THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

365
© 2009 Max Wickert
through the ranks that Roland had passed, and a great outcry arose from them: “Alas, Mohammed,
what people are these whom we have come to fight? If the other Christian knights act like him, we
are all dead men.” In the fourth rank, Roland overthrew Artoan, Passamont, and Florion, and,
passing from the fourth to the fifth, Asmagon, Dalfren, and Pantaleon. His horse continued to
hurtle him forward, into the sixth, where he overthrew Abliant, the Almansor, and Calinder, and
still his horse’s speed carried him through that rank into the seventh, where overthrew the Mustapha
and Alchin. At this there rose another cry from the host. Roland had overthrown all these whom
our author mentions by name, yet he and his horse also overthrew more than two hundred of whom
no mention is made. Roland afterwards said that often intended to cast down his lance, but could
not do so.
As Roland was amid the Mustapha’s formation, that is, the seventh, the noise was great. King
Anglant, hearing the noise, came out of his pavilion and, when he saw that knight, all by himself,
coming from afar, ordered his knights to charge him. He himself, alongside King Ferrin of
Oliphant, mounted. They encountered Roland, who overthrew them both.
Now Anglant recognized the horse that had belonged to his son Almont. As he rose to his feet, he
saw Roland riding away. Anglant said: “O noble steed, what barbarous folk is mastering you! O
noble steed, every man gladly returns to his homeland, and you are carrying your rider toward
Reggio, where you were wont to be mastered. Go on then, and may Mahound come to your aid!
Well may he fare who shall master you then. But you are not bringing back the man whom you
have carried into Aspramont.”
Anglant returned to his lodgings, much vexed at being overthrown. Roland had passed through the
whole host and three miles beyond. He was carried through a great forest and arrived at a small