Stories of the Olden Time Part 4

2. And when the servant returned he found the loaf whole, and the wine as much as there had been aforetime. And he greatly wondered, and he wondered also how the pilgrim had come into the isle, for that no man could come there save by water, and the pilgrim had no boat. And the king greatly wondered also. And at the ninth hour came back the folk who had gone to fish. And they had three boats full of fish, and they said, "Lo, we have caught more fish this day than in all the three years that we have tarried in this island!" And the king was glad, and he and his folk were merry; yet he pondered much upon that which had come to pa.s.s.

3. And when night came the king went to his bed, and the king lay awake and thought of all that had come to pa.s.s by day. And presently he saw a great light, like the brightness of the sun, and he saw an old man with black hair, clothed in priest's garments, and with a miter on his head, and holding in his right hand a book of the Gospels adorned with gold and gems. And the old man blessed the king, and the king said unto him, "Who art thou?" And he answered: "Alfred, my son, rejoice; for I am he to whom thou didst this day give thine alms, and I am called Cuthbert the Soldier of Christ.

4. "Now be strong and very courageous, and be of joyful heart, and hearken diligently to the things which I say unto thee; for henceforth I will be thy shield and thy friend, and I will watch over thee and over thy sons after thee. And now I will tell thee what thou must do: Rise up early in the morning and blow thine horn thrice, that thine enemies may hear it and fear, and by the ninth hour thou shalt have around thee five hundred men harnessed for the battle. And this shall be a sign unto thee that thou mayst believe. And after seven days thou shalt have, by G.o.d's gift and my help, all the folk of this land gathered unto thee upon the mount that is called a.s.saudun. And thus shalt thou fight against thine enemies, and doubt not that thou shalt overcome them.

5. "Be thou, therefore, glad of heart, and be strong and very courageous, and fear not, for G.o.d hath given thine enemies into thine hand. And he hath given thee also all this land and the kingdom of thy fathers, to thee and to thy sons and to thy sons' sons after thee. Be thou faithful to me and to my folk, because that unto thee is given all the land of Albion. Be thou righteous, because thou art chosen to be the king of all Britain. So may G.o.d be merciful unto thee, and I will be thy friend, and none of thine enemies shall ever be able to overcome thee."

6. Then was King Alfred glad at heart, and he was strong and very courageous, for that he knew that he would overcome his enemies by the help of G.o.d and St. Cuthbert his patron. So in the morning he arose and sailed to the land, and blew his horn three times, and when his friends heard it they rejoiced, and when his enemies heard it they feared. And by the ninth hour, according to the word of the Lord, there were gathered unto him five hundred men of the bravest and dearest of his friends.

7. And he spake unto them and told them all that G.o.d had said unto them by the mouth of his servant Cuthbert, and he told them that, by the gift of G.o.d and by the help of St. Cuthbert, they would overcome their enemies and win back their own land. And he bade them, as St. Cuthbert had taught him, to be pious toward G.o.d and righteous toward men. And he bade his son Edward, who was by him, to be faithful to G.o.d and St.

Cuthbert, and so he should always have victory over his enemies. So they went forth to battle and smote their enemies and overcame them, and King Alfred took the kingdom of all Britain, and he ruled well and wisely over the just and the unjust for the rest of his days.

_E. A. Freeman._

_XV.--A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER._

1. Milon, or Milone, a knight of great family, and distantly related to Charlemagne, having secretly married Bertha, the emperor's sister, was banished from France. After a long and miserable wandering on foot as mendicants, Milon and his wife arrived at Sutri, in Italy, where they took refuge in a cave, and in that cave Orlando was born. There his mother continued, drawing a scanty support from the compa.s.sion of the neighboring peasants, while Milon, in quest of honor and fortune, went into foreign lands. Orlando grew up among the children of the peasantry, surpa.s.sing them all in strength and manly graces.

2. Among his companions in age, though in station far more elevated, was Oliver, son of the governor of the town. Between the two boys a feud arose, that led to a fight, in which Orlando thrashed his rival; but this did not prevent a friendship springing up between the two which lasted through life.

