THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Almont heard the birds singing in the branches of the forest, and chided them for their song, saying
that his nature had become unworthy to hear such gentle melodies, and through his cowardice had
lost the honor of all music by creatures, whether rational or irrational, calling himself an outcast of
Fate. And still Charles was not yet in view.
Anglant’s Dream
30
Our author writes that on the same day as Almont’s flight, King Anglant, with his queen, had gone
to bed in the city of Reggio. Having taken some refreshment and solace, he fell asleep and beheld a
vision. He seemed to be in a flowery meadow and Almont was with him, when a leopard rushed
from a forest, attacked Almont, wounded him, and seized him by his hair. It was about to present
him to his father Anglant, when a young lion issued from the wood, killed Almont and chased the
leopard away. King Anglant cried out in his dream, and this awakened him. Terror-struck he at
once sent for his diviners and asked them about this dream. They answered that dreams are vanities
and that this one had been caused by his fear for his son, signifying that Almont had that day fallen
into Christian hands. Leaving them, King Anglant went to kneel before an image of Mohammed,
and begged the gods to help his son, and continued to be greatly worried about him.
The Fight at Saint Sylvester’s Well
31
Almont was entering Pine Valley, upbraiding Mahound for letting him leave the field in such an
ignoble way. Though Almont had some wounds on his body, they were not grave, and there was no
part of his body that was not covered with Christian blood. He exclaimed: “Ah, King Anglant,