THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

15
© 2009 Max Wickert
softly to herself: “First let all the pagans in the field be slain!” The ambassadors departed and a few
days later went away upon their voyage.
The maiden, whose name was Phegra Albana and who was fourteen years old, began to think of
Arcaro’s great prowess and the great fame that he had achieved. Soon she said: “What nobility must
reign in that noble and handsome Richier, since he has slain Arcaro! Therefore I wish with all my
heart that he were my lover.” She resolved inwardly to send him a secret letter and a handsome
present. Calling one of the servants who waited on her, twenty-four years of age, she made him
swear by many things sacred to their gods that he would never speak of their conversation; and the
timorous youth swore to do whatever she commanded. She said: “You must go to Rome and take
with you my beautiful and noble palfrey, and a shield, and a pearl ornament, that is a crown, and
present them on my behalf to that Christian knight called Richier the Paladin.” And to this end she
swore him her emissary, and made him once more give his oath by Balaam, their god, and by
Beelzebub, and by all the other idols of which no one should speak. She presented him with a letter
to give to Richier, written in her own hand in a barbarous tongue. Then she said: “If any gift of
speech ever ruled in your heart, I pray you use it then, and commend me to him, and tell him by
word of mouth that I will never love a man other than him; implore him, if he have any trace of pity
or love for me, to come and see me. Though the letter says as much, perhaps your gift of speech
may make him the more ready to love me.” Then she gave him money and sent him away, without
telling her mother or brother, with letters of free passage throughout the land. The next day, having
boarded a ship, he crossed to Sicily and thence to Italy, so that he reached the city of Rome. As he
went through the city inquiring for the Paladin Richier, he encountered him riding with one of his
friends and followed by many servants. Richier asked him whom he was seeking. The servant
replied: “I seek Richier the Paladin.” Richier made himself known to him, and he seemed to him