THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
have no water, since the fountain was full of dead men’s limbs and purple blood. Then Roland said
to Turpin: “Go back and fetch me this water, and take no heed of the limbs and the blood, for my
thirst is so great that I can scarcely endure it.” Once more Turin went back, and as he was on his
way, an armed knight appeared to him and said: “Where are you going, Christian?” Turpin
answered: “I am going to fetch water, for Roland wants to drink.” That knight replied: “Go back
whence you came, for Roland is dead and has no need of drink.” Hearing this, Turpin quickly
turned his horse around, for he desired to see Roland before he died. When Roland saw Turpin
returning without water, he said to him: “Why are you not bringing me water?” Turpin answered:
“Alas, my lord, a knight whom I encountered told me that you were dead!” Roland said: “Go back
once more to the fountain, for that knight you met must be the devil. Do not believe anything he
tells you.” Once more, for the third time, Turpin turned back, but as he came midway, he dropped
dead from his horse.
When Roland saw that Turpin was dead, he dismounted and began to thank God. He ran to the
bishop and commended his soul to God. He picked up Turpin’s body and carried it beneath a tree,
near Oliver’s body. Then he rode away, looking for the bodies of the French paladins. Soon he
found Astolph, and laid him under the tree near the others. And he did likewise until he had found
all the bodies of the dead paladins, and laid them all near each other. Having done this, Roland
hurled himself upon these bodies, making great plaints and lamentations over his dead companions.
Now as Roland was feeling such great sorrow, he turned to his horse to mount him. He put his
hands on Veglantin’s croup and Veglantin drew back and gave a great neigh, raised his fore-hooves
and put them upon Count Roland’s shoulders, as if he wished to kiss him. Having done this,
Veglantin moved backward, and in this manner Roland went following him. He seized him by the
bridle, attempting to mount, but Veglantin once more drew back, put his fore-hooves on his