THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
All present approved Gerard’s counsel. Charles then called Ogier the Dane, Richier the Vassal, and
Bernard of Vienne and told them: “Take five hundred knights and ride at once to Pine Valley where
we have left Almont’s body. Bring my his head with his arm and right shoulder, together with the
ring that he wore on his finger and the helmet on his head.” The armed, mounted and went where
Charles had commanded and brought back the those limbs as Charles had ordered.
Then Charles summoned the two ambassadors and told them: “Your tribute is ready.” He had
Almont placed in a rich chest covered with silk, with the helmet on his head, and accompanied by a
scroll that declared who he was and how he had been killed by a page. He was placed on a
packhorse. Five hundred Saracen prisoners were found, and each was given a banner to carry on the
lance he carried. Charlemagne said to the two ambassadors: “Take this tribute to King Anglant, and
see to it, for my honor’s sake, that all the kings in your army be present to see it.”
(Another book that I have read says that Charles showed Almont’s body to the two ambassadors
and told them from his own lips that a young boy had killed him with a spear shaft, and that they
should go to proclaim it to the whole host. But this seems to me less likely.)
Having loaded the packhorse they rode back with those five hundred to King Anglant’s camp.
Charles told them that they could not get back the idols, since all of them had been broken up, and
beaten down and scattered through the camp. At this, Ulien issued a challenge to fight the two best
knights of the army, but King Charles said: “Sir Knight, it would be most dangerous to fight single-
handedly with two.” King Ulien and Calinder departed from Charles. Then four hundred trumpets
sounded the call to battle, so that all Aspramont reechoed the sound.
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