"What, then, is the reason of this unwholesome pleasantry? When the wolfis pleased, the shepherd should be on his guard."
"An awkward blow of Oliver's made us laugh," said Ganelon, scowling atthe combatants.
"Oho! so that Gallant knight must serve you for a laughing-stock?In truth, you would have done better to laugh at me. Am I no longerCharlemagne? Did that miscreant say true? Because a giant dares lookme in the face, these dwarfs must snap at my heels! One of my bravestknights undertakes, out of regard for me, an enterprise, the verythought of which is enough to turn one's head; he is in danger of hislife, and people dare laugh at him under my very eyes! You have doneill, let me tell you; and, since the venture which Oliver undertakes issuch good sport, you shall, both of you, take part in it at once. Now,raven!--now, wolf! to your prayers for this hero; for I swear by Heavenyou shall take his place in the field!"
Then, leaving Ganelon and Wolf dumb with confusion, Charlemagne resumedhis place. Angoulaffre and Oliver, who only awaited the monarch'sreturn, ran another course. This time Ferrant d' Espagne arrived aloneat the end of the lists. The giant had adopted surer measures.
He had couched so low in the saddle that his face had touched hishorse's neck. Oliver, taking advantage of this, had thrust his lanceinto his left eye, whereon Angoulaffre had seized him in his mightygrasp, and had gripped him so hard, that his armour, bent and bruised,forced itself into his flesh. Then the giant was seen to rise in hissaddle, and hurl the luckless knight to the ground, where he lay withoutstirring, his armour broken, and bathed in blood.
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Cries of horror resounded on all sides, but they were speedily drownedby the shouts and music of the Saracens.
Charlemagne sat motionless, with his eyes fixed on the body of Oliver.His bravest knights pressed round him, imploring him to send them tofight the giant, but he did not hear them.
They brought a litter; the surgeons entered the lists, and soon the crywas raised, "Oliver still breathes!" Then Charles roused himself, and,with tears in his eyes, exclaimed--
"Blessed St. James! I have ever had full faith in you. Save this gallantchampion, and I promise you a chapel in the land of the Saracens. Itshall be so lovely, it shall be the envy of all the calendar."
Then, turning to Ganelon and Wolf, he said, "Now, as for you, Count ofMayence, and you, Duke of Aquitaine, if you do not accept the combat, Iswear by Heaven that to-morrow you shall be degraded from the order ofknighthood on the very spot where this brave knight has just fallen."
"So be it," said Ganelon, "'twill be strange if we do not let you see weare of as gallant and noble a lineage as your favourites!" and, followedby Wolf, he descended into the lists.
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