When the peace was thus made between the king and the sons of Aymon, the brothers came forth 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 wrings my heart too much.”  Then Chariot 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 distressed for the loss of Bayard that he made a vow to ride no horse again all his life long, nor to bind a sword to his side, but to become a hermit.  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 eldest born, Aymeric, a knight, 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.