king would spare his and his brothers' lives. While the messenger was
gone Rinaldo, impatient to learn what tidings he might bring, rode out
to meet him. When he had ridden as far as he thought prudent he stopped
in a wood, and alighting, tied Bayard to a tree. Then he sat down, and,
as he waited, he fell asleep. Bayard meanwhile got loose, and strayed
away where the grass tempted him. Just then came along some country
people, who said to one another, "Look, is not that the great horse
Bayard that Rinaldo rides? Let us take him, and carry him to King
Charles, who will pay us well for our trouble." They did so, and the
king was delighted with his prize, and gave them a present that made
them rich to their dying day.
When Rinaldo woke he looked round for his horse, and, finding him not,
he groaned, and said, "O unlucky hour that I was born! how fortune
persecutes me!" So desperate was he that he took off his armor and his
spurs, saying, "What need have I of these, since Bayard is lost?" While
he stood thus lamenting, a man came from the thicket, seemingly bent
with age. He had a long beard hanging over his breast, and eyebrows
that almost covered his eyes. He bade Rinaldo good day. Rinaldo thanked
him, and said, "A good day I have hardly had since I was born." Then
said the old man, "Signor Rinaldo, you must not despair, for God will
make all things turn to the best." Rinaldo answered, "My trouble is too
heavy for me to hope relief. The king has taken my brothers, and means
to put them to death. I thought to rescue them by means of my horse
Bayard, but while I slept some thief has stolen him." The old man
replied, "I will remember you and your brothers in my prayers. I am a
poor man, have you not something to give me?" Rinaldo said, "I have
nothing to give," but then he recollected his spurs. He gave them to
the beggar, and said, "Here, take my spurs. They are the first present
my mother gave me when my father, Count Aymon, dubbed me knight. They
ought to bring you ten pounds."
The old man took the spurs, and put them into his sack, and said,
"Noble sir, have you nothing else you can give me?" Rinaldo replied,
"Are you making sport of me? I tell you truly if it were not for shame
to beat one so helpless, I would teach you better manners." The old man
said, "Of a truth, sir, if you did so you would do a great sin. If all
had beaten me of whom I have begged I should have been killed long ago,
for I ask alms in churches and convents, and wherever I can." "You say
true," replied Rinaldo, "if you did not ask, none would relieve you."
The old man said, "True, noble sir, therefore I pray if you have
anything more to spare, give it me." Rinaldo gave him his mantle, and
said, "Take it, pilgrim. I give it you for the love of Christ, that God
would save my brothers from a shameful death, and help me to escape out
of King Charles's power."
The pilgrim took the mantle, folded it up, and put it into his bag.
Then a third time he said to Rinaldo, "Sir, have you nothing left to
give me that I may remember you in my prayers?" "Wretch!" exclaimed
Rinaldo, "do you make me your sport?" and he drew his sword, and struck
at him; but the old man warded off the blow with his staff, and said,
"Rinaldo, would you slay your cousin, Malagigi?" When Rinaldo heard
that he stayed his hand, and gazed doubtingly on the old man, who now
threw aside his disguise, and appeared to be indeed Malagigi. "Dear
cousin," said Rinaldo, "pray forgive me. I did not know you. Next to
God, my trust is in you. Help my brothers to escape out of prison, I
entreat you. I have lost my horse, and therefore cannot render them any
assistance." Malagigi answered, "Cousin Rinaldo, I will enable you to
recover your horse. Meanwhile, you must do as I say."
Then Malagigi took from his sack a gown, and gave it to Rinaldo to put
on over his armor, and a hat that was full of holes, and an old pair of
shoes to put on. They looked like two pilgrims, very old and poor. Then
they went forth from the wood, and after a little while saw four monks
riding along the road. Malagigi said to Rinaldo, "I will go meet the
monks, and see what news I can learn."
Malagigi learned from the monks that on the approaching festival there
would be a great crowd of people at court, for the prince was going to
show the ladies the famous horse Bayard that used to belong to Rinaldo.
"What!" said the pilgrim; "is Bayard there?" "Yes," answered the monks;
"the king has given him to Charlot, and, after the prince has ridden
him the king means to pass sentence on the brothers of Rinaldo, and
have them hanged." Then Malagigi asked alms of the monks, but they
would give him none, till he threw aside his pilgrim garb, and let them
see his armor, when, partly for charity and partly for terror, they
gave him a golden cup, adorned with precious stones that sparkled in
the sunshine.
