The _mêlée_ then became general; all the pent-up hatreds and passions and prejudices came uppermost. By chance, Charlemagne and Maugis met and charged upon each other with fury, and with such force that they unhorsed each other; then, sword in hand, they renewed the action on foot, without either gaining any advantage; the great warrior emperor, whose arms were celebrated as being invincible, little accustomed to meeting such sturdy resistance, manifested his astonishment aloud. At the sound of his well-known voice, Maugis, who had not recognized the emperor, his face being concealed by his visor, immediately lowered his sword, approached and kneeled before him to the earth. “Sire!” said he humbly, “accord me a truce and I will engage my knightly word you will never again have cause of complaint against me, only I ask not to have any of my privileges taken from me, except by due legal process.” “Who art thou?” demanded the astonished emperor; “to whom am I asked to give my word?” “I am Maugis,” responded the knight, “and I ask you for pardon for me and mine, assuring you it is not the fear of being conquered that causes me to make this supplication; it is because I desire to enter into good relations with you and to once more put to your service my courage and my sword.” It was not without a certain reluctance that the emperor consented to talk with a man whom he detested, but at the same time admired. “I will grant thee peace, only on one condition,” he sternly replied. “Sire, if thou wouldst but name it.” “That condition is,” responded the emperor; “thou shalt deliver up to me thy cousin Renaud.” “But, sire,” said Maugis pleadingly, “even did I not love my cousin I could not be so lost to honor as to deliver him up, even if it were to redeem my own brother from death.” “Then I will promise nothing,” thundered the emperor, “but war, and war all the time. Defend thyself,” he shouted, “I will, at least, permit thee to fight with me.” Saying this, Charlemagne rushed upon Maugis and struck him such a terrible blow with his sword that the shield of Maugis was shivered. Transported with rage, Maugis, in his turn, threw himself upon the emperor, and dragging him from his horse, held him in a herculean grasp, in his left hand, while with his right he fought all who came to the rescue of his prey. At this juncture Roland came up and attacked Maugis so fiercely that to defend himself he was obliged to set loose his royal prisoner. Then, freeing himself to fight, he turned upon Roland and, seconded by his brothers, forced him to take flight to save himself from being captured. Furious to have been compelled to yield to the emperor, Maugis sounded the retreat, and with his troops returned to the château in good order.