Folklore -- Ireland -- Juvenile literature; Folklore -- Wales -- Juvenile literature
So a double combat was arranged, and Gloriande sat in a place from
which she could strengthen the combatants with the glances of her
bright eyes. For half a day they fought without either getting the
upper hand, until Sadonne killed Charlot's horse, and courteously
leapt from his own in order to fight upon equal terms. But the
base-minded Charlot only pretended to fight until he reached the
place where Sadonne's steed was standing, and, leaping on it, he rode
away, like a coward and recreant knight.
Meantime the good sword of Caraheu had cut through Sir Olger's shield
and armour, and would have done worse harm had not the knight with
his great strength dragged Caraheu from his horse, and disarmed him.
But Dannemont, the paynim, had hidden three hundred men among the
bushes of that place to see how the combat went. And when he saw
Caraheu at Olger's mercy, he rushed forth at the head of his men, and
began to attack the knight. In vain did Caraheu rail at them for
their treachery, and fight with all his strength on Olger's side,
crying: "Shame on ye, traitors! Better death than this!" Numbers
overpowered them, and Olger's life was only saved at the request of
the fair Gloriande. He was loaded with chains, and thrown into a
dungeon, in spite of all that Caraheu could say or do on his behalf.
At length, angry and disgusted at this foul blot on his honour, the
latter left the paynim army, and went over with all his men to the
side of the Emperor Charles, determined to go on fighting against the
paynim until Olger was delivered. But Gloriande, who, according to
the fairy gift, had loved Olger from the first moment she saw him,
went in secret to his prison, loosed his chains, and let him escape
to the camp of Charles. Then Charles and Olger and Caraheu joined
together against the paynim host, and ere long Rome was freed from
her enemies. Then Olger rescued Gloriande, and gave her to Caraheu
to be his wife. In Rome were they baptised and married, and returned
to India a Christian man and woman. But ere he departed, he gave to
Olger his famous sword, Courtain, saying: "My life and my bride both
have you won, and both you have given back to me; take, therefore,
this sword as a pledge that I owe all to you."
II. The Vengeance of Olger
When Olger returned to France he found that his wife was dead. This
grieved him very sorely, but he was comforted somewhat by the sight
of the little son who had been born to him meantime. And he called
his name Baldwin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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