THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
As soon as he had placed it back on King Charles’s head, he bowed before Charles and then took
him by the hand.
Then the noble Archbishop Turpin quietly summoned witnesses and wrote a testimonial to the
effect that Gerard of the Thicket had advanced fifteen steps more toward Charlemagne than
Charlemagne had toward him, and that Gerard, like a vassal, had picked up the Emperor Charles’
cap and had bowed to him like a subject. Indeed, as the proverb has it,
“Let him whose neighbor spoils for a fight
be on his guard both day and night.”
The archbishop did this to repay Gerard for the knife he had thrown to kill him. Be aware then, O
reader, what this signifies: If Charlemagne went to war against Gerard, he could not do so unless it
were proved that Gerard had once been his subject. Turpin demonstrated that, on this occasion,
Gerard was a vassal, and therefore was obliged to do homage to Charlemagne. He reminded all the
barons of France of this fact.
8
When Gerard had bowed to King Charles, they took each other’s hands and each asked the other to
declare his whole intention. Gerard declared how many people he had brought and how he had
captured the tower from King Almont. King Charles thanked him heartily and asked for his aid,
since the enemy was approaching and their banners could be seen advancing. Then Charles armed
himself and mounted his horse.
Charles’s armor was the most splendid in the world. On his surcoat he wore, both front and back,
the imperial eagle, and all the rest was embroidered with golden lilies, as was the coverlet of his
horse. Then he took up a lance, rode a little ahead, and then returned to Gerard, who marveled at