Chapter 20 - Page 2

the great joy of all, especially
of the Lady Aya, their mother. Then Rinaldo took the horse Bayard,
gave him to Charlot, and said, "My lord and prince, this horse I
give to you; do with him as to you seems good." Charlot took him, as
had been agreed on. Then he made the servants take him to the
bridge, and throw him into the water. Bayard sank to the bottom, but
soon came to the surface again and swam, saw Rinaldo looking at him,
came to land, ran to his old master, and stood by him as proudly as if
he had understanding, and would say, "Why did you treat me so?" When
the prince saw that, he said, "Rinaldo, give me the horse again, for
he must die." Rinaldo replied, "My lord and prince, he is yours
without dispute," and gave him to him. The prince then had a millstone
tied to each foot, and two to his neck, and made them throw him
again into the water. Bayard struggled in the water, looked up to
his master, threw off the stones, and came back to Rinaldo.
When Alardo saw that, he said, "Now must thou be disgraced
forever, brother, if thou give up the horse again." But Rinaldo
answered, "Brother, be still. Shall I for the horse's life provoke the
anger of the king again?" Then Alardo said, "Ah, Bayard! what a return
do we make for all thy true love and service!" Rinaldo gave the
horse to the prince again, and said, "My lord, if the horse comes
out again, I cannot return him to you any more, for it wrings my heart
too much." Then Charlot had Bayard loaded with the stones as before,
and thrown into the water; and commanded Rinaldo that he should not
stand where the horse would see him. When Bayard rose to the surface
he stretched his neck out of the water and looked round for his
master, but saw him not. Then he sunk to the bottom.
Rinaldo was so distressed for the loss of Bayard, that he made a vow
to ride no horse again all his life long, not to bind a sword to his
side, but to become a hermit, He resolved to betake himself to some
wild wood, but first to return to his castle, to see his children, and
to appoint to each his share of his estate.
So he took leave of the king and of his brothers, and returned to
Montalban, and his brothers remained with the king. Rinaldo called his
children to him, and he made his eldest born, Aymeric, a knight, and
made him lord of his castle and of his land. He gave to the rest
what other goods he had, and kissed and embraced them all, commended
them to God, and then departed from them with a heavy heart.
He had not travelled far when he entered a wood, and there met
with a hermit, who had long been retired from the world, Rinaldo
greeted him, and the hermit replied courteously, and asked him who
he was and what was his purpose. Rinaldo replied, "Sir, I have led a
sinful