--- title: Of What Befell At Montalban — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Of What Befell At Montalban, «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: There was great trouble and wondering when the brethren knew that Mawgis was not in Montalban. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/11/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/) / Of What Befell At Montalban # Of What Befell At Montalban · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/11/) **2** When Richard heard the boy speak so wisely he took him in his arms and kissed him, weeping the while, and said to Reynaud, "Let my horse be killed and given for meat to the Lady Clare and to the young boys my nephews, and to others that have need."[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") And so it was done.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") After a few days it came to this, that Bayard only of all the horses was left alive.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the brethren would have had him also killed for food, Reynaud withstood them, saying that he would sooner die than that his horse should be killed.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet when the Lady Clare besought him, and his children also, he yielded to them, saying that the horse should die.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went to the stable, that he might do this deed himself.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet when he looked upon Bayard, and had called to mind how many times the noble beast had saved his life, he repented him of his purpose.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he gave him a handful of hay, for indeed there was nothing else that he could give, and went back to the Lady Clare and his brethren and said, "Endure till nightfall and you shall have meat.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") This I promise you," for he had a purpose in his heart.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he saddled Bayard, and came stealthily to his father's tent, that was in the King's camp, for he knew well where it was.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") When Reynaud saw the Duke Aymon he said to him, "For pity's sake, my father, give me food, for my wife and my children and my brothers and all my people are dying of hunger.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") As I live there is but this horse Bayard that is left to us."[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Duke answered, "I have sworn an oath to the King that I will not give you any help by food or otherwise."[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud said again, "My father, have pity upon your own flesh, for such we are.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") The King does us great wrong when he persecutes us in this fashion."[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Duke heard these words he well-nigh fell into a swoon for pity.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") After a while he said, "You say truly that the King does you wrong.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, therefore, light off your horse and go into the tent, and take whatsoever you can find, nor shall any man say you nay; but for my oath's sake, I may not give you aught."[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") So Reynaud went into the tent, and took such things as he could find and laid them on the back of Bayard, and carried them to Montalban.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") That night they ate their meat in the castle with much gladness of heart.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day the Duke Aymon called his steward and said to him, "Take now the three engines that the King commanded me to make for assailing the castle, and fill them, not with stones, but with flesh, both salt and fresh, and with loaves of bread, and with other victuals, and cause that they discharge these things into the castle."[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") And the steward did as the Duke commanded him.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") When the King heard what the Duke Aymon had done he was very angry, and sent for him to his tent.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the Duke came he said to him, "How are you so bold that you feed my mortal enemies.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Verily you shall lose your head for it."[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") The Duke answered, "Sire, if you should burn me by fire yet will I not fail my children.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") They are no thieves or murderers, or traitors, but as good and true knights as are in all the world."[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") When the King heard the Duke speak in this sort, he made as if he would have struck him.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Duke Naymes stood forth and said, "Sire, I would counsel you to send the Duke to his house.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") You cannot look for him to be with you in this matter, that he should see his children die before his eyes."[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the King said to the Duke Aymon, "Get you out of my camp forthwith, for you have done me more harm than can well be told."[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") And the Duke answered, "I will do your bidding willingly."[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") But before he went, he said to the Peers: "My lords, I commend my children to you.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") See, I pray you, that they come to no harm."[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") The King commanded that all the engines of war should be broken, for he feared lest others also of the Barons should throw victuals into the castle.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") So Reynaud and his men had peace, for no man made assault upon the castle.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") But after certain days, the provisions being all consumed, the famine was as sore as it had been at the first.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Alard said, "My brother, we cannot live longer without meat."[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Reynaud took a sword in his hand and went to the stable, having it in his heart to slay his horse.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") And when Bayard saw him, for he had not come thither for many days, he made good cheer.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Reynaud said, "I were cruel indeed if I did thee harm, good beast that thou art."[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") But Yonnet, who was his younger son, said, "Father, do you chose that my mother and my brother should die, and Bayard live?"[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Reynaud was much troubled, doubting what he should do.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he bethought him of a thing that he might do.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") He called for a basin, and took blood from the horse, and this being mixed with other things of which they had a little he prepared a mess, by which the Lady Clare and the children were a little sustained.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") This he did for four days, but on the fifth day the horse was grown so feeble that there came no blood from him at all.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") And now it seemed as if all hope were gone.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud and his kindred and his house being in these straits, there came an old man who would speak with him. "[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir," said he, "you have done as well as could have been done by any man in keeping this castle, but now you can do no more.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") But listen to me.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") I was at the building of this place many years ago, when I was but a young child.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") And I mind me that the lord that builded it made a secret way by which a man might escape if he was so minded.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") This way I will show you, and you can depart from this place by it without danger."[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud was right glad to hear this thing so that he forgot his hunger.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he took his horse, which, indeed, could scarce stand for feebleness, and all the folk that were left in the castle; and they entered the secret way that the old man showed them.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") When they had gone a part of the way, Reynaud saw that they had not with them King John of Gascony.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") He said, "We have done ill to leave King John.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") It would be shame to us were he to die like a starving wolf that has fallen into a pit."[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went back and brought him.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") The others had small pleasure to see him, for even the Lady Clare, that was his sister, spake sharply to him saying, "Brother, you have done me such damage that you well deserved to die."[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") But Reynaud said, "I have sworn homage to the King, and I must needs save him."[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the others heard these words, they confessed that Reynaud's thoughts were more worthy of a Christian man than theirs.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") So having gone along the secret way for a while, they came to the end, and having issued forth found that they were in the Wood of the Serpent.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Many things they suffered as they went, yet for hope's sake and by help of such wild fruits as they gathered on the way they bear up.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") And so with much toil and trouble they came to Ardennes, and were received with much gladness.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/11/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/11/) - next →: [How Peace Was Made](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/12/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)