THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Butran rode off while Almont was saying, “Praised by the divine Mahomet, who has given me more
than I prayed for. Mahomet has destined all these arms for me!’ (He meant the arms of the
Christians.) When Butran came up to Marquis Berlingher , he asked if he might speak freely, and
was given assurances. Then Butran said: “Sir knight, King Almont sends me to you to bid you come
to him at once, to surrender your arms and horse. If not, have no doubt that he will kill you, for
though Almont scorns to do battle with you, he is determined to bestow all your arms upon his
princes and his king.” The Marquis replied: “I know by report that he is the most valiant man of
your faith, but tell him that our arms are not to be had except at sword point. Tell him this also: it
his wealth and his head that we are determined to present to our own King Charles of France.”
53-56: A Skirmish [summary]
Battle was joined. Almont drew Durandel from its scabbard and began a tremendous slaughter of the outnumbered
Christians. But Berlingher rallied them until they penetrated almost to Almont’s banners, which were guarded by
Lampal’s son Hector. Meanwhile, Huon heard the noise of the battle and, with three thousand knights under
Aguentin, Gilfroy and other great nobles, sped to Berlingher’s aid. The Christians fought so gallantly that even
Almont was astonished, saying: “These are not like the men of Syria or India. Balant has spoken truly of them.
What need has King Anglant of this realm? If all the other Christians are of such mettle, we shall never see Africa
again. We have done ill to come to this country!”
Almont nonetheless rushed furiously into the fight, killing the Viscount of Belgium and four other great knights, yet
his men grew more and more frightened, especially after Huon’s arrival. Seeing his banners endangered, Almont rode
toward them, cutting down three more great Christian champions along the way.
The commander of the Christian vanguard, Solomon of Brittany, now heard of the encounter and dispatched ten
thousand knights toward it, while from another direction Richier brought in his troops and aids Huon’s attack on the
Saracen banner guard. Among them were a troop of Amazons led by Thoas. Huon overthrew and killed him, while
Richier and the Marquis Berlingher did the same to Hector.
When he saw his Saracens beginning to panic, Almont threw himself into battle like a desperate man. Meanwhile
Richier and his companions saw the great cart that carried the idols of Mahomet, Termagant, Jupiter and Apollyon,
and overwhelmed and massacred the pagans who guarded it. Seeing that all was lost, Almont turned to flight. He
was coming to a river bank when a troop from his tower fortress rode up to assist him, but it was too late; they fled in
panic when Richier and Huon came in view. Almont, cornered with the river behind him, forced his horse to leap into
the rushing waves. Richier, seeing him swimming there, hurled his lance, and inflicted a ghastly wound on Almont’s
chest. Had his aimed been aimed a little lower, Anglant would have lost a son then and there.