OLGER DANSKES KRONIKE
THE CHRONICLE OF OGIER THE DANE
BASED ON THE FRENCH POEM 'ROMAN D'OGIER' FROM THE 14th CENTURY
CHRISTIAN PEDERSON, 1515
MODERN DANISH BY NILS HANSSEN, 1842
ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY NOL DREK, 2024
THE CHRONICLE OF OGIER THE DANE
CHAPTER 1 - The father of Ogier the Dane was named Godfrey and was a mighty king here in Denmark.
Godfrey, King Ogier the Dane's father, was a powerful and mighty king
here in the kingdom of Denmark, both on land and water, as Saxo writes
at the end in the eighth book of his Chronicle of Denmark. This King
Godfrey had subjugated all the countries and kingdoms around here, and
obliged them to pay tax and to serve the crown of Denmark. Then he
wanted to attack the mighty king of Russia. He prepared himself with
many Danish men, and led them on ships, and soon killed him in battle,
and took his daughter, the maiden Munda, as plunder and booty, and all
his gold and sheep, and brought them home with him to Denmark. Then he
had her baptized, and commanded that she should be called Danemonta.
Some time after that, he called together all his council and knights,
ladies and maidens, and several other good men, and made such a mighty
and costly big wedding with her that it lasted for a fortnight. The
first night they lay together, he begat Ogier the Dane with her. When
she had been with him for five months or so, then she became so unwell
and fat that everyone who saw her thought and believed that she would
give birth to two or three children at the same time. She was afraid and
even feared that she would die in childbirth because she was so unwell.
Nine months had passed when she gave birth to Ogier the Dane alone and
died immediately at the same hour. King Godfrey mourned quite
appropriately as did all of the common ordinary people in the kingdom of
Denmark, for she was honest and virtuous. The ladies who were then
present with her immediately took the child away to another room where
he was raised and nursed.
On the same night that he was born, beautiful shining maidens
who are called fairies came to see him, and the first one, named
Gloriant, took him up from the cradle in her arms. When she saw that he
was so beautiful and so big and had such fine limbs, she kissed him and
said, "My child, I give you such happiness and a gift that you will be
active and strong in war and win all battles as long as you live."
The other maiden whose name was Palestina said, "Dear sister, it
is not an easy gift that you have given this child, for I give him such
a gift that he shall never be without war and will be at war as long as
he lives."
The third maiden, whose name was Faramunda, said to her, "It is
a strange and dangerous gift that you have given this lovely child, for
I give him such a gift in return that he shall never be overcome by some
warrior in war on land or sea." The fourth, named Meliora, gave
him the gift that he should become eloquent and gain good favor from
all. The fifth, named Pristina, gave him the gift that ladies and
maidens should love him as long as he lived.
The maiden named Morgan le Fay said to the other maidens, "My
dear sisters, I have heard and well understood these great and wonderful
gifts which you have now given this lovely child, for I am giving him
the gift that he shall never die, but he shall come to me in my Castle
Avalon, which is lofty and delicious, and he will then remain there with
me after he has long reigned here in the world." When this was done, the
tender maidens went forth from the child again and ascended into the air
so that no one could see or know whence they came or where they remained
afterwards. King Godfrey let the queen be buried with great honor and
solemnity as befits a mighty queen.
CHAPTER 2 - How Ogier the Dane is christened and brought up after his mother's death.
After some time, King Godfrey had the highest lords and ladies in the
kingdom gather together to be Ogier's godfathers. Then he had him
christened and called him Oluf, but I will call him Ogier because he is
commonly called this all over the world, so that everyone who reads this
chronicle of his should know that it is written about him. When he was
christened, his father appointed two wet nurses who were to give him
suckling and raise him. One woman alone could not raise him, because he
was much bigger than other children in general. When Ogier grew up a
little, then he became very sensible and clever in his childhood and had
good disciplined and honorable manners, so that everyone wondered about
him because he would not play with other children nor do other childish
deeds which children usually do. He showed great honor and glory to all
who were great and mighty, and to those who were equal to him he showed
humility and servitude. He spoke kindly and lovingly to all who were
poor, therefore he earned a good and honorable reputation from all who
knew him, even though it was rare that he had anyone as a friend.
King Godfrey had been unmarried for nine years after Danemonta
had died in childbirth, and he did not want to marry again. But his
counsel persuaded him that he should marry again, and he married another
queen and fathered a son with her whom he called Gøde. This Gøde also
became very wise and sensible in his youth and everyone applauded that
he followed in the footsteps of his brother Ogier the Dane. Then King
Godfrey sat on his throne for a long time with peace and tranquility,
without strife and war, because he had then conquered all the countries
around here and forced them to submit to the crown of Denmark. The
Sarers and other Germans whom he had previously severely tormented on
account of their disobedience regretted this, and they were unhappy
because of the heavy tax which he laid on them.
They went to Emperor Charles and said that King Godfrey of
Denmark should be under the emperor's law like the other kings in
Christendom, and that he was so haughty that he would not admit that the
emperor was above him, instead he had his own law and right in his lands
and kingdoms, and no other law was respected. The emperor immediately
sent for King Godfrey to come, and commanded of him vassalage and men,
otherwise he would go to Denmark to fight against him and burn his lands
and kingdoms and throw him alive into a lion's den and put his children
in prison in chains.
When the messenger had finished his errand, the king answered
him and said, "Tell your lord in reply that I accepted the kingdom of
Denmark freely from my father and that I will thus give it to my sons
after my death. If he wants to have any part here in the kingdom with
me, then tell him to come here quickly, for I will not run away anywhere
but will welcome him home. I will also receive him when he comes here,
so he must say that here he found Danish men and not soft-spoken sheep."
When the emperor heard this proud answer, he immediately sent a
mighty large army by ships and marched towards Friesland, where King
Godfrey was. When they came together in battle, King Godfrey beat him
bravely for a long time, but he was eventually overcome and taken
prisoner, although he had many skilled and able men with him in the
battle.
Emperor Charles took him mildly into mercy under the condition
that he should pay tribute to him as his vassal and come in person to
Paris in France within a year and swear an oath of allegiance to him and
that he should immediately give him his son Ogier the Dane as a hostage,
which he did. The emperor returned again overland and found an empress
for himself in Germany. It was during Lent that he went home, for he
spent Easter in Flanders and paid his servants and men-at-arms there
because they had fought for him bravely. Then he commanded Duke Naimon
of Bavaria that he should take care of Ogier the Dane and teach him
discipline and honor, for he was his kinsman on his mother's side. A
year after that, the emperor summoned his council to talk and consult
with them about the state of the kingdom. Then he saw Ogier the Dane
among the others, and it occurred to him that his father had not kept
the promise he had given him, so he said to his council that King Godfrey
is very wicked and hard because he does not release his lovely son from
prison. Then he summoned a duke to him who was his chieftain at one of
his Castles in Flanders, where Saint Odemar lies, and commanded that he
should keep Ogier in prison until his father came and released him.
This duke took a great liking to Ogier, for he was very chaste
and honest both in word and deed. He said to him, "My dear son, be
content and take care of yourself, no harm shall befall you. I will
treat you well and let you spend your days with my wife and daughters
and with other lovely maidens, that you may have pleasure and joy with
them."
Ogier said to the duke and to the others who were present, "Dear
friends, I certainly believe that it is not at all my father's fault
that he does not come here and keep his promise, but rather my
stepmother's fault, who keeps him at home with false counsel and cunning
that I must lose my life and her son shall inherit the kingdom after my
father's death." When he said these words he fell to the ground in grief
and sorrow and lay as good as dead, but the Duke's daughter and the
other maidens raised him up again and asked him not to grieve, for it
would probably be better in the future.
Then the Duke went to the emperor and told him that Ogier was
not responsible because his father did not keep his promise, and all the
lords and princes begged that the emperor would spare his life. But the
emperor answered hastily and said, "I will strictly take revenge on him
for his father's sins, so that everyone should see and know from him how
bad it is to break one's vow against lords and princes.
Then an old man called Duke Augustin of Normandy came forward
and said to the emperor, "Mighty Lord, I am afraid that you will be too
hasty and let envy and anger blind you, that you will have this young
and innocent man be put to death, who has committed nothing against you.
Why should he die? It may well be that his father has been at sea for a
long time and has been forced back again by storms and bad weather, or
has been beaten to other countries on the way so that he could not come
here to the kingdom to keep his promise to you. I advise you sincerely
that you do not let his son be put to death, but send your message to
the kingdom of Denmark to let his father be killed." The emperor trusted
his good advice and the others all praised him for his wise words and
speech.
CHAPTER 3 - King Godfrey has the Nose and Lips of the Emperor's Messenger cut off.
Emperor Charles sent four excellent and distinguished messengers
to King Godfrey in Denmark. They were the archbishop of Amiens, Duke
Alexander of England, Duke Milon of Navarre, and Duke Regner of
Monglier. As they came before the king's castle, they knocked strongly
on the gate. The gatekeeper asked who they were that they dared to knock
so hard. They replied, "Let us enter because we are the messengers of
Emperor Charles and we must do more here than knock on the king's gate."
The gatekeeper went to the king and said that there were
powerful lords at the gate who were messengers from the emperor and they
wanted to speak with him. The king replied, "Tell them that they must
wait until I have finished my meal and am free to speak with them."
After they had been waiting for a long time, he let them in
before him. Then the Archbishop spoke the words of Emperor Charles to
him, saying, "Our most gracious Lord Emperor Charles sends you
greetings. He is greatly surprised that you did not come to Paris as you
promised him on your faith and honor. He then says that you must come
back with us and submit the kingdom of Denmark to him. If you do not
want to do it, then he will soon come to you and take your lands and
realms by force and power, and then murder both men and women and you
will be tortured to death and your wife and your children also. He will
not spare your son Ogier the Dane who is in Picardy, but will do with
him as he should."
King Godfrey answered, "You wicked rogues and scoundrels, who
has made you so bold that you dare to speak against my honor like that.
I will let you speak to the emperor and show him that you have been
here." He then ordered his servants to cut off all their noses and lips,
and a large spot from their foreheads down to the bone. When that was
done he said to them, "Now go home to the emperor again and say that I
shall do the same to him and to all whom he brings here with him." In
the kingdom, Ogier the Dane was greatly distressed, for he feared that
his stepmother would make it so that the messengers would receive a bad
answer, and that he would then lose his life when they returned. He
would certainly have died of grief if he did not have the good company
of the ladies and maidens.
The messengers came home again over land. When the emperor saw
them he was so greatly grieved and horrified that he could not speak,
but he thought about it for more than an hour before he could speak a
single word to anyone. Then he said, "Oh woe! Oh danger and shame to
whom dared to do such a bad thing to my good men and messengers! What
shall I think? What shall I do, since you are so pitifully quarrelsome?
Have you been among lions and bears or among other terrible monsters,
since your faces are so wounded?"
They greeted him and answered him sadly, "Mighty Lord, it is
evident that we have been with your enemies and foes, for it is not
necessary to tell you more about our grief."
The emperor replied, "I can well see that King Godfrey of the
kingdom of Denmark let this be done to you, to scorn and dishonor me,
and to insult you." Then he said to his council, "See these
unfortunates, how shamefully they are mutilated because of me. I swear
by my Christian faith that I will avenge them, even if it costs me both
life and Realm."
They all answered, "We would gladly help with all our wealth so
that the cruel tyrant King Godfrey can be punished."
Therefore, the emperor said, "Bring me his son Ogier the Dane,
that I can take revenge on him with his death until I get hold of his
father."
When the duke who had Ogier the Dane as a prisoner was on his
way to the emperor with him, Ogier secretly asked him if his father had
released him from prison after the emperor sent for him so hastily. The
duke replied, "Dear Ogier, I cannot tell you any good news, as I would
like to, because I advise you to fall humbly on your knees immediately
when you come before the emperor and ask for grace and mercy and realize
that you will be his humble servant for as long as you live and will
risk your life in war on land and sea for the unspeakable deed that your
father has done to his messengers." When the emperor saw him, he
immediately wanted to have him killed, but many lords and knights begged
the emperor to spare his life and use him in war on land and sea, for he
was a lovely young and strong man. On the other hand, the lords who had
received the injury sought revenge on him, and the emperor ordered that
he should be killed.
Ogier fell on his knees again and said, "Most powerful high-born
Lord, have mercy on my poor life, for I am completely innocent of my
father's evil deed, which my stepmother has led him to do so that I
should lose my life and her son could inherit the kingdom from my
father. Spare me, poor miserable captive, for the sake of your great
power and authority. I will serve you all my days and claim the kingdom
of Denmark after my father's death. I will also pay these high-born
gentlemen well for their injury and great insult."
The emperor replied, "You cannot pay with a promise and a vow
for the great damage your father has done, for your life is held
hostage."
Therefore, Ogier prayed up to heaven and said to himself, "Oh
gentle Jesus, who always comforts all sorrowful hearts, help me now that
I do not lose my poor life." Ogier had many relatives in the emperor's
court and they all prayed for him, but those who had received the injury
asked for revenge and justice. The emperor viewed him unfavorably, for
as often as he looked at any of those who were wounded, it struck him in
his heart that they had suffered this injury because of him.
As he was going to court with Ogier, the messenger of the Pope
came with a letter saying that the Sultan and the Turks had conquered
Rome and expelled the Pope and afterwards murdered both men and women,
girls and boys, whom they found there, and that they had broken down the
altars in the churches and erected their idols in their place. At this,
the emperor was greatly distressed and immediately ordered his servants
and people to go in armor and help him fight to protect the holy
Christian faith. Then he read this letter before the council of the
kingdom and said that he wanted to go to Rome and take revenge on the
Turks for the damage they had done to the holy church and so requested
that they should all follow him. He asked them to take heed and think of
how brave they had always been before in war on land and sea, especially
against the Danish men who fought very bravely and steadfastly against
them, but they all had to fight even harder against the Turks and pagans
than they had against the Danes, who were Christians. They all replied
that they would like to follow him and show themselves as they should.
When he stood up, he turned to Ogier again and those who obeyed and who
still stood before him, and he ordered for the third time that he should
be killed.
Then Duke Naimon of Bavaria said to the emperor, "Mighty Lord
and Prince, spare his life for he is innocent. He is my kinsman and has
many powerful men in your court who are related to him on his mother's
side."
They all prayed for him and said, "If you will not give him his
life then we will all abandon you and become your open enemies."
The emperor was greatly surprised at his bold words and that he
dared to speak his opinion before so many lords and princes. Then the
emperor gave Ogier his life, on the condition that he should be his
prisoner, and now ordered Duke Naimon to take care of him and keep him
prisoner until he asked for him. The duke appointed two of his wife's
brothers to take care of him. Ogier then secretly revealed to them that
he had a fruitful relationship with Elisene, the daughter of the duke
who formerly had him in custody, because he asked them earnestly to ride
there with him so that he could talk to her before they left for Rome.
They followed him there and when they had been there for eight days, a
letter from the emperor came saying that he was marching on the journey
and wanted Ogier to prepare to travel with him.
When Elisene learned this, she said to him, "My dearest good
friend, why do you want to leave me now that you know I will soon give
birth to your child. When my father finds out, he will certainly have me
murdered, and even if I could somehow hide it, I will still die of
grief."
Ogier replied, "Dear friend, do not say any more, because I must
leave you in order to prove my bravery in this dispute and thus earn the
emperor's friendship and win the praise and honor of the common people,
and with that I will wipe out all the slander and shame that you will
have on my account. I will not give you away either, I promise you on my
faith and honor."
When the emperor had gathered his people together from France,
Picardy, Normandy, Britain, Aquitaine, Germany, and Gascony, then he had
two hundred thousand men in his army. There Ogier saw the beautiful
people and the many lords and princes who were among them and were to
rule the people. Then he rejoiced with all his heart that he had joined
this army, and could show his strength and great bravery, for he had
never before been in war on land and sea.
CHAPTER 4 - The Emperor is received with great splendor by the Pope in a city called Susa.
When the emperor entered the valley of Rome and was a few miles
away near a town called Susa, the Pope went out to meet him with a cross
and banner, the whole clergy and common people of the town with him, and
humbly thanked him because he had come to protect the holy Christian
faith. As soon as the emperor entered the city, he led some secret spies
out of the city to the Sultan in Rome whose name was Corsuble, and told
him that the emperor was very near with all his forces.
CHAPTER 5 - King Danemont sees the arrival of the emperor and how it went.
When the Sultan's son, King Danemont, learned that the emperor was so
close, he wanted to quickly kidnap him and make a secret attack on him
before he found out, and so he rode out of Rome at night to his father
with twenty thousand men. The emperor had also sent out a large number
of people in the evening to keep watch during the night. In the morning,
at dawn, the emperor's people had come upon a mighty large crowd of
Turks on a mountain. Then Duke Naimon of Bavaria, who was the chief of
this guard, said it was best that they went straight against them with
all their power and prove that they were Christian men, even though the
others outnumbered them. He wanted more help and sent word to the
emperor, but no one wanted to go away, lest he be accused of not daring
to stay and face the enemy when they came.
When they were about to strike, they gave a great shout on both
sides and marched bravely towards each other freely. The Turks shot with
arrows and bolts that flew as thick as hail and snow. Endonius of France
charged at the son of a Turkish king and stabbed him and his horse to
death at the same time. Danemont was very angry because it was his
nephew who was killed. He strictly ordered all his people to leave, and
the Christians had to flee because they were not as numerous as the
pagans. When the emperor found out that his people had fled and that
many of them had been taken prisoners, he made ready with his army to go
out to battle and gave a Lombard named Alori his main banner that he
should lead the battle bravely in the conflict on which power rested.
The Sultan also sent a mighty number of people into battle with his son.
When they came together with both their armies, they struck each other
and at last the emperor began to get the better of the Turks. But at
this time, Alori began to flee with the emperor's main banner and he
threw it to the ground. Whether he did it out of fear or was bought, I
cannot be sure. Ogier then became very sad because he feared that he
should not have the chance to prove his worth in this battle when the
main banner was thrown down. He ran after Alori, seized his horse by the
reins, and called out to him. "Damn you! You mean and ugly traitor, why
did you throw down the banner that we all were following. Now they are
all confused in the army of the emperor and don't know where to go,
therefore many of them have fled."
Then he slashed at him with his broadsword and he fell down from
his horse. Ogier quickly took his armor, helmet, and shield and sat on
his horse. He took the main banner in his left hand and carried his
broadsword again in his right hand and rushed among the emperor's people
and asked them to fight bravely for the holy Christian faith. He was now
more active than he was before, for he now had armor and a helmet on his
side. He wounded many of the Turks with his broadsword so that they died
and he forced many mighty warriors to flee in shame or else be killed.
Therefore, the Turks were all so afraid of him that no one dared to come
near the main banner. The emperor's people were greatly amazed at the
great bravery of this one warrior and thought that it was Alori the
Lombard whom the emperor had previously ordered to carry the main
banner. They said to the emperor, had not this one man been there, we
would have been put to flight and had lost this battle, for the main
banner was down, but he quickly took it up again. Since then, he has cut
down so many of the Turks with his one hand that they are all afraid of
him. Another Turk named Bremant had then seized many Christians and
wanted to lead them away with him as captives.
While he was in this fight, four kings struck the emperor from
his horse and their names were Danemont, Salant, Archelaus, and
Marradas. They beat him so hard with their war hammers on his helmet and
body that he was almost dead. As they tried to take him away with them,
he called out to his patron Saint Denis that he should help him. But his
People, both German and French, ran to the banner-bearer, who they
thought was Alori, because Ogier had his helmet and armor on and was
leading the main banner. They said to him, "Help the emperor soon or the
Turks who have seized him will lead him away as a prisoner." When he
heard that, he quickly ran towards these four kings and smote one to
death with his broadsword. Then he seized the emperor by his horse,
because his own was beaten beneath him, and pursued the other three
kings as a ravenous wolf pursues the poor sheep, and yet he carried the
banner in his left hand.
When the emperor came among his people in safety, he said to his
council, "God willing, if I come home safely from this war, then I will
make Alori my standard bearer the mightiest man there is in France,
because he saved my life and for the extraordinary courage that he has
exercised and done in this battle." But at the same time he remembered
the great disgrace that King Godfrey had done to him, for he said, "If I
come out of this battle with these Turks, then I will immediately go to
Denmark with this army of mine and take revenge on the king for the
great insult he did to me. For I will receive the great condemnation of
all Christendom if I do not punish him accordingly. I shall take revenge
on his son Ogier the Dane that he was not released from his prison and
did not come here as he promised.
CHAPTER 6 - Ogier the Dane wins the Emperor's friendship for himself and his father again and is dubbed a knight.
On the second day, when they were to resume the battle, Ogier the Dane
came riding with the main banner to the emperor's pavilion and the
emperor thought that it was Alori who had previously been in charge of
this banner, for he said to him, "My dear son and servant, you did a
great service for me yesterday when you saved my life from my enemies
and smote so many warriors of the Turks to death with your right hand
and yet carried my main banner in your left hand. Although you dropped
it for a time, you picked it up again, and my people who began to lose
courage did not take a shameful flight. Therefore I promise you on my
Christian faith and imperial oath that everything you now want from me I
will certainly give you."
But now Duke Naimon said to the emperor, "Dear Sir, do you know
who you are talking to? Because the wicked traitor Alori who led your
main banner flew away shamefully when the battle became very hot and
threw the banner down to the ground over which your people had fought
the battle. Then this mighty man, Ogier the Dane, chased after him and
beat him to death and took his helmet and armor, for he himself was
without a shield. Then he rushed into the battle with the banner and
asked all the Christians to fight bravely and killed as many Turks as
you did, and a few more."
When Ogier heard this, he rejoiced in his heart, immediately
dismounted from his horse, fell on his knees before the emperor and
saluted him. "Most powerful and mighty Lord, I believe that you will
keep your promise, for I desire no other gift of yours than that you
will give me and my father King Godfrey your friendship and then I will
be your daily servant whenever you need me."
The emperor answered, "You beautiful young man. I will gladly
fulfill your prayer and forgive your father for all that he has done
against me because you saved my life and comforted my people with your
courage so that they did not flee from the battle when the banner was
down. Therefore, I will now knight you and give you precious gifts and
when I come to France then I will give you both castles and fiefs."
When it was done, the emperor told all his people how wretched
Alori escaped and asked them all to honor Ogier the Dane for the bravery
he showed in the battle. Now Ogier wanted to prove his great courage and
strength again for the honor and glory he enjoyed from the emperor, for
he rushed into the Turkish army like a ravenous lion and killed many
warriors. Then the Sultan's son King Danemont saw that so many fell
before him, and he cried out that at his command they should stand
bravely and fight with all their might. Then they struck and stood so
fast that the emperor and the Christians were put to flight. If only
Ogier had been there with his sharp sword to force the Turks to flee. He
pursued a mighty lord and took him prisoner and said to him, "Tell me
who you are and what is your name?"
He said, "My name is King Sadone, and I am the Sultan's kinsman,
and I belong to King Caraheut, who is a mighty and deadly warrior, and
now comes with thirty-two kings and all their people to help the Sultan,
for he will have his daughter and the lordship of France when he wins it
from the emperor."
Ogier said, "You praise your kinsman King Caraheut very much. If
you agree that I can come into single combat with him, then I will
release you."
Sadone replied, "I have seen in this fight that you are a mighty
man in war on land and sea, yet I greatly fear that if you come into a
ring with him, he will kill you, for he is the mightiest and strongest
warrior in all our army."
Ogier answered, "I am born of royal blood and I prefer to
contend with kings. I will risk my life against him, however strong and
mighty he may be. If you promise me on your honor to return again or get
me into battle with Caraheut, then I will let you go."
Sadone said, "If he comes alone into a ring with you, then it
will cost you your life, but I will fulfill your will. Otherwise, I will
return and become your prisoner." Thus they took their leave.
When this battle was over the emperor was very happy for his
tent again, because he had won this battle against the Turks. Then some
came and told the emperor that Ogier the Dane, his bannerman, against
their law and justice, had released a Turk whom he had taken prisoner,
for they thought it best that he should be punished if he did it. The
emperor called him sternly before him and asked why he did it.
Ogier answered, "Dear Sir, I did it for the best, because my
prisoner promised me on his honor to arrange for me to fight alone
against Caraheut, their best warrior, or he will return and become my
prisoner again. If I have thus wronged myself, then I gladly ask you for
mercy."
When they heard his good intention, all praised his great wisdom
for they well realized that he did it for the best reason, that he might
save the lives of many of his men thereby. They all said among
themselves that all their welfare in this war rested on him alone, for
he was wise and clever, and moreover industrious and strong against
their enemies, and if something happened to him or he was beaten, then
they believed they would be overcome by the Turks. Then the emperor with
his people returned to the city where the Pope was. There they praised
God and their saints for the victory they had won against the Turks.
CHAPTER 7 - King Danemont the Sultan's Son comes back into Rome again with great mockery and scorn.
When King Danemont the Sultan's son came back again into Rome they all
mocked and scorned him because he had boasted so much before and said
that he would take the emperor prisoner and now he himself had
shamefully fled from the field. At this, he became so hasty and angry
that he was mad with wrath, mostly because he could not take revenge on
Ogier the Dane immediately. In this fit of madness, he burned many of
his images of idols and all the Christian people he could get hold of.
He pulled out his hair and ripped his clothes because he could not
avenge his injury against Ogier. He even thought of cutting his own
throat, had not some of his men prevented him.
When the Sultan his father heard this, he was very sad and he
began to scold him harshly saying, "Dear son, be content and bear your
sorrow patiently, because it happens so in strife and war that one must
sometimes lose, sometimes win. Luck can't always be with you,
unfortunately."
Danemont replied, "Dear father, you ask me to be satisfied but
we would have won a great prize and honor had not the accursed Ogier the
Dane been there, for he alone sent us all to flight. We had seized
Emperor Charles and struck down his horse under him, and when we were
about to escape with him, Ogier the Dane came and killed a mighty king
by my side and then took the emperor violently from our hands and led
him away to his army. Then he came back again like a ravenous devil and
cut and flew so sorely on our people with his broadsword that they fell
before him like grain before the scythe and we finally had to flee from
him. I believe that he is the son of the devil and not a man and
everyone is so afraid of him that no one dares to meet him in battle."
The Sultan said, "Dear Son, you must speak politely about lords
and princes and also about high and proud courtiers. You must not
slander or defame anyone, as licentious women or other unreasonable
people tend to do, because luck was now against you and Ogier made you
and several others run and flee. Please think about that, but now make
yourself happy with me and prepare yourself to ride out with me to meet
King Caraheut, our kinsman, who is coming to my aid with thirty-two
kings and all their people. We should receive him honorably, for with
this help we would surely be able to get the better of the emperor,
Ogier the Dane, and all the other Christians." At these words, he gave
himself up satisfied. Then they led King Caraheut in with the greatest
honor and glory and the Sultan went with him into his own palace.
The second day after that, King Sadone went to King Caraheut and
said, "Mighty Prince, I have something to say to you. The last time we
were in battle against the emperor, then his bannerman, who is the king
of Denmark's son, took me prisoner and then gave me my life, however, on
the condition that I should bring him alone into battle with you.
Therefore, I beseech you, most noble Lord, that you will think carefully
about what you want to do here. He is the best and most powerful warrior
prince who is in the emperor's court so that everyone believes that he
is a supernatural person."
King Caraheut replied, "I think it was bad that you were
captured, but I am very happy that I may thereby get an opportunity to
win great praise and honor from him, for I have no doubt that I will
overcome him and thereby release you from your imprisonment."
CHAPTER 8 - The Emperor's son Charlot does not want Ogier with him in the dispute.
While this was going on, the emperor stayed in the city of Susa near
Rome and sent out his messengers and scouts daily towards the Sultan's
army to advance and guard in case the enemies wanted to ride out again.
And when Ogier had told him before that King Caraheut sent to the Sultan
to the aid of the poor people, he said to him, "Ogier, I think it is
best that you take a part of our people with you and lie in ambush for
our enemies in case they try to do anything against us."
When the emperor's son, who was called Charlot, learned that his
father loved Ogier the Dane so much that he wanted to make him the
leader of his people, he became quite angry and immediately called to
him four of the chiefs who were in his father's camp and said to them,
"I will ride out against the enemy and see what bravery I can do, and I
beseech you to follow me. I will take with me fifty thousand men. We
will get there more plunder and booty, and we will get even more praise
and honor if we can chase them on the run and we can ambush them
unawares. Then they will fear the enemy more when they see the great
army coming."
They said yes, they would like to follow him, but it seemed to
them best and most advisable that he take Ogier the Dane with him
because he was wise and clever, made good and inventive plans, and,
moreover, he is strong and enterprising when he needs to be.
He replied, "I am not talking about Ogier the Dane and I will
never have counsel or death with him, neither now nor at any other time.
I will ride away now whether you follow me or not." Then they went with
him to Rome and lay there secretly in ambush for the Turks.
That same night, Emperor Charles dreamed in his sleep, by God's
strange grace, that he saw a mighty and cruel bird tear Charlot's sinew
to pieces and tear his liver and lungs out of his chest and tear his
heart with its claws and beak. When he awoke from this ugly dream, he
was very horrified and saddened and greatly wondered what the full
meaning was. He stood up straight and sent for Archbishop Turpin and
asked him to get ready to read mass for him and tell the clergy that
they should sing and pray to God for him, so that he might be made to
know what his wild dream was supposed to mean. He also sent messengers
for his son Charlot in his inn that he should come to him without delay.
They were told at the inn that he had ridden out of the city at midnight
with many people, but they did not know for sure whether he was going to
Rome or not. When the emperor received this answer, he was more worried
about him than he was before.
CHAPTER 9 - Charlot is beaten by the Turks, but Ogier the Dane comes to the rescue and maintains the upper hand.
While this was happening, Charlot the emperor's son came to battle with
the Turks outside Rome and lost there many of his people and would
himself have been beaten, had not God helped him especially for the sake
of his father and the prayers of the others. When he saw that he could
not escape with his life, he sent word to his father Emperor Charles for
help and assistance. When the messenger came forward and said that he
was in the greatest danger of his life, then the emperor immediately
rode off to Rome with many people. When Ogier heard that the emperor's
son was in such distress, he became greatly agitated, and soon rode
after the others. When the emperor's son saw the large army coming to
his aid, he became somewhat more enterprising than he had been, for he
rode to a Turkish king and, with his lance, pierced him and his horse to
death at the same time. King Caraheut saw this and rode back to him and
stabbed his horse to death under him. At the same time, a Turkish King
fell from his horse and Ogier the Dane put the emperor's son, who
otherwise would have been captured, on that same horse and led him
violently out of the enemy's hands. Then Ogier went back again into the
Sultan's army with the emperor's main banner and cut down and killed all
who came before him so that the enemy was terrified and began to give
way and take flight again to Rome.
King Sadone saw where Ogier the Dane was going and killing a few
of their men and heard that he comforted the emperor's people and bade
them bravely to follow him and attack the Turks. He said to King
Caraheut, "See and mark him with a great golden shield around his neck,
that is Ogier the Dane, son of the king of Denmark, who before took me
as a prisoner." Now the Sultan's people sounded their trumpets to signal
that they wanted to stop fighting.
Ogier caught up with them anyway and asked them to stay and
fight. King Caraheut replied, "Noble Prince Ogier of Denmark, stop
beating and chopping, I promise you on my faith and honor that I will
soon fulfill what King Sadone promised you for his release. It is I,
King Caraheut, who speaks to you and who shall have the Sultan's maiden
daughter Gloriande and France as a marriage gift."
CHAPTER 10 - In anger, the Emperor almost had his son Charlot killed.
When the emperor went to his pavilion, which he had set up by the Tiber
not far from Rome, he addressed his son Charlot with harsh words,
because he had so shamefully deceived his people in ignorance, and then
he drew his sword and would have sharply cut him to death, had not Duke
Naimon of Bavaria held him back with his sword until more lords arrived.
When King Danemont came into Rome again, he scolded his people very
harshly. The Sultan was also very angry with them because they were so
stubborn and did not prove themselves bravely against Ogier the Dane,
but let him put them all to flight.
Then King Caraheut said to them both, "Dear lords, I give you
satisfaction, for it is now done. I lost ten thousand of my men in one
battle and yet I must be contented, and it was done by no one but Ogier
the Dane alone. All those he attacks he kills with cuts from his sharp
sword that neither helmet nor armor can hold against. You will never win
a fight or a battle against the Christians as long as he lives and
carries their main banner. It is best that you proclaim war against the
emperor at any time, and then do all you can to bring him down, either
by the blows of many warriors at once or by other means and surprises."
All praised his advice and rejoiced and said that they knew of
no one in their army who dared to go to the emperor and declare war on
him. King Caraheut said, "I would like to do it, if no one else will."
The Sultan said, "You must not go, for if the emperor got hold
of you then he would torture you to death."
He answered, "No, he would not, there is no fear or danger of
that. I know the customs of the Christians, and they neither torture nor
capture any good Lord's messenger. I want to console myself on this
journey that I can talk to Ogier the Dane and offer him a battle as he
has previously requested. I will also declare war on the emperor on your
behalf."
CHAPTER 11 - King Caraheut goes to the Emperor to declare war on behalf of the Turks and offers himself to fight with Ogier the Dane.
King Caraheut immediately put on such clothes as messengers used to
wear. When he came to the emperor's army, he first asked for Ogier the
Dane. Ogier replied, "I am here. What do you want of me?"
King Caraheut said, "You previously requested of King Sadone
that I should meet you in single combat, and now I have come to offer
you a fight. Take this steel gauntlet from me as a pledge."
To which Ogier replied, "Here is my left steel gauntlet to
guarantee that I will freely meet you where lances are broken."
Upon this Charlot, the emperor's son, became angry and said to
Ogier, "You are a strange foreign man. It is not fitting that you offer
any King battle."
Ogier would not commit but answered him quite humbly and said,
"If you want to, then I am satisfied that you go into battle with him."
When King Caraheut heard Charlot's proud words and saw his great
courtly skill, he said to Charlot, "I do not want to fight with you, but
I dare you to show your bravery against someone else. I will make it so
that King Sadone will go into battle with you alone."
