THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
whole troop in one corner of the camp. Seven crowned kings were among them, as was Desiderius
of Pavia, all under his command. Charles and his army moved toward the wide riverbank near
Lucerna, the Dane lifting the Oriflamme and riding with it ahead of Charles’ host, until they reached
the stone bridge. There they fixed the Oriflamme to a high tree, and there Charles’ army made
camp. Ganelon had left his white horse (it was called Ferrant) behind for his son, so that Marsilius’
men, when the cruel combat began, would recognize him, since he remained with Roland.
In the manner that you have heard, Charles left his nephew Roland, and Roland remained in the
Vale of Roncesvalles. Since Roland strongly suspected Ganelon’s treachery, he said to Walter of
Lyon: “Take three thousand knights and go to Savra. Keep good watch there, so that Marsilius may
not assail us unexpectedly.” So Walter, with three thousand knights, made his way to Savra. He
made one of his men climb a tree and said to him: “Keep a good lookout in every direction,
especially toward Saragossa. If you see any standards or banners, let me know at once.” Thus
Roland stayed in the field with the other barons, sighing heavily, for he remembered the words that
the angel had spoken to him.
Let us know turn back to Marsilius. He had a great store of victuals made ready, along with five
thousand young maidens and a great quantity of good wine, and sent them to Roland’s troop at
Roncesvalles. When the French saw the food, they all helped themselves freely, her to a woman,
here to bread, here to wine and here to meat. All that day Roland’s men grew merry with much
song and feasting. As the day waned and evening approached, Roland’s men were all very tired
because of the great quantity of food and drink that they had taken. Sated as they were, and having
drunk at will, they took their pleasure with the women sent by Marsilius, and then went to bed and
slept so that no man could wake them. When the first hour of sleep had passed, Marsilius readied
his forces. He summoned the other eleven barons whose sons he had sent as hostages to Charles