THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

80
© 2009 Max Wickert
At one day’s journey from Sinella he found in the countryside a fountain in a forest clearing, and
there sat a traveler with a pilgrim’s cloak on his back who was eating, and who invited Bevis to eat.
He, who had suffered from lack of food, sat down to eat with him of the bread and the meat that he
had. As they were eating, the rascal drew out a bottle of wine and gave it to Bevis to drink. This
was a drugged beverage, and when Bevis had drunk it, he lay down to sleep on the grass. The villain
robbed him and took his money and his clothes and his sword and his horse. While he was going
through his belongings, he found the letter addressed to the king. Seeing the address, he decided
not to kill him, but put the letter black into his breast. Then he went on his way with the things that
he had stolen from him and with the old horse.
Bevis slept until the next day, without waking, but when the wine lost its effect, he awoke. Seeing
himself thus deceived, he was very sorrowful, and searching about, found the letter. Thereupon he
thanked God and went on foot to Sinella, entered the palace and present the letter to the king, who
read it. When he saw that it said that this was Bevis who had killed his Luciferus, his son, he
wondered why he should be so poorly attired, and asked Bevis whether he was a knight. He replied
that he was, and that he had been robbed along the way and tricked by means of a drink. Then the
king in a loud voice cried to the barons that he had about him: “Seize that traitor who has killed
Luciferus, my son.” The barons drew their swords and he perforce was taken, since he had no arms.
His hands were tied behind his back and the king commanded him to be taken at once to a gallows
outside the city and there to be hanged by the neck in revenge for Luciferus, his son.
Bevis was brought to the gallows to be hanged; and as he walked, he greatly bewept his fortune, and
commended his soul to God, and uttered many complaints against King Armin who had those
deceived him, for he believed that it was King Armin who had sent him to his death; but it was
Duke Hewellyn.