THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
people tell. Those in the vessel knew that this cliff was hazardous to ships. Therefore, upon seeing
his signal, they said, “Some ship must have foundered lately near Haverforwest, and readied a little
boat, lowered their sails, and rode at anchor. They sent the boat with four oarsmen to shore and,
having found Bevis, brought him aboard.
In the vessel there were merchants of foreign parts, and one of them said: “Tell me, sweet lad, where
do you come from? what is your name? and how did you arrive at the seashore?” Bevis replied:
“Pray pardon me, but I feel such great hunger that I am dying of it.” The merchants had him
brought food and drink. When he had eaten, he said: “Noble merchants, now I can talk and tell you
what you have asked. Know that my father was tradesman, in fact a miller, and my mother a hired
washerwoman. She fell in love with a man who treacherously killed my father. A soldier wanted to
save me and gave me this clothing. But my mother’s lover caught me and sent me back to my
mother. She intended to poison me, and I fled to the seashore. So here I am in this ship, and I
would like to become servant to all of you. My name is Augustine. Now I have told you my whole
story.” And the merchant clothed him in handsome attire, befitting a young manservant.
One of the merchants said, while seated at table and Bevis waited on him very expertly: “Who
taught you to serve?” He replied, “Some noble persons who were lodging near the mill, and I
learned it in their house.” Said one of the merchants: “I don’t believe you, for you look to me like
the son of a gentleman and of a great and noble lady.” At this, every one of the merchants wished
him for a servant, and they began to quarrel, but Bevis said: “My lords, I think I was born under an
evil star. My mother tried to poison me; my father was murdered; and now you want to be my
death! I’ll serve all of you together, and I am willing to enter into the service of all your
households.” So he made peace among them. They all wondered at the quickness and eloquence of
his speech.