3. Orlando was so poor that he was sometimes half naked. As he was a favorite of the boys, one day four of them brought some cloth to make him clothes. Two brought white and two red; and from this circ.u.mstance Orlando took his coat-of-arms, or quarterings.

4. When Charlemagne was on his way to Rome, to receive the imperial crown, he dined in public in Sutri. Orlando and his mother that day had nothing to eat, and Orlando, coming suddenly upon the royal party, and seeing abundance of provisions, seized from the attendants as much as he could carry off, and made good his retreat in spite of their resistance.

5. The emperor, being told of this incident, was reminded of an intimation he had received in a dream, and ordered the boy to be followed. This was done by three of the knights, whom Orlando would have encountered with a cudgel on their entering the grotto, had not his mother restrained him. When they heard from her who she was, they threw themselves at her feet, and promised to obtain her pardon from the emperor. This was easily effected. Orlando was received into favor by the emperor, returned with him to France, and so distinguished himself that he became the most powerful support of the throne and of Christianity.

6. On another occasion, Orlando encountered a puissant Saracen warrior, and took from him, as the prize of victory, the sword Durindana. This famous weapon had once belonged to the ill.u.s.trious prince Hector of Troy. It was of the finest workmanship, and of such strength and temper that no armor in the world could stand against it.

7. Guerin de Montglave held the lordship of Vienne, subject to Charlemagne. He had quarreled with his sovereign, and Charles laid siege to his city, having ravaged the neighboring country. Guerin was an aged warrior, but relied for his defense upon his four sons and two grandsons, who were among the bravest knights of the age. After the siege had continued two months, Charlemagne received tidings that Marsilius, King of Spain, had invaded France, and, finding himself unopposed, was advancing rapidly in the southern provinces. At this intelligence, Charles listened to the counsel of his peers, and consented to put the quarrel with Guerin to the decision of Heaven, by single combat between two knights, one of each party, selected by lot.

8. The proposal was acceptable to Guerin and his sons. The name of the four, together with Guerin's own, who would not be excused, and of the two grandsons, who claimed their lot, being put into a helmet, Oliver's was drawn forth, and to him, the youngest of the grandsons, was a.s.signed the honor and the peril of the combat. He accepted the award with delight, exulting in being thought worthy to maintain the cause of his family. On Charlemagne's side Roland was designated champion, and neither he nor Oliver knew who his antagonist was to be.

9. They met on an island in the Rhone, and the warriors of both camps were ranged on either sh.o.r.e, spectators of the battle. At the first encounter both lances were shivered, but both riders kept their seats immovable. They dismounted and drew their swords. Then ensued a combat which seemed so equal, that the spectators could not form an opinion as to the probable issue. Two hours and more the knights continued to strike and parry, to thrust and ward, neither showing any sign of weariness, nor ever being taken at unawares.

10. At length Orlando struck furiously upon Oliver's shield, burying Durindana in its edge so deeply that he could not draw it back, and Oliver, almost at the same moment, thrust so vigorously upon Orlando's breastplate that his sword snapped off at the handle. Thus were the two warriors left weaponless. Scarcely pausing a moment, they rushed upon one another, each striving to throw his adversary to the ground, and, failing in that, each s.n.a.t.c.hed at the other's helmet to tear it away.

Both succeeded, and at the same moment they stood bareheaded face to face, and Roland recognized Oliver, and Oliver Roland. For a moment they stood still; and the next, with open arms, rushed into one another's embrace. "I am conquered," said Orlando. "I yield me," said Oliver.

11. The people on the sh.o.r.e knew not what to make of all this.

Presently they saw the two late antagonists standing hand-in-hand, and it was evident the battle was at an end. The knights crowded around them, and with one voice hailed them as equal in glory. If there were any who felt disposed to murmur that the battle was left undecided, they were silenced by the voice of Ogier the Dane, who proclaimed aloud that all had been done that honor required, and declared that he would maintain that award against all gainsayers.

12. The quarrel with Guerin and his sons being left undecided, a truce was made for four days, and in that time, by the efforts of Duke Namo on the one side, and of Oliver on the other, a reconciliation was effected. Charlemagne, accompanied by Guerin and his valiant family, marched to meet Marsilius, who hastened to retreat across the frontier.