Malagigi then hastened back to Rinaldo, and told him what he had
learned.
The morning of the feast-day Rinaldo and Malagigi came to the place
where the sports were to be held. Malagigi gave Rinaldo his spurs back
again, and said, "Cousin, put on your spurs, for you will need them."
"How shall I need them," said Rinaldo, "since I have lost my horse?"
Yet he did as Malagigi directed him.
When the two had taken their stand on the border of the field among the
crowd the princes and ladies of the court began to assemble. When they
were all assembled the king came also, and Charlot with him, near whom
the horse Bayard was led, in the charge of grooms, who were expressly
enjoined to guard him safely. The king, looking round on the circle of
spectators, saw Malagigi and Rinaldo, and observed the splendid cup
that they had, and said to Charlot, "See, my son, what a brilliant cup
those two pilgrims have got. It seems to be worth a hundred ducats."
"That is true," said Charlot; "Let us go and ask where they got it." So
they rode to the place where the pilgrims stood, and Charlot stopped
Bayard close to them.
The horse snuffed at the pilgrims, knew Rinaldo, and caressed his
master. The king said to Malagigi, "Friend, where did you get that
beautiful cup?" Malagigi replied, "Honorable sir, I paid for it all the
money I have saved from eleven years' begging in churches and convents.
The Pope himself has blessed it, and given it the power that whosoever
eats or drinks out of it shall be pardoned of all his sins." Then said
the king to Charlot, "My son, these are right holy men; see how the
dumb beast worships them."
Then the king said to Malagigi, "Give me a morsel from your cup, that I
may be cleared of my sins." Malagigi answered, "Illustrious lord, I
dare not do it, unless you will forgive all who have at any time
offended you. You know that Christ forgave all those who had betrayed
and crucified him." The king replied, "Friend, that is true; but
Rinaldo has so grievously offended me, that I cannot forgive him, nor
that other man, Malagigi, the magician. These two shall never live in
my kingdom again. If I catch them I will certainly have them hanged.
But tell me, pilgrim, who is that man who stands beside you?" "He is
deaf, dumb, and blind," said Malagigi. Then the king said again, "Give
me to drink of your cup, to take away my sins." Malagigi answered, "My
lord king, here is my poor brother, who for fifty days has not heard,
spoken, nor seen. This misfortune befell him in a house where we found
shelter, and the day before yesterday we met with a wise woman, who
told him the only hope of a cure for him was to come to some place
where Bayard was to be ridden, and to mount and ride him; that would do
him more good than anything else." Then said the king, "Friend, you
have come to the right place, for Bayard is to be ridden here to-day.
Give me a draught from your cup, and your companion shall ride upon
Bayard." Malagigi, hearing these words, said, "Be it so." Then the
king, with great devotion, took a spoon, and dipped a portion from the
pilgrim's cup, believing that his sins should be thereby forgiven.
When this was done, the king said to Charlot, "Son, I request that you
will let this sick pilgrim sit on your horse, and ride if he can, for
by so doing he will be healed of all his infirmities." Charlot replied,
"That will I gladly do." So saying, he dismounted, and the servants
took the pilgrim in their arms, and helped him on the horse.
Wher Rinaldo was mounted, he put his feet in the stirrups, and said, "I
would like to ride a little." Malagigi, hearing him speak, seemed
delighted, and asked him whether he could see and hear also. "Yes,"
said Rinaldo, "I am healed of all my infirmities." When the king heard
it he said to Bishop Turpin, "My lord bishop, we must celebrate this
with a procession, with crosses and banners, for it is a great miracle."
When Rinaldo remarked that he was not carefully watched, he spoke to
the horse, and touched him with the spurs. Bayard knew that his master
was upon him, and he started off upon a rapid pace, and in a few
moments was a good way off. Malagigi pretended to be in great alarm. "O
noble king and master," he cried, "my poor companion is run away with;
he will fall and break his neck." The king ordered his knights to ride
after the pilgrim, and bring him back, or help him if need were. They
did so, but it was in vain. Rinaldo left them all behind him, and kept
on his way till he reached Montalban. Malagigi was suffered to depart,
unsuspected, and he went his way, making sad lamentation for the fate
of his comrade, who he pretended to think must surely be dashed to
pieces.
