GUI DE BOURGOGNE
(GUY OF BURGUNDY)
13th Century Old French Chanson De Geste
Modern English Summary by Nol Drek
GUI DE BOURGOGNE (GUY OF BURGUNDY) SUMMARY:
For more than twenty-seven years Charlemagne and his
barons had been in Spain, where they had conquered a
number of cities, towns and castles. One day, after having
taken the city of Nobles, the Emperor said to his vassals:
"Barons, all this country is ours; I know of no castle, town,
village, or city where we have not forcefully introduced the
Christian faith, except, however, the rich city of Cordes, which
obeys King Desramé. There are found in abundance both gold
and silver, and precious silks, and swift steeds, and molted
falcons. Let us go, barons, in the name of heaven, because with
all these treasures we can enrich our poor relatives." — The
Emperor wants to leave the next day; but Ogier the Dane does
not understand it thus: he recalls the pains and sufferings
which Charlemagne has made his barons endure for a long
time, and bursts into reproaches against him: "It is said that
it is Charlemagne who conquers all the kingdoms; by Saint
Denis, it is not! It is Roland, it is Oliver, it is Naimon the
bearded man, it is finally Ogier, who make all these conquests.
The Emperor sleeps in a good bed, eats cakes, peacocks,
plovers, threatens to destroy Spain, but never strikes the
slightest sword stroke." — Charlemagne replies: Ogier is his
vassal and commits a great sin by using such language; such
reproaches are unjust: "It is twenty-seven years ago, says the
Emperor, that we came to Spain, and since then I have never
slept without my coat of mail. My clothes are in tatters, and,
for me, here I am more hairy than deer or doe. Although it is
a villainy, I will boast, since it is necessary: from Ouessant sur
Mer to Saint-Gilles, from Mont Joux to Galicia, and further,
towards Rome, on this side of the mountains, there is no castle,
town or domain that I have not reduced by force. I conquered
Bordeaux, I founded a town at Pamiers; I took Logrono, Estella,
and Carion; I am master and lord of all these countries, and
whoever would claim my name there would be received with great
honor!"
This is not the opinion of Richard, Duke of Normandy:
"You say, Emperor," he exclaims, "that all this country is
yours; but we don't say it. I know of such cities, five in
number, where one would have one's head cut off if one
claimed you there as one's lord." "Name them then, Richard,"
said the Emperor. — Richard's refusal. — Threatening
insistence of Charlemagne. — Richard decides to name
Montorgueil, Montesclair, Luiserne sur Mer, the Tower of
Augorie and the rich city of Carsaude. — The Emperor, to
inquire, sends for one of his interpreters, Floriant of Nubia.
Floriant knows Luiserne, Montorgueil, Montesclair, the tower
of Augorie and the city of Carsaude; but let the Emperor leave
them in peace: he will not take them. — "By my beard," said
Charles, "even if I had to spend all the days of my life there, I
will make myself master of these five cities." — Murmurs of
the French, cursing Duke Richard. — The Duke Naimon begs
the Emperor to return to France. — Refusal of Charlemagne.
— He lies down in a large bed with golden knobs, but he does
not sleep there: he has too much to think. — An angel appears
to him who comforts him and orders him, in the name of the
Lord, to march on Luiserne, and promises him ample help.
— The next morning. Charlemagne, reassured by this divine
apparition, gives his army the order to leave. — The army
advances by marches of twelve great leagues. — Sadness of
the French, who miss their wives and children. — To those
who would like to return Charlemagne offers their leave, but
on one condition, which is that whoever takes advantage of it
will fall into serfdom, he and all his lineage. — Four thousand
five hundred men leave the army, all Gascons or Angevins,
without exception. — Charles has a roll drawn up of them on
which their names are inscribed: it is from there that the
origin of serfdom dates. — Arrival at Luiserne: the Emperor
begins the siege of it on the first day of summer.
At the same time, the children of France met in Paris,
on the beach of the Seine, to the number of fifty-four
thousand. They intend to elect a king to replace Charlemagne,
who has been absent for so long: "Twenty-seven years ago,"
said Bertrand, the son of the Duke Naimon, "Charles left for
Spain, with his barons, with the peers who fathered us. Since
then our mothers have put us to bed and up until the end here
we are armed as knights. Let us make a king, if you find him
good, whom we will establish judge of good and evil, and from
whom we will hold all our inheritances; for if he came mixed
up between us, it would be a great villainy." — Unanimous
approval. "Let us swear," adds Bertrand, "that whoever will
be elected king cannot refuse the crown, on pain of life."
— New approval. "Who shall we make king?" ask the young
men. — Bertrand designates the young Guy, son of Sanson of
Burgundy and nephew of Charlemagne. If the Emperor
returns to France, he will not kill his sister's son; if he does
not return, the young Guy will inherit the crown; "Because we
do not want," said Bertrand, "to disinherit Charlemagne."
They offer the crown to Guy, who accepts it, saying "I prefer
to be king to having my head cut off." They give him faith and
homage, and he orders his new vassals to prepare themselves
immediately to join their fathers. They will take with them, in
four-wheeled chariots so that the journey will be smoother,
their mothers, their sisters, and even the old men, who will
be there for council, while the young people will go to battle.
Guy does not want to hold in France either castle or city; he
does not want to receive a penny of the revenue from the
imperial domains: he knows well that otherwise Charles, on
his return, would have his head cut off.
The young knights go to their domains, where they
prepare to leave. They stock up on food and on the tenth day
are back in Paris at Saint-Jean, with their mothers and sisters.
— Desolation and complaints of the ladies: "Sire Guy of
Burgundy," they say, "Charlemagne has taken our husbands
away from us; you will be guilty of a great sin if you take away
our sons from us." — But Guy imposes silence on them: "If
someone of you dares to say a word, were it the sister of
Charlemagne, were it the beautiful Aude herself, were it my
mother, whom I love and whom I revere so much, I will have
her limbs pulled out."
