THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

189
© 2009 Max Wickert
When Mainet rode into the field, he sounded his horn and demanded battle. King Gualfedrian
armed and rode into the field, carrying a huge mace tied to his saddle bow, and rode up to where
Mainet was waiting. They saluted each other, offered their defiances, took up their positions, and
broke lances, with little advantage on either side. Their lances having shattered, Mainet turned back
with sword in hand and Gualfedrian grasped his mace, and they commenced a bitter and savage
duel. As they were fighting, King Gualfedrian with his mace broke Mainet’s shield to in pieces.
Mainet grasped his sword with both hands and bore down on him, and Gualfedrian tried to ward
the blow with mace and shield. Mainet slashed through the mace’s handle and half way through the
shield. Then they both turned to sword play.
At a pause in that encounter when they were winded, Mainet began to speak: “O noble king, I pray
you by your love for you son Ogier to end this battle between us. There is no reason for us to
engage in such a deadly contest.” (Ogier had commended his father to Mainet while he helped him
on with his armor.) King Gualfedrian made no reply, but began another onslaught, which lasted
until noon.
When their horses grew weary, they stopped for breath. Once more Mainet begged his foe to come
to terms, and he replied: “It is not yet time.” Before long, they began the third onslaught, during
which each inflicted several wounds on the other, and they came to grapple so closely that each
grasped the other by the gorget of his helmet. Mainet lifted the visor of the other’s casque and
exposed the king’s face. Then they both let go and Mainet made gashes all over the other’s armor.
In truth, he would have defeated him right then, had he not looked upon him for love of Ogier,
whom he viewed with such great affection. He saw clearly that Gualfedrian was having the worst of
the fight.