Page:History of the Franks.djvu/99

THE THIRD BOOK 67 25. And he was established in his kingdom, and showed him- self great, and distinguished by every goodness. For he ruled his Mngdom with justice, respecting the bishops, making gifts to the churches, reHeving the poor, and doing kindnesses to many persons with a pious and generous heart. He kindly remitted all the tribute which was payable to his treasury from the churches situated in Auvergne. 26. Now Deoteria saw that her daughter was quite grown up, and was afraid that the king would desire and take her. She placed her in a litter to which wild oxen were yoked, and sent her headlong over a bridge; and she lost her Kfe in the river. This happened in the city of Verdun. 27. As it was now the seventh year since Theodobert and Yisigard had been betrothed, and he was unwilHng to take her on account of Deoteria, the Franks, when they met, were greatly scandalized at him because he had abandoned his betrothed. Then he was alarmed, and abandoning Deoteria, by whom he had a Httle son named Theodobald, he married Visigard. And when she died not long after, he took another wife. But he did not have Deoteria after that. [28. Childebert and Theodobert march against Chlothar but are turned back by a miraculous hailstorm sent by St. Martin.] 29. Later king Childebert set out for Spain. And entering the country with Clothar, they surrounded the city of Saragossa with their army, and besieged it. But the besieged turned to God in such humility that they put on haircloth, abstained from food and drink, and made the round of the walls of the city with psalm- singing, carrying the tunic of the blessed Vincent, the martyr; the women, too, followed wailing, clothed in black robes, with their hair hanging loose and ashes upon it, so that one would think they were attending the funerals of their husbands. And to such a degree did that city place its whole hope in God's mercy that it was said they were celebrating the fast of the Ninevites there, and there was no idea of any other possibility than that the divine mercy might be won by prayers. But the besiegers did not know what was going on, and when they saw them go around the wall in such a way they supposed they were engaged in some sorcery. Then seizing one of the common people of the place, they asked