THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
King Charles made Gerard grant pardon to his sons and swear perpetual homage to the crown of
France. Thus he returned to his realm, which he did not long enjoy because of his wickedness, for,
having once done evil, he went on from bad to worse.
Roland and Oliver
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When Duke Melioran had returned to his dominion, he lived in small contentment, but like the
desperate man he was. His sons had little traffic with him, fearing his wrath. He cursed them a
hundred times every day, and he reposed his only hope in Rainier’s son, whose name was Oliver and
in his sister, was called Fair Alda. These two were all Gerardo’s pleasure and delight. When Oliver
had reached his sixteenth year, Gerard began to speak to him of the wars that Charles had waged
against him, and of how the realm of Burgundy needed freedom, and how Charles, King of France,
had murdered Guerrin and Orlando had out of envy caused Lord Bussy’s death and then fought and
killed Lord Clare. He said so much to Oliver that he made him hate his father and uncle and
brought him to the point of planning vengeance against Roland and Charles. He prevailed on him
to go with ten thousand knights and to ride to Paris to burn, destroy and kill.
He did so and took many spoils. Then he returned to Vienne and they made ready all their lands
with soldiers and weapons. But when Arnaut, Guiscard, and Miles heard of the ravages that Oliver
had caused, they fled from Vienne and went to Lasona, despoiling many towns to oppose Gerard.
Rainier, however, did not leave Vienne.
King Charles, to redress his injuries, decided to destroy Gerard altogether. He mustered a great
army and marched to Lasona, where he was graciously received. From Lasona, he moved to Vienne