🧚 Of Guy of Burgundy · page 2

But Guy wrought marvels of valour, as one who having narrowly escaped from death, fought with great cheerfulness of heart.70 Floripas also, who stood at a window of the Tower, saw him, and cried out to him that he should bear himself as a man.71 When Ogier the Dane heard this, he said to his comrades, "Hark to this noble damsel, how bravely she bears herself.72 We will not go back to the Tower till we have done all that was in our mind to do."73 Then they charged the Saracens yet again; Roland being still in the front, and driving the pagans before him, for they flew from him on all sides.74 Thence the Frenchmen made their way to the bridge and so again into the Tower.75

When the Admiral perceived this, he was much troubled, and asked his counsellors again for advice.76 Sortibrant said to him, "Let every man that is here present make himself ready for battle and let all the siege engines be prepared, and all the trumpeters stand prepared to blow a great blast on their trumpets.77 The Frenchmen are but few, and when they shall be aware of this great multitude they will be overcome with fear."78 To him Brullant answered: "My friend, this that you say is but folly.79 You will not frighten these Frenchmen in this fashion, no, not though we had all the horns and trumpets in the world.80 Is not Roland there, the mightiest knight that now lives, who slays any man that dares to join in battle with him?81 They are all great warriors, but Roland is of such greatness that if the rest were his match they would drive the Saracens out of Spain.82 There is no man that could stand against them, and as for our gods, it is long since they have given us any help."83 The Admiral was very angry to hear such talk and would have struck Brullant with his staff, but Sortibrant held both his arms, "Let be your anger; we should do better to take counsel together how we may break down this Tower that the Christians hold."84

Then the Admiral gathered all his men together, so many in number that they covered the ground a mile every way.85 But of more avail than all these multitudes was a certain magician, by name Mahon.86 He had two siege-engines of marvellous power, which were so contrived that they who worked them could not be hurt by the enemy.87

Thus did the Saracens gain possession of the first defences of the Tower; yet having won them, they could not long hold them, for the French knights did their part right bravely, hurling down from the upper parts stones and darts, and all kinds of missiles, and these so strongly that no man could stand against them.88 The maidens also armed themselves, and did the like.89

But the magician had yet other devices to use against the Christians.90 He said to the Admiral, "Let me have some of your men to wait on me, and I will speedily deliver these Christians into your hand."91 And when he had made all things ready, he discharged out of his engines against the walls a fire so marvellous that the very stones began to burn.92 The Frenchmen were sorely dismayed at this, and began to say to each other that they must now surely quit the Tower.93 But Floripas said to them, "My lords, be not afraid.94 I have something wherewith to quench the fire."95 Then she went and took certain herbs, and mixed them in wine, and the knights threw the wine on the fire, and it was quenched immediately.96

When the Admiral saw this he was out of his wits with anger, and when Sortibrant told him that this was of his daughter's doing, he vowed that she should die an evil death.97 Then said Sortibrant, "Bid your horns and trumpets sound again, and send your men to attack the Tower once more.98 By this time the Frenchmen must be so wearied that they will be overcome.99 And they have neither stones nor iron to cast at us."100 Thereupon the Saracens made yet another assault on the Tower; so fierce was it that the air was as it were dark with arrows and darts and stones, great portions of the walls fell down, and the knights were greatly troubled. "101 Now," said they, "we must needs be vanquished, for our defence is broken down."102 But Floripas bade them be of good courage. "103 My lords," said she, "this Tower is yet strong enough to hold out.104 Besides, though you have no more stone or iron, yet my father's treasure is here, wedges and plates of gold, wherewith you may slay the pagans as well as with stones, aye and better too."105 Thereupon Guy of Burgundy, in great joy, kissed her.106

Then Floripas, going to the treasure-house, showed the gold to the knights.107 This they took and cast against the Saracens, to their great discomfiture.108 Moreover, the Saracens, when they saw the gold, left off fighting against the French, and began to slay each other.109 The Admiral, when he saw this, cried with a loud voice to his captains, "Cease now from the assault, for it turns to my great loss; see now how my treasure which I have gathered with much pains is scattered about.110 This treasure I had entrusted to the keeping of Mahomet my god, and see how he has failed me.111 Verily, if I could but have him in my hands, he should suffer pains for this!"112 Sortibrant said to him, "Be not angry, my lord, with Mahomet.113 He has done as well as it lay with him to do; doubtless he was asleep when your treasures were spoiled.114 These Frenchmen are so crafty that they can do what they will."115

That same night, as the Admiral sat at his supper, Roland spied him from a window where he lay to rest himself.116 He said to his comrades, "I see Balan at his supper with his lords; he is taking his ease, and it would be to our great honour if we make him rise up from his meat."117 The other lords were of the same opinion.118 They armed themselves therefore, and issued forth from the Tower.119 But the Admiral was aware of their purpose, and he sent against them his nephew, Espoulart by name, who was a very strong and valiant knight.120 Espoulart rode against the Frenchmen, and encountering Roland smote him on the shield so great a blow that he was well-nigh stunned, but his flesh was not wounded.121 Roland, in his turn, unhorsed him, but the Saracen was so nimble that forthwith he mounted his horse again.122 But Roland smote him again, and so sharply that the man wist not where he was.123 As he was falling to the ground Roland caught him right deftly, and laid him across his horse and carried him away.124

When the Admiral saw this he cried out in a great rage that they should rescue his nephew.125 This the Saracens would willingly have done, but they could not; many were hurt and many slain, and at last all the Frenchmen escaped into the Tower.126 When they had shut-to the gates they asked Floripas who he was that they had taken.127 Floripas said to them, "This is Balan's nephew, a rich man and a powerful.128 If ye would vex my father, put him to death."129 The Duke Naymes answered, "Nay, we will not put him to death.130 We will keep him, and if should happen that one of us be taken prisoner, we will make an exchange."131