THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
including Durandel.. She, however, failed to carry away Bramant’s magic helmet and did not know of the armor that
Morand had hidden in the inn outside the city.
That night, Galeana disguised herself as a boy, procured a key of the city gate, gathered up a number of her jewels, and
joined Mainet. Together with Morand and Mainet, they left the city, stopped at the inn for the spare armor and
horses, and set off at a gallop toward the Gascon border.
At dawn, Marsilius and his brothers discovered their absence. Finding Galeana missing also, they gradually realized
what had happened. They began slaughtering Mainet’s retinue until stopped by King Galafron. Then they set out in
pursuit with five hundred knights. The fugitives had meanwhile crossed the Ebro and sped on toward the Pyrenees.
They intended to take refuge at Castle Galisflor, two leagues north of Pamplona. Just as they were approaching it,
they found Marsilius and his brothers behind them, together with large army led by the Mazzaric, King of Pamplona.
Galeana took refuge in the castle while Ogier, Mainet and Morand faced the attackers and routed them. On the next
morning, all four set out toward Gascony and by nightfall reached Morlain.
The Return
40-42: From Spain to Rome and Bavaria [summary]
Mainet and the other three continued on their journey, paying their way with Galeana’s jewels. Unable to stop safely
anywhere in France, they decided to make their way to Rome in order to seek help from Bernard of Clairmont’s son,
Cardinal Leo. They passed through Avignon, Provençe and Savoy, hearing everywhere complaints about the misrule
of Pepin’s bastard sons. They crossed the Alps into Lombardy and thence to Rome. Upon arrival, they learned that
Cardinal Leo was absent in Apulia and took up lodging at an inn near Saint John Lateran. Forced to wait there for
three months, they soon found themselves unable to pay for their lodging . One by one pawned all their armor to their
hostess until they were reduced to poverty.
At last the Cardinal returned and learned the truth from Morand. He feared the hostility of the Maganza pope, but
he provided Morand with money to pay their hostess and redeem their armor and that night secretly visited them at the
inn. On the next day, he sent a servant to Bernard of Clairmont with the following message: “The fierce whelp has left
the forest and is fleeing to its lair, pursued by two mastiffs. I know not whether it can reach home.” The messenger
delivered it within twenty days, and Bernard immediately wrote to England and to all the rest of his family, ordering
them be in readiness for war, without, however, disclosing the reason. He then set out for Rome with a small force of
some six hundred men. Meanwhile, the Cardinal feared for Mainet’s safety in Rome and suggested that go to Bavaria
to seek Duke Namo’s help. Mainet agreed. As he made ready to leave, he said to Cardinal Leo: “If by God’s grace I
return home, I swear by the One True God to grant free pardon to all men, except to my two traitor brothers.” Then
he and his three companions began their journey northward.
Shortly before they reached the Po near Pavia, Bernard and his troop came riding in the opposite direction. Ogier
stopped one of the servants to ask who they were and the servant, thinking him a bandit, raised the alarm. The two
parties came to blows and several men were wounded, but at last Morand recognized Bernard and cried out to halt the
fight. Amid general rejoicing, Bernard sent word of their meeting to Cardinal Leo. To Bernard also Mainet said: “If
by God’s grace I return home, I swear by the One True God to grant free pardon to all men, except to my two traitor
brothers.” Bernard began to say, “Yet must the House of Maganza be destroyed . . .,” but Charles answered: “Ah,
Lord Bernard! God will not forgive a man who does not forgive others.” Then he resumed his journey toward
Germany with Morand, Galeana and Ogier.