THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

taken King Anglant seven years to assemble this army of his, and he has with him thirty-two
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© 2009 Max Wickert
crowned kings and more than three-hundred dukes who await coronation when Almont seizes the
crown of Europe; for, even if none are there but Almont and Ulien of Sarsi and Triamides and
Maldachin, you could not withstand so much as our vanguard; and even if you turned into a
peregrine falcon, you could not escape from King Almont’s hands. I want you to know that King
Troyan is coming westward with twelve kings and three-hundred thousand Saracens, and that all
Spain is in accord with King Anglant. However, come and make an agreement with King Anglant,
since he has sworn to conquer the whole world, since Alexander was once its master and King
Anglant is of his royal lineage, and of the parentage of King Nettenabo of Egypt, and therefore the
succession belongs to him. He is already obeyed by all those of Eastern Rome; the emperor of
Constantinople has sent him ships and troops.” Said King Charlemagne: “Tell me, Balant, what
kind of man is King Anglant? How does he deal with his nobles?” Balant replied, “King Anglant is
without flaw. He does not know how to make a petty gift, but ever gives presents of enormous
wealth, and he does not abandon the advice of his nobles, but is never angry at it. He is gracious to
every man, except to those who flee from the battle. Yet he readily pardons all those who sue for
grace; he despises treason and arrogance, and is most generous in his person. For their champion all
the Saracens have named Almont, who makes the whole world tremble.” From all these words
King Charles gathered that King Anglant and all the others reposed all their hope in Almont. Then
King Charles inquired whether Anglant was old or young, short or tall. Balant replied that he was
tall of stature and that he was sixty years of age, and was in good health and very puissant in arms.
Then he said, “King Almont is the man by whom all Europe will be conquered.” Charlemagne
answered: “You might find it an easy matter to conquer Europe, but you shall go hence, and we
shall stay here to guard Europe and our lands, which we will defend honorably. But tell me, Balant,
upon your faith, do you think that King Anglant, when he hears of our coming, will wait to do