Charlot answered, "Let it be so and give him this steel glove of
mine as a pledge that I will meet him there."
King Caraheut had thus committed himself to both of them. Then
he went in to the emperor and said, "Mighty and high-born prince, my
lord the Sultan who is the supreme prince in the world, says that you
must surrender your Christian faith and swear by your God that you will
worship his god, Mahomet, or he will seize and capture you and have your
skin flayed from you alive and then divide your kingdoms and lands among
his knights and servants. He has promised me France with his daughter,
the maiden Gloriande."
When he had said this, the emperor laughed and said, "Tell your
Lord that I care no more for his words and threats than for a dog that
barks at me. Now I want to quarrel with him first, because I have gold
and money enough and fine men to match him in the field."
King Caraheut said, "I beg you very much that you do not give
these evil words to me, for I am his messenger and would like to deliver
messages to you from him again. I commend you to our supreme god
Mahomet." Then he mounted his horse and Ogier the Dane followed him for
the sake of company to the Tiber River two miles from where they met.
King Caraheut then rode to Rome and told the Sultan that he had
delivered his message. He also said that he had promised to fight Ogier
the Dane and that he had told Charlot, the emperor's son, that King
Sadone the brave warrior was to meet him in battle that same day. Then
all praised him because he had done his errand so well.
On the second day, Caraheut went to the Sultan and to all the
other kings and lords and bade them good night. As he wanted to ride out
into the battle, he said to his fiancée maiden Gloriande, "If it happens
that Ogier the Dane kills me in this battle, then I beg you lovingly
that you will take him as your husband, for he is a mighty man." She
promised him that she would certainly do it. Then the emperor had mass
sung for Ogier and his son and prayed to God that he would protect them
well in this battle against the Turks. Pope Leo also said many prayers
over them and then gave them the mass when they were to ride off, and
wanted to ride with him to where the battle was going to be held.
The maiden Gloriande went up to King Caraheut and gave him a
precious shield which she herself had made and adorned with pearls and
precious stones. She said to him, "Take this shield, for no lance,
sword, or arrow can cut through it. I give you my father's sword and his
helmet and armor which protect against all blows and projectiles." Then
she followed him out and sat down on a pillar of gold so that she could
see what the result of this battle would be.
King Danemont the Sultan's son took with him five hundred armed
men and lay down with them in a forest close by and remained there
secretly in hiding. King Caraheut and King Sadone came to the place
where the battle was to take place, and likewise the emperor's son
Charlot and Ogier the Dane came to it. Then King Caraheut rode straight
at Ogier the Dane, who met him again so bravely that they thrust their
lances into each other. Then these four proud warriors fell and smote
each other bravely, and let them know and see what power and strength
they had in their hands and arms. This lasted a long time, however, none
of them could gain power over the other or put the other at bay. Then
King Sadone took a strong lance in his hand and rode against the
emperor's son and thrust him from the saddle so that he lay on the
horse's loins, for this was wise and good.
Charlot stood up in the saddle again and said to him now with
anger, "I will cut off your head for this arrogance and take it home to
my father with me."
King Caraheut and Ogier the Dane struck each other with deadly
blows, yet neither of them could get an advantage over the other. Ogier
then had his broadsword in both his hands, in an attempt to split his
forehead and his chest with it, but Caraheut ducked so that he only hit
the ear and part of the forehead of his horse, and it immediately ran
away, mad and blinded, and ran across the field with him and no one
could stop it. However, Ogier rode to the maiden Gloriande his fiancée
and said, "You know well, noble maiden, that King Caraheut your suitor
is overcome, therefore now give me your faith."
She replied, "He is still alive and the fight has not yet
ended."
In the same moment Ogier wanted to kiss her, King Caraheut saw
them, for he called out to him and said, "Leave her in peace, for you
have not yet won her, and first we must fight more for her." Then he
went back after he got hold of the horse, threw his lance at Ogier, and
wounded him in the side. Ogier realized that he was alright and then
became hasty and angry and cut the upper part of King Caraheut's helmet
with his broadsword so that the strap broke and the screws fell to the
ground along with the helmet.
When Gloriande saw that, she turned pale and almost died. When
she came to herself again, she cried out to heaven and said, "Oh my god
Mahomet, help my suitor quickly so that this mighty warrior Ogier the
Dane does not kill him." She said also to her maidens, "It is no wonder
that my father and brother and all our other knights and warriors are so
afraid of this one man, because there is neither helmet nor armor that
can withstand his broadsword."
When the emperor's son Charlot saw that Ogier cut bravely at
King Caraheut, then he cried because he did not show as much courage on
his part as Ogier did, because he struck fatally at King Sadone and had
almost cleaved his helmet, but he used his shield so that he only hit
the upper part of the helmet. King Sadone struck him hard again, and
Charlot protected himself with his sword because Sadone cut off the head
of Charlot's horse with this blow. Then Charlot asked that he would
fight with him on foot, since he had no horse. If he wanted it, then he
would stab his horse to death under him. Sadone immediately dismounted
from his horse, as he wished. They hit each other bravely, yet neither
of them could keep the other at bay. At the same time, King Caraheut
rode again at Ogier with his lance and it got stuck in a piece of his
shield, and he had pierced him in his side, but he was unable to get
away from him. Ogier immediately cut off a large piece of the top of his
shield and, had it not been for his good helmet and armor, he would have
been split from his ear to his shoulder. When Ogier perceived that it
would not cut so deep, he rode at King Caraheut with his lance and
thrust him from the saddle so that he was lying on the back of his
horse, unconscious.
The Sultan's son, King Danemont lay in hiding in the forest
close to him, so he set upon Ogier the Dane with five hundred men. When
the emperor's son saw them coming, he had no idea how to escape, for his
horse lay dead, but in his greatest need it occurred to him to jump up
on King Sadone's horse which was standing next to him. Now Ogier called
out to King Caraheut and said, "You wicked traitor, who put your people
in hiding that they should attack me who came to you on faith and
promises, you can never erase this treachery and wickedness as long as
you live, nor from any of your children that you leave behind. I will
still protect myself as long as I can." At the same time, the Turks came
around him thickly on all sides. He struck and slashed and wounded and
killed many of them but it only helped for a short time because there
were so many of them and at last they threw him from his horse. Then
King Caraheut, who knew nothing of this treachery, called out that they
must not murder him as long as they held their lives dear. Maiden
Gloriande also asked King Danemont her brother not to do anything. Then
they tied up Ogier with chains on his back and led him prisoner to Rome.
While this was happening, Charlot, the emperor's son, swam
across the water with his horse and then escaped from the enemies of his
father with all his limbs. When he had told him how Ogier the Dane was
captured with treachery, then the emperor sadly grieved over that and
said, "I regret that I didn't let King Caraheut, the bad traitor, be put
on four stilts when he was with me and lied to Ogier the Dane that he
was to fight with him in a ring where he could betray him."
CHAPTER 12 - Ogier the Dane is taken prisoner to the Sultan.
When Ogier the Dane was taken up to the Sultan's Palace in Rome, then
King Caraheut was very sad that he was thus seized with real treachery.
His fiancée, maiden Gloriande, felt it, for she said to him, "Do not
grieve but be content. I will obtain for him my father's friendship."
When Ogier came before the Sultan, the latter said to him, "Are
you the Ogier the Dane who has slain many of my proud warriors and many
other of my faithful men so that all the Turks are afraid of you? Woe to
you, you wicked Christian man, that you dared to stand up against me or
against my god Mahomet." Then he hit Ogier in the forehead with a staff
so that he bled.
Ogier replied, "I confess that I killed your people, and if I
can get free again, then I will send more of your best men to Hell after
them. I swear by my Christian faith that if I had such power over you as
you now have over me, then you would not live an hour longer."
At the same time King Caraheut came in to the Sultan and said,
"Dear Lord, I would not for half of my kingdom have Ogier seized with
such treachery that I shall henceforth be called a traitor in other
countries and kingdoms, which name I will always retain if he is kept
prisoner. I earnestly beseech your mighty lord to release him again, and
then I will be your servant. If you refuse to do it, then I do not want
your daughter the maiden Gloriande, but will become your avowed enemy
and ride to the Emperor Charles." When he could neither free him by
prayer nor threat, he left the Sultan.
King Sadone also remembered the great charity Ogier had done him
before, when he released him from captivity, for he also went to the
Sultan and said, "I think it is best that you keep Ogier chained up as
your prisoner, for if one of your kings is taken prisoner, then you can
release him in exchange for Ogier the Dane. "
The Sultan was pleased with his advice, and maiden Gloriande
asked that she might be allowed to keep him prisoner. Her father replied
that he was satisfied with that, but on the condition that he should be
brought before him whenever he requested. She did it mostly because she
wanted to make her willing suitor. Then King Sadone entered Ogier's hall
and greeted him kindly because he treated him so well when he was his
prisoner. At the same time the maiden Gloriande began to speak of her
suitor King Caraheut. They then promised and praised him greatly for the
sake of his great bravery and nobility. At that she sighed heavily and
gave herself up that she could not speak to him.
The next morning, King Silimander came and said to the Sultan,
"King Caraheut let you beg for the sake of his humble service that you
will release Ogier from prison. If you will not do that, then he will
ride to the emperor."
The Sultan replied, "I will not let him go because of King
Caraheut's request or threats, I don't care much for him either, and I
will give my daughter to another man just as powerful and high-born as
he is."
When King Caraheut got this answer, he realized that it did not
help much to speak or pray for Ogier. Instead, he dressed in his armor
and rode up to Emperor Charles and said to him, "Mighty Lord, I will now
give myself in good faith as a prisoner for Ogier the Dane, as a sign
that I knew absolutely nothing of the treason that led him into the
ambush." When the emperor saw his good faithful heart, that he would
surrender his betrothed and her father the Sultan for Ogier the Dane's
sake, he received him kindly and showed him honor and glory. Then he
asked how things went with Ogier. King Caraheut replied, "He has been
taken prisoner, and the maiden Gloriande guards him and treats him very
respectfully, as he is fully worthy of this because of his great
bravery."
CHAPTER 13 - The Sultan forbids his daughter to love King Caraheut because he went to the Emperor for Ogier the Dane's sake.
When the Sultan learned that King Caraheut was with the emperor, he
became hasty and angry and he called his daughter maiden Gloriande to
him and strictly ordered her never to have any desire or love for King
Caraheut, but to put him completely out of her mind and heart and think
no more of him, because he wanted to give her to another man who was as
rich and powerful. At these words, she was quite saddened, but she said
nothing. When she returned to her palace, she wept bitterly and said to
Ogier the Dane the words her father had said to her. Ogier asked her to
be satisfied and hope for the best. She answered, "Oh woe to me, poor
girl, what shall I say, think, speak, or do for I cannot, nor will I,
surrender the love and great desire that I have for the honorable King
Caraheut, my dear fiancé. I would lose my life for that reason. No pain
or distress shall ever separate our love. I will love him as I did
before, with all my heart and mind, as long as I live, and I will
willingly suffer all the sorrow, woe, and pain that my father will bring
upon me for his sake."
Ogier said to her again, "Maiden! I counseled you before, and I
still do, not to weep and sigh as you do, for thereby you spoil your
clear vision and your will. If you do not stop mourning you will soon
become sick and pale. Surrender the false accursed faith in which you
are now blinded and worship no longer Mahomet or the other idols and
devils to the damnation of your souls, but follow me to your fiancé in
the emperor's court and let yourselves both be baptized and become
Christians. Then you will have the kingdom of heaven gathered with
pleasure and joy beside you. Would you both let yourselves become
Christians, as I have said, then Emperor Charles would give you both
land and a kingdom and make King Caraheut more powerful and rich than he
has ever been before."
She answered, "I will not renounce my dear god Mahomet nor let
myself become Christian. Otherwise, I will gladly do what you advise me
and say I am most surprised that King Caraheut, who before loved me
above all people on earth and was ready to lay down his life for me,
should now give me up for your sake and ride benevolently into prison
with the emperor, who was his enemy."
Replied Ogier, "His knightly honor forced him to do it, for he
knew that I was brought here as a prisoner with treason for his sake,
when he invited me to fight with him on faith and law."
CHAPTER 14 - King Brunamont of Egypt is ushered into Rome by the Sultan with great pomp and honor.
At this time the Sultan received word that King Burnamandus of Egypt was
near Rome with a large number of people whom he had led to help him
against the Christians, for he called King Danemont to him and ordered
him to prepare to ride out to meet him. Then they both rode together and
led him into Rome with great honor and glory. This same King Burnamandus
of Egypt was a mighty strong warrior and he is commonly called Brunamont
therefore I will also call him thus from now on in this chronicle so
that all who hear or read his name should know what kind of man he was.
This King Brunamont had been with the Sultan for some time when he
proposed to his daughter, the maiden Gloriande.
The Sultan replied, "I had given her a fiancé, a vassal named
King Caraheut, but now he has abandoned me for the emperor to be my
enemy. You can wait for an answer until I have considered this thing."
Then he called King Danemont in to him and consulted with him about what
he should do.
Danemont replied, "King Caraheut is the most powerful King in
the East and moreover a lovely man and a proud warrior, pious and
strong, in all courage he came to your aid with thirty-two kings and
with all their people. You have given him my sister the maiden Gloriande
and the words of mighty princes should be kept unbroken and I think it
is best that you first let him decide what he wants to do."
The father said, "Since he did not keep his faith and promise to
me, but went over to my enemy, I will not and I should not consult with
him or tell him whether I want to give my daughter to another husband."
Then he called the maiden Gloriande to him and gave her to King
Brunamont in marriage and asked her that she should then give him her
hand. She would by no means do so, neither for good nor for evil, nor
for a gift or a threat, whereupon her father became terribly angry and
hit her with a glass of wine, which he should have drunk right away.
Then she went to her palace again and told Ogier the Dane what had
happened to her at her father's. He grieved very much that King
Brunamont should have her in marriage instead of King Caraheut.
In the morning after that, King Brunamont dressed himself in
costly armor and surcoat and rode to the emperor's pavilion and cried
out, "If there is any proud warrior or good courtier in the emperor's
court who dares to fight a duel with me, let him come out immediately to
the field." Then there was a man called Godfred Neimand who rode out
against him, for he was a mighty and enterprising warrior. But he
succeeded no better than that Brunamont knocked him off his horse and
immediately took this horse and brought it back with him.
Then he went to the Sultan and said, "I come from the emperor's
army. There I unhorsed his supreme warrior and as proof I have his horse
here with me. I asked and learned about strange news which unfortunately
mostly concerns you, but I will deliver it to you so that you can
prevent it if possible. A few days ago, your daughter, the maiden
Gloriande allowed herself to be secretly taken out of Rome for one night
and then rode away to the emperor with Ogier the Dane and let herself be
christened there with his retainer King Caraheut and they both cursed
our mighty god Mahomet and all our other Gods. When that was done, she
rode straight back again that night so that you and no one should notice
her, and before you know anything about it, she will betray you and your
people into the emperor's hands."
At these words, the Sultan became very hasty and angry, because
he believed this lie that he had been told, and he sent for her. When
she came in before him, he said to her, "You wretched human being, who
do you care about when you do such treacherous things that you want to
betray me and all my people into the emperor's hands? Who has made you
so mad and blind that you are so shamefully wild? You cursed our God
Mahomet with every word." With that he struck her in the eye so that she
fell to the ground, and pulled her by the hair, trampled her under his
feet, and struck her with his staff for as long as he could manage and
he would certainly have killed her had not the mighty kings and princes
who were present prayed for her and took her by force from his hands.
When she came to herself again, so that she could speak without
sighing and crying, then she said to her father, "I am greatly surprised
that you, who are an old man and also very wise and sensible, will put
more faith and trust in that ugly traitor King Brunamont than in me who
is your own kin and blood. After you let him speak for you with the
cursed treacherous words that he has made against me without any grounds
or reason, I will never renounce my god Mahomet, nor will I allow myself
to become a Christian or commit any treason against you or against your
people as long as I live, for I will firmly promise King Brunamont a
fight for my just cause and my innocence, and to that I will pledge my
best gold chain."
So her father ordered two mighty kings to guard and take care of
her like any other prisoner, so that she should not flee or run away,
until he found someone who wanted to fight for her against King
Brunamont to prove her innocence with the sword, as was the custom and
usage at the time. Then they led her away to the palace in which she was
to be a prisoner. There she certainly grieved more for the treachery
that was inflicted on her without the slightest reason than she did for
the blows she had received. She doubted and was sure that she would have
no one who would dare to risk his life for her in a strong battle. At
last she remembered the great courage that Ogier the Dane had shown
formerly in war on land and sea, for she complained of her grief and
distress to him and said how she had promised a fight against King
Brunamont for her honor and innocence and therefore requested that he
would undertake this fight for her, for she knew of no other help. If he
was willing to do it, then she would show him great friendship and take
him as her husband if King Caraheut was killed or died. Ogier replied
that he would gladly go to battle for her.
Then the maiden Gloriande went to her father and had Ogier the
Dane with her. The Sultan asked if she had found someone who would fight
for her. Then Ogier replied, "I offer here openly to appear in a duel
against King Brunamont on her behalf, and I will risk my life that she
is innocent in the case that he has attached to her and I pledge here my
steel glove." Whereupon King Brunamont immediately took up the glove as
a sign that he would accept the challenge.
Then the Sultan said, "Ogier you must place a greater pledge in
this case because it concerns my daughter and a mighty king."
Ogier replied, "I will keep King Caraheut as a hostage for me if
he is free to come here and go back again." The sultan said that it must
be so without any hindrance. So Ogier wrote to the emperor and King
Caraheut how this matter had come about and therefore requested that
King Caraheut would come and be a hostage for him.
King Caraheut begged the emperor's permission to do so and rode
to Rome. As he entered the city, he met King Brunamont in the street and
said to him, "Are you the liar and the scoundrel who accused me and my
fiancée the maiden Gloriande of the treason that we never thought or
did?" Then he drew his sword and would certainly have cut him to death
had not the other lords come in between. The Sultan then asked him why
he wanted to be a hostage for Ogier the Dane. King Caraheut answered, "I
would want to do it anyway, if I was not asked to do it." King Sadone
said likewise. At this, the Sultan was glad that he could find out what
was the truth and said that they should fight together against King
Caraheut and Ogier the Dane as they had previously fought a duel
together. They consented on both sides and Ogier was thereby heartily
glad that he was freed because he could then see the emperor's army and
pavilion close by on the other side and that, moreover, he would display
his strength and great courage where the Christians could see it.
CHAPTER 15 - Ogier the Dane comes into battle with King Brunamont and kills him.
On the morning they were to go out on this island, then the
Sultan called them both to him and said, "Whoever wins in this battle,
to him I shall give great precious gifts, but whoever loses, he shall be
hanged in the middle of the street in Rome." They said that they were
satisfied with that. Then King Caraheut gave Ogier the Dane his horse,
harness, shield, and a precious sword which he held as dear as a kingdom
and which he called Courtain. The famous sword is still in France in a
monastery of the Order of Saint Benedict, which Ogier the Dane founded
in the city of Meaux, ten miles from Paris. The blade on it is three
cubits long and one foot wide and neither hauberk nor armor could
withstand it.
Caraheut said to him, "Remain brave, as you are accustomed to do
in war on land and sea, because it concerns the honor of the maiden
Gloriande as well as our own lives." Ogier asked the Sultan to make sure
that the betrayal which happened to him on the day he was taken prisoner
did not happen to him again this time. The Sultan commanded all of his
army that, when they gathered on the island, none of the Turks,
Saracens, or pagans should approach any closer than the furthest
distance to shoot or hunt with an arrow, under forfeiture of life and
honor. When they came out on the island, a Frenchman came to Ogier the
Dane and secretly asked him to escape to the emperor and not to fight or
go into battle against Brunamont because he was exceedingly strong.
Ogier answered, "I would rather die in this battle than flee or
escape and thereby break faith and vows. Ride to the emperor and greet
him and all his good men on my behalf." As he spoke to him, King
Brunamont came riding on an exceedingly large and magnificent horse
which he called Broiefort. It jumped, with him on its back, thirty feet
with every leap, even though he sat on it fully armed and armored.
Now the trumpets sounded, and they ran together like two
ravenous lovers. They broke their lances on each other and yet both
remained saddled on their horses. Then they struck at each other so
surely that fire and sparks flew from both their armor and swords. They
guarded each other bravely for a long time so that neither of them was
hurt, for they were both good swordsmen. At this, everyone who stood
around was surprised to see Ogier strike a blow at Brunamont with the
intention of cleaving his forehead, but he quickly bent down before him
so that he only hit the upper part of his helmet and a gold wreath that
sat on it. This he cut off and a piece of his armor around the ear. King
Brunamont was very angry about this and slashed at him again and cleft a
large piece of his shield so that it flew into the grass. Ogier struck
his helmet again so fatally that he wounded him in the head so that he
certainly bled.
Then King Brunamont said to him, "He who gave you this good
sword loved you more than himself." Then he cut so hard at Ogier that he
split his shield completely in pieces. But Ogier cut at him again so
hastily that he dropped his sword as soon as he held it in both his
hands.
What great sorrow and grief befell all of Ogier's friends there,
now that they found he had no shield or sword with which he could
protect himself. With King Caraheut and his servants, the maiden
Gloriande mourned bitterly and her maidens weeped and wailed, for they
all feared that he would lose, for his enemy King Brunamont was hateful
and evil to them. Emperor Charles also mourned bitterly and told all the
Christians to pray for him, for he was their only comfort and hope
against all their enemies, Turks, Saracens, and pagans. However, no one
dared to give him any help, because they responded to the prohibitions
and threats that the Sultan had previously issued about it. But at the
same time, Ogier ran to him and beat him with his hammer until he came
up under him and knocked his sword from both his hands. Then Brunamont
made his horse spring three or four jumps away, thinking that he wanted
to take another pass at him so that he could knock him over, for his
horse was exceedingly swift and strong. However, Ogier quickly got off
his horse and grabbed both of their swords and immediately threw King
Brunamont's sword into the river and asked him to dismount from his
horse and come down to him, otherwise he would stab it to death under
him.
Brunamont replied, "Spare my good horse. I will dismount and
face you on foot." When they both stood in the ring together again,
Ogier cut a large part off his helmet. But Brunamont jumped up into
Ogier's arms and wrestled with him so long that he knocked him over.
Ogier still held his sword firmly in his right hand and wrestled with
him for a long time, sometimes one was down and sometimes the other.
Brunamont took out his dagger and stabbed three or four times at his
neck and thought he could have cut his throat, but Ogier's good helmet
and the collar of his breastplate saved him so that he was not wounded.
Finally, Ogier managed to tear himself away from him and then slashed at
him and split his helmet and head down into his neck so that he fell
dead to the ground.
Then the Sultan was happy that his daughter's honor and
reputation were saved as King Brunamont, who attributed this treachery
to her, fell in the battle against Ogier. King Caraheut, the maiden
Gloriande, and all their friends were happy that their warrior had won
this victory. Emperor Charles and all the Christians who sat on the
other side of the river were also very happy about the victory and honor
that Ogier the Dane had because he killed the mighty King Brunamont and
because maiden Gloriande's honor had been protected.
Then Ogier mounted King Brunamont's horse which was very swift
and strong and let it swim across the river and then rode over to
Emperor Charles. The emperor saw him and came towards him. Ogier greeted
him and thanked him profusely for all his good deeds and bade him good
night and wanted to ride back again. But the emperor said, "Stay with
us. While you are here, we would reward you fully for the bravery you
have now shown."
Ogier answered, "Dear Sir, that must not be, because I will keep
my faith and promises and ride to the Sultan again and save King
Caraheut who sits in prison and as a hostage for me. I will come to you
as soon as I can escape from the Sultan."
The emperor replied, "Stay with me. I will soon release you both
from prison." Ogier wanted to finally ride to Rome again and keep his
promise, but the emperor loved him and told him on his Christian faith
that he should stay with him because he wanted to go straight to Rome
and besiege the Sultan. While this was happening, King Brunamont's
people of Egypt and the many Tartars he brought with him had fought a
great battle against the Sultan's and King Caraheut's people, because
their King had been beaten by Ogier the Dane for the sake of the maiden
Gloriande.
CHAPTER 16 - The Emperor enters Rome and there the Sultan and his son are killed.
While they were fighting among themselves in Rome, the emperor
entered the city through an open gate and had with him all his best
warriors and good men. He nevertheless let a large part of his people
climb over the wall on all sides and occupy all the gates so that none
of the enemies should ever escape. When the Sultan and his son King
Danemont perceived that Emperor Charles and the Christians were in the
city, he asked all the kings, warriors, and people that he had with him
that they would all stand bravely and smite their enemies as they
should, for otherwise it would cost them their lives and property. Then
he and his son King Danemont rode down from their palace. As they came
down to the battlefield, which is a large square in Rome, they were
first met by Ogier the Dane, who rode for the emperor, and he
immediately ran to King Danemont and pierced him right through with his
lance so that he fell dead to the ground. The Sultan, his father, ran
against the emperor with the intention of avenging his son's death on
him. But the emperor was ready first and pierced his neck so that he
fell dead to the ground. Then twenty kings were slain with all their
people, Turks, Saracens, and pagans, and all the people of the Sultan
and King Brunamont, Tartars, Morians, and Egyptians, so that those who
fell on their side were innumerable. There were also many of those who
sought the gates and would have escaped and fled the city to safety, but
the emperor's people who lay in ambush for them killed them all as soon
as they came out. Some also jumped over the wall, but the Christians
went against them everywhere. Emperor Charles lost six thousand men in
this battle in Rome. When the emperor had won this victory, he went to
church and thanked and praised God that he had given him supremacy and
power over the enemies of the holy Christian faith. Then he went up to
the Sultan's palace and there he met King Sadone and King Caraheut, who
were hostages for Ogier the Dane. The maiden Gloriande also went out to
meet him. The emperor received them all with love and then invited them
to table with him. He sat King Caraheut closest to him and the maiden
Gloriande across from him and Ogier the Dane closest to her. Next sat
King Sadone and then the other kings and dukes who followed the emperor.
When the meal was over, the emperor took King Caraheut to one
side and prayed and counseled him lovingly that for the happiness of his
soul he would surrender the false beliefs he was raised in and adopt the
true faith of Christianity with baptism. He further said to him, "If you
want to allow yourself, then I will give you good lands and kingdoms
here in Christendom to live in, as good as you have in the great country
of India where you have your home."
King Caraheut answered with dignity, "Lord, I thank you for your
good offer and also for all your good deeds, but I can do nothing about
it until I consult with my relatives and friends about it. You have my
life in your hands. I would rather lose it than let myself become a
Christian. But I promise you on faith and honor and swear by Mahomet my
supreme god's name that I will be your and Ogier the Dane's faithful
servant as long as I live whenever and wherever you tell me and have
need of me."
Emperor Charles was exasperated and half angry at Caraheut
because he would not allow himself to become a Christian, and he went
away from him to the other side of the hall and called the maiden
Gloriande to him, and begged and advised her to let herself become a
Christian and accompany him to Paris in France, where he wanted to give
her the mightiest warrior who was in all Christianity, Ogier the Dane,
the son of the king of Denmark, who had saved her honor and dignity and
risked his life for her sake. He wanted to give them a castle and
fortress and dukedom with other great fiefs that they should have enough
to support themselves.
The maiden Gloriande answered and said, "Powerful and mighty
Prince, I thank you with love for your good offer, but I humbly ask you
to forgive me, for you know that love cannot be extinguished or
forgotten. I can love no one but King Caraheut, my fiancé. I would
rather give up my life. I know well that Ogier the Dane is a better
leader and a stronger warrior than he, and has now risked his life for
me and saved my honor. Therefore, I will be his maid all my days until
King Caraheut dies or is robbed from me in war on land and sea. My god
Mahomet forbid I take any other man, even Ogier the Dane, as long as I
live."
Ogier then came in and thanked maiden Gloriande in the emperor's
presence because she had treated him well while he was held prisoner by
her father. When he perceived that she would by no means let herself
become a Christian then he asked the emperor to let them go their way to
the land of India again. The emperor now called King Caraheut and maiden
Gloriande to him and said, "I give you both complete freedom because
Ogier the Dane asks for you and for all the goodness and honor you have
shown him. You must go to your kingdom. However, you, King Caraheut, may
never again wage war on land and sea anywhere against Christendom after
this day."
King Caraheut thanked him profusely and swore by his god Mahomet
that he would be his and Ogier the Dane's servant as long as he lived.
Then he prepared to depart. Ogier was very sad when they had to ride out
of the city and he promised them both that he would soon come to the
great country of India in which they were to live, and with that they
left and King Sadone accompanied them because he had also been released
from his bondage.
CHAPTER 17 - The Emperor puts Pope Leo in charge of the City of Rome and then goes to Paris again and gives Ogier the Dane castles and fortresses.
When the Emperor Charles had put everything in Rome in order according
to his will, he called his council before him and asked them who they
would advise him to put in charge of the city and kingdom of Rome while
he went back to France. Archbishop Turpin answered him that it was best
that he put the Pope in charge to rule and govern them. The emperor went
out of the city to meet him and led him in with a cross and banner and
then led him into Saint Peter's Church and seated him on his papal
throne. The Pope's blessing now shone on him and all his people and
everyone thanked and praised God for the victory they had won over their
merciless enemies, the Turks, pagans, and Saracens. As soon as the
emperor came to Paris, he summoned all the lords and freemen in the
kingdom to him, and honored and praised Ogier the Dane above all others
for the great bravery which he had shown in this war on land and sea. He
commanded them all to honor and respect him for the great victory and
prize which he had won over the enemies of the holy Christian faith.
Then he gave Ogier the Dane and his heirs four castles in France with
all their lands and fiefs as an eternal inheritance and possession. He
gave him also the rulership of a duchy in Picardy which was called
Beauvoisin, which in Danish is called Nabolav. In addition, he gave him
a county in Upper Burgundy above Paris towards Champagne which was
called Beaumont in French and Bjerg in Danish. Then he gave him a lot of
gold, money, jewelry, and precious stones. While Ogier was in Paris,
Elisene wrote to him from Picardy that she had had a son whom she had
named Baldwin, and she begged him to come to her and see his lovely son.
Ogier was very happy when he realized that he had obtained an heir. He
sent her many precious gifts and large jewels, as well as clothes of
damask velvet and gold pieces, and wrote to her that he wanted to come
to her as soon as possible and see his young son.
CHAPTER 18 - Ogier the Dane asks for permission from the Emperor to go home to help his father against the Russians and Tartars.
At that time, the kingdom of Denmark was invaded by countless enemies,
the Russians and Tartars, who looted and burned everything they came
across. They killed both men and women. They spared neither the young
nor the old. They tore down all the monasteries and churches and erected
their idols in their stead. They had besieged Ogier's father, King
Godfrey, so strongly that he could not escape them or get relief from
anywhere and they had killed the greater part of his people. When the
queen realized that he could not stand up against his enemies at all,
she advised him that he should write to Emperor Charles for help and
comfort because he always wanted to protect all Christian people against
pagan Turks and all other evil non-Christians. The king answered, "I
would rather give myself willingly to prison under the Turks, pagans,
and Russians than I would ask for his help because I have shown him such
great arrogance in the past." The queen must have understood that it was
the true vengence of God that now overtook the king, since none of his
or her relatives and friends would come to their relief. She also knew
very well that in the past he conquered all the countries and kingdoms
with lordship that lay nearby, and he could not now protect his own
lands and realms from foreign enemies, and she certainly believed that
our Lord would obviously torment him for his misdeeds.
Since she could not in any way persuade him to ask for help from
the emperor, she secretly took his seal one night while he slept and
then had a secret letter written to the emperor in the king's name as
follows: "King Godfrey of the kingdom of Denmark sends you, most
powerful and mighty Lord Emperor Charles, his most humble service and
help. Oh noble high-born prince, the great gentleness and mercy which
you always show towards all Christian people must surely give me the
courage and boldness to ask for help and comfort from you against my
enemies who are corrupting my lands and Realms! I have previously done
you such great harm and thus wasted your friendship, so that now I dare
not ask for help from you on my own behalf. But I humbly ask for my poor
subjects who are Christian people that you, according to the power you
have from God Almighty, will help them against their enemies the
Russians, Turks, and pagans, who have stubbornly corrupted them and made
them nothing, so that they should not all be slain and murdered. Hereby
God the Almighty commanded forever and ever!"
When the queen had sealed this letter, then she sent a kinsman
to the emperor with it, without the king knowing. This messenger flew
quickly to the emperor with the letter. When he had read it and seen
King Godfrey's name on it, he became so angry that he changed color in
his face several times. This was noticed by Duke Naimon, King Godfrey's
cousin, for he took this messenger with him out of the hall and asked
him to stay with him until the next day when the emperor had changed his
mind and calmed down. Ogier the Dane was not present when the messenger
came and his stepmother did not even dare to write to him for help
because he always thought the worst of her. In the morning Duke Naimon
went with this messenger to the emperor and asked that he would have
mercy on the poor Christians in Denmark, Sámis and Wends, that they
should not be murdered so quickly by Turks, pagans, and Russians.
The emperor replied, "God bless him with distress and
affliction, which I want to see upon him now and always, that he may
rightly make penance and recovery here in this world for the great
arrogance which he showed against me when he mutilated my honorable
messengers. If I hear that any Christian lord or prince gives him help
or assistance, then I will have his head chopped off."
A day or two later, Ogier the Dane came to the emperor who
immediately said to him, "Ogier, it is now necessary that you come to
the aid of your father against his enemies who have completely ruined
his lands and kingdoms. It is best for you to go home to him."
Ogier answered, "Dear sir, I would like to follow your good
advice and will, for our Lord in heaven has commanded that we should
love our parents." When the emperor sensed that Ogier was ready to go
away, then he did not dare to take back his words, although he was not
serious about what he had said to him before. Then he gave him
permission to go, but he had to promise that he would not take any
people from anywhere in France other than his own lands. When he arrived
in the kingdom of Denmark, his father King Godfrey had been murdered by
one of his own servants in his bed at night while he slept. It is likely
that the traitor was driven there by his enemies.
