THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Having come with Floris to where Drusiana was, Bevis kneeled and greeted her on Bevis’ behalf.
She took his hand, drew him apart to a more hidden place, beckoning Floris to come with them, and
asked him for news of Bevis. He replied: “My lady, first give me something to eat, and then I will tell
you news of Bevis.” She had food and drink brought to him, and when he had eaten, Bevis said to
Drusiana: “Bevis told me to ask you if you have bedded King Marcabrun.” Drusiana replied: “I
would first be burned at the stake rather than let him touch my person. Tell my lord that this very
night I will kill myself rather than let him find me in bed with King Marcabrun.” Bevis told her that
he had been for three years in prison with Bevis: “And both together we fled from prison. And you
must know that he would rather stay in prison than give his consent that a damsel who held him
there should kiss him on the cheek. And if he had wished to take her to wife, he would now be
Lord of Hungary and of Bosnia and of Slovenia. Instead he preferred for love of you to stay in
prison all his life.” Drusiana began to weep.
At this point King Marcabrun entered the chamber and, finding Drusiana in tears, said to the
pilgrim: “I am of a mind to have you thrown to the ground from the windows of this palace.”
Drusiana said: “My lord, do not do this, for this is a holy man who has come from the Holy
Sepulcher of Christ. He has been in Armenia and tells me that my father has died. That is why I am
weeping. God pardon him.” At this, the king went out, shedding some tears for love of Drusiana.
She prayed the pilgrim that he would let her see Bevis, and he replied: “This very knight I will bring
him before your eyes, for he is filled with great love, and he has shown this in prison when he would
not for his life content the damsel who held him, out of love for you.”