I must despatch my uncle the alcalyph,
Charles will not love me ever otherwise.”
After, there speaks his son to Marsilye,495
Says to the King: “In madness spoke this wight.
So wrong he was, to spare him were not right;
Leave him to me, I will that wrong requite.”
When Guenès hears, he draws his sword outright,
Against the trunk he stands, beneath that pine.500
XXXVIII
The King is gone into that orchard then;
With him he takes the best among his men;
And Blancandrins there shews his snowy hair,
And Jursalet, was the King’s son and heir,
And the alcaliph, his uncle and his friend.505
Says Blancandrins: “Summon the Frank again,
In our service his faith to me he’s pledged.”
Then says the King: “So let him now be fetched.”
He’s taken Guenes by his right finger-ends,
And through the orchard straight to the King they wend.510
Of treason there make lawless parliament.
XXXIX
“Fair Master Guenes,” says then King Marsilie,
“I did you now a little trickery,
Making to strike, I shewed my great fury.
These sable skins take as amends from me,515
Five hundred pounds would not their worth redeem.
To-morrow night the gift shall ready be.”
Guene answers him: “I’ll not refuse it, me.
May God be pleased to shew you His mercy.”
17
