Epics and Romances of the Middle AgesWägner, Wilhelm
History
Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages
Wägner, Wilhelm
Literature, Medieval; Romances
He hastened to the stable, mounted his horse, and galloped away to the
forest of Monfaucon. There he found Iwo standing at the gallows with
the cord round his neck. Reinold knocked down one of the executioners,
cut the cord round Iwo’s neck, exclaiming, “Be off, you rascal, lest
you be hanged after all,” and then beat back the other executioner, who
would have recaptured the prince of Tarasconia. Count Roland now came
to the rescue, but was soon forced to measure his length upon the
ground, and Reinold rode away, saying, “It was your horse’s fault, good
cousin, not yours.”
Several of the paladins, who had witnessed the short combat between the
heroes, began to make jesting remarks about what had occurred. Roland
had never been unhorsed before, except once or twice by Oliver, and he
took the matter grievously to heart. He rode away in silence; not to
Paris, but in the direction of Montalban, that he might seek vengeance
for his overthrow.
As he was riding through a wood, he met a man with a crossbow, who was
shooting a deer, and at once recognised him to be Richard, Reinold’s
brother. He took him prisoner, and in spite of Richard’s remonstrances,
and his reminders of their relationship, took him to Paris, and
delivered him to the emperor. Karl was delighted at the lucky chance,
at once condemned Richard to be hung at Monfaucon, and asked which of
his paladins would undertake the task of seeing the sentence carried
out. They all refused, saying that hanging was not a seemly death for a
knight to die. At length Rype, a new-made knight, offered his services
to the emperor. A pious pilgrim who was present at the discussion,
begged that execution might be delayed until he had had time to pray
for the weal of the poor sinner at St. Denys.
But instead of going to St. Denys, the holy man went to Montalban, and
told Reinold all that had happened, bidding him make haste if he would
arrive at Monfaucon in time to save Richards life. Having said this,
Malagis—for the pilgrim was none other than he—went to the kitchen to
ask for some food, for he was tired and hungry after his long and
arduous journey on foot.
Reinold, Adelhart, Wichart, and their men soon reached the gallows at
Monfaucon. There was no one there, so they stretched themselves out on
the grass and fell asleep. When Rype came with his prisoner, they were
still asleep; but Bayard, hearing them, awoke his master with a kick.
In another moment the brothers had fallen upon the imperial troops,
whom they soon put to flight. They then set Richard free, and hung Rype
with the same rope he had brought for his prisoner.
The emperor, finding that all his former attempts to avenge his son’s
death had been in vain, determined on a new plan of action. He called
out a large army, and marched to lay siege to Montalban.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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