THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Bevis had ridden all night so as to return to the ship on time. Reaching the cottage in the morning
and finding no one, he called out and no one answered. Much grieved he searched here and there,
and found the blood of the stag and wondered, saying: “Oh God, whose blood might this be?” As
he lamented and gazed further, he saw the two dead lions, and passing beyond them, found Pulican
on the ground. Since he was still alive, he questioned him about Drusiana, and Pulican told him
what had happened and begged him for the grace of God to baptize him before he should die.
Bevis said: “I will baptize you, but tell me the truth: Do you know what has happened to Drusiana
and my sons?” Pulican answered: “I can tell you no more than I have told you already; but I believe
that these lions have devoured her and the children. However, when I did not find her when I
returned, I in wrath gave battle to these lions.”
Then Bevis baptized him with water from the spring that rose near the cottage, and gave him to
drink. And when Pulican had drunk, he died. Bevis remained there as grieved as any knight ever
was, for the sake now of his lady, now of his children, and now of Pulican. He dug a grave as well
as he could and buried Pulican. Then he ran calling out in grief throughout the forest, but at last he
went on his way to return where he had left the ship.
Meanwhile Drusiana chanced to arrive by another way at the river that Bevis had found, and,
walking along it, found the ship. It was already the end of the day when Bevis should have arrived;
thus, when the lady came up, the merchants took her aboard. She commended herself to certain
merchants and they had pity on her, assigned a corner of the ship to her and her children, and gave
her whatever was needful. When evening fell, they would no longer wait, secretly thinking that the