THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
avenge my nobles whom this cursed devil has killed. Yet would he have killed me, but for young
Roland.”
Then all three of them turned to young Roland and he knelt at Duke Namo’s feet to beg his pardon
for having taken his horse. The duke had already doffed his helmet. He now embraced him and
kissed him, saying: “I forgive you for everything. You have done nothing to displease me. May
God bless you.”
Then Charles, standing near Almont’s body, said: “By my faith, I would pay the price of three cities
to have as much strength as this man. For not three years shall pass before I will launch an attack
against King Marsilius in Spain.” Presently he said: “I desire young Roland to have his horse, his
sword and his horn.” The Duke and Ogier answered: “By Our Lady in Heaven, he has well
deserved them.” Said Charles: “Let us carry this body beneath those trees over there;” and they
bore it from the road and placed it under some trees, covered it with his shield and did not strip a
single part of his armor. Then, since it was already evening, they remounted their horses to rejoin
the army.
As they were riding back toward the camp, they were talking of the danger which Charles had
passed, and he spoke with great respect of Almont’s knightly prowess, lamenting the fact that
Almont had not been baptized. In time they reached the host, which had been plunged into great
sorrow for Charles, Duke Namo, Ogier, and Orlando, fearing that they would not be found and
were either dead or taken. Now, that their return was reported, the whole army was thrown into
great rejoicing and celebration.
Charlemagne took lodging in Almont’s pavilion. An archbishop blessed the tent with words of the
Holy Father, and all the camp’s physicians arrived to examine Charles’s wounds. They all said that