THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
their swords, and instantly five hundred swords in the hall leapt from their scabbards. Had not
Bertha fallen to her knees once more and cried out, “Dearest brother, you are in the right. Look at
me, take what revenge you please on me,” the affair would have resulted in terrible harm, because of
the promise that Charles had given to the three lords. Bertha, after she had cried, “Wreak all our
revenge on me!” continued: “Dear brother, at lest let this young boy be commended to you, and, if
it be possible, forgive me for love of him.” Then Charles was overcome and began to weep, and
grew ashamed to have broken his promise by what he had done. He embraced Bertha and kissed
her on her face and pardoned her. At this, the whole uproar grew still and all things were at peace.
Charles pardoned Miles of Angrant; the three lords called for paper and it was proclaimed
throughout the city and made known to all the court, and Charles wrote to the Shepherd at Rome to
make it known that Miles of Angrant’s banishment was void and he was once more in the
communion of the faithful. Much feasting and rejoicing now commenced. Charles accepted Young
Roland as his adoptive son and at once gave order to leave Sutri with his nobles. He turned back
toward France with Bertha and Young Roland, ever desiring to have Young Roland near him, and
he loved him as dearly as if he had been born a son of his own body. He could not have loved him
better. They crossed Tuscany and Lombardy and the Alps and reached France, where there was a
great celebration at his return and at the return of Bertha and of Miles, who had been released from
banishment and readmitted into the communion of the Faith.
Sir Roland, Paladin of France
70
When King Charles arrived in France in the city of Paris, there was much rejoicing at his return, and
about Young Roland and Bertha, and about Miles who had been recalled from exile and released