Among all men
On the mould abiding!
LAY OF GUDRUN.
CHAPTER I
He waxed under welkin in worth and honor
till the folk around him, far and near,
... hearkened to him.
BEOWULF.
Four long years had come and gone, and at last the dreaded loss had fallen upon the common folk of Vascon Land. The rule of the young Dane count, who from the first had dispensed a justice throughout his mark as keen and as bright as his Saracen sword, had come to an end. The king had at last given way to the request of Olvir, whose followers had become unutterably wearied of the small pleasure to be gained in hunting out thieves and lawless lords; and that he might do honor to his loyal liegemen, Karl had sent as special missi Abbot Fulrad and Count Gerold to take over the mark.
After the ceremony the missi had journeyed on to Toulouse to place the rulership in the hands of Count William, for he was the guardian of Louis, the survivor of the royal twins born at Casseneuil, whom Karl, a year since, had caused the Pope to anoint as King of Aquitania.