“And I!” cried the emperor, who could no longer conceal his emotion, “I love you all, because I am your second father. Maugis, I pardon thee, be relieved, but thou must expiate thy fault, for it is great. I decree that thou shalt sojourn in the holy land, for I know not how long; perhaps a year; but if thou art always as loyal and as brave as thou hast been, thou wilt return covered with glory and new laurels. Thou wilt abandon thy magic and the black arts, for the safety of thy soul, and glorify God by this expiation. As to thy wife and children, they shall be as my own. They shall never leave me, and I will this very day restore to them their rights and property. Bid thee farewell to thy family and thy brothers; go and God be with thee.” Maugis, overcome with emotion, made his adieus to the emperor, and affectionately embraced Yolande, who swooned from her awful grief, and caressed his children. There was not a dry eye among the courtiers there assembled as he departed for Dordogne, accompanied by Richard de Normandie, who swore he would not leave him until he reached the port from which he sailed for Jerusalem. Halfway to Dordogne he encountered his brothers, who were coming to his rescue with their troops, followed by the people, to whom he gave an account of what had happened, and they then retraced their steps with him to the city. He caused a flag of peace to be hoisted on the highest tower, and sent to the emperor his famous horse Bayard, as a gage of reconciliation. The brave demeanor, the resignation, and the lofty character displayed by Maugis appealed so strongly to all the peers and knights that everywhere they proclaimed their high admiration for him. Maugis asked the emperor what he should do with Pinabel, and he replied that he abandoned him entirely to Maugis to do with as he chose. And here the noble character of Maugis was again exhibited. Instead of destroying his perfidious enemy, all the vengeance he took was to provide him with a broken-down white horse and set him free, warning him on pain of death to leave the states of Charlemagne. The next day Maugis embraced his brothers, commending his wife and children to them, took off his armor, and assuming the habit of a pilgrim did not even retain his sword, and set out on his journey; but they would not leave him, and with Richard de Normandie, accompanied him to the coast and saw him set sail for the holy land. CHAPTER XVII. Some days after the departure of Maugis, Duke Richard de Normandie presented to Charlemagne the three brothers of Maugis, who remained in France. The emperor received them kindly and restored to their possession all their rights and property. During the same month the camp was broken up, and the imperial army marched to the city of Liege, which became for the time the capital for the empire.