THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
shame. The shipmaster gave her food and drink, and some of her color returned to her cheeks, so
that the shipmaster grew more and more enamored of her. Turning back toward the waves, they
entered the high seas, with a good wind in their sails. Day by day the shipmaster grew more
enamored with her, so that he at last decided to take his pleasure with Drusolina and commanded
her to go down into the hold. She guessed his wicked intent and implored him for God’s sake to do
her no violence. But he commanded the sailors to take her forcibly below deck, and he was the first
who moved to seize her. At this the lion threw himself upon his back and tore him to pieces, also
killing four of the sailors. The rest sued for mercy. They asked Drusolina’s pardon, and she
pardoned them. The lion lay down, and Drusolina knelt to render thanks to God for the good
escort that He had sent her. The sailors said: “Dear lady, the shipmaster is dead; the ship is now
yours. Give command whither you wish to go.” She said: “Take me to Scandia.” (This city is now
called Chalon and lies some forty miles from Bruges in the direction of Germany.) So they brought
her to Scandia. At their arrival in port, the news spread through the city that a ship had docked with
a lion that had a wife and children. Drusolina discolored her face with herbs and ointments (she
paid for these things from the dead shipmaster’s treasure) so that none recognized her, and she kept
herself closely veiled and her countenance covered.
King Balant, hearing of this marvelous lion who had a wife, went to the port to see. When he saw it,
he was greatly astonished and said: “My lady, if you wish to stay in this city, I promise you that you
shall have fair lodging in my palace, for your and your lion, and that you shall lack for nothing.”
Drusolina accepted his offer and went with King Balant, her father. He did not recognize her, but
she recognized him all too well. She was given a chamber and a hall with a garden, and was all
things needful to life for man or woman. Balant considered himself very distinguished by this affair,
and the lion slept in the chamber and kept continual watch over Drusolina and the child.