Departure of the army. — It is to the son of Duke
Naimon that the care of the chariots in which the ladies are
transported is entrusted. — Proclamations of the King
relating to the police of the army and the purchase of
provisions. — Miracles in Paris, at the moment of Guy's
departure from Burgundy: rain of blood, eclipse of the sun,
apprehension of the end of the world. — Route of the army to
the frontiers of Spain. — Encounter with a pilgrim returning
from Saint-Jacques. "Where are you from? Who are you?" the
pilgrim asks Guy of Burgundy. "I am King of France," Guy
replies. "You are making fun of me," continues the pilgrim;
you are not Charlemagne, the strong crowned king: I saw you
not long ago at Luiserne sur Mer. Alas! His fists and knees are
swollen, he can hardly ride a horse, and all his men are
starving." — Guy's consternation at this news; "Friend," he
said to the pilgrim, "since you have stayed at the camp of
Charlemagne, you must know one of the twelve peers."
"Yes, certainly, and I can name them all for you."
"Roland and Oliver his peer,
and Naimon with the beard and Ogier the beloved,
Richard of Normandy and Renier,
and Yvon and Yvoire and Haton the sage,
the Duke Thierri of Ardennes and Odon the bearded,
and Sanson of Burgundy, who is kind and noble."
— Guy's emotion when he hears the name of Sanson of
Burgundy; he inquires about him with tender interest.
— He wants to know the cause of the distress of Charlemagne
and his peers. "Sire," replies the pilgrim, "it is the city of
Carsaude that you see there, on this plateau. Charlemagne
stopped there for four years without being able to take it; he
left it behind, and that was a great mistake, for today his
communications are cut off, his food convoys intercepted." At
these words, Guy of Burgundy gives the order to march on
the town, and swears not to remove his armor until he has
taken it.
March of the army on the town of Carsaude. — Error of
the Saracens: they think they see Charlemagne returning to
France, after having raised the siege of Luiserne. — Boïdant,
one of them, disabuses them: it is not Charlemagne who is
going back, it's a reinforcement going to his aid. — Boïdant
goes to meet the French. — His conversation with Guy of
Burgundy, whom he seeks to divert from the attack on
Carsaude. — Return of Boïdant to his family. He is asked:
"Who are these people with whom you have parleyed?"
— "They are not people, but angels," replies Boïdant. "If you
saw them! Their God watches over them, ours sleeps. It is
from them that the goods of this world come to us: bread,
wine, salted flesh, pepper, and claret." — "Friend," said the
King Escorfaut, "you look to me like a convert." Then he calls
the Saracens to arms. — Exit of the Saracens. — Prayer of Guy
de Burgundy. — The French, on their knees and facing the
East, receive the blessing of Archbishop Turpin. — Battle.
— Meeting of Escorfaut and Guy of Burgundy. Death of
Escorfaut. — Four thousand pagans fell at the first shock;
also horses are not rare on the field of battle. Who wants a
good steed does not need to dispute it with his neighbor, nor
to provide security for payment. — Joust of the pagan
Cornicas and Guy of Burgundy; defeat and death of Cornicas.
The Saracens give way. "You will see them fight their way,"
said young Guy; "hug them closely, and you will enter the city
behind them: it's the only way to take it." — Flight of the
Saracens. — More than 15,000 Frenchmen introduced
themselves into Carsaude in their wake. — Master of the city,
Guy of Burgundy demands an immense quantity of
provisions from the vanquished. — He has ten thousand
mules loaded with them, and as many buffaloes or camels, to
send them to Charlemagne, under the escort of ten thousand
knights: — Names of the principal knights who will march in
front of the convoy. — On the point of leaving, one of them,
the son of Duke Naimon, said to Guy of Burgundy: "We are
going to see for the first time the fathers who begot us; will
you allow us to speak to them?" "By Saint Denis," replies Guy,
"and by this crown which you imposed on me in spite of
myself, if any of you makes himself known to his father, he
will have his head cut off on his return." — Consternation of
the young knights. They curse again the hour when they
crowned Guy of Burgundy. — The young king is going to
reconnoiter the tower which dominates the city, and which is
still in the power of the Saracens; he prays to God to let him
conquer the great palace he sees. — A miracle answers his
prayer: the marble tower splits in two halves, and collapses
on the Saracens it encloses. — New loot. — Departure of the
great convoy for Luiserne.
At the same time, Pepin's son has just got up and sat
down in front of his tent. He looks in pain at his blackened
and swollen legs and feet. Then he summons the peers, with
the exception of Roland and Oliver, who have gone to
reconnoiter in the mountains. "I see it very well," he told
them sadly, "I cannot take Luiserne. We have been besieging
it for a long time in vain, and we only have two days' worth
of food. The siege must be lifted, alas! which you see me
angry and sorry for." — He tells them of a dream he had last
night. — The old Duke Naimon urges him to resign himself
and to submit to the will of heaven. — At these words,
Charlemagne looks across the plain and sees the knights of
France coming from afar with their convoy. — In his eyes, it
is a troop of Saracens: he gives the order to run to arms.
— Hesitation and discouragement of the army. — Ogier
himself refuses the fight: his feet and fists are so swollen that
he could not put on his stirrups, and in thirty blows he could
not finish off a Saracen. "Barons," said the Emperor, "when
you see me die, it will be a great shame to you; because you
will never have a better lord. God!" he adds, "You hate me!
Formerly I was accustomed to taking castles and cities; there
was no fortress or dungeon that could stop me, no great hall
of stone, no wall, for so high it was; and now I can do nothing
more, to whom I am all stricken. Give me death, oh my God, if
it's your pleasure!" He can't help crying, and the sight hurts
the hearts of his men. — Ogier, the first, but without hope,
calls his companions to arms and to death. — They arm
themselves and fasten their spurs to their bare feet, for they
no longer have breeches, or coats, or shoes: everything is
rotten. They mount their horses, which no longer eat hay or
oats, and graze only on the grass of the fields. Thus,
numbering fifteen thousand, divided into four troops, they
march to meet their children. — The meeting takes place in a
valley. — By the crosses painted on the shields which he sees,
the Duke Naimon recognizes the children of France. — Full of
joy at this sight, he spurred on his horse, and the first of the
young knights he approached was his son Bertrand. — He
greets him and urges him with questions: Who are they?
What does this great convoy mean? Would they be, by chance,
merchants? Do they want to sell to Charlemagne the food they
bring? The Emperor will pay them by the weight of gold. "We
are not merchants," replies Bertrand, "and we did not buy
what you see there. We are from France, the land of clear
wines, and men of the king. But you yourself, who are you,
pulling my horse's bridle like this?" "On my head," replies the
duke, "I will tell you the truth: They call me Naimon, and I am
of the twelve peers." — Strong emotion of young Bertrand,
who dares not make himself known: Guy of Burgundy
forbade him so severely! But, in his turn, he will return to
Duke Naimon the surprise and tenderness he has just
experienced: "Your wife and your son must not love you very
much," he said to him, "you have never seen them in your
life." — "My son!" cried Naimon; "Oh God! Have I begotten a
son?" "Yes, certainly," said Bertrand, "a very handsome
bachelor, who is no taller than me, and may very well be of
my age. By the holy apostle who is invoked near Nero, I have
heard him swear on the Gospels that if he can meet you he
will separate your head from your torso, for having left his
mother so long as a widow!" — Same scene, at the same time,
between the Duke Odon of Langres and his son Estout,
between Berard of Montdidier and his father, the Duke
Thierri of Ardennes. — New questions from Duke Naimon; his
astonishment on learning of the marvelous capture of
Carsaude.
Conversing thus, and riding side by side, the fathers
and the sons arrived at the Emperor's pavilion. — He is there,
his chin resting on one of his hands, in the attitude of pain. It
was Bertrand who was the first to speak to him and, on behalf
of the King of France, made him a present of ten thousand
mules, camels and buffaloes, which carried enough provisions
to feed him and his companions for seven years. "From the
King of France!" said Charlemagne, rising abruptly, his eyes
inflamed with anger: "Is there then in France another king
besides me?" "We don't know you," replied Bertrand, "we
only know King Guy. Ah! It would be fine to see you in Paris,
and all the ladies of the kingdom at the same time, each
armed with a stick; they would beat you so much and so well
that, in order not to be at such a party, you would willingly
give up the fief of Avalon. Did you not snatch their husbands
from them?" — "By Saint Denis, Baron, I confess it," said
Charlemagne, "It is a great sin that I have on my body." — He
asks where all the booty offered to him has been taken. "At
Carsaude," replies Bertrand. "And when did you come there?"
"A fortnight ago," continues Bertrand; we made the assault in
the morning, and before sunset the town was taken. "What is
your lord's name?" Charles asks. "His name is Guy." "Which
county is he from?" "I wouldn't tell you about everything you
possess." — Anger and threat of Charlemagne. — Bertrand
defends Guy of Burgundy: He has not taken, in all France, a
castle, nor a city; he did not receive a valiant denarius. What
is his crime? Barely crowned, and when his vassals thought
they were sleeping and resting in peace, he made them ride
and run after the Emperor, to bring him a present which
would certainly be useful, seeing the distress of Charles and
his men. He should be grateful to the young king, instead of
threatening him.
Return of Roland and Oliver; their astonishment, their
joy, at the sight of beasts of burden laden with provisions.
"Beautiful nephew," said the Emperor, "come closer, you will
hear joyous news. They have made a king in France, a very
handsome bachelor, a good judge, so I am told, and the richest
and best knight that can be found in all of Christendom."
— "Sire," said Roland, laughing, "they did a good job there;
since this king is such a gentleman, you will no doubt leave
France to him to keep, and you, on the other hand, you will
take Luiserne to establish yourself there." — The Emperor
does not relish this raillery of Roland, and he comes close to
giving him his glove by the nose. — Oliver defends Roland
and threatens to return. "I will do the same," added Roland,
"let us leave that doting old man there, and let him go to all
the devils." — Ganelon arrives, with his companion Hardré: he
bursts into invectives against these young men of France and
against their king; he advises Charlemagne to have the young
messengers put to death. — The Emperor calls together his
barons to take their advice. — Speech by Ganelon. — Reply
from Duke Naimon. — Ganelon says that provisions are to be
distributed only to princes, dukes, counts and marquises: if
the poor take part in them, they will soon have plundered
them. Naimon, on the contrary, asks that provisions be given
to all; far from putting Guy of Burgundy's messengers to
death, the Emperor was to lodge them for that night, and, on
dismissing them the next day, convey his great thanks to the
young King and to ask him to come to his aid. — Fury of
Ganelon: he swears revenge, with Hardré, Tiebaut, Alori, and
all those of his accursed lineage. They will keep their oath
only too well at Roncesvalles.
Distribution of food. — The messengers will pass the
night in the Emperor's camp. — To make room for them,
Charlemagne had the Germans dislodged from their tents.
— Visit of the Emperor and his barons at the tents of the
messengers. — Friendly conversation. — Questions about King
Guy. — "And the ladies, what are they doing?" asks
Charlemagne. "We brought them with us," replies Bertrand,
"your sister is there, and beautiful Aude too, Oliver's
sister." — Roland's joy at this news.
Charlemagne takes leave of the young knights. — As
he returns to his tent, he meets a pilgrim, and proposes to
him to exchange their clothes. — Charlemagne as a pilgrim.
