THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
again as Mainet. Upon reaching Saragossa, they dismounted at a rich inn and spoke Spanish. On
the following day Mainet was asked whether he knew how to carve at table. Morand had taught him
the art, and he was engaged at court to serve King Galafron’s sons.
These were named Marsilius, Balugant, and Falseron. Marsilius, the eldest-born, was a pleasant man,
just in rule, of ordinary height, well-spoken and very learned. He took delight in necromancers, and
was much taken with their art. Balugant was of huge stature and a great lover of archery. He was a
completely untrustworthy man, cruel against his enemies, and pitiless toward his friends. Falseron
was a handsome man, tall and stout, and he was the proudest of all three, and intent to be avenged
for the slightest offence. Marsilius was eighteen years old, and he was the eldest. Young Mainet
carved so expertly at his table, that King Galafron desired him to carve for himself. Mainet
prevailed on the king to send for Morand (now called Aragonez) to carve for the princes in Mainet’s
place. In this manner they passed a year there, during which nothing else of note befell them.
22
A year had passed since Morand and Charles (called Mainet) had arrived at Saragossa. It now
happened that on the first day of April King Galafron went to dine in one of his gardens. The meal
was laid out on a meadow in the shade of some trees, and they were eating seated upon carpets on
the ground, as is the custom in Alexandria and Syria. Mainet was attending them kneeling on the
ground. He had on his back a short jerkin adorned with some silver embroidery, and he wore his
hair long .
At this point one of King Galafron’s daughter, named Galeana, came into the garden, accompanied
by twenty damsels, all dressed and adorned in the finest fashion of Spain. When they came to the
king, Galeana went to embrace her father. As she embraced him, she said: “May Mahomet bring you