THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
put them into prison in Lyon under heavy guard.” The next morning he took his leave and Charles
ordered Young Roland, Astolph, Otho and Berlingher to go with Turpin and they obeyed, not
knowing where they were going. The archbishop brought them to Lyon and had them placed into a
tower of the palace, attended by two guards, and gave command that, no matter what they might
ask, to be staid there unless Charles failed to return from Aspramont, and that they should never be
released from the tower so as not to come back to Charles. When he had given these order,
departed from Lyon and traveled towards Duke Gerard’s territory to perform King Charles’s
embassy.
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Leaving Lyon behind, he rode towards Vienne and, arriving in a few days, learned that Gerard was
there. So he rode into the court, dismounted, ascended the stairs, but found the great hall locked,
since Gerard was about to dine, it being the supper hour. Turpin knocked, and the porter would not
open to him, but then Turpin gave him three pieces of gold, and he allowed him to go inside.
Turpin went up to Duke Gerard in his archbishop’s attire; all the gentry yielded place to him, and he
bestowed his bishop’s blessing. Arriving at Gerard’s table, he said: “May the true God, who made
Adam and Eve and the whole world, save and guard Gerard and all his company. I bring you a
thousand greetings and blessings from Charlemagne, King of France, who sends to you to inform
you that King Anglant and his son Almont, with thirty-two crowned kings, have crossed the sea,
arrived in Italy, in Apulia and Calabria, and taken the city of Reggio Calabria. Their numbers are so
great that Charles has not the power to oppose them except with the aid of your person and your
dominion. Therefore he prays you to march together with him to Aspramont to oppose King
Anglant and King Almont. All his hopes repose in you. Therefore come to his support and bear
yourself like a valiant lord.”