THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
know truly that you are my lord,” and embraced him. And Bevis embraced her also, weeping with
tenderness and joy.
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Growing faint with great joy, Floris said, weeping: “Dearest cousin, let us depart from this place, for
if King Marcabrun should find you here, we shall all die.” Then they returned into the royal palace,
and in the evening the king came to visit Drusiana, since next day the lady was to be with him.
Seeing her weeping, he comforted her, believing that she wept at father’s death. And she said, “My
lord, by my faith, that pilgrim heard Swallowtail neighing. He told me that he had a great mind to
tame him.” The king replied, “Would God that he did! for if he could but break him to the saddle
for me, I would little care for other knight in the world that should tend him.” Drusiana said, “He
says he has a great mind to tame him.” The king desired to go with him to the stable, accompanied
by some barons. Bevis called out at the horse, grasped him by the mane, and held him fast, and the
king bestowed him into his care, and promised him much treasure.
When morning came, Bevis sent for a blacksmith and had him shoe and saddle and bridle the horse,
and when he had been furnished with the things needful, he mounted him and took him to drink
outside the city. He passed through the middle of the courtyard, and all the barons ran to see him,
saying: “That pilgrim is a good rider.”
When Bevis had reached the river outside the city and made Swallowtail drink, he said within
himself: “What shall we do now, Swallowtail?” While he was speaking and sighing, he looked up and
saw a long ways off a beautiful castle, which seemed to him very strong. He called out to a peasant
who was delving the earth at the edge of the river and asked him: “What castle is this?” He replied: