Bayard heard these words, and understood them as if he was a man, and fell on his knees, as if he would beg for mercy. When Rinaldo saw the distress of his horse his heart failed him, and he let him live.
Just at this time Aya, Rinaldo’s mother, who was the sister of the Emperor, came to the camp, attended by knights3 and ladies, to intercede5 for her sons. She fell on her knees before the king, and besought6 him that he would pardon Rinaldo and his brothers: and all the peers and knights took her side, and entreated7 the king to grant her prayer. Then said the king, “Dear sister, you act the part of a good mother, and I respect your tender heart, and yield to your entreaties8. I will spare your sons their lives if they submit implicitly9 to my will.”
When Charlot heard this he approached the king and whispered in his ear. And the king turned to his sister and said, “Charlot must have Bayard, because I have given the horse to him. Now go, my sister, and tell Rinaldo what I have said.”
When the Lady Aya heard these words she was delighted, thanked God in her heart, and said, “Worthy king and brother, I will do as you bid me.” So she went into the castle, where her sons received her most joyfully10 and affectionately, and she told them the king’s offer. Then Alardo said, “Brother, I would rather have the king’s enmity than give Bayard to Charlot, for I believe he will kill him.” Likewise said all the brothers. When Rinaldo heard them he said, “Dear brothers, if we may win our forgiveness by giving up the horse, so be it. Let us make our peace, for we cannot stand against the king’s power.” Then he went to his mother, and told her they would give the horse to Charlot, and more, too, if the king would pardon them, and forgive all that they had done against his crown and dignity. The lady returned to Charles and told him the answer of her sons.
When the peace was thus made between the king and the sons of Aymon, the brothers came forth11 from the castle, bringing Bayard with them, and, falling at the king’s feet, begged his forgiveness. The king bade them rise, and received them into favor in the sight of all his noble knights and counsellors, to 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 wrings12 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 distressed13 for the loss of Bayard that he made a vow14 to ride no horse again all his life long, nor to bind15 a sword to his side, but to become a hermit16. 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 eldest17 born, Aymeric, a knight4, 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 retired18 from the world. Rinaldo greeted him, and the hermit replied courteously19, and asked him who he was and what was his purpose. Rinaldo replied, “Sir, I have led a sinful life; many deeds of violence have I done, and many men have I slain20, not always in a good cause, but often under the impulse of my own headstrong passions. I have also been the cause of the death of many of my friends, who took my part, not because they thought me in the right, but only for love of me. And now I come to make confession21 of all my sins, and to do penance22 for the rest of my life, if perhaps the mercy of God will forgive me.” The hermit said, “Friend, I perceive you have fallen into great sins, and have broken the commandments of God, but his mercy is greater than your sins; and if you repent23 from your heart, and lead a new life, there is yet hope for you that he will forgive you what is past.” So Rinaldo was comforted, and said, “Master, I will stay with you, and what you bid me I will do.” The hermit replied, “Roots and vegetables will be your food; shirt or shoes you may not wear; your lot must be poverty and want if you stay with me.” Rinaldo replied, “I will cheerfully bear all this, and more.” So he remained three whole years with the hermit, and after that his strength failed, and it seemed as if he was like to die.
One night the hermit had a dream, and heard a voice from heaven, which commanded him to say to his companion that he must without delay go to the Holy Land, and fight against the heathen. The hermit, when he heard that voice, was glad, and calling Rinaldo, he said, “Friend, God’s angel has commanded me to say to you that you must without delay go to Jerusalem, and help our fellow-Christians25 in their struggle with the Infidels.” Then said Rinaldo, “Ah! master, how can I do that? It is over three years since I made a vow no more to ride a horse, nor take a sword or spear in my hand.” The hermit answered, “Dear friend, obey God, and do what the angel commanded.” “I will do so,” said Rinaldo, “and pray for me, my master, that God may guide me right.” Then he departed, and went to the seaside, and took ship and came to Tripoli in Syria.
