THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
“My lady, I am obliged to deliver a message on Charles’ behalf to my lord. After I have completed
my embassy, I will deliver you from this tower.”
He remounted his horse, rode up to the palace and found Gerard about to eat. Lord Clare delivered
his message and declared how Charles had offered in any campaign by Gerard to conquer a city or
country. “There was never,” he said, “so noble a king as King Charlemagne,” and praised Charles to
skies. Arnaut and Rainier did likewise, and Gerard granted that they spoke truly. Then he said to
Lord Clare: “Sit down and eat.” At this Lord Clare began to smile, and Gerard said: “What jest is
this that you men have in hand?” Arnaut said: “It is that Lord Clare shall prove a go-between.”
Gerard smiled and said: “What does this mean, nephew?” The Lord Clare said: “There is a tower
full of Saracen ladies. One of them called to me and told me she was King Anglant’s wife. She said
she desired to be baptized and commended herself to me very urgently. Do want me to bring her
into your presence?” Gerard answered: “In faith, yes. If they let themselves be baptized, we will get
them husbands; if they refuse baptism, they shall all be beheaded.”
Thereupon Clare went in person to the queen and called to her, saying: “Your majesty, what is your
intention?” She answered, saying: “To do whatever you command, for you are not the Mustapha,
but seem a gentleman in all your actions. Alas for me!” the queen continued; “on my wedding day
to King Anglant, a hundred queens were my servants, and now in this tower I have a great treasure
and would give it all for a crust of bread! Have mercy on me, O most gentle knight! I freely
surrender to you, along with all these other ladies. We all desire to be baptized in the faith of Jesus
Christ. For God’s sake, do not treat us with cruelty.” Lord Clare replied: “Come down in safety, for
you shall be shown every honor and courtesy.” She descended from her tower with all the others.
Twenty-two of them were queens, and the other forty were all duchesses and princesses, wives of
the great lords who died in the battle of Aspramont.