THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
(who was Duke of Reggio and master of the greater part of Apulia) to ask him to let Miles stay and
to make him a partaker of his rule.
Miles desired nothing of the sort, but gave many thanks for the offer, saying: “It seems a thousand
years since I have seen my little Roland.” He took leave, but Duke Rambald gave him many gifts
and a group of knights for an escort.
He arrived at Rome and sought out his brother, Pope Leo, son of Bernard of Clairmont, who
blessed him and sent him to Paris, accompanied by many Roman knights. There, presenting himself
before Charlemagne, he knelt and asked his pardon. Charles pardoned him, married him once more
to Bertha, and ordained a great feast in Paris and throughout the realm. He also restored to him the
lordship of his whole domain.
When Miles saw young Roland, he very nearly fainted for joy. Weeping, he told him how he had
reared him from childhood; there was none present who did not weep also. He also told him the
cause and motive why he had given him the name of Roland, since he had seen him rolling downhill
in his cradle. Then he related where he had been and in what lands, and of the great conquests of
King Anglant, and of the words the minstrel had spoken. He advised Charles to keep good watch
on the borders of Spain and in its seaports.
For that reason, King Charles ordered all the ports to be heavily guarded, and sent spies into many
parts to discover if the Saracens were moving anywhere by land or by sea. In many border regions,
he doubled the garrisons of his men.