the assembly. "What!" said
the Abbot of Cluny; "slaughter a Saracen prince without first offering
him baptism?" "The second condition is not so hard," said the young
peers, "but the demand that Huon is bound to make of the old Sultan is
very uncivil, and will be hard to obtain."

The Emperor's obstinacy when he had once resolved upon a thing is well
known. To the courage of Huon nothing seemed impossible. "I accept the
conditions," said he, silencing the intercessions of the old Duke of
Bavaria; "my liege, I accept my pardon at this price. I go to execute
your commands, as your vassal and a peer of France."

The Duke Namo and Abbot of Cluny, being unable to obtain any relaxation
of the sentence passed by Charlemagne, led forth the young Duke, who
determined to set out at once on his expedition. All that the good
Abbot could obtain of him was, that he should prepare for this perilous
undertaking by going first to Rome, to pay his homage to the Pope, who
was the brother of the Duchess Alice, Huon's mother, and from him
demand absolution and his blessing. Huon promised it, and forthwith set
out on his way to Rome.

HUON OF BORDEAUX (Continued)

HUON, having traversed the Apennines and Italy, arrived at the environs
of Rome, where, laying aside his armor, he assumed the dress of a
pilgrim. In this attire he presented himself before the Pope, and not
till after he had made a full confession of his sins did he announce
himself as his nephew. "Ah! my dear nephew," exclaimed the Holy Father,
"what harder penance could I impose than the Emperor has already done?
Go in peace, my son," he added, absolving him, "I go to intercede for
you with the Most High." Then he led his nephew into his palace, and
introduced him to all the Cardinals and Princes of Rome as the Duke of
Guienne, son of the Duchess Alice, his sister.

Huon, at setting out, had made a vow not to stop more than three days
in a place. The Holy Father took advantage of this time to inspire him
with zeal for the glory of Christianity, and with confidence in the
protection of the Most High. He advised him to embark for Palestine, to
visit the Holy Sepulchre, and to depart thence for the interior of Asia.

Loaded with the blessings of the Holy Father, Huon, obeying his
counsels, embarked for Palestine, arrived, and visited with the
greatest reverence the holy places. He then departed, and took his way
toward the east.

But, ignorant of the country and of the