The eve was soft and fair, the sunset bright; The ten mules stabled by the King's command; In the great orchard a pavilion raised To house the messengers, his Pagan guests. Twelve sergeants to their service were assigned, And there they rested till the dawn repelled The night. With day the Emperor arose; Heard mass and matins first, then having gone Beneath a stately pine, he summons all His wisest barons, council grave to hold, Thus ever guided by the men of France. Aoi. XII. Beneath a pine the Monarch has repaired; His barons to the council called: the Duke Ogier--Archbishop Turpin--old Richard, Also his nephew Henri, and the brave Count Acelin of Gascuigne--Tedbald De Reins--his cousin Milon--Gerier, Gerin, together with the Count Rolland, And Olivier, the brave and noble knight. One thousand Franks of France and more were met-- Then Ganelon came, who treason wrought; and now Was opened that ill-fated council thus: Aoi. XIII. "Seigneurs Barons," began the Emp'ror Carle, "The King Marsile his messengers hath sent To offer me large store of his great wealth; Bears--lions--hounds in leash;--of camels he Gives seven hundred--falcons, fifty score-- Four hundred mules packed high with Arab gold, And more than fifty chariots loaded full; But he demands that I return to France. There will he follow: then arrived at Aix, Will in my palace take Salvation's Faith, Will Christ obey, and hold his lands from me; But what is in his heart, I do not know." The French exclaim:--"Of him we must beware!" Aoi. XIV. The Emp'ror ended thus. But Count Rolland Approving not the terms, stands forth and speaks Unto the King with arguments adverse: "Trust never more Marsile. 'Tis full seven years Since we came into Spain. For you I took Both Noples and Commibles; gained Valterne And all the land of Pine, and Balaguer, And Tuele and Sebile--yet King Marsile Still plotting treachery, sent from his horde Of Pagans, fifteen men; each bore in hand Like these, a branch of olive-tree, and spake The self-same words. On that you counsel took From your too lightly flattering French; two Counts Of yours you to the Pagan sent, the one, Bazan, Bastile the other, and their heads He struck off near Haltoie. As you began, War on! To Sarraguce your army lead, Besiege her walls, though all your life it take, And thus avenge the knights the felon slew." Aoi. XV.