They halted all they faced; they chased the Almoravids,
And drove them with their blades through mountain-pass and valley.
The booty they acquired was so admired and massive
That many, poor before, were now as rich as barons!
KING BAUDUS was, in truth, a most intrepid Peer:
Upon that day he felled six monarchs with his spear,
And captured Ganor too, as well as the Emir.
It really seemed, at first, that he would win the field.
1090 Then suddenly the son of Garnier, young Gui,
Led thirty thousand Moors, in armour, from the seas,
And met the rebel’s men on every side and reach
With overwhelming might and sent them to defeat.
King Ganor was released and given back his steed.
King Baudus was restrained and, by his nasal-piece,
Led off by Gui the lad to meet his angry liege!
“Your favourite’s done well!” King Ganor’s men agreed,
As Ganor pledged his word, by all that he believed,
That Baudus wouldn’t live to boast within his fief
1100 That he had tweaked the beards of Pagandom’s elite!
“Divide him, head from hide!” the angry king decreed.
WHEN BAUDUS WAS beheaded in payment for his scorn,
And Gui could hear the captives, whose trumpeting and horns
Resounded to the flight of the Almoravid hordes,
He led his men towards them, his thirty thousand Moors.
As soon as they had found them they bound them like a wall
That stopped them from escaping and held them in its thrall.
When this was done they started an opening assault
With poisoned darts and wyverns that hobbled every horse.
1110 On foot, however richly and well equipped they fought,
The captives were encumbered and couldn’t swing their swords.
When Gui observed their struggle, with ringing voice he called:
“Combatants, drop your weapons and listen to me, all!
The leader who enslaved you, King Baudus, lives no more,
And if you will but heed me, then freedom will be yours!”
“You promise us our freedom, but who are you, my lord?”
“I’m seneschal of Ganor, with blood as French as yours!”
“Then listen to our story,” the prisoners implored,
And gathered all around him, their leaders to the fore.
1120 Young Guischard and Alori, of arms and armour shorn,
Showed faces that were noble, on bodies strong and tall.
When gallant Gui beheld them, he said with ringing voice:
“Ye gods! Are you two brothers? You seem to be, I’m sure!”
Alori answered swiftly: “We’re cousins bred and born,
Of brothers who are married to sisters of the court:
Indeed, we are the nephews of Garnier of Nanteuil.
This summer we were captured at Avignon and forced
By Baudus from our homeland to servitude abroad.
But Duchess Aye has suffered the greatest blow of all:
1130 Duke Garnier has perished, the husband she adored.”
SIR GUI ADDRESSED Golias and Jambus with an order:
“Keep watch upon these people. Let nobody move forward
Until I’ve further questioned this pair about their story.
I want to know what’s happened within my native borders
And Avignon, the city where haughty Baudus caught them.”
“My lord, we’d left the city that morning to go hawking,
On mounts not made for racing – a donkey and a palfrey:
Alas our hunting made us the hunting- prey of Baudus!
But Duchess Aye has suffered the greatest of misfortunes:
1140 Sir Miles, with reinforcements, struck Avignon one morning
And broke her heart in pieces, when Garnier was slaughtered.”
On hearing this, the youngster fell forward on his warhorse:
He’d swooned away completely – the shock was so enormous.
THE MOMENT THAT he heard about his father’s death,
Gui fell into a swoon, the shock was so intense.
On hearing what had passed, King Ganor came himself
And held Gui in his arms to comfort his distress.
Some seven times or more he kissed his mouth and neck,
And said: “Beloved Gui, forego your wild lament:
The wish of the Emir, indeed of all our men,
1150 Is that you should receive this slaughtered rebel’s realm
And rule it well, as king, to right its wrongfulness.
I’ll set Majorca’s crown of gold upon your head
And you shall lead my hosts in any battles hence,
While I remain at home, in peace and sweet content
To know I’ve placed my land in hands of peerless strength.”
THE LAD MADE THIS reply: “ My lord, I thank you much.
When I was caught, they thought you’d slaughter me at once,
Yet you have brought me up and tutored me with love.
1160 It is my wish and will, henceforth, to be your son.”
When this was said, Guischard and Alori discussed
With Ganor what to him appeared a stroke of luck.
How could he grieve, my lords, as much as Gui had done?
“BELOVED GUI,” he cried, “lay grief aside, I beg you!
Behold this mighty host assembled here to help us!
If they should leave, their like will never reassemble.
But if I raise a fleet and journey with this many
For love of you, to seek and wreak your father’s vengeance,
Then will you let me wed your mother, whom I cherish?”
1170 “Indeed I will,” said Gui, “I’d let you and I’d bless you,
For nobody but you could match my father’s merit.”
When this was said the pair exchanged their solemn pledges,
King Ganor by his gods, and Gui by God in Heaven.
