THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
After Falisetta and Bertha had reached an accord, Falisetta, before nightfall, told Gryphon and
Spinard about it, and they at once found four of their servants and said to them: “That Falisetta who
has arrived with the empress shames us; she considers herself an imperial servant, and has to attend
her tonight in the garden. Be you there, seize her and gag her, and carry her outside Paris into the
Royal Forest and cut her throat.” They gave them a thousand pieces of gold and made them great
promises. These four ruffians promised to do as they commanded and to keep it all hidden. They
went, as opportunity served them, into the garden and remained secretly hidden there.
Now the festivities were rich and magnificent, but because King Pepin was of a ripe old age, they
made an early end to the feast. They ladies led Bertha into the bedchamber, and she called Falisetta
and drew her along with her into the ante-chamber, accompanied by no other lady. Bertha said:
“Keep your promise now, for I do not wish to lie down this night with a dwarf.” Falisetta replied:
“I do it not willingly, but by command.” The queen took off her royal clothing and dressed her in it,
and removed her crown and put it on Falisetta’s head, so that it would have been a great feat to
recognize her, so much did they resemble each other in speech and in looks and in manner, except
for their feet. Bertha clothed herself in Falisetta’s garments, and they opened the gate which led to
the garden, and Bertha went down to it into a painted lodge and sat down to await Falisetta’s return.
Falisetta returned to the ladies. She had locked the garden gate, and the ladies did not recognize her
and conducted her to the bed. While they were putting her to bed, she said: “See what I fine
companion I have, who has left me behind and has gone to sleep in the house of her kinfolk!” At
this the ladies laughed, and her words were reported to Falisetta’s ladies-in-waiting.
Shortly thereafter the emperor arrived and got into bed, but she jumped from the bed. The emperor
seized her, intending to exercise his spousal rights, but she said that she wished to wed him as an