THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
you. Bethink yourself of whom we should send instead.” Then Duke Namo replied: “I know no
man who has rendered you better service than I, and who might be better qualified than I for this
embassy.” Charles cried out: “Dear Duke, don’t think of it. For if we should lose you, we will never
get back to France. I would rather lose half this army than your person.” Duke Namo replied: “By
God’s grace I shall go and return safe and sound. I am not yet so old as to be unable to ride and to
perform feats of arms. What man can do better than lies in his power? Your crown and my own
person have ever been the same cause for me. You wear the crown, and I have ever been a master
like you and even more than you, thanks to God’s goodness and your grace.” Charles sobbed,
greatly moved, and shed some tears. Then Richier said: “My Lord Emperor, Namo has nourished
me at his court from my earliest childhood. I shall never carry a herald’s baton against his wishes.”
Then Charles blessed him and said: “You do well, my son, and you shall not lose your reward.”
Then Duke Namo took up the letter, and Charles, weeping, gave him his blessing, saying: “Have no
worry about the powers of your embassy, for whatever you shall decide will be obeyed by me and all
the others,” and dismissed him. Namo took his leave of all the rest and there was none who did not
weep for fear of losing him. The duke returned to his tent, armed, mounted his good steed Morel,
and at his departure all the nobles and the entire army wept and commended him to God and
prayed for his safety.
Namo’s Journey
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Duke Namo rode toward Aspramont, and he went alone, without companions, so as not to seem
more cowardly than Balant, who had come to Paris with only one horse. All day long he did
nothing but ascend slopes of extreme steepness. He passed wide valleys and at last lost the right