the mighty Agrapard, Caliph of Arabia, and bringing the bow-string for the neck of Gaudisso.  No reason was assigned; none but the pleasure of the Caliph is ever required in such cases; but it was suspected that the bearer of the bow-string had persuaded the Caliph that Gaudisso, whose rapacity was well known, had accumulated immense treasures, which he had not duly shared with his sovereign, and thus had obtained an order to supersede him in his Emirship.

The body of Gaudisso would have been cast out a prey to dogs and vultures, had not Sherasmin, under the character of nephew of the deceased, been permitted to receive it, and give it decent burial, which he did, but not till he had taken possession of the beard and grinders, agreeably to the orders of Charlemagne.

No obstacle now stood in the way of the lovers and their faithful follower in returning to France.  They sailed, taking Rome in their way, where the Holy Father himself blessed the union of his nephew, Duke Huon of Bordeaux, with the Princess Clarimunda.

Soon afterward they arrived in France, where Huon laid his trophies at the feet of Charlemagne, and, being restored to the favor of the Emperor, hastened to present himself and his bride to the Duchess, his mother, and to the faithful liegemen of his province of Guienne and his city of Bordeaux, where the pair were received with transports of joy.

OGIER, THE DANE

Ogier, the Dane, was the son of Geoffrey, who wrested Denmark from the Pagans, and reigned the first Christian king of that country.  When Ogier was born, and before he was baptized, six ladies of ravishing beauty appeared all at once in the chamber of the infant.  They encircled him, and she who appeared the eldest took him in her arms, kissed him, and laid her hand upon his heart.  “I give you,” said she, “to be the bravest warrior of your times.”  She delivered the infant to her sister, who said, “I give you abundant opportunities to display your valor.”  “Sister,” said the third lady, “you have given him a dangerous boon; I give him that he shall never be vanquished.”  The fourth sister added, as she laid her hand upon his eyes and his mouth, “I give you the gift of pleasing.”  The fifth said, “Lest all these gifts serve only to betray, I give you sensibility to return the love you inspire.”  Then spoke Morgana, the youngest and handsomest of the group.  “Charming creature, I claim you for my own; and I give you not to die till you shall have come to pay me a visit in my isle of Avalon.”  Then she kissed the child and departed with her sisters.

After this the king had the child carried to the font and baptized with the name of Ogier.

In his education nothing was neglected to elevate him to the standard of a perfect knight, and render him accomplished in all the arts necessary to make him a hero.