THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Namo: “Do you, O wise duke, proceed on foot to the bottom of the valley, taking with you all the
Germans, with King Solomon and King Desiderius. From there, assault the hill in a flanking move
from beneath. I myself, with the whole remainder of our people, will give battle directly ahead, but
will not move until Ogier has reached the summit and you have struck below. Then will I strike
with all the rest.” They at once moved toward their positions as commanded.
Ogier galloped toward the summit, and not two hours passed before everyone signaled that they had
encountered the enemy. Then Charles began to move with all his banners flying, amid the noise of
so many trumpets and so many knights in armor trimmed with gold and silver, that all the
mountains of Aspramont gave back their sound and luster, even as Ogier arrived at the hilltop
almost face to face with the Saracens. When these saw so many coming, with the Christian attacking
of three sides, they pointed them out to each other and said: “Verily, Balant reported the truth.”
They saw where Charlemagne rode, who seemed in all parts furnished with silver and gold, and they
saw so much armor and so many pennants and banners, that the valley and the plains seemed
covered with them, and they saw, riding behind Charles, the rearguard of all the rest of the army,
splendid to the view, though it contained more banners than men.
The Saracens could not withstand Charles’s charge. Ogier encountered the King of Russia, struck of
his head, and cast him dead to the ground. Charles, fighting with his sword, encountered King
Arcalias and thrust him through. Gilfroy Greymantle slew King Lampal. Almont, seeing his men
everywhere in flight, took up his horn and blew it so loudly that it resounded through the mountains
and valleys, yet no man returned to the fight. Then Almont turned to Balant and said: “Alas, Balant,
what will happen to us?” Balant answered: “My lord, the man who sees his imminent peril and does
not avoid is worthy to be despised. As regards the present situation, there is no safety in it for either
you or me. Therefore let us both seek the best way to be gone.”