THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

23
© 2009 Max Wickert
has escaped them, than I would be had Danebrun achieved victory over the Christians. Now I am
besieged on account of your escape. My whole realm is lost. My mother holds only the city of
Tunis, together with a youngster, my mother’s nephew, who has been crowned king since no direct
heir other than a woman survives, and I am she. If not only you, but the powers of the King of
France and the Roman Empire gave us aid, we would yield the city into your hands at your arrival.
By that knighthood which by you have ever held in the highest honor, and by that faith which you
swore when you held me in your arms, I commend myself and my mother to you.”
Richier wept as he was reading this letter. After he had perused it, he mused for a long time on how
Phegra had helped him escape. It also struck him that all Christians were able say that they gained
the Roman victory against Danebrun only because she had freed Richier from prison. Then,
considering her nobility and her goodness and her beauty (for the power of love held him fast), he
decided to come to her aid. Thus he went to King Florellus and requested leave to go to Saxony,
and to take Folicard with him, and the king gave him leave. He left Paris and went from there to his
fiefdom.
Two days later, he sent for Folicard and said to him: “You must swear to make me the gift of a favor
that I want to ask you.” Folicard replied: “My lord, saving my honor, I am ready, to the death.”
Richier, ruled by his profound loyalty, said: “My brother, the favor you must bestow on me is to
remain here as Lord of Saxony until I return,” and told him where he wished to go. At this, Folicard
grew very woeful; nonetheless, he stayed on as lord. Richier made him swear on the sacrament not
to reveal to any man whither he had gone. Then he called together all the captains and chiefs of his
country and commanded them to render obedience to Folicard until his return. Secretly, on an
unfamiliar horse and bearing altered arms, he then set out with the servant whom Phegra had sent.