But an enchanter more ancient and more powerful than Oberon himself interested himself for the brave Huon.  The enchanter was Love.  The Princess Clarimunda learned with horror the fate to which the young prince was destined.  By the aid of her governante she gained over the keeper of the prison, and went herself to lighten the chains of her beloved.  It was her hand that removed his fetters, from her he received supplies of food to sustain a life which he devoted from thenceforth wholly to her.  After the most tender explanations the princess departed, promising to repeat her visit on the morrow.

The next day she came according to promise, and again brought supplies of food.  These visits were continued during a whole month.  Huon was too good a son of the Church to forget that the amiable princess was a Saracen, and he availed himself of these interviews to instruct her in the true faith.  How easy it is to believe the truth when uttered by the lips of those we love!  Clarimunda ere long professed her entire belief in the Christian doctrines, and desired to be baptized.

Meanwhile the Sultan had repeatedly inquired of the jailer how his prisoner bore the pains of famine, and learned to his surprise that he was not yet much reduced thereby.  On his repeating the inquiry, after a short interval, the keeper replied that the prisoner had died suddenly, and had been buried in the cavern.  The Sultan could only regret that he had not sooner ordered the execution of the sentence.

While these things were going on the faithful Sherasmin, who had not accompanied Huon in his last adventure, but had learned by common rumor the result of it, came to the court in hopes of doing something for the rescue of his master.  He presented himself to the Sultan as Solario, his nephew.  Guadisso received him with kindness, and all the courtiers loaded him with attentions.  He soon found means to inform himself how the Princess regarded the brave but unfortunate Huon, and having made himself known to her, confidence was soon established between them.  Clarimunda readily consented to assist in the escape of Huon, and to quit with him her father’s court to repair to that of Charlemagne.  Their united efforts had nearly perfected their arrangement, a vessel was secretly prepared, and all things in forwardness for the flight, when an unlooked-for obstacle presented itself.  Huon himself positively refused to go leaving the orders of Charlemagne unexecuted.

Sherasmin was in despair.  Bitterly he complained of the fickleness and cruelty of Oberon in withdrawing his aid at the very crisis when it was most necessary.  Earnestly he urged every argument to satisfy the prince that he had done enough for honor, and could not be held bound to achieve impossibilities.  But all was of no avail, and he knew not which way to turn, when one of those events occurred which are so frequent under Turkish despotisms.  A courier arrived at the court of the Sultan, bearing the ring of his sovereign,