--- title: How It Fared With the Brethren — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees · page 2 description: How It Fared With the Brethren, «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: At Pentecost King Charles held a court at Paris to which with others came Duke Aymon and his sons. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/5/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 It Fared With the Brethren # How It Fared With the Brethren · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/5/) **2** When all the knights were fast asleep, the false Herneger rose from his bed and armed himself.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he cut the cords of the drawbridge, and let it fall, and he slew also the guards that kept watch on the wall.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") When he had done this, the knights who were disposed upon the mountains came up, being led by Guy of Burgundy, and, finding the gates open, entered in and slew all that they could find.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly it had gone ill with the four brethren that night but for the horse of Alard that woke them out of their sleep.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") For some of the guards had been slain, and some who should have watched were drunken, and the brethren had been surprised but for the loud neighing of the horse.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") When Reynaud saw that the enemy was within the castle, he and his brethren took their places in the tower, and, when the tower was set on fire, they took their stand in a certain pit and defended it right valiantly against all the King's men.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") After awhile, the other knights that were in the castle taking heart and coming to help them, they drove out the enemy from the castle, and shut the gates and raised the drawbridge.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day Reynaud said to his brothers, "So far we have done well, and have been delivered beyond all hope.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless here we may not stay, for all our provision of food has been burnt by fire.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us depart, therefore, while we can."[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") So they left the castle not without much sorrow.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Alard and Guichard were in the vanguard with a hundred knights, and Reynaud and Richard brought up the rear with all the rest of their folk.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") That night they passed through the army of the King without hurt or hindrance.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") But for many days to come they had no rest from their enemies, nor of all that pursued them was there one that did them more damage than did Aymon their father.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") At last things came to this pass that there was no one left alive of all their followers.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Their horses also were in a sore plight, for they had nothing to eat save only such roots as they could find in the ground.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless the horse Bayard was plump and strong, while the others were so lean and weak that they could scarce stand.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") A wonderful beast was he in this as in other things, being as well nourished by roots as other horses are wont to be by hay and corn.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") As for the knights they were ill to see, for their armour was eaten away with rust and their skins dark with hunger and want.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said Reynaud to his brothers, "What shall we do?[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") As for myself I had sooner die as becomes a knight than perish here of hunger and cold."[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Alard said, "My counsel is that we go straight to our lady mother in Ardennes.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") For though the King and his lords hate us, and even our father is set against us, yet I am persuaded that our mother will not fail us." "[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") You give good counsel," said Reynaud; and to this the other two agreed.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") That night the brethren set out, and travelling without stay came to the city of Ardennes.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") When they were in sight of the walls, Reynaud said to his brethren, "We did ill to take no surety of our father, that he give us not into the King's hands." "[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Fear not," answered Richard. "[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") I am assured that our lady mother will keep us safe."[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") So they entered the town.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") But no man knew them, so strange were they to look upon, and the townsfolk asked them, "Of what country are you?" "[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") You are too curious," answered Reynaud, and they rode to the palace.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the Duke Aymon chanced to be hawking that day by the river, and the Duchess was in her chamber, where she was wont to sit, in much grief because she had no tidings of her children.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") After a while she came from her chamber into the hall, where the men sat, but she knew them not.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Nay so black were they and foul to look upon that she was in no small fear of them, and was minded for a while to go back to her chamber.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") But soon she took courage, and greeted the men, saying, "Who are you, Christian men or pagans?[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Maybe you are doing some penance.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Will you have some alms from me or clothing? methinks you need them much.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Gladly will I do you this service that God also may have mercy upon my own children."[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") And when she thought of her sons, and how she knew not whether they were alive or dead, she wept aloud.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") When Reynaud heard her weep, he was himself greatly moved, and wept also.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") And the Duchess looking on him more closely was not a little troubled, so that she had almost fallen to the ground in a swoon.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") But when she came to herself she looked again and lo! there was a scar on his face that he had from a fall when he was a child.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") So she knew him again, and cried, "O my son Reynaud, how comes it that you are so greatly changed, you that were the fairest knight in all the world?"[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she looked about her, and knew her other sons also, and took them one by one in her arms, both rejoicing and lamenting.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") So she wept and they wept also.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") And now came a yeoman to say that the dinner was served.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Duchess and her sons went to the table, and sat down and made good cheer.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") As they sat, the Duke came in from his hawking, and said "Who are these men that are so strange to look upon?" "[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") These are your children and mine," answered the Duchess. "[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") See what they have suffered, living in the woods.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") I beseech you deal kindly with them."[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Duke hardened his heart against his sons, because he would be true to King Charles.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") And there was much dispute between them, so that Reynaud had once half drawn his sword from its sheath.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Only Alard stayed him, "Set not your hand against him, for that is against God's commandment."[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") In the end peace was made between father and sons in this fashion.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Aymon said, "I cannot abide in the house with these men, for that were against my oath to King Charles.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") But you, my wife, have much gold and silver, and horses and harness and armour.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Give to your sons so much as they will take."[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") Having said this, he departed from the house and his knights went with him.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Duchess called her sons to her.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") First she commanded that they should make baths ready for them.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") And when they had bathed, she gave them rich apparel of all that they needed.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") This done she showed them the Duke Aymon's treasure and bade them take of it as much as they needed.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") Nor did they fail so to do.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") For Reynaud made such provision of men and arms that he gathered together a great company of soldiers.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day, just as they were about to depart, came Mawgis their cousin, telling of how he had taken three horses of the King, laden with gold and silver. "[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") And of this treasure," said he to Reynaud his cousin. "[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") I am ready to give you the half."[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") So they departed together, and the Duke Aymon met them as they went, and gave them his blessing, and "See," said he to the three, "that you obey your brother Reynaud, for he is good at counsel."[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") To the Duchess, when she was nigh distracted at the departure of her children, he said, "Be not troubled over much; we shall see them come again in great prosperity and honour."[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/5/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/5/) - next →: [The Coming of Roland](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/6/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)