--- title: How Huon Returned, His Errand Fulfilled — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees · page 2 description: How Huon Returned, His Errand Fulfilled, «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: When Gerames and the Lady Sybil had tarried for three months in the tower, and had heard no ti --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/42/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/) / How Huon Returned, His Errand Fulfilled # How Huon Returned, His Errand Fulfilled · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/42/) **2** "Sir," said Huon, "willingly will I fight with this giant.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") But first you must give me back my horn and my cup that were taken from me." "[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") It shall be done," said the Admiral, and he commanded that they should give the horn and the cup to Huon.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") These Huon delivered to Gerames to keep for him.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") After this he armed himself for battle.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the Admiral saw him duly equipped for the fight, he said, "This is as goodly a knight as ever I beheld."[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") When the giant and Huon came together in the field, the giant asked this question, "What is your kinship to the Admiral that you are willing to fight for him?"[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Huon answered him, "I am not of kin to him, I am a Frenchman born, and I slew your brother." "[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") That is ill hearing," said the giant; "nevertheless I am thankful to Mahomet that he gives me occasion to revenge my brother's death; yet, for I see that you are a brave man, if you will worship Mahomet, I will give you my sister in marriage--and she is a foot higher than I and black as a coal--and the half of my lands."[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Huon answered, "I will have none of your lands or your sister.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") It is time to fight."[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the two, setting their spears in rest, charged at each other, and this so fiercely that their spears were broken in pieces and their horses borne to the ground.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") But the two leapt lightly to their feet, and next the giant would have stricken Huon with a great blow, but Huon leapt lightly to one side so that the giant missed his stroke.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") But Huon in his turn smote the giant in the helm, and cut off his ear.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the giant was sore afraid and cried to Huon, "I yield me to you; I pray you to do me no hurt."[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The Admiral was greatly pleased with the victory, and Esclairmonde had even greater joy.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") When Gerames saw what had befallen, he said to the Admiral, "Know that I am no Saracen, no, nor nephew of yours, but I came to look for my lord, Huon of Bordeaux."[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") The Admiral, when he heard this, said, "Of a truth it is hard to be aware of the craft and subtlety of these Frenchmen."[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile Huon came and delivered up the giant to the Admiral.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") The giant knelt down, and said, "I did think myself the most mighty man upon the whole face of the earth, and that not ten men could prevail over me, but now am I overcome by one only.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore I submit myself to you and crave your pardon." "[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") My pardon you shall have," answered the Admiral, "if you will promise not to trespass against me hereafter, and will swear to be my man so long as you shall live." "[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") I promise," and kneeling down in the sight of all, he swore he would be the Admiral's man.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") These things finished, the Admiral and his chief lords, with the Frenchmen, sat down to dinner.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") At dinner Huon took the cup that Oberon had given him, and showed it to the Admiral saying, "See now what happens when I make this sign."[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") And when he had made the sign of the cross, lo! the cup was filled with wine.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he gave the cup into the Admiral's hand, and straightway the wine vanished away.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The Admiral greatly marvelled at the sight, and said, "You have enchanted me." "[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Nay, sir," answered Huon, "this is no enchantment.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") This thing is a sign that you are full of sin.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") And now I beseech you to forsake your false gods and to be christened.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Verily if you will not do this thing, I will overrun your palace and your whole city with armed men." "[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Now listen," cried the Admiral, "to this over-bold Frenchman\![100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") He hath lain in my prison for the half of a year, and now, forsooth, he will overrun my city with armed men.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") I marvel much where he will find them!" "[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless," said Huon, "you had better do this thing." "[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") I would not do it," answered the Admiral, "if Charlemagne and all his host were here."[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Huon blew the horn.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") And Oberon heard it where he sat in his palace, and said, "Hark! there is the horn once more, and methinks it sounds true."[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") And he wished, "I would be in Babylon with one hundred thousand armed men."[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") And straightway it happened as he wished.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") So Oberon and Huon overran the city of Babylon.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") All that would not be baptized they slew, and among them the Admiral, who was stout in refusing to leave his false gods, and all that consented to be baptized he saved alive.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") And Huon took to himself the Admiral's sceptre, and then Oberon wished again, and straightway he and Huon and all his company and the fair Esclairmonde were on the shore of the sea.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") And he caused that a goodly ship should be ready to take them to their own land.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") So Huon embarked with the fair Esclairmonde and all his people; also they took with them the chief treasures of the city of Babylon.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Oberon bade farewell to Huon, saying, "See now that you tell the truth and keep you from sin; so shall you prosper all your days, and come to bliss when your days are ended.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") And now render me again the cup and the horn, for you need them no more."[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Huon and his company and the fair Esclairmonde departed in the ship, and in time came to the land of France.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") There did Huon render to Charlemagne the Admiral's sceptre; and the King received him into his royal favour, and gave him back his lands.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Then was Huon wedded to the fair Esclairmonde, and these two lived together in great happiness to their lives' end.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Not long after that Huon had been restored to his Duchy of Bordeaux, the Emperor Charlemagne died, having been seized by a fever, which, as being now old and worn out by many labours both in war and peace, he was unable to resist.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") There had been, it is said, many signs of his death--eclipses of the sun and moon, and other marvellous things.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Also, when he was making his last expedition against the Danes, he saw a great light, as it were a blazing torch, pass through a clear sky and fall to the ground; and the horse on which he was riding fell to the ground with great violence.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Also the palace in which he dwelt at Aachen was shaken by earthquakes, and in the Church which he himself had founded there happened this portent, that the word PRINCEPS, in the inscription which recorded this his munificence, so faded away that it could no longer be read.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") So Charlemagne died on the 28th of January in the year of Our Salvation, 814.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") He was buried in a sepulchral chamber in this same Church of Aachen.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Many years after, the chamber having been opened, the body of the Emperor was found seated on a throne as if he yet lived, clothed with imperial robes, bearing on his head the crown, and grasping the sceptre in his hand, while by his side lay his sword Joyous, and on his knees was a book of the Gospels.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") In life he was of a tall and strong person, being seven feet in height.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") His eyes were large and piercing, his hair and beard long.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") He was of pleasant speech, and could speak other tongues besides his own.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Writing he strove to acquire in his mature years, but could not learn the art.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") He was in truth a very noble and mighty prince.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/42/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/42/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)