The twelve peers, who really loved and admired the emperor, could not
but accept his overtures. After a consultation they decided to return
to the camp. Before doing so, however, they sent to Dordogne, under a
strong escort, the cowardly Pinabel, with a message to Maugis that it
was this man, with Ganelon, the latter having unfortunately escaped
with the Abbé Gorieux, who had been the cause of all the trouble that
had occurred, even to that very day, and they desired that Maugis
should deal with him as he deemed best.
In due time, Pinabel, with his escort, arrived at Dordogne, and the
traitor was cast into a dungeon until further orders.
When the twelve peers had arrived at the camp Charlemagne assembled
them, and said:
“Noble lords! it is true I am too severe, nevertheless the sons of
Aymon have been guilty of revolt against me, with their cousin Renaud.
They certainly merit punishment. I have felt that I must have the
satisfaction to have one at least expiate the fault of all. I feel that
my position is just and right, therefore go thou,” said he to the Duke
de Naimes and say to them, “that if one of them will yield his life in
expiation of the faults of all, the rest shall receive full pardon and
safety from dishonor, and be allowed to retain full possession of all
their rights.”
The Duke de Naimes duly arrived at Dordogne and acquitted him of his
message. The family were plunged into a stupor of consternation. Maugis
alone retained his coolness.
“The demand of the emperor is just,” said he, “and for the sake of all
must be acceded to.” Then turning calmly to the Duke de Naimes, he said:
“Go to Charlemagne and say to him that I will offer myself as a
sacrifice for the good of mine. Tell him that to-morrow I will deliver
myself up, and that I will release Richard de Normandie safe and sound.”
Yolande, grief-stricken, threw herself upon her husband’s neck, crying:
“Canst thou be so cruel, dear one? think, thy sons will be fatherless
and my life a living death without thee.”
Maugis disengaged her arms and putting her aside, said gently:
“It is duty that calls me, I must obey.”
“Thou shalt not go, Maugis. I am the one to be sacrificed. Thou hast a
wife and sons. I am alone!” cried Richard.
“Not so,” here interposed Alard. “It is I who will go.”
“No! no!” interposed Guichard. “I am the least of thee, my brothers,
surely it is just that I should be the one to suffer.”
“This must not be so. No one shall go but me,” expostulated Renaud.
“All these troubles came through my father’s fault; surely it is but
justice that I should go.”
“Enough, dear friends; let this contention cease. It is decided. I will
go. Let there be no more said.”
Then all the prayers of his wife and his sons were vain. Maugis would
not renounce his intention, nothing could shake his resolution; but
finally, becoming wearied of their tears and entreaties, he feigned to
surrender to them, and proposed a plan for selecting the one who should
be sacrificed in fulfillment of the conditions of the emperor.
“To-morrow,” said he, “at sunrise, we will all assemble in the grand
square of the city, and putting our names on slips of paper, one shall
be drawn in the presence of all the people, and in this way we shall
designate who shall be delivered to Charlemagne.”
The following morning Maugis was nowhere to be found. He had
disappeared, though diligent search was made for him. Yolande,
distracted, went about asking all whom she met if they had seen her
husband, but getting no news of him she thought then he must have gone
to the imperial camp with the Duke de Normandie. Her fears making her
desperate, she returned to the palace, and taking her two sons hastened
along the road thither without an escort. She could not entertain the
idea that Maugis should suffer alone. She had determined to die with
him.
More prudent than Yolande, the brothers of Maugis assembled the troops,
and followed by the people, started to the succor of Maugis, whom they
thought to be in danger.
Meanwhile Maugis, Naimes, and the Duke Richard had arrived and
presented themselves before the emperor, who could hardly restrain his
agitation when he saw them. He greeted them warmly, and in his pleasure
extended both hands to them. Then remembering that he was an emperor,
he collected himself, and assuming a sternness that did not accord with
his real feelings, he said to Maugis:
“You have fought against your emperor. You have merited death. You well
know what is the punishment for such a great crime. It is the scaffold!”
“We know and we have come to plead with you for him!” cried Yolande at
this moment, who had just arrived, and hastening forward with her two
sons, threw herself at the feet of the emperor: “We ask your grace,
sire, and if thou dost refuse we beseech thee to let us be punished
with him.”
“And I!” cried the emperor, who could no longer conceal his emotion, “I
love you all, because I am your second father. Maugis, I pardon thee,
be relieved, but thou must expiate thy fault, for it is great. I decree
that thou shalt sojourn in the holy land, for I know not how long;
perhaps a year; but if thou art always as loyal and as brave as thou
hast been, thou wilt return covered with glory and new laurels. Thou
wilt abandon thy magic and the black arts, for the safety of thy soul,
and glorify God by this expiation. As to thy wife and children, they
shall be as my own. They shall never leave me, and I will this very day
restore to them their rights and property. Bid thee farewell to thy
family and thy brothers; go and God be with thee.”
Maugis, overcome with emotion, made his adieus to the emperor, and
affectionately embraced Yolande, who swooned from her awful grief, and
caressed his children. There was not a dry eye among the courtiers
there assembled as he departed for Dordogne, accompanied by Richard de
Normandie, who swore he would not leave him until he reached the port
from which he sailed for Jerusalem.
Halfway to Dordogne he encountered his brothers, who were coming to his
rescue with their troops, followed by the people, to whom he gave an
account of what had happened, and they then retraced their steps with
him to the city. He caused a flag of peace to be hoisted on the highest
tower, and sent to the emperor his famous horse Bayard, as a gage of
reconciliation. The brave demeanor, the resignation, and the lofty
character displayed by Maugis appealed so strongly to all the peers and
knights that everywhere they proclaimed their high admiration for him.
Maugis asked the emperor what he should do with Pinabel, and he replied
that he abandoned him entirely to Maugis to do with as he chose. And
here the noble character of Maugis was again exhibited. Instead of
destroying his perfidious enemy, all the vengeance he took was to
provide him with a broken-down white horse and set him free, warning
him on pain of death to leave the states of Charlemagne.
The next day Maugis embraced his brothers, commending his wife and
children to them, took off his armor, and assuming the habit of a
pilgrim did not even retain his sword, and set out on his journey; but
they would not leave him, and with Richard de Normandie, accompanied
him to the coast and saw him set sail for the holy land.