🧚 Of What Befell At Montalban · page 2

When Richard heard the boy speak so wisely he took him in his arms and kissed him, weeping the while, and said to Reynaud, "Let my horse be killed and given for meat to the Lady Clare and to the young boys my nephews, and to others that have need."63 And so it was done.64

After a few days it came to this, that Bayard only of all the horses was left alive.65 And when the brethren would have had him also killed for food, Reynaud withstood them, saying that he would sooner die than that his horse should be killed.66 Yet when the Lady Clare besought him, and his children also, he yielded to them, saying that the horse should die.67 So he went to the stable, that he might do this deed himself.68 Yet when he looked upon Bayard, and had called to mind how many times the noble beast had saved his life, he repented him of his purpose.69 Then he gave him a handful of hay, for indeed there was nothing else that he could give, and went back to the Lady Clare and his brethren and said, "Endure till nightfall and you shall have meat.70 This I promise you," for he had a purpose in his heart.71

Then he saddled Bayard, and came stealthily to his father's tent, that was in the King's camp, for he knew well where it was.72

When Reynaud saw the Duke Aymon he said to him, "For pity's sake, my father, give me food, for my wife and my children and my brothers and all my people are dying of hunger.73 As I live there is but this horse Bayard that is left to us."74 But the Duke answered, "I have sworn an oath to the King that I will not give you any help by food or otherwise."75

Reynaud said again, "My father, have pity upon your own flesh, for such we are.76 The King does us great wrong when he persecutes us in this fashion."77

When the Duke heard these words he well-nigh fell into a swoon for pity.78 After a while he said, "You say truly that the King does you wrong.79 Now, therefore, light off your horse and go into the tent, and take whatsoever you can find, nor shall any man say you nay; but for my oath's sake, I may not give you aught."80 So Reynaud went into the tent, and took such things as he could find and laid them on the back of Bayard, and carried them to Montalban.81 That night they ate their meat in the castle with much gladness of heart.82

The next day the Duke Aymon called his steward and said to him, "Take now the three engines that the King commanded me to make for assailing the castle, and fill them, not with stones, but with flesh, both salt and fresh, and with loaves of bread, and with other victuals, and cause that they discharge these things into the castle."83 And the steward did as the Duke commanded him.84

When the King heard what the Duke Aymon had done he was very angry, and sent for him to his tent.85 And when the Duke came he said to him, "How are you so bold that you feed my mortal enemies.86 Verily you shall lose your head for it."87 The Duke answered, "Sire, if you should burn me by fire yet will I not fail my children.88 They are no thieves or murderers, or traitors, but as good and true knights as are in all the world."89

When the King heard the Duke speak in this sort, he made as if he would have struck him.90 But the Duke Naymes stood forth and said, "Sire, I would counsel you to send the Duke to his house.91 You cannot look for him to be with you in this matter, that he should see his children die before his eyes."92 Then the King said to the Duke Aymon, "Get you out of my camp forthwith, for you have done me more harm than can well be told."93 And the Duke answered, "I will do your bidding willingly."94 But before he went, he said to the Peers: "My lords, I commend my children to you.95 See, I pray you, that they come to no harm."96

The King commanded that all the engines of war should be broken, for he feared lest others also of the Barons should throw victuals into the castle.97 So Reynaud and his men had peace, for no man made assault upon the castle.98 But after certain days, the provisions being all consumed, the famine was as sore as it had been at the first.99

Alard said, "My brother, we cannot live longer without meat."100 Then Reynaud took a sword in his hand and went to the stable, having it in his heart to slay his horse.101 And when Bayard saw him, for he had not come thither for many days, he made good cheer.102 Then Reynaud said, "I were cruel indeed if I did thee harm, good beast that thou art."103 But Yonnet, who was his younger son, said, "Father, do you chose that my mother and my brother should die, and Bayard live?"104

Then Reynaud was much troubled, doubting what he should do.105 Then he bethought him of a thing that he might do.106 He called for a basin, and took blood from the horse, and this being mixed with other things of which they had a little he prepared a mess, by which the Lady Clare and the children were a little sustained.107 This he did for four days, but on the fifth day the horse was grown so feeble that there came no blood from him at all.108 And now it seemed as if all hope were gone.109

Reynaud and his kindred and his house being in these straits, there came an old man who would speak with him. "110 Sir," said he, "you have done as well as could have been done by any man in keeping this castle, but now you can do no more.111 But listen to me.112 I was at the building of this place many years ago, when I was but a young child.113 And I mind me that the lord that builded it made a secret way by which a man might escape if he was so minded.114 This way I will show you, and you can depart from this place by it without danger."115

Reynaud was right glad to hear this thing so that he forgot his hunger.116 Then he took his horse, which, indeed, could scarce stand for feebleness, and all the folk that were left in the castle; and they entered the secret way that the old man showed them.117 When they had gone a part of the way, Reynaud saw that they had not with them King John of Gascony.118 He said, "We have done ill to leave King John.119 It would be shame to us were he to die like a starving wolf that has fallen into a pit."120 So he went back and brought him.121 The others had small pleasure to see him, for even the Lady Clare, that was his sister, spake sharply to him saying, "Brother, you have done me such damage that you well deserved to die."122 But Reynaud said, "I have sworn homage to the King, and I must needs save him."123 And when the others heard these words, they confessed that Reynaud's thoughts were more worthy of a Christian man than theirs.124

So having gone along the secret way for a while, they came to the end, and having issued forth found that they were in the Wood of the Serpent.125 Many things they suffered as they went, yet for hope's sake and by help of such wild fruits as they gathered on the way they bear up.126 And so with much toil and trouble they came to Ardennes, and were received with much gladness.127