THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Roland came back to the tent of King Charles, who helped him off with his armor and asked him
how he thought he had fared in his fight with Lord Clare. Roland answered: “My liege, Clare is the
best knight in the world, and I fear that the end of this battle will be my death.” He urgently
besought Charles that it would be better to make peace with Gerard, or that another champion to
fight Lord Clare should be found.
When he finished disarming Roland, the King thought hard about these words of his. He
understood that Roland’s nobility made him sorry to be the cause of Lord Clare’s death. Charles
loved Roland all the better for this, and he parted from him in tears, but did not otherwise discover
his mind. He returned weeping to his tent and regretted the battle. He revolved many things in his
mind, whether he could conclude such a peace with honor and, considering Gerard’s unruly
willfulness, he knew neither what nor how to think.
He summoned Duke Namo and the Dane and Solomon, and weeping recounted what Roland had
told him. In response, among other words there spoken, Duke Namo said: “My liege, we know that
Lord Clare’s mind is of such a nature that, if he deems to have the advantage, he is unable to bridle
himself. If those who are enemy to our faith are not punished now for their evil-doing, their
punishment will come too late. Remember how Turpin was received when he carried your embassy,
and how long I was imprisoned when I went to Tremogna, and the proud words that Gerard spoke
in Aspramont, and Lord Clare’s envy, when he saw Roland almost drowned by Troyan and did not
help him. Remember above all the cruelty committed in Paris. Now they have wrought a twofold
treachery at Lasona, by which my brave Richier met his death, along with Richard of Normandy.
For this alone they deserve to be destroyed. Call for me tomorrow when Roland is arming. If he
will not ride into battle, one of my sons will do so.” Ogier’s answer was: “I will take this battle upon
myself.” Charles heard these words and knew that Duke Namo was in the right with regard to