THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

185
© 2009 Max Wickert
continued until the early hours of the night, and Mainet fortune in battle seemed ever the worse.
The sunlight was already giving way to darkness when Mainet said: “Sir knight, in my country it is
not the custom for two knights to engage in combat by night.” Bramant replied: “If you promise
upon your faith to return to the fight tomorrow morning, I will let you go, for you are a most valiant
knight.” Mainet swore to return to battle the next morning, and so did Bramant. When they were
about to part, Bramant said: “Ah, Mainet! Reconsider tonight the matters of which I spoke to you
today. I vow that I will crown you king of three realms, and you shall be companion to Triamedes,
my son.” Mainet promised to think it over, and then said: “King Bramant, I pray you, by the honor
of knighthood, to deal honorably tonight with these prisoners. Above all, until we finish our
encounter, I commend Aragonez, the last of your captives, to your care, for he has been a good
companion to me.” Bramant promised, for love of Mainet, to treat him honorably. Then they both
took their horses by the bridle (for they were too exhausted to mount them) and went back on foot,
Mainet into the city and Bramant to his camp.
33: The Fall of Bramant [summary]
Galeana and all the people of Saragossa spent the night in prayer for Mainet’s victory. Meanwhile in the Saracen
camp, Bramant once more questioned Morand, who still remained silent about Mainet’s identity. Bramant was
removing his armor in Morand’s presence and Morand noticed that it was impregnable at all points except at his neck.
Bramant then asked him to act as an envoy to Mainet, to encourage him to accept Bramant’s offers. Morand
pretended to agree and received a safe conduct into Saragossa. There he joked with Charles about Bramant’ promises,
but was careful to inform him of Bramant’ exposed throat.
A full scale battle began in the morning, during which the two champions met again. After a terrible struggle,
Mainet, after a failed attempt to stab Bramant in the neck, was struck unconscious by a mace blow. Bramant began
to drag him back as a captive to his camp, while Galeana and all Saragossa began to lament the disaster.
What happened next is disputed by the sources 38 . One author writes that Mainet had a dagger hidden in his helmet
with which he stabbed Bramant as he was being dragged away. A different account has it that Mainet was still
holding on to Durandel and that he swung its pommel at Bramant’s face, breaking his front teeth. Bramant dropped
him in surprise, and when both had recovered, the combat resumed. Mainet succeeded in smashing the handle of
38 disputed by the sources : Surely a deliberate irony on Andrea’s part. At a moment when Charles, usually
invincible and a paragon of chivalry, seems for once both defeated and willing to seize a rather unchivalrous
advantage, Andrea pretends ignorance of the exact truth.