THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
lance, and King Solomon of Brittany brought him his helmet. These three lords acted as squires to
Count Roland, the best knight who ever lived. Thus armed, he came to the Emperor Charles’
pavilion just as Archbishop Turpin was preparing to say mass. Roland dismounted, knelt at the altar
and staid there until he received benediction. Then he rose and knelt to the emperor who thrice
made the sign of the cross over him and said: “I commend you to Christ and his mother, my dear
nephew. May they grant you the grace to kill that terrible Saracen.” Roland rose to his feet, and
Thierry helped him onto his horse. Roland leapt into the saddle without delay, and took his leave
from Charles and the other barons, who were all weeping for love of him. Then Roland rode
toward the bridge, saying the following prayer: “I beseech Thee, Christ on high, to grant peace to
Christendom by Thy grace, and to grant to Charles the power to conquer the Saracens, that they
may come to believe in Thy Faith. And do Thou grant me the power to prevail, if such is Thy
pleasure.” This was Roland’s prayer whenever he besought Christ’s aid. I desire you to know that
Roland, from the day when he killed Lord Clare, Gerard of the Thicket’s nephew, always wore an
iron cord for penance and for the love of Christ, and that he always uttered the aforesaid prayer.
Roland rode up to the bridge and dismounted, since Ferrau had not yet arrived. Roland took his
lance in hand and thrust five times at a great block of marble, making five gashes more than a span
wide. Then he awaited Ferrau on foot. Meanwhile Charles bade thirty thousand Christians to arm
in order to lend aid to Roland if there was need.
Before daybreak, while Ferrau lay asleep, a vision appeared to him: He saw a falcon descend from
the sky that struck at his heart and pierced his breast. He awoke from this dream full of fear, all in a
sweat because of the apparition in his dream. At once he called for his tutor Sinagon and told him
of the dream he had dreamt. Sinagon was much troubled by it, since Ferrau was to ride out into
battle with Roland. Sinagon said: “I beg you to leave this battle with Roland to me, for I will