Into his orchard King Marsile repaired, Attended only by his wisest men; Came thither too the gray-haired Blancandrin With Turfaleu his son and heir; with them The Kalif, brother and good friend of King Marsile.--Said Blancandrin:--"Recall the Frank; To serve us he has pledged his faith."--The King Replied:--"Go, bring him hither."--Then he took Ganelon's fingers into his right hand, And brought him to the grove before the King; And lo! was woven there the traitor's plot. Aoi. XL. The King Marsile said:--"Fair Sire Ganelon, Unwise and all too hasty was I, when In my great wrath I poised my lance to strike. This gift of sables take as your amends: More than five hundred marks their weight in gold. Before to-morrow-eve the boon is yours." Ganelon answers:--"I reject it not. May God, if 'tis his will, your grace reward." Aoi. XLI. Marsile spake thus:--"Sire Ganelon, believe, Much I desire to love you, and of Carle I crave to hear. Is he not old, his prime Has he not passed? Men tell me he has lived More than two hundred years; his body dragged Throughout so many lands; so many blows Upon his shield!--So many mighty Kings To beggary reduced!--When will he cease To march on battle-fields?"--Then Ganelon Responded:--"Such is not King Carle; no man Alive who sees and knows him but will tell How our great Emperor is Baron true. I could not praise and honor him enough, For no man lives so valiant and so good. His valor ... who on earth could ever tell? His soul God with such virtue has illumed, I'd rather die than quit my noble lord!" Aoi. XLII. The Pagan said:--"Amazed am I at Carle So old and so white-haired; his age, I know, Two hundred years and more. His limbs he toiled Across so many lands; so oft was struck By swords and spears; so many kings compelled To beg!--When will he cease to war?"--"Carle?--ne'er!" Ganelon answered, "while his nephew lives: No vassal like him 'neath the starry arch; And bold as he his comrade Olivier. The twelve Peers held by Carle so dear, behold! The vanguard form of twenty thousand knights; With them King Carle is safe, and fears no man." Aoi. XLIII.