THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
senseless on the ground. Seeing that Roland had fainted, he took away his sword, seized the knight
beneath the arm, and thus carried the unconscious Roland toward the city. As Ferrau was walking,
Roland regained his senses, and struck Ferrau in the forehead. He struck him such a mighty blow
with his fist that he stunned him and stretched him flat on the ground. Now Roland took away his
sword and withdrew. He waited until Ferrau rose again. He could easily have killed him, had he
pleased.
After the time it might take to walk a half a league, Ferrau rose again. When he saw Roland, he was
astonished that he had not killed him. He seized back his sword and gave Roland a blow so hard
that it hurled him to the ground, but the Count quickly rose again, grasped his own sword and
slashed low on the savage Saracen’s shield so that the blade sheared away a quarter of it. Then
Ferrau exclaimed: “Ah, divine Mahound! What a perfect knight this is! I would rather conquer him
than all of Barbary.” To Roland, Ferrau said: “If you surrender to Mahound, we will make an
alliance with you and I will have you crowned King of Barbary, Turkey, Nonea, and India. I shall
make you the greatest king in the world. We shall never find any man to gainsay anything we wish
to do.” Roland answers: “Surrender to Christ and take holy baptism. Afterwards we shall venture
out and cause these provinces to be baptized.” Ferrau answered that he would not.
Roland, seeing that he could by no means overcome the Saracen, now remembered in his heart what
Ferrau had told him, namely that the middle of his navel was not charmed. He lifted himself
somewhat by stepping on a small ridge, so that Ferrau stood somewhat lower, and when Roland saw
he stood high enough to hit his navel, he seized Durandel with both hands in great fury and plunged
it into Ferrau, loudly crying: “Surrender to Christ!” As pleased Christ, the sword passed through the
midst of Ferrau’s navel, piercing all three of the steel plates, and entered his body for more than a
span. After this great blow, Ferrau fell to the ground and cried out: “Ah, Count Roland, strike no