THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
striking a blow with his sword that beheaded and killed him. Hugh of Floraville rode at the seventh
giant, aiming his sword between his head and his shoulders, and cut of his head. So fell the last
giant.
When the giants were dead, Roland saw that Liadras was dead. He began to weep bitterly with his
companions, and besought Christ to reveal to him whether he was pleased to redeem Liadras’ soul,
for he dearly desired his salvation. Now, while the knights were standing over Liadras’ body, Roland
looked up and saw two lions approaching them from the forest. Roland stepped back, and both the
lions began to claw the earth with their front-paws. They dug a great pit for Liadras’ body. Roland,
seeing these two lions, said that they had been sent by Christ. He knelt to them in great joy and
reverence. Then Roland rose up, took Liandras’ sword and tied it by his left side, and removed his
spurs, for he had come from Jerusalem. Roland told his companions that Liadras’ soul was certainly
saved, since these lions had been sent by Christ. Then the knights wept in sorrow for love of
Liadras, who had been a most excellent knight-at-arms. They lifted the body and placed it in the pit
that the lions had made. Then the lions departed, roaring, into the forest.
The three companions mounted and began to ascend a hillside, still bitterly weeping for Liadras’
death. As they descended the slope, Roland saw a castle. It was ruined and the countryside lay
waste, for the giants had long ago utterly ravaged it. Roland rode ahead of his companions and saw
a fountain near the castle. A beautiful tree rose above it, bearing dark red fruit. Roland dismounted
near the fountain and was about to drink, when the air resounded with a voice that cried:
“Champion of Christ, do not drink this water; it is poisoned, for in the waters of this well there
dwells a viper.” Roland, because of his great thirst, commended his soul to Christ, and thrice made
the holy sign of the cross over the fountain. At once its waters grew wholesome and Roland drank.