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company of monks and nuns. These holy people had been celebrating a festival by a picnic, and were now
hastening home, drenched, bedraggled, and in a sorry plight. They had scarcely reached the convent yard,
however, where Sherasmin fancied all would be quite safe from further enchantment, when Oberon suddenly
appeared in their midst like a brilliant meteor.
"At once the storm is fled; serenely mild Heav'n smiles around, bright rays the sky adorn, While beauteous as
an angel newly born Beams in the roseate dayspring, glow'd the child. A lily stalk his graceful limbs sustain'd,
Round his smooth neck an ivory horn was chain'd; Yet lovely as he was, on all around Strange horror stole,
for stern the fairy frown'd, And o'er each sadden'd charm a sullen anger reign'd." WIELAND, Oberon
(Sotheby's tr.).
[Sidenote: Oberon's aid promised.] The displeasure of the king of the fairies had been roused by Huon and
Sherasmin's discourteous flight, but he merely vented his anger and showed his power by breathing a soft
strain on his magic horn. At the same moment, monks, nuns, and Sherasmin, forgetting their age and calling,
began to dance in the wildest abandon. Huon alone remained uninfluenced by the music, for he had had no
wish to avoid an encounter with Oberon.
The king of the fairies now revealed to Huon that as his life had been pure and his soul true, he would help
him in his quest. Then, at a wave from the lily wand the magic music ceased, and the charm was broken.
CHAPTER X. 80
Sherasmin was graciously forgiven by Oberon, who, seeing the old man well-nigh exhausted, offered him a
golden beaker of wine, bidding him drink without fear. But Sherasmin was of a suspicious nature, and it was
only when he found that the draught had greatly refreshed him that he completely dismissed his fears.
[Sidenote: The magic horn.] After informing Huon that he was fully aware of the peculiar nature of his quest,
Oberon gave him the golden beaker, assuring him that it would always be full of the richest wine for the
virtuous, but would burn the evil doer with a devouring fire. He also bestowed his magic horn upon him,
telling him that a gentle blast would cause all the hearers to dance, while a loud one would bring to his aid the
king of the fairies himself.
"Does but its snail-like spiral hollow sing, A lovely note soft swell'd with gentle breath, Though thousand
warriors threaten instant death, And with advancing weapons round enring; Then, as thou late hast seen, in
restless dance All, all must spin, and every sword and lance Fall with th' exhausted warriors to the ground. But
if thou peal it with impatient sound, I at thy call appear, more swift than lightning glance." WIELAND,
Oberon (Sotheby's tr.).
Another wave of his lily wand, and Oberon disappeared, leaving a subtle fragrance behind him; and had it not
been for the golden beaker and the ivory horn which he still held, Huon might have been tempted to consider
the whole occurrence a dream.
The journey to Bagdad was now resumed in a more hopeful spirit; and when the travelers reached Tourmont
they found that it was governed by one of Huon's uncles, who, captured in his youth by the Saracens, had
turned Mussulman, and had gradually risen to the highest dignity. Seeing Huon refresh some of the Christians
of his household with a draught of wine from the magic cup, he asked to be allowed to drink from it too. He
had no sooner taken hold of it, however, than he was unmercifully burned, for he was a renegade, and the
magic cup refreshed only the true believers.
Incensed at what he fancied a deliberate insult, the governor of Tourmont planned to slay Huon at a great
banquet. But the young hero defended himself bravely, and, after slaying sundry assailants, disposed of the
remainder by breathing a soft note upon his magic horn, and setting them all to dancing wildly, until they sank
breathless and exhausted upon their divans.
[Sidenote: The giant Angoulaffre.] As Huon had taken advantage of the spell to depart and continue his
journey, he soon reached the castle of the giant Angoulaffre. The latter had stolen from Oberon a magic ring
which made the wearer invulnerable, and thus suffered him to commit countless crimes with impunity. When
Huon came near the castle he met an unfortunate knight who imformed him that the giant detained his
promised bride captive, together with several other helpless damsels.
Like a true knight errant, Huon vowed to deliver these helpless ladies, and, in spite of the armed guards at
every doorway, he passed unmolested into Angoulaffre's chamber. There he found the giant plunged in a
lethargy, but was rapturously welcomed by the knight's fair betrothed, who had long sighed for a deliverer. In
a few hurried sentences she told him that her captor constantly forced his unwelcome attentions upon her; but
that, owing to the protection of the Virgin, a trance overtook him and made him helpless whenever he tried to
force her inclinations and take her to wife.
"'As oft the hateful battle he renews, As oft the miracle his force subdues; The ring no virtue boasts whene'er
that sleep assails.'" WIELAND, Oberon (Sotheby's tr.).
Prompted by this fair princess, whose name was Angela, Huon secured the ring, and donned a magic hauberk
hanging near. But, as he scorned to take any further advantage of a sleeping foe, he patiently awaited the
giant's awakening to engage in one of those combats which the mediaeval poets loved to describe.
CHAPTER X. 81
[Sidenote: Angela and Alexis.] Of course Huon was victorious, and after slaying Angoulaffre, he restored the
fair Angela to her lover, Alexis, and gave a great banquet, which was attended by the fifty rescued damsels,
and by fifty knights who had come to help Alexis. Although this gay company would fain have had him
remain with them, Huon traveled on. When too exhausted to continue his way, he again rested under a tree,
where Oberon caused a tent to be raised by invisible hands. Here Huon had a wonderful dream, in which he
beheld his future ladylove, and was warned of some of the perils which still awaited him before he could
claim her as his own.
The journey was then resumed, and when they reached the banks of the Red Sea, Oberon sent one of his
spirits, Malebron, to carry them safely over. They traveled through burning wastes of sand, refreshed and
strengthened by occasional draughts from the magic goblet, and came at last to a forest, where they saw a
Saracen about to succumb beneath the attack of a monstrous lion. Huon immediately flew to his rescue, slew
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