Following upon this, the next day, in the presence of the whole court, Charlemagne formally knighted Maugis and presented him with a magnificent suit of armor that he had himself taken from the King of Cyprus, who had fallen under his own hand at Paraplumex. Then the king embraced him. Maugis had then placed upon his feet the golden spurs of Oger, the Dane, after which he sprang upon the back of his favorite horse, Bayard, whose name has come down to us in poetry and song as one of the most perfect animals that ever existed. The three brothers of Maugis were equally well armed and knighted. Following these ceremonies, Charlemagne gave a tournament in their honor, at which the young men so acquitted themselves as to win the admiration of everyone. Maugis, having defeated one of the most skillful knights of Charlemagne’s court, while riding around the lists toward the station of the king, amid the tumultuous plaudits of the onlookers, was stopped in his course by seeing a tiny glove tied with a knot of blue ribbon fall at his feet. Hastily dismounting and recovering it he looked up among the sea of faces regarding him and his eye was arrested by a beautiful figure seated beside a stalwart warrior, one of the guests of the court. When two beautiful blue eyes met his own, their glance sought his heart direct; even as a moonbeam will kiss a placid pool and glorify it, so was the heart of Maugis gladdened. He failed not during the few seconds of the episode to note the tall willowy figure and the shapely head which was soon hidden blushing behind the shoulder of her brother, shrinking from the too ardent gaze of the young knight. Neither failed he to note that her slender waist was encircled by a sash of the same hue as the ribbon on the glove he held in his hand. Little did he know the vicissitudes that would afterward divide their lives and pursue them when united—he only loved and was happy. Reverently kissing the glove, Maugis placed it on his helmet and thereafter performed such deeds of valor and prowess that everyone was amazed. Charlemagne hastened to swear the four brothers into his service, and insisted that Maugis should never quit him. Still no news of Lothaire. The entire court was depressed. The king, accompanied by the Duke of Naimes, took long walks on the banks of the Seine, their favorite promenade, and there alone with his most intimate friend, the king poured out to him all his hopes and fears. One day while taking their accustomed walk, they saw at a great distance a cavalier covered with dust approach them at a gallop. They both at the same instant recognized him as one of the suite of Lothaire. Charlemagne, turning pale, threw himself into the arms of the Duke of Naimes.