THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Now while Almont was sitting on a balcony with his queen, and Galiziella was sitting near them on
another balcony, she began to sigh at every blow in the lists. Almont saw this and called out to her,
saying: “Dear sister, if you had armor, I believe that you would yourself enter the lists to joust.”
Galiziella replied: “You speak truly, and I believe I would give a good account of myself.” “By my
faith,” said Almont, “I shall arm you with my own hands.” He had them bring a very fine and
beautiful suit of armor, and accoutered her in knightly fashion, with two golden images of Mahound,
one on the front and one on the back of her surcoat, which otherwise was pure white. It made the
queen smile to see it.
When she was armed, Almont had a fine steed brought for her and she, without being recognized,
proceeded to the lists in armor and on horseback, so that she seemed a very knight. With her first
thrust, she unhorsed Moadas, and with her second Thoas, who were both descended from Achilles.
Then she overthrew Hector, son of Lampal. Among all of Anglant’s men, only four were found
whom she did not unhorse, and these were Triamis, Ulieno, Maldachin and Balant. None could say
who this knight was, and when King Anglant asked who it was, none knew how to tell him. Almont
and the queen marveled at her valor. Praising her, Almont cried out: “What a joy it must be for
King Anglant to have so brave a daughter! In faith, I shall give her greater honor than ever.” And
he asked the queen, though the lady was a bastard, to honor her like her own daughter.
Meanwhile Galiziella left the lists and returned where Almont had prepared a place of her to disarm.
Almont disarmed her with his own hands and then brought her to the queen’s chamber.
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When Galiziella appeared before the queen, the queen embraced her and had her clad in royal
garments, saying: “Oh brave Galiziella, from this hour onward I want you to think yourself as my
daughter, and I swear to you that after we return from France (which by the grace of our gods we