THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Saracens saw him so nimble, they all cried out, “Hurray, long live our brave peasant!” Roland smiled
a little at this.
When he was armed, Roland rode out of the city and went to the field ordained for battle. All the
people of the city were standing on the walls to watch the fight. Samsonet and Dionysia climbed a
high tower to witness the peasant’s prowess. When Pelleas saw that Roland had arrived in the field
before him, he said: “Surely this must be a knight of high degree. He does not look like a farm
laborer to me; rather I think him to be the son of some king or baron.” Then he had his arms made
ready and put them on, throwing over all his armor a coverlet studded with precious stones of great
price. On his head he wore a crown of pearls over his hair, which was very long and as white as
snow. On its headpiece his horse bore a little golden dragon, its head studded with three carbuncle.
His shield likewise displayed a dragon. The Saracen wore so much gold and so many jewels, that
they outweighed a whole castle in value. When he was thus garbed, he prayed to Mahound to grant
him victory over the peasant, took his leave from Machidant and the other lords. They all wept with
fear of the peasant, afraid that he would kill him.
No sooner had Pelleas arrived on the field, than both the knights seized a mighty lance and as they
drew near each other, pointed it toward each other’s helmets, threatening death. Then they knights
defied each other and both took up their positions at pleasure. As their horses cantered in mid-
career, they both gave them the spur. When they meet these knight struck each other with such
immeasurable force, that their lances burst. Neither one nor the other moved from the saddle any
more than two great towers. As the horses wheeled back, they once more gave them the spur.
Roland thought inwardly, “If I draw Durandel and the Saracens recognize me, I will never in my life
accomplish my desire, and they might drive me out of this region.” Roland therefore turned his
horse about and sped toward the mountains, and Pelleas rode off after him.