THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Charles and the other lords and promptly rode to the bridge of the contest. The two knights defied
each other, and each took the field at his pleasure. When Charles saw them ready to strike, he took
his cloak and raised it over his eyes so that he might not see his nephew Roland fall. As they rushed
together, the knight struck each other such mighty blows that their lances shattered. Neither could
dislodge the other from the saddle, and when Charles discovered that Roland had not fallen, he was
very glad.
Now a heated battle begun. Roland grasped his sword Durandel, that very excellent sword which
once was Hector’s of Troy, and was first to strike Ferrau with a mighty blow that made him bend
low in the saddle. Ferrau reached for his mace and aimed a blow at Roland. Roland, seeing him
coming against him, made to escape the mace by turning his head aside, so that Ferrau killed his
horse. At this, Roland nimbly dismounted and cried out to Ferrau. “Do you dismount also, else I
will kill your horse.” Then Ferrau answered: “I shall do nothing of the sort, for it is not wise for a
knight to dismount if his horse is good.” The battle grew very heated and lasted until vespers, and
neither prevailed against the other. Now Ferrau began to speak: “Do you return, if you will, to your
host, and I will go back to the city. We can continue and finish our battle in the morning.” “Very
well,” said Roland.
Thereupon Roland went back to the camp, and Ferrau, seeing him do so, at once dismounted and
turned toward the city. Sinagon came to meet him and asked whether Roland was as good a knight
as men said. “Certainly,” said Ferrau; “I have never fought a better man.” Then Ferrau went to take
his repose among the prisoners. When Astolph saw Ferrau, he said to him,” Where is your
captive?” and Ferrau answered, “We have not yet finished our battle.”