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CHAP. VII.
Ferragus assembles a mighty army, and lays siege to Aquitain; to revenge himself of Valentine and Orson.
Ferragus, to be revenged of his sister Clerimond and the brave Knights, assembled all his men of war, and put to sea. At length arriving at Aquitain, he laid siege to it, with a vast army of Saracens; which when Duke Savoy saw, he resolved to give battle next morning: and accordingly sallied forth with all his forces, he himself being in the front, and Ferragus also heading his men, when a most bloody fight ensued, which was maintained with great courage on both sides, for some time: the duke of Savoy being desirous of the victory, he ventured too far, and was taken prisoner; who by Ferragus’s order was strongly bound, and conveyed to his tent.
Now Orson was resolved to set him free, or lose his life in the attempt; and putting on the arms of a dead Saracen, he called Pacolet: so both of them went through the enemy’s army, without being discovered, till they arrived at the tent where the duke was confined, the guards of which were cast into a deep sleep by Pacolet: which done, they took off the duke’s chains, and giving him a horse, he rode back to the Christian army; who, when they beheld their Duke at liberty, cried out—Long live the Duke of Aquitain! The Saracens were so sore dismayed, that they fled in great confusion, when the Christians followed them, till night forced them to return into the city, but not till they had scarce left Ferragus a thousand men, of all the numerous army ho brought with him, against the Duke of Aquitain; being obliged to return into Portugal,