The king and the Emir, with ringing voices, bellowed:
“Good men, to arms again! The time is not for resting,
For we would lead you forth to seek revenge directly
On Christians who have slain your brothers and your nephews.”
Their men obeyed at once, for they were more than ready!
Re-gathering supplies, they bore them to their vessels,
1180 Then put to sea again with every sail erected.
My good and gallant lords, attend, and I shall tell you
How wonderfully Gui achieved his mother’s rescue!
KING GANOR cherished Aye – indeed, he had adored her
The moment they had met, and with a heart so loyal
That she and nothing else was everything he’d thought of.
While sleeping or awake he’d seen her face before him
And placed upon the seas, to save her, greater forces
Than Apolines of Tris had ever led in warfare.
They didn’t take a month, they didn’t take a fortnight:
1190 In half a week they sailed inside the port of Monbis,
Establishing a camp along the harbour foreshore.
King Ganor’s hand was firm: he gave them strictest orders
To not destroy the land or anyone who walked it!
“These people will be mine, ere long in time,” he warned them.
They all replied: “My lord, we will obey you, always.”
Sanson and Aumagon arose upon that morning,
To see, from window’s ledge, a wedge of men and horses,
And hear the distant roar of baying steeds and voices:
“Dear God above,” they cried, “whose army rides towards us?
1200 The Saracens, again, are trying to destroy us!
Let’s hasten forth to hear what news has been repor
ted!”
They fastened burnished helms, they girded worthy hauberks
And buckled on their blades, whose pommels were enormous.
Between its largest gates they galloped from their fortress
And left in Landesmore a troop of reinforcements.
Before his royal tent sat Ganor the Majorcan,
Who saw the flash of helms as both of them rode forward.
He summoned straightaway young Guischard and Alori
And asked without delay if they could name the horsemen:
1210 “It’s Aumagon, and Sanson, our fathers!” cried Alori.
“Go welcome them,” he said, “and bring them to my quarters!”
“Most gladly,” both replied, “we’ll follow such an order,”
And, running to their tents, leapt swiftly on their horses.
They took some fifteen score whom Baudus had deported,
And left the camp to climb a little hill before them.
Sanson and Aumagon rode down it on their war-steeds.
THEY LEFT THE CAMP to climb the little hill ahead,
Instructing, as they did, the company they led:
“My lords, we’ll not be long: wait patiently and rest,
1220 While we proceed alone to learn of their intent.”
Their company replied: “We’ll do as you request.”
The older pair, in fact, was first to question them:
“Are you the pagan Moors?” they asked them when they met:
Young Alori replied: “I swear, upon my head,
That I am not a Moor but Christian born and bred.
I’ll never love Mahom or ever serve his ends.”
“MY LORDS, THEN TELL us truly, as gallant knights and brave,
Of Baudus from Majorca, who rumour here maintains
Has met his match in Ganor and moulders in his grave.”
1230 At once the pair responded: “Indeed, he’s met his fate!”
“My lords, then what has happened to those he took as slaves
And led away in hundreds to serve in his domains?”
“They’re here again, in hundreds, and all are free again!”
Old Aumagon and Sanson looked closely at the pair,
Their figures and their faces, and every other trait,
Then said to one another: “Our sons look just the same!”
Old Sanson took it further: “They are our sons, in faith!”
He cried, and, rushing forward, he clasped their horses’ reins:
“Dear God, where did you get to, you ill-begotten knaves?”
1240 He sighed, as sons and fathers, with tearful eyes, embraced,
And men, with joy and pity, around them wept the same.
“So tell us, gallant children, in God Almighty’s name,
Who leads these foreign forces across our woodland plains?”
“The young Sir Gui,” they answered, “the son of Garnier.
“He heard that Miles the villain was making here in haste
To wed his father’s widow, the lovely Lady Aye.
He swears he’ll not be happy until the wretch is slain.”
“Dear God above,” cried Sanson, “how wondrous are Your ways!”
“COME, FATHER, to our army,” the young Alori said,
1250 “For you are in no danger of injury or death.
Tell everything you’ve told us to King Ganor himself,
Of Miles and his intentions – God damn his soul to hell!
Young Gui will not be happy until the wretch is dead:
He knows his foul intention towards the fair duchess.”
TOGETHER, SONS AND fathers rode back across the fields
Towards the Pagan army surveying them like beasts.
They only reined their horses when Ganor’s tent was reached.
They recognised directly the gallant face of Gui
And tearfully embraced him with joy a joy to see.
1260 Then Ganor came to greet them, Majorca’s noble Peer:
“My lords,” he asked directly, “what date has been decreed
By Miles for his arrival and marriage that he seeks?”
“When Pentecost is over and all have left the feast.”
“By God,” Gui interjected, “the day will cost him dear!
His head will pay its purchase, and I shall fetch the fee!
