dom, placed the crown upon the head of Ogier. Guyon and Carahue
then left him, to return to their respective dominions. Ogier adopted
Walter, the son of Guyon of Denmark, to be his successor in his
kingdom. He superintended his education, and saw the young prince grow
up worthy of his cares. But Ogier, in spite of all the honors of his
rank, often regretted the court of Charlemagne, the Duke Namo, and
Salomon of Brittany, for whom he had the respect and attachment of a
son. At last, finding Walter old enough to sustain the weight of
government, Ogier caused a vessel to be prepared secretly, and,
attended only by one squire, left his palace by night, and embarked to
return to France.

The vessel, driven by a fair wind, cut the sea with the swiftness of a
bird; but on a sudden it deviated from its course, no longer obeyed the
helm, and sped fast towards a black promontory which stretched into the
sea. This was a mountain of loadstone, and, its attractive power
increasing as the distance diminished, the vessel at last flew with the
swiftness of an arrow towards it, and was dashed to pieces on its rocky
base. Ogier alone saved himself, and reached the shore on a fragment of
the wreck.

Ogier advanced into the country, looking for some marks of inhabitancy,
but found none. On a sudden he encountered two monstrous animals,
covered with glittering scales, accompanied by a horse breathing fire.
Ogier drew his sword and prepared to defend himself; but the monsters,
terrific as they appeared, made no attempt to assail him, and the
horse, Papillon, knelt down, and appeared to court Ogier to mount upon
his back. Ogier hesitated not to see the adventure through; he mounted
Papillon, who ran with speed, and soon cleared the rocks and precipices
which hemmed in and concealed a beautiful landscape. He continued his
course till he reached a magnificent palace, and, without allowing
Ogier time to admire it, crossed a grand court-yard adorned with
colonnades, and entered a garden, where, making his way through alleys
of myrtle, he checked his course, and knelt down on the enamelled turf
of a fountain.

Ogier dismounted and took some steps along the margin of the stream,
but was soon stopped by meeting a young beauty, such as they paint the
Graces, and almost as lightly attired as they. At the same moment, to
his amazement, his armor fell off of its own accord. The young beauty
advanced with a tender air, and placed upon his head a crow