HOW MAWGIS BECAME A HERMIT
Reynaud entertained the Barons that night in Royal fashion. The next
day, after they had heard mass, he was minded to set forth, and he
said to his brothers and Mawgis, "Tarry here and keep this castle."
"Nay," said Alard, "we will come with you. Maybe you will have need
of help." "Alard has spoken well," said Ogier the Dane. Then said
Reynaud to Mawgis, "You at the least will tarry here." "That will I
do, fair cousin," answered Mawgis, "and be sure that Montalban shall
suffer no harm through me."
Reynaud rode to Montfaucon, and there he found Roland waiting for
him. Roland spake the first, and said, "Be sure, Sir Reynaud, that
when you leave the field this day, you will so leave it that you will
never again fight with me or any other man." "Such threatenings do
not become so good a knight," answered Reynaud. Roland said again,
"I am not here for peace, but for war. If you are wise you will keep
yourself far from me." "You are overproud," answered Reynaud, "maybe
I shall abate your high thoughts."
When Reynaud had spoken these words, he spurred Bayard and charged
Roland, and Roland also charged from his side. With so great a shock
did they come together, that their spears were broken to pieces. As
for Reynaud, he was borne to the earth, his saddle girths breaking,
and Roland's feet were thrust out of the stirrups. Then Reynaud
rising quickly from the ground smote Roland a mighty blow with his
sword, so that he scarce knew where he was. Nevertheless, drawing
his good sword Durendal, he made at Reynaud, and dealt him a great
stroke. Long and fierce was the battle between these two, for they
both were as hardy knights as lived.
Then the Duke Naymes cried to the King, "This is ill done to send to
their death two such valiant knights, who might do good service
against the heathen. Bid them cease from their fighting, Sir King."
But the King said nought.
Reynaud said to Roland, "Let us light down and fight afoot lest by
chance we should kill our horses, for if we lose them we are not like
to get their like again." With this Roland was content. So they
lighted down from their horses and fought on foot. First they fought
with swords, but neither one could get the better of the other. When
Roland saw that he could not prevail with his sword he caught the
other round the waist, and wrestled with him in the same fashion as
the Northerners use. So they two strove together for so long a time
as a man might take for the running of a mile. Then seeing that
neither could throw the other they sat down, being utterly wearied;
their helmets and shields were partly broken, and the ground whereon
they had stood was trampled as if men had beaten corn thereon.
Then there came to pass a right wonderful thing. There suddenly fell
upon the two so thick a cloud that neither could see the other. Then
Roland, having bethought himself awhile, said to Reynaud, "Will you
do me a courteous turn, and I will some day, if you should need it,
do the same to you." Reynaud answered, "I am ready to do whatsoever
you shall ask me." Then Roland said, "I will that you take me with
you to Montalban, for I am persuaded in my mind that in this matter
you have the right and I the wrong."
So Roland mounted his horse, and Reynaud mounted on Bayard, and they
rode away side by side. When King Charles saw them he was not a
little astonished, and leaping upon his horse he cried aloud, "Now
shall I see who is on my side." And he hurried after the two
knights, and many Frenchmen went with him.
By this time the King, having been baulked of his will once again,
for he had counted it for certain that Roland would overcome Reynaud,
was yet more steadfastly determined not to give peace to the
brethren; therefore he bade Duke Richard of Normandy ride on and
guard the crossing over the river while he himself followed with all
the host that he could muster.
So the King and his army came to Montalban and set up his tent before
the great gates of the castle. One came to Mawgis and said, "The
King is come with a great host, and has set up his tent before the
great wall." "Take no heed of this," answered Mawgis; "if the King
has done this thing he has done it to his own loss."
When Reynaud knew of the matter he told it to Roland, and Roland
said, "I will now send to the King my uncle this message--that
Reynaud has dealt with me right courteously; also that he and his
brethren and Mawgis will give themselves and their castle into his
hands if only he will promise to save us alive." "You speak well,"
said Reynaud; "I am content to do this."
Then they doubted who should take this message to the King. At last
it was agreed that the Duke of Naymes and Ogier the Dane should take
it. So these two went to the King where he sat in his tent before
the great gates of the castle.
But the King hardened his heart, and would not listen to the Duke
Naymes and Ogier. Nay more, he cried, "Flee from this place, ye
villains! Reynaud shall have no peace with me till I have Mawgis to
do with as I will." Then the Barons went back to the castle and told
how they had fared. Reynaud said, "I wonder that the King is so hard
of heart. But Mawgis I will not give to him; no, not though I should
die for it."
Then they went to supper, and ate their meat with much cheerfulness.
Supper being ended, Reynaud said to Mawgis, "Cousin, I pray you to
watch this night, for on this hangs the lives of us all." "Sleep in
peace," answered Mawgis, "for all shall be well."
When all the Barons were abed Mawgis took Bayard out of his stable
and rode to the King's camp. When he was come thither he cast upon
all the host, by a charm that he had, a very deep sleep. This done,
he went to the King's tent and took him out of his bed and laid him
across Bayard, and carried him, still sleeping, to Montalban.
Mawgis went to the chamber of Reynaud and said to him, "Cousin, what
would you give me if I should deliver the King into your hands?" "I
would give you whatsoever you shall ask," answered Reynaud. "Promise
me then that you will do him no harm," said Mawgis. Reynaud
answered, "I promise." Then Mawgis led him to his own chamber and
showed him the King asleep in his bed.
When Mawgis had delivered the King to Reynaud he went to the stable
where he had left Bayard and rubbed the horse's back and head with
straw, and kissed him, weeping the while. This done he put on him
his pilgrim's garb, and having given the porter all the clothing that
he had, went forth from the gate.
Mawgis journeyed till he came to the river Dordogne. This he crossed
in a boat, and having passed through a pine forest that was on the
other side of the river, came to a well whereby there was a little
house with a spring before the door, in which a hermit might
conveniently dwell. Having entered the house he saw an oratory and
in it an image of Our Lady, and when he had knelt down before it he
prayed that Our Lord would forgive him his sins. This done, he made
a great vow that he would abide in that place for the rest of his
life, eating only such wild things as were in the wood. This he did
thinking that if he were away the King would make peace with the
brethren.