THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

46-49: Richier in Prison [summary]
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© 2009 Max Wickert
Phegra’s brother Achirro, intending to give her in marriage, proclaimed a tournament for her hand. Countless pagan
princes, some of whom had already gathered troops for the siege of Rome, arrived. Phegra sent word by way of her
trusty servant, Acail, to Richier counseling their escape, but he decided to stay on for the tourney, making sure the
arrangements for their departure afterwards were in place. On the first day of the tourney, the apparent victor was
Argiro’s brother (and Phegra’s cousin), Basiroc. But then Richier appeared in the lists, disguised as a White Knight.
When he overthrew Basiroc three times, the latter planned to have him murdered by treachery. The plot is discovered
by Alcail and prevented by Phegra. Richier defeated Basiroc once more and disappeared from the lists. No one could
discover the identity of the White Knight. Meanwhile the lovers, along with Alcail, prepared to escape by ship. That
night, however, an itinerant harper entertaining the guests at supper recognized Richier and secretly informed Achirro.
Achirro ordered all the city gates locked and dispatched a group of armed men to arrest the sleeping Richier and cast
him into a dungeon. Alcail was also arrested, but, pleading ignorance of Richier’s identity, feigned elation at his
capture. With some reluctance, but fearing to compromise herself and to endanger her lover, Phegra did the same.
Richier, hauled in chains before the Basiroc and the assembled barons, defiantly confessed who he was. Both Basiroc
and Achirro moved to kill him on the spot, but were prevented by others, who feared a violation of the truce. In the
end, Richier was cast back into his dungeon, while his enemies prepared to set out for Rome, swearing to bring back
Flovus and Constantine and to execute them all upon their return. The news of Richier’s capture spread throughout
the pagan world and encouraged countless others to swell the Saracen ranks at Rome. As the truce expired, over
150,000 more heathens assembled there, while on the Christian side, reinforcements from France were delayed.
50: Richier’s Escape
Three days after the King of Barbary had departed from Tunis and was embarked for Rome (leaving
Richier under heavy guard in prison), Phegra called her faithful servant Alcail and told him: “What
can we do to get Richier out of prison?” Alcail said: :My lady, we shall fare ill, for he has ten
watchmen for perpetual guard, day and night.” Said Phegra, weeping: “Would I had fallen dead the
day I fell in love with him, since I shall be the cause death for him and all his followers; for the
Christians now have no hope of Richier, and it will be said throughout the world that I have
betrayed him. Women will not call me a lover, but a rather a traitress, and among traitresses will I be
counted. Therefore I am determined to get him out of prison; I care not if I die, if only he escapes.
Go then and find out any way and means to get him out prison, and go you with him, and have no
mind of my person so long as he gets away.” Alcail said to her: “My lady, here is the way you can
get him free. Go to your place in your mother’s bed-chamber. Snatch up the prison keys in secret,
taking care that she do not notice, for she seeks his death to avenge her nephew, Arcaro. When you