Had Ogier come to the kingdom, then his father would not have
been murdered in this way, because all the knights and good courtiers
who were on the road between France and Denmark where Ogier advanced,
happily followed him without asking for wages, clothes, or weapons
because of his good reputation, that they could learn courtly manners
and knightly arts from him which they could later use at court and in
war when they served lords and princes. Afterwards, he gave them all
both clothes and money anyway, and thus he daily got more followers.
Then Ogier gathered all the people he found for himself and his own, and
arranged them in rows and columns so that each knew where he was
supposed to stand and stay. Then he attacked the enemies and did them
exceedingly great damage, although they were far more on their side than
those he had with him. He killed so many of them that the others had to
completely escape and fly from the field, and he pursued them so surely
that he killed many who he found before him that had escaped alive. He
won this great victory and prize more by his cleverness and boldness
than by the power and the people he had with him in the battle. After
that, he went about the country for twelve weeks, day by day, and killed
all the enemies he could find so that, no matter how many and how strong
they were, there were none of them left alive in the whole kingdom. Then
he let himself be crowned King here in the kingdom of Denmark and
remained in this country for five full years and had many castles and
cities rebuilt which had been destroyed by the kingdom's enemies and he
appointed chieftains who were to govern and rule the lands and the
kingdom in his absence until he came back again from France. When he had
set all things in order according to his will and freed his lands and
kingdoms from all enemies, then he went again to France to the Emperor
Charles. He had with him many lovely young Danish men who would make the
best good courtiers were they to run or ride to war by land or by sea.
As the emperor sat over the table in Paris one Pentecost day, he
remembered Ogier the Dane and said to his servants, "I wonder how it is
with Ogier the Dane, because he has not returned as he promised us."
While he was talking, Ogier came through the door into the hall. The
traveler came before him and the emperor said to him, "I was talking
about you just now and I was greatly surprised that you stayed so long
and wondered why you did not come back?"
Ogier replied, "Dear Lord, you should not be surprised at that,
because I had little time before I needed to free my lands and kingdoms
from external enemies and then fix things according to my will. Now I
have come here to you and I will be your faithful servant in war by land
and by sea against the enemies of holy Christendom for as long as I
live." Then he kissed the emperor, as was the custom for those who
promised him service. The emperor was happy because he had got this
mighty strong warrior and wise prince back in his service and intended
to use him in war on land and sea against his enemies.
CHAPTER 19 - The Emperor's son, Charlot, kills Ogier the Dane's son Baldwin with a chessboard.
When King Ogier the Dane had returned and had spent some time with the
emperor, his son Baldwin came to him and was accepted into the emperor's
service as a servant, for his mother had died in childbirth. The
emperor's son Charlot liked him a lot, for he was wonderfully humble and
he had good favor with everyone. Moreover, he was also quite clever and
merry in his talk and speech and good at all kinds of games, so the
emperor's son always wanted to play with him. One day as they played
chess together, Baldwin began to talk cheerfully, as he usually did, and
at last he said to the emperor's son in the same tone of voice,
"Checkmate!" Thereupon he became angry and ordered him to keep quiet,
for he thought he was just as good at this game, therefore he became
angry about having to hear checkmate. Baldwin replied, "Dear Lord, it
makes you angry that I talk and joke, because you often have a greater
desire and joy to talk at the chessboard than you have in the game
itself." Then they played some more. Then Baldwin said to him again, out
of a good heart and meaning no evil, "Sir, you had better act
differently and better than you did now."
Charlot said again, "Shut up, you son of whore! I will not be
corrected by you."
Baldwin said, "You are not telling the truth, for my mother was
no whore, nor an ordinary harlot, for she never had any other husband
than my father, Ogier the Dane. Had someone else said such words to me,
it would certainly cost him his life, if he were my equal."
At this Charlot became even more angry, took the chessboard they
were playing on and which was made of gold and hit Baldwin in the
forehead so that his brain and bones hung down on his chin and he fell
dead to the ground. Charlot immediately flew from the castle for he
feared that Ogier the Dane would take revenge on him for this cruelty.
When the emperor learned this, he was very saddened, for he feared that
King Ogier would seek vengeance. He sent a stern message to his son
Charlot that he should go into hiding because King Ogier would lay his
hands on him.
Ogier was out hunting while this was happening and had caught a
precious falcon which he wanted to give to the emperor. While he was on
the road and was carrying it up to his palace, a friend asked him where
he was going. He answered, "To the emperor." The other said, "Stay and
wait a little while."
But Ogier continued straight as soon as he found out what was
going on. He heard that his son had been killed and he kissed his dead
body. Then he asked who had done it. They answered, "The emperor's son,
Charlot." Ogier complained to himself, "Oh woe to me, poor wretched man.
What shall I do with this? Shall this be my reward for the great risk of
life I have endured for the emperor and for the faithful service I have
rendered him and his son, by often saving their lives in war on land and
sea? This is not the first pernicious act that Charlot has done against
me, although he has never been able to advance his will until now. I
swear by my right faith that I will take his life as soon as I can find
him. I shall guard and keep watch for him in such a way that he will by
no means escape from me."
Duke Naimon wanted to comfort him and said, "Dear friend, accept
it, now that it has happened, unfortunately. The emperor is a wise and
sensible Lord, therefore he will recompense you for your son's death and
for the injury you have suffered."
As they spoke together, the emperor entered the hall and said to
Ogier the Dane, "It is sacred to me that your son has been killed. I ask
you to be content. I will recompense you for your son's death and for
the injury you have suffered."
Ogier answered, "I will have no other penance for him than the
life of your son." At these words, the emperor became angry and
immediately ordered Ogier, under his breath, to flee from his country
and kingdom and go away and never again come before his face. On this,
Ogier became more hasty and angry than he was before and said, "If I am
to be banished, then I will commit a crime worthy of such punishment."
So he drew his sword and slashed at the emperor, but a freeborn man who
wanted to protect the emperor's life jumped between them. Ogier flung
the man's head down into his neck so that he fell dead at the emperor's
feet. Then many freeborn men came around the emperor to save his life.
Of them, Ogier immediately killed twenty-four and three hundred were
badly wounded before he left the house. While this was happening, some
of his servants fetched his arms and armor. When he passed through the
gate, he jumped on his horse and rode to the forest that was a mile from
there.
The emperor ordered all his people to pursue him as soon as they
could and to bring him back either dead or alive. He also rode after him
on a healthy horse. He came close to Ogier, who knew him by the look of
his gilded armor, for he ran at him so resolutely with his lance that he
drove both the emperor and his horse to the ground, and would certainly
have killed him and avenged his son's death, had many proud warriors not
come to the emperor's rescue. But Ogier entered the Forest safely. When
the emperor came to his castle again, he punished his people severely
because they all could not seize or slay Ogier the Dane. He said, and he
certainly believed, that Ogier had his exceedingly great power and
strength from the devil and not from natural human forces. Ogier finally
came to the castle and duchy which the emperor had previously given him.
He stayed there for a long time until he had consumed all his food and
drink, and also all the gold and money which he brought there with him,
and then he was finally driven by hunger and thirst to rob and take from
others who lived nearby. Such is poverty and privation that many often
need to do unseemly things that they would not otherwise do. The noble
and virtuous prince was now forced to make an apparent robber of
himself. He had four hundred lovely men with him who also took what they
could get for themselves. When the emperor learned that they were thus
robbing his kingdom, he sent out many people and had most of Ogier's
servants seized, whom he had beheaded and hanged. Every day many of them
were killed so that Ogier had to flee the kingdom. As he was fleeing, he
entered into Lombardy.
One day, as he was riding in a forest, he was met by a mighty
lord named Duke Berron. He asked Ogier who he was that was riding in
such good shining armor and clothes. He answered, "My name is Ogier the
Dane and I am now the emperor's enemy because his son killed my son."
The duke said, "Stay here a little while, while I speak with my
people." As Ogier now waited alone on his horse, it occurred to him how
glorious he used to be held among all lords and princes because of his
great courage and how he was now so despised and impoverished that he
did not have a squire or servant with him and was banished from the
emperor's land. Then he began to curse the day when he had become
acquainted with the maiden Elisene, Baldwin's mother, because he was to
have so much grief for his death, but he nevertheless determined to
avenge his death on the emperor's son, even if it cost him his own life.
At that moment, Duke Berron came to Ogier again and asked if he would
follow him to the king of Lombardy, where they would both offer him
service and then become stable brothers in war on land and sea. Ogier
replied that he would be happy to do so.
Then they rode to a town called Pavia, where they found King
Desiderius, who immediately took them both into his service. He asked
Ogier why he came from the emperor and was all alone, because he had
always heard that all the emperor's welfare in war on land and sea
rested on him alone. He answered, "His son killed my son and I wanted to
avenge it. Therefore he scornfully drove me from his kingdom. I pray to
you mighty king that you will protect me for a time because I will not
go to the kingdom of Denmark, where I am King, before my luck improves
again."
The king answered, "I will risk my country and kingdom for you
and your good reputation, which I have heard from many people in the
past." Then the king said to Ogier, "I am at war with the duke of
Mediolan, and I ask you to go against him in battle and organize my
people and carry my main banner." Ogier replied that he would gladly do
it. The duke of Mediolan was taken prisoner and he also captured
twenty-five of his best freeborn men. When King Desiderius saw these
prisoners and heard of the great victory that Ogier had won, he gave him
two precious fiefs, castles with all their property and income, and said
that he would protect him against the emperor as long as he was king of
Lombardy.
CHAPTER 20 - The Emperor sends word to the king of Lombardy that he must deliver Ogier the Dane as a prisoner.
Some time after that, the Emperor Charles asked about this great victory
that Ogier had won and how his name was praised throughout the world
because of his great bravery. He called his council together and
complained to them of the great damage that Ogier did to him when he
killed many of his cherished freeborn men in his presence, and the great
arrogance he showed in attempting to kill him as well. He therefore
wanted to write to the king of Lombardy to deliver Ogier as his
prisoner, otherwise he would again wage war by land and sea against his
country. The imperial council of the emperor would by no means consent
to him waging war by land and sea against the king for Ogier's sake,
because they feared that he would thereby lose many of his people and
many good men. Nevertheless, the emperor stood by the opinion he had
expressed earlier, and Duke Naimon offered him to bring the king a
letter of excuse and declare war on him if he did not want to let Ogier
go willingly. The emperor said that he should not go but asked that he
would let his son Bertrand travel instead. He wanted to give him a good
sensible man whose name was Pontius. He agreed and the emperor
immediately sent them away. They came in the evening to a place in Upper
Burgundy called Dijon. They knocked on the gate and could not get in.
Bertrand got angry and knocked hard on the gate then the gatekeeper
called out and asked him to tell who he was and where he had come from,
otherwise he would by no means let him in. Bertrand was all the more
angry because he kept him talking for so long, so he immediately killed
him and rode into the city to a rich innkeeper that he knew.
When he had entered the inn, the common people made a great cry
and riot in the town and occupied the house he was in, because he had
killed their gatekeeper. The landlord in the house and his wife asked
him if they were following him. He answered, "The gatekeeper spoke evil
words to me, and so I killed him."
The landlord said, "Get out of my house, you ugly traitor and
bad murderer!" Then the wife in the house and the girls and boys all
started yelling and shouting and calling him a murderer. Then he became
violent and angry and killed them all, however many they were. Then he
went up on top of the house and threw stones and struck so hard that no
one could come near him. Meanwhile, Pontius, his stable brother, was
seized and led before the lord of the castle where the common people in
the city cried out and complained of the great injury that he and
Bertrand his stable brother had done during the night. The lord promised
that they would both stand their ground and lose their lives for that,
and asked the commoners to be satisfied.
Pontius answered, "Dear Sir, you must know that we are the
emperor's messengers and are going to the king of Lombardy on a
dangerous and important errand which concerns country and kingdom, and
we hope that you will not be an obstacle on our journey, even though we
have unfortunately done much wrong. We desire mercy for the emperor's
sake. If you allow us to be punished, then the emperor will tear the
castle and the city to the ground and murder as many here as are inside
the castle." When the lord heard these words, he released them both and
bade them ride their way.
When they came before the king's castle, Ogier said to the king,
"Now I receive certain news from the emperor, for here comes Bertrand,
my kinsman, who serves him."
Then Bertrand began to speak the emperor's words to the king.
"The most powerful prince, Emperor Charles, sends you his greetings and
he tells you that you must send him this traitor and murderer Ogier the
Dane who is standing here or he will sack and burn your lands and
kingdoms."
Ogier was surprised because he spoke very ill of him. He said to
him, "Why do you speak ill of me in the king's presence, since I am your
kinsman?"
Bertrand answered, "You are no longer my kinsman, since you did
not keep the emperor's faith and promises. I denounce you here and
everywhere, because your father gave you as a hostage and did not
release you. Therefore you promised the emperor eternal service and you
still owe him your faithful service as long as you live."
Duke Berron, Ogier's stable brother, beckoned to him. "Were my
lord the king not so near and were you not Ogier's kinsman you would not
get out of here alive."
Then King Desiderius said to Bertrand, "Tell your lord the
emperor that I will defend Ogier as long as I have my lands and
kingdoms."
Bertrand replied, "Then you must leave your lands soon to be
sacked and burned." As he rode from the castle, the king's horses were
out to be watered, and Bertrand took the best horse that was in the herd
and rode his way along the Stoven. Then the king asked his people to
pursue them.
Ogier was with him, and when he got close to the second
fugitive, he called out for Bertrand and said, "You called me a robber
before, and now you are robbing and taking the king's horse." At the
same time, Ogier hit him hard with his lance so that his shield was
broken into pieces, but Bertrand still stayed on his horse. Duke Berron
stabbed Pontius in like manner so that he fell dead from his horse. But
Bertrand escaped on a path through the forest with the king's horse
because this horse was very swift and fast and Ogier's saddle girth
broke while he was chasing him. Ogier came back and told the king how
Bertrand escaped then the king complained a lot about his noble horse
which he lost.
CHAPTER 21 - Duke Berron takes Ogier the Dane in defense and Ogier the Dane kills three warriors and many dukes.
Bertrand came back safely and told the emperor the answer he had
received from the king. Then the Emperor Charles immediately began to
think about how he could quickly ruin his lands and realms because he
did not want to send him Ogier as a prisoner. Then the council of the
kingdom advised him that he should put a large number of men of war to
guard the country against Lombardy, that Ogier the Dane should not enter
his country while he himself was going into battle against the king.
Then the emperor assembled all his people and his whole gathered
strength and went into Lombardy soon after Easter. When Ogier learned
that he was in the kingdom, he watched night and day, for he feared
treachery, although he believed that the king was good and faithful to
him. But Duke Berron had told him before that all Lombards were false by
their own proper nature. He therefore had to fear lest the emperor
should change the king's mind either with threats or with gold and
money. When Duke Berron perceived that Ogier was half afraid of the
emperor and of treachery he said to him, "Do not worry, you will not be
harmed, for I have gold and money enough, and I will keep twelve
thousand men of war around for a year for your needs, and I will now go
after them and return within four weeks. My brother Duke Gverin of
Florence shall be your stable brother until I return."
When King Desiderius learned that the emperor wanted to besiege
the city of Pavia in which he lived, he immediately wanted to go out and
fight with him before he had pitched his tents, for he went out with all
his might and fought bravely against the emperor's people. The emperor
himself was foremost in the crowd to put his people in order. When Ogier
saw him, he rode straight at him and knocked him and his horse to the
ground at the same time, so that they were both unconscious. Then he
entered the emperor's army and searched hard for his son Charlot. When
he could not find him, he slew the following proud fighters, Duke
Aegidius of Poitiers, Duke Antonius of Bordeaux, Duke Gverin of Tolosa,
and several other dukes and good men whose names are not listed. The
emperor's people all cried out over Ogier and said it was a great pity
that he alone should kill so many good men in one battle. The Lombards
fought bravely against the French. Meanwhile, Duke Thierry of Flanders
and Duke Richard of Normandy helped the emperor get back on his horse
and as soon he was well seated in the saddle and when he heard that so
many of his good men had been slain, he went in among the enemies and
fought very bravely. He rode to the king of Lombardy and struck his
saddle bow with his lance. Then he drew a sharp sword to slice at him
and would have cut off his head, but at that moment Ogier came and saved
him from the emperor's hands. After that, they fought together for a
long time and suffered great loss on both sides and the king was again
surrounded by many Franks who would have killed him, but Ogier came
running again and saved him from their hands and killed most of them.
When at last the emperor's army had to escape, they all marveled at the
great bravery which Ogier had shown in the battle. King Desiderius
regretted the exceedingly great damage which his people had received in
the battle, where he himself often came close to death. Therefore, he
firmly resolved in his heart and mind that he no longer wanted to fight
against the emperor for Ogier's sake. He repented greatly that he had
started this war against the emperor and had taken Ogier under his
protection, because he feared that his lands and kingdoms would
therefore be corrupted.
CHAPTER 22 - King Ogier is rescued by Duke Berron and kills many warriors.
As King Desiderius rode towards the city again, Duke Berron met him with
twelve thousand good warriors that he had brought from his own duchy.
When he perceived that the king feared the emperor, he said to him,
"Dear Sir, I am surprised that you now want to leave Ogier the Dane, who
won you the Duchy of Mediolan and all your welfare now depends mostly on
him alone. Turn back and let us ride until we can see how things stand
with the emperor."
When Ogier saw that the king and Duke Berron returned with these
people then he became happy and shouted loudly into the sky and said,
"God helps now! Now everyone should feel and know that I am born of the
true Danish blood." Then he enters the emperor's army and defeats Duke
Richard of Normandy, Duke Naimon, Duke Girart, and the Archbishop of
Picardy. When the emperor saw this, he said that he would rather fight
the kingdom than be defeated by the king in the field. Then he asked
them to call on their patron Saint Denis and then to fight bravely as
they should. They rode and charged so bravely that there were shots and
arrows in the air as thick as hail and snow. Duke Berron's people were
for the most part defeated and some fled from the field. The battle had
ended, and when Ogier was alone, they pursued him both with shots and
blows, but he gave them all a difficult fight and they were all
terrified that he dared to fight against so many thousands. Then Duke
Reinold of Flanders rode at Duke Gverin brother of Berron and struck him
with his lance so that he fell dead from his horse.
Ogier struck Reinold so severely that the sword passed through
his head, neck, and chest down into his navel. Then Duke Eudonius and
Duke Girart of Vienne both rushed at Ogier with their lances and knocked
him from his horse. Duke Berron came to help Ogier and got him another
horse. The emperor's people ran immediately after his glorious horse
Broiefort, but it kicked and bit and killed more than thirty men, and
ran its way across the field through them all, looking for its rightful
lord, Ogier the Dane.
When Duke Berron found his brother Duke Gverin lying dead, he
said to Ogier, "Dear stable brother, look here my brother lies dead, and
I have also lost many of his men in this fight. What shall I do?"
Ogier answered, "I will bravely avenge their death and I will
always risk my life again for you." Then Ogier again entered the
emperor's army and wounded many proud warriors. In the same moment, Duke
Bertrand came and pierced Duke Berron to death with his lance. When
Ogier saw this, he swore fiercely on his faith and honor that he would
avenge this deed. Then he killed Count Baldwin of Avignon and Duke
Reginald of Alenson. Now his own horse Broiefort came running to him
again to his great happiness and he jumped on it again. When he found
Duke Bertrand he ran to him and cleaved him down in his saddle, because
he had pierced his stable brother Duke Berron to death.
CHAPTER 23 - How the king betrays Ogier the Dane into the emperor's hands and how he is saved by the Queen.
When Emperor Charles found Duke Bertrand dead, he said to his father,
Duke Naimon of Bavaria, "See how Ogier has now rewarded you for your
acts of kindness."
Duke Naimon replied, "I will avenge my son's death on him
myself, even if it costs me my life."
Then the emperor asked a mighty warrior to run after Ogier and
kill him. When the emperor and the duke came after him, Ogier almost
killed him and the many others who accompanied him. Then the emperor
began to dread and curse the day and hour he became Ogier's enemy, for
he now began to despair that he would ever overcome him. Ogier came into
the city and washed away the blood that was splattered on him by the
many men he had killed in the battle. He went up to the king, who
complained a lot that he had lost so many of his brave men and good
fighters. Ogier replied that they lost so many because they would not
stick together and fight bravely as they should.
The other good men who still lived in the king's court would
much rather have been knighted by Ogier the Dane than by the king
himself because of the great courage they had seen him display in the
fight. The king was now secretly thinking to himself about how he could
best betray Ogier the Dane into the emperor's hands. But the queen had
seen Ogier the Dane from afar and she suspected that the king wanted to
betray him. So she talked to him about treachery, in order to see how he
felt in his heart. "To know your thought, dear husband, I wonder if you
want to stick with Ogier the Dane any longer, since you have lost so
many of your men because of him, and perhaps you will lose another part
of your kingdom, unless you soon deliver him into the emperor's hands."
The king replied, "I have written a letter which I will send to
the emperor tomorrow, asking for him to send me soon a large number of
people who could lead Ogier back to him as a prisoner." She said that it
was good, but she did not mean it in her heart.
On the second day, the messenger left and she had him seized and
took the letter from him and threw him into a prison tower. In the
evening she quietly went to Ogier's room, which was in the castle, and
she had no one with her except two girls. One she sent back again so
that she should watch her room and, if someone came after her, she could
tell her where she was. She ordered the other to stand outside Ogier's
door and tell her if she saw anyone coming. Then she knocked softly on
Ogier's door. He feared treachery, therefore he put on his armor and his
helmet and held his sword in his hand and ran to the door. When he saw
that it was the queen, he helped her reverently and was greatly
surprised that she came to him so late in the evening. She told him to
take off his armor and helmet and sit down on the bed with her and he
did as she desired. She then said to him, "Dearest Ogier, who is the
praise and honor of all Danish men, all people in the world praise and
love you for your great courage and boldness. And I love you with all my
heart above all other people who are in the world, and with love I beg
you to be my lover, otherwise I will soon mourn my death."
Ogier answered, "High-born princess, it must not be so, for your
dear husband has aided me for a long time and risked life and death for
me and still intends to free me from the emperor's feud." She replied,
"Dearest friend, it is not as clear as you think. He will betray you
into the emperor's hands and it would have been done already had I not
prevented it. See, here is his letter which he wrote to the emperor
about you."
When Ogier had seen and read this betrayal, his mind and heart
were turned from the king and he said to the queen, "He who breaks faith
and promises is often disappointed again." Then he went to bed with her.
As soon as he woke up, he said to her, "I am afraid that you or I will
come to trouble because of this, for it is beginning to dawn."
She replied, "Fear not, my dear good friend, for my faithful
servants keep watch and will warn me if need be. Stand up and put on
your armor and go away with me, I have him held in prison as a traitor."
After that, she secretly sent Ogier out into the city to a
powerful lord who was her kinsman and was supposed to preserve and
protect him for her sake. She went to him every night for a whole eight
days and was each time differently disguised in men's clothes so that no
one could accuse her. However, the emperor sent a mighty large crowd of
people one night to the city that they should dig themselves under the
wall.
When King Desiderius heard this, he went up on the wall and said
to the emperor's people, "I wonder that the emperor still wants to fight
against me, even though I wrote to him with my certain decision that I
would send him Ogier as a prisoner when his people came to get him."
When the emperor's commander Godfred, who was waiting in front
of the city, heard this he said to the king, "You wicked traitor. Would
you so flamingly betray the noble Prince Ogier the Dane who places all
his hope and comfort in you?" Godfred rode to the emperor and informed
him of what the king had said to him, that he had written to the emperor
to send him Ogier the Dane as a prisoner. The emperor said he had
received no letter. Then the same Godfred advised him that he should
march for the city at once with all his might, which he did. When the
king saw the emperor coming, he went out of the city on the other side,
and thus came upon the emperor's army unawares, and defeated many of his
men before they fell into order.
While they were together in the fight the queen went to Ogier
and said, "My lord is now ready to fight against the emperor for your
sake and I beg you very much that you will help him." He said yes. Then
she tied his helmet and armor on. He thanked her profusely for all her
good deeds and promised that he would fight so bravely for the king that
she should ask for tidings about it before he came to her again.
When he came out into the battle, King Desiderius had been
knocked to the ground from his horse. Ogier struck and killed the knight
who knocked the king from the saddle. Then the king got back on his
horse again and Ogier said to him, "I have now come to your aid and
saved your life for the theft of my honor. With a good heart ride your
way back home to the castle and beware of me from now on in war and
strife for you would have betrayed me into the emperor's hands." Then
Ogier rushed into the battle again and took thirty-four mighty men from
their ranks, among whom was Archbishop Turpin, Duke Thierry, Count
Lambert of Savoy, and several others, many of whom died immediately but
it would take too long to go into detail here.
When the emperor saw so many of his powerful men fall, he
surrendered the king and pursued Ogier alone. He shouted over all his
army and said, "All of you pursue Ogier the Dane! Otherwise he will set
all my good men on fire."
When Ogier heard this, he said, "To feel is a poor man's lust.
It is better now to fly than to fence." Then he cut his way through the
army and set foot on the road. There he unwittingly found two pilgrims
who were both powerful and rich. One was called Duke Miles and was the
emperor's son-in-law because he had his daughter as his wife, the other
was called Duke Amis and was his relative and chief councilor. Ogier
knew them quite well and asked them where they came from.
They said, "From Saint James, where we have confessed our sins
and taken responsibility and done penance for them. We ask you very much
that you will spare us our lives."
Ogier answered, "You could never die in a better state and
position than you are now in, while you so recently saw the writing and
came from the holy places," and then he killed them both.
The emperor came after him and found these dead pilgrims. He
knew them from before and said to those who followed him, "You advised
me to let Ogier go, see here he has killed my son-in-law and my kinsman.
He spares no one who belongs to me. How can I let him go? Pursue him
with all your might. Whoever can defeat or capture him, I will make him
a mighty lord in France and give him as much gold and silver as the
weight of Ogier the Dane."
When Ogier came near to Berron's castle, which was called
Chateau-Fort the strong castle, he reached some of the emperor's good
men who had run and chased after him for eight miles. He killed them all
and then rode into the castle to the duke's son, whose name was Gelin.
He accepted Ogier very willingly and asked that he would make him a
knight. Ogier did so and prayed to God that he might have luck to avenge
his father's death on the emperor and his people who had killed his
father. The emperor came to the castle immediately after Ogier and found
there many of his good men dead who had fallen at Ogier's hand.
Then Duke Naimon of Bavaria said to the emperor, "Dear Sir, now
let Ogier go and make your way home to your country and kingdom again,
for you see that he defeats and kills as many of your good men as he can
overcome, and yet escapes unscathed in good health."
The emperor answered, "I shall never cease to pursue him until I
catch him either alive or dead." Then he laid siege to the castle with
all his might. Then he requested that Ogier would speak to him at a
convenient time and place, but Ogier would not answer anything, nor
speak to him. He forbade all the others who were in the castle to answer
or speak to him or to any of the enemies, but they were to pretend as if
the castle was completely deserted of people. One night a little after
midnight, Ogier went out of the castle with about a hundred men and
looked everywhere in the emperor's army for Charlot the emperor's son.
When he could not find him, he entered into a fight with the emperor and
did great harm to his people because he attacked them at night unawares
and then entered the castle again. The emperor was quite distressed
because he could not capture him. He swore on his honor that he would
never leave the castle until he captured Ogier or he had it torn down to
the ground.
At this pass, a strange carpenter came to the emperor and said
that he dared to make him a siege tower so big and strong that there
could be a thousand armed men in it and that they could drive it under
the castle when they wanted and throw glowing iron blocks full of fire
into the besieged castle. The emperor asked him to finish it in the
greatest haste and he wanted to give him gold and money for his work.
While the carpenter started on the tower, Ogier made many raids on the
emperor's army, sometimes during the day and sometimes at night, and
destroyed a lot of people. When the siege tower was finished, they drove
it very close under the castle and they threw fire at the houses and
burned them all down. Ogier asked all the people to flee into the
underground cellars so that they would not burn. He had several cellars
dug where the fire could not hit them. When Ogier discovered that he
could not do any damage to the siege tower with his arrows, then he went
out of the castle with his people on the other side and fought bravely
against the emperor's army in the open field. He killed six powerful
lords himself, in addition to many other handsome men about whom there
is no mention. He had ordered before he left the castle that a part of
his people should set fire to the emperor's dangerous tower while he was
fighting with the army. It happened just as he had ordered.
When the emperor came back and saw that his tower was burned, he
shouted to Ogier and said, "It will surely cost you your life before you
leave this field." Ogier considered his threat and words to be a small
thing and cleaved the forehead of one of his good men who was born in
Paris, so that he fell at the emperor's feet. The emperor cried aloud
above all his army and ordered them all that they should fight bravely
for their honor and pursue Ogier the Dane and capture or kill him. In
this battle, Ogier lost three hundred of his best men before he could
enter the castle again and bring the others with him.
CHAPTER 24 - How Duke Benoît rescues the queen from prison and kills the king's servant.
At this point, Desiderius remembered his wife, whom he had imprisoned
for Ogier the Dane's sake. He summoned her to him and asked if what his
servant had said about her was true. She apologized as best she could
and claimed that it was not so. The servant swore to her vehemently that
it was so in truth and offered that he would fight for this cause
against whomever she wanted and risk his life. Therefore, the king began
to have doubts and did not know what he should do about this, but then
it occurred to him that he would first send a messenger to the emperor
to find out better how things were before he pronounced judgment on her.
He asked the emperor for friendship and peace again and offered to give
him food for his people and to give him restitution for everything he
had done to him when he sided with Ogier the Dane, who had so shamefully
escaped from him against his will. He suspected his own wife, that she
had let him get into trouble when she found out that he wanted to send
Ogier into the emperor's hands as a prisoner. When the messenger said
these words to the emperor, there was a secret scout of Ogier the Dane's
party, Duke Benoît's servant, who heard it, and in the dead of night he
rode to the castle where Ogier was and told him that King Desiderius had
sent word to the emperor and asked for peace. He added that Desiderius
suspected that the queen had rescued Ogier and therefore he wanted to
let her burn at the stake if she was convicted. He also said that the
servant who was supposed to bring the letter to the emperor had
volunteered to fight to prove what he said about the queen was true. At
this news, Ogier was saddened because he wanted to save the Queen's life
and did not know whether he should fight for her himself or send someone
else. Finally, he made up his mind that Duke Benoît and Duke Gelin
should rescue her if they could.
When they came to the king's castle, they said that they ran
away from Ogier the Dane because they thought that his cause was unjust.
The king received them both kindly and showed them great honor because
he believed that what they told him was true. He said to them, "You must
have heard and know how I took Ogier the Dane under my protection and
therefore the emperor killed my lovely people and ruined my lands and
kingdoms and, when I wanted to send Ogier into his hands as a prisoner,
my wife rescued him from me. My servant who was to carry the emperor a
letter about it, she locked him up in the tower. I still have him
prisoner until I can find out for sure what the truth of the case is. If
she is found guilty, then I will let her burn at the stake."
Benoît replied, "Dear lord, by these words of yours, I remember
that I once heard Ogier the Dane say when he first came to us that at
the time when he left your castle, there came one of your good men who
said to him, 'Ogier I have heard that my lord will send you as a
prisoner into the hands of the emperor and will now send him a letter
about when he will receive you.' Ogier replied, 'Dear friend, do the
best that you can to intercept the messenger, then I will give you two
of my best castles that I have in the kingdom of Denmark with all their
property and rents, if you will follow me there.' After that, this good
man took the messenger by the neck and put him in the tower and flew to
Ogier with the letter."
When the messenger who was placed in the tower by the order of
the queen heard these words, then he said to the king, "Lord, I will
stake my life that these two scouts are sent by Ogier the Dane that they
should spy on you and see what you will do." Benoît answered, "You lie
to us like no good man and have made up this stupid lie about the honest
princess. I will fight with you in combat and a duel." So they both
agreed that they should fight with each other the next morning.
When the queen heard this story and trick that Benoît presented
to the king, she was exceedingly happy in her heart, for she could tell
from his words that Ogier had sent him out to save her life. She
afterwards secretly spoke with them and Benoît gave her the same gold
ring that she had previously given to Ogier, that by this sign she knew
for sure that they had been sent there by him to save her. She then let
them receive the honor and asked Duke Benoît to be of good courage, for
she was certain in her hope that he would win the battle when he so
willingly risked his life for Ogier's sake even though he knew how
things were between Ogier and her. In the morning the king had mass held
for them before they were to duel together and asked the bishop to make
them swear on a bible that they would duel for a just cause, each on his
side. The king's messenger took his oath first and swore that the queen
had him thrown into the tower and took the king's letter from him. Duke
Benoît said that he would not swear an oath, because the case did not
concern himself, so the queen swore for him that she was innocent in
this case as they charged her. If the thief could swear from the
gallows, then no one would be hanged. When they entered the ring, they
ran together so surely that both their lances were broken to pieces.
Then they slashed at each other so grimly with their swords that
everyone was astonished. Benoît was slightly wounded in the head so that
his blood ran down. Then he became violent and angry, he struck the
Lombard with all his might and strength and separated his left arm from
his shoulder so that it fell to the ground. He would have been satisfied
with that, but he also cut off his head so that he could never say what
he knew about the queen. Then the king made a great speech and asked the
queen in the presence of the good lords that she would forgive him for
suspecting her of adultery and treason when she was innocent.
Some time after that, Duke Benoît and Gelin asked the king for
leave. He paid them well and gave them great gifts, but the queen gave
Duke Benoît more because he had saved her life and good reputation. She
sent Ogier the Dane as much gold and silver as their two horses could
carry. When they came to the castle where Ogier the Dane was, Emperor
Charles lay on the other side with his army. They had five hundred good
men with them and they thought they would do some mischief before they
rode into the castle and see if they could get some booty thereby. They
penetrated the emperor's army at night when the clock struck eleven, but
they suffered exceedingly great losses among their people, for only
thirty men escaped with their lives of the five hundred whom they led
thither. They lost all the gold and the money that they had come with,
and they would also have lost their own lives had it not been so dark
that they could hide themselves in the bogs and woods that lay around
the castle. Early in the morning, the survivors came into the castle and
told Ogier how everything had gone with them. Then Ogier was so happy
because Benoît had saved the queen's life and honor that he did not
think about the gold, the money, and the many men who were lost.
