THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
marriageable daughter, and they all four decided to go there, without saying anything to Pepin. And
so they did.
They traveled through Lombardy and from there into Hungary, and they found the king at Buda,
who showered them with great honor. When he heard who they were, he marveled at their coming.
He had a daughter whose name was Bertha of the Large Foot, for she had one foot a little larger
than the other, and that was the right foot. She was otherwise a lovely creature, the most beautiful
woman in the world and the best rider.
After the ambassadors had stayed for three days, they asked the grace of the king to attend a hunt of
lords and ladies. The king had the hunt made ready, and they rode out of the city with a great
number of ladies, among them the queen, and Bertha of the Large Foot mounted on a great courser.
She rode along the way at a lively canter, laughing gaily all the while.
2
While Bernard, Gerard, Morand and Raymond were proceeding at pleasure, they were ever attentive
to Bertha of the Large Foot, noting how expertly she rode her horse. She had with her a damsel of
her own age, whose name was Falisetta, daughter of Count William of Maganza. 32 She very much
resembled Bertha, except in her feet. This Falisetta had been born in Hungary, since her father
William had been rescued by Pepin from the hands of Bevis’ sons, and Pepin had afterwards exiled
him, so that he fled to Hungary with his pregnant wife. Her daughter was raised alongside Bertha,
and when they were appareled alike, one of them could scarcely be distinguished from the other.
32 William of Maganza (William of Provençe): one of the six sons of Bevis’ murderer.