THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

ANDREA DA BARBARINO, ASPRAMONT (L’ASPRAMONTE)
BOOK ONE: RICHIER OF REGGIO AND GALIZIELLA
Preparations in Africa
Minstrel Mischief
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© 2009 Max Wickert
At that same time, King Anglant of Africa, after conquering all Asia and Africa, returned to Africa,
to a city called Arganor, where his sons King Troyan and Almont, along with forty-four crowned
kings, were present. At that festival, Anglant bestowed upon Troyan the crown of Asia, and upon
one of his lords, called Balant the Turk, the crowns of Scandia and Nobiro. He made them master
of many realms, and crowned many other barons kings of their lands. Forty-four kings swore fealty
to him, and in addition he created four-hundred dukes. Just think how great the number of other
lords there present must have been!
King Balant had an eighteen-year-old son, the most esteemed in the whole court. He was the
queen’s champion and reputed to be her lover. He was created Court Seneschal and was greatly
beloved by all. Many jousts and tourneys were held to celebrate Anglant’s great conquest. Miles of
Angrant, Orlando’s father, had taken part in all or most of it. At Arganor he was already known as a
Christian, though not as a duke. While this most royal feast was held at Arganor, there occurred in
their midst a new disgrace and adversity, as all too often a little spark will ignite a great conflagration,
and as by a tiny movement Fortune will shake the estates of this world and cast down its lords from
a great height into a profound depth.
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