THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

97
© 2009 Max Wickert
Then Drusiana took up the aforementioned keys and listened whether any other person was stirring.
When she heard that all was quiet, she went in silent secrecy to Bevis, bringing him all his armor.
They went to where Swallowtail was stabled, took another fine horse for Drusiana, mounted and
rode to the aforementioned gate. She was trembling all over with fright. The main gate being
opened (that is, the one that could be opened with the keys that she had), they could not open the
post-gate, since one of the burghers living by the gate had it. They called out to him and he came
with the keys, but when he saw the lady, he said to Bevis: “Who are you? For it seems no to me
honest thing to lead away this lady.” Bevis said: “Open the gate and concern yourself no further in
this matter, for I go about the king’s business.”
Meanwhile two of the burgher’s companions came up and spoke harshly. One of the said: “By my
faith, that horse looks like Swallowtail to me,” and ran up at its side. At once the horse veered to the
side and gave him a pair of kicks in the chest, so that he fell dead to the ground. Bevis drew his
sword and slew the other two, snatched up the keys, opened the gate, and the rode out, taking the
road toward Montefeltro. They rode all night long.
When it was near dawn, Drusiana said: “I am exhausted, I can ride no further.” She dismounted and
walked a while on foot, then remounted her horse. As the day brightened, she wanted to dismount
again, but Bevis pointed toward the city whence they had come and said: “We must hurry and ride
faster, so that people will not overtake us. And he began to comfort her and to speak cheerfully to
dispel her melancholy. But she was tired out by waking and riding, and cursed the day and the hour
when she fell in love with him, and blamed him for the pains that she had suffered on his behalf.
Then Bevis said: “For my pains I will not blame you, however many I have suffered on your behalf,
so much more do I love you and ever will love you.” At this, she smiled.