THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Anglant turned around and saw Clare riding alone. Said Anglant: “By my faith, sir knight, you will
regret having followed me so far from your people! Are you a knight or a noble?” Lord Clare
replied: “I am the son of a duke and the nephew of another. I hail from Burgundy and Gerard is my
uncle.” Even as he was speaking, Roland came riding up and said: “O noble Lord Clare, this quarrel
is mine, since it was I who slew Anglant’s son.”
Charles in the meantime had given order for his tents to be raised and pitched where King Anglant’s
stood, and for those of the pagans to be pulled down. Then he ordered Fulk to pursue King
Anglant , together with those Christians who were already in chase of him, and he obeyed.
The story returns to Lord Clare and Roland, and to Anglant who now found himself caught between
the lion’s paws. Roland was saying that the quarrel was his and Clare would not allow this, since he
had arrived first. But when Anglant heard that it was Roland who had killed Almont, he insisted on
fighting with him. When Clare would not permit it, Anglant said: “Then, in faith, I will fight you
both.”
The first turn in combat was Lord Clare’s. They struck each other with their lances and, having
broken them, went to swords. After just two blows, Lord Clare killed Anglant’s horse beneath him.
So they dismounted, each grasping his sword. (Malpesant was the name of Anglant’s sword.) As
they were turning toward each other and about to close in, Balant arrived. Seeing King Anglant, he
drew near to him and said in the African tongue: “O noble king of the Orient, for God’s sake, be
pleased to turn to the Christian faith. Almont is dead, and so are Ulien and Calinder and all your
men. Surrender to Charles and do not insist on dying such a hard death. Charlemagne is a gracious
and courteous lord. In God’s name, be pleased to surrender to him.”