CHAPTER 25 - Duke Benoît and Duke Gelin are defeated and how Ogier's servant Herkambalt is paid to betray him into the hands of the Emperor.
When Duke Benoît perceived that the emperor would by no means give up
this siege, he asked Ogier the Dane to think of good ideas and
inventions with which they could soon put an end to this war on land and
sea, for he and Gelin, of whom he was guardian, would willingly risk
their lives, goods, and money for his sake, if they could set him free
again. Ogier answered them like this, "Dear friends, I give you
satisfaction, for the emperor is now tired of this siege and intends to
go home again to France soon." At this pass, a king came to him, who was
the son of the Emperor Charles' own sister, with many people. Therefore,
the emperor arranged for a great tournament to be held and ordered many
of his best men to ride in joust and combat. On the same day, Ogier saw
their household and he was deeply saddened that he did not have enough
men with which to attack them. He nevertheless agreed to ride out with
Duke Benoît, Gelin, and three hundred men. Ogier put himself at the head
and as soon as he came to the emperor's army he saw Charlot the
emperor's son standing in his pavilion. He rode straight to him and
slashed at him so hastily that his sword got stuck firmly in the door.
While he was pulling it out again, Charlot came in a hurry. Then there
were mighty blows on both sides. Duke Benoît carried himself bravely,
and Gelin even more so. But there came a Frisian named Rambalt who
stabbed Gelin right through with his lance so he fell dead to the ground
and the iron of the lance remained stuck in his body. Ogier hit Rambalt
hard so he fell on the spot. When the emperor saw it, then he wondered
because of his courage and bravery that he dared to fight against so
many thousands of men. He would have liked to give up this siege and
battle, but he feared that he would be condemned and shamed, and that he
could not avenge the many sons and good men that he had lost in this
war. He then ordered his people to fight bravely and forced Ogier to
escape to the castle again. Then Gelin, who was lord of the castle, was
buried and they all mourned for him because he was a noble young man and
bold against his enemies. The emperor then raised trebuchets and other
siege engines against them and threw such large stones at them that no
one could defend himself inside the castle. When Ogier noticed this, he
went up from the underground cellars they had in the castle and secretly
went out through a postern with all his power and cut down all he found
at the trebuchets and siege towers and burned all these devices. At the
low level, a Duke of Brittany named Hugo came running and wounded Duke
Benoît. The regretful Ogier the Dane responded to his good friend
receiving a wound and he ran after Hugo and cleaved him right through.
When the French saw this, they all came after him to avenge Hugo's
death. Then Ogier was forced to enter the castle again with the very few
men that he had left with him.
When he had entered the castle again, he began him to think of
the unfathomably bad luck he had here in the world. It cut him to the
heart that many of his men and proud warriors had given up their lives
for his sake, and that he was not able to avenge their deaths as he
would have liked, but was forced by want and misery to surrender, for he
had no friends who could help him, but innumerable many enemies outside
the gate who wanted to kill him, and they had both the strength and
command to do that. He saw no chance of escape and his luck could not
have been worse. He had not slept for a long time, therefore he began to
feel tired, and grief and sorrow squeezed at his heart.
One of his chief servants named Herkambalt called all the others
together and said to them, "You all see that we can not survive here at
the castle for long. You all, like me, would betray Ogier the Dane and
the castle into the emperor's hands and get us all enough gold and money
so that then we would all become rich." They said yes, that they all
agreed with him, and asked him to do his best to make it happen as soon
as possible. He immediately rode towards the emperor's army.
As he was on the road, he met one of the emperor's good men
named Harder. He asked him who he was and where he was going as he rode
so fast. He answered, "My name is Herkambalt and I want to ride to the
emperor and betray Ogier the Dane into his hands."
Harder said, "Follow me, you will be welcome. I will give you
enough gold and money if you will do what you say."
When he came before the emperor and had given him a good
opinion, he promised him and his stable brothers as much gold as they
wanted if they could bring him Ogier the Dane, either alive or dead. He
replied that he would certainly do it and asked the emperor to give him
half a hundred men with whom he would capture Ogier and bring him back
as a prisoner. Then the emperor ordered Harder that he should accompany
him and take with him as many men as the servant desired.
While this was happening, Ogier the Dane saw in a dream that he
was in great danger, whereupon he woke from his sleep. Then he saw that
some of his servants were anxious and some angry, and that they did not
wave and talk with each other as they normally did. He said to them, "If
there is anyone here among you who no longer wants to be in this siege
or who does not want to live or die with me then I will give him leave
to ride away and take with him his horse and property, both booty and
plunder, and ride then to whomever he pleases." They all replied that
they wanted to stay with him. Then he lit a torch and took it with him
and dressed in his armor and put on his helmet and took his sword in his
hand. But he began to feel tired again, and he lay down on the ground
again to sleep.
After he had lain a little while, he thought again by God's
sinful grace that he was in the greatest distress and danger of life. He
sprang up and found none of his servants present. He then took the torch
and looked about step by step. At last he found one of them. He cut off
his arms and ordered him to show him where the others were and what was
happening or he would pierce his heart. He answered in his fear, "Dear
lord, you are all betrayed, for Herkambalt has sold you into the
emperor's hands and is coming immediately with his people to fetch you,
therefore your other servants are down in the castle yard gathering
their gold, silver, and money which they received in exchange for their
horses and they want to ride away without your knowledge."
Ogier immediately went down and killed them all, as many as they
were. Then he went to the gate and closed it again. Just then Herkambalt
came back and Harder with him and the emperor's people. He knocked
softly on the gate and thought that they were standing by the gate where
he had previously told them to wait for him. Ogier changed his voice so
that he should not recognize him and said softly to him, "Who are you
knocking at the gate?"
He answered, "It is me, Herkambalt, who comes from the emperor.
What is Ogier doing now?"
Ogier answered, "He is still sleeping and we have taken his
sword from his side. When you enter, your stable brothers, who have now
all saddled their horses, will do with him as we please."
Herkambalt came inside the gate and was about to go down a
staricase by the wall when Ogier cleft his head from his neck so that he
fell dead to the ground. Then Ogier jumped on his horse and pursued
Harder and the rest of the emperor's men so that not many of them
returned alive to his pavilion. He cut off the head of a duke of Upper
Burgundy and rode straight to the castle again and hung all his doting
servants, and he did not spare a single one of them in any corner of the
castle. Then he took all their armor and helmets, which he stripped and
put on sticks and poles on the castle walls. He tied cords and lines
around them so that when he tugged on any of them they turned as if they
had all been alive.
With this clever and ingenious trick he dazzled the eyes of his
enemies, so that the emperor and all his people who saw this thought for
sure that he had gained new soldiers, since there were as many people
standing on the wall as there were before. It is impossible to describe
the many clever devices which this valiant prince used against his
enemies in this siege. At this, the emperor was completely in despair
and did not at all know what to do. His son Charlot, who had attacked
the castle three or four times and shot at the dead bodies and disguised
sticks and poles, was greatly surprised that they would not bow or give
way to his spears and arrows, but all remained calm and boldly standing
on the walls. He said to his father the emperor, "It is impossible for
us to win this castle or capture Ogier the Dane after he has gained
these new soldiers who are not harmed by shots or arrows. You have now
waged war on land and sea against him for seven years and won very
little prize and honor and cannot yet come to any good end. Therefore, I
advise you to give this up and go to France again with your army before
you receive more damage, for Ogier now, it seems, wants first to fight
in earnest."
The emperor replied, "I shall never leave here until I have
Ogier either dead or alive, even if it costs me half my kingdom."
Now he had his best chieftains and knights called to his table.
After he had been sitting for a little while at the table, Ogier alone
came riding up to them. When the emperor's son Charlot saw that he was
staring directly at him with his lance, he threw himself backwards off
the bench and Ogier jumped over him at the same time and did not hit
him, but he knocked the table down to the ground with all their food and
drink and cut the emperor's chamberlain to death at his feet. Hereby the
emperor and all his people were very horrified because he had come upon
them so unawares. They were all amazed at his great audacity, and many
of the emperor's men mounted their horses and pursued him with all their
might, but they did so in vain, for he entered the castle again without
any damage. The emperor would have liked to give up the siege and return
home, but he feared shame and condemnation for doing so.
Ogier was all alone in the castle, he had nothing else to eat
but dry bread and horse meat and water to drink, and he was very sad and
did not know whether he wanted to fight any longer with his enemies or
whether he should escape to safety. As he walked on the wall one night
and spoke these words to himself out loud, there were two of the
emperor's secret spies down by the wall and they went straight to the
emperor's son and told him what they had heard. He thought that he would
now gain the friendship of Ogier the Dane, as he was so badly afflicted
with hunger and thirst and had no people with him for good protection.
In this hope he rode before the castle in the morning with many
people calling out to Ogier and saying, "Noble Prince Ogier the Dane, I
humbly ask you that you will now give me your friendship for God's sake
and forgive me for killing your son in haste. I will give you half of
France after my father's death, I will go to the Holy Sepulchre and
there make confession and do penance for him, and I will also give you
my father's friendship again as well as your castles and fiefs which he
has taken from you. I will also pray for you with all the lords and good
men who are gathered here from all countries and realms. You will not
refuse my request, for I know for sure that you cannot hold this castle
against us for long, as you have neither people nor food."
When Ogier heard this speech, he wondered greatly how he had
come to know that he had neither people nor food in the castle with him.
However, he answered him, "I have said before and the answer is still
that I shall never take penance or anything else for my son whom you
killed except you must give your own life for his death. I shall lose my
own life for that."
Charlot answered again, "Can there be nothing else?"
Ogier said, "Go back the way you came. You did not come here in
good faith, I should have noticed you before you came here, so it will
be easy to recognize you the next time."
When Charlot came back to his father and told him Ogier's words,
he wondered at his bold and brave heart that made him so strong and hard
in heart and mind that he did not want to surrender, even though he was
alone in the castle without food or sustenance. They all praised him for
his great bravery and laughed at his clever and ingenious invention that
he had thus eluded them all in front of their open eyes, with disguised
clothes and staves, so they did not dare to storm the castle. They all
agreed that in the morning they would climb over the wall of the castle
to Ogier the Dane and kill him if he did not allow himself to be
captured.
That night while they were sleeping soundly, Ogier rode to the
pavilion of the emperor's son and found there an expensive bed with gold
coverings and he thought that Charlot was sleeping there. He struck at
the emperor's son, but was deceived because he stabbed a pile of wood
which Charlot had put there in his place because he feared his coming.
He was sleeping away in a stable among some hay and straw, to his great
fortune. Ogier struck the wood so hard that his lance was broken into
pieces. The noise woke the army from sleep and everyone donned their
armor and searched for him, but he was able to return to the castle
safely because the night was quite dark.
CHAPTER 26 - How Ogier the Dane escapes from the Emperor into Valland and how the Emperor sends messengers to the Pope in Rome to confess his sins.
In the morning, when the sun rose, the emperor marched against the
castle with all his army. When Ogier saw him coming at the head of the
army and recognized him by his armor, then he rushed at him and thrust
him and his horse to the ground at the same time, so that he was knocked
unconscious. Ogier drew his sword and would have cut him to death, had
not Duke Naimon of Bavaria with some other warriors come to his aid and
rescue. They all now pursued Ogier the Dane, for he rode towards a
mighty great river and let his horse swim across it with himself and
then set off on the other side as best he could. The emperor and his
people rode on the opposite side of the river and no one dared to cross
over to him because the water ran too fast. At the same time someone
called out to the emperor and said that there was a bridge over the
river and a mill where they could easily cross. When Ogier heard this,
he turned off the road into the country and went through mountains and
forests over lake and salt water fortunately into Valland.
When the emperor learned that he had fled to safety, he became
angry and punished his people severely and said that they had acted as
traitors against him, that they had thus let Ogier escape with his life,
since there were so many of them that they must have been able to kill
him or take him prisoner. Charlot the emperor's son said to his father,
"I would not, for all the gold and wealth I have in the world, that
Ogier should escape, for I must now prepare myself. I shall not live
long unless he is brought into our power. He will probably come again
soon, when I least suspect him, and take my life."
The emperor called his people together and said to them, "I know
that Ogier has many relatives and friends in my army who wish him well,
but if I hear or learn that anyone gave him help, comfort, shelter, or
helped to hide him in my lands and kingdoms, then I will have that
traitor executed, as it should be, and give his property to the crown. I
bid you all, both lords and servants, rich and poor, and all others,
whoever you are, that on your honor and Christian faith, you will smite
Ogier with spear and sword or take him prisoner wherever you can find
him after this day, and you do not refrain from it either for prayer or
for the sake of a gift."
Then, a day or two later, the emperor went to the castle where
Ogier had been and found nothing there but the dead men he had hung from
the big arches around the castle. When they now saw how cleverly he had
dressed sticks and poles with the dead men's harness and that you could
move them all at once when you pulled the end of a line or string, the
good men said to each other, "It was a great loss that such a wise and
brave prince should leave the kingdom, whom all the warriors dreaded to
contend with, and who knew all the tricks and counsels of war on land
and sea." They then looked in the castle for food and drink, but they
found neither beer nor bread, and nothing but some horse meat. They were
even more surprised that he kept the castle so long without food and
drink and yet remained so brave and did not want to show the hunger and
need that overtook him, even though he was there alone and miserable and
had no one with him at the end except the dead bodies. When the emperor
had seen the castle and gone through all the apartments around it, he
called all his people together in a level place in front of the castle
and then counted how many he had left alive of his good men and ordinary
fellows that he had brought with him from France, and also of the other
men who had joined him from several other countries and kingdoms. It was
now in the eighth year since he first began to fight against King Ogier
the Dane and drove him out of France. Then he sent both of his sons
Charlot and Louis to enter into Valland with a large number of people
that they should govern and rule it and guard it from foreign enemies in
his absence until he could come there himself in person. Then he went
home to France with the people he had left.
When he had been in the kingdom for some time, he began to think
how he had certainly angered his God and Creator, that so many lovely
men, rich and poor, had lost their lives in the war on land and sea
because of him, and that many lovely virgins, girls, maidens, and honest
and courtly women had been subjected to great violence and harassment by
his horsemen and people where they had advanced. He made up his mind
that he wanted to send a suitable message to the Pope in Rome that he
could obtain from him confession, penance, and absolution for his sins.
He knew of no one better able to carry out this errand than Archbishop
Turpin of Reims in Picardy and the abbot of Saint Pharaoh's cloister in
France, for they were both mighty and wise men in every way, and so he
sent them off on this errand.
CHAPTER 27 - How Archbishop Turpin, when he was on his way to Rome, finds Ogier the Dane standing by a spring, takes him prisoner, and leads him to the emperor.
You have here now heard, seen, and read how mild and gentle fortune had
been for this strong prince, King Ogier the Dane, until this time when
he overcame many great lords, kings, and princes, and slayed innumerable
many lovely men and mighty proud warriors, and won in every battle great
praise and honor. Now I will describe how he had bad and very
unfavorable misfortune for some time, so that no one, no matter how
powerful he is, should put too much hope in this world or in the people.
If he follows the example of Ogier the Dane instead, he will find that
when fortune does the best for someone, it then quickly turns its wheel
around so that everything goes against him.
When Ogier had had been at sea for some time, then he finally
arrived in the country of Valland. As he rode on the road during the
day, he began to feel very weary, for he was tired of the sea and it had
been a long time since he last slept. He found a lovely meadow for
himself in which there was a spring that pleased him to rest while his
horse grazed and drank. He removed his armor and clothes and lay down to
sleep. When he had slept there for a while, Archbishop Turpin came on
his way to Rome and one of his servants rode to this spring to water his
horse. When he got there, he saw that Ogier was lying there sleeping. He
rode straight back again and said, "Sir, Ogier the Dane is lying by this
spring and is sleeping safely. Will you seize him while you have the
power to do so? He has hung his armor and his helmet on a bush nearby
and his shield and lance are lying on the other side." When the
Archbishop heard this, he was very upset with himself, for Ogier was his
kinsman, but he did not dare to fail to capture him either, as he
probably would have liked to have done, for all who followed him knew
that the emperor had previously commanded all great lords and all others
in his lands and kingdoms that on their honor they should beat or seize
Ogier the Dane where they could find him. Therefore, he consulted with
the abbot who accompanied him what he should do. He himself was a
consecrated bishop, but he still feared that the emperor would punish
him when he was told that he had failed to capture Ogier. So they agreed
that they would take him prisoner. His servants ran up and took his
heavy armor, helmet, and shield and brought it over to one side,
whereupon they took his precious shiny sword Courtain from his belt.
Ogier awoke to the noise of many horses that surrounded him. He
immediately reached to his side for the sword but, when he realized that
it was gone, he jumped up and struck a monk in his eye with his clenched
fist so that he fell dead from the horse. He then took the monk's saddle
and killed many with it and some he struck fled so that they easily
escaped from the field. He attacked with this saddle for a long time,
until at last all that was left of it to strike with was one single
stirrup. When he reached Archbishop Turpin, he threatened him and said,
"Now if I had my good sword, none of you would get away from me alive."
He now wanted to jump on the monk's horse and escape, but at that moment
they knocked his legs out from under him and he fell over. Then many
fell upon him and tied his hands and feet and led him back to Reims in
Picardy as a prisoner.
When the emperor received word that Ogier was a prisoner, he was
overjoyed and immediately wrote to Archbishop Turpin that he should come
to Paris with him without delay, because he wanted to immediately have
him beheaded and his body hung in the gallows of Paris, which is called
Montfalcon, so that birds and ravens would eat him up for the great
arrogance with which he had insulted him. As soon as Ogier came forward,
the emperor immediately sentenced him. The emperor's sons Charlot and
Louis and all the other lords and princes who were then present prayed
well for Ogier the Dane that he might keep his life, but to no avail.
When Archbishop Turpin understood this, he said to the emperor,
"Dear Sir, why will you now be so strict with this brave prince that you
will punish him and not spare his life for all the good words and
prayers of these princes. Will you not regard the great deeds which he
formerly did for you, in that he so often saved your life in war on land
and sea, and benevolently rescued you from the hands of your enemies
when you were captured? He saved the lives of the Pope and many other
lords and princes and countless Christian people when he killed King
Brunamont the Sultan's supreme warrior. Where is the man in the world
who has practiced such great bravery or fought as courageously for the
holy Christian faith as Ogier did? Who saved your countries and realms
for you and all your people if not Ogier alone? If word reaches the
Turks or the Sultan that Ogier is beaten or dead, then they will soon
come here again and burn your kingdoms and fight against you and put all
Christendom aside. Who is surprised that he wants to take revenge for
his son's death? I pray to the mighty Lord that you will appease your
heart and mind and let him enjoy his life. It was a great pity that such
a mighty king and warrior should have a terrible loss of days or lose
his life. If you do not want him in your own custody, then I have a
prison and a tower to put him in until he can make amends for the
arrogance he has shown against you and your son. If you do not let him
keep his life, then I fear very much that there will be a great
rebellion in your countries and realms for his sake, for your greatest
men are to a great extent his kinsmen and relatives."
When Archbishop Turpin had finished his speech, then all the
others who stood around began to say the same thing he had said to the
emperor. Duke Naimon of Bavaria now also prayed for him even though he
had previously defeated his son Duke Bertrand and killed him in the
fight and he said that it was unheard of to have murdered or to execute
such a mighty warrior with violence and power. When the emperor had
heard their words and prayers then his mind was appeased and he
commanded Archbishop Turpin that he should have him strictly kept in
irons in a tower from which he could not escape.
When the Archbishop came back home to Reims, he immediately had
a strong tower built of large stones for a church wall which were both
thick and wide on the wall and deep in the ground. Then he said to
Ogier, "Dear friend, you know even that the emperor passed judgment on
you and that you should lose your head because you waged war against
him. Now the other good lords and I have saved your life, however, on
the condition that I shall keep you in prison and in irons as long as
you live and give you so little to eat and drink that you will not be
able to sustain your life for long. The emperor commanded me strictly
that I should not give you more per day than a quarter of a loaf of
bread, one cup of wine, and one piece of meat. He has also ordered that
on your honor you must never leave this prison as long as you live."
When Ogier heard that he was going to starve to death so wretchedly in
this tower, then his countenance faded and his face became dull with
grief and sorrow. When the archbishop saw this, he said to him, "Be
satisfied that I will bake the loaves which you shall have so large that
you shall have enough with a quarter of one of them per day, I will have
your cup made so large that a good pitcher of wine will go in it, and I
will give you half a sheep every day for the piece of meat that you will
eat." Ogier thanked him because he saw that he was a man of great
character and therefore he could live on a few things.
After that, he was lowered into this dark, deep tower in which
he remained for seven full years, and although he did not suffer from
hunger there, he still suffered enough want and misery that the
Archbishop sometimes did as much as he dared to do, and let him climb
the tower and play chess with him. He also let him confess once per
year, and as often as he himself requested.
CHAPTER 28 - Sultan Bréhier makes war against the Emperor while Ogier is a prisoner and what happens next.
Three or four years later, when the highest lords in France felt that
the emperor would show no other mercy to Ogier the Dane, and when they
felt very sorry for him they all gathered before the emperor and Duke
Girart of Roussillon spoke for them saying, "We all beseech you, humble
mighty lord, that for the sake of our faithful and willing service you
will have mercy on Ogier the Dane and release him from prison, for he
has now been punished and has done penance in the tower and will soon be
dead of hunger and thirst."
When the emperor heard his name, he became so hasty and angry
that he could neither sit nor stand. He said to them, "I swear by my
faith and honor that whoever mentions his name after this day shall lose
his life because of it, however powerful and rich he may be." He let it
be loudly proclaimed in Paris and in all other cities in his countries
and kingdoms that whoever mentioned Ogier the Dane's name should lose
his life, whether it was a man or a woman. Therefore, Ogier was
completely forgotten and shortly afterwards everyone certainly believed
that he was dead.
Some time later Bréhier, the Sultan of Babylon, secretly sent
some scouts to Picardy in France in order to find out where Ogier the
Dane was and what power the emperor could exert for war on land and sea.
When they came back again, they told the Sultan that Ogier the Dane was
certainly dead and they had heard in Paris that the emperor had ordered
a long time ago that no one should mention Ogier the Dane's name under
penalty of death. When the Sultan heard this, he was very happy and
called the kings, lords, and princes together who lived in his lands and
Realms. When they came to him with King Caraheut, who was one of the
greatest lords and warriors, then he said to them, "I will now go to
France and let myself be crowned, for I have now learned in truth that
Ogier the Dane is dead and I have always been told, by the learned men
who are called astronomers and are wise in the signs of the sky and the
course of the stars, that no one in the world could kill me except Ogier
the Dane, whom the emperor left to starve to death in a prison tower.
Now I fear no one on earth. Therefore, I want to actively fight against
the emperor." When King Caraheut heard that Ogier the Dane was dead, he
was very sad because he loved him very much. He swore sternly by his
royal honor that he would avenge his death with the emperor's own life
even if he had to come to his aid with a hundred thousand men at his own
cost and expense.
The Sultan Bréhier immediately sent out innumerable ships, both
large and small. With him in this fleet there were thirty kings with all
their people. There were also fifteen other mighty lords and princes
with him and all their people and power. He had his son Isor in his
retinue with him. A mighty crowd in like manner followed his brother
Justamund with all his servants. King Caraheut led his main banner. When
Bréhier entered Germany then he tore down all the castles, cities, and
towns and he committed a great slaughter of men. He conquered Koln and
hanged their king, whom the emperor had installed. Then he entered
Hainaut and Lorraine and blazed and burned the fields. When the emperor
learned this, he gathered together all his forces and then marched out
against him.
The Sultan immediately sent messengers to meet him and told him
that he should send ten of the best and most excellent fighters against
him alone in joust and battle. If he could overcome all of them, he
would immediately have the emperor hanged, but if they overcame him, he
would immediately return home to Babylon and not fight any more against
his country and kingdom. The messenger went to dinner and carried an
olive branch in his hand as a sign that he wanted to go in peace.
When he had announced his errand, the emperor asked him how big
and strong the Sultan was and the shape of his limbs and body. He
answered, "He is fifteen feet tall and a foot wide between his tusks.
His teeth are so long that they extend three finger widths outside his
mouth like an old boar. His tusks glow red like a carbuncle and his
beard is so long and heavy that it reaches to his belt. His arms are
exceedingly strong, because there is nothing in them but sinews and
bones. His hands are as hard as iron clubs and there is no horse so big
and strong that he cannot break its back with his hand if he desires. He
is afraid of no one on earth except Ogier the Dane."
When the emperor heard Ogier's name, he became angry and said to
his squires, "Kill this rascal, because he has broken my command and
openly mentioned the name of my enemy." They did as they were commanded
and put him to death and threw him dead over the wall into the Sultan's
army again.
The emperor immediately put on armor and went out of the city
with all his people and meant to capture the Sultan before he came into
camp with his army. When he came out and found that the Sultan was
leading countless people and had separated them into three sworn armies,
then he was terrified. In the first army was King Caraheut who led his
main banner and had a hundred thousand men with him. In the second army
Justamund the Sultan's brother was the chief commander and had fifty-
four thousand men under his banner. In the third army was Bréhier the
Sultan himself and he had thirty thousand men to lead in the battle, and
twenty-four kings and princes were in his retinue to help and aid them.
The emperor realized that he could not overcome this innumerable army in
a standing battle, so he sounded his trumpets and ordered his people to
go up into the mountains towards a forest that lay nearby where they
could escape if they were beaten to flight. When the Sultan and the
Turks made the Christians begin to give way to them, they thought that
they would fly, for they pursued them bravely and ran strongly towards
them, but the Christians turned again and struck bravely at those who
were nearest.
When King Caraheut, who led the main banner, was about to ride
off, then his wife, Queen Gloriande, asked him to take the emperor back
with him to the army as a prisoner because he was so pitiful and had
their good friend Ogier the Dane starved to death. He said, "If I catch
him then I will do worse to him than he did to Ogier the Dane because I
will throw him into a tower of lizards and worms." When King Caraheut
rode into battle, he did not want to fight against the Christians, even
though he received severe blows from them, because he had previously
promised Ogier the Dane and promised the Pope and the emperor in Rome
that he should never fight against the Christians. But when he saw the
emperor, he would have liked to have avenged Ogier the Dane's death on
him alone, for he rode against him with his lance, but the emperor smote
him from his horse and fifty men came and took him prisoner and led him
into the city with the emperor in the evening and that was the end of
the first day of battle.
King Caraheut had a nephew named Rubion. He secretly hated King
Caraheut because he wanted his lands and kingdoms and most of all his
lovely wife Queen Gloriande. He was now heartened when he saw that King
Caraheut spared the Christians in this fight and did not want to strike
at them, because he could now have him executed and be put in charge of
his lands and realms, accusing him of being a traitor. So he went to the
Sultan and said, "Mighty Lord, the emperor should have been taken
prisoner by now, and all the best men of France with him, who would have
fled because he had so few people in the field, had not the wicked
traitor King Caraheut my uncle so shamefully brought your main banner
into the midst of the Christians. He would neither strike nor cut at
them, but willingly allowed himself to be captured by them so that he
could betray you and all your people."
CHAPTER 29 - The Sultan gives King Caraheut's wife Gloriande and his land and kingdom to the traitor Rubion, and how he fared afterwards.
The Sultan believed his insidious words and told him to take King
Caraheut's land and kingdom and his wife Queen Gloriande, in the
presence of all the kings and lords. King Rubion took Gloriande in his
arms and wanted to kiss her, but she slapped him on the mouth with her
clenched fist so that two of his teeth fell into his throat. She said,
"I have my husband who will kiss me when he comes but I will not kiss
you, you traitor who would lie about his honor and glory." That night,
Queen Gloriande went to the city where her husband was held prisoner and
wanted to speak to him and tell him how King Rubion had stolen his land
and kingdoms, but she could not enter the city, so she returned again in
the morning at dawn and had no one with her but two of her maidens. King
Rubion discovered her and seized her outside the city. He was now glad
that he had this case against her both because she knocked his teeth out
of his mouth and because she called him a traitor in the Sultan's
presence. He led her to the Sultan and said that he seized her outside
the city where the emperor was and that she would have betrayed him and
his army if he had not arrived on the road after her so quickly. He also
had some servants with him that testified that he spoke the truth. She
said no, that it wasn't so, but it didn't help her, because the Sultan
passed judgment on her that she should be burned the next day and all
the Christian prisoners, who were fifty in number, were to be hanged.
When he gave this sentence, there was one of the emperor's
scouts who heard it and immediately rode to the emperor and told him the
news of what was happening. When the good lords of France heard this
news, they all begged that King Caraheut might be released to save the
life of his wife. So the emperor released him from his prison, but he
had to promise that he would save all the Christian prisoners or
voluntarily return to his prison again. As soon as he got to the Sultan,
he made his case and offered to be in a duel with Rubion, his brother's
son, and accused him of treachery. If he lost in this fight, they would
burn his wife and hang him and the Christians who were captured, but if
King Rubion lost, he was to be hanged alone and all the Christians were
to be released. They promised each other to battle in the valley between
the Sultan's and the emperor's armies so that both sides could watch.
When they assembled, then everyone who wanted to see it put on
armor, because they were afraid on both sides of an attack. As they
gathered in the ring, King Caraheut rode at Rubion so hard that he broke
his lance on his chest, but he still remained firmly in the saddle.
Rubion rode at him again and took his helmet off his head. When Queen
Gloriande and the Christians who were prisoners saw this, they began to
sigh and weep, because they feared that they would lose their lives if
he lost. They prayed fervently to God that Caraheut might win this
battle. Rubion rushed at him again with his lance, but King Caraheut cut
it the other way for him. Then King Rubion wanted to draw his sword, but
King Caraheut cut off his right hand so that it flew into the field. He
grabbed the sword with his left hand, but King Caraheut cut off his left
thigh and he fell from the horse. Then King Caraheut said to him, "You
wretched traitor and son of a whore. My brother was never your father,
but another wretched, desperate scoundrel that your mother used to live
with, and you are related to him. You wanted to take my honor, glory,
country, and kingdom, but I will now avenge it on you with your own life
before I ride out of this ring. Now tell the obvious truth to everyone
before you die."
When King Rubion realized that he would not live any longer,
then he said to King Caraheut, "I confess that I lied about you and your
wife, and I humbly ask you to forgive me for the sake of our God
Mahomet." He replied that he would forgive him. Then Rubion asked him to
dismount from his horse and kiss him as a sign that he had forgiven him
for what he had done against him. As King Caraheut stooped down and
tried to kiss him, Rubion stabbed him in the throat with the dagger that
he was secretly holding in his left hand, and he certainly would have
murdered him, had his good armor and metal collar not averted the blow.
When Caraheut saw it, he seized him by the hand, wrested the knife from
him with force, then thrust both of his daggers at him and dug them all
the way into his neck. Then King Caraheut called the Sultan Bréhier and
asked him to come and hear Rubion's own words before he died. When he
came, Rubion obviously confessed that he had lied about King Caraheut
and his wife Gloriande. Therefore, the Sultan had him hanged and
released all the Christian prisoners and asked them to tell the emperor
that he should fight alone in the morning in this ring against ten of
the best fighters.
Duke Thierry, who was among these prisoners, answered, "There is
no need to send so many. I will meet you alone in battle." When they
came together the next day, the Sultan threw him from his horse and
would have cut off his head, but King Caraheut saved his life so that he
was only taken prisoner.
On the second day, Achar the king of England entered the ring
against the Sultan. When the latter saw him he asked who he was that
dared to ride and fight against him alone in battle. He answered, "I am
called Achar and I am king of England."
The Sultan said, "Save your life, ride back and bring more
people here with you, or you will never see England again."
He answered, "I will ride against you."
Then the Sultan pierced him right through with his lance so that
he fell dead from his horse. Then four mighty dukes and good warriors
rushed towards the Sultan with their lances, namely Duke Doon of Nantes,
Duke Girart of Roussillon, Duke Morant of Kleve and Duke Naimon of
Ardene, but they could not touch him in the saddle. They therefore threw
away their lances and all attacked him together with their powerful and
valuable swords. At the same time, the Sultan's brother Justamund came
to his aid with a large number of people.
As soon as they saw this ambush, they rode back again to the
emperor and told him how great and strong he was and that they could not
touch him in his saddle, though they attacked him with four strong
lances at the same time. When the emperor heard this, he began to dread
and fear that he would find no warrior in his army who could stand alone
against the Sultan. Then he began to think of his good warriors Roland
and Oliver whom he had lost at Roncevaux and cursed Ganelon as the one
who betrayed them. He grieved bitterly for the mighty King Achar of
England, whom he had now lost, and he held the peace while he had his
dead body brought to the city and buried there honestly. He sent his
messengers to England for his daughter to come to him because he wanted
to marry her off honorably and provide for her, since she was fatherless
and had no other guardian or protection.
CHAPTER 30 - The Emperor's Council asks him to release Ogier the Dane.
For a long time afterwards, the emperor's council, lords and princes,
bishops, and other good men, debated how they should continue the war.
They were quite distressed because they had lost their relatives and
friends, and they knew that the Sultan had an innumerable number of
people and that no one warrior could overcome him alone, neither with
sword nor lance. Then Duke Naimon stood up among them and said, "I heard
a mighty pagan say that the Sultan had said to his council that no one
could overcome him except for Ogier the Dane, and he would never have
come here if he had known that he is alive. It is very advisable for the
emperor to be informed of this." They all praised his good advice but
said that they should be careful, so that the emperor did not kill
whoever said it to him.
