THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
with me?” and called one of her hand-maidens to come with her, along with Bevis, and left for her
chamber.
Arrived in the chamber, she said to her maid: “Prepare a sideboard, for I wish to dine here.” The
maid went to the wardrobe for the sideboard, and Drusiana threw herself upon Bevis’ neck and said:
“Augustine, I love you more than anything in the world; and if you will do as I say, you will be well
beloved.” Augustine said, “My lady, I am not worthy to be loved by so very noble a lady as you are,
for I am of low degree. Nonetheless, I am ready to serve you in any way I can that befits your
honor and your father’s, who has bought me.” She kissed him, and Bevis trembled with fear of
being discovered.
When the maid returned to the chamber, Drusiana let him go. He left the chamber and returned to
the hall where the king was seated, and went to eat with the king’s other servitors, and Drusiana was
left in sorrow. Many times did she send for him, and he never agreed to come. More than a year
passed during which he never went to her, and nonetheless two or three times every day, as he went
riding for exercise, he passed at the foot of Drusiana’s windows so that she could see him, and her
love grew ever greater. Most of the time Bevis was riding Swallowtail, sometimes saddled and
sometimes bareback. That is how these two lovers fell in love--that is Bevis, called Augustine, and
Drusiana.
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When Drusiana had completed her fourteenth year, and Bevis his sixteenth, King Armin, Drusiana’s
father, decided to have her marry. He ordained a rich tournament and had the terms proclaimed by
mouth of his heralds, namely that he who should win the tournament would have his daughter for
wife, only providing that none but Christians might enter the tournament.