Malagigi did not go far, but having changed his disguise, returned to
where the king was, and employed his best art in getting the brothers
of Rinaldo out of prison. He succeeded; and all three got safely to
Montalban, where Rinaldo's joy at the rescue of his brothers and the
recovery of Bayard was more than tongue can tell.
DEATH OF RINALDO
THE distress in Rinaldo's castle for want of food grew more severe
every day, under the pressure of the siege. The garrison were forced to
kill their horses, both to save the provision they would consume, and
to make food of their flesh. At last all the horses were killed except
Bayard, and Rinaldo said to his brothers, "Bayard must die, for we have
nothing else to eat." So they went to the stable and brought out Bayard
to kill him. But Alardo said, "Brother, let Bayard live a little
longer; who knows what God may do for us?"
Bayard heard these words, and understood them as if he was a man, and
fell on his knees, as if he would beg for mercy. When Rinaldo saw the
distress of his horse his heart failed him, and he let him live.
Just at this time Aya, Rinaldo's mother, who was the sister of the
Emperor, came to the camp, attended by knights and ladies, to intercede
for her sons. She fell on her knees before the king, and besought him
that he would pardon Rinaldo and his brothers: and all the peers and
knights took her side, and entreated the king to grant her prayer. Then
said the king, "Dear sister, you act the part of a good mother, and I
respect your tender heart, and yield to your entreaties. I will spare
your sons their lives if they submit implicitly to my will."
When Charlot heard this he approached the king and whispered in his
ear. And the king turned to his sister and said, "Charlot must have
Bayard, because I have given the horse to him. Now go, my sister, and
tell Rinaldo what I have said."
When the Lady Aya heard these words she was delighted, thanked God in
her heart, and said, "Worthy king and brother, I will do as you bid
me." So she went into the castle, where her sons received her most
joyfully and affectionately, and she told them the king's offer. Then
Alardo said, "Brother, I would rather have the king's enmity than give
Bayard to Charlot, for I believe he will kill him." Likewise said all
the brothers. When Rinaldo heard them he said, "Dear brothers, if we
may win our forgiveness by giving up the horse, so be it. Let us make
our peace, for we cannot stand against the king's power." Then he went
to his mother, and told her they would give the horse to Charlot, and
more, too, if the king would pardon them, and forgive all that they had
done against his crown and dignity. The lady returned to Charles and
told him the answer of her sons.
When the peace was thus made between the king and the sons of Aymon,
the brothers came forth from the castle, bringing Bayard with them,
and, falling at the king's feet, begged his forgiveness. The king bade
them rise, and received them into favor in the sight of all his noble
knights and counsellors, to the great joy of all, especially of the
Lady Aya, their mother. Then Rinaldo took the horse Bayard, gave him to
Charlot, and said, "My lord and prince, this horse I give to you; do
with him as to you seems good." Charlot took him, as had been agreed
on. Then he made the servants take him to the bridge, and throw him
into the water. Bayard sank to the bottom, but soon came to the surface
again and swam, saw Rinaldo looking at him, came to land, ran to his
old master, and stood by him as proudly as if he had understanding, and
would say, "Why did you treat me so?" When the prince saw that he said,
"Rinaldo, give me the horse again, for he must die." Rinaldo replied,
"My lord and prince, he is yours without dispute," and gave him to him.
The prince then had a millstone tied to each foot, and two to his neck,
and made them throw him again into the water. Bayard struggled in the
water, looked up to his master, threw off the stones, and came back to
Rinaldo.
When Alardo saw that, he said, "Now must thou be disgraced forever,
brother, if thou give up the horse again." But Rinaldo answered,
"Brother, be still. Shall I for the horse's life provoke the anger of
the king again?" Then Alardo said, "Ah, Bayard! what a return do we
make for all thy true love and service!" Rinaldo gave the horse to the
prince again, and said, "My lord, if the horse comes out again I cannot
return him to you any more, for it wrings my heart too much." Then
Charlot had Bayard loaded with the stones as before, and thrown into
the water; and commanded Rinaldo that he should not stand where the
horse would see him. When Bayard rose to the surface he stretched his
neck out of the water and looked round for his master, but saw him not.
Then he sunk to the bottom.