— To complete the disguise, he slashes his feet with a knife
and soils them in a heap of manure, then he tells Ogier about
the project he has just formed. Thus disguised, he wants to
enter Luiserne, to find out where the walls are the weakest,
and, at the same time, to show everyone that he is still
capable. A dash of audacity: "Once I am in the town," he said
to Ogier, "take my arms and my shield, mount my horse, and
assault the gate, you and Naimon the bearded, with a troop of
three thousand men." — Charlemagne arrives at the gate of
Luiserne, entirely disfigured, his head tottering, his mouth
crooked, and dragging his hips; but, as he presented himself
at the gate, a gust of wind knocked down his hat and partly
destroyed the effect of his disguise. — He is recognized by
Boïdant, a Saracen interpreter who was in France: "Have you
ever seen Charlemagne?" said Boïdant to the knight who
guards the door, "There he is. He has come no doubt to spy;
he is going to speak to our lord Aquilant. Follow him and we'll
cut off his head." — The Emperor, who hears these words,
implores divine assistance. — No sooner has he finished his
prayer than he sees the heavens parting; the angel Gabriel
descends towards him and whispers in his ear: "Emperor of
France, do not be afraid; whoever brought you here will lead
you." — Charlemagne, reassured, heads for the palace of the
Saracen king. Leaning on his staff, he greets Aquilant in Greek,
he knows all the languages: "Where do you come from?" asks
Aquilant, "Where are you going? What is your country?"
— "Sire, I was born in Palermo, and I have just returned from
Mecca, where I brought my offering. It is a great wonder that
I have returned, for Charlemagne has cut off all the roads, so
that there is no longer any safety for pilgrims and
messengers. I once saw your father, the rich King Macabré;
you will soon receive from him a reinforcement of a hundred
thousand Turks." — As he says these words, the interpreter
Boïdant, who has followed him, enters. He goes straight to the
false pilgrim, seizes him by his white beard, and pulls him
violently towards him: "Old trickster," he says to him, "we
have recognized you, and at this hour we must change your
tone." — Charlemagne thinks he is lost if he lets Boïdant say
another word, and with a blow of his fist he lays him dead at
Aquilant's feet. — Wrath of Aquilant: he wants to hang the
pilgrim, but King Salatré opposes it; the culprit, in his eyes, is
not the pilgrim, it is Boïdant. If he had received any outrage,
Aquilant would have done him justice; but he wanted to
avenge himself, without challenge: if something bad
happened to him, it was his fault. — At the same moment
they come to announce to Aquilant that Charlemagne is at the
gates, that he has broken the bridge and filled in the moat:
"Barons, to arms!" exclaims Aquilant. "Brother, wait for me
here," he said to the pilgrim, "I'll come back to you as soon as
the assault is repulsed." — While the Saracens rush to the
walls, the Emperor walks through the deserted streets of the
city: he examines it from top to bottom, recognizes that the
walls do not fear any attack, leaves by the window where he
entered, and goes to join his people, who he orders to cease
the attack. — Returning to his camp, Charlemagne dismisses
the messengers of Guy of Burgundy, and orders them to ask
for the assistance of the young king for him.
At the same time. Guy of Burgundy questions the
pilgrim who once gave him news of Charlemagne; he asks
him if he knows of any city, any fortress, which the Emperor
could not conquer. "I know three of them," replies the pilgrim,
"and first of all Montorgueil sur Mer, which obeys King
Huidelon." — Description of this city, surrounded by several
rivers, whose waters contain magnets. "Charlemagne," says
the pilgrim, "besieged it for three years without success. He
then went to Montesclair, and, after eight months of siege,
abandoned it also, to go to Augorie, where the Saracen
Escorfaut reigns. Finally he left Augorie for Luiserne, where
he has been for seven years." "You will take me to
Montorgueil," continues Guy, "I must take this city before I see
Charlemagne." — Return of the messengers Guy Sent to the
Emperor. — Departure of Guy and his army for Montorgueil.
— Arrival in front of this town. — Army encampment on the
bank of a river. — Council of war to advise on the means of
taking Montorgueil. "Force can do nothing about it; you must
therefore employ a ruse. Arm up," said Bertrand, "ten young
lads, whom you will take to Montorgueil yourself. If we can
enter the city, we will make Huidelon believe that we are
messengers of Charlemagne, and that we have come on
behalf of the Emperor to ask him for his fiefs and his lands.
Once introduced to his palace, if you find it good, we will
speak a completely different language." "On my head," said
Guy, "here is good advice: you will come with me; choose your
companions."
Debate between the knights, who dispute the honor of
taking part in this perilous enterprise. — Turpin wants to be
one of them, because if he is a good cleric and knows how to
invoke the Lord God well, he is no less good at jousting and
fencing in battle. "Here's a good priest," said Guy, "blessed be
the hour when he was begotten!" — Departure of the little
troop. They meet seven hundred pagans who, under the
leadership of Maucabré, guard the castle and the fief which
depends on it. — Interview between Maucabré and King Guy.
"We are going to Montorgueil," said Guy, "on behalf of
Charlemagne, to summon Huidelon to the Emperor. Charles
is angry with his nephew Roland, and has sworn to disinherit
him. If Huidelon wants to become a Christian, it is to Huidelon
that he will give Spain." "That's good news," said the Turk.
— "Yes," continues Guy, "but how to speak to Huidelon? Can
we without crossing these magnetic rivers, and the middle,
clad as we are in our hauberks?" — The Turk offers to lead
them by a causeway ten feet wide and twelve leagues long.
— Miracle: the waters recede to let Guy and his companions
pass. — Maucabré leaves the knights after having shown
them their way.
Entry of King Guy and his companions into
Montorgueil. — What they see there. They're heading for the
palace of Huidelon. — Arriving at the main gate, they find a
hideous giant guarding it. — Portrait of the Giant. "Is
Huidelon there?" Guy asks. "Can we talk to him? " — Response
from the giant, who raises the staff to which he attaches his
keys, thinks of hitting Bertrand with it, but only hits his horse,
which falls dead. Guy of Burgundy beheads the gatekeeper.
