THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
avenged against those Lombards by any means possible. Yet they all feared the Lombards, because
Roland loved King Desiderius, a man of great power and esteem.
One day, Desiderius, encamped as you have heard, summoned sixteen of the best and wisest
Lombard lords in his company and told them: “My lords, you well know that Charles has now been
at Pamplona for ten years, without being able to take it. It is my intention, before three days have
passed, to seize the whole city, for we shall offer battle and conquer it to your great glory.” The
Lombards made careful plans for taking Pamplona. They fashioned ladders and boarding planks to
ascend the walls, and at the outset of the second day, soon after midnight, they put more than five
thousand knights in full armor, along with some of the boldest infantry. Another five thousand,
armed with bows and crossbows, stood ready behind them, ready to offer fierce battle. They all
drew secretly up to the city, without being either seen or heard. Then King Desiderius took a tall
ladder, placed in the moat near the wall, and climbed it with his sixteen barons. As soon as
Desiderius reached the top of the wall, he seized one of the guards and hurled him down into the
moat.
Meanwhile Isoler was making the rounds inside the walls, encouraging the watch. When he came
near the Lombards, he cried out: “Keep good watch!” Desiderius replied: “Long live Lord
Malzarisse!” Isoler passed on to call to the next watch. At once the Lombards put more ladders to
the walls, so that more than five thousand climbed up. Then Desiderius, with his five thousand
knights, climbed from the other side of the wall and barred the city gate. King Desiderius had the
draw bridge raised, so that no man could enter.
When day dawned, the Lombards raised their banners and pennants on the walls, displaying the
Lombard device of the red cross. Malzarisse, Isoler and Corsabrin soon saw this and hastened to