Rinaldo was so distressed for the loss of Bayard that he made a vow to
ride no horse again all his life long, nor to bind a sword to his side,
but to become a hermit. He resolved to betake himself to some wild
wood, but first to return to his castle, to see his children, and to
appoint to each his share of his estate.
So he took leave of the king and of his brothers, and returned to
Montalban, and his brothers remained with the king. Rinaldo called his
children to him, and he made his eldest born, Aymeric, a knight, and
made him lord of his castle and of his land. He gave to the rest what
other goods he had, and kissed and embraced them all, commended them to
God, and then departed from them with a heavy heart.
He had not travelled far when he entered a wood, and there met with a
hermit, who had long been retired from the world. Rinaldo greeted him,
and the hermit replied courteously, and asked him who he was and what
was his purpose. Rinaldo replied, "Sir, I have led a sinful life; many
deeds of violence have I done, and many men have I slain, not always in
a good cause, but often under the impulse of my own headstrong
passions. I have also been the cause of the death of many of my
friends, who took my part, not because they thought me in the right,
but only for love of me. And now I come to make confession of all my
sins, and to do penance for the rest of my life, if perhaps the mercy
of God will forgive me." The hermit said, "Friend, I perceive you have
fallen into great sins, and have broken the commandments of God, but
his mercy is greater than your sins; and if you repent from your heart,
and lead a new life, there is yet hope for you that he will forgive you
what is past." So Rinaldo was comforted, and said, "Master, I will stay
with you, and what you bid ane I will do." The hermit replied, "Roots
and vegetables will be your food; shirt or shoes you may not wear; your
lot must be poverty and want if you stay with me." Rinaldo replied, "I
will cheerfully bear all this, and more." So he remained three whole
years with the hermit, and after that his strength failed, and it
seemed as if he was like to die.
One night the hermit had a dream, and heard a voice from heaven, which
commanded him to say to his companion that he must without delay go to
the Holy Land, and fight against the heathen. The hermit, when he heard
that voice, was glad, and calling Rinaldo, he said, "Friend, God's
angel has commanded me to say to you that you must without delay go to
Jerusalem, and help our fellow-Christians in their struggle with the
Infidels." Then said Rinaldo, "Ah! master, how can I do that? It is
over three years since I made a vow no more to ride a horse, nor take a
sword or spear in my hand." The hermit answered, "Dear friend, obey
God, and do what the angel commanded." "I will do so," said Rinaldo,
"and pray for me, my master, that God may guide me right." Then he
departed, and went to the seaside, and took ship and came to Tripoli in
Syria.
And as he went on his way his strength returned to him, till it was
equal to what it was in his best days. And though he never mounted a
horse, nor took a sword in his hand, yet with his pilgrim's staff he
did good service in the armies of the Christians; and it pleased God
that he escaped unhurt, though he was present in many battles, and his
courage inspired the men with the same. At last a truce was made with
the Saracens, and Rinaldo, now old and infirm, wishing to see his
native land again before he died, took ship and sailed for France. When
he arrived he shunned to go to the resorts of the great, and preferred
to live among the humble folk, where he was unknown. He did country
work, and lived on milk and bread, drank water, and was therewith
content. While he so lived he heard that the city of Cologne was the
holiest and best of cities, on account of the relics and bodies of
saints who had there poured out their blood for the faith. This induced
him to betake himself thither. When the pious hero arrived at Cologne
he went to the monastery of St. Peter, and lived a holy life, occupied
night and day in devotion. It so happened that at that time in the next
town to Cologne there raged a dreadful pestilence. Many people came to
Rinaldo, to beg him to pray for them, that the plague might be stayed.
The holy man prayed fervently, and besought the Lord to take away the
plague from the people, and his prayer was heard. The stroke of the
pestilence was arrested, and all the people thanked the holy man and
praised God.
Now there was at this time at Cologne a bishop, called Agilolphus, who
was a wise and understanding man, who led a pure and secluded life, and
set a good example to others. This bishop undertook to build the Church
of St. Peter, and gave notice to all stonemasons and other workmen
round about to come to Cologne, where they should find work and wages.
Among others came Rinaldo; and he worked among the laborers and did
more than four or five common workmen. When they went to dinner he
brought stone and mortar so that they had enough for the whole day.
When the others went to bed he stretched himself out on the stones. He
ate bread only, and drank nothing but water; and had for his wages but
a penny a day. The head workman asked him his name, and where he
belonged. He would not tell, but said nothing and pursued his work.
They called him St. Peter's workman, because he was so devoted to his
work.
When the overseer saw the diligence of this holy man he chid the
laziness of the other workmen, and said, "You receive more pay than
this good man, but do not do half as much work." For this reason the
other workmen hated Rinaldo, and made a secret agreement to kill him.
They knew that he made it a practice to go every night to a certain
church to pray and give alms. So they agreed to lay wait for him, with
the purpose to kill him. When he came to the spot, they seized him, and
beat him over the head till he was dead. Then they put his body into a
sack, and stones with it, and cast it into the Rhine, in the hope the
sack would sink to the bottom, and be there concealed. But God willed
not that it should be so, but caused the sack to float on the surface,
and be thrown upon the bank. And the soul of the holy martyr was
carried by angels, with songs of praise, up to the heavens.
Now at that time the people of Dortmund had become converted to the
Christian faith; and they sent to the Bishop of Cologne, and desired
him to give them some of the holy relics that are in such abundance in
that city. So the Bishop called together his clergy to deliberate what
answer they should give to this request. And it was determined to give
to the people of Dortmund the body of the holy man who had just
suffered martyrdom.
When now the body with the coffin was put on the cart, the cart began
to move toward Dortmund without horses or help of men, and stopped not
till it reached the place where the church of St. Rinaldo now stands.
The Bishop and his clergy followed the holy man to do him honor, with
singing of hymns, for a space of three miles. And St. Rinaldo has ever
since been the patron of that place, and many wonderful works has God
done through him, as may be seen in the legends.
HUON OF BORDEAUX
WHEN Charlemagne grew old he felt the burden of government become
heavier year by year, till at last he called together his high barons
and peers to propose to abdicate the empire and the throne of France in
favor of his sons, Charlot and Lewis.
The Emperor was unreasonably partial to his eldest son; he would have
been glad to have had the barons and peers demand Charlot for their
only sovereign; but that prince was so infamous, for his falsehood and
cruelty, that the council strenuously opposed the Emperor's proposal of
abdicating, and implored him to continue to hold a sceptre which he
wielded with so much glory.
Amaury of Hauteville, cousin of Ganelon, and now head of the wicked
branch of the house of Maganza, was the secret partisan of Charlot,
whom he resembled in his loose morals and bad dispositions. Amaury
nourished the most bitter resentment against the house of Guienne, of
which the former Duke, Sevinus, had often rebuked his misdeeds. He took
advantage of this occasion to do an injury to the two young children
whom the Duke Sevinus had left under the charge of the Duchess Alice,
their mother; and at the same time, to advance his interest with
Charlot by increasing his wealth and power. With this view he suggested
to the prince a new idea.
He pretended to agree with the opinion of the barons; he said that it
would be best to try Charlot's capacity for government by giving him
some rich provinces before placing him upon the throne; and that the
Emperor, without depriving himself of any part of his realm, might give
Charlot the investiture of Guienne. For although seven years had passed
since the death of Sevinus, the young Duke, his son, had not yet
repaired to the court of Charlemagne to render the homage due to his
lawful sovereign.
We have often had occasion to admire the justice and wisdom of the
advice which on all occasions the Duke Namo of Bavaria gave to
Charlemagne, and he now discountenanced, with indignation, the selfish
advice of Amaury. He represented to the Emperor the early age of the
children of Sevinus, and the useful and glorious services of their late
father, and proposed to Charlemagne to send two knights to the Duchess
at Bordeaux, to summon her two sons to the court of the Emperor, to pay
their respects and render homage.
Charlemagne approved this advice, and sent two chevaliers to demand the
two young princes of their mother. No sooner had the Duchess learned
the approach of the two knights, than she sent distinguished persons to
receive them; and as soon as they entered the palace she presented
herself before them, with her elder and younger sons, Huon and Girard.
The deputies, delighted with the honors and caresses they received,
accompanied with rich presents, left Bordeaux with regret and on their
return represented to Charlemagne that the young Duke Huon seemed born
to tread in the footsteps of his brave father, informing him that in
three months the young princes of Guienne would present themselves at
his court.
The Duchess employed the short interval in giving her sons her last
instructions. Huon received them in his heart, and Girard gave as much
heed to them as could be expected from one so young.