_Bullfinch._

_XVI.--THE LEGEND OF MACBETH._

1. Soon after the Scots and Picts had become one people, there was a king of Scotland called Duncan, a very good old man. He had two sons, Malcolm and Donaldbane. But King Duncan was too old to lead out his army to battle, and his sons were too young to help him. Now it happened that a great fleet of Danes came to Scotland and landed their men in Fife and threatened to take possession of that province. So a numerous Scottish army was levied to go out to fight with them. The king intrusted the command to Macbeth, a near kinsman.

2. This Macbeth, who was a brave soldier, put himself at the head of the Scottish army and marched against the Danes. And he took with him a near relative of his own called Banquo, a brave and successful soldier. There was a great battle fought between the Danes and the Scots, and Macbeth and Banquo defeated the Danes and drove them back to their ships, leaving a great many of their soldiers killed and wounded. Then Macbeth and his army marched back to Forres in the north of Scotland, rejoicing on account of their victory.

3. Now, at this time, there lived in the town of Forres three old women, whom people thought were witches, and supposed they could tell what was to come to pa.s.s. These old women went and stood by the way-side, in a great moor near Forres, and waited until Macbeth came up. And then stepping before him as he was marching at the head of his soldiers the first woman said, "All hail Macbeth! hail to the Thane of Glamis!" The second said, "All hail to the Thane of Cawdor!" Then the third wishing to pay him a higher compliment, said: "All hail Macbeth, that shall be King of Scotland!" While Macbeth stood wondering what they could mean, Banquo stepped forward and asked if they had not something good to say to him. And they said he should not be so great as Macbeth, yet his children should succeed to the throne of Scotland and reign for a great number of years.

4. Before Macbeth had recovered from his surprise, there came a messenger to tell him that his father was dead; so that, he was Thane of Glamis; and then came a second messenger from the king to thank Macbeth for the great victory over the Danes, and to tell him that the Thane of Cawdor had rebelled against the king, and that the king had taken his office from him, and had sent to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth, seeing that a part of their words came true, began to think how he might become king as the three old women had predicted.

Now Lady Macbeth was a very wicked woman, and she showed Macbeth that the only way to become king was to kill good King Duncan. At first Macbeth would not listen to her, but at last his ambition to be king became so great that he resolved to murder his kinsman and best friend.

5. To accomplish his purpose he invited King Duncan to visit him in his own castle near Inverness, and the king accepted the invitation.

Macbeth and his lady received their distinguished guests with great seeming joy and made for them a great feast. At the close of the feast the king retired to rest, and all the other guests followed his example. The two personal attendants of the king whose duty it was to watch over him while asleep, were purposely made drunk by Lady Macbeth, and they fell upon their couch in a profound slumber.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Macbeth._]

6. Then Macbeth came into King Duncan's room about two o'clock in the morning. It was a terrible stormy night, but the noise of the wind and the thunder could not awaken the king, as he was old and weary with his journey; neither could it awaken the two sentinels. They all slept soundly. So Macbeth stepped gently over the floor and took the two dirks which belonged to the sentinels and stabbed poor old King Duncan to the heart, so he died without a groan. Then Macbeth put the b.l.o.o.d.y daggers into the hands of the sleeping sentinels and daubed their hands and faces with blood. Macbeth was frightened at what he had done, but his wife made him wash his hands and go to bed.

7. Early in the morning the n.o.bles and gentlemen who attended on the king a.s.sembled in the great hall of the castle, and then they began to talk of what a dreadful storm there had been the night before. They waited for some time, but finding the king did not come out, one of the n.o.blemen went to see whether he was well or not. But when he came into the room he found King Duncan dead, and went back and spread the alarm.

The Scottish n.o.bles were greatly enraged at the sight, and Macbeth made believe he was more enraged than any of them, and drawing his sword he killed the two attendants of the king, still heavy with sleep in consequence of the drink furnished by Lady Macbeth the night before.

