In the very manner in which Talisso had forecast it, so it fell out
with him at the Hring. The fierce, swart, broad-shouldered dwarfs with
the almond eyes and woven pigtails gazed with glee and admiration on
the tall and comely warrior who had swept them before his sword-edge;
and when he spoke of the rich markets and goodly houses and fruitful
land of Sarras their eyes glistened, and they swore by fire and water
and the four winds to avenge his wrongs.

Little need is there to linger in telling of a swift matter. Mounted
on their nimble and hardy ponies, the Avars dashed into Sarras land two
hundred strong, and tarried neither to slay nor spoil, but outsped the
fleet feet or rumour, till in the grey glimmer of cock-crow they
sighted the towers of Sarras city. Under cover of a wood they rested
till the gates were flung wide for the early market folk. Who then but
Talisso laughed his fierce and orgulous laugh as he rode at their head
and they all hurled through the gates, and, clattering up the empty
street, carried the castle out of hand?

Not a blow was struck, no drop of blood reddened iron or stone; and
such divinity doth hedge even a wicked king dethroned that when the
guards saw the tyrant once more ascending the steps of power they
lowered their points and stood at a loss how to act. But Talisso, with
some touch of his pristine graciousness, bade no man flee or fear who
was willing to return to his allegiance. "First, however, of all
things, bring me hither the Archbishop; bring with ropes and horses if
need be; but see that not a hair of his head be injured."

Now on this same night that these Hunnish folk were pressing forward to
Sarras city Desiderius saw in a dream Talisso standing before the
throne of God. On his head he wore his crown, but otherwise he was but
such as he stood for sentence on the Mound of Coronation, to wit, with
a rope around his neck, and naked save for the fold of sackcloth about
his loins.

Beside him stood an Angel, and the Angel was speaking: "All the lusts
of the flesh, and all the lusts of the eyes, and all the lusts of the
will, and the pride of life this man hath gratified and glutted to
surfeiting, yet is he as restless as the sea and as insatiable as the
grave. Speak, man, is it not so?"

And Talisso answered, with a peal of orgulous laughter: "Restless as
the sea; insatiable as the grave."

"How then, Lord," said the Angel, "shall this man's unrest and hunger