"Good sword," said he, "thou art fair and bright, and thou hast done me
many a service. Never shall it be said that Ganelon died alone in a
strange land."

But the courtiers of King Marsilius stepped in between them. "It were
better," said they, "to treat with this man than to slay him. If his
face slander him not, he is a man who may be persuaded to help us. Try
him."

Then Marsilius called Ganelon to his side, and offered him five hundred
pounds of gold for his friendship. And the two sat long together, and
plotted bloodshed and treason.

"Indeed, what think you of this Charlemagne?" asked the Moor. "Through
how many lands has he carried that old body of his? How many scars are
there on his shield? How many kingdoms has he stolen, and how many
kings impoverished? Methinks that his days are well-nigh spent. He
must be more than two hundred years old."

But Ganelon, although a traitor, would say naught against the king.

"None can see him," said he, "but will say that he is a man. None can
so praise or honor him, but that there shall yet be in him more worth
and goodness."

"Yet, methinks," said the Moor, "that he is very old. His beard is
white; his hair is flowered. It is strange that he grows not tired of
fighting."

"That he will never do so long as Roland, his nephew, lives," answered