THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
with Roland. Thus they agreed. Upon returning to his camp, Troyan told his companions that he was certain that
Almont had been slain by treachery, and the morrow would bring his chance for revenge. “Once we win this war, I
promise you I will deal worse with Charles than my father did with Asperant and Margon. Those two kings, along
with Balant, sold my father and brother to the Christians.” As he was talking, some messengers arrived and told him
how the Mustapha had deserted Anglant and was now seizing territory in Africa. They brought a plea from the lord
of Barbary asking Troyan to come at once to the defense of Africa. Troyan announced that he would come, but not
before he had avenged his father and brother.
Troyan’s Death
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Clare returned to Vienne and Gerardo himself helped to disarm him. He asked whether he was
wounded in any place and Clare said he was not, but was very tired. He said: “Gerard, what travail I
have undergone today! This is not Almont, whom I overthrew with my lance. This is not Anglant,
whom I killed. Rather he seems the devil himself, for he takes no notice of anyone’s blows, and he
never tires.” Gerard said: “Dear Clare, why do you not remain inside the city, and I shall go out into
battle against Troyan.” When Clare heard this, he was overcome by anger, so that he said: “God has
put that thought in your heart, so that you may have proof whether I speak the truth or lie.” And he
was unwilling to tell him of the promise he had given Troyan.
After he had eaten, he left the hall and called his brother Bussy and said to him: “My dear brother,
Gerardo, that desperate dog, seeks only my death. I have fought all day long, as you have seen. I
know very well that Troyan would have killed me, had I not promised to bring Roland along to the
fight. I intend to go King Charles’ camp. He has more pity on us than Gerard. If I were not a
knight pledged to Gerard, I would never return to him. But I shall return so that I may not be
thought disloyal. I have made a promise and I must keep it. Therefore I ask you to help me get
away in a manner that no man shall discover.” Bussy wept and said: “My dear brother, you speak
the truth. Gerard cares little for us. But he is an old man, and when the time comes, we shall