🧚 How Huon, Having Slain a Giant, Came to Babylon · page 2

Being now in the very middle of the palace, he bethought him, "There are doubtless many Saracens in this place, and I only a Christian. '70 Tis time to blow the horn and I may have help from King Oberon."71 Thereupon he blew a great blast.72

King Oberon heard the blast where he sat in his palace.73 But he said to himself, "There has been a lie upon the lips that blew this horn, for the note is false.74 Though he burst his throat with blowing, I will not go to help him."75

When the Admiral heard it, he said to his lords that sat with him, "There is a magician in the palace.76 Go bring him to me before he do us any mischief."77

Huon was not a little troubled when he found that no one came to his blowing of the horn. "78 I am in an evil case," he said, "nor shall I see my people or my country any more.79 Nevertheless it becomes a man to keep a good courage."80 And when the Admiral's lords came to him, he took no heed of them, but walked straight forward, and they feared to lay hands on him.81

When he came to where the Admiral sat, he made no obeisance, but drew his sword, and said, "I come from the great King Charles."82 Before he could say more, the Admiral cried aloud, "Seize me this villain!"83 And the lords made as if they would seize him.84 Then Huon took the ring from his finger, and showed it to the Admiral, saying not a word.85

When the Admiral saw the ring, he said, "Leave this man alone; he is here of right."86 Then Huon said, "I am a Christian man, and I come from the great King of the Christians.87 Hear, therefore, the message that he sends: 'Turn from your false gods; confess the faith of Christ; acknowledge that you hold your kingdom of me; and send me for token your royal sceptre.88 If you will not I will come with an army, and utterly destroy both you and your people.'89 This is the King's message, and I counsel you to take heed thereto."90

When the Admiral heard these words, his anger passed all bounds. "91 Know," he cried, "that before you fifteen messengers have come to me making this same demand, and these fifteen have been hanged by the neck in the very same place; and you shall be the sixteenth."92 And he said to his men, "Seize me this fellow."93 Then Huon, setting his back to the wall, and drawing his sword, fought with all his might.94 Many he slew; but when he had fought for an hour or more, and the number of the enemy was increased rather than diminished, and he had grown faint with heat and toil, then he was constrained to yield.95 So the Saracens bound him, and set him before the Admiral.96

The Admiral said to his lords, "What shall we do with this fellow?" and the lords answered with one voice, "Let him be slain forthwith."97 Nevertheless there was one lord, an old man, and held in great repute for his wisdom, who did not consent to this counsel. "98 Sir," said he to the Admiral, "our law forbids that any man should be put to death this day.99 I advise, therefore, that he be kept in custody for a year; after that we will take counsel about him again.100 Also there is another matter that I fain would know.101 How came this man hither?102 Ask him, my lord."103

So the Admiral said, "Fellow, declare to me by what means you passed the gates."104 Then Huon said to himself, "I will speak no more falsehoods, though I perish for it."105 And he held up the ring, saying, "I passed the gates by virtue of this ring."106 And he told how he came by the ring, and how he had slain the giant in the tower.107

When the old councillor heard these things, he said to the Admiral, "Sir, we ought to thank this man rather than harm him, seeing that he has slain the giant that was wont to do us so much mischief."108 The Admiral answered, "I know not how to thank the man who brought me a message so insolent.109 But as to the keeping of him alive, it shall be done as you say.110 I will not depart from the customs of my forefathers.111 Let him be kept in prison for a space."112 So the Admiral's yeomen took Huon, and cast him into a dungeon that was under the palace.113

Now it so chanced that when Huon was brought before the Admiral, the Admiral's fair daughter, Esclairmonde by name, was standing behind a curtain, where she could hear all the words that were said and could also see what was done, being herself unseen.114 This maiden, beholding Huon, and seeing how fair a knight he was, and how boldly he bare himself both in the fight and when he was brought before her father, conceived for him in her heart no small love.115 When, therefore, she heard that he was to be slain, she had much ado to refrain herself from crying out.116 But when she knew that he was to be put in prison for a space, she thought within herself how she might help him.117

When it was now midnight, and every one in the palace slept, she issued from her chamber, carrying a torch of wax in her hand.118 When she came to the door of the dungeon, by good luck she found the jailor asleep, and taking his keys, opened the door of the dungeon.119

She said to Huon, "Fair sir, I am Esclairmonde, and am daughter to the Admiral, and I saw you when you were brought before my father, and also when you fought against his men, and knew you to be a fair knight and a gallant.120 Now, therefore, I desire greatly to help you; nor is there anything which I would not do for your sake," speaking more boldly because the dungeon was a darksome place, and neither could she see the knight's face nor could the knight see hers.121

When Huon heard the maiden thus speak, he said to himself, "Now must I be true as becomes a Christian man.122 I must tell this maiden that I, being a Christian man, may not have friendship with a Saracen; but of love I will not speak, lest it should shame her."123 So he said, "Fair lady, for fair you must be, seeing that you are so gracious, I thank you much for your kindness, nor will I refuse such service as you may find it in your heart to render me.124 Only you must know that I, being a Christian man, can have no friendship with a Saracen."125

The Lady Esclairmonde, hearing him thus speak, was filled with anger against him. "126 If you will not have me for a friend," she said, "verily you shall have me for an enemy, and will find that you have chosen the worst part."127 Then she went out from the dungeon, and said to the jailor, "See that this fellow have neither meat nor drink for three days."128 And the jailor said, "Lady, it shall be done as you command."129

Before the three days were passed, Esclairmonde repented in her heart that she had done this thing.130 She went, therefore, to the jailor, and said to him, "Open the door, for I would speak with this prisoner."131 And when he had opened the door, she said to Huon, "Sir Knight, I do greatly admire your constancy, in that you hold out against hunger and thirst, which to many, I doubt not, are harder to be borne than any perils or hurts of battle.132 Hear me, therefore: I do promise that if I can escape from this land, I will be christened as soon as I come to any land where this may be done."133 Huon answered her, "You make me right glad, fair lady; I do thank you with all my heart."134

Esclairmonde said to the jailor, "Now set before the prisoner meat and drink, and take such care of him as you best can.135 Only tell the Admiral that the man is dead of hunger."136 The jailor answered, "It shall be done as you desire."137