THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
with compassion and said: “O cursed demon, whose guile has led on and forced Duke Gerard to do
so much harm!” He offered much encouragement to Roland and, having dined, retired to rest.
Lord Clare returned to his palace in Vienne, and Gerard came to visit him. He too disarmed him
with his own hands and asked how he had fared with that bastard Roland. In answer, Lord Clare
said, “My lord duke, do not speak ill of the best knight in the world!” and told him what Roland had
said. But Gerard said: “Do not believe him, for he would beguile you even as he did Bussy.” That
evening, few words passed between them. On the next morning, the duke helped arm him and sent
him out with better armor than the last, and greatly encouraged him in the fight to avenge his
brother Bussy. When Clare reached the field, he sounded his horn and demanded battle.
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Charles heard the sound of the horn. Seeing that Roland had not risen, he at once went to call him
and said: “Clare has returned to the field.” Said Roland: “I have no wish to arm.” This made
Charles sorrowful and he said: “O my son, full of virtue, none her will go if you do not.” He
succeeded in beseeching him so urgently that Charles armed, mounted his horse, having changed
some of his arms and his surcoat, and rode into battle.
When he came up to Lord Clare, he saluted him, but he did not reply, except to defy him. They
occupied their ground and broke their lances as they had before. Gerard summoned nine armed
men to watch the battle with him. He frequently asked them which of the two had the advantage,
and they answered him according to their opinions. The two knights went to swordplay and bitterly
struck each other, slashing their armors. Some say that Roland was very reluctant to strike at Clare,
and that in the second and third assault he gave him many blows with the flat of his sword and
begged him to be pleased to make peace.