THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
by force of arms upon whatever greatest champion there may be found. If I make him yield, he
shall come with me to my lord and beg his mercy. My lord is so gracious that he will pardon you
your ignorance, and give you a great realm, and verily you might call yourself a lucky king if he
pardons your stupidity and decides not to make you, without sending you any messenger, to come to
him before him, after what you have done, with ring about your neck. There is still time for you to
make amends, and for the Christian part of the world, which is Europe, not to be devastated. If you
do not believe me, take up this letter which King Anglant sends you.” Turning to Charlemagne,
Balant added: “You do not deserve that I put it in your hands; but I will throw to you as to a minor
vassal, and as a lord throws a bread crust to his dog.” And so he threw the letter into his lap. The
great and wise Charlemagne took up the letter and handed it to one of his chaplains, an abbot who
was wont to say mass to King Charlemagne, and was a gentleman, saying: “Read it so that all may
hear.”
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When the abbot had unsealed the letter, he at first read it in silence, the better to get the sense of it,
and while he was reading, understanding the menaces and great power of King Anglant, he grew so
afraid that he felt faint and his hands began to shake, and he wept, and the letter fell from his hands.
Then Archbishop Turpin of Mongran rose to his feet, sensing the abbot’s cowardice, and said to
Balant: “Ah message, what terror do you contain to make this priest tremble? His only terror is of
having to part with his treasure. But, by my faith, Charles alone has treasure enough to buy all
Africa with money. With the permission of the holy emperor, let me read this letter; as for you,
caitiff priest, get you hence, sing your masses and guard your treasure, for Charles has no need of
your gold nor your silver.” The abbot departed in annoyance, after replying to Turpin: “Too harshly
have you chided me! Verily King Charles is at fault for not taking counsel with so wise a man as you