THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
cannot be found in all the world, and they desire nothing so much as to give battle and to fight.
They gave little heed to my threats, but Charles answered that in three months he would be here in
Aspramont with his whole power of nobles to fight with you. Ah, King Anglant, a mighty labor it
will be for you to oppose Charlemagne, so beautiful and so well armed are the Christians who follow
him. Little do they esteem you and your people. You may be sure that if Charles fights with us man
to man, that is equally matched, our power will be as nothing against him. Know also that there is
not a man alive in the world who, looking Charlemagne in the face, would not tremble with fear, so
fierce is his glance. He asked me if I believed that you would await him and if I thought that you
would flee with all the army in your camp. To which I answered that Almont and Ulian and myself
alone with our vanguard would await Charles and his whole Christian army. But he gave little heed
to my words, and as little to your letter.” Balant added: “My lord, King Anglant, give me leave to go
to my tent to eat, for I have not eaten for a long while. When I have eaten, I shall return to say
more, for there is much left for me to say of the embassy, because of the many things that befell
me.”
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Balant had hardly finished the above words when Triamides, who was on to King Bramant, rose to
his feet and turned to Balant, saying: “Evil betide the man who trust messages that betray their lord!
King Balant, if King Charles of France has given you some of his gold and silver, all too faithfully do
you serve him now. Why not be ambassador to King Anglant and then praise Charlemagne, our
enemy?” Balant answered: “Evil betide the man who wants to serve Charles! But do you know
what I want to say to you? King Triamides, I bring you nothing but the truth, but you do not believe
me. I say that Charles had them offer me many horses and many weapons and much treasure, gold
and silver, and so many jewels as to outvalue the whole kingdom of which I wear the crown. And I,
because of my fidelity to my lord, would accept nothing. But if you do not believe what I say, you