Then a knight stood up among them and said, "Will you buy me a
raft of horses and then pay me for my trouble? Then I will say these
words to the emperor." They agreed with him about it. One day as the
emperor went among his army, this knight rode up to him and said,
"Mighty Lord, I wonder that you still want to fight against the Sultan,
for it is completely in vain. You will never overcome him unless you get
Ogier the Dane to help."
When the emperor heard Ogier's name, he became violent and angry
and told his squires to kill this knight, because he had broken his
commandment by mentioning Ogier's name. They pursued him with all their
might, but they did not want to do anything to him. Duke Naimon came
forward and said, "Lord, let me speak a word or two to you. You probably
wondered why he spoke of your enemy when he knew that you had forbidden
everyone to speak his name. I think he did not do it without reason, for
he is a good man and born here in the kingdom and has always been your
faithful servant." The emperor was angry and answered him nothing.
Duke Naimon then called to him all the youngest of the emperor's
courtiers and other small children of the town and asked them all when
they came to the emperor to shout at the same time, "Ogier the Dane!
Ogier the Dane! Ogier the Dane! He is now imprisoned in the tower to the
country's great loss." When the emperor came, they all shouted "Ogier
the Dane", just as Duke Naimon told them to shout. When the emperor
heard this, he stood still and wondered and questioned what it could
mean that so many children all called out the name of Ogier the Dane.
As he stood in this thought, Duke Naimon said to him, "Dear
Lord, I fully believe that the almighty God has awakened the minds and
hearts of these young children so that they should announce that you
must let Ogier the Dane out of the prison tower, for the Sultan has said
that no one in the world can defeat him except for Ogier the Dane and if
that is the case, then it is better that you think more about the good
of your country and the poor common people than about the hatred and
grudge you have for him, because you know well that he is the greatest
warrior that now exists in the world and has done greater deeds than
Roland, Oliver, and the other Twelve Peers. He will also overcome the
Sultan if you will have mercy on him."
CHAPTER 31 - The Emperor's heart softens towards Ogier the Dane, but he will not accept that Ogier must have revenge on Charlot for the death of his son.
The emperor began to soften again in his heart and mind and said to Duke
Naimon, "I do not believe that Ogier is still alive because he is in a
deep dark tower where he saw neither sun nor day and he had little to
eat and drink. Therefore, I think he is dead."
Replied the Duke, "Sir, you must know for sure that Ogier is
still alive, for Archbishop Turpin let him have half a sheep every day
for that piece of meat that he was allowed to have each day, and he gave
him every day a quarter of a loaf of bread made from half a bushel of
flour, and a large cup of wine, therefore he is still alive."
The emperor immediately summoned his advisers. When they came to
him behind closed doors, he said to them, "Dear friends, you are all
obliged to know how best to benefit the kingdom and my honor and glory.
I ask for your good advice on how we should protect ourselves against
the Sultan, so that he does not corrupt the whole of Christendom."
They all replied to him in agreement, "We know of no other good
advice but that if you can get Ogier the Dane again, he is strong and
bold enough to kill the Sultan and all his warriors."
The emperor immediately ordered two hundred free men to prepare
to ride. Then he took Duke Naimon with him and rode to where Ogier was
prisoner. Then he sent Duke Naimon and Archbishop Turpin with some other
men to Ogier to ask him if he would give Charlot his friendship and
serve the emperor afterwards as he had done before. He answered them
that he would help to protect the holy Christian faith with all his
wealth, but first he wanted to take revenge on Charlot because he killed
his son. When the emperor received this answer, he asked them to go to
him again. They all begged him to forgive Charlot, but they got no
different answer than they did the first time. They went to him again a
third time, brought him up from the tower prison, and followed him in
front of the emperor. Charlemagne now asked him himself if he would be
his friend and risk his life for the holy Christian faith. Ogier
answered that he would never go into war on land and sea until he had
revenged himself on his son. The other lords and princes begged him to
listen. He replied that he wanted revenge if it cost him his life. With
that, the emperor let him be led back to the tower. Everyone marveled at
his hard mind and great inflexibility.
The lords went to the emperor again and said, "Dear Sir, we beg
you to find some other plan, so that the Sultan does not destroy
Christianity."
He replied, "Go to Ogier again and ask him if he dares to fight
alone and battle in the ring with the Sultan Bréhier of Babylon."
When Ogier heard that Bréhier was in the Christian lands and
countries, he became very hasty and angry, and in his haste he went to
the wall of the tower in which he was lying and pushed two stones out of
the wall so that it cracked. He said to them, "I will fight with him,
but first I will take revenge on the emperor's son."
They went back and told the emperor how he had knocked stones
from the wall when he heard the Sultan's name and that he wanted to
fight with him, on the condition that he take his revenge first. When
the emperor heard it, he said to them, "Cursed be the Sultan forever and
ever, that my son should lose his life because of him. It is bad that he
did not die at birth. God have mercy on me, poor man. Shall I now
finally sacrifice my son to death?"
His council comforted him as best they could, but in the end
they said to him, "It is better than if you and all of Christendom
should be corrupted." Since the emperor had promised them that he would
do it, they went to Ogier again and took him from the prison tower and
said, "You have power over the emperor's son and will also be free from
prison after this day."
He replied, "If the emperor had not needed me so desperately,
then he would have let me die in the prison tower. But since he has
pronounced judgment on his son, then let me have my horse and armor and
also my good sword Courtain."
Archbishop Turpin answered him, "I have kept your sword and
armor since you were taken prisoner and I will give them to you, but I
have no idea how to get your horse because it was lost in the field and
I could never find it again. I will give you another good horse which I
bought for three hundred kroner." When Ogier mounted it, it swung
towards the ground so that he could not ride it and make it turn.
The emperor then sent for the king of Lombardy's horse which
Bertrand had previously taken from his servants. Ogier put his saddle on
it and, to test its strength a little, he put one hand on the withers
and one on the back, causing it to sink down to all four knees. He got
on it anyway, but he could not get it to stand back up. Then Ogier said
to them, "I cannot do the work of a knight against the Sultan unless I
get a good horse. God pity me that now I do not have my own horse which
I lost when I was taken prisoner."
There stood a monk of Saint Pharaoh's Monastery who heard these
words and said to him, "We have had your horse in our monastery for
seven full years and it has daily dragged large stones for the building
of the monastery."
Ogier replied, "Shame on you, you senseless, mad, and despairing
monks, for having put my good and noble horse to such bad and rough
work. It was too valuable to have young monks lay their hands on it. I
promise you that one day I will demolish as many stones of your
monastery as my horse has dragged thither these seven years while I was
a prisoner. As soon as you fetch me my good horse, so that I can come
against the Sultan in battle."
When the horse came forward, it was so ugly and haggard that
Ogier could hardly recognize him, but the horse knew him well, because
as soon as it came upon him, it began to dance and jump, neighing and
screaming, and turning its ears back and forth. It was so happy that it
did not know which foot it wanted to put on the ground first, and it
turned around to all sides so that everyone was astonished. It was as if
it wanted to say, "Now I have found again found my true master."
CHAPTER 32 - How the Emperor prays to God for his Son Charlot and how he is saved.
When the emperor returned to his people, then Ogier said to Duke Naimon,
"You know what the emperor promised me, I will not ride into battle
against the Sultan until I get revenge on his son."
Duke Naimon told the emperor this. Then he immediately sent for
his son and said to him, "Cursed be your senseless foolishness that you
should kill Ogier's son. He demands to have your life before he will
fight against the Sultan. We have searched and asked about all our
countries and kingdoms and we could not find any warriors other than
Ogier who would venture to fight against the Sultan. He fears no one but
him, for it has been prophesied to him that no one will kill him except
Ogier the Dane. Therefore, we are now forced to give him power over your
life."
Charlot answered, "My dear father and all you other good lords
and princes who are here now, I ask you that you would all pray for me
that he will spare my life. I will give him all that I have on Earth,
forsake both country and kingdom and never enter them as long as I know
he is here. I will remain in exile and go to the holy places and, as
long as I live, I will pray for his son whom I killed." Then they all
went to Ogier and begged him for mercy, but to no avail.
Then the father said to Charlot, "Dear son, Ogier will accept no
other penance for the death of his son than your own life."
Charlot replied, "Dear father, I do not believe that you will
let me end my days in this way." Once again the emperor sent the other
lords to Ogier and had them say that if he asked for anything he wanted
from his son, other than his life, then he would gladly have it,
whatever it was, even if it cost him half of his lands and kingdoms.
Ogier was unmoved in his heart and mind and swore that he wanted his
life before he would fight again.
When the emperor realized that they could not accomplish
anything by begging for mercy, and the common people shouted that he
should put an end to it so that the Sultan should not spoil all
Christianity for his son's sake, then he took Charlot by the hand and
led him into the hall to Ogier and greeted him with weeping tears. "Dear
Ogier, here you have my son. Now do with him what God tells you in your
heart."
Charlot fell on his knees before him and said, "Noble and mighty
prince, King Ogier of Denmark, I beg you for the sake of Christ's
difficult death and suffering to spare my poor life." But Ogier drew his
sword.
When the emperor saw that he drew it from the scabbard he went
to his chapel. As he came to the door, he fell down with grief and was
unconscious. Then the lords and the knights said to Ogier again, "Spare
the emperor's son, so that this old lord shall not die of grief." They
held him for a long time with words and they all admonished him and
begged him that he should spare Charlot's life.
Meanwhile the emperor lay in his chapel and prayed to God,
saying, "O almighty God who created heaven and earth and mankind from
the dust, you who pushed the proud angel Lucifer out of heaven into the
abyss of hell and you, son of God, who prayed for your enemies on your
holy cross, you who hears the prayers of poor sinners who believe in
you, you who comforts all hearts that are full of sorrow, I pray to you
for your death and suffering that you will pacify Ogier the Dane's
heart, that he will not kill my son as he now intends to do."
Then he went out to Ogier again and said, "I humbly beseech you
that you will save the life of my son."
Ogier held his drawn sword by the hilt and said, "I swear on my
honor that I will cut off his head." After that, the emperor went into
the chapel again and prayed to God for peace.
Meanwhile, Ogier took his son by the hair and tried to cut off
his head. But as he had the sword raised in the air, an angel of God
came from heaven, shining brilliantly, and held the point of the sword
so that everyone could see it. The angel said to Ogier, "God bids that
you must give this man his life and immediately go into battle and fight
against the Sultan, because you must triumph over him and thereby save
all Christendom."
When the angel had said this, he went up into the clouds again with
great brightness and clarity, and they all thanked and loved the
almighty God who had shown them this miracle.
CHAPTER 33 - How the Sultan wants ten warriors to fight against him.
When Ogier had heard the will of God from the mouth of the angel, he
fell on his knees and gave thanks to God. Then he held out his hand to
the emperor's son and said, "For God's sake, I pardon you now of all
that you have done to me, and I will risk my life for you wherever and
whenever it is necessary." They then sent messengers to the emperor, who
was still lying in his chapel in prayer, and told him everything that
had happened. He stood up immediately and thanked God that he had heard
his humble prayer. Who can now write about, describe, or even imagine
the exceedingly great joy that came among them all for the miracle that
they had seen and the great support and encouragement that they received
from heaven? The emperor thanked Ogier the Dane profusely because he had
spared his son.
Ogier replied, "Thank the Almighty God and not me, for he saved
your son from my hands."
When the emperor heard that he answered him in this way, he took
him in his arms and said, "I will now be your friend from the bottom of
my heart for all my days." Afterwards, Ogier asked the emperor at what
time and place he should fight.
Early in the morning, Sultan Bréhier came before the city and
called out to the guard, saying, "Tell your lord the emperor to send out
ten of the finest warriors today to fight against me alone." When the
emperor heard this challenge, he asked Archbishop Turpin to read mass
for Ogier. Then he put on his armor and the emperor himself fastened it
around him.
When Ogier came out on the field, the Sultan's scouts were there
to find out how many came in the ring against him. Then they returned to
tell him that there were not ten enemies against him, but only one man.
He asked if he was big and they said that he was. He then asked what
insignia he bore on his shield. They answered, "A red eagle on a white
shield adorned with gold. He has a precious horse who jumps and dances
around in the ring with him so it is a pleasure to watch. He also has
costly armor and a mighty large lance in his hand."
When the Sultan heard this, he went in his pavilion and said to
his kings and good men that he had with him, "A new warrior has come on
the path towards me. I fear that the strange dream that I dreamed last
night will mean something bad for me. I thought in my sleep that a
mighty ravenous dragon who had been lying at the bottom of a prison
tower for seven years was coming to fight against me. He ripped and tore
my armor from me with his teeth and claws. The fiend tore my flesh from
me and gave me many mortal wounds. At last he took my heart from my
chest and tore it to pieces."
King Caraheut answered, "If it is Ogier who wants to meet you on
the field, then you will find a proud and brave warrior, a man such as
you have never seen in all your days." The Sultan began to dread and
sent for his precious ointment, for he was sure there had never been a
wound so great that it was not healed when it was smeared with this
ointment. Then he rode out to the ring where the battle was to take
place, and his brother Justamund and his son Isor stayed on a mountain
behind him near a forest so that they could come to his aid with their
followers if they found that he was in great need.
CHAPTER 34 - How Ogier the Dane overcomes the Sultan in their conversation about the Christian faith and how he saves the king of England's daughter from harm.
When they were together in the ring, the Sultan put his lance on the
ground and said to Ogier, because he did not know it was him, "Why do
you come all alone against me in the ring? Have you not heard that I am
the strongest warrior that now exists in all the world?"
Ogier said, "I earn my living, therefore I do not lead many men,
but you would need even more men behind you if you hope to leave here
alive. Put on your helmet and we will soon try each other."
The Sultan laughed at that and took his words as mockery and
answered, "There is no need to wear any helmet here, there is no danger
in this activity."
Ogier said, "I never fought with anyone unless he was in full
armor and well armed and I will not fight with you either unless you
wear your helmet."
To which the Sultan replied, "Do you think yourself as good at
war on land and sea as Ogier the Dane was? You will not achieve his goal
this year, you must not think so."
Then these mighty warriors rode against each other twice, so
hard that the earth shook and trembled and both their lances were
splintered to pieces. Then they cut each other with their swords. The
Sultan's sword cut off a large piece of Ogier's shield. Then Ogier cut
off a piece of his helmet and also wounded him badly in his ear. The
Sultan immediately took his costly ointment and smeared it on the wound,
whereupon the wound was instantly healed. Then he attacked Ogier again
even harder. Ogier defended himself bravely enough and gave him blow for
blow and hurt him badly on his thigh. He smeared himself with his
ointment and his wound was healed again.
Then Ogier asked him, "Where did you get this costly ointment
from?"
The Sultan replied, "It is from the same ointment with which the
three Marys anointed the crucified Jesus when he was buried, and the
Jews hid it away and with it cured all those who were wounded and sick.
Then came Titus and Vespasian who laid waste to Jerusalem and among the
prisoners was Joseph of Arimathea. He gave them this precious ointment
in exchange for his freedom and held it in great honor and glory. After
that, my ancestor came to Jerusalem and conquered the Holy Sepulchre and
then he took this ointment. Since then, it has been with his children
and descendants until now when it came to me. I would not trade it for
the best kingdom in the world."
Ogier said, "But do you know that this ointment has its strength
and power from the crucified Son of God? I wonder greatly that you do
not believe in him and surrender your accursed false faith that you are
blinded with, and let yourself be baptized. Then you would get heavenly
joy without end."
The Sultan answered, "If your God was as powerful as you say,
then he would not have allowed me to corrupt and murder so many
Christian people, but he would have quickly let me sink into hell among
the leaders of the devils."
Ogier answered, "You blind, wretched man, have you not heard and
read that God lets the sun shine equally on the bad as on the good and
that God is gentle and unfathomable and desires no sinful man's death
but rather that he should live, improve, and become blessed. If you
accept the holy faith and let yourself be baptized, then your soul will
find eternal joy. If you do not, then you will be condemned to an
eternity with your idols."
The Sultan said, "Tell me no more about your faith or about your
crucified God, I refuse to believe in him. If you will pray to my god
Mahomet, then I will give you my sister for a wife, who is the most
beautiful maiden in the land of India, and a mighty king's kingdom with
her."
Ogier replied, "If your sister is as lovely as you are, you may
give her to hell and your aforementioned kingdom as a marriage gift, if
you do not let her become a Christian before she dies, because everyone
will fall unless they believe in the only true God, the Lord of Heaven
and Earth."
The Sultan despised Ogier's words and struck him again with all
his might and power. But Ogier received him in such a way that the
Sultan began to fear him. Ogier cut off one of his cheekbones, so that
it hung down below his ear. As soon as he smeared it, it was healed and
became complete as it was before. When Ogier saw this, he called on God
the Almighty and prayed that he overcome the Sultan so that he should
not spoil all of Christendom as he intended. Then he struck the Sultan
with two hands and wounded him in his ear.
He again anointed his wound and said to Ogier, "I sense your
strength but remember that unless you are Ogier the Dane, I hope and
expect that you will die here at my hands."
Ogier answered, "This is not the end of our fight and strife,
but you must be told otherwise and see for sure, before you leave the
ring, that I am Ogier the Dane of the kingdom of Denmark." Then Ogier
clung to him and struck him about his ears with his sword so that he was
blinded and he fell to the ground from his horse. Now he asked Ogier to
give him an hour to rest. As he lay on the ground and hung his head so
meekly, Ogier got down from his horse and placed a stone under his head
so that he could rest more comfortably.
When the Sultan realized this, he said to him, "You good and
noble warrior, you show so much kindness to me, who is your enemy."
King Caraheut wondered what warrior it could be that fought so
bravely against the Sultan, for he asked the squire who was on the field
there, what horse this warrior had, and what insignia he bore on his
shield. Then he finally realized that it was Ogier the Dane and he was
quite happy when he learned that he was still alive. He would have liked
to ride away and talk to him, but he dared not, for he would be
suspected of some treachery. Duke Thierry was also overjoyed when he saw
that Ogier the Dane stood so well against the Sultan. Likewise, the
emperor and everyone else in his army rejoiced.
While this was happening, the messengers returned from England
with the king's daughter. Justamund the Sultan's brother arrived there
in the forest and immediately rode towards them and killed them all and
took the maiden from them as a prisoner. When he saw her lovely face, he
became very lustful for her and thought of nothing else than that he
could take her to bed with him in the evening.
At this, the Sultan got up again and began to fight with Ogier.
They slashed at each other violently and the Sultan swung his sword with
all his force with the intention of chopping off the head of Ogier, but
he dodged before him and the Sultan hit his good horse Broiefort with
this blow so that it fell dead to the ground. Then the Sultan seized
Ogier by the neck and wanted to throw him on his horse and take him away
as a captive, but Ogier took his dagger and thrust it into his side
between two of his ribs up to the hilt. The Sultan immediately let go of
him, put him down on the ground, and smeared himself with his oil.
Turning a bad blow into a sharp blow, he cut a piece off Ogier's helmet
and wounded him in the head. Ogier now became very angry and wounded the
Sultan so badly in his arm and thigh and cut him so fatally that he fell
down from his horse.
At this turn, Ogier took his precious ointment and anointed
himself with it and his wound was immediately healed. Ogier said,
"Sultan Bréhier, now remember that you have been wounded by the hand of
Ogier the Dane."
The Sultan answered, "King Caraheut told me that when you came
into the ring with me, then I would say that I had found my equal. Now I
can feel and find for myself that he told me the truth, because you have
now defeated me and I want to be your prisoner and allow myself to be
baptized and adopt the holy faith. From then on, I will be your stable
brother in war on land and sea against all the enemies of Christian men.
I promise you this on my honor, for I ask you most earnestly that, for
the sake of the name of Jesus Christ and for his death and torment, you
will spare me my ointment again while I heal my great wounds, that I can
stand again when I let myself be baptized and become a Christian."
Ogier, who had a good and faithful heart, believed that the
Sultan really meant what he only spoke from the top of his lungs, for he
said to him, "If you will give me this ointment when you are healed,
then I will give it to you." The Sultan swears by his faith and honor
that he will certainly do it. Then Ogier gave him the ointment again.
As soon as he had anointed himself and was healed, then he
grabbed his sword in both hands and said to Ogier, "You powerless
Christian man who took my ointment from me and robbed me by force and
power, I will see now if you can still try to take me prisoner."
Then he sprang on his horse again and slashed at Ogier with the
intention of cleaving his forehead. Ogier protected himself with his
good shield. This the Sultan split in two and wounded him in his arm.
Ogier was now very angry and he cut off his left arm, with which he held
the reins, so that it flew far into the grass.
Thereupon the Sultan shouted so loudly that his brother
Justamund clearly heard it in the forest, but he was so preoccupied with
the king of England's daughter that he did not give heed to it. When the
Sultan perceived that he could get no help, he rode to Ogier with his
spear to knock him down and stab him to death. Ogier dodged him and
struck him on the forehead so that he fell from his horse to him. Then
the Sultan shouted again so loudly for help that his brother heard it,
but he was so charmed by the beautiful woman that he did not care about
it. One of his good men even said to him, "Your brother the Sultan is in
great distress and he very often calls out for help." But he pretended
he did not hear it and would not answer, so completely was he taken by
his attraction to the delicious woman.
The Sultan smeared himself again with his ointment until he was
healed once more. He struck Ogier on the head again so hard that he lost
both his mind and his wits and fell to the grass. He now grabbed him by
the neck and tried to take him to his pavilion. As they wrestled, they
both fell over a stone. Ogier quickly sprang up and cut off the head of
the Sultan. Then he jumped on the Sultan's horse, which was called
Baucent, and took his precious ointment and smeared it on the wounds he
had on his head and shoulder.
When the pagans found their lord lying dead, they pursued Ogier
with a thousand horses. He rode away from the road towards the forest
and arrived safely. He did not know that Justamund was on this side of
the forest with his army, nor that he had seized the king of England's
daughter. As he rode, he saw someone on the road in front of him and he
caught hold of him and wanted to kill him because he thought he was a
pagan. At the same time, the other turned around and said, "Noble Prince
Ogier the Dane, spare my life. It is me, Duke Berard, the emperor's
messenger who fetched the king of England's daughter, who Justamund the
Sultan's brother took from me and he wounded me so badly that I hardly
escaped with my life." Ogier smeared his wounds and they soon were
healed again. Then he asked him to ride to the emperor and tell him to
send him a large crowd of people to help against those who lay in the
forest.
When the emperor heard these tidings, he sent Duke Thierry with
ten thousand men to Ogier. Just as Ogier came forward with them,
Justamund had torn the maiden's clothes to pieces and bloodied her nose
and mouth, and she stood in such despair that he could not have good
intentions regarding her. As he was thrashing and dragging her, he saw
Ogier the Dane coming. Then his good men said to him, "Lord give up this
game which you are now playing, because here comes the mighty warrior
who killed your brother. If you do not mount your horse soon, then you
will be captured or killed." He let go of the maiden and ran away into
the forest.
Ogier pursued him fiercely. When he saw the maiden on the road,
he asked if Justamund had violated her. She said, "No, but if you had
not come to my aid just now, then he would have taken me by force, for
my strength began to leave me." Ogier placed her on the back of his
horse with him to lead her to safety. As he left the forest with her and
entered a valley, the emperor met him with a great number of people.
Then Ogier handed the maiden over to four knights and asked them to lead
her into the city.
He then rode back with the emperor and killed countless of the
Turks. Thereby the Christians soon got the better of them so that they
either had to escape or let themselves be killed. When the pagans and
the Turks learned of this they rode to the Sultan's son Isor and said,
"Lord, seek to get to safety quickly or you will be slain, for your
father has fallen and your uncle Justamund has fled from the field."
Isor called King Caraheut to him and consulted with him what he
should do. He answered, "I see a mighty warrior smiting dead on foot
whoever seems to be a danger to him among our army. I advise you to keep
out of the way because he spares no one any more than a ravenous lion
would. I will ride away and discover who he is and see what insignia he
bears on his shield." When he came to him he said, "Great prince, tell
me who you are and what your name is."
Ogier knew him right away, for he answered him, "My dear friend,
King Caraheut, it is I, Ogier the Dane, who has been in the prison tower
for seven full years. I thank you with my whole heart that you would
travel such a long way for my sake and avenge my death when you thought
that I had died in the prison tower. Now I will risk my life for you
again and for your wife Gloriande, where and when the need arises."
Ogier also said to him, "Mighty prince, I beg you to risk your life for
me again and, for God who created you, I beg that you will give up the
false religion in which you are blinded and let yourself be baptized."
King Caraheut replied, "My good friend Ogier, I will by no means
renounce my god Mahomet, but if you will go home with me to the land of
India, then I will give you half of my kingdom and let you build
monasteries and churches in which you can let your priests and clerics
sing and read according to your Christian custom."
Ogier answered, "Stay here and let yourself be baptized, then
the emperor will give you half of his kingdom." He replied that he would
not at all do so, and thus they parted.
Ogier began to fight again and killed countless Turks and
pagans. The emperor himself fought bravely on the other side with his
proud warriors and the Peers. Therefore, the Turks and pagans had to fly
like flames from the field and the emperor won a glorious victory.
CHAPTER 35 - Emperor Charles goes home and weds Ogier the Dane to the king of England's daughter.
When the emperor had come back to the city of Laon after chasing and
defeating his enemies, then King Caraheut sent two mighty prisoners
behind him who were Duke Girart of Roussillon and Duke Thierry of
Ardennes. When they came before the emperor they greeted Ogier the Dane
and said to him, "King Caraheut and Queen Gloriande send you many
thousands of greetings, they freed us from our prison, and restored our
horses and property because of you, and so we thank you for our lives
and our welfare." As they were standing there, Duke Berard entered with
the king of England's daughter whom he had brought in.
The emperor addressed her kindly and advised her that she should
wed and marry a capable man who could rule her lands and kingdoms. She
looked at the ground, shy and embarrassed, and said, "Dear Lord, I would
like to do what you tell and advise me to do." Then he asked her if she
wanted the mighty Ogier the Dane of the kingdom of Denmark to be her
husband. She nodded yes. Then he called Ogier to him and got his
agreement and consent to it. Then he had Archbishop Turpin marry them
together in the presence of all the good lords and perform their wedding
with great solemnity, splendor, and grandeur in the city of Paris. Ogier
stayed half a year in the kingdom with him, then he went to England with
his wife to accept the kingdom and he took duke Berard, who was born in
Germany, with him.
CHAPTER 36 - How Duke Berard wants to assassinate Ogier the Dane but does not achieve his evil intention.
When King Ogier came to England, all the nobles in the kingdom and the
ordinary commoners went out to meet him and received him with crosses
and banners, and they were all happy that they got this mighty warrior
for their lord and King. He kept the kingdom in peace and quiet, away
from war on land and sea. When he had been in England for a year and
established everything according to his will, then he got it into his
mind to go to Denmark and find out how things were there. Then he
ordered that Duke Berard should rule the kingdom in his place until he
returned, and give his Queen Klara all that her heart desired in his
absence. Then he took eight good courtiers with him and rode off. While
this was going on, his brother Gøde, who then ruled the kingdom of
Denmark, had sent his son Galter that he should ride to England with
some lovely men and see and learn how his brother Ogier was doing.
When Ogier came to a certain place on the road, Duke Berard, in
whom he had placed such good faith and trust, had him secretly ambushed
by a hundred of his men, all dressed in armor, and tried to have him
killed with treachery, so that he might get his queen and also England.
But Ogier's luck was better, for he cut down most of these men before he
lost his good horse and his eight servants. While this fight was going
on, his nephew Galter and his servants unexpectedly came to his aid,
without knowing that it was Ogier they were helping. They pursued these
traitors, murderers, and robbers, and slew them all except one by the
name of Meri, Duke Berard's kinsman, who escaped with his life. However,
Ogier the Dane and Galter were badly wounded before they defeated all of
them.
When this was over, Ogier said to Galter, "I thank you, noble
knight, whoever you are, because you helped me in this great need and
danger of my life. I promise you on my honor that I will give you
castles and estates, whether you choose to live in England or in
Denmark, for I am king of both kingdoms and my name is Ogier the Dane."
When Galter heard these words, he walked up to him and took him
in his arms and said, "Dear uncle, I am on my way to England to speak
with you." Ogier took his ointment and smeared it on both of their
wounds so that they became completely healed and healthy. He asked Ogier
to give him some of this ointment. He did so, and Galter hid it with him
as a precious treasure and jewel, and he followed Ogier back home to
Denmark. When they entered the kingdom, his brother received him with
great honor and glory and all were happy, both poor and rich, that they
had Ogier the Dane as their rightful lord and King again.
When he had been here in the kingdom for a year and had set
everything according to his will, so that everyone could enjoy the right
law and justice, then he made up his mind to go to England again, for he
called the council of the kingdom to him and said to his brother in
their presence, "Dear Brother, I will now give you the kingdom of
Denmark, however, on the condition that you must be submissive to me and
call me your lord and king as long as I live, and that you must rule the
common people with law, justice, and skill and defend them against their
enemies with all your wealth." His brother thanked him profusely and
promised on his faith and honor that he would do all the things that he
requested of him.
But that night an angel of God came to Ogier and said, "The
almighty God says that you must go to Rhodes and fight against Sultan
Norandin and King Justamund who have brought down the city and want to
corrupt all Christendom."
CHAPTER 37 - How Duke Berard, with his false deceit, wants the Queen of England for his wife while Ogier the Dane is in Denmark.
Berard learned from his cousin Meri that his people, whom he had
secretly sent out, had attacked Ogier the Dane and his eight servants
and had all fallen, all hundred except Meri. Then he asked him to keep
quiet, keep everything a secret to himself, and not to speak about it
with anyone on earth. A little while later he went alone to the queen
and said, "Dear Lady, I have now learned that your husband King Ogier
has been killed, unfortunately. A hundred robbers attacked him when he
was on his way home to Denmark and they killed him." She replied that
she did not believe it because he was such a strong warrior. Berard
swears by his soul and bliss that it was so in truth, and for further
testimony he said that it was Frenchmen who killed him. When the queen
heard this great oath of his, then she fell to the ground, near dead
with sorrow. When she came to herself again, she sent a secret message
to Denmark to ask whether Ogier was still alive. Duke Berard also
secretly sent a false message to Emperor Charles and pretended that
Ogier the Dane had been beaten and murdered in a forest by treachery.
When the emperor heard that Ogier was dead, he was very distressed. He
wrote straight back again to Duke Berard that he should rule England
honestly and well and behave towards the queen as he should and praise
her with word and deed where he could. He also wrote to the queen that
he had learned that her husband King Ogier was dead, because he wanted
to give her help for his sake where and when it was needed. When she
read the emperor's letter, she wept bitterly because she now believed
for sure that he was dead.
When Berard learned of this, he took as much gold and money from
the king's treasury as eight horses could carry, and sent it to the
emperor that he would give him the queen of England as his wife and the
kingdom with her, and that they should both come to him in France.
Meanwhile the queen's message came to King Ogier in Denmark. He asked
what news there was from England, since he had heard nothing. The
messenger sent him the queen's letter, from which he discovered the
great betrayal Duke Berard had committed against him in order to
secretly steal the kingdom while he put such good faith and trust in
him. But he became very doubtful in his mind and heart as to what he
should do first, whether he should first flee to England for his wife or
should go to Rhodes according to God's will and the angel's commandment.
When he had deliberated a little while, he made up his mind that he
would first go to Rhodes according to God's will and send Galter his
nephew to his wife with a gold ring which she herself had given him,
that by this sign she should know for sure that he was still alive and
would probably come to her when he had finished his journey to Rhodes.
King Ogier immediately prepared some proud ships and took many
fine Danish men with him and sailed from there across the Baltic Sea to
Prussia and then went forward over land and water until he came to
Rhodes, which is, so to speak, a port for Christianity. Galter and the
queen's messenger took another road to England and from there came over
to Germany and France because the queen and Duke Berard were drawn to
the emperor. In the great city of Paris, Duke Berard had a secret
conversation with the emperor and asked him to give him the queen as his
wife. The emperor called her in for counsel and asked her kindly that
she would take Duke Berard as her husband, for he was a mighty man, bold
and strong against his enemies. She replied that she did not want to do
that at all, because she did not yet believe for sure that King Ogier
was dead, and if he was dead, then she suspected that Duke Berard, more
than anyone else, had been the one who betrayed him. Therefore, she
would in no way want him as a husband. The emperor became very angry
because she did not want to fulfill his request and do as he wished.
However, he asked her to stay there for a while because he thought that
she would probably fulfill his request in the future. Duke Berard asked
the emperor to give him the queen and offered to give him a large sum of
gold from England every year. The emperor promised that he would do his
best. Then he made a great invitation, inviting all the German lords who
were present and also many others from France, because he wanted to
betroth the queen and Duke Berard together on that day, and have their
wedding during this feast. On the very day that this was to take place,
Galter and the queen's messengers came to the city. They learned that
the queen of England would be given to Duke Berard on this day.
Galter dressed himself in expensive clothes and entered the
emperor's hall. When the emperor saw that he was so lovely and such a
great man, he sent messengers to him to ask him who he was and where he
came from. He answered the messenger, "You will know who I am before the
evening comes." Then he walked up to the queen and gave her the gold
ring that Ogier had sent her and said, "King Ogier, your dear husband,
is fit and healthy and sends you many loving greetings." She held the
ring tightly because she knew it well and was indescribably pleased. She
thanked him profusely for the good news which he brought her and asked
her servants to pour for him.
Duke Berard also heard Galter say that King Ogier was alive.
This message fell on his heart like a stone, and he would have gladly
killed Galter on the spot if he had been able to get him alone. An hour
or two later, as he brought food to the queen, he asked for Galter. He
said to him, "Bring these dishes with this food to the queen."
He replied, "I am here a stranger, let your own servants bring
them forward or carry them yourself as you are accustomed to do."
Duke Berard immediately took out his dagger and tried to stab
him to death, but Galter stopped him, broke the knife in his hand, and
twisted his fingers so hard that blood sprang from all his nails. The
Duke's servants would have killed him immediately, but he ran out of the
gate to his people. He dressed himself in armor and asked his servants
to do the same, and they put surcoats over their armor and went back
towards the castle again.
