THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

9: Return to Paris
49
© 2009 Max Wickert
By sheer force the keep was taken and destroyed. Gisbert had the castellan’s legs tied together with
iron shackles, then called for archers and said to him: “Sir warden, if you become a Christian I will
pardon your life; if not, I will have you shot to death with arrows.” That dog replied: “Son of a dog,
take this!” and spat at Gisbert, who at once ordered them to shoot. So the man died and his whole
castle was destroyed and razed to the ground. All the nobles went back to Paris with Gisbert, where
there was great rejoicing at his return. Gisbert gave the maiden who had rescued him from prison in
marriage to the servant who had brought his letter to France, and endowed him with a rich castle
near Paris. He was baptized and given the name Thierry Goodfriend 16 and his wife, whose earlier
name was Galiziana, was baptized Diamia. She bore many sons and daughters.
. . . . . . . .
BOOK FOUR: BEVIS OF HAMPTON
The Sorrows of Bevis’ Boyhood
1
After Duke Guy of Hampton had taken the daughter of King Otho of Bordeaux in Gascony to
wife, she grew with child during the first year and brought forth to Duke Guy an exceedingly
handsome man-child. This gave great joy to Guy, and to his father, and to all his friends and
subjects, and indeed throughout all England. He named the boy Bevis of Hampton, because at
Hampton had he been born, which city his grandfather Beviset had founded; so he was named Bevis
after him. Duke Guy put him in the care of his greatest and most trusted friend, who was named
16 orig. Bonoamí