8. Malcolm and Donaldbane, the two sons of Duncan, when they saw their father dead, fled from the castle, as they believed that Macbeth had committed the murder. Malcolm, the eldest son, made his way to the English court, and solicited aid to get possession of his father's throne. In the mean time Macbeth took possession of the kingdom of Scotland. The remembrance of his great crime continually haunted him, and he became so sleepless as to be nearly insane. He remembered that the witches had said that the children of Banquo should reign as kings in Scotland, and he became terribly jealous of his old friend and companion. At last he hired ruffians to waylay Banquo and his sons and murder them. The scheme was partially successful--Banquo was killed but the sons escaped, and from him descended a long line of the early Scottish kings.

9. But Macbeth was not more happy after he had slain his friend and cousin Banquo. He knew that people began to suspect him of his evil deeds, and he was constantly afraid that some of his n.o.bles would treat him as he treated King Duncan. In his perplexity he sought the three witches he had met before, to ask them what was to happen to him in the future. They answered him that he should not be conquered nor lose the crown of Scotland until a great forest, called Birnam Wood should come to attack him in his strong castle on Dunsinane hill. As the distance between the two was about twelve miles, Macbeth thought it was impossible that the trees should ever come to a.s.sault him in his castle. He immediately summoned all his n.o.bles to a.s.sist him in strengthening his castle at Dunsinane. All the n.o.bles were obliged to furnish oxen and horses to drag the heavy stones and logs used on the fortification up the steep hill.

10. One day Macbeth noticed a pair of oxen so tired with their burden that they fell down under their load. Upon inquiry he learned that they belonged to Macduff, the Thane of Fife. The king, who was jealous of Macduff, flew into a great rage and declared that "since the Thane of Fife sends such worthless cattle as these to do my labor, I will put his own neck into the yoke, and make him drag the burden himself." A friend of Macduff who heard this speech hastened to the king's castle and informed Macduff who was walking about while the dinner was preparing.

11. Macduff s.n.a.t.c.hed a loaf of bread from the table, called for his horses and servants, and galloped off toward his own castle of Kennoway in Fife. When Macbeth returned he first asked what had become of Macduff, and being informed that he had fled from Dunsinane, Macbeth put himself at the head of a large force of his guards, and immediately pursued. Macduff reached his castle which is built upon the sh.o.r.e of the sea, a little in advance of the king. He ordered his wife to shut the gates of the castle and pull up the drawbridge, and on no account permit the king or any of his soldiers to enter. In the mean time he went aboard a small ship and put out to sea.

12. Macbeth then summoned the lady to open the gates and deliver up her husband. "Do you see," said she, "yon white sail upon the sea?

Yonder goes Macduff to the court of England. You will never see him again until he comes with young Prince Malcolm to pull you down from the throne and put you to death. You will never be able to put your yoke upon the neck of the Thane of Fife."

13. Some say that Macbeth was so enraged at the escape of Macduff that he stormed and took the castle, and put to death the wife and children of Macduff. But others say that Macbeth turned back from the strong castle and its brave defenders, and returned to his own home at Dunsinane. Macduff readily found Prince Malcolm and the English king, fitted them out with an army. Upon entering Scotland a large share of the n.o.bles deserted Macbeth and joined the forces of Malcolm. The army marched as far as Birnam Wood where they encamped to rest and recuperate.

14. Macbeth, in the mean time, shut himself up in his castle, where he thought himself safe according to the old woman's prophecy, until Birnam Wood should advance against him, and this he never expected to see. Malcolm's army having entirely recovered their strength and vigor, at length were ready to march. As they were about to start, Macduff advised each soldier to cut down the bough of a tree and carry it so as to conceal the strength of the army as they crossed the valley. The sentinel on the castle walls saw all these green boughs advancing, ran to Macbeth and informed him that the wood of Birnam was moving toward the castle of Dunsinane. The king at first called him a liar and threatened to put him to death; but when he looked from the walls himself, and saw the appearance of a forest approaching from Birnam, he remembered the prediction, and felt that the hour of his destruction had come.

15. His followers were also superst.i.tious and began to desert him. But Macbeth, at the head of those who remained true to him sallied out, and was killed in a hand-to-hand conflict with Macduff. This story, a tradition, is told by Sir Walter Scott, and forms the foundation of Shakespeare's tragedy of "Macbeth."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

OLD BALLADS.