THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
is so, you should defend the Christian faith against King Anglant who is destroying it. But what
answer to you want me to report to my lord. Will you come to Aspramont against King Anglant or
not?” Then Gerard made no answer, and Turpin grew sad thereat and said: “O Gerard, know for
certain that, if you do not come to Aspramont, you needs will shortly have a master, for two
reasons: first, if King Anglant defeats Charles, you will not be able to endure against him; and
second, if Charles returns victorious, all Christians will anathematize you as a perfidious Saracen.”
Gerard said: “Archbishop, you have made me so angry that, were you not my kinsman, by my faith,
I would have you hanged by your throat. Get you hence.” And he grew very red in the face, adding:
“Go, return to the traitor Charles.” At last Turpin said: “I will leave here, and you shall be the cause
of making widows of a hundred thousand women and orphans of their children. God and my lord
Charlemagne will make you pay for it! From this day forth, call me nothing if not your enemy.”
Saying so, he turned on his heels and left the hall. At this, Lord Clare and Lord Bussy tried to do
honor to him; however, Turpin would accept nothing in that court, but mounted his horse and left
Vienne with his retinue.
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Turpin rode day after day until he reached Orleans and found assembled there Frenchmen and
Flemings, Hungarians and Germans, Picards, Frosonians, Gascons and Provencals, and men of
every land--kings and dukes and counts and great lords. He straightway proceeded to Paris, and
found that King Charles had already left and troops from every country were following him. Turpin
did not rest at Paris but went directly to Charlemagne. When he reached him and dismounted at his
tent, he found Charlemagne with his guard three thousand knights and countless other lords in
attendance on every side. When Charles saw Turpin, he asked him: “What will Gerard do? Will he
come to Aspramont?” Turpin answered, “May God protect you from his hands, my lord! He is the
greatest and worst enemy that you have,” and recounted to him his entire embassy. King Charles