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And keeping his right hand still upon the golden pommel of his sword, with his left he unclasped his cloak of fur and silk and cast it upon the steps of the throne. There, in his strength and splendor, he stood defying them all. "'Tis a noble knight!" cried the heathen in admiration. Then once more turning to King Marsil, Ganelon gave him the Emperor's letter.
'Noble Ganélon, said Marsile, 'I acted foolishly towards you just now, when, in my anger, I sought to strike you. Let me offer you the mantle of marten fur in amends. It has just arrived from a far country, and is worth five hundred pounds in gold. 'I accept it gladly, replied Ganélon as the King hung the cloak round his neck, 'and may you be rewarded in as splendid a gift!
"Oliver, my comrade," said Roland, when he heard it, "Oliver, my brother, the traitor Ganelon hath sworn our death. Here his treachery is plainly to be seen. But the Emperor will bring upon him a terrible vengeance. As for us, we must fight again a battle fierce and keen. I will strike with my trusty Durindal and thou with thy Hauteclere bright.
Tullibardine; Sir Thomas Sheridan, the prince's tutor; Francis Strickland, an English gentleman; Sir John Macdonald, an officer in the service of Spain; Kelly, a non-juring clergyman; Buchanan, the messenger, and Aeneas Macdonald, the banker, made up the mystic tale. Among these Seven Men of Moidart, Aeneas Macdonald plays the traitor's part that Ganelon plays in the legends of Charlemagne.
"What a wonderful knight is thy Emperor," he said. "He hath conquered the world from sea to sea. But why cometh he within our borders? Why left he us not in peace?" "It was his will," replied Ganelon. "There is no man in all the world so great as he. None may stand against him."
As he broke the seal and read, Marsil's brow grew black with anger. "Listen, my lords," he cried; "because I slew yonder insolent Christian knights, the Emperor Charlemagne bids me beware his wrath. He commands that I shall send unto him as hostage mine uncle the calif." "This is some madness of Ganelon!" cried a heathen knight. "He is only worthy of death.
His pride is so great that he thinks no sword can touch him, but until he is really dead peace we can never have. Here the Saracen glanced at Ganélon beside him. 'He is a fine man, thought he, 'but there is cunning in his eye, and then Blancandrin spoke. 'Let us understand each other plainly, he said; 'is it your wish to be avenged of Roland?
But his rear-guard, with Roland and Oliver, and twenty thousand Frenchmen, will be long among the passes of the Pyrenees. A hundred thousand Moors could well cope with them there." Then the two traitors exchanged promises and pledges; and Ganelon, taking with him the keys of Saragossa, and rich presents for Charlemagne, went back to Cordova.
"I will carry the message," said Roland. "Not so, my brother," interrupted Oliver. "Thy pride will get the better of thy judgment, and thou wilt act rashly. Let me undertake the errand." But Charlemagne refused them both. "Neither of you shall go," said he. "But you may choose one from among these other barons to be the messenger." "Then send Ganelon of Mayence," said Roland.
"We will listen." "Greeting," said Ganelon, "in the name of God the God of glory whom we ought all to adore. Listen ye to the command of Charlemagne: Thou, O King, shalt receive the Christian faith, then half of Spain will he leave to thee to hold in fief. The other half shall be given to Count Roland a haughty companion thou wilt have there.
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