company of angels and martyrs. Without cease
I shall lament over thee, as David did over Saul and Jonathan, and his
son Absalom.

Thy soul is fled to happier scenes above,
And left us mourning to lament thee here;
Blest in thy God and Saviour's fav'ring love,
Who wipes from every eye the trickling tear.

Six lustres and eight years thou dwelledst below,
But snatched from earth to heaven, thou reign'st on high,
Where feasts divine immortal spirits know,
And joys transcendent fill the starry sky."

Thus did Charles mourn for Orlando to the very last day of his life. On
the spot where he died he encamped; and caused the body to be embalmed
with balsam, myrrh, and aloes. The whole camp watched it that night,
honouring his corse with hymns and songs, and innumerable torches and
fires kindled on the adjacent mountains.

CHAPTER XXVI.

_How the Sun stood still for three Days; the Slaughter of four thousand
Saracens; and the Death of Ganalon._

Early on the next day they came to the field of battle in Ronceval, and
found the bodies of their friends, many of them still alive, but
mortally wounded. Oliver was lying on his face, pinioned to the ground
in the form of a cross, and flayed from the neck to his finger-ends;
pierced also with darts and javelins, and bruised with clubs. The
mourning was now dismal; every one wept for his friend, till the groves
and valleys resounded with wailing. Charles solemnly vowed to pursue the
Pagans till he found them; and, marching in pursuit with his whole army,
the sun stood still for three days, till he overtook them on the banks
of the Ebro, near Saragossa, feasting and rejoicing for their success.
Attacking them valiantly, he then slew four thousand, and dispersed the
rest. What further? We now returned to Ronceval, bearing with us the
sick and wounded to the spot where Orlando fell. The Emperor then made
strict inquiries after the treachery of Ganalon, which began to be
universally rumoured about. Trial was ordained by single combat, Pinabel
for Ganalon, and Theodoric for the Accuser; when, the latter gaining the
victory, the treason was proved. Ganalon was now sentenced to be torn to
pieces by four wild horses, which was accordingly his end.

CHAPTER XXVII.

_The Embalming of the Dead._

They now embalmed the dead bodies of their friends; some with myrrh and
balsam, some with salt, taking out the bowels, and filling the bodies
with aroma