THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
was girt. He returned the sword that Galeana had given him, and girt himself with Durandel, for it
was the better blade.
Victory
The First Fight with Bramant
32
After Mainet had girt on Durandel, he had a good shield brought to him and took a great lance in
hand. Then he returned to the field to demand battle.
When King Bramant saw Polynor lie dead, he was much aggrieved. Now the cry for battle was
heard coming from him who had slain the man. He therefore went to arm himself, filled with rage,
hatred and pride, threatening to feed Mainet’s body to the dogs to avenge King Polynor. First he
threw on a hauberk of chain mail, and then donned his greaves and cuisses and faulds. Over this he
put a cuirass of tempered steel plates, and over all, a covering of dragon skin and a surcoat with two
golden images of Mahomet. Then he laced upon his head an enchanted helmet, of such fine temper
that no better has ever been found. (Many said that worked into the fabric of that helmet was one
of the nails with which Christ was fixed to the wood of the cross.) And all his surcoat, with the two
Mahomet’s, was sky-blue in color and covered with golden lilies, as were all the trappings of his
horse. He mounted the great steed and girt on a longsword that reached to his heels, while a huge
and heavy mace hung at his saddle-bow. He grasped an enormous lance, and commanded his men
that none should, on pain of death, come to his aid in single combat. Then he had each of his four
prisoners given a hard lashing to set them moving.