And as he went on his way his strength returned to him, till it was equal to what it was in his best days. And though he never mounted a horse, nor took a sword in his hand, yet with his pilgrim’s staff he did good service in the armies of the Christians; and it pleased God that he escaped unhurt, though he was present in many battles, and his courage inspired the men with the same. At last a truce26 was made with the Saracens, and Rinaldo, now old and infirm, wishing to see his native land again before he died, took ship and sailed for France. When he arrived he shunned27 to go to the resorts of the great, and preferred to live among the humble28 folk, where he was unknown. He did country work, and lived on milk and bread, drank water, and was therewith content. While he so lived he heard that the city of Cologne was the holiest and best of cities, on account of the relics29 and bodies of saints who had there poured out their blood for the faith. This induced him to betake himself thither30. When the pious31 hero arrived at Cologne he went to the monastery32 of St. Peter, and lived a holy life, occupied night and day in devotion. It so happened that at that time in the next town to Cologne there raged a dreadful pestilence33. Many people came to Rinaldo, to beg him to pray for them, that the plague might be stayed. The holy man prayed fervently34, and besought the Lord to take away the plague from the people, and his prayer was heard. The stroke of the pestilence was arrested, and all the people thanked the holy man and praised God.
Now there was at this time at Cologne a bishop35, called Agilolphus, who was a wise and understanding man, who led a pure and secluded36 life, and set a good example to others. This bishop undertook to build the Church of St. Peter, and gave notice to all stonemasons and other workmen round about to come to Cologne, where they should find work and wages. Among others came Rinaldo; and he worked among the laborers37 and did more than four or five common workmen. When they went to dinner he brought stone and mortar38 so that they had enough for the whole day. When the others went to bed he stretched himself out on the stones. He ate bread only, and drank nothing but water; and had for his wages but a penny a day. The head workman asked him his name, and where he belonged. He would not tell, but said nothing and pursued his work. They called him St. Peter’s workman, because he was so devoted39 to his work.
When the overseer saw the diligence of this holy man he chid40 the laziness of the other workmen, and said, “You receive more pay than this good man, but do not do half as much work.” For this reason the other workmen hated Rinaldo, and made a secret agreement to kill him. They knew that he made it a practice to go every night to a certain church to pray and give alms. So they agreed to lay wait for him, with the purpose to kill him. When he came to the spot, they seized him, and beat him over the head till he was dead. Then they put his body into a sack, and stones with it, and cast it into the Rhine, in the hope the sack would sink to the bottom, and be there concealed41. But God willed not that it should be so, but caused the sack to float on the surface, and be thrown upon the bank. And the soul of the holy martyr42 was carried by angels, with songs of praise, up to the heavens.
Now at that time the people of Dortmund had become converted to the Christian24 faith; and they sent to the Bishop of Cologne, and desired him to give them some of the holy relics that are in such abundance in that city. So the Bishop called together his clergy43 to deliberate what answer they should give to this request. And it was determined44 to give to the people of Dortmund the body of the holy man who had just suffered martyrdom.
When now the body with the coffin45 was put on the cart, the cart began to move toward Dortmund without horses or help of men, and stopped not till it reached the place where the church of St. Rinaldo now stands. The Bishop and his clergy followed the holy man to do him honor, with singing of hymns46, for a space of three miles. And St. Rinaldo has ever since been the patron of that place, and many wonderful works has God done through him, as may be seen in the legends.
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1
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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3
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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4
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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5
intercede
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| vi.仲裁，说情 | |
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6
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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7
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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9
implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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10
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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12
wrings
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| 绞( wring的第三人称单数 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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13
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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14
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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15
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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16
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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18
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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19
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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20
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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21
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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22
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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23
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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24
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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25
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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26
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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27
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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29
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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30
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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31
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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32
monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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33
pestilence
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| n.瘟疫 | |
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34
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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35
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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36
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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37
laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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38
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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39
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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40
chid
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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42
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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43
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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44
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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45
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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46
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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