THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
villainy. While we were fighting in Aspramont, we knew this for a truth, for three saints were ever in
his company. Therefore let it be your pleasure to find another way of concluding peace; for if I lose,
you will surely be unable to hold out against Charles; and if I win and am disgraced by Roland’s
death, there will never be peace between the French and the Burgundians. For God’s sake, let peace
be found by other means. It is better to endure a petty wrong than to seek vengeance.” When
Gerard heard these words, he turned on Clare in rage and pride, like a rabid dog, and said: “Never
were you a son to my brother Miles, who at no time refused battle to any man in the world! I am
ashamed to have sullied my hands by dueling such a wretched coward a knight. Until this hour, I
considered you my nephew. From now on, I will not acknowledge you in my lineage.” And with
this, the council was ended.
Lord Clare returned to his palace and remained all day long in thought, and all the following night.
Just as dawn was breaking, he called some of his servants, bade them saddle his war horse, mounted
it like a desperate man, and rode toward Charles’ camp to please his uncle Gerard. As the daylight
brightened, he sounded his horn and demanded battle.
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When Charles heard that Lord Clare had come to offer combat, he convened all his nobles and told
them how Gerard had sent offers of defiance and the reply he had given him. “He therefore has
sent his nephew with a demand for battle. He is a proud man, and if we do not answer it, he will
grow prouder still and our honor will be laid low. He needs must therefore be answered. Now
which of you, to gain honor and glory, shall go against this dog of a heretic, the enemy of our Faith
and of the Crown of France?” The nobles had taken their seats and none of them rose. These
barons were considering many things: first, his great parentage; second, Gerard’s pride; third, that