THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Then those who had been posted on the hillock displayed their three red shields, so that Gerard’s
brigade saw them and with lowered lances ascended toward the tower. Lord Clare was hastening in
front of them all and, arriving at the well at which these people drew water, found two Saracens with
pails to carry water and slew them both. Lord Clare and his brother Lord Bussy arrived at a run by a
little gate from which people went to the well. They stopped there for a moment until Gerard and
many others caught up with them, and then rushed inside. Some of those who had remained there
saw them and began to cry out, but their cries were of little avail. Lord Clare ran up into the tower
hall, where he found twenty armed men blocking his path. But he and his brother Bussy took
courage and put them all to the sword, and thus took possession of the entire fortress. Gerard had
his own banner raised atop the tower, that is a golden gryphon in a field of silver, and they threw
Almont’s ensigns to the ground. Arnaut and Rainier saw this, and so did the Saracens, who were
very grieved by the sight, especially Almont and Sinagon and the others, as well as Danebrun, the
queen’s brother.
Almont called out to them and, in sorrow, pointed at Gerard’s insignia atop the tower, complaining
bitterly: “Fortune is beginning to strike at me and has turned against me. Woe is me!” (said
Almont), “Mohammed has abandoned me,” and grieved bitterly with his uncle Danebrun.
Then, full of rage, he grasped his sword with both hands and entered battle like a dragon. He struck
Miles, son of Bernard of Zamora, and cleft his head in twain, and he slew Hewett of Belland and
Arcaud of Anjou, the son of Count Germinius.
When Rainier saw him inflict so much damage, he took up a lance and ran at Almont, bitterly
wounding him, and broke the lance on his back. Almont was holding Durandel in both hands and
made to strike Rainier upon the helmet, but he was riding so fast that he struck a little behind the