THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
quite a few blows. He was a ashamed to resort to his sword, but instead took up his pilgrim staff.
The first on whom he tried it was the seneschal, and he struck him dead. Then he pummeled all the
cooks and broke much of the crockery. All fled from the kitchen, and some of them fled toward the
hall and encountered Floris, Drusiana’s cousin-in-law, and told him of the great commotion in the
kitchen.
Floris went to the kitchen and, finding Bevis there, said to him: “You scoundrel, what have you
done here? Why have you done this?” Bevis said, “Hear my reasons,” and recounted how he had
begged, for the love of God and of the soul of Bevis, who was a good knight. Floris took his hand,
drew him from the kitchen, and told the cooks to return to their tasks. He brought Bevis to a
chamber and asked him which Bevis he was begging for. He said: “For him of Hampton, husband
of Drusiana, the man who slew Luciferus.” Floris asked: “How is it that you know Bevis?” He
replied: “For three years and four months I have been in prison with him in a city called Sinella.
When Bevis escaped from prison, I also escaped, and I am certain that he will be here today or
tomorrow. I have come to know whether Drusiana has bedded King Marcabrun.” Floris replied
that she had not, and told him of all that had occurred. Then he asked him whether he would be
pleased to speak with Drusiana. “Gladly,” said Bevis. Floris left him in that chamber, saying: “Wait
for me here, and I will go to Drusiana and speak with her, and then come back to you.” And so he
did.
He went into the hall, spoke secretly with Drusiana, telling her that he had news of Bevis. She stood
still for a while, then left the hall and went to her chamber, saying to Floris: “Go to that pilgrim of
yours and bring him to me.” And he went to Bevis and led him toward Drusiana’s chamber, passing
through the midst of the barons in the hall.