THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Roland answered: “I will gladly defender her in man-to-man battle against any many willing.” Said
Pelleas: “What honor can I gain fighting a peasant?” Said Roland: “That will I show you with sword
in hand in any manner you please.” Then Pelleas swore by Mahound that he would before nightfall
prove his valor against the stranger.
A great noise arose all around from both sides, and all rose to their feet in consternation. Machidant
with his men returned to his army, and the Sultan with his men returned to the city, saying to
Roland; “Stranger, will you come to Mecca 85 with me?” But Roland swore to Mahound that he
would neither eat nor drink until he had exchanged sword-blows with Pelleas. The stranger armed
head to foot, laced on his helmet, took up a huge lance and remained alone in the field. Pelleas,
seeing the stranger, also made haste to put on his armor and to seize a great lance. Both knights
took their positions, and Dionysia, when she saw Roland about to do battle on her behalf, stood on
the city walls praying to Mahound to aid the daring stranger.
When the knights drew near each other, each took his distance at pleasure. Now they took aim at
each other, and when they met, their lances struck so cruelly that both their steeds bowed to the
ground and their lances flew in splinters. They both gave spur to their horses and grasped their
swords. Roland said in his heart: “If I draw Durandel, the Saracens might recognize it” (and indeed
they would have.) So Roland rode off some distance from the camp into a valley and Pelleas rode
after him. Then Roland drew his sword and gave Pelleas so heavy a blow that it made him slum
over his saddlebow. Another blow was so heavy that one of his feet left the stirrup, making Pelleas’
horse gallop half a league before he could return his foot to the stirrup. He said he had never
received a blow as heavy as each of these two from any other knight, and was much amazed at that
peasant’s strength. Roland rode off and entered the city, where Samsonet and Dionysia entertained
85 Mecca: Our author erroneously identifies Mecca as Machidant’s capital.