🧚 Of the Treachery of King John · page 2

When the brethren found that a great treachery had been practised upon them, they prepared to defend themselves, having first confessed their sins to each other, for lack of a priest to whom they might confess.75 Great deeds did they that day, but not without suffering many things.76 First Guichard was taken prisoner by the King's men and bound upon a horse.77 Yet Reynaud delivered him from captivity.78 Then Richard was grievously wounded by Gerard Lord of Valence, and came very near to death, but him also Reynaud, than whom there was never greater fighter in the world, rescued before it was too late.79 And indeed it was in Richard's counsel that the brethren found deliverance.80 For when he opened his eyes, having before been in a swoon, and saw Reynaud, he said to him, "See you that rock yonder that is so high and strong?81 If we can win thither, we shall be safe from our enemies, at least for one while.82 Nor do I doubt that Mawgis, who knows things that are hidden from other men, knows in what plight we are, and will bring us help presently."83

And Alard lifted Richard from the earth, and laid him upon his shield, and carried him to the rock, Reynaud and Guichard holding back meanwhile the King's men with such strength and valour as have never been surpassed, for they fought as men who have no hope for their lives, but think only how they may make most havoc among their enemies.84 And now again did Ogier the Dane render them good service.85 Truly they had scarce won their way to the rock but for this, for when they were most hardly pressed he drew back his own company the length of a bowshot. "86 You can deal with these men without me," said he to the King's barons. "87 It were better that I should not meddle with them any more, seeing that they are my kinsmen."88 And so somewhat by favour of Ogier, but chiefly by their own valour, the brethren won their way to the rock.89

Now the rock had four faces.90 Of these Reynaud kept two, so strong was he, and Guichard one and Alard one.91 As for Richard he was so spent with loss of blood that he lay upon the ground and could render no help.92 After a while an evil chance fell upon them, for Guichard was so sorely wounded in the thigh that he could no longer stand upon his feet.93 He cried to Reynaud, "Let us yield ourselves to the King, seeing that neither Richard nor I can help you any more." "94 This is to speak as a coward," answered Reynaud. "95 I would not yield myself for all the gold and silver in the world, no nor for Bayard my horse, though I love him better than all other things.96 And, indeed, what were the profit of yielding ourselves?97 We should of a certainty be hanged by the King, and it were better to perish here than to die in so shameful a fashion."98 When Guichard heard these words he was greatly troubled in spirit. "99 You are right, brother," he said. "100 Cut me now the half of my shirt into strips and I will bind up my wounds as best I may, and so make shift to help you against our enemies."101 This he did; so these three still held the rock against the King.102

Meanwhile Mawgis knew how his kinsmen had been betrayed, and made haste to succour them.103 He saddled the horse Bayard, and rode with a great company of knights as fast as might be to the place where the brethren were.104 Great was Reynaud's joy to see him; while he was yet a long way off he knew him, not so much for himself as for the horse Bayard on which he rode.105 Swift as a swallow was Bayard, every stride was of thirty feet at the least.106 When Richard heard it, he said to his brother, "Lift me up in your arms that I may see him."107 So Reynaud lifted him up, and when he saw Mawgis and Bayard coming up as a storm comes he said, "The sight makes me whole again."108

Ogier the Dane was glad to see that help had come to his kinsmen. "109 See you these men?" he said to the Frenchmen, "we cannot stand against them; let us retreat."110 But while he was speaking, Mawgis came upon him, so swift was the horse Bayard, and defied him. "111 Ogier," he said, "you came of true men, but you are yourself untrue," and he spurred Bayard against him, and smote him on the breast with his spear so stoutly that he broke both shield and corslet.112 What would have been the end no man can say, for Ogier on his part was not backward, but now the horse Bayard, knowing that his master was near, carried away Mawgis in his own despite, and came and knelt before Reynaud.113 Then Mawgis lighted down from him, and greeted the brethren most lovingly.114

As for Ogier and the Frenchmen, not being minded to stand against the new-comers, they rode back to the river Dordogne, Reynaud crying out to his kinsman, "Ho! cousin! have you then left being a soldier and become a fisherman for eels or salmon?"115

When they had crossed over the river the Frenchmen blamed Ogier the Dane, for that he had favoured the brethren, while Ogier, on his part, was greatly troubled, knowing that they spake truly, and yet that the brethren held him in no regard for all that he had done.116 These things so wrought upon him that he mounted his horse and swam back across the river.117 When he had come to the other bank, Reynaud, having ridden down to the river on Bayard to meet him, said, "Cousin, surely we have had enough of fighting; let us be content therewith."118 But Ogier answered, "You have blamed me for treachery, and my own friends say the same thing.119 I would rather be slain than endure such reproaches."120

Reynaud said, "So be it."121 And the two charged at each other and met with so great a shock that both were thrust from their saddles and fell to the ground.122 Before they could raise themselves, for both received no small damage, the two horses, Bayard and the other, fell to fighting.123 Then Ogier, knowing that Bayard was the stronger by far of the two, would have smitten him with his sword.124 Reynaud, on the other hand, hindered him.125 And when Mawgis and the brothers, that is to say, Alard and Guichard, for Richard was too sorely wounded, saw this, they made all haste to come.126 When Ogier perceived them, he had no choice but to mount on his horse and flee.127 Then Reynaud cried after him, "Come back if you will and fetch your saddle," for the girths had been broken when the two jousted together, "and I will greet you in such a place that Charlemagne with all his men could not help you."128 So Ogier passed over the river once again, and Mawgis with the brethren went back to the rock where they had left Richard.129