THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
covered in Christian blood, wherefore the Christians retreated from his great power. All of them
were loudly crying out: “Help us, Oliver, for we have great need of your succor. Save us from the
hands of this accursed Saracen!”
Oliver saw how terribly Falsiron was thinning the Christian ranks. He drew back a little and
sheathed Hautclair. Then he took up a strong lance and sped in Falsiron’s direction. He couched
his lance and galloped toward Falsiron as fast as his horse could carry him. His onslaught was so
strong that the lance thrust through the midst of Falsiron’s shield, pierced his iron mail and all
through his body, and hurled him from his horse.
When the Christians saw that Oliver had slain that perfidious Saracen, Falsiron, that all began to cry
out: “Vivat! Long live our brave lord Oliver!” and charged the Saracens, fighting bravely. In that
skirmish in which Falsiron fell, more than ten thousand Saracens were killed. So great was the might
of the Christians, that the Saracens began to flee down the valley. Therefore Falsiron’s companion,
Sinagon, a crowned king and a man of great strength, with twenty thousand Saracens, joined by the
fugitives whom he turned back, entered among the Christians. No man could resist Sinagon and
those pagans, to whom he cried out as he fought among the Christian ranks: “Fight bravely,
Saracens, to avenge the death of your lord Falsiron!”
As Sinagon was offering strong combat, with his blade stained scarlet, the French began to shout:
“Help us now, Oliver. Do you not see that faithless Saracen who is making such terrible slaughter
among your Christians?” Oliver, hearing them, once more sheathed his sword, took up a huge, iron-
tipped lance, and struck Sinagon in the chest, pierced his hauberk, and felled him dead to the
ground. Now all the Christians cried out: “Long live brave Oliver!” Oliver rode on, grasped his
sword, and fought so that no baron could withstand him.