Maugis, ye sorcerer from ye ancient French : a wonderful tale from ye writings of ye mad savant of ye Maison Maugis in ye olde citie of Mouzon, France
forward under the walls of Montaubon and announce to Maugis the
punishment of his cousin.
CHAPTER XIII.
Charlemagne sought to establish his right for having taken Renaud in
his power. The emperor called an assemblage of the highest peers of his
court. Said he to them:
“My lords, you are well aware of the causes of the hatred I bear
toward Renaud; you know the last outrage he has committed was to tear
the golden eagle from the top of my tent; he hath even attacked our
royal person, and had it not been for the aid of Olivier and divine
Providence, which always protects the cause of the just, I should at
least have been wounded. It was his intention to kill me none the less.
He is therefore culpable. Even if I did not occupy the elevated rank
which places me at your head, I would not pardon him. Settling the
matter between us by personal combat is out of the question. I am an
emperor, and I must see that justice is rendered, and I must set the
example. I will not accuse him of having attempted my life. I will not
seek to punish him for his crime of lese-majesty, but he shall suffer
the direst punishment like a traitor to his oath for having supported
the four sons of Aymon, and above all, for having taken up arms
against me.”
“I now order that he be immediately given to the flames.”
Then arose Leon de Hautfeuille, a wise courtier.
“Sire,” said he, “there can be no exception taken to thy just
resentment, but if thou dost carry thy sentence out immediately, will
it not encourage Maugis and his brothers in the belief that thou
fearest a rescue from them so much thou decidest to be rid of Renaud at
once?”
If there was one point upon which Charlemagne was sensitive it was
self-pride; a mere suggestion of this kind would arouse him, and it was
through this weakness in his noble character that Ganelon and others
accomplished their designs; although Leon was honest, the suggestion
was sufficient to cause the emperor to postpone the execution until
the morrow, and he further ordered that this time, that there might be
no possibility of a rescue, that Renaud be placed under a strong guard
composed of twelve peers, Charlemagne telling them that he would hold
them responsible for his person.
Renaud gave his word, to the twelve peers who guarded him, laughingly,
that he would not stir during the night without their permission, and
did he do so he would not go without first seeing the emperor. His
words were prophetic.
Meanwhile, the news of the terrible position of Renaud reached
Montaubon. It caused the utmost concern to all, for Renaud was dearly
beloved. The enemy being now thoroughly prepared for surprise, a rescue
by means of a sortie was out of the question. Now for the first time in
all their trials was an appeal made to Maugis to exercise his occult
powers. There was no hope for Renaud otherwise. To these pleadings
Maugis replied:
“My brothers, it is useless; I cannot, though it is possible I might
release Renaud by my secret powers. Thou shouldst remember that I have
made a solemn oath before God and man to utterly abandon and forever
give them up; not only have I made this sacred oath before man, but I
did solemnly pledge my knightly word and honor to my wife, Yolande,
that I would forget, disuse, and put by those early teachings of the
secret art forever and forever. To break my oath to God would be a
sacrilege condemning me to eternal punishment, and to break my oath to
Yolande would so dishonor me that I could never face my kind again.”
“What if Yolande would absolve thee of thine oath?” asked Alard.
“Then should I be left to face my oath to God.”
“Then Renaud must perish,” cried Richard.
“Even so,” responded Maugis sadly.
Realizing that further pleadings were in vain, the brothers sought the
tender Yolande, and told her of the terrible position of their cousin.
Much as she feared occult things, as did every one at that period, the
fate of Renaud appealed strongly to her sympathies; to feel that any
means of rescue should be used to preserve him from a horrible death at
the stake caused her to throw aside her scruples and fears; and flying
to the side of Maugis, she added her pleadings to those of the others,
and so, overcome by them all, he finally yielded his consent, sadly
depressed, though confident he could save his cousin.
It was midnight in the camp of Charlemagne; the tent where Renaud slept
calmly was silent; two knights remained on watch at the door; the rest
were reposing in sleep on their arms, ready to spring up from the
slightest alarm. A shadowy figure now appeared on the scene, gliding
noiselessly toward the door; though they looked directly at it the
guard saw it not, and when the shape glided toward them and lifted its
shadowy hand in front of their faces, they, too, joined their comrades
in slumber, sinking under a deep hypnotic spell. It was the work of a
moment for the shadow to glide within the tent and set Renaud free,
and a few moments later, unharmed and undiscovered, he was on his way
toward the castle of Montaubon.
Maugis, however, felt that he had not completed his work. Charlemagne
had that night visited his prisoner to assure himself that he was
well guarded, and had then retired; determined, however, to remain
awake, he resisted his desire to sleep until near midnight, and then
so anxious was he for revenge that he arose and gave orders that
preparations should be made for the execution at daybreak.
