Now came the Bulgarian ambassadors, and, kneeling at the feet of
Rogero, besought him to return with them to their country, where, in
Adrianople, the crown and sceptre were awaiting his acceptance. Prince
Leo united his persuasions to theirs, and promised, in his royal
father's name, that peace should be restored on their part. Rogero gave
his consent, and it was surmised that none of the virtues which shone
so conspicuously in him so availed to recommend Rogero to the Lady
Beatrice as the hearing her future son-in-law saluted as a sovereign
prince.
THE BATTLE OF RONCESVALLES
After the expulsion of the Saracens from France Charlemagne led his
army into Spain, to punish Marsilius, the king of that country, for
having sided with the African Saracens in the late war. Charlemagne
succeeded in all his attempts, and compelled Marsilius to submit, and
pay tribute to France. Our readers will remember Gano, otherwise called
Gan, or Ganelon, whom we mentioned in one of our early chapters as an
old courtier of Charlemagne, and a deadly enemy of Orlando, Rinaldo,
and all their friends. He had great influence over Charles, from
equality of age and long intimacy; and he was not without good
qualities: he was brave and sagacious, but envious, false, and
treacherous. Gan prevailed on Charles to send him as ambassador to
Marsilius, to arrange the tribute. He embraced Orlando over and over
again at taking leave, using such pains to seem loving and sincere,
that his hypocrisy was manifest to every one but the old monarch. He
fastened with equal tenderness on Oliver, who smiled contemptuously in
his face, and thought to himself, "You may make as many fair speeches
as you choose, but you lie." All the other paladins who were present
thought the same, and they said as much to the Emperor, adding that Gan
should on no account be sent ambassador to the Spaniards. But Charles
was infatuated.
Gan was received with great honor by Marsilius. The king, attended by
his lords, came fifteen miles out of Saragossa to meet him, and then
conducted him into the city with acclamations. There was nothing for
several days but balls, games, and exhibitions of chivalry, the ladies
throwing flowers on the heads of the French knights, and the people
shouting, "France! Mountjoy and St. Denis!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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