The Voyages of Marco Polo. Марко Поло

I a. ij'e puchelles qui moult ont cler les vis,

       Carolans et tresquans, menans gales et ris.

       Et si est li dieuesse, dame et suppellatis,

       Qui doctrine les autres et en fais et en dis,

       Celle est la fille au Roy c'on dist des Haus-Assis."[18] Pp. 319–320.

      This Lady Ivorine, the Old Man's daughter, is described among other points as having—

      "Les iex vairs com faucons, nobles et agentis."[19] P. 320.

      The King of the Mountain collects all the young male children of the country, and has them brought up for nine or ten years:

      "Dedens un lieu oscur: là les met-on toudis

       Aveukes males bestes; kiens, et cas, et soris,

       Culoères, et lisaerdes, escorpions petis.

       Là endroit ne peut nuls avoir joie, né ris." Pp. 320–321.

      And after this dreary life they are shown the Paradise, and told that such shall be their portion if they do their Lord's behest.

      "S'il disoit à son homme: 'Va-t-ent droit à Paris;

       Si me fier d'un coutel le Roy de Saint Denis,

       Jamais n'aresteroit, né par nuit né par dis,

       S'aroit tué le Roy, voïant tous ches marchis;

       Et déuist estre à fources traïnés et mal mis.'" P. 321.

      Bauduin determines to see this Paradise and the lovely Ivorine. The road led by Baudas:

      "Or avoit à che tamps, sé l'istoire ne ment,

       En le chit de Baudas Kristiens jusqu' à cent;

       Qui manonent illoec par tréu d'argent,

       Que cascuns cristiens au Roy-Calife rent.

       Li pères du Calife, qui régna longement,

       Ama les Crestiens, et Dieu primièrement:

       * * * * *

       Et lor fist establir. j. monstier noble et gent,

       Où Crestien faisoient faire lor sacrement.

       Une mout noble pière lor donna proprement,

       Où on avoit posé Mahon moult longement."[20] P. 322.

      The story is, in fact, that which Marco relates of Samarkand.[21] The Caliph dies. His son hates the Christians. His people complain of the toleration of the Christians and their minister; but he says his father had pledged him not to interfere, and he dared not forswear himself. If, without doing so, he could do them an ill turn, he would gladly. The people then suggest their claim to the stone:

      "Or leur donna vos pères, dont che fu mesprisons.

       Ceste pierre, biaus Sire, Crestiens demandons:

       Il ne le porront rendre, pour vrai le vous disons,

       Si li monstiers n'est mis et par pièches et par mons;

       Et s'il estoit desfais, jamais ne le larons

       Refaire chi-endroit. Ensément averons

       Faites et acomplies nostres ententions." P. 324.

      The Caliph accordingly sends for Maistre Thumas, the Priest of the

       Christians, and tells him the stone must be given up:

      "Il a. c. ans ut plus c'on i mist à solas

       Mahon, le nostre Dieu: dont che n'est mie estas

       Que li vous monstiers soit fais de nostre harnas!" P. 324.

      Master Thomas, in great trouble, collects his flock, mounts the pulpit, and announces the calamity. Bauduin and his convert Polibans then arrive. Bauduin recommends confession, fasting, and prayer. They follow his advice, and on the third day the miracle occurs:

      "L'escripture le dist, qui nous achertéfie

       Que le pierre Mahon, qui ou mur fut fiquie,

       Sali hors du piler, coi que nul vous en die,

       Droit enmi le monstier, c'onques ne fut brisie.

       Et demoura li traus, dont le pière ert widie,

       Sans pière est sans quailliel, à cascune partie;

       Chou deseure soustient, par divine maistrie,

       Tout en air proprement, n'el tenés a falie.

       Encore le voit-on en ichelle partie:

       Qui croire ne m'en voelt, si voist; car je l'en prie!" P. 327.

      The Caliph comes to see, and declares it to be the Devil's doing. Seeing Polibans, who is his cousin, he hails him, but Polibans draws back, avowing his Christian faith. The Caliph in a rage has him off to prison. Bauduin becomes very ill, and has to sell his horse and arms. His disease is so offensive that he is thrust out of his hostel, and in his wretchedness sitting on a stone he still avows his faith, and confesses that even then he has not received his deserts. He goes to beg in the Christian quarter, and no one gives to him; but still his faith and love to God hold out:

      "Ensément Bauduins chelle rue cherqua,

       Tant qu'à .j. chavetier Bauduins s'arresta,

       Qui chavates cousoit; son pain en garigna:

       Jones fu et plaisans, apertement ouvra.

       Bauduins le regarde, c'onques mot ne parla." P. 334.

      The cobler is charitable, gives him bread, shoes, and a grey coat that was a foot too short. He then asks Bauduin if he will not learn his trade; but that is too much for the knightly stomach:

      "Et Bauduins respont, li preus et li membrus:

       J'ameroie trop miex que je fuisse pendus!" P. 335.

      The Caliph now in his Council expresses his vexation about the miracle, and says he does not know how to disprove the faith of the Christians. A very sage old Saracen who knew Hebrew, and Latin, and some thirty languages, makes a suggestion, which is, in fact, that about the moving of the Mountain, as related by Marco Polo.[22] Master Thomas is sent for again, and told that they must transport the high mountain of Thir to the valley of Joaquin, which lies to the westward. He goes away in new despair and causes his clerk to sonner le clocke for his people. Whilst they are weeping and wailing in the church, a voice is heard desiring them to seek a certain holy man who is at the good cobler's, and to do him honour. God at his prayer will do a miracle. They go in procession to Bauduin, who thinks they are mocking him. They treat him as a saint, and strive to touch his old coat. At last he consents to pray along with the whole congregation.

      The Caliph is in his palace with his princes, taking his ease at a window.

       Suddenly he starts up exclaiming:

      "'Seignour, par Mahoumet que j'aoure et tieng chier,

       Le Mont de Thir enportent le déable d'enfeir!'

       Li Califes s'écrie: 'Seignour, franc palasin,

       Voïés le Mont de Thir qui ch'est mis au chemin!

       Vés-le-là tout en air, par mon Dieu Apolin;

       Jà bientost le verrons ens ou val Joaquin!'" P. 345.

      The Caliph is converted, releases Polibans, and is baptised, taking the name of Bauduin, to whom he expresses his fear of the Viex de la Montagne with his Hauts-Assis, telling anew the story of the Assassin's Paradise, and so enlarges on the beauty of Ivorine that Bauduin is smitten, and his love heals his malady. Toleration is not learned however:

      "Bauduins, li Califes, fist baptisier sa gent,

       Et qui ne voilt Dieu crore, li teste on li pourfent!" P. 350.

      The Caliph gives up his kingdom to Bauduin, proposing to follow him to the Wars of Syria. And Bauduin presents the Kingdom to the Cobler.

      Bauduin, the Caliph, and Prince Polibans then proceed to visit the Mountain