MEDIAEVAL LITERATURE. 



479) 



walks up to him in high dudgeon, upbraids him for his vile con- 

 duct, and threatens to kill all his guests if the "gabs" are not 

 carried into execution without delay. The Frankish prince stands 

 aghast. The occurrence should not be taken so seriously at all. 

 But Kiug Hugo seems not to be possessed of any sense of humour. 

 "My Lord," says Charles to their host, "be your Majesty pleased 

 not take it amiss in us, but it is the custom in Paris and at Chartrea 

 to emulate and outvie one another in bravado and heroics, when- 

 ever one is comfortably stretched on one's couch after generous 

 libations. Indeed, your claret was too good not to keep up this 

 tradition over here !" But the kind words of his guest were unable 

 to soften the heart of the dignified and solemn Oriental. The 

 "gabs" were to be carried into execution forthwith; if not the fate 

 of the pilgrims was sealed. 



Great are the embarrassment and the consternation among 

 Charlemagne and his companions. They do not carry arms, for 

 the heroes have travelled to these remote parts as pilgrims and not 

 as warriors. Nothing remains for them but to implore help from 

 Heaven. Luckily their fervent prayers are heard : an angel 

 descends on earth with a message of comfort : the heroes will be 

 enabled to make their marvellous feat.^ of strength materialise. 

 But with warning finger uplifted the messenger from Heaven says 

 that this must be the last of their careless bragging at other 

 people's cost. Even Frenchmen ought not to dare indulge in too 

 much folly. 



Full of good cheer and courage, the knights return to their 

 angry host and inform him that they are prepared to accede to his 

 request. Out of the thirteen "gabs" he is allowed a free choice, 

 and the wonderful display will start at once. The Emperor Hugo 

 shows little delicacy in his choice, when he appears to be prepared 

 to give up his lovely daughter to Olivier's brutal caresses. The 

 latter, however, remains true to the character and traditions of 

 his nation, in never losing sight of gentle courtesy. After Olivier, 

 William of Orange enters the lists with his granite ball, and, in 

 fact, forty fathoms of wall are knocked down without apparent 

 difficulty. Then Bernard floods the city, and the Emperor Hugo, 

 who has taken shelter in the highest tower, beseeches his mighty 

 guest to stem the ever-rising waters. Charles, quietly perched 

 with his twelve peers in the top of a tall pine tree, offers up a 

 prayer, which causes the flood to subside almost at once. 



"Would you like to have more of it?" Charles asks the 

 trembling monarch in bantering tones. 



"Not this week, thanks," replies Hugo the Strong, "for if all 

 your 'gabs' come off like these there would be nothing but weep- 

 ing for me and gnashing of teeth. Rather allow me graciously to 

 do homage to you, and henceforward to receive my empire from you 

 as my liegelord." Charles cannot but accept so generous an offer; 

 and in order to give additional lustre to the event he proposes that 

 the two princes shall array themselves in their full Court dress and 

 regalia, and parade together in the gardens. And lo ! when the 

 two kings appear in their golden crowns all the paladins lock with 



