THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Lasona 67 with a strongly garrisoned castle (called Castle Zeno). Below that castle, another bridge crossed the river,
leading to a little fort on the French side. Gerard now plotted a doubly treacherous stratagem.
The commander of the guard at Castle Zeno was a poor vassal of Gerard’s named Lothair of Mount Jura. Gerard
instructed him to pretend to betray Castle Zeno in exchange for a bribe. Lothair dispatched a secret messenger to
Charles, naming his price for admitting some eight thousand men to the castle, from which, he said, they might easily
take the city. Charles accepted the offer without suspicion. That same evening, he summoned Roland, Ugier,
Salomon, Namo, Richier, Richard of Normandy and Balant and commanded them to bring the eight thousand to the
castle by night. Balant, however, opposed the plan. When he warned Charles of the danger, Ogier the Dane accused
him of disobeying the emperor’s orders out of fear. The two lords fell to quarreling until, stung into rage by Ogier’s
accusations, Balant asked Charles’ leave to go back to Paris. Charles let him go. He left the camp but did not return
to Paris. Rather, he secretly contrived to cross the river and joined Gerard’s side. Delighted with his new ally, Gerard
ordered Lord Clare and his four sons to lie in ambush with Balant at Castle Zeno.
Charles knew nothing of this. At nightfall, Ogier and the rest rode silently toward Lasona. They were readily
admitted over the bridge, but, no sooner on the other side, were assailed on three sides by the waiting ambush. A fierce
combat began. Ogier came to blows with Balant, mistaking him for Clare, while Balant mistook him for Roland.
But when Balant learned the name of his foe, he cried out: “You traitor. Know that I am Balant, whose son you
killed in Aspramont!” Ogier replied: “It is the habit of traitors to accuse others of treason. I vow that you shall now
find little joy in your betrayal.” He then rushed upon Balant and shortly slew him.
Meanwhile, Lord Clare slew Robert of Normandy and came to blows with Richier the Vassal. “Who are you?”
Clare demanded. Richier replied: “I am Richier, one of Roland’s newly formed company.” Said Clare: “Your death
now shall repay Roland for murdering my brother Bussy.” Said Richier: “I see you are of the same mind as you were
when Troyan dragged Roland toward the river. But I shall now show you that Roland was never a traitor.” The
desperate combat that followed ended when Clare’s sword split Richier’s skull.
The French now retreated across the bridge. Only Ogier stayed behind to hold back the pursuers. Clare came to face
him and demanded his name. Hearing it, he said: “Most noble Ogier, flee now, for if Gerard arrives, I will be
powerless to save you.” The Dane answered: “What man are you, who thus saves my life?” and Clare told him. The
day was dawning just then, and Ogier fled back to Charles. Of his eight thousand men, only three thousand returned
alive. Clare returned to Gerard, who took great joy in the harm that he had caused.
Charles was much grieved to learn of Balant’s betrayal, and even more so by Richier’s and Richard’s deaths. He was
now determined to cross the river, and sent Roland with a large force downstream toward the broken bridge. Gerard
learned of his intention, lifted camp and returned to Vienne. Meanwhile, Charles had the bridge speedily repaired,
crossed the river, and captured the city of Lasona. He had the treacherous Lothair hanged and then moved his army
toward the Dauphinée. He crossed the Dorin and the Limen rivers, taking many castles along the way, and at last
arrived at Vienne and laid siege to it.
Gerard was astonished at the speed of Charles’ arrival. He had expected him to waste much time in plundering
Burgundy. Learning how Charles had spared the country, he grew somewhat abashed and grudgingly admitted:
“Charles has a great soul.” He now realized that he could not long withstand a siege by Charles. He therefore sent
67 Arar . . . Lasona: Neither the river nor the city are easily located on a modern map. Andrea’s description suggests
that ‘Arar’ is another name for the Rhone between Lake Geneva and Lyon. The name ‘Lasona’ is perhaps a
deformation of ‘Saone.’