. The book of romance; . s for hostages, they shall besent. It is well, said Blancandrin, the treaty is good. The Emperor Charles was happier than he had everbeen in his life. He had taken Cordova, and throwndown the walls; his war machines had laid low thetowers, and the rich city had been plundered, while everySaracen who refused to be baptized had been slain. Nowhe felt he might rest, and sought the cool of an orchard,where were already gathered his nephew Eoland, withOliver his comrade, Geoffrey of Anjou his standardbearer, and many other famous Knights. They layabout on white carpets doin
. The book of romance; . s for hostages, they shall besent. It is well, said Blancandrin, the treaty is good. The Emperor Charles was happier than he had everbeen in his life. He had taken Cordova, and throwndown the walls; his war machines had laid low thetowers, and the rich city had been plundered, while everySaracen who refused to be baptized had been slain. Nowhe felt he might rest, and sought the cool of an orchard,where were already gathered his nephew Eoland, withOliver his comrade, Geoffrey of Anjou his standardbearer, and many other famous Knights. They layabout on white carpets doing what they best liked — someplayed games, chess or draughts, but these were mostlythe old men who were glad to be still: the young onesfenced and tilted. Under a pine tree, close to a sweet-briar, a seat of massive gold was placed, and on it sat theEmperor of the fair country of France, a strong man, • P|N£-TREE. • CLOSE ^\. CQVNTRY- OF- FRANCE. gSfc> cimviemg^syte^ THE BATTLE OF RONCEVALLES 181 with his beard white as snow. But his rest was came the messengers of the Saracen King, and,descending from their mules, they bowed low before him. It was Blancandrin who first spoke, showing with hishands the presents he had brought with him, and offer-ing that the King would receive baptism, and do homagefor his lands, if only the Emperor Charles would returnwith his army into France, for, said Blancandrin, youhave been too long in this country. When Blancandrin had spoken, the Emperor sat silentwith his head bent, thinking of the words of theSaracen, for never was it his custom to be hasty in hisspeech. At length he looked up, and a proud look wason his face. You have said well, he answered, yet King Marsileis my deadly enemy, and how do I know that I can putmy trust in your offers ? You will have hostages, replied the Saracen, sons ofthe highest nobles, and my own son will be among w
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectarthurk, bookyear1902
