no, where it may be forded, whence he held
on by the country of Alifi, and by the rough mountain paths of
Beniventana, and without halting, and in great straits for money and
victual, he arrived at the hour of noon at the foot of Benivento in
the valley over against the city, distant by the space of two miles
from the bank of the river Calore which flows at the foot of
Benivento. King Manfred seeing the host of King Charles appear, having
taken counsel, determined to fight and to sally forth to the field
with his mounted troops, to attack the army of King Charles before
they should be rested; but in this he did ill, for had he tarried one
or two days, King Charles and his host would have perished or been
captive without stroke of sword, through lack of provisions for them
and for their horses; for the day before they arrived at the foot of
Benivento, through want of victual, many of the troops had to feed on
cabbages, and their horses on the stalks, without any other bread, or
grain for the horses; and they had no more money to spend. Also the
people and forces of King Manfred were much dispersed, for M. Conrad
of Antioch was in Abruzzi with a following, Count Frederick was in
Calabria, the count of Ventimiglia was in Sicily; so that, if he had
tarried a while, his forces would have increased; but to whom God
intends ill, him He deprives of wisdom. Manfred having sallied forth
from Benivento with his followers, passed over the bridge which
crosses the said river of Calore into the plain which is called S.
Maria della Grandella, to a place called the Pietra a Roseto; here he
formed three lines of battle or troops, the first was of Germans, in
whom he had much confidence, who numbered fully 1,200 horse, of whom
Count Calvagno was the captain; the second was of Tuscans and
Lombards, and also of Germans, to the number of 1,000 horse, which was
led by Count Giordano; the third, which Manfred led, was of Apulians
with the Saracens of Nocera, which was of 1,400 horse, without the
foot soldiers and the Saracen bowmen which were in great numbers.

Sec. 8.--_How King Charles arrayed his troops to fight against King
Manfred._

[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xvi. 34-39.]

King Charles, seeing Manfred and his troops in the open field, and
ranged for combat, took counsel whether he should offer battle on that
day or should delay it. The most of his barons counselled him to abide
till the coming morning, to repose the h