THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Richier the Vassal’s death, and therefore said nothing more. With Roland, Charles pleaded that the
things he had to do were needful.
Lord Clare returned to the city of Vienne, where he was tenderly received by the Duke. After he
had helped him off with his armor, he asked him about the fight, and how he felt in his heart told he
would fare. Lord Clare answered him in the following manner: “Ah, my dear father, no man can
guess at future matters except by certain signs in the present; but, according to what I can
understand about the fight, I am doubtful, for I never once saw Roland dismayed, though he kept
begging me not to come back into battle.” To this, Gerard replied: “O nephew of mine, you
simpleton. Do you not see that Roland seeks peace for fear of you? If any part of you is ruled by
fear, I will send my sons. But we are assuming that this is your fight because of your brother’s
death.” (As for me, who write this down, I deem that the only reason that Gerard acted like this was
so that his sons would remain heirs to the whole dukedom of Burgundy. In his mind, Bussy’s death
led to the effect he wished for, if he had not later shown himself as cruel to his sons as he did.) 68
Lord Clare suffered the words of his uncle in patience. Throughout night he rested amid many
tangled thoughts. In the morning he called some of his friends and asked them to help him arm. He
also asked them, if Gerard should come, to beg him to make peace. While he was arming, Gerard
entered, and these friends of Clare’s urged him for peace. He grew furious at them, threatening
them with death, and cried out to his nephew: “Go, get yourself back home, and pay court to the
girls!” These words angered Lord Clare, and he replied: “The knighthood that you bestowed upon
me must needs cost me my life, but I would die in despair, did I not trust that my shameful death
will be avenged, and avenged by the judgment of heaven!” Grasping his sword, he ordered him to
68 This kind of authorial digression is unusual, in fact without precedent, in Andrea’s work. The Italian is thorny:
Quanto che io scrittore, giudico che Gherardo non faceva questo se no perché e’ suoi figlioli rimanessino reda
di tuto el ducato di Borgogna e ch’egli avessi a mente la morte di Buoso per fenire all’effetoo di quello ch’egli
aveva nell’animo, se al dreito non avessi mostrato contro a’ figliuoli la crudeltà che mostrò.