— Entry of the messengers into the palace at the moment
when Huidelon harangues his barons there. — Costume of the
Saracen King. — His speech. — He recalls the conquests of
Charlemagne; and dreads when he returns from Luiserne.
— The French arrive in front of him unexpectedly, helms on
their heads and swords in hand. — Speech of Guy: terrible
threats if Huidelon moves his foot or hand. "What has become
of my doorman?" exclaims the pagan. — He learns that one of
the messengers has cut off his head. — His anger.
— Threatening speech by Bertrand: he calls on Huidelon, in
the name of the Emperor Charlemagne, to give him back
Montorgueil with its outbuildings, and the tower of
Montesclair. — Speech of Estout, son of Odon of Langres:
new warnings, new threats. Huidelon must understand that
to become a Christian, he must tie a large purse around his
neck, as a sign of serfdom, and take it to Charlemagne, with
four silver coins in it; otherwise, Charlemagne will have him
dragged at the tail of a horse, will have him tear off the gold
buttons which hang from his beard and burn his mustache.
— Speech of Turpin, the gentle clerk: If Huidelon does not
want to pay homage to Charlemagne, his hands and feet will
be torn from his body, his sons will be flayed alive, his wife
will be burned, or at least have her breasts torn out. — At
these terrible threats, Huidelon calls his knights and orders
them to arm themselves. — Melee of pagans and Frenchmen.
— Defeat and Flight of the Pagans.
Remaining masters of the palace, the children of
France pull the bars and close the doors. — Death of a
hunchback guarding the tower. — Consternation of Guy when
he recognizes that the palace contains no provisions. — New
research to find some. — Discovery of an arms room and a
cupboard containing some provisions sufficient to last eight
days. — At the same time Huidelon assembles his pagans and
brings his two sons from Montesclair. — The pagans, who
know that food is lacking in the palace, are of the opinion that
the French should be reduced to starvation. — Struggling
with hunger, the French take advice. — Their regrets at
having suffered so lightly with so little force. — Speech by
Bertrand. He's of the opinion that Huidelon should be charged
with treason. The pagan attacked the messengers; he must
defend himself against this accusation with arms in hand.
— Guy of Burgundy shares this opinion: it is he who will
fight with Huidelon. — From one of the palace windows he
defies the pagan king. — Huidelon accepts the challenge,
takes one of his sons as champion, and resigns himself, if he
is defeated, to recognizing Charlemagne as suzerain; but, on
the contrary, he threatens Guy and his companions with
having them hanged. — Debate between Guy and his family
about who will take charge of the battle: "I am your liege
lord," said Guy; "your salvation is entrusted to me; it is I who
will fight to deliver you."
He goes out. — Huidelon makes him surrender his
weapons. — Portrait of King Guy disarmed. He's pale: he
hasn't eaten for three days. — Huidelon calls his seneschal
and has the young king served a loaf of bread and a peacock,
with a full vessel of wine. — At the sight of this meal, Guy of
Burgundy was moved to tears; but he does not want to bite
until he knows if his companions will have the same.
Huidelon promises him. — Guy eats the whole peacock, and
the bread too; he drinks all the wine that has been served to
him. — Saracen mockery at the sight of this heavy eater.
Huidelon imposes silence on them. "A man who eats so well,"
he said, "can never be a coward." — Huidelon has his arms
brought to him, gives him a horse and advises the Saracens
not to insult the young king. — Speech of Huidelon to his son
before the fight. — Portrait of King Danemont, son of Huidelon.
— His armor. — His horse. — Harness of the horse. — The two
champions are brought face to face. — Challenges.
Huidelon wants the pagans to keep quiet, even when
his son would be defeated; but Danemont's brother,
Dragolant, gathered them around him and told them, "It is
written that a pagan cannot stand against a Frenchman; So
have three hundred of ours armed and send them out through
the hidden postern." — The pagans prepare an ambush in a
thicket. — Joust of Guy and Danemont. — Miscellaneous
incidents. — Prayer of Guy of Burgundy. — His horse is
killed. — Prayer of Archbishop Turpin. — Danemont's horse
is killed. — Combat on foot between the two champions.
— Movement of Dragolant to the aid of his brother. — Turpin
sees this and cries treason. — The French arm themselves to
run to the aid of their king. — Old Huidelon, for his part, who
recognizes the treachery of his son Dragolant, marches in
front of him and his troop, kills the first pagan he meets,
forbids the others to take another step, then comes towards
Guy and reassures him. — At the same moment the French
came running up. "Why did you come down from the tower?"
Huidelon asks them. — "To succor this good bachelor," they
answer. "When we saw your Saracens come out." — Huidelon
admits that they had reason to fear, and that Dragolant
behaved badly: "Everywhere they go," he says, "people will
accuse me of treason, and I will be singled out at the court of
Charlemagne." So he wants Guy to take him to the Emperor's
camp; he wishes to submit to the judgment of the Franks and,
if he is declared a traitor, he consents to lose his land and to
see his son's head cut off. — Guy's courteous reply: Huidelon
will be taken, as he wishes, to Charlemagne. — Meeting of
Huidelon with his son Danemont. — Reproaches of Huidelon.
However, Charlemagne in front of Luiserne is worried
that he does not see Guy of Burgundy arriving to his aid.
— Duke Naimon advises him to send twelve thousand knights
to look for him. — "Go ahead, Duke Naimon," replies
Charlemagne, "with Thierri of Ardennes and Sanson of
Burgundy." — Departure of the barons for the camp of Guy
of Burgundy. They go to Carsaude, learn that the young king
left for Montorgueil three days ago, and head for that town.
— Error of King Guy, who mistakes them from a distance for a
band of Saracens. — He prepares to march against them a
troop of his own; but Bertrand soon recognizes the old
barons of Charlemagne, and exclaims laughingly: "Look, sire,
Charles of Saint-Denis must love you very much, since he
sends you to be fetched by his best knights." — "God,"
exclaims Guy in his turn, "if only my father were among the
number!" — "He's there, on my head!" Bertrand replies.
