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At length, after fighting nearly every step of the way, he saw the towers of Orange before him, and his palace, Gloriette, where dwelt his wife, the Lady Gibourc. 'Ah, with what joy did I leave these walls, he said to himself, 'and how many noble Knights have I lost since then! Oh!
Gibourc, my wife, will you not go mad when you hear the tidings I have brought! And, overcome with grief, the Count bowed his head on the neck of his horse. When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and commanded the porter to let him in.
Then the Count rode down into the field of the Aliscans, and found his nephew Vivian lying under a tree. 'Ah! my God, cried William, 'what sorrow for me! To the end of my life I shall mourn this day. Earth, do thou open and swallow me! Lady Gibourc, await me no longer, for never more shall I return to Orange! So he lamented, grieving sore, till Vivian spoke to him.
But the Knights were received with threats and curses, and came back to Orange faster than they had left it, thinking that Rainouart was at their heels. William smiled when he heard the tale of his messengers, and bade them bring his horse, and commanded that a hundred Knights should follow him, and prayed Gibourc to ride at his side.
Now all the Saracens in the world shall not prevent Bertrand from being delivered to-morrow. 'No, answered Gibourc, 'nor Vivian from being avenged. On all sides warriors began to arrive, led by the fathers of those who had been taken prisoners with Bertrand, and with them came Aimeri de Narbonne and the brothers of William.
From her tower Gibourc saw through the smoke a thousand banners waving and the sparkle of armour, and heard the sound of the horses' hoofs, and it seemed to her that the Infidels were drawing near anew. 'Oh, William! cried she, 'have you really forgotten me? Noble Count, you linger overlong! Never more shall I look upon your face. And so saying she fell fainting on the floor.
Enter the city they could not, for Gibourc and her ladies held it firm, and, armed with helmets and breastplates, flung stones upon the head of any Saracen who appeared on the walls. So the Unbelievers fell back and took the way to the Aliscans, there to build as quickly as they might an engine to bring up against the tower and overthrow it.
'The whole world is full of these Infidels! he cried in anger; 'cursed be the day when they were born. Fair God, you alone can save me. My Lady Gibourc, shall I ever again behold you? My good horse, added he, 'you are very tired.
But something stirred the pulses of Gibourc, and she soon sat up again, and there at the gate was William the Count, with Rainouart behind him. 'Fear nothing, noble lady, said he, 'it is the army of France that I have brought with me.
Their cries and prayers for mercy reached the ears of Gibourc, and, changing her mind, she said quickly: 'There is the proof that you are not William my husband, the "Strong Arm," whose fame has spread far! For he would never have suffered his brethren to be so shamefully entreated while he was by! 'Heavens! cried the Count, 'to what hard tests does she put me!
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