THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
to be valiant men, fully armed and able to hold the gate, for it is guarded by three hundred armed
guardsmen. They must hold it until your troops come to their aid.” King Anglant gave order
accordingly. He also ordained for the first division twenty thousand of the choicest nobility of his
army. The first man who boasted to go with the pack-mules was Goreas; after him came Hector,
son of Lampal; the third was Maldachin, the fourth Balant, the fifth Lampal, the sixth Ulien, the
seventh Triamides, the eighth Calinder, the ninth Moas, the tenth Mattafellon, the eleventh Asperas,
the twelfth Sinagon. These twelve went alongside the pack animals, on foot, in armor but without
helmets and shields. Those who led the ranks behind them were: first the Lord Mustapha, second
Alicard, third Danflor, fourth Candor of Cyprus, fifth King Dalfren. And these were charged with
bringing along horses and armor (that is to day helmets and shields) for the first twelve. The traitor
said: “I shall go before you to the gate, and I shall say that I have found some pack-animals, and I
shall have some of these armed men with me. We shall take along the pack-animals and will drive
those men in front of me like prisoners.” In this manner he came to the gate. Miles’ servant arrived
at the gate he entered by, and when he saw Bertram, he stayed for not a word, but went back to
Miles, his master. The traitor brought some thirty with him, and they led the pack-mules, so that it
seemed that Bertram had also take then mule-drivers. But when they were inside, and those twelve
stopped above the gate, Bertram was the first to cry: “Long live King Anglant! Death to the traitor
Richier!” Those pagan kings took their swords in hand and killed many of the watch. The alarm
went up, and the first rank began to move as commanded and furiously crossed the stream and
galloped toward the gate. They entered it to assist the first twelve kings and killed all the guards.
These guards offered little defense, beside themselves with astonishment at seeing their own
commander on the opposing side. Great was the noise and outcry in that quarter of the city of
Reggio.
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