“Or avoit à che tamps, sé l’istoire ne ment, En le chit de Baudas Kristiens jusqu’à cent; Qui manonent illoec par tréu d’argent, Que cascuns cristiens au Roy-Calife rent. Li pères du Calife, qui régna longement, Ama les Crestiens, et Dieu primièrement: * * * * * Et lor fist establir. j. monstier noble et gent, Où Crestien faisoient faire lor sacrement. Une mout noble pière lor donna proprement, Où on avoit posé Mahon moult longement.”[20] P. 322. The story is, in fact, that which Marco relates of Samarkand.[21] The Caliph dies. His son hates the Christians. His people complain of the toleration of the Christians and their minister; but he says his father had pledged him not to interfere, and he dared not forswear himself. If, without doing so, he could do them an ill turn, he would gladly. The people then suggest their claim to the stone: “Or leur donna vos pères, dont che fu mesprisons. Ceste pierre, biaus Sire, Crestiens demandons: Il ne le porront rendre, pour vrai le vous disons, Si li monstiers n’est mis et par pièches et par mons; Et s’il estoit desfais, jamais ne le larons Refaire chi-endroit. Ensément averons Faites et acomplies nostres ententions.” P. 324. The Caliph accordingly sends for Maistre Thumas, the Priest of the Christians, and tells him the stone must be given up: “Il a .c. ans ut plus c’on i mist à solas Mahon, le nostre Dieu: dont che n’est mie estas Que li vous monstiers soit fais de nostre harnas!” P. 324. Master Thomas, in great trouble, collects his flock, mounts the pulpit, and announces the calamity. Bauduin and his convert Polibans then arrive. Bauduin recommends confession, fasting, and prayer. They follow his advice, and on the third day the miracle occurs: “L’escripture le dist, qui nous achertéfie Que le pierre Mahon, qui ou mur fut fiquie, Sali hors du piler, coi que nul vous en die, Droit enmi le monstier, c’onques ne fut brisie. Et demoura li traus, dont le pière ert widie, Sans pière est sans quailliel, à cascune partie; Chou deseure soustient, par divine maistrie, Tout en air proprement, n’el tenés a falie. Encore le voit-on en ichelle partie: Qui croire ne m’en voelt, si voist; car je l’en prie!” P. 327. The Caliph comes to see, and declares it to be the Devil’s doing. Seeing Polibans, who is his cousin, he hails him, but Polibans draws back, avowing his Christian faith. The Caliph in a rage has him off to prison. Bauduin becomes very ill, and has to sell his horse and arms. His disease is so offensive that he is thrust out of his hostel, and in his wretchedness sitting on a stone he still avows his faith, and confesses that even then he has not received his deserts. He goes to beg in the Christian quarter, and no one gives to him; but still his faith and love to God hold out: