THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Balant took great pleasure in the wise words that Duke Namo spoke and in the fair reply he gave to
Ogier the Dane. Balant looked at him sharply to remember him. King Charles pardoned Balant,
and at once called for water to wash his hands, since he desired to eat. The pagan desired to take his
leave so as go on his voyage and return to his lord King Anglant in the city of Reggio.
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Duke Namo, like a man intent on his master’s honor, seeing that King Anglant’s messenger wished
to be gone, considered that he had not yet received an answer, and that it was to Charles’s credit to
let him depart in this manner. He took Balant by the hand and said to him: “Brother Balant, it is the
custom of this court that no messenger who comes to our lord King Charles should depart on the
same day as his arrival. Stay therefore to behold our festivities until tomorrow, and then you may be
on your way, if it please you. As for me, I shall, on Charles’s behalf, give you presents of horses and
gold and silver and many kingly garments and jewels. And the horses shall be better than those you
brought with you, for yours are worn out by the journey.” Balant replied: “False Christian, you
think you can deceive me by your flatteries. I have not come for your gold or your silver or your
garments or your horses; rather I have come to bear an embassy for my lord King Anglant, and to
deliver his letter. But if I find you in Aspramont, I shall be able to give you a thousand horses, and
gold and silver and pearls and jewels.” But the wise duke knew so well how to beseech him that he
mollified him and brought him to his chamber, made him disarm, reclothed him in royal garments,
and bid him be his guest and to have his horses and squires at command. Then he brought him up
into the hall before King Charles, and set him in a seat directly across from King Charles. The duke
himself sat down some eight arms’ lengths by Charles’s side, so that Charles could readily talk with
him and ask for tidings.
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