THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

43
© 2009 Max Wickert
Richier helped Gisbert, and the lion seemed no less delighted by Gisbert than by Octavian. At this,
Balant arrived and asked whether Gisbert was a captive, and wondered why the lion made so much
of both men. When they sat down to dinner, many in the army said to each other: “By our gods!
These two champions seem like brothers and like sons of the lion and Rosana.” Balant agreed.
After they had eaten, King Balant returned to his tent, while there was great moaning and sadness in
the city. The two lords slept together.
In the morning they armed and made a pact that Balant, his wife and queen, with Octavian’s mother
and the lion, as well as Floravant and Richier under good guard, should observe the battle. And
thus agreed, the came to the field. Octavian and Gisbert measured the ground and broke their
lances against each other. Then the lion roared so loudly that the astonished knights could hardly
keep in the saddle. When the three roars fell silent and the horses obeyed the reins again, the two
brothers, with swords drawn, fired with great daring, turned around to strike amid the above said
nobles and the ten thousand troops. As they approached each other, the lion leapt between the two
and spread its paws, and it was larger than a great giant, and spoke in a loud voice: “Hurt each other
no longer, and hear my words. Know that you are brothers and sons of Floravant and Drusolina. I
am Saint Mark, who have protected this lady for eighteen years.” In an instant he vanished, and left
behind a great splendor. Then it was clear that Drusolina had not sinned against Floravant as she
had been accused. Balant, seeing and hearing such a great miracle, lost all his ill will and hatred
against Floravant and turned to him and embraced him, and his wife embraced Drusolina. The two
brothers threw their swords to the ground, leapt from their horses, and embraced. All those nearby
dismounted and cried out, on their knees: “For pity’s sake, baptize us!” When Drusolina embraced
Floravant, she fainted for joy and asked his pardon, and so did Richier. The greatest joy was when
Drusolina embraced her sons. There was no man there so cruel or so hardhearted as not to weep.