w-bandit. Thereupon the gentlemen immediately took their
arms, and with their serving-men set forth to succour the ladies,
esteeming it a happier thing to die for them than to outlive them.

When they reached the house, they found the first door broken through,
and the two gentlemen with their servants defending themselves
valiantly. But inasmuch as they were outnumbered by the robbers, and
were also sorely wounded, they were beginning to fall back, having
already lost many of their servants. The two gentlemen, looking in at
the windows, perceived the ladies shrieking and sobbing so bitterly
that their hearts swelled with pity and love at the sight; and, like two
enraged bears coming down from the mountains, they fell upon the bandits
with such fury that many of them were slain, while the remainder,
unwilling to await their onset, fled to a hiding-place which was known
to them.

When the gentlemen had worsted these rogues and had slain the host
himself among the rest, they heard that the man's wife was even
worse than her husband; and they therefore sent her after him with a
sword-thrust. Then they entered a lower room, where they found one of
the married gentlemen on the point of death. The other had received no
hurt, save that his clothes were all pierced with thrusts and that his
sword was broken in two. The poor gentleman, perceiving what help the
two had afforded him, embraced and thanked them, and besought them not
to abandon him, which was to them a very agreeable request. When they
had buried the dead gentleman, and had comforted his wife as well
as they were able, they took the road which God set before them, not
knowing whither they were going.

If it pleases you to know the names of the three gentlemen, the married
one was called Hircan, and his wife Parlamente, the name of the widow
being Longarine; of the two lovers one was called Dagoucin and the
other Saffredent. After having been the whole day on horseback, towards
evening they descried a belfry, whither with toil and trouble they made
the best of their way, and on their arrival were kindly received by the
Abbot and the monks. The abbey is called St. Savyn.(4)

4 The Abbey of St. Savin of Tarbes, situated between Argelez
and Pierrefitte, in what was formerly called the county of
Lavedan, is stated to have been founded by Charlemagne; and
here the Paladin Roland is said to have slain the giants
Alabaster and Passamont to recom