"Vassaus, dist Polibans, a le chiere hardie,
Ja ne crerrai vou Dieux, a nul jour de ma vie;
Ne vostre Loy ne vaut une pomme pourie!" P. 311.
Bauduin proposes to prove his Faith by fighting the prince, himself
unarmed, the latter with all his arms. The prince agrees, but is rather
dismayed at Bauduin's confidence, and desires his followers, in case of
his own death, to burn with him horses, armour, etc., asking at the same
time which of them would consent to burn along with him, in order to be
his companions in the other world:
"La en i ot. ij'e. dont cascuns s'escria:
Nous morons volentiers, quant vo corps mort sara!"[17] P. 313.
Bauduin's prayer for help is miraculously granted; Polibans is beaten, and
converted by a vision. He tells Bauduin that in his neighbourhood, beyond
Baudas -
"ou. v. liewes, ou. vi.
Che un felles prinches, orgoellieus et despis;
De la Rouge-Montaingne est Prinches et Marchis.
Or vous dirai comment il a ses gens nouris:
Je vous di que chius Roys a fait un Paradis
Tant noble et gratieus, et plain de tels deliis,
* * * * *
Car en che Paradis est un riex establis,
Qui se partist en trois, en che noble pourpris:
En l'un coert li clares, d'espises bien garnis;
Et en l'autre li mies, qui les a resouffis;
Et li vins di pieument i queurt par droit avis -
* * * * *
Il n'i vente, ne gele.
