Robert is the devil's own child, for his mother, despairing of heaven's aid in order to obtain a son, has addressed herself to the devil. From the moment of his birth the boy shows his vicious instincts, which urge him, when grown to manhood, to a career of monstrous crime. At last the horror which he inspires everywhere causes him to reflect, and, having found out the awful secret of his birth, he hastens to Rome to confess to the pope. Directed by the pope to consult a certain holy hermit, he is delivered from his curse by maintaining absolute silence, feigning madness, taking his food from the mouth of a dog, and provoking ill-treatment from the common people without retaliating. He later serves as the Holy Roman emperor’s court fool but, at the bidding of an angel, three times rides out disguised as an unknown knight to deliver Rome from Saracen attacks. His disguise is pierced by the emperor’s daughter. He refuses her hand in marriage, however, and withdraws to a hermitage.

robert le dyable