It was at this moment that Renaud stood erect among his sleeping
guards, stripped of his chains, and a few moments later the shadowy
figure of Maugis entered the tent of the emperor, who had meanwhile
fallen into a deep sleep. As Maugis appeared on the scene he came upon
Roland, who was endeavoring to awaken the emperor; it required but a
few passes of that shadowy hand to cause the eyes of Roland to also
close into a helpless state of somnambulance. The emperor was sleeping;
Roland slept; the guards slept; and Maugis was alone with the emperor
free to work his will. One stroke of the poignard would relieve him
at once of his persecution and his persecutor, but no thought of
committing this cowardly act possessed his noble soul. It was with the
greatest reluctance he had used his occult powers in the rescue of his
cousin. He was, however, content to humiliate the emperor and Roland,
so he took from the side of Charlemagne his sword, the sword of Roland,
famous by the name of “Durandel,” and the but little less noted sword
of Olivier, called “Haute Clair.” He also took the swords of the twelve
peers who had guarded Renaud; he hesitated not to visit the treasure of
the emperor, taking therefrom his crown, his jewels and his precious
stones; all this he bore away and placed in the hands of a faithful
shepherd nearby, promising to reward him well for his fidelity and
discretion. Once more returning to the tent of the emperor he bound him
by one leg to the bed by one of the chains which had held Renaud, and
departed noiselessly and undiscovered.
As the shadowy figure was just passing through the opening of the
tent, Charlemagne awoke, and seeing the gliding form, he recognized
the gigantic proportions of Maugis. He could hardly believe his eyes;
he sprang up and would have followed him, but it was useless; he was
retained by the chain with which Maugis had attached him to the bed.
“What ho!” he shouted.
Then he called for his attendants by name, but of Roland and all the
lords in waiting nobody responded; every one was in a profound sleep.
What had happened? then suddenly he realized that his suite had all
succumbed to the magic art of Maugis, and that all his efforts to
arouse them would be in vain, and he fell back dejected on his bed.
Maugis, having taken his departure, hastened to join the shepherd
with whom he had left the treasure, and having recommended him to
continue guarding it with care, he took once more the road to the camp
of Charlemagne; but this time, thoroughly disguised, with body bent,
and face drawn, assuming the appearance of a travel-worn pilgrim. Thus
changed he presented himself again to the emperor, who lay depressed
and consumed with rage, still bound to his bed.
“Holy father, enter thou quickly,” cried Charlemagne to the supposed
pilgrim.
“What has happened?” exclaimed the holy father; “when I was coming
hither I passed freely in and no one stopped me; all thy lords and
knights were sleeping, and there was no guard before thy tent.”
“It is the work of that sorcerer Maugis. Come hither and break the
chains which hold me prisoner.”
The pretended pilgrim approached, and after some efforts succeeded in
freeing the discomfited emperor, who, being grateful, gave him gold;
this the pilgrim did not hesitate to quickly put in his pockets.
Then the emperor discovered a small bottle containing a very clear
liquid lying upon his couch. The pilgrim would have picked it up, when
Charlemagne shouted:
“Have a care, holy father! that bottle belongs to Maugis, and without
doubt contains some death-dealing liquid, with which he intended my
destruction.”
Following these words, he dashed the vial into pieces upon the ground.
It then happened the liquid gave forth a subtle odor, which penetrated
everywhere and everyone was awakened; barons and knights, chiefs and
soldiers, all awoke and rubbed their eyes with astonishment to see the
pilgrim with the emperor, the entry of whom had aroused no one.
The emperor then recounted to his peers and courtiers what had
happened, and gave hasty orders for the immediate pursuit of the
fugitive. It chanced at this time that when the peers put their hands
down to their sides they perceived that their swords were missing,
and at this moment the guardian of the treasury rushed in, almost
breathless with excitement, and told the emperor that crown, jewels,
precious stones, and money, all had disappeared.
The emperor and the entire court were astounded, and gazed upon each
other in dismay. They were appalled by the awful power that had been
wielded against them. The emperor was the first to recover his senses.
“I will go myself in pursuit,” he shouted. “It will not be long before
we capture him; has any one seen him leave the camp, and what road hath
he taken?”
“Sire!” said the supposed pilgrim, “I can be thy guide. Coming hither,
a figure hurried by me, bearing swords and other objects in his arms,
and I know the road by which he left the camp, but thou must give me a
horse to lead thee with. I am too feeble to walk.”
A horse was secured immediately, and escorted by Charlemagne and
several knights, he started forth upon the road in pursuit of Maugis.
In the meantime, the soldiers had been aroused, and taking up their
arms followed in the rear. The pilgrim being once more on horseback
felt at his ease.
“I am not now very skillful,” said he. “I am not strong, but if you
will give me a sword, I feel I could use it once more, possibly well if
required, because in other days I used to manage a sword like a master.”
He was given a sword as he requested, and they continued upon the road.
Our pilgrim, followed by the imperial troops, now entered into a deep
gorge, a narrow passage formed on either side by inaccessible rocks.
“If thou wilt permit me, sire,” said the pilgrim, “I think we have
nearly overtaken him, and I will now march alone in advance, because if
Maugis sees me mounted upon a good horse, he will seek to capture it,
then I can summon you to my assistance, and by coming up quickly make
yourself master of this wicked sorcerer.”
This stratagem was thought to be good and the emperor approved of it.
Accordingly Maugis left them, and going some distance forward out of