THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

190
© 2009 Max Wickert
Being very tired just then, they retired. King Gualfedrian already bled from three wounds and, as
they were standing motionless, Mainet said to him: “Ah, noble king, why, without good cause, are
you intent on own death, or mine, or both ours, in this fight? I pray you, by your love for your son
Ogier, to make peace.” King Gualfredian was content to do so, and the concluded peace with this
agreement: that he should depart with all his army and return to Genturia (that is, to Africa), and
that King Galafron should restore Ogier to him and remain free of all fealty and tribute. Mainet
then returned to the city, and Marsilius and his brothers, who all along had conceived a great hatred
for Mainet, began to murmur that he had left the fight out of fear. When Mainet came up to
Galafron, the king asked him how the fight had gone and whether he had maintained the truth of
his cause. Mainet told him how peace had been concluded, and King Galafron said: “You have done
well in this and I am very satisfied with your actions. Let things stand even as has been decided.”
He reaffirmed all the proposed terms and then called for Ogier to tell him how peace had been
achieved. Ogier was delighted by the peace treaty, but saddened at having to leave Mainet. So he
knelt at Mainet’s feet and implored him to request his father, King Gualfedrian, to let him remain in
his company.
Mainet asked King Galafron to ride alongside Ogier, and he did so. King Gualfedrian came riding
towards King Galafron until they met by the gate. Both dismounted and all their nobles did
likewise. The peace terms, as described above, were confirmed and sworn. Then Ogier knelt to his
father and asked him by all the gods to leave him with Mainet at King Galafron’s court, “so that”
(said he) “I may come to learn his noble manners and the laws of chivalry.” Mainet swore to treat
him like his very brother. King Gualfedrian, perceiving his son’s eagerness and Mainet’s noble
nature, said: “I consent. But I have no other son, and I pray King Galafron to treat him as he
would Marsilius, his eldest son.” He promised to do so, and then Gualfedrian said to Ogier: “I