THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Bevis had commanded, before going to parley with King Pepin, that his mother should be walled up
at the foot of the stairs of the palace, with only her head showing, and Rupert of the Cross had her
instantly walled up.
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When Pepin reached the royal palace (which old Beviset had erected) and dismounted to ascend the
stairs, he found Brandoria walled up, weeping and crying for mercy. Pepin demanded to know who
she was, and was told that this was Bevis’ mother. When Pepin had ascended to the palace, he called
for Bevis and asked him to pardon his mother. Then Bevis told him in good order how she had
tried to poison him, and how her lechery had made her betray his father, because he was old.
At this the emperor wondered greatly and said: “But she is your mother!” Bevis replied: “Your
Sacred Majesty, I must ask you to condemn her to death tomorrow morning.” The emperor did not
wish this, but Bevis said: “You are he who must establish reason and justice in the land, and by right
reason you must condemn her to death.”
The emperor, half by compulsion, condemned her to death on the next morning. Brandoria called
out and asked to speak to Gailon; and Bevis had him brought from prison, and set him free in the
presence of Pepin. Gailon knelt to Bevis and begged his mercy. Bevis told him: “If you are loyal, I
will treat you like a brother; but if not, I will have you hanged.” And he sent him to talk with
Brandoria, and she said: “O Gailon my son, I leave you with my blessing, provided you do as I
command. I command you never to turn against Bevis, my rightful son, who is the best knight in
the world, and the son of the most generous duke who ever bore arms, whom I by monstrous
treason caused to be slain. I am worthy of a thousand deaths, and I leave Bevis, my son and your
brother, with my blessing. And if you should ever turn against him, I leave you with my curse.”