THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Ferrau and gave him so heavy a sword blow that he made him bow down. Receiving that blow,
Ferrau grasped his mace, lifted it high to strike Roland to give him a mighty blow. Roland saw the
mace descending on his head, and leapt aside so that it could not touch him. In encounter after
encounter among the two knights, Roland would never let the mace touch him, for if any of the lead
balls had landed on him, he would have died at the first blow. Roland then saw that he could not
escape the mace and determined to cut its chains with his sword. Once more Ferrau raised the mace
to strike at Roland, and Roland, well covered by his shield, grasped Durandel and, seeing the mace in
the air, stepped beneath it, and lifted high his sword. As the mace was descending on Roland, he (as
please Christ) cut all three of its chains. Yet Roland could not prevent one of its leaden balls from
falling on his back near his shoulder and giving him so mighty a jolt that he willy-nilly fell to the
ground. But the blow did him no other hurt, so that he quickly rose up again with sword in hand.
When Ferrau saw that his mace chains were cut, he struck out at Roland’s shield with the mace
shaft, which was of iron, and felled him to the earth. Once more Roland leapt up and struck a blow
at Ferrau. Ferrau now reached for his sword, ran at Roland and gave him a blow strong enough to
make him bow down. But Roland quickly righted himself and struck Ferrau upon the helmet so
grievously that he too bent down to the ground. So the two kept on fighting with sword in hand
blow after blow. At last the hour of vespers arrived, when the knights grew wearied by the battle
they had fought together. They both drew back, sheathed their swords and put the bridge between
them to take some rest. The two knights rested in this manner, and Ferrau said: “If it please you,
go back to your army to repose, and I shall return to the city.” Roland answered: “I am well pleased
to do so, if you promise to return to battle in the morning and from then on never finished until one
of us remains dead on the field.” Ferrau replied: “I gladly agree.” Then Roland seized Veliantin’s
bridle and returned on foot to the host; Ferrau went back on foot, since Roland had slain his horse.