THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Thus armed, Roland made his way toward the field. When he arrived there, the Sultan commanded
twenty thousand knights to stand ready to lend him armed assistance, should the need arise.
Meanwhile Polynor also armed and prayed Mahound to grant him vengeance for his brother. Then
the two knights came to the appointed battle ground. Machadant and his men were armed and they
all prayed to Mahound to let Polynor avenge his brother. Both knights lifted their lances threatening
death. Offering their defiance, they inquired about their positions, and Roland said to Polynor:
“Take your stand wherever you will.” They rode some distance from each other, turned about and
gave spur, riding as fast as their horses could carry them. At the encounter, they exchanged mighty
lance blows, and the spear points hit home with such force that both horses’ were thrown backward.
They quickly recovered and rode past each other for a bowshot’s length. When the knights turned
their horses back, Polynor drew his sword and struck Roland a heavy blow that bent him back in his
saddle. At this, Roland laid hands on the sword he had taken from Pelleas. When Polynor saw his
brother’s sword, he knew it very well. Roland struck so hard that the blow, though Polynor fended
it with his buckler, bent him back over the croup of his mount. Polynor righted himself like an
angry dragon and struck back heavily with his sword. The battle continued thus for two hours.
Then Roland grew angry, shifted his shield upon his back, rose in his stirrups and struck Polynor so
hard that Pelleas’ sword shattered. When Roland saw that his sword was broken, he rode away
toward the shore and Polynor sped in pursuit. When Roland knew that he was far from the camp,
he grasped Durandel and turned his horse back to face Polynor. He then gave him so mighty a blow
that it cleft his head down to the teeth. Polynor tumbled from his horse. Roland then called up the
Sultan and Samsonet, and when Samsonet saw that Polynor was dead, he leapt from his horse and
kneeled to Roland. Roland dubbed Polynor knight even as he stood over Polynor’s body, and was
delighted to do so. Dionysia then approached Roland and said: “May the Divine Mahound bless