“Lord King, what sorrow will you do with these hard words? This youth hath proved in battle, with God judging the right, that he spoke true words before you. Since he slew Prince Chariot unwittingly, he is not to be thought a murderer. Do you devise some punishment which will not set him for all his lifetime far from those who hold him dear!”
King Charlemagne’s anger was waxing strong, but also did he see that his lords were in open rebellion against him in this matter. So he spoke quietly, as if he had been moved by the speech of Naymes.
’Truly Huon hath done much evil—taking from me in my old age the son of my heart and from France her king to be. But likewise is it true that God Himself hath given this youth victory in this strife. Therefore, lest I be too harsh I shall lay upon Huon a quest, such as was the custom of chivalry in bygone times. And he is not to return to France—under the pain of shameful death— until this quest be successfully finished. What say you to that, Duke Naymes?”
Naymes, seeing that the King could be moved no farther in Huon’s behalf, assented with a bowed head.
“This then is the quest of Huon of Bordeaux,” proclaimed Charlemagne. “Let him go out of France into the very stronghold of the Saracens— the City of Babylon. There he must go into the court of Emir Gaudys who ruleth that city. And he shall take from the chin of Gaudys a handful of the beard which groweth there, from the mouth of Gaudys shall he take five teeth, and from the body of Gaudy’s chief lord shall he strike the head—cutting it off in the full sight of all who are men of Gaudys. To me he shall bring this hair and teeth. In addition he must salute upon the mouth Gaudys’ daughter—in sight of her father’s court!”
Now when Huon heard the conditions of the quest his heart was desolate for he believed that no living man, unless he had more than mortal assistance, could survive such deeds. And so he said to King and court:
“My King, you send now to his certain death one who has wished you well all his days. May all men hearing my story in times hereafter judge between us.”
Then he said no more but went to the bedside of his brother Gerard into whose keeping he gave Bordeaux and his other lands. Then, taking a sorrowful farewell of Gerard, he chose divers knights and squires of his following and set forth to obey the commands of the King.
VII. HOW HUON DEPARTED FROM FRANCE AND GERARD RULED IN BORDEAUX
With a heart full of sorrow Huon took ship with his men and sailed to the ancient land of Italy where they came at length to that city which lies in the center of the world, namely, Rome. And there did the young Duke beg audience with the Holy Father. And His Holiness was pleased to receive him, saying:
“Long ago was thy father close to me and now it giveth me happiness to look upon the son of his body who is truly made after the same good fashion as my ancient friend—for of thee, Huon of Bordeaux, I have heard only good report. Tell me now, my son, what has brought thee from France to our gates?”
Then did Huon give tongue to all the evil which had fastened upon him and tell of the hard task laid upon him by Charlemagne. And he spoke full sadly of his future, saying that he knew that he now rode to his death. But when such words crossed his lips. His Holiness stopped him with upraised hand and chid him gently thus:
“My son, know you that all things are possible to him who believeth upon Our Gracious Lord— even as He Himself hath said. Go you forth armed in faith and you shall conquer—yes, even though against you stand in mailed might all the awful forces of the heathen.”
And at these words Huon’s heart was lightened of a heavy care and he was as a man who has been freed from heavy chains. His Holiness then bid Huon seek out the Duke Garyn, he who was kin to Duke Sevin and now abode at St. Omar. And Huon did as he was commanded, finding Garyn a knight of no little renown, well marked by all the realm of Christendom.
Duke Garyn welcomed the youth with open arms, taking him to his bosom and proclaiming him one to sit in the place of the son and heir he had never known. Because, as he told Huon, the boy was as the Duke Sevin had been in his first youth and Duke Sevin was his own brother. Thus did Huon meet with his uncle and receive much honor and kindness from him.
When the time came that Huon and his men must take ship for the land of the Saracens, Duke Garyn called to him his lady wife and said:
“Look you well, my lady, to the affairs of this duchy for I am minded to sail with my nephew so that he ventures not alone into this great danger.”
His lady wept full sore as she replied to her lord thus:
“My good lord, much do I fear to see you go from me, for evil have been my dreams of late and I think that if you go we shall not look upon your face again in this world. But if this be your will then I will say naught. All shall be ordered as you wish and I shall hold your duchy against your return.”
Having so spoken she went privately to Huon and asked of him that he would watch over her lord and see that no harm came to him, for deeply did she love the Duke Garyn. And Huon swore upon the Cross that all would be as she asked and no harm would come to his uncle if he, Huon of Bordeaux, could prevent.
But still she wept, hiding her tear-besmeared face in the long sleeves of her robe as Garyn and Huon rode forth from the hold of St. Omar.
Now while Huon journeyed thus half the world away, his brother Gerard, having recovered of the wound dealt him by Prince Chariot, arose from his bed and rode home to Bordeaux. The Duchess Aclis had a man at watch in the tower and when he sighted the pennons on the lances of those in Gerard’s company, he called that joyful news to all the keep, bringing the household out in haste to welcome their returning lords.
But when Gerard came alone into the courtyard the Duchess put her hands to her breast as if to ward off a fatal sword thrust and cried:
“Where is thy brother? Why ride you alone?”
So Gerard needs must tell her the whole sorry tale at once. And upon the hearing of it she uttered a shriek, in so loud a voice that all the city heard it and the people trembled at its meaning. So having given voice to her woe she fell as one dead upon the pavement.
Her maidens bore her speedily to her chamber, but she never spoken again, for her heart was broken and she was with her lord in Paradise.
For long dark days Gerard did mourn both mother and brother—for he deemed Huon to be dead also, since no mortal man might safely fulfill the quest Charlemagne had laid upon him. Gerard spoke not to those about him, nor did he break his fast, until at last one of the old knights who had served as his tutor in arms came to him and said:
“My lord, grievous indeed have been these misfortunes laid upon you. But weeping rouses not the dead to life again. Bordeaux needs a lord and you must now take the high seat and rule here, even as did your worthy father and brother before you.”
So did Gerard become Duke of Bordeaux and he liked it full well, in time forgetting Huon and the fact that he was only lord in Bordeaux by reason of his brother’s ill fortune. For to him Huon was now as dead as if his body lay in the tomb of the Dukes. In the past he had known envy of his brother and had dreamed secret dreams of being great when Huon was naught. Now he lived those dreams in truth.
After some time he took to wife a daughter of Gyblerde of Cecyll who was distantly of the blood of that Amaury who had brought such misfortune to the House of Duke Sevin. She was a lady of wondrous dark beauty, both witty and sharp of tongue, and deeply learned in certain black arts which made her feared by the commoners throughout the countryside. But of her family Gerard did not think, being pleased by her person and beguiled by the forbidden knowledge she held.