CHAPTER 38 - How Duke Berard's treason is revealed to the Emperor and what punishment he receives.
When Galter now came to the gate, the gatekeeper would not let him in,
so he cut him down and entered with force. When he entered the hall and
saw Duke Berard standing before the emperor, he drew his sword. When the
duke saw this, he threw himself under the emperor's high seat, otherwise
Galter would have cleaved his head off. The emperor cried, "Seize or
smite this rascal who does this great arrogance in our presence! I will
hang him over all the thieves."
The Queen said, "Dear lord, spare the young man. He is King
Ogier the Dane's nephew from Denmark."
When Duke Naimon, Duke Thierry, and several other good warriors
who were to seize him heard this, they went out quietly to put on their
armor. When they came back in, he had killed all the duke's followers
and many others as well and then stood alone over them with his bloody
swords like a ravenous lion over its slain prey. They asked him who he
was and why he did this great injustice in the emperor's presence.
Galter replied, "I am King Ogier the Dane's nephew and the king
of Denmark's son, and King Ogier has sent me here to his queen and to
the emperor that I should speak and inform them of how treacherous Duke
Berard wanted to kill him with a hundred men whom he had sent to ambush
him when he went to Denmark. I came unexpectedly to King Ogier at this
time in a forest and almost lost my life. I received these wounds in
this battle and will have them as long as I live. Now I came here in
good faith and knew of no danger and this wicked traitor Duke Berard
tried to kill me, as he is wont to do to others."
When the emperor had heard these words he said to Berard, "How
do you answer to this?"
He said, "I have not done what he accuses me of and I will
invite him to battle."
Galter replied, "Give here your pledge and you will also have
mine, that I will meet you tomorrow in a ring when and where you tell
me."
When they met the next day, they rode against each other so
forcefully that both of their lances were broken to pieces. However,
they both remained seated in their saddles. Galter drew his shining
sword and struck with both hands to show his bravery and strength, and
cut his helmet asunder and wounded him badly in his head and shoulder
and said to him, "There you have a sign that falsehood and deceit are
wont to strike their own master on the neck." As Berard tried to cut at
him again, his sword was turned in his hand and he cut Galter's horse in
the forehead. The horse went mad and flew away and ran about with him
kicking and biting on all sides. Galter jumped down from his horse, cut
one of Duke Berard's legs, and knocked him off his horse. As he lay on
the ground, he asked Galter to spare his life for God's sake. Galter
asked, "Do you confess that you committed the great treason against
Ogier and me?"
He was silent and would not answer, so Galter cut a black wound
on his forehead and then he shouted and confessed, "Obviously I
committed this treason against King Ogier the Dane so that I could have
his wife Queen Klara and England with her. Have mercy on me, poor man,
spare my life, and I will lie in the prison tower as long as I live."
Galter replied, "I am well satisfied that you have confessed
your evil deed and treachery here, plainly to all." Then Galter
beseeched the emperor to spare his life.
The emperor replied that he would not spare him for the best
kingdom in the world and he left him hanging on the highest gallows.
After all this, the queen of England gave Galter great and precious
gifts and thanked him because he had so gloriously saved her from this
traitor. The emperor took a great liking to him because of the great
bravery which he saw him do. He praised him and promised him before his
council and said that he would probably become a mighty warrior if he
lived. After this, Charlot, the emperor's son, had a secret envy in his
heart for him because his father praised him so much and because he was
of the Danish royal blood and won such great honor with them in foreign
countries.
CHAPTER 39 - How Ogier the Dane comes to Rhodes to fight against the Turks and what a brave judgment he did there.
However, Ogier, by the angel's message and command, had come to Rhodes
to fight against the Turks. He had his best horse Baucent with him,
which he had previously won from Sultan Bréhier when he killed him in
battle. When he entered the city, he seemed a wonder to everyone because
he was so big and tall. He couldn't find lodging anywhere in the city
because they were all impoverished by the long siege by Turks and pagans
and there was often hunger and poverty in the city. As he rode up and
down the street, he complained about the inn, and someone came to him
and asked him to ride to the four mayors who ruled the city and had the
power to choose a king when their lord died. He rode to their palace
where they were all gathered. They closed the gate on him and he asked
them to let him in because he wanted to earn gold and money and to fight
against their enemies. They replied, "Ride on your way, you are not good
for us because you could eat more in one day than you could earn in a
fortnight, because you are so big and tall." So Ogier rode sorrowfully
out of town again.
When he came outside the gate, he found a poor widow in a small
house. He asked her if she would lend him a room for God's sake, for it
was close to night and he could not get a room in the city. She replied,
"I would like to lend you a room, but I have neither food nor grain nor
oats for you. My four sons are in the city to beg food for our supper,
as they do every day. If they get anything, I will gladly share it with
you if you would like to eat some of it."
He replied, "I am begging you very much for that, for I have
neither gold nor money to buy anything with, but I have a good horse and
a costly harness and clothes with which, with God's help, I will earn
more in one day than we could all consume in a whole year."
She replied, "I would like to lend you a room. Feed your horse
in my cabbage garden where the grass grows up to his stomach to eat." At
that moment, her sons came home and said that they had gone all around
the town and asked and begged but they got neither food nor drink.
Ogier said to the eldest son, "Take my shield, it is worth more
than a hundred guilders, and pawn it in the city for as much as we could
all eat and drink for our supper."
He went to the city and got food and drink for three guilders.
Ogier saw that he had so little he asked him to go back into the city
and take a few more for the shield. In the morning, Ogier said to the
boy, "Go into the city and get us food and drink with the gold from my
shield for our breakfast. It must now pay for everything we need."
As they sat and ate, a message came to the city that King
Kormorant of the Turks' army had plundered a monastery near the city and
robbed all that was in there and taken the abbot and fifteen monks
captive, for there were many riding out of the city to pursue him. Then
Ogier said to the widow, "If I now had my good shield, then I would ride
out with the others and take revenge on the Turkish King for this great
arrogance."
She answered, "I have nothing that I can sell, but I will go to
the city and put my eldest son into servitude therefore." When she came
back again she said to him, "Here is your shield. My son must serve
therefore a year before you will be able to release him."
Ogier replied, "I will release him before I sleep." He set off
immediately after the others and even came to the enemy before they did.
When King Kormorant saw him coming, he rode towards him with his lance.
Ogier avoided him and pierced him right through so that he fell dead to
the ground. Then Ogier pursued the hundred men that the king had with
him and killed thirty of them, the others escaped and came into custody.
Then he lifted the monks whom they had captured and bound, and cut the
cloth from their eyes, with which the Turk had blinded them, and told
them to go home to their monastery. He won and returned with four horses
which the Turks had loaded and laden with silver and gold chalices and
silver images and monstrances, choir robes, and a hail of gold coins and
led them back with him to the widow and released her son again whom she
had sold for his shield. Then he held an expensive feast in a large
house and sent word throughout the city that all who wanted to eat and
drink and make themselves happy should come to him.
When King Hans learned of him in the city of Rhodes, he was
greatly surprised that the strange warrior was so rich and generous.
Hans's servant told him that Ogier alone put a hundred men to flight and
murdered many of them and their King and took a large amount of gold and
money from them that they had taken as plunder from the monastery. The
day after he had made this great feast and given everyone enough, the
king went out to see him and invite him as a guest. When he came near
the house, Ogier went out to him, welcomed him, and thanked him for
coming to visit. The king asked him to be his guest and took him up to
the castle with him. When he was about to go to the table, he said that
he would not eat until his hostess and her eldest son came to the table
with him. The king sent for them immediately and brought the widow
directly opposite him and the son by his side. When the mayors of the
city saw that the poor widow and her son were living like this because
she gave Ogier the Dane lodging, they became envious of her and her son,
and regretted that they had refused Ogier a room and had closed their
gate to him.
CHAPTER 40 - Ogier the Dane gives back to the abbot in the monastery outside the city all the jewels he took from the Turks.
When the meal was over, the widow and her son returned home. The king
asked Ogier who he was and why he lodged with this poor widow outside
the city. He answered, "I was born in the kingdom of Denmark and they
call me the Old Knight. When I came to the city empty-handed and could
not get shelter anywhere, this poor widow lent me a room. I asked you to
have her as a guest for my sake, so that no one should think I was
ungrateful for her good will. Now also send for the abbot here outside
the city, so that I can return the monastery's jewels which I took from
the Turks." When the abbot came, he gave him all the monastery's
precious treasures and jewels. The abbot wanted to give him as much gold
and silver as a horse could carry, but Ogier asked that he simply pay
for his lodging and give his hostess and her sons one round gemstone
from the treasure. The abbot completed his will.
CHAPTER 41 - How Ogier the Dane came into battle with Sultan Justamund and cut off his head.
When Sultan Justamund learned that King Kormorant had been beaten, he
became violent and angry and struck many of those who followed him. They
answered that they and the king got exceedingly valuable plunder in a
monastery, but then came a mighty warrior who cut down the king and
thirty proud men, pursued the others, and put them all to flight. Then
the Turk replied, "I fear that it is Ogier the Dane who became my
brother's bane in the past." He still doubted within himself that it
could be him because he had not heard that foreign ships had come over
the sea. He got ready in the morning with all his army and marched
closer towards Rhodes and sent word to King Hans that he should send
fifteen of his warriors out of range against him alone. The king was
horrified at these words and did not know what he should answer.
Then Ogier said to the messenger, "Tell your lord that he will
meet someone on the field who dares to fight with ten of his best
fighters."
When Justamund received this answer, he ordered his army and
asked for his nephew King Isor as well as King Moisan and King Morgulant
to stand by one side with all their people and come to his aid if they
found him in need. When he saw Ogier coming, he said to the others, "I
feel and mark within myself that it is Ogier the Dane who comes riding
here. I think he is also on his horse."
When they came together in the ring, Ogier said to him,
"Justamund, why do you torment the poor Christian people living around
here and elsewhere? You have besieged this city of Rhodes for a long
time and intend to win it by hunger and distress. No matter how you
force it, you will never get it in your power."
Justamund answered, "Tell me who you are and what your name is,
because you ride on my brother's horse."
Ogier answered, "I am Ogier the Dane who killed your brother
Bréhier with these hands of mine. I will also, with God's help, send you
to hell after him because you won't let yourself be christened."
Then they surely rode against each other with their lances. The
Turk broke his lance on Ogier, but Ogier was completely unharmed. When
King Isor saw this, he said to the others, "It was a mighty act of
knighthood that my uncle now did."
Ogier slashed so surely at the Turk that he fell from his horse.
Then King Hans said to his party, "Who do you think is the strongest of
the two?"
Now Ogier sprang from his horse to slash and fight with the Turk
on foot. They slashed at each other for a long time. At last, Ogier cut
off his right hand so his sword flew far away. But the Turk forced his
way up under him and knocked his sword from both his hands. They both
picked up their swords again and slashed at each other. Then Justamund
said that if Ogier would believe in his god Mahomet, then he would give
him lands and kingdoms. Their horses also sought each other and bit and
fought so that everyone was horrified by that. Finally, Ogier's horse
broke the ribs and forehead of the Turk's horse and it fell dead to the
ground.
When Justamund saw his horse fall, he said to Ogier, "Now I will
take your horse, that used to be my brother's, in place of mine."
Ogier replied, "Therefore you must give me a proper pledge," and
in a hurry he cut off his head, jumped on his good horse, and rode at a
full gallop into the city again.
Everyone praised and thanked God for the wonderful victory that
Ogier had won over the Turk. King Hans rode with Ogier out of the city
again towards the enemies. King Isor rushed at Ogier with his lance but
Ogier dodged him and immediately cut him down across the forehead with
his sword so that he fell to the ground. He would have probably killed
him had not King Moisan come to his aid with a great number of people
and put him on another horse and led him to safety. When King Hans saw
that so countless many came around Ogier, then he rode into the crowd to
rescue him, but King Morgulant ran to him and pierced him with his
lance. When Ogier saw that, he ran to the Sultan of Babylon, whose name
was Norandin, and thrust him and his horse to the ground at the same
time, and would have hacked him to death, had he not begged for peace
and life. Then Ogier took him prisoner and told King Hans' people to
pursue the enemy until their King was slain. He rushed into the Turks'
army like a hungry wolf in a flock of sheep and cut down their bannerman
and took their main banner. The Turks began to flee, but Ogier pursued
them grimly. Then they sounded their trumpets and demanded peace. Ogier
rode from them with Sultan Norandin whom he had taken prisoner and led
their main banner with him which he took into the field. The Christians
in Rhodes were all happy at this great victory which Ogier had won but
they mourned for their King whom they had lost and buried him with great
honor and glory as he deserved.
CHAPTER 42 - How Ogier the Dane is crowned King in Rhodes after the death of King Hans.
Afterwards, they all chose Ogier the Dane to be their King. He resisted
for a long time and would by no means take over the dominion from King
Hans' heirs, but all the common people crowned him anyway, completely
against his will. When it was done, he thanked them profusely and said
that he would uphold their laws and justice and protect them from their
enemies. He then sent for his hostess and made her his housekeeper and
her eldest son his chamberlain. Her other sons he also took into his
service. The four mayors of the city were secretly very jealous of
Ogier, but they did not dare to let it be known. King Ogier now had
Sultan Norandin brought before him and advised him that if he would give
up false idolatry and believe in the one true God who created heaven and
earth, then he would release him from prison. He replied that he would
not do that at all and said that King Ogier could ask for as much gold
and silver and as much money and jewels, pearls, and precious stones as
he wanted, and he would gladly have it all for his release from prison.
King Ogier answered that he would never sell any man for gold, money, or
property and said that if he let himself become a Christian, then he
would give him half of his kingdom, or he should at least promise that
he would order the Turks and all their other enemies to immediately make
their way home again and not do the Christians any more damage. He
replied that he wanted to order them to go away soon. If he could not do
that, he promised on faith and honor that he would return to his prison
again. With that, Ogier let him go.
When he came to the army and said this to Morgulant, who was the
highest among them, then he became quite happy about this condition and
said to all the people, "We could do nothing more here, as our greatest
kings and warriors are slain. We will not win either praise or honor
here while King Ogier the Dane is their lord. Let us go back on our way
so that we get no more damage here."
CHAPTER 43 - How two mayors of Rhodes wanted to betray Ogier the Dane on his journey to the Holy Sepulchre.
Now that the Turks and pagans had gone their way, the common people of
Rhodes remained for a long time in peace and tranquility and they became
rich and powerful again because King Ogier ruled them mildly and wisely
and defended them against all their enemies. But then they began to
engage in court politics again, for it takes strong legs to bear good
days. One day King Ogier went to his garden to amuse himself and thought
that no one was there except him. He began to sigh and say to himself,
so loudly that someone else could hear it, "O you high-born prince
Emperor Charles, O you glorious kingdom of Denmark, O you good England
and you dearest wife Queen Klara, damn it, I will never get to see you
again. You bloody traitor Berard, who tried to deceive my dear wife and
steal my life from me. God will reward you properly for this treachery."
There lay a rogue under a tree in the garden who heard these words of
his, and he went straight to the mayors of the city and told them what
he had heard. According to his words and speech, they believed that he
was King Ogier the Dane. They did not know his name before because he
always called himself the Old Knight.
The two greatest mayors, Bernd and Godebøf, were jealous of him
because he exalted the poor widow and her sons, and they wanted to bring
him down with treachery. One said, "He killed my kinsmen in Lombardy."
The other said, "He also killed my kinsmen," but they evidently
did not dare to let that be known.
Bernd said to the other, "I have heard him say that he wants to
go to the Holy Sepulchre. We should now advise him that he should sail
there while his lands are at peace. We will bribe the skipper with gold
and gifts so that he takes him to Africa in King Isor's power. If he
gets hold of him, then he will never see the sun again. He will let him
suffer to death because he killed his father Bréhier and his uncle
Justamund the mighty Turk." The other traitors said that it was a good
idea and they worked for it to happen as soon as possible.
CHAPTER 44 - How Ogier the Dane becomes shipwrecked on his voyage and how he fared afterwards.
After these lords had often reminded him of his promise to travel to the
Holy Sepulchre, King Ogier decided that he wanted to travel and asked
the above-mentioned mayors to provide him with a seaworthy ship and a
good skipper who could lead him to the Holy Sepulchre. The insidious
traitors immediately went and hired a skipper from Africa and gave him
gold and money so that he would lead Ogier into the hands of King Isor.
He could do no more against his own king and lord, since Ogier was his
obvious enemy. They went back and told King Ogier that they had provided
for everything, a skipper, food, provisions, and training, and they gave
him a monk who had been there before and knew the language, they also
gave him a scribe who could describe and record all the strange things
that he saw on his journey. Then they drew up a treacherous letter to
the king in Africa, in which they wrote that they sent him Ogier the
Dane so he could do with him as he pleased. They gave this letter to the
monk and he was to give it to King Isor. King Ogier went to his ships
and ordered everyone to live well and asked them to rule honestly and
properly over his kingdom and the poor until he himself came back.
It happened on the first day they were under sail differently
than the traitors and the skipper had expected, for a severe storm came
upon them and it became so dark at night that the skipper got lost at
sea and did not know where to go. At last the ship ran aground on a big
rock and broke into pieces. And they all drowned there, all except for
King Ogier. Our Lord, who helps and comforts all His own, helped him
too, so that he came to this rock in one piece near a cliff. On the
second day, when the water became calm again, he saw two fishermen
rowing a small boat and he beckoned to them with his hat that they
should come to him. When they came, he promised them money if they would
take him ashore, for he was, as they could see, shipwrecked. While they
were rowing to the beach with him, he saw that there was a small chest
floating in the water and he asked them to row him there because, as he
said, he had lost it when the ship went down. He broke it open and found
the treacherous letter in it that was written to King Isor about him.
When he read it, he was angry at their great audacity. He finally saw a
tall tower far away and asked what it was. They answered that it was the
great tower in the city of Babylon. He then asked who was the lord of
the city. They answered that it was the mighty Sultan Norandin. Then
Ogier immediately knew that it was him whom he had taken prisoner in
Rhodes, and he feared what would happen to him. He then asked if there
was war on land and sea. They said that there was a great feud between
the Sultan and King Moisan of Mecca, because Norandin wanted his
daughter as his wife and he could not have her. When Ogier came within a
mile of the city, he asked the fishermen to put him ashore there,
because he no longer wanted to be at sea when he could reach land. They
did as he asked them and he rewarded them for their hard work. He now
began to consider how he could save his life from his enemies and he
fell upon the idea that he wanted to blacken his face, neck, and hands
and tell everyone that he was a black man because he could speak their
language, as he had learned it in Rhodes.
When he entered the city of Babylon, all who met him said, "Look
what a lovely black man is coming."
He went straight up to the Sultan and said to him, "My Lord, the
king of the Motherland sent me to you with five hundred men, but they
all drowned on the way except for me, for the galley hit a rock at night
and I came ashore in a small boat." The king asked what his name was.
Ogier answered, "You can call me the Old Knight."
The king said, "Welcome, good knight. Since you have been in
such danger for our sake, we will be kind to you and give you gold and
money, and if there is a position in our court that you desire, then you
shall gladly have it."
Ogier replied, "Then I would prefer that I take care of your
prisoners because I am used to doing that." Ogier did this because most
of the prisoners were Christians and he wanted to alleviate their
suffering as best he could.
CHAPTER 45 - How Ogier the Dane finds his cousin Duke Girart in Babylon in a prison tower.
At this pass four mighty kings came to the aid of the Sultan with many
people and among them was King Caraheut, and Ogier greatly feared that
he would recognize him. Therefore, he went straight to the prison tower
as soon as he saw him coming. The other kings were the king of Davilant,
the king of Tartary, and the king of Arabia. When Ogier came to the
prisoners in the tower, he said to them, "Stand up you Christian
prisoners and let me see who you are, for I will now take care of you."
Duke Girart of Roussillon replied, "We are all Christian men
from Lombardy and Valland and wanted to go to the Holy Sepulchre, but
the Sultan had us taken prisoner and thrown into this dark tower. Here
we have lain for such a long time that we will soon starve to death
because he desires that we not be released from our prison. If you ask
him to let one of us go to our friends seeking gold and money with which
to ransom us, then you would earn our thanks and Heaven's reward by
doing so."
Ogier replied, "You are lying and if any of you left, he would
never come here again." Then Ogier sent for a light, because he wanted
to see if he could recognize any of them. When he saw his cousin Duke
Girart among them, he embraced him and kissed him and said to him, "Dear
cousin, how did you get here?"
Girart replied, "I have no black men in my family."
Then Ogier said again, "Is your name not Duke Girart of
Roussillon?"
He said, "Yes, and I had a relative on my maternal side named
Godfrey and he was king of Denmark. He has two living sons, one is
called Ogier the Dane who followed Emperor Charles in France for a long
time, and the other is called Gøde and is now king of Denmark and has a
lovely man for a son called Galter who killed a traitor named Berard in
battle. This Berard would have betrayed Ogier the Dane and taken his
wife Queen Klara and England with her. We made a vow to God to go to the
Holy Sepulchre because Galter won this victory."
Ogier replied, "It is me, King Ogier the Dane your kinsman with
whom you speak. I came to Rhodes by an angel's command and there I
killed the mighty Turk Justamund. Then King Hans fell in Rhodes in the
battle against the Turks and I became king of the city after him. After
that I made up my mind to go to the Holy Sepulchre, but my ship sank and
I came here by God's strange salvation. Now I have made my face black so
that no one will know me, but everyone will think that I am a black
man."
The Christians praised his wise plan and everyone asked humbly
for him to treat them as well as he could, because they had been in
great need for a long time. Ogier asked them to have patience and
pretend they did not know him. Then he gave them enough food and drink
and brought a good bed down into the tower for his cousin.
CHAPTER 46 - How Ogier the Dane came into battle with Langulafre and how it went.
When King Moisan of Mecca wanted to start fighting in earnest against
Sultan Norandin, he called together all the kings and princes who were
to follow him. Among these was King Morgulant of Jerusalem, King Isor,
the king of Damascus, the king of Orkania, the king of Damiette, but in
all there were twenty-five kings with all their might. When Moisan had
gathered his army, he marched against Babylon with three hundred
thousand men. Then the Sultan prepared to march from the city and
ordered King Caraheut to carry his main banner. Now Ogier went to the
Sultan and asked him to give him a good horse and armor so he could
fight with the best warrior that the king of Mecca brought there with
him. The Sultan had one horse after another brought to him but there was
not one who could carry him with armor and surcoat.
In the evening when Ogier was in bed, he was quite sad and said
to himself, "Cursed be Bréhier forever, who killed Broiefort my good
horse. Cursed to death be the mayors of Rhodes, who have my good horse
Baucent." One of the Sultan's servants was lying nearby and heard these
words. He told the Sultan in the morning, and this nobleman knew that he
was Ogier the Dane and asked the servant not to tell anyone on earth
about it, so that Ogier would not accidently learn what he knew. He made
up his mind in his heart that, as soon as the war between him and King
Moisan was over, he would throw him in a tower among toads and worms
until Saint John the Baptist's day, when he would set him as a target
for his people and for the pagans, so that they could shoot at him and
pepper him with bolts and arrows as they did every year with the
Christian prisoners on Saint John's day during their greatest festival
and celebration.
In the morning, the Sultan gathered together as many kings and
princes as he had with him and said that he thought it best and most
advisable to send messengers out of the city to King Moisan to see if he
would give him his daughter in marriage on the condition that there
should be no more bloodshed on her account. He also would say that if he
had given her to him before, then he would not have gone to Arabia and
done so much damage to his country and kingdom, and he could even lose
his life because of her, if he did not give her to him. They all said
that it would be wise to send such a message to him, but there was no
one in his whole army who dared to be such a messenger or to carry his
letter to King Moisan.
Then Ogier came forward and said, "I will ride on this errand if
you would give me a horse and harness." Everyone was surprised that the
strange black man dared to be so bold and King Caraheut already
suspected that he might be Ogier the Dane, but he did not know for sure
because his face was so dark and black.
The Sultan now gave Ogier his horse Marseval and a good harness
and he rode out to the king. The great strong horse seemed to fly with
him as he set off, for it jumped fifteen feet at every leap, because it
had not been ridden for a long time. But Ogier sat perfectly still and
firmly on it, and it obeyed his will. Then King Caraheut said to the
Sultan and to the others, "I never saw any warrior or king ride a horse
as proudly as he does, except for Ogier the Dane, who was with Emperor
Charles."
When Ogier had sent his errand to the king, the latter answered
and said to him, "Tell the Sultan that he shall never have my daughter
no matter what comes after, either murder or war." And he said, "Do you
pay fealty to the Sultan, because he has given you his good horse?"
Ogier answered, "No, I do not, but I serve him for gold and
money." Then the king asked his servants to take the horse away from
him. Ogier became angry and said, "It is a great shame that a king would
steal from a messenger, but if you really desire to have this horse,
then send one of your best fighters against me in a ring to duel and
fight for this horse. If he defeats me, you will have the horse and I
will be your prisoner, but if I defeat him then I ask that I may keep
the horse."
The king and the other princes agreed to that. Then the king
asked if anyone in his army would go in a ring against the black man.
Then Langulafre, a brother of Bréhier and Justamund which two Ogier had
killed before, came forward and said that he wanted to fight with him.
They gave each other their pledges on it and the king also kept Ogier's
horse. When Ogier came back again and brought the Sultan an answer, then
he asked where his horse was. Ogier said that to return the horse, he
would have to go again and fight with Langulafre. The Sultan had him
armed with costly armor, but still had bad will towards him in his heart
and intended to let him die in the future.
When Ogier came to the king and he gave him his horse again, he
immediately jumped on it and rode to where they were to joust. He prayed
silently to God in his heart that he might overcome his enemy. Then he
said to the king and the other princes, "If it so happens that I win in
this fight, then I beg you all that I may ride freely back to the
Sultan." They told him that nothing else should happen to him except
what was honorable and proper.
Then they quickly rode against each other with their lances and
Langulafre struck Ogier with his lance. At the same time, Ogier smote
him in the front of his forehead with his lance, so that his helmet fell
to the ground and he was stunned by the answering blow so that he could
neither hear nor see. Ogier seized him by the neck and threw him across
his horse in front of him and then rode into Babylon with him and the
Sultan took him prisoner. The Sultan thanked him profusely and said that
he should be rewarded, but his reply did not come from the heart.
Then Ogier went to the Christian prisoners whom he was supposed
to take care of. They asked where he had been for so long while he did
not come to them. He replied that he had been in a battle and had taken
the mighty King Langulafre prisoner. Then Duke Girart of Roussillon
asked him again if he would help them get out of the prison tower. Ogier
replied in readiness, "I will soon come with all the armor and weapons,
and then we will gladly wrest ourselves by force away from these wicked
pagans and heretics."
One day after that, King Caraheut invited Ogier as a guest. As
he sat across the table with him alone, he said to him, "Often when I
look at you, I think I see a Christian man whose name was Ogier the
Dane, and who was my good friend, and I ask you to tell me whether it is
you or not."
Ogier answered, "It is me, your good friend and servant, who was
betrayed by those who live in Rhodes when I had killed the mighty Turk
Justamund. There I also took this Sultan Norandin prisoner, but released
him from prison as soon as I became king in Rhodes. Then I wanted to go
to the Holy Sepulchre but the ship sank and I came here is a small
fishing boat and was put in charge of the Christian prisoners, among
whom I have both relatives and friends."
King Caraheut said, "Be satisfied, I will make it so that the
Christians will be released." Ogier then said these words to the
prisoners, which made them very happy.
While Ogier was a guest of King Caraheut, King Langulafre asked
the Sultan who it was that took him prisoner, for he was very brave and
strong. He further said to the Sultan, "I will swear on my faith and
honor that his equal is not to be found in all of Turkey nor in all the
land of India."
The Sultan replied, "If you will promise me on your life and
honor that you will not reveal it, then I will tell you who he is." He
swears by his god Mahomet that he would never tell anyone. Then the
Sultan said, "It is Ogier the Dane, and he does not dare to admit that
it is him."
King Langulafre replied, "Dear friend, you are making a mistake
by letting this obvious rascal continue to live, for he took you
prisoner before and he has killed three of my brothers, Brunamont,
Bréhier, and Justamund who was a Sultan before you."
The Sultan replied, "If I had not spared him before, then I
would not have taken you prisoner. He will show even greater courage in
this fight and when it is over I will have him killed."
CHAPTER 47 - How Ogier the Dane takes King Moisan prisoner and leads him to the Sultan and how things went afterwards.
When King Moisan saw that King Langulafre, his best warrior, was a
prisoner, then he led all his people against the city in four armies, so
that there were thirty-two thousand men in each army. When the Sultan
heard this, he prepared himself for him. He entrusted King Caraheut with
his main banner and gave Ogier his horse and armor, and told him to do
his best.
Ogier answered, "Today, with God's help, I shall kill so many of
the enemies that everyone will talk about it forever."
Then they went together with both their armies and toiled and
smote each other bravely. Ogier ran back and forth in the enemy's army
and cut and struck down at his feet all those who came before him and
spared no one. He often came to the aid of King Caraheut and killed
those who wanted to take the main banner from him, for all were afraid
of him and fled from him wherever he went. He pursued the best warriors
and killed as many as he was able to overcome.
When King Langulafre, who was standing with the Sultan on the
Tower of Babylon, saw this, he said to the Sultan, "Ogier not only has a
good nature, but I believe his father was the devil, because I have now
seen and heard that he has killed more than fifty of the greatest and
best fighters in our entire army, in addition to countless common
warriors. I believe he has come here to destroy our entire family and
blood. I pray that our supreme god Mahomet will protect us from his
hands."
When Ogier had killed the king of Damascus who led the enemy's
main banner, and cut down several other warriors who tried to defend the
banner, then the enemies fled in all directions. Now King Moisan rode
against Ogier with his lance. Ogier got in front of him and struck him
on the forehead with his sword so that he fell from his horse. Then
Ogier took him with force and led him captive into the city to the
Sultan who thanked Ogier profusely and promised to reward him well for
his great bravery.
Ogier rode straight into the fray again. Then a mighty king saw
him coming, who had ten thousand handsome men with him. He said to them
all, "Surround this warrior who is now coming, so we can capture or kill
him."
Ogier rushed into the middle of the crowd and cut to death the
man who was carrying the banner. Thereupon the king became angry and
rode against him with his lance. Ogier avoided him and struck him on his
head so that he cleaved his helmet and forehead down into his neck and
he fell to the ground dead. When King Morgulant saw this and also heard
that King Moisan his brother had been taken prisoner, and that most of
the other kings had been slain, then he fled the field. Ogier pursued
him as far as the ships and killed many along the way, then took back
all the plunder and booty that they kept behind them and brought it to
the Sultan. Then he took off his armor and went to the Christian
prisoners and he freed them. A message came to him that he should go to
the Sultan.
When he came to him, the Sultan said, "You brave Old Knight, you
have shown me your tremendous prowess today, and I have a great reward
for you. I first give you this mighty rich prisoner, King Moisan of
Mecca, that you may beat him as much as you please. Lead him first into
the Tower of Babylon and I will consider further what I can give you to
do, that you would be of service with."
As Ogier entered the tower with his prisoner, the Sultan closed
the door from the outside, put a heavy lock on it, and said, "Stay there
until I have decided what pay you should get." Ogier became angry and
thought that King Moisan knew this treacherous plan, for he grabbed him
by the throat and wanted to kill him, but he begged for his life and
defended himself by saying that that he knew nothing about it.
Then Ogier began to curse the Sultan and said, "You ungrateful
dog and pitiful man! There is not one good drop of blood in all his
legs, life, and limbs, because the foul traitor wanted to reward me thus
for my great trouble. I protected him from his enemies and took the
highest kings and lords prisoner. I released him from his prison when I
took him prisoner in Rhodes and now he wants to let me starve and die.
It is the greatest shame and dishonor to him. God grant me to live so
long that I can avenge this treachery on him." Then Ogier enumerated the
great calamities and severe hardships that he had suffered, saying, "Who
on earth is as wretched as I am now? Nevertheless, I have been a mighty
king in three kingdoms in England, Denmark, and Rhodes. And now that I
have won the Sultan this great victory, for which he will receive
eternal praise and honor, he will therefore torment and torture me."
King Moisan said, "It is customary to say, 'Love a rogue and
pray to God that he does not reward you.' If the Sultan had been honest,
he would have put you in a prison tower. You did wrong that you took me
prisoner for his sake, what thanks or gift do you have therefore?" Ogier
became angry at these words and grabbed him by the hair and wanted to
kill him, but he told him to remember that he was his prisoner.
The Sultan was standing outside the door and heard all these
words, for he said to Ogier, "You will not die as easily as you think
here in the tower, for you will be put on the field on Saint John the
Baptist's day, when all will shoot at you as a target, Bréhier's and
Brunamont's brothers who are still alive, and after them all the others
until you will surely be filled with bolts and arrows."
At this time King Caraheut came and asked if Ogier was a
prisoner because he was deeply saddened and prayed for him. King
Langulafre answered and said, "You are as good as he is, that is why you
invited him to guest the other day. It is your fault that he killed my
brother Brunamont, in order to get Gloriande for your wife."
The Sultan said to King Caraheut, "I have a great suspicion that
you and Ogier are in league together."
Caraheut replied, "It is true I love him as my friend, for my
honor and faith, I should keep integrity here. If there is anyone here
who wants to say otherwise, I pledge my steel glove that I will fight
with him about it in the ring." King Langulafre took up the glove as a
sign that he wanted to fight with him. They set out from the castle on
both sides, that they should fight on the next Saint John the Elder's
Day.
With that, King Caraheut left the Sultan. Then he sent most of
his people home to his queen and let her know that he went to France to
get help to save King Ogier the Dane and the Christian prisoners from
the prison tower. Even though King Caraheut was not a Christian, he
still had great hope that Ogier the Dane's God would help him. When
Ogier lay in the prison tower, he thought a lot about who might have
told the Sultan that he was Ogier the Dane. He did not suspect King
Caraheut because he knew that he was his good friend.
