THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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Gisbert the Leper
3
45
© 2009 Max Wickert
While the aforesaid events were taking place in Egypt and Syria, King Gisbert of France received a
true report of how his nephew Beviset, Octavian of Lion’s son, had conquered Cairo. This filled
Gisbert such great pride that, as he stood in his chamber, he turned toward the crucifix and said:
“From this time onward no greater ruler in the world is greater than I; not even God seems more
powerful on this earth.” At once he was afflicted with leprosy, so sorely that the queen was killed by
his stench. Having thus become a leper and trying all manner of physic, he could find neither relief
nor cure. He sent for all the doctors to be found in the world, and none knew how to remedy or
cure his illness. Then Gisbert realized that he grievously trespassed against God; he summoned the
old Duke of Saxony, that is, the Paladin Richier, and made him vice-regent of France. He consigned
his lordship to Richier and one of his own sons, whose name was Michael. Then he shrived himself
and received communion, and secretly departed, dressed as a hermit. He went into the Pyrenees
Mountains in Spain. For a long time he roamed the forests of Spain like a wild beast, until the thorns
and brambles and forest twigs stripped him naked.
At that time Beviset, who was under siege at Jerusalem, sent to France for aid. Richier, acting not
like a vice-regent but like a very king, remembered that the line of Constantine had need of him and
made ready a huge navy and moved to Beviset’s aid with a great host. They did not fight many
battles, before they had rescued him from Jerusalem and brought him aboard ship. They hoisted
Clairmont is not mentioned in Book Three, a glance at the genealogical tables will make the aptness of the title
clear. The line that ends with Roland originates with Octavian of the Lion and continues through Beviset, Guy
and Bevis of Hampton, to Clairmont and Bernard, and Roland’s father, Miles.