History of the FranksGregory, Bishop of Tours, Saint
History
History of the Franks
Gregory, Bishop of Tours, Saint
France -- Church history -- To 987; France -- History -- To 987; Franks -- History -- To 768
the barbarian fashion--“on this day my neighbors and kinsmen shall
be invited to my house. I ask you to make me such a feast as to make
them wonder and say ‘we have not seen better in the king’s palace.’”
And the other said: “Let my master order a great number of fowls,
and I will do what you command.” Accordingly the preparations which
the slave had asked for were made, and the Lord’s day dawned, and
he made a great feast full of delicacies. And when all had feasted
and praised the viands, the master’s kinsmen went away. The master
thanked this slave, and gave him authority over the food that he had
ready for use, and he loved him greatly, and the slave used to serve
food to all who were with his master. After the space of a year, when
his master was now certain of him, Leo went out into a meadow which
was near the house, with the slave Attalus, the keeper of the horses,
and lying on the ground with him a long distance off, with their
backs turned so they would not be recognized as together, he said to
the youth: “It is time that we ought to be thinking of our native
place. Therefore I advise you not to allow yourself to go to sleep
to-night when you bring the horses to be shut in, but as soon as I
call you, come, and let us undertake the journey.” Now the barbarian
had invited many of his kinsmen to a feast, and among them was his
son-in-law, who had married his daughter. And at midnight they rose
from the banquet and retired to rest, and Leo attended his master’s
son-in-law to the place assigned and offered him drink. The man said
to him: “Tell me, if you can, trusted servant of my father-in-law,
when will you decide to take his horses and go to your own country.”
He said this in a joking way. In the same way the other jokingly gave
the truthful answer: “To-night, I think, if it is God’s will.” And
he said: “I hope my attendants will be on the watch that you take
nothing of mine.” They parted laughingly. And when all were asleep,
Leo called Attalus, and when the horses were saddled, he asked him
if he had a sword. He answered: “I do not need one, I have only a
small lance.” But the other went into his master’s house, and took
his shield and spear. And when he asked who it was, and what he
wanted, he answered: “I am Leo, your slave, and I am waking Attalus,
so that he may rise quickly and take the horses to pasture; for he
is sleeping as soundly as if he were drunk.” And he said: “Do as you
please.” And saying this he fell asleep. The other went out of doors
and armed the youth, and found unbarred, by divine help, the gates of
the yard, which at nightfall he had barred with wedges driven by a
hammer, to keep the horses safe; thanking God they took the remaining
horses and went off, taking also a roll of garments. They came to
the river Moselle[AO] in order to cross it, and being detained by
certain persons they left their horses and clothes and swam over the
river, supported on a shield, and climbing the further bank they hid
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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