THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
now so few men have made you flee and die. Woe is me! How many in Africa will eat my bread and
drink my wine, and I do not even have a little water! Oh you noble African damsels, who used to
give me so much pleasure, you may now be sure never to se me again. And on top of it all, these
men urge me to flee.” Then he said: “I would sooner suffer death than to return to my father
without avenging the harm that I have had suffered from the Christians.” Having spoken these
words, he summoned an interpreter of his, whose name was Butran.
2: Almont Summons Help [summary]
Almont dispatched Butran to Goras, instructing him to come with as many reinforcements as possible to come to his
assistance, without, however, apprising Anglant of the situation. When the messenger arrived, Balant was present and
secretly rejoiced that his predictions had come true. Goras set out, along with Balant, the Emir, Triamides,
Mattafellon, Salatiel, Thoas, Cando, Moas, Lampal, Galerant, Margon, Asperant and many others to relieve
Anglant. As Balant approached Aspramont, an advance guard of twenty thousand archers under Alibrun preceded
him and caught up with Almont.
Preparations for Battle
3
From afar off, Almont saw the banners of his people advance. He mounted his steed and rode out
to meet them. When he was seen, they all saluted him. After Balant and Gorant had ridden up,
Almont said to Balant: “Your prediction about me has proven true.” Thereupon they exchanged
many words, bemoaning King Almont’s bad fortune.
Meanwhile all the other kings and princes rode up with their bands and arrived where Almont was
standing. He began to tell them of all the misfortunes that had befallen him, of the raids he had
performed in Calabria, and of how he had gained much prey but was defeated and lost his four idols
and was overcome, and how his horse had fallen beneath a spear thrust by the river, and how the
Christians had overrun the tower on the preceding morning—“unsuspecting of their treachery, I lost