THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
aside so that the stone did him no hurt. Then Roland picked up another and hurled it at Ferrau.
Their stones were hurled with enough force to make them fly a mile.
The fierce battle between the two barons continued so long, that it lasted until the ninth hour.
Marsilius’ nephew grew very faint and tired by the blows that Roland had given him, and Roland felt
all his limbs grow weak, while his mail shirt dripped with sweat, but neither pierced the other’s flesh.
Roland cursed Spain and Marsilius’ other possessions. Ferrau said: “Give me a little rest, if you
please.” Roland replied: “This is my answer: have yourself baptized this evening, else I will cut off
your head with this sword.”
The pagan laughed, and began to shake his head; then the two knights drew apart, and each took off
his helmet to rest. Roland began to pray: “Glorious Father, of the line of David, begotten on Thy
Mother who bore Thee as a virgin, bestow upon me the grace of conquering this giant and making
him turn to Thy faith.”
Both men sat down in the shadow of a tree and rested, and Roland said no more. While Ferrau was
sitting on a stone and pondering how he might make Roland turn to the pagan faith, for he had
never encountered so valiant a man, he grew sleepy. He put the left side of his face to the ground
and soon began to snore loudly, for his head lay uncomfortably. Count Roland, full of courtesy,
took up a great boulder and placed it under Ferrau’s head. He could easily have killed him, if he
pleased, but would not have done so for all the world.
Then Roland turned away and, tired as he was, lay down to sleep. Meanwhile Ferrau grew awake
and began to say: “Out on it, Mohammed! if Roland had wished, he could easily have killed me!”
Looking at the ground next to him, he saw a great boulder and realized what Roland might have