THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

121
© 2009 Max Wickert
life. And then Bevis sent many minstrels and servants to the courts of nobles, to find out in secret
whether there was word of her.
Hearing this news, King Armin was sorrowful, thinking that Bevis had sent Drusiana, his daughter,
away, and believing she had died. But she was staying in his house and he did not know it. By
chance, a minstrel arrived, and, being presented to the king, told him many pleasant things. Among
others, he related much news from the West, and added how Pepin with his army had returned to
France, and of his victory in Slovenia, and how Bevis of Hampton wanted to take Margaret of
Sinella to wife, and of the cry which he had caused to be sent throughout the world. This was three
years ago, and two of them had already passed. Thereat King Armin grew a little more cheerful for
the love of his daughter, as has been said before.
But Drusiana was present in the court when the minstrel spoke these words, and she had Bevis’ two
children, born at the same time, by her side—that is, Buy and Sinibald. And her father did not know
her. Drusiana prayed the king’s grace to let the minstrel sup with her. The king granted her request,
and she brought him to dine with her, and with Guy and Sinibald. She had the minstrel brought to
the table, paid him great honor, and made him repeat all the news of Bevis of Hampton, as he had
reported it in the hall. Weeping, she made her harp resound which had such wonderful music that
the minstrel, marveling at its music, said: “My lady, I pray do not cause me so much labor.”
Drusiana laughed and said: “Your news has made me play, not your office. And may my music
redound to the grace of the knight whom you have so well brought to mind.” After speaking these
words, she sat down to eat, and her sons served her.
The minstrels, when he had eaten, at Drusiana’s bidding began Bevis’ story—how his father was
murdered, and how Bevis fled from his mother, and how he arrived in Armenia, and all the things