THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Then the banners of the host were abandoned. Many, indeed most of the army, ran toward the
troops that Almont had entrusted to Asperant and Margon. Upon arrival, they found the Christians
there, that is Gerard’s men, who put them all to the sword. No other cause contributed more to the
great defeat of the Saracens.
Almont was bellowing like a bull, and in the company of Balant, Sinagon and Gorant made his way
up to a mountain pass. From there they saw the hill where Almont had left his banners, and beheld
their men being cut down by Clare’s and Bussy’s bands, along with Arnaut’s and Rainier’s five
thousand. Then Balant cried out in a loud voice: “Ah, King Anglant! Ah, King Almont! Where now
are those who called me a traitor? Now take the measure, O Almont, of Margon’s and Asperant’s
faith; now take the measure of Triamides’ courage and of Salatiel’s threats! Ah Sinagon, are you
leaving now because Balant was a traitor to King Anglant and Almont? Which of you now has more
gashes in his armor? Now I see no way in which we may ever return to Reggio. Where now, O King
Almont, are these braggarts? ” Almont wept and said: “Alas, Balant, you are in the right; but too late
have I learned so.” Once more he halted and sounded his horn to rally his army; but none arrived at
his summons. Almont said to Balant: “By Mohammed, if you go back into battle with me and we
escape, I promise to give you four African kingdoms.” “In faith,” Balant replied, “I see so many
Christians everywhere that, if I returned to battle, I cannot imagine how we might escape their
hands.”
Almont considered this. He saw Christian knights behind him and on every side, in the valleys and
the plains and the mountains; indeed, he seemed almost surrounded, for Charlemagne’s host was at
his back and sides, and he had Gerard’s forces in front of him. Almont realized that Balant spoke
truly, and so he, Balant, Sinagon, and Gorant began to give spur to their steeds. Yet, of their four