ile got loose, and strayed
away where the grass tempted him. Just then came along some country
people, who said to one another, "Look, is not that the great horse
Bayard that Rinaldo rides? Let us take him, and carry him to King
Charles, who will pay us well for our trouble." They did so, and the
king was delighted with his prize, and gave them a present that made
them rich to their dying day.

When Rinaldo woke he looked round for his horse, and, finding him not,
he groaned, and said, "O unlucky hour that I was born! how fortune
persecutes me!" So desperate was he that he took off his armor and his
spurs, saying, "What need have I of these, since Bayard is lost?" While
he stood thus lamenting, a man came from the thicket, seemingly bent
with age. He had a long beard hanging over his breast, and eyebrows
that almost covered his eyes. He bade Rinaldo good day. Rinaldo thanked
him, and said, "A good day I have hardly had since I was born." Then
said the old man, "Signor Rinaldo, you must not despair, for God will
make all things turn to the best." Rinaldo answered, "My trouble is too
heavy for me to hope relief. The king has taken my brothers, and means
to put them to death. I thought to rescue them by means of my horse
Bayard, but while I slept some thief has stolen him." The old man
replied, "I will remember you and your brothers in my prayers. I am a
poor man, have you not something to give me?" Rinaldo said, "I have
nothing to give," but then he recollected his spurs. He gave them to
the beggar, and said, "Here, take my spurs. They are the first present
my mother gave me when my father, Count Aymon, dubbed me knight. They
ought to bring you ten pounds."

The old man took the spurs, and put them into his sack, and said,
"Noble sir, have you nothing else you can give me?" Rinaldo replied,
"Are you making sport of me? I tell you truly if it were not for shame
to beat one so helpless, I would teach you better manners." The old man
said, "Of a truth, sir, if you did so you would do a great sin. If all
had beaten me of whom I have begged I should have been killed long ago,
for I ask alms in churches and convents, and wherever I can." "You say
true," replied Rinaldo, "if you did not ask, none would relieve you."
The old man said, "True, noble sir, therefore I pray if you have
anything more to spare, give it me." Rinaldo gave him his mantle, and
said, "Take it, pilgrim. I give it you for the love of Christ, that God
would s