THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

25
© 2009 Max Wickert
lady, and this love makes me defend Tunis” I would ask you to consider that the ladies of Syria and
Egypt and Greece are far lovelier and nobler and seemlier than these Barbary women. Therefore, if
your valor be great, you should think on ladies of honest character rather than these, who in the
vanity of their dishonest lust have neglected the death of their own blood, and who have let the
slayer their father and of many of their kin escape from prison, by making the guards of his dungeon
drink poisoned wine. They freed the greatest enemy of our Faith. I therefore must say to you that
he who serves a woman like that deserves not to be praised but to be despised. What merit, what
glory, what dominion can anyone who serves such a lady expect? Why not rather serve a lord who is
able to offer reward for services rendered? I therefore advise you that, if you serve him, the Sultan’s
power will before very long overcome the great multitude of his enemies, since even though our
great enemy Richier stand in their defense, nothing can in the end defend them, so countless is the
number Persians and Arabs and Syrians and Egyptians in that vast empire which the Sultan rules. If
you were to serve him, he would make you a great lord, for he has ever loved brave and valorous
men. Think not that I am saying this for fear of you, but only for the love that chivalry inspires in
me. It is my desire that it should be honored, especially when I see a man who is brave and valiant.
I find it most displeasing that this woman should be the death of your valor; indeed, even if I
thought that Phegra Albana’s power could resist us, I would only pity you. Therefore, since the
chance of Fortune is calling you to the haven of safety, seize it; for if you scorn it, Fortune may be
angry at you, and if you call on her later, she may turn away.”
Richier replied as follows: “Alifer, I have listened to your words, to which I answer this: The more a
thing is loved, the more the lover must love it. And the less a thing is loved, the less a lover should
prize it. Therefore, if I do not love the Sultan, wherefore should the Sultan love me? And if the
thing beloved by me is not loved by you, how could my soul love you? A commander who seeks