THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

394
© 2009 Max Wickert
Charles then ordered in his second division, under Flor, Salomon and Balant, who pushed the Saracens back, so the
only Pantalis, Buterant, and Manador of Thrace held the field. Buterant recognized Balant and charged him, crying:
“Death to the traitor!” He unhorsed him, but Roland came to the rescue. After Balant recovered, he charged back at
Buterant, crying: “Traitor, you have twice been my prisoner. Each time you sore an oath never to seek my harm. You
shall harm me no more;” and with a great slashing blow, he severed his head from his body.
When his body was carried to Marsilius, the pagans cried out: “Since Balant has taken baptism out of fear, and
Almont, Anglant, and Troyan are all dead, we are undone.” Charles now dispatched further reinforcements under
Namo and Ogier, and sent for the rear-guard under Fulk to join them. The Saracens began to flee on all sides.
Nevertheless, King Armagot of Atlas killed Namo’s brother-in-law, William of Bavaria, and Pantalis killed King
Flor of Hungary and wounded Namo’s son Otho. Roland asked Balant: “Who is that knight bearing a golden lion
on a white field who is wreaking so much damage?” “I know him well,” said Balant; “he is Pantalis of Pamphilia,
who conquered Turkey for Anglant. Were it not for his pride, he would be one of the finest knights alive.”
Roland vowed that he himself would be the man to kill Pantalis. The situation now was this: On one side of the field,
Gerard, badly outnumbered, was facing the three Spanish kings, Marsilius, Balugant and Falseron. On the other,
Charles, was on the attack with Ogier and the rest, with the Oriflamme borne before them. Here Ogier overthrew
Manador of Thrace, and Charles killed Alfagon of Africa. On Gerard’s side, Arnaut nearly captured Marsilius,
but he was rescued by Calisar and then pushed Gerard’s forces to the foot of the walls of Vienne. At this point
Roland found Pantalis and pressed him so hard that he retreated.. Marsilius and the other two kings, who saw this,
also withdraw, while Gerard sounded the alarm for pursuit. Pantalis saw their banners fall, and fled toward the river,
cursing Mahound. Roland noticed him and pursued. As they disappeared from view, Gerard’s men overran Marsilius’
camp, capturing much booty.
Marsilius himself crossed the Rhone and took the way toward Aragon. Charles meanwhile joined Gerard. As the
victorious troops gathered around, only Roland was found missing. From Balant , the last man to have spoken with
him, Charles gathered that he was following Pantalis. He sent a large troop under Astolph, Ogier and Richier to find
him. It was already near sunset when they set out.
The Death of Pantalis
122
The story now returns to Roland who was riding in pursuit of Pantalis. He reached Pantalis as he
was about to cross the river Diven. Roland came up to him and cried: “You cursed Saracen, who
have killed so many of my knights, you are at the point of death.” When Pantalis saw that Roland
was alone, he replied: “If I have killed too many of yours, I shall, by Mohammed, add you to the
number of the dead.” He drew his sword and moved toward Roland, and bitterly struck at him
when he reached him. Roland had thrown his lance to the ground and drew Durandel, giving him