CHAPTER VII. A FORMIDABLE FRIEND.
WHEN the Saracens had entered the lists they formed in a semi circle,and the two ambassadors rode forward.
Murad was spokesman.
"I come to thee Charles, King of the French, on the part of my father,Marsillus, King of Portugal, Valentia, Leon, and Castile. My nameis Murad Henakyeh Meimoumovassi; that of my companion in arms isAngoulaffre. He is governor of Jerusalem, and direct lineal descendantof Goliath. We come to challenge to combat _a l'outrance_ your peers andbarons, for whom, we here declare to you, we care no more than for thepip of a pomegranate. We will compel those who hear us to reverence thename of Allah and his prophet Mahomet. We offer combat singly againsttwenty, thirty, forty, on foot or on horseback, armed or unarmed,accepting in anticipation all the conditions which you or your knightsmay choose to make. If you decline the meeting, we here proclaim ourintention of holding you up to the scorn and derision of all quarters ofthe globe, regarding as felons and cowards those who refuse to measuretheir strength with us. In support whereof, there lies my glove!"
Murad flung his gauntlet into the midst of the lists, and Angoulaffredid the same. A low murmur ran round the assembled multitude, butCharlemagne silenced it with a motion of his hand, and spoke asfollows:--
"I thank King Marsillus of Saragossa for the honour he has done us insending his son among us. But his son is a young man, and his wordsare the words of youth. He appears to be ignorant of our history, ourtastes, and our customs. Nothing delights us more than to do battle ina righteous cause, and it was not therefore necessary to accompany withthreats an offer which would be well received on its own merits, andwhich, too, would have lost nothing by being conveyed in courteousterms. We accept your challenge, glad to fight for the love of Heavenand the Trinity, and to the confusion of Mahomet. None of us, it istrue, is accompanied by wild beasts as a guard, but we have all huntedlarge game--the bear, or the huge-horned buffalo, so that we do not fearthe cautious master or his attendant. Neither is any one of us descendedfrom Goliath, or any other misbegotten child of the Evil One; but we allknow how to show ourselves worthy of the divinely-favoured David. Whatbrave and good men, animated by the love of God and their country, canaccomplish, we will do, relying on Him who disposes the victory."
The escort of Charlemagne on this uttered loud shouts of approval, whichwere answered by the Saracens with cries in honour of Mahomet.
Charlemagne appointed his uncle Bernard, and Maynes, Duke of Bavaria,marshals of the list, to arrange the conditions of battle. Muradselected Priamus, King of Persia, and Garlan the Bearded, alcalde ofValentia. While this was going on, Murad's lion, who was called Oghris,which is, in the Saracen tongue, "Throat of Brass," had ceased to roar;and, marvellous to relate, his eyes, usually filled with fire, hadbecome as gentle as those of a lamb. Everything about him grew mild. Hegazed as if fascinated at Aude, who, ignorant of the charm her beautyhad wrought, was talking with Roland. The lion approached her softly,never taking his eyes off her, and growing ever more submissive as hecame near her.
Every one was so pre-occupied that the monster had reached almost to thespot where Aude was standing before any one noticed him. But the horsesshied as he came near, and began to tremble so violently, that thejingling of their accoutrements attracted the attention of Charlemagneand his suite. Their eyes fell on the lion, but he, lost incontemplation, continued to advance, more submissively than ever. Theknights, perceiving his object, drew their swords and shouted athim, but he continued to advance without regarding them. Murad, inastonishment, called to his lion; three times did he utter the callwhich always brought the animal to his feet, but the lion continued toadvance without paying any attention to his voice. Murad, pale with furyand disappointment, sprang on him, and struck him with the flat of hissword, but the lion continued to advance without turning his head.
Aude, who was surprised;--Aude, who only did not tremble because shehad Roland and Oliver at her side;--Aude, who took pity on the poorfascinated monster that came towards her, docile and trembling, had thecourage to dismount and approach the lion. When he saw her near him howgreat was his delight! You would have vowed that in order to reassureher and make her forget his power he made himself as small as possible.When she came up to him he lay down and licked her feet. Aude bent downand ran her fingers through his mane. The great brute licked her handtremblingly. Then the fair one took her scarf and bound it round theneck of Oghris, who, rising gently on his feet for fear of alarming her,allowed her to lead him in a string.
Great was the astonishment of the spectators; but the most astounded ofall was Murad. He did not pride himself particularly on gallantry andgood manners, so, dismounting from his horse, he seized the lion by themane, and, without taking the least notice of the slight bunds by AvhichAude the Fair held the lion, strove to drag him with him. But the lion,furious, showing his teeth angrily, began to roar in such sort that aterrible confusion ensued.
The horses reared, unseating knights even who were usually firmest intheir saddles. The spectators, on hearing it, took to flight in everydirection, and for two leagues round the startled peasantry looked withastonishment at the clear sky, convinced that the sound was that ofthunder.
After a time the uproar subsided, and they beheld with horror Muradextended on the ground. They did not, however, so much recognise him asguess that he was represented by fragments of flesh and broken steel,and a few fluttering rags of cloth--all that remained of the son ofMarsillus.
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