THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

The Capture of Pamplona
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© 2009 Max Wickert
When the Lombards had all arrived at the camp, the French and German troops all made mock of
them. They said they were trifling men and of little account, for more than ten thousand of them
were foot soldiers. Day after day, there were noisy scuffles with the Lombards. King Desiderius
saw how Charles’ men were offering insults to the Lombards. He summoned Roland and told him:
“My lord Count, you have made me come to Navarre, and I have come in your service, not in the
service of Charles or any other knight or baron in the world. Do you see how these French are
deriding and insulting my people? I swear to God I shall return to Lombardy and never go
anywhere in service of Charles or any other knight or nobleman whatever, for I am not subject to
any lord in the world, nor to any king or emperor.” Roland, seeing that King Desiderius was angry,
said: “Why not take your people to the other side of Pamplona and make camp there. If ever any
French or Germans come into your camp there to cause a disturbance, I swear by the Divine
Majesty that you need have no fear of any man if you cut them all down with your swords.” The
king, understanding Roland’s good will, removed his camp one league from Charles’, so that neither
side could see the other. In this manner, both armies were stationed.
One day, more then ten thousand Frenchmen went to the Lombard army and began to cause a great
stir. King Desiderius and his men armed and slew more than eight thousand of these French, and
the others escaped, thanks to the speed of their horses. When Roland heard the news of what the
Lombards had done, he laughed and said: “Now go and quarrel with the Lombards, who have done
well to punish you!” Then those who had gotten away, angered by this, swore that they would be