As he lay in great sorrow and grief, a shining angel of God came
to him so that it became bright and clear in the tower just as if it had
been clear sunshine. The angel said to Ogier, "Be happy, say nothing,
you must have no suspicion of King Caraheut, your good friend. He has
gone to France to get people to help you get out of prison. When he has
completed this, he will be lit up by the Holy Spirit and adopt the
Christian faith and then fight with you for the holy church. A
journeyman who lay near you one night in the inn heard that you lamented
for your good horse, your dear wife, Emperor Charles, and other good
friends, and he told the Sultan. Remain still in the love of God and no
evil shall befall you." Thereupon, the angel disappeared.
Ogier thanked God for sheltering him in his time of need. When
King Moisan had seen the great sign and clear light and heard the words
of the angel, he received the grace of the Holy Spirit in his heart. He
fell on his knees before Ogier the Dane and asked him to teach him the
holy Christian faith for God's sake, for he wanted to be baptized and
would gladly die in the name of God when he had to.
Ogier taught him to pray the best he could. Since then, they
both prayed to God day and night with all their hearts. Duke Girart and
the other Christian prisoners were greatly surprised that Ogier stayed
away for so long, because they did not know he was a prisoner and they
felt sorry for him. When the new jailer heard this, he beat them with a
scourge and bound them tighter than they were bound before. He said to
them, "You will now have a different fate than before, because the bad
scoundrel Ogier the Dane, who was supposed to take care of you, gave you
too much to eat and drink, and let you have your own will. Now he
himself sits in the great prison tower, and shall be placed naked on the
field with all of you on Saint John's Day. Then all the Sultan's men
will take aim at you and shoot you with their arrows until you look like
porcupines."
CHAPTER 48 - King Gøde of Denmark is taken into the hands of King Morgulant when he tried to come to the aid of Ogier the Dane.
At this time, King Gøde in Denmark was very sad because he could not
find any reliable news about his son Galter, nor about his brother Ogier
the Dane. One night, in his sleep, he had a dream in which he saw that
Ogier the Dane was crowned with a royal crown, that he was traveling by
ship and the ship was sunk, and that he then came ashore in a small
boat. It seemed to him that Ogier was taken into a tower, that he was
shouting and knocking and that no one would let him out. Then he decided
that he would travel and free him. He took with him five hundred of his
Danish men and finally came to Rhodes, where they received him very
honorably. When they heard that he was King Ogier's brother, they
grieved that they had lost this King Ogier, their dear Lord, when he
went to the Holy Sepulchre, and they had heard nothing from him since.
He asked the mayors to order a galley to take him to the Holy Sepulchre.
They agreed and hired a skipper and secretly told him that he should
lead this king into the hands of King Morgulant of Jerusalem, and they
also gave him a treacherous letter and said that it should be his letter
of introduction.
When he arrived in Jerusalem, the king seized him and said, "I
will torture and torment you to death for the great damage that your
brother Ogier has done to me, my family, my friends, and my people whom
he has killed."
King Gøde was horrified when he realized that he had been thus
betrayed, but he replied, "I have come into your hands by treason and
you have the power to do with me what you please, but if you treat me
differently than you should, then my son Galter will avenge it on you,
for he is almost as good a warrior as Ogier the Dane."
When the maiden Klara, a daughter of King Moisan, who was a
prisoner in Babylon with Ogier the Dane, heard King Gøde speak these
words, then she wanted to save his life, for she said to King Morgulant,
"Dear uncle, send this prisoner and the other Christians that you now
have in prison to King Isor, so that he can keep them captive." She did
it with good intent, hoping that she would later get an opportunity to
help him out, for she had developed a great liking and attraction to his
son Galter, on account of his great bravery and good reputation,
although she had never met him. King Morgulant did not think that she
begged in earnest for Gøde, because he put him in the tower.
Then King Gøde said to himself, "I hope and believe that God
will take vengeance on those who live in Rhodes for this evil betrayal
that they have done to my brother and me."
CHAPTER 49 - Galter is falsely accused by the Emperor and overcomes Rohard in battle.
At this time King Caraheut came to Emperor Charles in Picardy, where he
had with him most of the chivalry of France, because they wanted to see
Galter joust against Rohard, who was a relative of Duke Berard who
committed the previously reported treason against Ogier the Dane.
Charlot the emperor's son was very jealous of Galter and he said to some
of his friends in secret, "My father believes all that Galter tells him
and despises me because of him and considers me to be inferior. What
shall I do to take my revenge on him?"
Therefore, they said, "If you claim he is trying to assassinate
you, then we will be witnesses for you. Get him in trouble as soon as
you can."
The same day Galter was to carry a roasted rooster to the
emperor. Charlot took it from the dish and struck him on the forehead,
whereupon Galter became angry and went to the emperor and told him this
arrogance that had been done to him. The emperor summoned his son and
put him on trial for this. Then Charlot said, "He tried to kill me," and
immediately brought forward the false witnesses who were to confirm what
he said. Galter said that it was not so, but that did not help him. The
emperor ordered Duke Naimon to keep Galter prisoner until he could learn
the truth.
A day or two afterwards, Duke Naimon came to the emperor and
said, "I wonder that you suspect the young knight Galter, since you have
never sensed anything but that he has always been your faithful servant
and often risked life and limb for your sake. You know that those who
bear witness against him are the traitors, Duke Berard's next of kin,
who have invented this lie about him and then told your son that he
should believe it, and that by doing so they brought Galter into
misfortune and harm, for they are his obvious enemies."
The emperor asked Galter how it was with that. He answered, "God
knows that I never thought that and I offer myself to go in a ring
against the one who brings such a dishonest case against me."
At this time King Caraheut and his nephew Marsiskus came to the
emperor and said that King Ogier was a prisoner in Babylonia, and they
asked the emperor to give Galter to them for help and support. The
emperor was silent for a short while and said nothing. King Caraheut
said to him, "Lord, I think you are sad."
He answered, "I can do nothing else, because Galter, Ogier's
brother's son, in whom I put my faith and trust, tried to kill my son
Charlot."
At that moment, Rohard came and said it was the truth. Galter
said that it was not so, and threw his steel glove as a pledge that he
wanted a duel. Therefore, Rohard picked it up and the emperor said, "Go
away and put on your armor, because I want to know the truth before I
sleep." Charlot the emperor's son followed his warrior and plated him in
armor. King Caraheut and Duke Naimon followed Galter and helped him to
dress for battle.
When they got to the lists, they rode against each other so
fiercely that their lances shattered. Galter slashed at him and gave him
a bad cut in his shoulder, and then pursued him with blow after blow and
asked if he would give himself up as a traitor. But Rohard warded him
off with his sword and would not answer. Then Galter became more hasty
and cut his left arm and the shield from his body so that they fell to
the ground together and he would have hacked him to death if the emperor
had not asked him to stop until he learned the truth of the matter. Then
he asked Rohard what the real truth was. Then he apologized to the
emperor's son and said that the Duke of Normandy began this lie of
jealousy against Galter because he killed his kinsman Berard and because
Ogier the Dane killed his father. Then he bore witness that Galter had
not committed treason against the emperor's son or opposed him in any
way, as far as he knew. When he had thus revealed the truth, Galter
split his head so that he fell dead to the ground. Then they all praised
Galter because he had bravely protected his honor as a proud knight and
warrior.
In the morning, the emperor went to the Church of Our Lady and
asked God for good advice. Duke Naimon told King Caraheut many good
lessons from the the Holy Faith and advised him to let himself become a
Christian. He replied that he would like to do so, as soon as Ogier the
Dane was released from the prison tower. The emperor had a great feast
prepared and was happy that Galter was innocent in the reported case,
because he loved him exceedingly because of his great bravery. When the
meal was over, King Caraheut said, "Dear Lord, I have traveled this long
way and left my wife and children, country and kingdom, for Ogier the
Dane's sake, and have no one with me except my nephew. I am asking you
to help Ogier in his great need, as you should do if you think about his
great exploits."
The emperor said, "I thank you that you are such a faithful
messenger of his. I will send him twenty thousand men and Galter shall
be their leader."
Duke Naimon sent him ten thousand men. The other dukes, bishops,
knights, counts, and other men sent him some four thousand men, some
three thousand, some two thousand, some one thousand, each according to
his good fortune, and they fared well because God was with them. A ship
with pilgrims from the Holy Sepulchre passed by them on the sea. They
asked them what news there was along the way. They said that the
citizens of Rhodes had betrayed King Gøde of Denmark and sent him into
the hands of the king of Jerusalem, and there he was held prisoner.
Galter was saddened when he heard that his father was a prisoner. He
asked King Caraheut and all the others to follow him there so that he
could free his father. King Caraheut said, "You also betrayed King Ogier
the Dane in the past, for we wanted to sail first to Rhodes."
When they got there to the city, Galter had ten of the highest
citizens seized and asked them individually how they had dealt with
Ogier the Dane and then with King Gøde of Denmark. He could get no truth
out of them, and therefore he fetched the widow's son, who formerly
served King Ogier. She said that the mayor Godebøf knew the truth.
Galter ordered Godebøf to be summoned and, when he would not confess, he
had him undressed and his hands and feet bound and his body smeared with
honey and closed him into a small house full of live bees which stung
him terribly. He cried out to Galter and confessed how they had betrayed
these two good gentlemen. Then Galter delivered him and the other
traitors who conspired with him into the hands of the commons and
commanded them to hold them by their necks and keep them alive in the
prison tower until he came back with King Ogier the Dane and his brother
King Gøde of Denmark.
CHAPTER 50 - King Morgulant is saved by Galter's hands, Galter is betrothed to the maiden Klara, and how things went afterwards.
As soon as Galter had arranged everything in Rhodes, he sailed to
Jerusalem. King Morgulant learned that many warships were in the
country, and so he sent a secret scout in fisherman's clothes on a small
boat to find out where they came from and who they were. When he came
back, he said that they were French and other Christian people and their
chief Galter was the most beautiful man he had seen in all his days,
both among Turks, pagans, and Christians. The maiden Klara heard these
words and fell even more in love with Galter. The king gave orders all
over Jerusalem that the citizens should go to keep watch on the walls
and take care that they were not taken by surprise. He also prepared
himself with all the power he had to go out against them, for he thought
it shameful that he should allow himself to be besieged by the
Christians. He sent a part of the army out of one gate and he himself
went out of the other gate with his greatest force and his main banner.
When he had ridden from the city, the maiden Klara sent for a
border scout and went alone into her maiden's room with him, and asked
if Galter was as handsome as he had previously told the king her uncle.
He said, "He is certainly more handsome than I can say. He is handsome,
tall, and brave as well, and according to his height, his limbs and
joints, fingers and hands, legs and feet, are so shapely that there
cannot be a more beautiful man on earth. If he would give up the
Christian faith and you could have him as your husband, then there would
not be two people so lovely in marriage anywhere in the whole world, I
swear to you by my god Mahomet."
Maiden Klara said to him, "If you give me a chance to see him,
then I will give you a hundred guilders." He replied, "I will do my best
to get you there."
At this pass, Galter came from the beach with his people. As he
rode along on the road, he said to King Caraheut, "God grant me to know
whether my father is alive or dead. I can do nothing about it, nor do I
want to go into battle until I know."
King Caraheut replied, "Be content, I will find the truth for
you, because my nephew Marsiskus is well acquainted with the king and
his niece, and he will soon ask her about it." Then he called his nephew
to him and said, "Look, here comes a large army from the city against
us, when we begin to fight with them, then run into the city and pretend
you were one of their party and went to pick up something that had been
forgotten. Then ask maiden Klara whether King Gode of Denmark is alive
or dead."
He did as Caraheut had commanded, and when he asked about him,
she said that he was fit and healthy. She asked him sternly how his son
Galter was doing. He said, "Very well. He is the commander of our entire
army and is the most beautiful man that walks on God's green earth, also
active, strong, and brave against his enemies in war on land and sea."
When maiden Klara heard this, she fell in love with him more than
before, but she did not dare to tell him what was in her heart.
While Marsiskus was with her, both armies collided and cut and
smote each other. Galter ran into the army of the Turks and asked where
the traitor King Morgulant was, who had imprisoned his father. At last
he saw where he was riding with a golden crown on his helmet. Galter
rode to him and thrust him and his horse to the ground together, and
then would have cut him to death, had not his son Horion, who carried
the main banner, come to his aid. Galter cut the banner from his hand
and the head from his horse with a single stroke. Then he shouted,
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem!" for it was their battle cry. Then many of their
warriors came and helped the king get back on his horse, and put Horion
on another horse, and saved them both from Galter's hands, otherwise he
would have taken them prisoner. They fled again towards the city because
their main banner was gone, and all their people were lost and knew not
which way to go. Galter pursued them to the gate. That day the
Christians killed a thousand of the Turks, even though the battle did
not last long.
When the king had arrived at the castle, Marsiskus went to him
and said that he had come from Damascus with three hundred men to help
him, but the Christians killed them all except him before he got to the
city. The king replied, "It is likely that because you yourself are
unhurt, you will probably get people again, just be content and come to
table with me."
When the meal was over, Marsiskus went to the maiden Klara again
and got a better opportunity to talk with her than he had before.
Towards evening he rode out of the city and said to the gatekeeper, "I
shall now ride out and scout the Christians' army and look for my
servant, to see where he has gone today. Take care and let me in again
tonight when I come back." When he came to Galter, he said that his
father was fit and healthy, and then he praised the maiden Klara and
said that she was the fairest maiden that he had seen in all his days.
He also said that he learned from her that she would like to have Galter
as a husband.
At these words, Galter fell in love with her and said, "I can
have no peace until I have spoken to her."
King Caraheut answered, "Marsiskus, my kinsman, will lead you to
her, but don't let your love so captivate you, when you come to the
lady's room, that you forget us who stay here in the camp."
Galter called his people together and said, "I will ride into
the city and talk with my father." They all begged him to come back
soon. When Marsiskus came to the gate, he asked the gatekeeper to let
him in, for he had now spied the Christian army and found his squire
again. He stabled his and Galter's horses at his inn and went to the
castle and got him to speak with the maiden Klara. She received them
with joy and asked them to be welcome. Then she talked for a long time
with Galter and spoke with good sense and sincerity. They promised each
other a good marriage and that they would live and die together. Then
she gave him precious gifts, which were Saint George's breastplate,
shield, and helmet, and told him that no sword or other weapon could
pierce them. He gave her as an engagement gift his gold ring with a
noble and precious stone.
As they talked together, the king's son Horion came to the door
and said to her, "Why is this loathsome woman sitting here at midnight
talking to a strange man?"
Marsiskus answered and said, "Friend, be content, it is my
servant who is talking to her."
He answered, "You lie like a traitor! I saw him in the battle
today among the Christians." Then he stabbed Marsiskus in his heart with
his dagger so that he fell dead on the floor.
Galter said, "You must pay," and cleaved Horion's forehead down
into his chest.
Maiden Klara complained with weeping tears, "Woe to me! Woe to
me, poor maiden. What shall I say or do? I would rather be dead than
live here on earth any longer, for the king will certainly let me drown
or burn when he hears about it."
Galter replied, "Be content, my dearest fiancée, for I did it
for your sake. When the king comes, I will say that your kinsman
Marsiskus was here and was talking with you. At the same time, Horion
came and thrust his knife into him, but he slashed at him again and
split his forehead so that they both died." Then Galter asked her to get
him to safety. She replied that she could not do it without confiding in
one of her maidens. She had a maiden with her, whose sister had a
husband in the city, and she asked her to lead him there secretly and
tell the gentleman that he must not rob him, but let him have enough to
eat and drink.
When the maiden had returned, maiden Klara began to shout and
scream and cry so much that everyone woke up from sleep, whereupon the
king went to her and asked what was going on. She wept fiercely and
said, "Look, your son Horion has killed my kinsman Marsiskus, and my
kinsman cut him to death before my eyes. I cried for help, but everyone
was laying down and asleep, and I am out of my wits with grief and
sorrow."
The king said, "Be content and cry no more. It is done,
unfortunately, and the deed that is done cannot be changed. Therefore, I
will let them be honorably buried and thus allow myself to be
satisfied." The night after that, the maiden Klara went with her maiden
to Galter and stayed with him until daybreak and deliberated how they
could best come together in marriage and have their wedding as soon as
possible.
King Caraheut and the Christians could not understand why Galter
was away so long, so they agreed that they would pretend to fly away and
set fire to their stalls and camp, and marched slowly down to the beach,
where the king's scouts ran into the city and told him these tidings. He
pursued them at dawn with all his might. When Galter heard about this,
he put on his breastplate, shield, and helmet, and ran out of the city
with the others in the crowd. As soon as he reached his own army, he
turned sharply and rode to the one who carried the king's main banner
and pierced him through shield and body so the lance stuck out of his
back one cubit, and he fell dead in the grass. The king then rushed at
Galter with his lance, but Galter turned his horse around and hacked at
the king again. The king lay down on the horse's back, but Galter cut
off the pommel of his saddle and the head of his horse, so the king
immediately fell to the ground and cried for help. Then many warriors
came and put him on another horse.
Then Galter shouted, "Denmark! Denmark!" which was the
Christians' battle cry. When the Christians heard it, they came straight
to him and hacked and smote the enemies with all their might. Galter led
them into the midst of the crowd like a ravenous lion and killed so many
of the Turks that no one could count them all. They now escaped to the
city and the Christians pursued them bravely. In this battle, more than
twenty thousand Turks were slain. When Galter came back from the city
with his people under his pavilion, then King Caraheut asked him where
he had been so long and where his nephew Marsiskus was, since he did not
come back with him. He told him secretly how things had gone with him
from beginning to end, but then he called out to the whole army and said
that his father was alive and well, about which they were all happy. But
King Morgulant sat sorrowfully in the city because he lost a few mighty
warriors and many people in the second battle that he lost against the
Christians.
The maiden Klara, learning this, went to him and said, "Dear
Uncle, I would comfort you in your sorrow if I could, and I dare not
completely tell you everything that I want to say, but I fear you will
get hurt if I do not say it, and so I want to reveal it to you. I
dreamed that a mighty warrior came to you and asked you to become a
Christian, and he taught you the Christian faith and told you what great
power the holy cross has against the devil and his false cunning, and
when you would not listen to his good advice, he drew his sword and cut
off your head. I sincerely advise you to become a Christian." He became
angry at these words and struck her with his fist so that she fell on
the floor and was unconscious. She lay sick in her bed from the wound
for a fortnight.
Then the king took counsel with his best men and said, "I think
it is best that I send one of my best warriors who can fight in battle
and duel alone with one of their best warriors and thereby save my
people and let the conflict end. I have the mighty warrior King Gøde
prisoner who would be happy to do it if he could thereby be released
from his prison." They all said that this was a good idea and was
advisable. He fetched him and asked if he wanted to go in a duel against
one of his enemies, and that he would then give him freedom and a large
sum of gold as well as money. King Gøde replied that he would do it with
pleasure. Then King Morgulant went up to the wall and shouted to the
Christians and asked that one of their leaders should come and talk to
him in peace. Galter went forward to talk to him.
The king said, "I am willing to send one of my warriors out to
fight in a duel with one of your warriors on the condition that if my
warrior wins, then the Christians will immediately give up this siege
and make their way back home again and no longer fight here, but if my
warrior loses and the Christian wins, then the Christians should have
Jerusalem, but the people who live in the city must be allowed to keep
their lives and property." Galter replied that it would be so, and their
warriors should meet on the field the next morning.
CHAPTER 51 - How Galter comes into battle with King Gøde, both of them unknowingly, and how it went afterwards.
They armed their warriors expensively on both sides, when Galter himself
had agreed to take on this battle. When they clashed to the sound of
trumpets, these mighty warriors rode against each other so strongly that
each one broke their lance on the other at the first blow. Galter turned
to face his father with his sword, but did not know it was him. He
slashed at him so hard that he split his helmet. Therefore, Gøde got
angry and slashed grimly at him again and again, so that fire and sparks
flew from his armor but he could not wound him. Who could believe that
he fought him so earnestly, if he had known that it was his son, and who
could believe that the son had struck at his father so fatally, if he
had known that it was his father, after he had led all his people to
risk their lives for him and save him from the prison tower? It was a
great pity that the father and the son should thus strive for each
other's lives, when otherwise they would be ready to die for each other
out of true love, if the need arose. Galter swung at his father again
with both his hands and cut a large piece of his shield and the straps
that held it, so that it fell to the ground. The father hacked strongly
at him, but his sword could not cut him. He sprang from his horse and
laid down his sword to fight with him unarmed. Galter also got off his
horse to meet him face to face. They took each other in their arms and
wrestled so that the ground slipped under their feet, as when two ears
of corn are staked in the field head to head. At last, the father
released him and knocked him over with some stones and Galter thought
that his back had been broken and it became dark before his eyes.
When the Christians saw this, they became sad and King Caraheut
said sadly, "If Galter is overcome, then I will never become a
Christian."
King Gøde went and grabbed his sword. Then Galter stood up, took
his sword, and scolded himself for being knocked down first. He decided
that he wanted to wash away this shame with a great blow and hit his
father bravely. Gøde was hit once or twice, then he hit his son again,
blow after blow with both his hands and with all his power and strength,
so that fire flew off his helmet and armor. When he saw that nothing
could wound him he cried aloud and said, "Cursed be the smith who made
your helmet and your armor so that my good sword can not cut through
them."
When Galter heard him speak, he knew at once that it was his
father. He fell on his knees before him, removed the helmet from his
face and said, "My dearest father, King Gøde, forgive me for God's sake
that I have attacked you so strongly, and that I was your enemy. I have
come here with these people in order to save you from the prison tower,
that I may kiss you and take you in my arms."
The father said, "Dear son, be content and say no more about it
until we have overcome these Turks."
Galter replied, "There you have my sword as a sign that I will
be your prisoner then."
The Christians saw that Galter fell on his knees and gave him
his sword. They thought that he had been defeated and had given himself
up for lost, and they were all saddened. King Caraheut said, "Do not
mourn, for I believe they made a secret pact among themselves before
Galter gave up his sword."
When King Morgulant and the Turks found that their warrior King
Gøde had taken the sword from the Christian warrior and came riding and
led him as his prisoner, they became happy and thanked their god Mahomet
for the victory he had won. When Gøde approached the king's army on
level ground, he gave Galter his sword back and asked him to avenge his
long imprisonment and the great injustice. Galter immediately blew his
horn that hung around his neck. As soon as King Caraheut and the
Christians heard it, they all came running to King Gøde and Galter, the
battle against the Turks began, and the other Christians followed them
bravely. Whoever saw the great strength of the father and the son, they
must have been terrified by it, so fiercely they chased the Turks into
the city and pursued them up one street and down the other. They put
four lances in the gate so that no one could close it, therefore the
Christians who came after gained free entrance. Galter pursued the king
with all his might and cut off his head, next to the gate of the castle,
so that it fell on one side and the body on the other side of his horse.
King Gøde cut hands, heads, arms, or legs off many Turks. King Caraheut
and the other Christians also fought bravely so that everyone was
horrified by the terrible carnage. They ran after plunder and booty, as
many do, but each pursued his enemies with all their might, to win honor
and to be named a hero.
Thus the Christians won a victory over the Turks, and a Turk ran
up to the maiden Klara at the top of the palace, which was called
David's Tower, and asked her to escape in safety through an iron gate in
this palace, for Galter was at the gate and there he had killed King
Morgulant, her uncle, to death. She dressed in her finest clothes,
placed gold and silver vessels on the table, and asked her maidens to
hang pieces of gold and silk carpets around the house. When Galter came
to her, she received him and all the Christians who were with him with
great honor and dignity. When he had talked with her for a little while,
he went up to the king's hall to his father and begged him for
forgiveness of all the Christians' wretchedness. His father took him in
his arms and said that he would show him all the love that a father
should show to a child. Then both Gøde and Galter asked King Caraheut to
go with them to the Holy Sepulchre and let himself be baptized and adopt
the holy faith. He replied that he would go with them, but he would not
let himself be baptized until he traveled to Babylon and fought against
Langulafre and helped release King Ogier the Dane from prison. King Gøde
went to the maiden Klara with King Caraheut and all the best Christians
and asked her to be baptized before his son took her as his fiancée. She
said yes and was christened the second day. Then they became betrothed
and held a great feast. When this feast was over, King Caraheut went to
India to speak with his wife Gloriande. He told Galter as he followed
him from the city that he must not neglect to meet him before Babylon on
Saint John's Day with all the power he could get.
Some time after that, Galter prepared a large fleet of ships and
sailed from Jerusalem towards Rhodes. He got a headwind and came to the
mighty city of Mecca where Florion, the maiden Klara's brother, was
king. When he learned Galter was there, he went to meet him and invited
his father and the best men as guests, for his sister, the maiden Klara,
had written to him about how Galter won Jerusalem and was betrothed to
her and that she was a Christian and many others things. She had sent
him her gold ring as a sign that the message came from her and was true,
and asked if he would allow himself to become a Christian. King Florion
was happy that he could now be baptized by these mighty lords, because
for a long time he had longed for it in his heart. When he was baptized
and learned that Galter wanted to go to Babylon, he asked him to delay
for a while so that he could equip his ships and follow him. Galter did
so and they were followed to Rhodes. As they approached the harbor, many
ships met them and Galter had intended to attack them because he thought
they were Turks. In these circumstances, King Caraheut spread his banner
as a sign that it was him, and he had with him his wife Gloriande and
thirty-five kings with all their people. When Galter saw that it was
him, he welcomed him and all his people. King Florion greeted Queen
Gloriande because he had known her before. They now sailed straight to
Babylon.
CHAPTER 52 - Galter takes the Sultan prisoner and King Caraheut defeats King Langulafre in battle and duel.
When King Caraheut and King Langülafre were to be joined in battle and
duel, as previously mentioned, Sultan Norandin put King Langulafre's
brothers in the tower while the two groups were fenced in to make sure
that they should not rise up against King Caraheut and his people before
the battle was over. King Caraheut let his people stay in his ships.
When they gathered on the field, they rode together so violently that
their lances burst to pieces, then they struck each other with their
swords and the fact that it lasted a long time was no wonder, because
Langulafre stood a good fifteen feet in height, and all his fifteen
brothers were just as tall, of whom Ogier the Dane had killed three in
the past, Brunamont, Bréhier, and Justamund. King Caraheut was not as
big and tall as the other, but he was nevertheless mighty strong and
skilled with his hands and gave him enough to take care of.
While they were watching, Galter and King Florion came up slowly
from their ships and dragged their lances on the ground with one end so
that the sultan should not see them coming from a distance. When they
came close to his army, they put their lances in their rests at the
front of their chests and attacked the Turks and pagans with all their
might, and felled many so that they never fought again. Galter ran to
the Sultan and thrust him from his horse, and he would have cut him to
death had not King Florion come between them.
King Florion took the Sultan prisoner and said, "You have held
my father King Moisan in the prison tower long enough, now you must let
him out with Ogier the Dane."
When Langulafre saw that the Christians gained great power over
the Sultan and his people, he said to King Caraheut, "You did not do
well in gathering this numerous people against us. It is best for us to
give up this fight of ours and everyone save themselves." But then
Galter came rushing into the ring and took them both prisoner and led
them and the Sultan with him into the Christian army. There he demanded
of the Sultan that he should free Ogier the Dane, King Moisan, and all
the other Christians whom he had from their prison. If he also wanted to
have his noble horse Marseval back, then he was to give him ten lovely
maidens and ten beautiful boys who would let themselves become
Christians, ten white falcons, ten white hounds, ten white horses that
were good coursers, ten saddles of gold and silk, ten precious
carbuncles, ten swords, and ten good helmets. The Sultan promised on
faith and honor that he would fulfill this demand and with that Galter
rode him into the city again.
When the Sultan came to the castle, he called all the Christian
prisoners before him. Ogier was told to go to the Sultan. He thought he
wanted to kill him, because he said to King Moisan, "Remain in the
Christian faith, for today is Saint John's Day on which the Sultan will
have us executed." As Ogier entered the door he said he to the Sultan's
servants, "What does it mean that the Sultan lets us go from the tower?"
He answered, "Galter of Denmark captured him today and he had to
promise to release the Christian prisoners and King Moisan from their
prison and add precious gifts to that." When the messenger came to the
prison tower where Duke Girart of Roussillon and the other prisoners
were lying, they thought that they should be exposed to the arrows and
bolts of the Turks, because he exhorted all Christian prisoners to pray
to God, as they would die wretchedly.
When they left the tower and saw Ogier, they asked him to pray
for them to God. But when they were brought in before the Sultan, he
said, "I release you from your prison, go to Galter in the Christian
army." He also sent with them the precious gifts for his beautiful horse
Marseval.
When they were a short way out of the city, Ogier the Dane
remembered that his sword Courtain had been left behind. He said to a
mighty Turk who accompanied them, "Bring me my good sword or you will
not return alive to the Sultan again."
The Turk replied, "I console myself to let it come to you."
Ogier wanted to kill him on the spot, but then he shouted, "I promise
you on my honor that I will retrieve it or become your prisoner."
Then King Moisan replied, "Cursed be your sword that we should
therefore hesitate here on the road and all be captured again." The Turk
rode to the Sultan and retrieved his sword with great difficulty and
brought it to Ogier. When he got it in his hand he was happy and said he
would not lose it for ten kingdoms. The Turk who was to follow them
handed them all over to Galter and celebrated that they were now free
from prison and entrusted in his hands the precious gifts for the
Sultan's horse and requested on behalf of the Sultan that King Caraheut
should complete the battle he had begun.
King Caraheut replied, "It shall be done."
When King Lagulafre was about to ride on the road, his brothers
said, "We advise you to you stay in the city because King Caraheut has
so many Christians with him that they could easily betray you."
He replied, "I would be happy to meet him who comes after what
he wants."
When they met on the road together and they rode against each
other, Queen Gloriande stayed with the Christians and looked on and her
eyes were flooded with tears, because she feared that Caraheut would
lose. Ogier the Dane hugged her and begged her not to grieve, because
Caraheut would probably win in this battle. Langulafre struck Caraheut
fatally, but he defended himself strongly and with courage and cut off a
piece of his helmet, just as if it had been glass. Their swords were
bent around each other's heads as if they had been made of lead, so
surely did they cut at each other. Then Langulafre and his party prayed
to their idol Mahomet that he might win, but I think he was asleep and
did not hear it because he had been drinking too long in the evening.
They cut large pieces of each other's armor and shield, so that they
flew like the scales of a fish being scraped. King Caraheut slashed at
Langulafre with all his might and wanted to strike his forehead, but he
avoided him so that he hit him on his left side, which came cleanly off
until the leg. Therefore Langulafre became angry and forgot himself, and
he cut him so hard that he tore off his helmet and also wounded him in
the elbow so that the blood ran down to the ground. Then King Caraheut
realized that his idols, which he still believed in, could not save him
from this great danger to his life, and he called upon the almighty God
in heaven, who rejects no one, that he would help him win victory. He
wanted to become a Christian and, as soon as he had promised this in his
heart, he became stronger than he was before.
King Langulafre raised his sword with both hands, but as he
struck Caraheut a clear burning cloud came between them both and, at the
same time that he slashed his sword at King Caraheut, he saw an angel of
God in this cloud. Caraheut prayed to God for help and promised again to
let himself become a Christian. Then the cloud disappeared again and
King Caraheut beheaded Langulafre. When he lay dead in the square, King
Caraheut said to the Sultan, "Now you can see that I am innocent of the
great treason that Langulafre attributed to me."
The Sultan replied, "Who can take care of treachery." Then he
rode into the city and asked King Langulafre's brothers to write to
their relatives and friends for people and help so that they could
avenge their brother's debt on the Christians. He also wrote to his
brother King Berkamund that he should come with all his might.
CHAPTER 53 - Sultan Norandin requests from Ogier the Dane that one warrior from each army will decide the victory.
When King Caraheut had won this wonderful victory, he rode back to the
Christians and said that he saw an angel of God in a clear cloud and
promised that he would allow himself to be baptized. He then asked for
baptism and to receive Christianity and was baptized there at the same
time as his wife Queen Gloriande. King Moisan and his son King Florion
also accepted Christianity in the same way with all their people and
King Ogier, preaching before them, strengthened them in the holy
Christian faith and told them of many great sacrifices that God had made
for them. King Moisan testified to them that he saw and heard the angel
of God talking to Ogier in the prison tower and welcoming him.
Then Sultan Norandin gathered the many people that he had
written to, and then he called Ogier the Dane to talk with him over the
wall. When Ogier came, the Sultan said, "Will you never go away or stop
spoiling my lands and realms with the Christians? I wish I had not let
you escape when I had you prisoner."
Ogier replied, "You did your best that I should not escape with
my life, you do not need to punish yourself. If you had not been
captured and forced to let me go, then you would certainly have killed
me. Therefore, the thanks I owe you for my freedom is thin, and it does
not help you, nor your people, that you continue to fight against us
Christians, because you have no power over us. Therefore, I advise you
to come alone to battle against me, to prevent bloodshed on both sides."
The Sultan answered, "I will not fight with you, neither shall
any of my men do it, but if you send another of your people here, then
my brother King Berkamund will face him on the field."
Ogier replied, "Let the one who can receive him come."
The Sultan said, "He must come under the condition that if he
wins, then you and all the Christians must go your way and fight here no
more, but if he loses, then you and the Christians shall have the city
of Babylon, but you must let the common people escape with their
possessions." Ogier answered that it would be so. Then he went to the
Christians and told them the Sultan's request, that Galter must fight
with the Sultan's champion. A great many other Christians also desired
it, but Galter was finally chosen for it by all of them together.
CHAPTER 54 - How Galter overcomes Sultan Norandin's brother and the Christians march into the city of Babylon.
When they were together in the ring, Galter said to him, "Tell me who
you are and what your name is."
He answered, "I am Sultan Norandin's brother, King Berkamund."
Galter said, "I advise you to renounce your false faith and let
yourself become a Christian before you fight and duel against me."
He replied, "Do not talk about it. I do not want to hear such
words and talk. If you would renounce your Christian faith, then you
shall have my sister, the most beautiful maiden in Turkey and India."
