THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
stared at her lost in wonder; then he said, “Mother, you are a beautiful woman. Now, don’t cry!”
and embraced her. The men and women who had arrived marveled to see it all. Duke Namo and
his companions went from there to the emperor’s presence. Young Roland would wear nothing
except his red-and-white quartered garb, which he possessed to signify the purity of his spirit.
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When the three lords Namo, Solomon, and Ogier, returned to Charles, they found him still at table.
They knelt down on the ground before him and Duke Namo, in the name of all three, said: “Most
sacred emperor, we have performed your commandment, and in recompense thereof all three of us
beg a boon that will redound greatly to the honor of your person and to the benefit of your crown.”
Charles was astonished and looked them in the face, saying: “Are you in jest or in earnest?”
Solomon and Ogier affirmed that what Ogier had said was indeed in earnest, and added: “My lord,
we are your faithful servants, we beg you: bestow upon us freely the boon that we ask.” “Upon my
faith,” said Charles, “I have total confidence in you and will deny you nothing. I promise you, by
my life and by this crown” (and here he touched his crown with his hand) “and by the faith I swore
to the apostolic see in Rome, when by your virtue I placed this crown on my head, that whatever it
is possible for me to grant (and you once indeed placed it there), if you sincerely ask for the
wellbeing of the crown of the French realm and of my dear wife Galeana.” He bade them rise, and
when they had risen, Duke Namo said: “The boon which we ask of you is this: that you pardon
Miles of Angrant and your sister Bertha, for any harm or offence and ill will that has occurred in the
past. Know too that his poor young man who has thrice seized your food is indeed the son of Duke
Miles and your sister. He is surely that lion cub of whom you have dreamt who will some day
preserve you from great danger.”