THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
name and hers. Gerard replied: “He is called Oliver, for he was born in these parts. 65 The lady is
known as fair Alda.”
Alda was then twelve years old. When she came before Charles, she made a curtsey of such grace
that Charles smiled and blessed her. Then he kissed her forehead, and did likewise to all the ladies
of the nobles present and bestowed some jewels upon them all.
Roland, seeing Alda’s loveliness, was inflamed with love for her, and could not take his eyes from
her. Yet he greatly feared that Charles would see it, so that he often lowered his gaze to the ground.
He was so struck by love for Alda that he stood like a man bereft of his senses. There was none
present who did not see this, except the maiden herself.
When the banquet was over, the ladies departed. Charles took his leave and Gerard and his sons
accompanied Charles to camp. On the next morning, the camp was lifted and the army turned back
toward France. Gerard kept company with the king for five leagues and at their parting, Charles
professed himself much beholden to Gerard, and Gerard to Charles. Gerard returned to Vienne,
and Charles, to France. The Burgundians loudly praised Charles as a great king.
Bussy in Paris
126
When Charles came back to Paris, there was much feasting and rejoicing at his return and about the
victory. The Christians were saying that the war was over, now that Troyan and Pantalis were dead.
To commemorate the victory over the infidels, Charles made many family alliances. Among these,
65 For he was born in these parts: Andrea seems to be reaching for some kind of untranslatable eponym or word-play
on ‘Vie-nne’ and ‘Uli-vie-ri”.