Galter replied, "Give your sister to Satan, she belongs to him
anyway, because she won't let herself become Christian."
Now they ran together and Galter knocked Berkamund from his
horse so that he was left hanging on one side because his left foot was
stuck in the stirrup. The horse became stubborn and angry at that, and
ran across the field with him and dragged him after him and gave him
many wounds on his body. Galter seized the horse, took his foot from the
stirrup, and wanted to cut him to death, but he fell on his knees and
gave him his sword as a sign that he wanted to be his prisoner. Galter
granted him his life and took him with him to the Christians as a
prisoner. They were all happy and said that you could tell and see that
he was of noble Danish blood, for he spared his sworn enemy and gave him
his life.
On the second day, Galter and King Ogier rode before the city
with this prisoner and said to the Sultan, "Here is your brother, King
Berkamund. Will you now surrender the city to us?"
He answered, "Bring him back with you and let his wounds be
bandaged and come again tomorrow to take the city." He cried to his
brother and said, "Give Galter my noble horse Marseval, for he won it
honestly from you in the battle." Those who lived in Babylon left the
city by night and escaped with their wives, children, and possessions.
The second day, towards noon, King Ogier the Dane, Galter, and the other
Christians entered the city and found it completely empty and vacant.
The Sultan was still in the castle, so they handed his brother over to
him and let them go wherever they wanted.
Then Ogier the Dane became king in the city of Babylon, but he
let Galter rule in his place and said, "You shall be king here, because
you are still a young man and I want to go home to my kingdoms again."
Then King Galter called together all the lords and princes who
were still in the Christian army and told King Moisan how had he won
Jerusalem and betrothed his daughter the maiden Klara, and he asked for
his consent to their marriage. King Moisan replied that he first wanted
to hear her own will and her answer. They immediately sent for her. King
Ogier also sent to Rhodes for the traitors who betrayed him and his
brother. When the maiden Klara, King Galter's fiancée, came and they
heard her answer, then they were all happy and King Moisan gave a costly
wedding feast that lasted for many days. When it was over, they wanted
to honor King Galter further for the victory he won for Babylon over
King Berkamund, and they crowned him king of the city and the kingdom.
Then King Moisan wanted to go home to the city of Mecca, but
King Ogier and King Galter did not want him to go there until he had
seen that the traitors of Rhodes were punished. King Ogier had them
brought before the Christians and all the other common people, before
the lords and princes who were then present in Babylon, and asked them
why they so shamefully betrayed him and his brother, against all reason,
since he loved them while he was their king as if they had been his own
children. They could think of nothing to say in apology, so he had each
of them tied to four mad horses, two by the hands and two by the feet,
and then let the horses chase each other so they ran across the field
through bushes and thickets. Then he caught the horses and put the
remaining limbs on stilts and wheels to frighten and warn all traitors.
Then King Moisan went to his kingdom and his son Florion stayed
with King Galter and his sister. Then King Galter gave the lords and
princes of France, and all their servants who had accompanied him on
this journey, valuable gifts of gold and money. They thanked him
profusely and returned to France. When they came home, they praised
Galter highly to the emperor and to everyone else, and said how
honorable he had been, how happy he was, and that he was a king. They
said how, in Jerusalem and in Babylon, he had saved his father King Gøde
and his father's brother King Ogier from their prison. Thereupon the
emperor was very happy that he was doing well and that they had happily
ended their journey.
King Ogier then wanted to follow King Caraheut by ship to the
land of the Indies. But as they were on the sea a severe storm came over
them and upset the ships so that many of them perished and one did not
know where the other was on the sea. Finally, the ship that Ogier was on
ran aground, so he and his servants had to jump into a raft to save
their lives. They drifted about on the sea for eight days without
knowing where they were and without seeing land anywhere. Then they
covered up and rowed.
CHAPTER 55 - King Caraheut comes home and has his servants baptized and preaches the Christian faith to his subjects.
King Caraheut came at last to the land of India and to his own home with
his queen. He praised God night and day, who saved him from this great
storm at sea. He grieved very much for Ogier the Dane, his dear friend,
for he certainly believed that he had died in the great storm. He taught
the Christian faith to both the rich and the poor, and had all his
servants who were with him in his castle and in the city baptized, and
those who did not want to be baptized, he had them killed as spineless
men. Then he had it written across his countries and kingdoms that all
the common people should come to him on an appointed day. Then two
hundred single men and women gathered and he preached to them and taught
them the holy Christian faith and told them many miracles which he
himself had seen our Lord do for the Christians while he was among them.
He also told them that he saw an angel of God in a cloud who saved his
life from the Turks. He prayed and advised them all that if they allowed
themselves to become Christians and live righteously, then they would
certainly receive eternal heavenly joy.
As he preached in this way, God sent a prophet to them who
preached the same Christian doctrine as King Caraheut to the common
people, and said and taught them many deep and good teachings of the
holy faith, by the grace and assistance of the Holy Spirit. He performed
many miracles for them in this hour and told them of the evil delusion
in which they had before been imprisoned. He begged and advised them to
give up their false faith and accept baptism and Christianity. When he
had preached to them and taught them the holy faith, then he disappeared
again before their eyes and no one knew what became of him. King
Caraheut continued this sermon in the following days, and the common
people accepted the holy faith and were baptized. King Caraheut then
lived a long, holy, and godly life, and died for the holy Christian
faith, which will be told later, for his soul is now in Heaven.
CHAPTER 56 - How Ogier the Dane in a great storm at sea loses both people and possessions, but is himself saved by an angel of God and comes to Morgan le Fey.
When King Ogier had been sailing to and fro on the sea for a long time,
then he said to himself, "God have mercy on me that I did not follow the
French men to France to speak with my good friend Emperor Charles, and
then with my dear wife Queen Klara in England. I firmly believe that I
am suffering this great need and hardship because I did not go home to
comfort my dear wife. O good God, who is mild and merciful, comfort both
mine and her sorrowful heart. I commend her into your loving care,
protect her from all her foes and enemies, and let us find each other
again in eternal joy." As he finished saying these words, he saw seven
hundred men of his retinue drifting towards him on a wreck, and the
waves first knocked some of them down into the deep, and then more until
they were all drowned, and then he became even more distressed.
At this time, the boat that Ogier was on collided with a
magnetic rock made of lodestone, and got stuck on it. The others who
were with him said, "We will never get off this rock."
Ogier replied, "Then we should live frugally and prepare our
food fairly." Then he divided the food they had with them into equal
parts, of which he gave the skipper a twelfth, he took a twelfth for
himself, and each man got a part. They made an agreement with each other
that when one of them had eaten all his food, he would immediately jump
into the sea and drown himself. Finally, Ogier was the only one left,
and he was very sad and prayed to God that he would help him out of this
need and danger.
Then at midnight, an angel of God appeared to him and told
Ogier, "Get up and walk along this narrow path you see before you until
you come to a small island where you will find a narrow road which you
must continue to follow."
When he came to it, there were innumerable steps around it, for
it was made of lodestone on the side facing the sea. He went from one
step to the next until he came to the island and found the narrow road.
The angel had told him that if he saw strange or ghastly things on the
road, he should not be afraid or dismayed, because nothing was going to
harm him. He came at last to a shining castle, and as he was about to
enter the gate, two ravenous lions leaped at him. He slashed across one
and struck the head off the other.
When he reached the castle, he entered a beautiful hall, but saw
no one but a horse, and the tables were well laid and full of delicious
food and drink. Ogier was extremely hungry and wanted to eat the food,
but he did not dare to go all the way to the table. The horse went away
and fetched water from a basin just as if it had been a person. When it
came back again, it knelt before Ogier and held the water for him. Ogier
made the sign of the cross over himself and then the horse led him to
the table and pointed to the food, as if it wanted to ask him to eat,
and it stayed with him.
Ogier took some of the dishes and made the sign of the cross
over them and said to himself, "I want to eat my fill, because there is
so much good food at hand."
As soon as the horse sensed that he wanted to drink, it went out
and fetched a large gilded wine bottle and handed it to him. Ogier made
the sign of the cross over it, as well as over the food, and then drank
the wine. Ogier looked out the windows in the hall and saw that there
was a sea around the castle. He began to mourn, because he did not know
how he was going to get out of there. However, he began to feel drowsy
and wanted to sleep because he had been awake for a long time, both
night and day, in grief and sorrow. The horse got down on all fours
before Ogier, bowed his head to him, and touched his muzzle as if he
wanted to say, "sit on me." When Ogier saw these gestures, he sat on its
back and made the sign of the cross. The horse got up and carried him
into a glorious bedroom where there was a lovely bed made up with
precious sheets studded with gold and pearls. The horse gently set him
down by the bed and pointed with his foot to the bed as if to say, "Here
you shall lie." Then the horse went out the door and Ogier went to bed.
When he had slept a good sleep and awoke the next morning, then
he began to wonder greatly what the meaning of the horse was, and where
the food and drink that he found came from. When he stood up, he could
not see the horse, called Papilio, nor could he find the gate of the
castle. At last, he found a gate and tried to leave, but two vipers
jumped at him at the same time and tried to bite him to death. He cut
them to death and then went out the gate and found a small road that led
to a precious orchard. Here he saw an apple tree with delicious fruit,
and he took an apple from it and ate. His body immediately turned pale
all over, and he began to sigh and mourn because he thought he was
definitely going to die from it. Then he prayed fervently to God that he
would forgive him of his sins, and he prayed for all his friends and
enemies that he would give them eternal bliss.
Finally, he saw a very lovely and shining maiden. He thought it
was the Virgin Mary, and so he greeted her saying, "Hail Mary full of
grace. The Lord is with you."
The maiden answered, "I am not the Virgin Mary as you think, but
I am Morgan le Fay who was with you in the hour of your birth and gave
you the valuable and precious gift that you should win praise and honor
in war on land and sea and live long on Earth in great honor and dignity
and then come to me in my castle Avalon. Since you have now come here, I
will lead you up among my maidens and sisters. There you shall have
pleasure and joy with us and be my beloved and dear friend."
Ogier answered, "Dear maiden, it does not serve me at all, nor
is it fitting that I should associate with you or with your good maidens
and sisters, for I am sick and sore all over my body, therefore I will
not fulfill your request."
Morgan said, "Be content, I will surely heal you again."
Suddenly, she touched him and he became as healthy and sound as he used
to be long ago. Ogier was then about a hundred years old, and she put a
gold ring on his finger and he immediately became as young and beautiful
as if he had only been thirty years old. Ogier thanked her for her good
deeds. Then she led him to the castle of Avalon. There her sisters and
maidens came to meet him, bade him welcome, and showed him great honor.
They sang lovely and merry songs and poems, danced, played, and made
themselves happy. Ogier said that he never saw greater joy in all his
days. The maiden Morgan put a precious gold wreath on his head and he
immediately forgot all things in the world and could remember nothing
nor think of any adversity or the vanity of the world, and he was
certain that he was in Paradise. This castle Avalon is indeed close to
Paradise, where Enoch and Elias are from, and where they were to come
towards the last day to preach and proclaim the holy Christian faith and
doctrine to Christian people so that they should remain steadfast in
their Christianity and not allow themselves to be deceived and seduced
by the Antichrist's false teachings and temptations.
The well-known King Arthur of England came to Ogier at this
castle, greeted him with love, and said, "We should stay here together
in eternal joy." That is why many foolish people think that they will
come again near the last day and fight against the Antichrist and his
warriors with swords and weapons, just as Enoch and Elias should come
and preach against him. Whoever believes or does not believe does not
thereby sin.
There also came to the castle of Avalon a king who shouted
loudly and said, "Are you here King Arthur? Then come to me because I,
King Kapalus, am on the field and want to fight with you."
Ogier the Dane wondered at these words but King Arthur said,
"King Kapalus, who shouts at me, is very jealous of me for this joy of
mine and wants to rob me of it, therefore I am forced to fight with
him."
Ogier said, "I will go out to fight with him on your behalf."
When Ogier came on the field, King Kapalus said to him, "Who are
you and what is your name?"
Ogier replied, "I am King Ogier the Dane and I came here from
Babylon."
Kapalus said, "You are the mightiest and most brave warrior in
the whole world and have exercised greater bravery than others warriors
and kings, and I will be your prisoner. You have my sword as a pledge
for that, but I would never have surrendered myself to King Arthur in
all my days."
Ogier took this prisoner into the castle, taught him the
Christian faith and had him baptized. Then Morgan le Fay put a wreath on
his head so that he forgot all that was in the world. And so these good
warriors lived in oblivion of all earthly sorrow and vanity for many,
many years.
CHAPTER 57 - How Turks and pagans besieged Babylon and finally won it.
However, the Turks had again laid siege to Jerusalem, captured the city,
and killed the Christians who were there. Then they gathered more help
from pagans and Turks and went to Babylon and besieged King Galter. His
wife's father King Moisan and her brother King Florion gathered many
people and brought him help against his enemies. King Caraheut came from
India to the rescue with all the power he could muster. He said to the
Christians, when they were gathered, that Ogier the Dane was with him at
sea, lost his ship, escaped on a raft, and drifted in the sea and no one
had heard about him since then, therefore he thought he had passed away.
The Christians mourned this quite appropriately and prayed to God to
bless his soul forever. When they had been besieged for some time in the
city, they went out against the Turks and inflicted exceedingly great
damage on them, until first the mighty prince was slain, as well as King
Caraheut, King Moisan and his son King Florion, and the Christians had
to escape to the city. The next day, King Galter went out against them
again and killed Sultan Norandin, King Berkamund his brother, and many
other Turks, but finally had to escape to the city because he lost most
of his people in the field. That night, King Galter took his wife and
his two sons and escaped to France on a ship because he did not dare to
hold the city any longer. On the second day, King Godis stormed the city
and quickly won it because there was no one to defend it. Then he went
to Rhodes and won it. Next he went to India and easily took the whole
country because King Caraheut was defeated.
King Galter came to Paris in France and found Emperor Charles
and told him his misfortune. The emperor believed him and told him to be
content because the course of the world is that after sunshine comes
rain. The emperor gave him the castles and fiefs that Ogier the Dane had
held in France. Galter told the emperor that King Ogier the Dane
remained lost at sea and King Caraheut, King Moisan, and King Florion
fell before Babylon. Thereupon he became very sad. Then King Galter went
to Denmark with his wife and sons, and took over the kingdom, as his
father King Gøde before him. Then he sent his eldest son to France to
take the castles and fiefs which he had received from the emperor and to
render him service from there. When he arrived there, the emperor sent
him to his son Louis, who became Emperor and king of France after his
father.
CHAPTER 58 - Ogier the Dane comes to Christendom again after he had been with Morgan le Fay for two hundred years.
Two hundred years later, Morgan le Fay wanted to let Ogier go away and
see how things were going in Christendom. She took the gold wreath she
had given him off his head, and as soon as it came off, he began to
think of Emperor Charles, Queen Klara in England, King Gøde his brother,
King Galter, King Caraheut, and other friends who had all died a long
time ago. Then Morgan le Fay asked him how long he thought he had been
with her. He answered, "I must have been here ten or fifteen years."
She said, "You have been with me for two hundred years, and none
of your relatives or friends are alive." He asked anyway how things went
for Emperor Charles. She replied, "He died about two hundred years ago
and none of his relatives are alive."
He said, "I don't believe that at all." He then asked her how
things were going in Christendom.
She said, "Very badly, because Turks and pagans have laid waste
to France, Valland, and Lombardy with murder and fire. They have
destroyed Rome and expelled all Christians from the city along with the
Pope. Now they have again attacked the king of France. Do you want to
fight again for the holy faith? Then take this mighty warrior Benoît
with you. So that you will remember me, I will give you this great light
that will burn for many years, and you will live as long as it lasts."
He thanked her profusely and asked her to give him a good horse. She
said, "I will give you the horse that carried you to bed and gave you
food and drink in my bright diamond castle. He was a king of old and his
name was Papilio and I turned him into a horse as he will still be for
another two hundred years. For three hundred years he has already been
in such a form, for he took King Arthur prisoner in a fight with
falsehood and treachery."
She set him and Benoît with their horses on a mighty great cloud
and led them to France to Montpelier, where she put them in front of the
gate. A citizen arrived at the same time as Ogier and he asked what the
name of the city was. He answered, "Montpelier. God be praised that we
are here because my friend Duke Girart is the commander here at the
castle in the city."
The citizen said, "It was two hundred years ago that there was a
commander in this castle named Girart."
Ogier replied, "It is not twenty years since I myself spoke to
him here."
The other replied, "I will prove with sealed letters and our
chronicle that it is two hundred years since he died and all his family
has been extinct for thirty years. If you do not want to believe me,
then read the chronicle about his cousin Ogier the Dane who lived with
him at the same time. It clearly says that Ogier the Dane's father the
king of Denmark gave his son as a hostage to Emperor Charles and he
stayed a long time in France with the emperor and was then his enemy for
many years. At last, he was reconciled to him and got the king of
England's daughter as his wife, before he went to Denmark and became
king of that kingdom. Then he became king of Rhodes and Babylon and
carried out many exploits until finally he set sail with King Caraheut
and was lost at sea." Ogier wondered at these words. Then the citizen
said to Benoît, "Who is this man, that he is so big and tall?"
Benoît replied, "He is Ogier the Dane, of whom you speak."
The citizen replied, "Are you kidding or are you mocking me?
It's been two hundred years since he drowned."
When Ogier heard that, he said to Benoît, "Let's ride to Meau.
There is a monastery in front of the gate of this city, which I had
built in honor of Saint Pharaoh. There we would ride and get lodging."
When he came to the gate, he asked the gatekeeper to tell Abbot Humbert
that Ogier the Dane was at the gate and asked for a lodging.
The gatekeeper said, "There is no one here named Humbert."
Ogier replied, "You are lying, let me in or I will knock down
the gate, because I paid to build this monastery with my money and can
therefore expect to get lodging here for a night or more if that was the
case."
The gatekeeper said, "It's two hundred and fifty years since the
damn monastery was built and you're only thirty years old. How could you
have given money to build it?"
Then Ogier became angry because he had been kept talking so
long, and he hit him on the forehead with his fist so that he fell over,
but he jumped up again and ran into the courtyard and told everyone to
run to the gate. Many ran up on the wall and threw stones and fired
arrows at them. Many also came from the monastery's barnyard and fell
upon them from behind. Ogier and Benoît defended themselves bravely.
Ogier's horse Papilio kicked and bit many to death. At the same time,
Benoît was shot to death and he fell dead off his horse. Then the abbot
came and asked what was going on and why they attacked and fought like
that. They replied that there were three devils at the gate who wanted
to tear down the monastery. One was in the form of a horse and the one
who sat on him was called Ogier the Dane. The Abbot asked them to be
calm, called to Ogier out of a window, and asked him who he was.
Ogier replied, "I am Ogier the Dane, son of King Godfrey of
Denmark."
The abbot replied, "I see you carry Ogier the Dane's shield and
coat of arms, but he died two hundred years ago. I would still like to
lend you a house for his sake, because he had this monastery built."
Then the abbot let him and his horse into the monastery and the
next day invited him and the town's mayor and council to a banquet.
While they were sitting around the table, they asked him if he was
really Ogier the Dane, as he claimed. He answered, "Yes, I believe that
I have been in Paradise for two hundred years, where I ate the sweetest
and most delicious fruit that anyone could see or taste. There is Morgan
le Fay, who gave me this light and promised that I should live as long
as it lasts." He asked the abbot that he would keep it in the sacristy
at their shrine, which he gladly promised, as there was so much power in
it. The abbot saw the precious ring that Ogier had on his hand and asked
to look at it. When Ogier took it off his hand, he became as old and
wrinkled in his face as if he had been a feeble old gaffer. When the
abbot saw that, he put the ring back on his hand and Ogier became as
young and beautiful as a man of thirty. When the abbot and the others
saw this strange thing, they certainly thought he was Ogier the Dane and
begged for forgiveness that they had not received him with greater
honor. Since then, Ogier had his squire Benoît buried honorably in the
choir of the monastery and commanded the abbot and his brothers that
they should bury him there also, if he died in France during their
lifetime.
Ogier rode away from there and came to a town called Verdun.
When he came to the street there was a potter with a cart full of clay
pots. Ogier's horse ran to them, threw itself about, and smashed the
cart and the pots to pieces. The man grabbed the reins and wanted to
hold him until he had been paid for his pots, but the horse bit him to
death. They closed the gates of the city and tried to catch Ogier, but
he rode to the wall on the horse and it jumped over with a single leap.
They opened the gate and thought he was still in the moat, for it was
both wide and deep, but he was already half a mile from the city. Then
they all said, "It must have been a Devil who tried to tempt us."
Ogier rode into Paris, and all who saw him wondered because he
was so tall and big. When he entered his old inn in which he used to
stay, everything in the house was different, and as he stood in the door
and wondered about it, a few hundred people came and stared at him
because he was so big and strong-limbed.
CHAPTER 59 - Ogier the Dane is asked to be a guest of the Queen in Paris, and he tells her where he has been.
Ogier said to those who stood and looked at him, "I am surprised that
there are fewer people in France than at the time when I served the
Emperor Charles." Ogier stayed in the inn for three days. Then the
captain of Paris came and asked if he would serve him for gold and
money. He replied, "I myself tend to keep many lovely servants, and so I
do not want to serve you. But I have come to help the king against his
foes and enemies, and he probably needs my assistance like his ancestor
in the days of yore."
Once, when he rode out of the city, the queen stood in a window
of her palace and saw him ride by. She said to Lady Senlis, who was
standing with her, "Look what a big and lovely man is riding."
The lady replied, "I think he is a Turk because he is so tall
and big."
The queen sent for him to ask if he would come and talk with
her. When he came, she asked him who he was and what his name was, and
if he was a Christian. Ogier answered, "I am a Christian man and my name
is Ogier the Dane. I served Emperor Charles in ancient days and won many
battles for him."
The queen said, "It is impossible, because you are so young and
lovely."
Ogier said, "I was in paradise for two hundred years and more,
and stayed so young there because I ate the delicious fruit of life and
drank from the fountain of life." She invited him to the table with her.
When the meal was over, she went down to her herb garden with him and
asked him to stay with her. She wanted him to be her lover. Ogier
answered her, "You have your good husband, so it is not appropriate for
us to think about such things."
She answered, "I know best how dear he is to me, but I love you
far dearer than him." Then she began to dance for him with her maidens,
but Ogier began to grow tired of it and soon fell asleep against a tree.
The queen noticed the beautiful ring and gently took it from his finger,
whereupon he seemed to be three hundred years old, and his face became
wrinkled. When she perceived that he seemed lovely and young by virtue
of the ring, she put it back on his finger because she took pity on him.
But Lady Senlis said to her, "Keep this precious ring and do not
let it go."
She answered, "No, I will not rob him of it." She woke him up
and said, "Take better care of your ring, I had it off your finger for a
long time and could have stolen it." He thanked her profusely, and rode
his way out of town.
The lady reproached the queen for not keeping the beautiful ring
and said, "If I had gotten it, then he would never have seen it again."
She then sent thirty men to kill Ogier and bring her back this
ring. They caught him unawares in a thicket and they attacked him, but
he killed the first eight of them, and the others were bitten and kicked
by his horse. He spared one of them and told him to ride back and tell
his lady that he would pay her back for this treachery.
Ogier was still riding on the road to where the battle was. As
he got a little further along the road, he met many who fled from the
fight. He asked why they ran like that. They answered that the
Christians had been put to flight by the Turks. He led the way to where
the battle was most dangerous. A Frenchman got scared out of the way by
him. Ogier asked why he ran away like that.
He said, "I thought you were a Turk because you are so big and
tall."
Ogier said, "Where is the king?"
The other answered, "He escaped into the city ahead of me and I
am following him."
Ogier answered, "Tell him to gather his people together again
and come straight out here at once, then we will begin the battle
again."
The other said, "No, he cannot help, for the Turks and pagans
are more than fifty thousand men strong, and our best fighters are now
all slain."
CHAPTER 60 - How the Sultan exchanges horses with Ogier the Dane and what harm the horse does to the Sultan's people.
Ogier realized that he could get no help from the king to drive the
Turks away, so he made up his mind to ride into the Sultan's army and
scout his people and situation so that he could afterwards do him
greater harm. He took a green branch from a spruce tree and carried it
in his hand as a sign that he was a messenger and came to ask for peace.
When he came to the Sultan he said, "I am the king of France's
messenger. He says that if you will release the Christian prisoners that
you captured today in the fight, then he will release me from my prison
and I will become your prisoner, in place of the Christians, and you can
ransom me for as much treasure as you desire, for I am the son of King
Hagen of Arabia, and my name is Obtinel, and I was taken prisoner in
Rhodes when the Christians won the battle there."
The Sultan replied, "Messengers do not usually ride in armor and
a surcoat, neither do I think you are King Hagen's son, but if the king
has sent you out, then ride back and tell him to renounce his God and
worship my god Mahomet, or I will defeat him and anyone else who is in
this country."
When the Christian prisoners heard the words that Ogier said to
the Sultan, they thought that he was the king's messenger. It was
strange to them, for they knew that he had not so great a man in the
whole kingdom. But one of the Christians said to the others, "I wonder
greatly, for I believe for sure that he is a Christian warrior, although
he says that he was born in Arabia and is the king's son. I dreamed of
strange things, and when I woke up I saw a bird that said to me, 'Do not
be afraid, because a great eagle will come from the kingdom of Denmark
and save you and the other Christians from your distress.' Therefore, we
should all pray to God that he will come to us and save us from this
great mortal danger."
The Sultan saw that the Christian prisoners thus gathered
together in prayer and spoke secretly, for he said to them, "I have won
you honestly in this battle, therefore you must all turn away from your
God, or I will let you suffer until you are dead."
Ogier said to the Sultan, "Dear lord, take me prisoner and let
them go."
He replied, "You are not the king of Arabia's son."
Ogier said, "Yes, I am," and the Christians swore that he was
this king's son.
The Sultan replied, "You swear that he is the king's son so that
you can escape me, but your big lie will not help you or free you from
my power." While they were talking together, the Sultan wanted to have
Ogier's horse, for he said to him, "Will you exchange your horse with
mine?"
Ogier answered, "I am satisfied with that if I can get a good
horse." The Sultan sent for four to six horses that he should take one
of them in exchange for his horse. Meanwhile Ogier said softly to his
horse, "Now show some courage and your strength that we will not be
disturbed." The Sultan sent his stable master to look in the mouth of
Ogier's horse to see how old it was. As he took hold of the horse's
muzzle, it bit his throat so that he fell dead to the ground. The other
Turks who stood around began to let loose on it, but the horse bit and
dashed to all sides, and trampled countless dead under its feet. All
were terrified and afraid of it when it made such a loud noise between
their lances, swords, and weapons, and killed so many. The Sultan and
his best fighters fled from its path. Meanwhile the Christian prisoners
escaped and arrived safely inside the city. Then Ogier grabbed his horse
again and it yielded, content.
When the Sultan saw it, he rode to Ogier and said, "Give
yourself up as a prisoner or I will kill you, because my prisoners
escaped while your horse was loose in my camp".
Ogier said, "Do not ride too close if you want to keep living."
The Sultan said, "You are a sorcerer that has a living devil at
his disposal, otherwise you could not defeat and kill so many."
Ogier replied, "May I speak calmly with you? I would tell you
the truth of who I am." The Sultan swore on his faith and honor that he
could tell him without fear of betrayal. Then Ogier said, "I am a
Christian man and believe in the almighty God who created heaven and
earth, and in his son who became a man through the Virgin Mary, was
tormented and crucified by the Jews before going down to hell, and took
all the righteous men away from there up to heaven and sits at the right
hand of God the Father, from whence he will come again and judge the
living and the dead. I sincerely advise you to believe in him for if you
become baptized and renounce the evil false idol Mahomet, then you will
receive the joy of heaven, and at the end you will be with all the good
Christians."
The Sultan answered, "I will not renounce my God Mahomet, but I
will die as his servant."
Ogier replied, "I will go into battle against you on the
condition that if you win, then you will release your Christian
prisoners and free the city of Chartres which the king is in with all
his people, but if I win then you shall immediately depart from the
kingdom with your whole army and never again trouble Christendom. If you
think that you will not fight alone with me, then I will allow you to
choose one man from your army who is willing to fight against me."
The king of Nubia said to the Sultan, "Lord, he offers you more
than the worst! I will be the one who will go against him in battle for
you, however, on the condition that he must ride a different horse." The
Sultan agreed to these terms, and asked Ogier to meet on the field in
the morning and to get another horse by then.
The Christians who had escaped from the Sultan while Ogier's
horse was attacking the enemies said to the king of France that a mighty
great warrior, who claimed to be his messenger, came to the Sultan and
his horse struck and bit many of the Turks to death and then they broke
free and ran into the city to him. They certainly believed that it was a
Christian warrior who was to help them out of this need and danger. When
the king heard this, he asked all his people to go to church and pray
and thank God for this comfort. He also went to church himself and, as
he lay in his divine prayers, an angel of God came and said to him, "A
mighty Christian warrior will come here to you in the city, who will
save you and all the Christians from the hands of the Turks." The king
thanked God for this comfort, called the entire royal family together in
the city, then went to the gate and received Ogier the Dane with great
honor and respect, and led him up to his palace.
When he asked him where he was born, Ogier answered, "I am Ogier
the Dane of Denmark and I am almost three hundred years old." Even
though the king doubted that what he said was true, he still did not
dare to speak against him, lest he should anger him.
CHAPTER 61 - Ogier the Dane's horse changes its color when he is to ride in battle against the Sultan. The king of Nubia dies and the Sultan is taken prisoner.
In the morning Ogier said to the king, "I have promised the Sultan to
meet him alone in the field today under the condition that if I lose,
then he shall have this city and all the prisoners who escaped from him,
but if I win, then he will leave Christendom with all his army and never
trouble us again. I ask you to give me the keys to the city and deliver
all the prisoners into my hands." When the king had done this, the
people who lived in the city became very afraid because, regardless of
how big and strong Ogier was, he was going to fight alone against two at
once. When Ogier rode out of the city, the king and his good men went up
on the wall to watch the battle. As Ogier rode along the road, he
remembered that he had promised to take another horse into the field, so
he immediately got off his horse, tied it to a tree, and sent word to
the king that he should send him another horse. The messenger came back
with it, and Ogier's horse broke loose and bit the other horse to death.
Then it ran back and kneeled in front of Ogier and changed its color and
turned white, where it formerly had a black coat. When Ogier saw this
strange occurrence, he sat on it again and rode to the field.
They did not recognize Ogier's horse, because it had changed its
hair and color in this way, and they both rode against him with their
lances, but they did not knock him from his saddle. Then they hit him
both at the same time with all their might. Ogier cut the thigh of the
king of Nubia and wounded his horse in the side with the same blow. The
horse went mad and threw the king off, then Ogier's horse jumped on the
king's chest and crushed his heart so that he died. Then the Sultan and
Ogier fought together for a long time. With one last blow, Ogier split
his helmet and cut his left side from his ear down to his leg. Then the
Sultan gave himself up as a prisoner and handed Ogier his sword. Ogier
led his prisoner into the city to the king.
The king asked the Sultan if he wanted to believe in our God. He
now said yes and asked for baptism and Christianity. When he was
baptized, he shortly afterwards caught a cold and died of it. When the
Turks and the pagans heard it, they quickly fled back home, each to his
own land.
Then the king showed Ogier the Dane great honor and asked him
one day why he seemed so young, when he was so old. Ogier did not know
that he would anger Morgan le Fay if he told him, so he began to tell
the king that a maiden had given him a ring and as long as he had it on
his hand he seemed very young. There stood an old duke there whose name
was Geert and he was a hundred years old. He took this ring and put it
on his finger, and immediately he seemed as lovely and young as if he
were only thirty years old. Ogier's face was wrinkled and he seemed more
than three hundred years old. Then the king must have noticed that Duke
Geert had his ring, because he seemed so young, and so he asked him to
return Ogier's ring to him again. But he would not do that, either for
good or for evil, and therefore Ogier was quite saddened. At this time,
a beautiful shining maiden appeared who was dressed in white. She took
the ring from Duke Geert without him feeling or knowing it, and put it
back on Ogier's hand and he became as beautiful and young again as he
was before.
CHAPTER 62 - The king of France dies in Paris and Ogier is to marry the Queen.
Then the king of France went to Paris and asked Ogier to follow him
there because he wanted to reward him for saving him from his foes and
enemies. The king had been in Paris for a while, when he fell ill and
died. The queen called Ogier to her and said that she would have no one
else on earth but him as her husband, and she begged him to consent to
it. He thanked her profusely, but said, "I do not intend to marry or
take any queen for a wife, although I am the son of the king of Denmark
and was king there and also in England, Babylon, and Rhodes." But she
did not stop begging until he promised to marry her, but first he wanted
to consult the abbot in Saint Pharaoh's monastery. With that, she
allowed herself to be content and got ready to accompany Ogier there.
When she got there, she immediately spoke secretly to the abbot and
asked him to advise Ogier to marry her. He promised that he would be
happy to comply with her prayer and request. Then he had a sumptuous
banquet prepared and invited lords and princes and the finest people of
the city. When the meal was over, he advised Ogier the Dane to marry the
queen and gain France with her as a wedding gift, for he was her match
because he was the son of a king, and also a mighty warrior, and no one
had a greater claim to be king of France than he who had saved the
kingdom from its enemies. The council of the kingdom and the other lords
who were present asked him lovingly to marry their queen, according to
the advice of the pious abbot. He gave in to their prayers and the abbot
betrothed them together in the presence of all these good lords.
A few days later, when the couple were about to get married,
they went to the church with great splendor and dignity, as befits a
king and a queen. But just as they were about to enter the church door
to be married, a lovely maiden in white and shining robes appeared. She
embraced King Ogier and took him up into a mighty cloud and disappeared
with him before everyone's eyes.
No one has ever found out where he went, but the legend still
goes through the kingdom of Denmark that he will return and save his
countrymen when they most need his help against the violence and
injuries of their enemies.
THE END
REFERENCES
