. Page, esquire, and knight : a book of chivalry . agne when he was journeying from Franceto Italy on his way to be made emperor, thatI would tell you. All along the route whichhe was to take, the report had gone out thatthe mighty Charlemagne was coming, andcrowds had flocked to the roadside to seethe famous king go by with his escort ofdukes and lords and barons and earls, whowere reckoned the most valiant company ofknights in Christendom. Of all those who awaited the coming ofthe king, none were more eager than twohalf-grown lads who stood on a hilltop nearSutri in northern Italy and watche
. Page, esquire, and knight : a book of chivalry . agne when he was journeying from Franceto Italy on his way to be made emperor, thatI would tell you. All along the route whichhe was to take, the report had gone out thatthe mighty Charlemagne was coming, andcrowds had flocked to the roadside to seethe famous king go by with his escort ofdukes and lords and barons and earls, whowere reckoned the most valiant company ofknights in Christendom. Of all those who awaited the coming ofthe king, none were more eager than twohalf-grown lads who stood on a hilltop nearSutri in northern Italy and watched the longfile of heralds and soldiers in armor, whomade up the advance guard of the army,march up the winding road that led to thelittle village. They were a strange couple,these two, the one dark-haired and graceful ROLAND AND OLIVER 8l in the velvet suit which he had donned forthis feast day, and which set off his slenderfigure well, the other strong and handsomebut clad in ragged garments, and with un-kempt flaxen locks streaming in the Yet the rough clothes of Roland, the villageboy, could no more hide an air of distinctionwith which he carried himself than could therich garments of Oliver, the governors son,conceal the lithe strength of his young body. 82 PAGE, ESQUIRE, AND KNIGHT The villagers never ceased to wonder thatthe governor allowed his son to be seen withRoland, but it had come about in this wise:Roland was the strongest of the village boys,and they made him their leader and cham-pion, who should settle the unending feudwhich existed between them and the boysof high station, of whom Oliver was theleader. In a wrestling match the two hadfought it out, and though the contest waslong and close, Roland had finally thrownhis opponent. But Oliver, being a courteouslad as well as strong, rose to his feet anddeclared that Roland had proved himselfthe better, and that so much did he admirehis valor, that he would fain be friends withhim. And there began a friendsh
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