"Friend," said the young king, "show him to me." "Here he is
in front of you," replied Bertrand, "with that overcoat and
that white beard falling over his chest. Here is the Duke
Naimon with the flowery mustache; here are the fathers of all
the damsels who have followed you into these foreign lands."
— "Sire Guy of Burgundy," exclaim the young knights, "let us
go and comfort our fathers." "By Saint Denis," replies the king,
"if any one of you, whoever he may be, makes himself known
to his father, I will have his head separated from his torso!"
— Huidelon asks where these knights are from whose arrival
causes such a great rumor. "They are from France, handsome
sire; they are from our country," answer Guy's companions;
"if you don't mind, we will go together to meet them."
— Meeting of the two troops. "Where is the King of France?"
Naimon asks. "We'll show him to you," replies Guy, "come with
us into his tent." — Meeting of Duke Naimon and his
companions with the young king and his knights in the tent
of Guy of Burgundy. — Questions from Duke Naimon.
— Courteous replies from Guy. But when the old duke asks
him: "Who is your father?" "Old dotard," replies Guy; "by Saint
Denis of France, if you say one more word I will have your
head separated from your torso!"
The presence of the old peers of Charlemagne obliges
Huidelon to speak in this assembly. — He recounts the
message of the ten Frenchmen who came to summon him to
pay homage to Charlemagne, the battle between Danemont
and Guy of Burgundy, and the attempted betrayal of his son
Dragolant. He asks on this occasion that his conduct be
examined and judged by the French. — Guy of Burgundy
confirms the story of the Saracen: he believes that one could
not find a more loyal Turk in sixty cities. — Opinion of Duke
Naimon: in his eyes Dragolant is not guilty, because he is not
a Christian; and so he must be pardoned, on condition that he
will be baptized. — This is the feeling of all the barons, and
Huidelon yields immediately: he is disposed to receive
baptism, he, his sons and all his vassals; he agrees that those
who refuse should have their heads cut off, and stands ready
to recognize Charlemagne as his lord. — Great joy of the
barons. — Archbishop Turpin prepares the font and baptizes
Huidelon, his two sons and his men, twenty thousand in
number. But Huidelon still wishes to have his wife baptized,
who has remained at Montorgueil, and hands over to the
French the keys of the town. — Departure of the knights with
the new converts. — Their entry into Montorgueil. — Baptism
of Lady Marguerite, wife of Huidelon. "Now I give you back
your land and your lordship," King Guy said to Huidelon.
"Certainly," answers Huidelon, "by the faith that I owe to the
son of Saint Mary, I will not hold a foot of my land before
having seen Charles, the king of Saint-Denis." — The city is
therefore left in the custody of the queen, and Huidelon
returns to the camp of the French.
Duke Naimon makes an effort to bring Guy of
Burgundy back to Luiserne. — Refusal of the young king: he
wants, before seeing the Emperor, to have conquered the
stronghold of Augorie and the city of Maudrane. He did not
yield either to the entreaties of his father, Sanson of
Burgundy, and only promised him to send to Charlemagne
new aid in provisions and arms.
Return of Duke Naimon and his companions to the
Emperor's camp in Luiserne. The Emperor is delighted to see
his barons again, but this young king who took Montorgueil
and had Huidelon baptized, who is he? Why does he take so
long to join him? This concern disturbs Charlemagne's sleep.
However, he will not leave Luiserne before Guy of
Burgundy's much desired arrival, for such is the will of God.
However, Guy of Burgundy is preparing to conquer
the tower of Augorie, accompanied by Huidelon and his sons.
— It's Huidelon himself who wants to carry out the
enterprise with a hundred of his best friends and a hundred
French knights. — Arrived in sight of the tower, he detaches
himself from the army of Guy with this small troop and goes
towards the city, he at the head with his people, the French
behind. — The porter lets Huidelon enter without distrust,
but the sight of the Frenchmen astonishes him. — "You will
know," Danemont replies, "before the hour of compline."
"Where is King Escorfaut?" he adds. "He is up there, fair sir,
with a hundred of his knights." — Meeting between Huidelon
and Escorfaut. — Huidelon tells his nephew that he was
stripped of his land by Guy of Burgundy. — Anger of
Escorfaut. — Threats of revenge. — Concern of the French
Knights. — Escorfaut examines Berard and Bertrand, and
recognizes that they are from France: "Who are these
knights?" he asks Huidelon. — It's Danemont who answers
him: "Beautiful uncle, it is no longer time to be cunning:
they are vassals of Guy of Burgundy, who summons you through
us to render homage to him and to embrace the Christian
faith; otherwise, it's the end of you." — Huidelon repeats the
summons and the threats of his son: "Neither friendship nor
kinship will prevent me," he said, "from having your head cut
off, nor from having your hands and feet torn from your
body." — The French knights draw their swords, and the
melee begins. — It will soon end in their favor. — Escorfaut,
as soon as he sees that resistance is impossible, submits to
the conditions imposed on him: "I like better," he said,
"losing my land than my head, but I yield to force more than
to friendship." "I care little," replies Huidelon: "I am no less
joyful for it." Escorfaut puts his head at one of the windows
of the palace, and from there sees his men assembled in arms
to the number of more than thirty thousand; he speaks to
them in these terms: "Lords, listen to me: I have given back
my land and my country to the French; I am going to be
baptized, and ask you to return your lands also." "By Apollo,"
answer the pagans, "we are going to assail these Frenchmen
and tear them to pieces!" "Do what I beg of you," continues
Escorfaut, "or you will see me with my head cut off and you
will die a bad death, for I see King Guy over there with his
army." — Submission of the pagans, who put down their
arms. — Bertrand, as a sign of victory, ties a vermilion
banner to the top of the palace tower and, as soon as he sees
it floating, Guy of Burgundy exclaims: "The city is ours!"
