"Norton, Andre - Huon of the horn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

into the King's city the Earl Amaury leading
Chariot's charger with his master's body bound
upon its back. And as he rode within the gates
Amaury raised a great wailing cry of grief, as did
all those who rode with him. So hearing this sad
lament the townspeople gathered and they too
wept at such a woeful sight. Straight into the pres-
ence of Charlemagne did Amaury ride, finding the
King at wine with Huon and the other peers.

Before the King, Amaury did unloose the body
of the Prince so that it slipped to the floor with
a crash of armor and lay at the father's feet. Then
the traitor Earl cried aloud so that all there did
hark unto him, saying:

"Look you upon the body of Prince Chariot who
has been most foully done to death. Slain, my King
and lords, by this villain who dares to sit now in

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the high seat of honor--namely, Huon of Bor-
deaux!"

Huon, looking closely at the body, knew it for
that of the knight who had wounded Gerard and
later fallen by his own sword. And he marveled
at Amaury's words for he had not knowingly
struck down Chariot. So that now he made answer
quietly enough:

"Lord King, this corpse lying here is that of the
stranger knight who did wound my brother and
whom I did kill in fit punishment for so black a
deed--my brother being unarmed--"

But while he yet spoke Amaury dropped to his
knees and freed the head of the dead man from
its helmet so that all there assembled might see
the still face. And from the throat of the old King
there broke a pitiful cry. Deeply had he loved
Chariot and here now lay his son, slain in the full
pride of his youth.