Chapter 18

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE BATTLE OF RONCESVALLES. AFTER the expulsion of the Saracens from France, Charlemagne led his
army into Spain, to punish Marsilius, the king of that country, for
having sided with the African Saracens in the late war. Charlemagne
succeeded in all his attempts, and compelled Marsilius to submit,
and pay tribute to France, Our readers will remember Gano, otherwise
called Gan, or Ganelon, whom we mentioned in one of our early chapters
as an old courtier of Charlemagne, and a deadly enemy of Orlando,
Rinaldo, and all their friends. He had great influence over Charles,
from equality of age and long intimacy; and he was not without good
qualities: he was brave and sagacious, but envious, false, and
treacherous. Gan prevailed on Charles to send him as ambassador to
Marsilius, to arrange the tribute. He embraced Orlando over and over
again at taking leave, using such pains to seem loving and sincere,
that his hypocrisy was manifest to every one but the old monarch. He
fastened with equal tenderness on Oliver, who smiled contemptuously in
his face, and thought to himself, "You may make as many fair
speeches as you choose but you lie." All the other paladins who were
present thought the same, and they said as much to the Emperor,
adding, that Gan should on no account be sent ambassador to the
Spaniards. But Charles was infatuated.
Gan was received with great honor by Marsilius. The king, attended
by his lords, came fifteen miles out of Saragossa to meet him, and
then conducted him into the city with acclamations. There was
nothing for several days but balls, games, and exhibitions of
chivalry, the ladies throwing flowers on the heads of the French
knights, and the people shouting, "France! Mountjoy and St. Denis!"
After the ceremonies of the first reception, the king and the
ambassador began to understand one another. One day they sat
together in a garden on the border of a fountain. The water was so
clear and smooth it reflected every object around, and the spot was
encircled with fruit-trees which quivered with the fresh air. As
they sat and talked, as if without restraint, Gan, without looking the
king in the face, was enabled to see the expression of his countenance
in the water, and governed his speech accordingly. Marsilius was
equally adroit, and watched the face of Gan while he addressed him.
Marsilius began by lamenting, not as to the ambassador, but as to
the friend, the injuries which Charles had done him by invading his
dominions, charging him with wishing to take his kingdom from him, and
give it to Orlando; till at length he plainly uttered his belief that,
if that ambitious paladin were but dead, good men would get their
rights.
Gan heaved a sigh, as if he was unwillingly