[The Romany Rye by George Borrow]@TWC D-Link bookThe Romany Rye CHAPTER X 15/19
The Meridiana of Pulci was not the daughter of old Carus Borzlam, but of Caradoro, a great pagan king of the East, who, being besieged in his capital by Manfredonio, another mighty pagan king, who wished to obtain possession of his daughter, who had refused him, was relieved in his distress by certain paladins of Charlemagne, with one of whom, Oliver, his daughter Meridiana fell in love." "I see," said Ursula, "that it must have been altogether a different person, for I am sure that Meridiana Borzlam would never have fallen in love with Oliver.
Oliver! why, that is the name of the curo-mengro who lost the fight near the chong gav, the day of the great tempest, when I got wet through.
No, no! Meridiana Borzlam would never have so far forgot her blood as to take up with Tom Oliver." "I was not talking of that Oliver, Ursula, but of Oliver, peer of France, and paladin of Charlemagne, with whom Meridiana, daughter of Caradoro, fell in love, and for whose sake she renounced her religion and became a Christian, and finally ingravidata, or cambri, by him:-- 'E nacquene un figliuol, dice la storia, Che dette a Carlo-man poi gran vittoria:' which means.
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." "I don't want to know what it means," said Ursula; "no good, I'm sure. Well, if the Meridiana of Charles's wain's pal was no handsomer than Meridiana Borzlam, she was no great catch, brother; for though I am by no means given to vanity, I think myself better to look at than she, though I will say she is no lubbeny, and would scorn.
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