He
enters an inn, and helps himself to a vast repast, having been fasting for
three days. He is then seized and carried before the king, Polibans by
name. We might have quoted this prince at p. 87 as an instance of the
diffusion of the French tongue:
"Polibans sot Fransois, car on le doctrina:
j. renoies de Franche. vij. ans i demora,
Qui li aprist Fransois, si que bel en parla." P. 309.
Bauduin exclaims against their barbarous belief, and declares the
Christian doctrine to the king, who acknowledges good points in it, but
concludes:
"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. Che lies est de samis,
De riches dras de soie, bien ouvres a devis.
Et aveukes tout che que je chi vous devis,
I a. ij'e puchelles qui moult ont cler les vis,
Carolans et tresquans, menans gales et ris.
Et si est li dieuesse, dame et suppellatis,
Qui doctrine les autres et en fais et en dis,
Celle est la fille au Roy c'on dist des Haus-Assis."[18]
Pp. 319-320.
This Lady Ivorine, the Old Man's daughter, is described among other points
as having -
"Les iex vairs com faucons, nobles et agentis."[19] P. 320.
The King of the Mountain collects all the young male children of the
country, and has them brought up for nine or ten years:
"Dedens un lieu oscur: la les met-on toudis
Aveukes males bestes; kiens, et cas, et soris,
Culoeres, et lisaerdes, escorpions petis.
La endroit ne peut nuls avoir joie, ne ris." Pp. 320-321.
And after this dreary life they are shown the Paradise, and told that such
shall be their portion if they do their Lord's behest.
"S'il disoit a son homme: 'Va-t-ent droit a Paris;
Si me fier d'un coutel le Roy de Saint Denis,
Jamais n'aresteroit, ne par nuit ne par dis,
S'aroit tue le Roy, voiant tous ches marchis;
Et deuist estre a fources traines et mal mis.'" P. 321.
Bauduin determines to see this Paradise and the lovely Ivorine. The road
led by Baudas:
"Or avoit a che tamps, se l'istoire ne ment,
En le chit de Baudas Kristiens jusqu' a cent;
Qui manonent illoec par treu d'argent,
Que cascuns cristiens au Roy-Calife rent.
Li peres du Calife, qui regna longement,
Ama les Crestiens, et Dieu primierement:
* * * * *
Et lor fist establir. j. monstier noble et gent,
Ou Crestien faisoient faire lor sacrement.
Une mout noble piere lor donna proprement,
Ou on avoit pose Mahon moult longement."[20] P. 322.
The story is, in fact, that which Marco relates of Samarkand.[21] The
Caliph dies. His son hates the Christians. His people complain of the
toleration of the Christians and their minister; but he says his father
had pledged him not to interfere, and he dared not forswear himself. If,
without doing so, he could do them an ill turn, he would gladly. The
people then suggest their claim to the stone:
"Or leur donna vos peres, dont che fu mesprisons.
Ceste pierre, biaus Sire, Crestiens demandons:
Il ne le porront rendre, pour vrai le vous disons,
Si li monstiers n'est mis et par pieches et par mons;
Et s'il estoit desfais, jamais ne le larons
Refaire chi-endroit. Ensement averons
Faites et acomplies nostres ententions." P. 324.
The Caliph accordingly sends for Maistre Thumas, the Priest of the
Christians, and tells him the stone must be given up:
"Il a. c. ans ut plus c'on i mist a solas
Mahon, le nostre Dieu: dont che n'est mie estas
Que li vous monstiers soit fais de nostre harnas!" P. 324.
Master Thomas, in great trouble, collects his flock, mounts the pulpit,
and announces the calamity. Bauduin and his convert Polibans then arrive.
Bauduin recommends confession, fasting, and prayer. They follow his
advice, and on the third day the miracle occurs:
"L'escripture le dist, qui nous achertefie
Que le pierre Mahon, qui ou mur fut fiquie,
Sali hors du piler, coi que nul vous en die,
Droit enmi le monstier, c'onques ne fut brisie.
Et demoura li traus, dont le piere ert widie,
Sans piere est sans quailliel, a cascune partie;
Chou deseure soustient, par divine maistrie,
Tout en air proprement, n'el tenes a falie.
Encore le voit-on en ichelle partie:
Qui croire ne m'en voelt, si voist; car je l'en prie!" P. 327.