— Occupation of the city by the French. — Proclamation of
King Guy who forbids his knights to take anything from the
Saracens. — Huidelon and his son Dragolant lead Escorfaut
in front of King Guy: "Here, sire," said Huidelon, "I deliver
Escorfaut to you, he and all his land, to dispose of as you
please." — "Friend," said Guy of Burgundy to the Saracen,
"do you want to believe in God and receive your Holy Baptism
with faith and humility?" "Yes, sire, I sincerely want it,"
replies the pagan. — Baptism of Escorfaut and his family by
Archbishop Turpin. Anyone who refuses to believe in God is
put to death.
The new converts, united with the companions of King
Guy, form an army of more than a hundred thousand men, all
ready to go to the assistance of the Emperor. "How long do
we need," Guy asks Huidelon and Escorfaut, "to get under the
walls of Luiserne?" "On my faith," replies Huidelon, "three
days will not pass without our seeing the King of Saint-Denis
and the barons of France." "No doubt," said Escorfaut,
laughing, "but first we shall find a strong city seated on a
rock, and whose walls are of green and brown marble. It
contains fifteen fortified towers with their walls and swing
bridges. There is no man, however powerful, however
numerous his knights, who can reduce her by force from now
until the day of judgment." "What's the name of this town,
fair sir?" asks King Guy. — "We call it Maudrane," replies
Escorfaut. "She obeys Emaudras, a cursed traitor, who is my
sister's son. If we leave it behind us, we have everything to
fear; but it will not stay there, I promise you. Here is Huidelon
who delivered me: I will deliver Emaudras to you in the same
way." — Army March on Maudrane. — Exterior aspect of this
city. — Huidelon is of the opinion that it can only be taken by
trickery; force can do nothing about it. "But have no fear,
sire," he said to Guy of Burgundy, "if it pleases God and Saint
Peter, before it is the same hour tomorrow, we will put it in
your power. Give me ten thousand of your men; I'll take as
many of my best barons, but yours will be bound hand and
foot. We will make the bridge guards believe that these are
so many prisoners, taken from the army of Guy, and that we
are taking them to Emaudras to do justice; we will thus enter
the city and we will take it." — Guy of Burgundy approves of
the undertaking.
Twenty thousand knights are armed and leave under
the leadership of Huideion, his nephew Escorfaut and his two
sons, Danemont and Dragolant. — The gates of the city are
open to them, and they penetrate as far as Emaudras, whom
they find under an olive tree, in the garden of his palace,
playing chess with one of his barons. — Joy of Emaudras at
the sight of the ten thousand prisoners: "You have done a
good job," he said to Huideion and Escorfaut, "we must now
go to Luiserne to the aid of Aquilant, my lord; we will
dislodge Charlemagne's army and have his head cut off. I had
news of him not long ago from a pilgrim, who told me that he
could scarcely stand on his feet, that his army lacked
provisions, and that the steeds were exhausted." — "On my
head," said Huideion, "I will be one of the first against him,
for I hate this old man more than anyone in the world; but let
the prisoners be led up there, and let me sleep and rest for
today, for it is a week since I stripped myself of my armor."
— Under the leadership of Danemont and Dragolant, the false
prisoners enter the palace, free themselves from their bonds
and draw their swords. — The doors are closed, the bridges
raised. "Have the swords removed from these prisoners,"
cried Emaudras, at the sight of the Frenchmen in arms, "we
will throw them into the great prison." "They will make your
heart sore before," continues Huideion, "if you don't want to
believe in Jesus Christ, the King of Love, who was born of the
Blessed Virgin at Bethlehem." — "Ah! smelly old man," said
Emaudras, "so that's how you betrayed me! By Mahomet, I
will allow myself to be thrown into a burning fire rather than
believe in the one who allowed himself to be tortured; he
who would not help himself, how could he help me?" — No
sooner had he said these words than Danemont seized him
by his beard, and with a great blow on the nape of the neck
brought him down at his feet. "Let me Speak to this Turk in
pleasant language," said Archbishop Turpin. "Friend, believe
in God, you will regain possession of your land, and will lose
nothing." "I have no use for your sermon," replies Emaudras,
"I will never believe in him who, on an old plank, in
Jerusalem, suffered torture and death." At these words,
Turpin stabbed him with a thrust of his sword. "Certainly,
here is a good priest," said Huidelon. "And who confesses
well," adds his son Dragolant. "Now, lords. It is a question of
doing well," say the French knights. "Let's attack the pagans
before they suspect anything and have had time to arm
themselves." — The pagans, surprised, are cut to pieces or
throw themselves into the sea. — Pillage of the city.
— Departure of the army for Luiserne.
Charlemagne, however, is still waiting for Guy of
Burgundy: "I will never see him," he says with a sigh. But
Duke Naimon comforts him and gives him hope. — At this
moment, Roland introduces a messenger to the Emperor who
asks to speak to him. — He brings him sad news: Marsilius
has sworn by Mahomet that he will come to Luiserne with all
his forces (more than a hundred thousand Turks), that he will
compel Charlemagne to lift the siege, will flay him alive, and
cut off the heads of Roland and Oliver. — Consternation of
the Emperor, of Roland, and of Oliver. — But Ogier the Dane
raises their courage, "What a knight!" exclaims Charlemagne,
"Blessed be the hour when Godfrey begat him." Ganelon, on
the contrary, advises the Emperor to return to France:
"Never," he says, "will Luiserne be taken; we will never see
Guy of Burgundy." — The Duke Naimon combats this
opinion: he wants a troop of four thousand men to be sent
forward on a height, to make sure of the arrival of the pagans.
He wants Charlemagne to give this mission to Ganelon,
Hardré, Tiebaut, Alori and all their great family. — Murmurs
of Ganelon, who dares not refuse.