My mother shall wed Ganor – I’ve said that this shall be!”
“Upon my faith,” said Sanson, “there’s none will disagree;
But Miles must be encountered and driven to defeat.”
“My worthy lords,” said Ganor, “attend a while to me:
1270 If gallant Gui is willing, then I should wish that he
Might summon forth his mother, fair Aye, to meet us here,
For I would know her wishes and how she truly feels.”
“My lord,” the youth responded, “I’ll do it willingly,
But you, I swear, shall wed her – I’ve said that this shall be!
I’d rather fall in battle and feel its fatal steel
Than live to see my mother be forced to wed the fiend
Who killed my noble father because of jealousy!”
“MY LORD,” the lad continued, “for God our Saviour’s sake,
If you yourself are willing, remain a while in wait.
1280 My cousins and their fathers, and I, shall ride away
At once to fetch my mother, the lovely Lady Aye.”
“Go quickly,” answered Ganor, “for I desire the same.”
At this, their party mounted without the least delay
And rode with steady purpose till reaching Lady Aye –
Whose heart was very heavy with sorrow and dismay
That Miles had come to fight her with brigands and brigades
Of Ganelon’s relations, God rot the renegades!
How soon the Lady’s sorrow and fear could be assuaged,
If God supported Ganor and gave his Pagans aid!
1290 My lords, you’ll hear what happened, before the end of day!
Young Gui approached directly the vaulted hall of state
Where, fretting her misfortune, he met his mother Aye,
Fair Avignon’s first lady, herself so fair of face
That no one in her lifetime eclipsed her beauty’s grace.
When Gui approached his mother, she fixed her noble gaze
Upon the gallant youngster, but didn’t know his name.
She recognised Sir Sanson, and asked him straightaway:
“Good nobleman, inform me, without deception, pray,
Or any fact’s concealment, for God our Saviour’s sake:
1300 Which army locks our coastline within its ships’ blockade?”
“My lady,” answered Sanson, “by God to Whom I pray,
You’ll know enough about them before the end of day!
But I can tell you this much – be joyful that they came,
For not a one has come here to cause you any pain:
Indeed, they’re here to help you against the clan we hate,
And, what is more, among them is Gui your son again,
And my son, and Alori’s – I swear it on my faith!”
“Dear God, I can’t believe it!” the lady Aye exclaimed:
“My son has long departed this life, I am afraid.
1310 God rest his soul on flowers in glory with the saints!
King Ganor took him from me, by whom I was betrayed.
If Gui my son were living, I know as sure as faith
That nothing would have stopped him from making his escape.
There’s nothing would have kept him, not all the gold in Spain,
From coming to his mother and his ancestral place.”
At this, a tear of pity ran down the youngster’s face,
And Aye began, on looking, to know her son again.
“Fine youngster,” she beseeched him, “I bid you, in the name
Of Jesus, so
n of Mary and Son of God the same,
1320 To answer me one question with all the truth you may:
Before this, have you ever set foot in these domains?”
On hearing this, old Sanson no longer could refrain:
“Sweet lady, don’t you know him?” the hoary duke exclaimed:
“This is your son, God bless me, –young Gui – alive and hale!
King Ganor raised him nobly, with every love and grace,
And now he’s led an army across the ocean waves,
A band of willing Pagans in armour and in rage!
Their sum’s a hundred thousand or even more, I’d say.
For love of Gui they’ve journeyed, I swear it on our faith,
1330 And all have pledged to help you through their allegiance paid
To gallant-visaged Ganor, who’s sworn to keep you safe
From Miles’s evil clutches and evil clansmen’s raids.”
My noble lords, imagine the change of mood in Aye:
She’d never been so happy in all her mortal days!
With tears of joy and pity she wept and wept again,
And hugged her son and kissed him in rapture unrestrained.
So lovingly she held him, so willingly he stayed,
You could have walked the distance a flighted arrow makes
Ere either son or mother would sunder their embrace.
1340 Gui spoke at last, his visage with bravery ablaze,
And said to Aye his mother: “Most noble Lady Aye,
I know my father’s killers, of Ganelon’s foul race,
And if I live, God willing I’ll make each villain pay
Who slaughtered him and bludgeoned your country with their blades.
King Ganor’s here to help me, a man of Pagan faith,
Who nonetheless has raised me with every loving grace,
And who, because he loves you, has journeyed all this way
With Moors one hundred thousand – what more is there to say?
If Miles should dare approach us, he’ll have the Deuce to pay:
1350 Nor he, nor any with him, will profit from his game!
King Ganor held you captive, within his passion’s sway
At Aufalerne his tower so powerfully made,
But held you with such honour and courtesy, in faith,
He never once abused you or caused you any shame.
Indeed, I have to tell you he sought your honour’s gain:
He brought me up and taught me within his hall of state,
When, had he once but wanted, he could have had me slain –
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