THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
heard of Gerard’s command, he said to him: “My lord, it might be better if we confided in Charles.
He will come to our aid with the power of France.” Gerard said: “You son of a strumpet, if you are
afraid, go turn priest and sing masses, for you are not Miles of Mongrana’s son!” Lord Clare was
ashamed and fell silent. He ordered all his belongings to be packed and rode out in haste to joint
King Flor of Hungary. He said nothing to Charlemagne when he took his leave.
But Arnaut, Gerard’s eldest son, while Gerard was taking his leave from Charles, spoke secretly with
Duke Namo and told him the bad news about Troyan, who was burning all Burgundy, and about
Gerard’s refusal to talk of it to Charles, and what he had said to Lord Clare. He asked Namo to
beseech Charlemagne to guard against anger against Gerard, but to have pity on his family, swearing
that if Gerard should die, they would never disobey Charles’s commands. “But now,” he said,
“while he is still alive, it would not be honorable to do so.”
Charles granted Gerard leave to go. Then he himself ordered his carriages and tents to be packed
for departure on the following morning. Gerard had left two thousand knights at Reggio, under a
viceroy, telling him to hold the city on behalf of his son Miles until he returned from France. He
told him to seize the rule of all the surrounding territory. Then he rode off after Flor, and Charles
remained in Aspramont ready to set out at dawn.
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When Gerard had left, Duke Namo took Charlemagne apart and told him what Gerard’s son Arnaut
had said. Charles sighed and was overcome with pity for Gerard’s sons and nephews. He said:
“Were it not for this tenderness that seizes me, I would let the Africans destroy and cut them to
pieces.” “Ah!” said Namo, “let not so many Christians perish on account of one man. We shall go,
not for love of him, but for the love of God and of the other Christians.” Then Charles ordered his