THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
commanded that Miles of Angrant be seized and thrown into prison, and that she be confined in a
tower dungeon.
Then he sent for Duke Namo, who enjoyed his complete confidence, and, weeping and sighing,
related the whole matter to him. Duke Namo felt very sorry for him and shared Charles’ sorrow.
Then he said: “My lord, such are the griefs that the world bestows, for it does not wish that we
should be happy in this our life. You have gained this great estate by the grace of God; now it must
be seen how you conduct yourself. The virtue of a worldly ruler is not known, if he always enjoys
happiness, but only when he is tried by ill fortune. Therefore let us take the least dangerous course
we can. Miles is clearly of your own lineage, a duke, and the son of a duke. And he is the most
valiant of all his brothers. I beg you to giver her to him as his wife.” Charles replied: “I would
sooner consent to return to the exile into which my treacherous brothers have sent me. No, I am of
a mind to put them both to death. But first I want to talk with Bernard and his sons.”
He instantly sent for Bernard of Clairmont, and when he arrived, told him how things stood.
Bernard was more eager than Charles that his son should die, saying that none of his house had ever
been a traitor, and that he did not desire this crime to go unpunished. They decided to have both
the lovers put to death, and all Miles’ brothers agreed. But the Duke spoke privately to Charles,
giving many reasons why such an act would be his undoing. At last, Duke Namo, unable to bend
him to his will, seized an opportunity one night to go to the prison and freed Miles. He also
brought Bertha out of the tower in a way that Charles knew nothing of it. He sent them to his
palace, summoned judges, notaries and witnesses, and had Miles married to Bertha. He kept the
matter hidden for three days before Charles learned of it. When he did, he was extremely angry with
the Duke. But the Duke had acted like a good friend who, foreseeing danger to his master, saved
him from a path that he refused to abandon. And he did better than that, for when Charles later