THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Anglant, you have sworn to conquer all Europe, but you do not know the people you are dealing
with. By Mahomet, the King of France exceeds in honorable worth all the rest of the world.” Then
he said: “If Charles had no other nobles nor other treasure than I behold here and now, I would still
be a heavy task for Anglant to conquer even one province of Europa.” He overheard many men
speaking, and they were saying: “Praised be Our Lord Jesus Christ for sending us the Saracens, to
make us learn warlike exploits.” And the older men among them were saying: “What grace Jesus
Christ has shown us, that by doing battle against the Saracens, we can redeem our souls! Doing this
will provoke a general pardon to save us.” Then Balant examined his memory and bethought him
of what he had heard in Syria, that is in the city of Jerusalem—that the Christian faith was the best
and truest faith, and he began to doubt his own faith in Mahomet, saying: “What folly it is to believe
in enchantments! I swear by my soul that, when this war is over, I will have myself baptized. But I
would not for all the gold in the worldly do so now, for the simple reason that I will not betray my
lord.”
10
While Balant was eating and dwelling upon these thoughts, King Charlemagne, seated across from
him, called to him and said: “Balant, what are you thinking? Do you really believe that your lord
Anglant intends the destruction of the Christian faith?” Balant replied: “Yes, by my faith; without a
doubt, King Anglant will this very summer seize all Apulia and Calabria, and Rome, and Lombardy;
and in less than three months Almont will be crowned King of all Europe in the city of Rome.”
Charlemagne laughed thereat, and then said to Balant: “By my faith in God, I would deem it a great
shame to me if King Anglant crossed the heights of Aspramont before I do battle with him.
Therefore tell your master that I have no wish to be called king if four months pass before I make
him yield, or three months before I arrive in Aspramont with my banners flying above my
assembled army.” Balant replied, laughing: “O King Charles, what is this you say? It has already