THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
camp. The guards arrested him and he asked to be brought to King Anglant. He said to King
Anglant: “My lord, if you will give me a present of my asking—and it shall be an easy thing for
you—I will give you the city of Reggio.” Anglant asked who he was, and he told him. When
Anglant knew his identity, he said: “Say what gift would please you, for, if the thing be lawful, I will
give it to you.” Then the traitor replied: “I want you daughter Galiziella for my wife, who is now the
wife of my brother Richier.” King Anglant stood for a while in thought, and then said that he was
satisfied. Then the traitor asked to become lord of his father’s kingdom, and this too King Anglant
granted him. Bertram said, “Tomorrow night the first watch is mine, and on the next night, I have
the day watch. I will then be able to procure you entrance,” and the treason was sworn to by all the
sacraments. He promised upon oath to give him the city, and King Anglant to give him the
kingdom and Galaziella. Finally Bertram said: “Make your men give me ten pack-horses laden with
weapons and provisions and clothing. After I cross the river, let them raise the alarm behind me;”
and he told him who he had killed his two squires. “It will appear that you have killed them.” King
Anglant assented, and when he had crossed the river, they raised the alarm. The traitor reached the
gate, drove the pack-horses inside, told the guard that his two companions had been slain by the
Saracens, and gave the greater part of his booty to those who stood watch with him. There was
much talk in the city of the prize that Bertram had taken.
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When morning had come, King Anglant assembled all the commanders of his host and said to them:
“Dearest brothers, by the grace of Mahomet you chose me for your emperor and made me lord of
Asia and Africa. Seven years have passed since we have with great pains mustered and assembled
this host, and all through this spring we have been strongly encamped by this city, which still
defends itself. I see no way of taking it by force of arms. Now if we lose so much time in