THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
When Turpin had finished reading, Balant once again began to speak: “King Charles, submit to my
master and come to place your neck beneath his sword, for even if became a flying falcon, you
would not be able to escape him. Know that our vanguard alone is more numerous than all the
forces you could raise, for it consists of a hundred-thousand armed men and three crowned kings.
Using only these, my master shall be victorious as far as Brabant. I swear to you by Mahomet that,
if I can find you in the field, I will cut your head from your breast with my own sword;” and,
having spoken these bitter words to Charles, he reached for his sword and drew it more than two
spans from its sheath. Therefore Charles could not remain patient and drew a dagger, pointing it at
Balant, crying out in a loud voice: “Kill this dog of a traitor!” At this a hundred swords were drawn
to slay Balant. Then the wise Duke of Bavaria rose upright and said: “O sacred majesty, for God’s
sake, let no such evil discredit your crown!” Seeing many men risen to attack Balant, he embraced
him and covered him with his cloak. Then all drew back, and Charlemagne cried out to Balant:
“Hear me, impudent vassal: by that God in Whom I rest all my hopes, I shall, within three months
from this day, be in Aspramont to face that dog Anglant, your master.” Balant replied: “Ah, King
Charles, how little discretion you show if you believe you can offer resistance to King Anglant!”
Hardly had the affair quieted down, when Balant once more began to praise King Anglant and to
insult King Charlemagne, saying: “King Charles, there is no ambassador who could give the least
annoyance to King Anglant. But you make a good show of your wrath, for we shall leave you
neither city nor castle nor dwelling place, and we will undo your whole lineage, and all the nobles
who follow you. You have dared to order the death of King Anglant’s ambassador; but, by
Mahomet, you shall have a taste of my sword.” With this, he drew his sword and strode toward
Charlemagne to strike his head. Duke Namo put his arms around him once more, and already the