THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

476
© 2009 Max Wickert
you, for I am the most fortunately rescued maiden in the world.” The Sultan also greatly rejoiced
and said: “I no longer fear Machadant one whit, now that both Pelleas and Polydor are dead. They
were the strongest knights in the world, excepting only Charlemagne’s nephew.”
When Machadant saw that Polynor was dead, he had his ship put in readiness, saying. “We can make
no longer stay here, now that Polynor has been killed,” and fled toward the sea with some of his
companions. The Constable, seeing Machadant in flight, put thirty-thousand armed men in
readiness and attacked Machadant’s host. The Sultan attacked from another side, accompanied by
Samsonet. When King Florentius, who carried that huge mace, learned of this, he armed and, riding
at the head of his army, began a great slaughter of the Sultan’s men, for no knight could resist the
great mace in his hand. Soon he was covered with the blood of the Sultan’s men, who all fled before
him.
Roland saw this and dismounted, saying: “I would not have this Saracen kill this horse of mine for
all the world, though it is not Veliantin whom I now bestride.” He left his horse and sped toward
Florentius in great leaps. When Florentius saw him, he said: “Wretched churl, you shall not escape
me, for I shall now avenge the deaths of Pelleas and Polynor.”
Roland said nothing and at once struck Florentius on the helmet, bending him to the ground.
Florentius righted himself in a great rage, and lifted his mace over the Constable’s head. Roland saw
the mace falling and jumped backward to avoid the blow, for any one of its leaden balls would have
killed him. Florentius had heaved his mace with such force that two of the balls were buried more
than a span deep in the ground. Now Roland struck at his side with Durandel, and that blow was so
grievous that it pierced three of his ribs and entered his bowels. Florentius, feeling the blow, fell to
the ground, and Roland thrust Durandel between his neck and shoulder and so slew him.