The onlookers to this heroic duel felt they would like to have the fight ended then and there, and were so evenly divided by admiration for each of the combatants that they could not say whom they would have the victor. The emperor himself, all his sympathies aroused, felt that he would even give his crown to have the fight ended here, and was about to shout an order to have the duel stopped as the two combatants approached each other to recommence the battle. Before he could utter a sound, however, an astonishing sight greeted his eyes. Instead of beginning hostilities as they neared each other, the two knights, as if with one common impulse and actuated by the same sentiment, let their arms fall and then and there embraced each other. Maugis said to Roland: “Brave cousin! you have shown the greatest courage; neither one of us can conquer the other; we each seem to have the same strength, the same skill, and the same courage. God never made us to be enemies, but to be friends; let it be so. Come to Montaubon and be my guest; you will receive there all the consideration, honor and respect that are due you.” The spectators had lost nothing of this scene; a great demonstration of applause ensued, and cheer after cheer rent the air when the two knights were seen to embrace. Two men only did not participate in the public joy; they were Pinabel, the scheming nephew of Charlemagne, and Ganelon, his traitorous associate. “What means this?” said the astonished emperor. “Simply this,” replied Pinabel: “by some vile sorcery Maugis hath ensnared Roland and is bearing him to Montaubon.” “By St. Gris!” roared the emperor, furious. “I will never brook such insult, on to Montaubon! on to Montaubon!” he shouted to his knights. “I will take Roland by force from the hands of this rebel Maugis.” But the confusion in which the spectators and knights were mingled made it impossible to execute immediately any hostile movement of this kind, and Charlemagne, fuming and almost blind with rage, was forced to see Roland depart with Maugis, and he returned to his camp with the determination to draw a cordon around the walls of Montaubon and commence an immediate siege. Meanwhile, Maugis, accompanied by Roland, and escorted by his brothers, had quietly entered the citadel, where Roland was received with all honors, and was greeted on all hands as the first knight of the world.