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

him dear!"

King Charlemagne's anger was waxing strong,

39

but also did he see that his lords were in open
rebellion against him in this matter. So he spoke
quietly, as if he had been moved by the speech of
Naymes.

'Truly Huon hath done much evil--taking from


file:///F|/rah/Andre%20Norton/Norton,%20Andre%20-%20Huon%20of%20the%20Horn.txt (18 of 106) [1/17/03 1:13:36 AM]
 file:///F|/rah/Andre%20Norton/Norton,%20Andre%20-%20Huon%20of%20the%20Horn.txt

me in my old age the son of my heart and from
France her king to be. But likewise is it true that
God Himself hath given this youth victory in this
strife. Therefore, lest I be too harsh I shall lay
upon Huon a quest, such as was the custom of
chivalry in bygone times. And he is not to return
to France--under the pain of shameful death--
until this quest besuccessfully finished. What say
you to that, Duke Naymes?"

Naymes, seeing that the King could be moved
no farther in Huon's behalf, assented with a bowed
head.

"This then is the quest of Huon of Bordeaux,"
proclaimed Charlemagne. "Let him go out of
France into the very stronghold of the Saracens--
the City of Babylon. There he must go into the
court of Emir Gaudys who ruleth that city. And
he shall take from the chin of Gaudys a handful
of the beard which groweth there, from the mouth
of Gaudys shall he take five teeth, and from the
body of Gaudy's chief lord shall he strike the
head--cutting it off in the full sight of all who are
men of Gaudys. To me he shall bring this hair and
teeth. In addition he must salute upon the mouth
Gaudys' daughter--in sight of her father's court!"

Now when Huon heard the conditions of the
quest his heart was desolate for he believed that
no living man, unless he had more than mortal
assistance, could survive such deeds. And so he
said to King and court: