THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
When they had fought a good while, Charles and Duke Namo of Bavaria arrived alongside Roland’s
band. As he witnessed the combat, Charles grew afraid for Roland and commanded Richier the
Vassal to ride out to help Roland. Richier put spur to his horse, rode off, and charged wrathfully at
Troyan. Troyan saw him coming and said to Roland. “That knight is coming to strike me.” Then
Roland spurred his horse toward Richier, who stopped and said: “Count Roland, Charles has sent
me to help you.” At this point, King Pantalis began to move from Troyan’s camp, but Troyan
ordered him back to the ranks. Roland said to Richier: “If you go any further, you shall fight with
me.” Richier halted, and Roland returned to face Troyan, and they recommended their combat.
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Who now could describe how terribly they assaulted each other? One reason was that Troyan
sheathed his sword and took up an iron mace, with which he greatly troubled Roland and utterly
shattered and splintered his shield. It happened that, while their horses were facing each other,
Roland turned the head of his horse at Troyan’s right flank, and while his horse executed the turn,
lifted his sword to strike the mace from Troyan’s grasp. The blow was so great that it cut the mace
in half and struck the head of Troyan’s horse, so that it fell dead beneath him. He sprang from his
saddle, drew his sword against Roland and ran to plunge it into Veglantin. But Roland too leapt
from his saddle and ran toward Troyan. When Troyan reached Roland, he cried out: “You caitiff
knight, why have you killed my horse?” Roland smiled and said: “Upon my faith, King Troyan, I
meant your horse no harm, but intended to cut through your mace. But if you die, you need not
trouble yourself about your horse; and if you defeat me, take Veglantin. He once belonged to
Almont and is better than yours.” Then Troyan struck Roland such a mighty blow on the head that
he forced him to the ground on one knee. Troyan raised his sword to give him another blow. He
was moving toward him so furiously that more than half the blade fell just behind Roland’s helmet.