THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
talk to Bertha, none of whom was able to have speech with her. They sent certain spies, so that one
morning one of the king’s most trusted servants saw Falisetta come into the hall. When he saw her
and heard her speak, he recognized her as Falisetta. Much aggrieved, he at once departed and
returned to Hungary. He declared to the king: “My lord, I have seen Falisetta crowned, and she has
two sons by King Pepin. One is called Lanfroy and the other, Ulric. And you believe that they are
the sons of Bertha, your daughter!” Then King Philip said: “My good man, you must be mistaken.”
Nonetheless he grew very thoughtful and sad, and spoke of the matter with his queen.
In the course of the next night, they both had an evil dream. In the morning the king said: “I saw in
my dream that a bear was pursuing my daughter through a forest, and that she encountered the
maws of four wolves and hurled herself into a river, and it seemed to me that a fisherman rescued
her.” The king was telling this dream that had befallen him to the queen, and she said: “Ah, my
lord, I had the very same dream as yours.” Both of them lamented this dream. Then the queen said:
“We have no other daughter or son than her. Therefore I pray you, my lord, to go and see for
yourself.” They gave order that eight days from thence his escort and train should be ready, and that
none should know whither they intended to go. They departed and rode through Bohemia, and
from thence to Constance. Crossing the Rhine, they entered France, nor was their arrival in France
known. When they were three leagues from Paris, he sent word to King Pepin that he had come to
visit him. King Pepin commanded his barons to mount their horses and ride to meet his father-in-
laws, the King of Hungary. He himself went to his bedchamber and said to Falisetta: “Madam, I
bring you good tidings, for your father and mother will this evening be at supper with us.” She
pretended to be very glad at this, but felt exceedingly sorrowful and afraid. The king was astonished
to see her grow pale and perturbed, and she said to the king: “One may as readily die of a great joy
as a great sorrow.” Pepin said: “Make ready to ride to meet your mother.” She replied: ”I do not