THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

509
© 2009 Max Wickert
and the twelfth, the son of King Alfaris of Lanova. Your tribute shall be of the following kind: six
mules laden with fine gold, thirty greyhounds, thirty whippets, thirty young maidens, thirty falcons,
thirty sperhawks, and thirty pages to care for the birds. In this manner, once Charles sees the twelve
hostages and this manner of tribute, he will trust my whole embassy.
To this Marsilius replied, saying: “Alas, by Mahound, it seem to me great foolishness to put our sons
in Charles’ hands, for he may kill them.” King Blanzardine answered him, saying: “Alas, my lord
Marsilius, better that Charles should have our sons in his power than for him to chase us from
Spain, for after that Charles would be able to go on to Granada and from there to Africa.” Marsilius
then agreed to Ganelon’s counsel.
Ganelon now said: “I want to promise me a boon before I leave.” Said Marsilius: “I swear by
Mahound that I shall do for you whatever you may ask.” Ganelon answered: “The first favor I ask
is that, once Charles and Roland are dead, you bestow the crown of France on me. The second is
that you spare one of my sons, who is in the valley with Roland, and let no man harm him. For a
signal, I shall make him mount a white horse, so that all may know him.” Marsilius promised to do
all these things. Their counsel over, all three of them mounted and rode back through the
countryside toward Saragossa.
Hear now of the four miracles wrought by Christ in answer to this great betrayal. The first was of a
great rock beneath that pine, which rose and turned, and make such a mighty noise that it seemed
like a lightning bolt striking the earth from the sky. Blanzardine was turning back toward the great
portent that Christ was manifesting at the betrayal, for he well understood it. But he said nothing
and quickly lifted his cloak and threw it over Ganelon, saying: “Ride, for evening approaches.” The
second miracle was that the pine split through its center and fell. The third was that the fountain