At the same time, Guy of Burgundy asks Huidelon:
"When will we arrive at Luiserne?" "This afternoon," replies
Huidelon. — Great joy of King Guy, of the army, and of the
ladies. — Everyone adorns himself with his richest garments.
— The army of Guy, assembled in the finest order, presents
itself to the gaze of Ganelon and his companions as soon as
they arrive at the summit of the mountain to which the
Emperor has sent them. They think they see Marsilius' army,
and return in haste to raise the alarm at the Emperor's camp.
— Lamentations of Charlemagne. — Resignation of Duke
Naimon. "Sire," he said, "you know very well that we must all
die. If our day has come, commend our souls and bodies to
God, and sell our lives dearly." — The horn sounds and the
knights run to arms. — Duke Naimon advises the Emperor
not to hasten the departure of his army, lest the Saracens of
Luiserne come to attack his territory: "I will go forward, he
said, with ten thousand men, to watch the march of the pagan
army, and I will not return without having met the Turks."
Arrived on the height from where Ganelon thought he
saw Marsilius and his family, Duke Naimon recognizes the army
of the long-awaited noble young man, and hastened to bring
this great news back to the Emperor. "I have lived enough,"
cried Charlemagne; I know at this hour that Luiserne will be
taken. — Then he calls his barons, and says to them: "Barons,
disarm, take off your breeches and your shoes, and get on the
ground, on your hands and knees, in front of the one who
comes to us. One cannot honor too much the one who brings such
reinforcement." — Guy of Burgundy's astonishment at the
sight of the French barons in this posture. "It's humility," said
Bertrand; "their joy is such that they don't know how to
express it." "It was up to the youngest, it was up to us,"
continues Guy, "to prostrate ourselves like this." And
immediately he orders his barons to turn their swords
pointing downwards and throw themselves to the ground on
their elbows and knees. — This is how the two armies meet
in the middle of a meadow. — Charles and Guy get up and
kiss each other in such an embrace that they would go a long
way before they could speak. — After tenderly kissing each
other, Guy of Burgundy falls at the feet of Charlemagne:
"Grace! handsome sir," he said to him, "listen to my word:
twenty-seven years ago you took our fathers away. One day,
in an assembly in Paris, they made me king against my will; if
I had not accepted, they would have killed me. But I did not
wish to hold either a castle or a city in France, and afterwards
I ordered those who had elected me to ride. First I took
Carsaude, a good city, then, not far from there, Montesclair
and Montorgueil. I baptized Huidelon and with him more
than thirty thousand pagans. I took Augorie and Maudrane
again. I place these five cities and all their wealth in your
hands. Here is my sword; take it, and cut off my head, if it is
your pleasure." "By my Lord," replies Charlemagne, "you are
brave and sensible; in your life you will never lose the crown
you wear. I will give you Spain, if you can take it." "And now,
children, to your fathers!" exclaims Guy of Burgundy. — He
himself leans into Sanson's arms and kisses his mouth and
nose more than a hundred times. — Since God lodged Saint
Peter in the meadows of Nero, and raised the body of Saint
Lazarus, we have never seen in the world such joy or such an
assembled crowd. — "Bring the ladies without delay," said
King Guy to the young Bertrand, "because it is marvelous how
everyone wants their baron." — The ladies alight from their
chariots and head for the tents, preceded by Gille, the sister
of Charlemagne, who brings with her the beautiful Aude.
— Meeting of the beautiful Aude and Roland. — The ladies
reunite with their barons. — Those who did not find their
barons, the Emperor took care to marry them well.
Charlemagne grants eight days to his barons to rest in
the chariots with their wives. They did not come out until the
afternoon or vespers. — This time past, the Emperor called
the ladies together and said to them: "Ladies, I cannot hide it
from you, you should return to France; you cannot here share
our fatigues, sometimes fast like us, and endure all the
miseries. We are going to march against Marsilius, and if God
allows us to defeat the disbelievers and take away their fiefs,
we will also return to France on Saint Bastien's Day. Then
Roland will take beautiful Aude for wife, we will crown the
young Guy, to whom I will give in fief this rich country, and
Roland will have France, which he desires so much." "As you
order," reply the ladies. — Alas, misfortune threatens them!
How many thousands of knights rejoice at this promised
return, who will never see their wives or their children
again! They will be sold to Marsilius and will suffer the
martyrdom of Roncesvalles!
Departure of the ladies. — Charlemagne restores their
cities and their kingdoms to Huidelon and Escorfaut, but both
recognize the young king of Spain as suzerain. — Departure
of the converts, who return to their domains. — An angel
appears to the Emperor and orders him to go to Galicia to
adore Saint James; he promises a great cause for joy on his
return. — Departure of Charlemagne for Saint James, with
nine of his barons. — He leaves the army in the custody of
Guy of Burgundy.
The Emperor was not half a league away when Guy
sounded a horn to call the knights to arms and launch them
against Luiserne. — Assault and capture of this city. — Death
of Aquilant and his family. — Guy of Burgundy seizes the
palace of Aquilant and announces that he will return it to
Charlemagne. — Lively debate, on this occasion, between Guy
and Roland, who also contributed to the victory. Threatened
by Roland, Guy of Burgundy is defended by his people.
— Return of Charlemagne, who learns with great joy of the
capture of Luiserne. — The debate between Guy and Roland
is renewed in the presence of the Emperor. — Charles puts
an end to it by having Luiserne evacuated, then he kneels in a
meadow and asks God, by a fervent prayer, to reduce the city
to such a state that it can never excite the envy of the two
barons, nor belong to anybody. — At the same time the city is
sinking; it becomes blacker than melted pitch, and the walls
are vermilion as rose: this is what those who go into the
country can still see. — After this miracle, Charlemagne gave
the order to raise the tents, and the army took the road to
Roncesvalles.
REFERENCES
