THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
not please you, send him packing. This will better become your honor, especially by the praise the
man will bestow you to some great lord elsewhere.”
4
When King Anglant heard these words, he went out on a balcony and sighed. All the barons look
upon one another and whispered. Almont and Triamides and Balant approached King Anglant and
he returned to the minstrel, asking him what lordship was Charlemagne’s. The minstrel told him,
and at this all the barons present offered their defiance.
When Miles of Angrant heard this discussion, he took his leave from the barons, without however
revealing who he was. Three days later he left Arganor, crossed into Sicily, and from Sicily to
Calabria, and returned to Reggio where he rejoined Bertram and Richier and told them all that had
happened at King Anglant’s court, and how Anglant had sworn the destruction of Charles of
France, and said: “I fear that they will begin by passing through these parts.”
Richier told him: “We will receive them on our lances’ points, for I am old enough to bear arms.”
They did not know, however, that he was Miles of Angrant, but they knew that he had been at their
court three years earlier before crossing into Africa, and that he had taught them to fence.
While he was at the court of Reggio, word came that Charlemagne had found Bertha and young
Roland, and that he had pardoned Miles of Angrant. Then Miles lifted his hands heavenward and
praised God. Richier, who was present, said: “Sir Misfortune, why do you praise God in this
manner?” Sir Misfortune (this is what Miles of Angrant was calling himself) said: “Because now I
can make known that I my exile is over. Formerly, my liege lord had me outlawed, and he has now
readmitted me. Know then that I am Miles of Angrant, the son of Bernard of Clairmont.” When
they heard who he was, they grievously regretted not to have recognized him earlier, so that they
treated him with great honor. So much did they honor him, that they sent to their father Rambald