Thomas Bulfinch
Legends of Charlemagne
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4057664620316
Table of Contents
ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO
THE INVASION OF FRANCE (Continued)
ASTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED, AND ISABELLA'S BEGUN
LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
Introduction The Peers, or Paladins The Tournament The Siege of Albracca Adventures of Rinaldo and Orlando The Invasion of France The Invasion of France (Continued) Bradamante and Rogero Astolpho and the Enchantress The Orc Astolpho's Adventures continued, and Isabella's begun. Medoro Orlando Mad Zerbino and Isabella Astolpho in Abyssinia The War in Africa Rogero and Bradamante The Battle of Roncesvalles Rinaldo and Bayard Death of Rinaldo Huon of Bordeaux Huon of Bordeaux (Continued) Huon of Bordeaux (Continued) Ogier, the Dane Ogier, the Dane (Continued) Ogier, the Dane (Continued) GLOSSARY
LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
INTRODUCTION
Those who have investigated the origin of the romantic fables relating to Charlemagne and his peers are of opinion that the deeds of Charles Martel, and perhaps of other Charleses, have been blended in popular tradition with those properly belonging to Charlemagne. It was indeed a most momentous era; and if our readers will have patience, before entering on the perusal of the fabulous annals which we are about to lay before them, to take a rapid survey of the real history of the times, they will find it hardly less romantic than the tales of the poets.
In the century beginning from the year 600, the countries bordering upon the native land of our Saviour, to the east and south, had not yet received his religion. Arabia was the seat of an idolatrous religion resembling that of the ancient Persians, who worshipped the sun, moon, and stars. In Mecca, in the year 571, Mahomet was born, and here, at the age of forty, he proclaimed himself the prophet of God, in dignity as superior to Christ as Christ had been to Moses. Having obtained by slow degrees a considerable number of disciples, he resorted to arms to diffuse his religion. The energy and zeal of his followers, aided by the weakness of the neighboring nations, enabled him and his successors to spread the sway of Arabia and the religion of Mahomet over the countries to the east as far as the Indus, northward over Persia and Asia Minor, westward over Egypt and the southern shores of the Mediterranean, and thence over the principal portion of Spain. All this was done within one hundred years from the Hegira, or flight of Mahomet from Mecca to Medina, which happened in the year 622, and is the era from which Mahometans reckon time, as we do from the birth of Christ.
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