THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

519
© 2009 Max Wickert
Saracens. He saw a count riding under a banner, gave spur to his good horse, and charged him so
hard that one slash of his blade split his head down to the teeth and laid him dead on the ground.
But now more than three thousand Saracens surrounded Oliver by main force. Brandishing his
blade, he struck down one of them.
Meanwhile Roland, who was fighting alongside the Twelve Peers of France and the soldiers of the
Church, wielding Durandel, threw himself among the Saracens, none of whom could endure against
him. The Twelve Peers of France with the soldiers of the Church followed hard upon him, slaying
Saracens on every hillside and valley. Now Roland looked ahead and could not see Oliver. “Ah,
God,” said Roland, “I fear that, after of the reproof I gave him, he has thrust himself so far forward
that he may never come back!” At this, Roland hurled himself like a madman through the greatest
press of the Saracens. As he gained a little height, he saw a great crush of Saracens fighting with
Oliver. He at once galloped thither brandishing his sword which was all purple with Saracen blood,
killing men left and right, and instantly cut a wide path through the Saracens. When Roland saw
how well Oliver was fighting, he said: “May God bless you and guard you from death. You are
certainly the best knight in the world.” Just then Oliver was striking out hard at a knight with
Hautclair and cleft him down to the whites of his teeth.
Meanwhile the Saracens, seeing Roland, retreated somewhat and Oliver charged in their midst. Here
Marsilius’ brother Falsiron attacked the Christians with a hundred thousand Saracens who shouted:
“Death! Death to Roland and his men!” Falsiron met one Christian knight head on and threw him
dead to the ground. Then he thrust forward, killing all along, first one, then a second, a third and a
fourth of those whom met him. Here a mighty battle between Saracens and Christians ensued, amid
loud cries and noise. How many heads and hands and feet were here falling upon the field, how
many lances flying in splinters! Falsiron fought so fiercely with his sword, that he was completely