Heroines of the French Epic
Page 7
To trick us here and trap us with her wiles!”
On hearing this, Orable heaved a sigh.
1360 AND THEN SHE SAID: “My gallant lords of France:
By good Mahom, your blame is falsely cast!
Inside my rooms I gave you shining arms,
And if you could have held the Pagan charge
Inside my walls till Louis, son of Charles,
And Aymeri, your father, and Bernart,
Lord of Brabant, and all your clan had marched
Against the town – if they had had the chance
To do this while the Moors were off their guard –
They could have won this border-town Orange
1370 And all around, each narrow, ford and pass!”
Said Guielin: “That’s true enough, I grant!
And if we three were not now where we are,
I’d serve your well until I breathed my last!”
“Upon my faith,” she answered with a gasp,
“If I could know that I’d be safe from harm,
And be the wife of William ‘Strong-Arm’,
I’d set you free, all three, and seek the path
Of Christian Light to lead me from this Dark!”
On hearing this, our hero’s spirits danced!
1380 “My fair,” he cried, “ I swear, on Peter’s Arch,
By God and good St James, that what you’ve asked
Shall, if I live, most surely come to pass!”
The Queen replied: “Then that is all I ask.”
She led them forth, unlocking, as they passed
Through block and floor, each door and bolted clasp.
Their steps were lithe and very blithe their hearts.
AND THAT IS HOW Orable saved the counts.
She wrought their liberty, then led them round
To Gloriette and brought them safe and sound
1390 Inside her room, where each was richly gowned
And served a feast of wine and fish and fowl!
And then it was the lovely queen announced:
“My noble lords, please listen to me now!
I’ve set you free from custody most foul
And led you here and fed you; yet, just how
You can escape still harrows me with doubt!
But here’s a thing for you to think about:
Below our feet there lies in shadows’ shroud
A tunnelled vault that no one knows about
1400 Except my ancestor who dug it out
To reach the Rhône through soil unknown to plough!
If you could send an envoy through it, bound
For your domains to reach Bertrand the count,
Then he could come and meet you underground
With all your men; and then, before the proud,
Benighted Moors had any sight or sound
Of their approach, your men could strike them down!
Their girded swords could win this border-town,
Each pass and ford and narrows all around!”
1410 Said William: “There’s much to gain, I vow.
But where shall such a messenger be found?”
SAID WILLIAM: “My nephew Gui, young hero!
Go forth to Nîmes! Let nothing halt or keep you!
Tell young Bertrand, your brother, that I need him
To bring me aid from every rank and region!”
But Gui replied: “Good uncle, I beseech you!
So help me God, I can’t believe you mean it!
For, by the faith I owe to good St Stephen,
I’d rather die beside you, fighting fiercely,
1420 Than crawl away to Nîmes or Aix, believe me!”
SAID WILLIAM: “Young Gui, my gallant nephew,
I bid you seek the vault below and enter!
Return to Nîmes! Let nothing here prevent you!
Tell young Bertrand your brother to assemble
What help he can and hasten here directly!”
But Gui replied: “Good uncle, no, I beg you!
I can’t believe you mean what you’ve suggested!
I’d rather fight beside you here and perish
Than crawl away to Nimes or Aix, God help me!
1430 Sir Gilbert’s here! Send off, I say, the Fleming!”
Said William: “And will you go, good fellow?”
The knight replied: “With loyal heart I’m ready
To do my part in sending out a message!”
“Then go, my friend! To Jesus I commend you!
On my behalf tell brave Bertrand my nephew
To gather aid and hasten to our rescue.
Unless he does, by God, you’ll have to tell him
We’ll never meet again this side of Heaven!”
WHEN GILBERT KNEW his part was due so swiftly,
1440 The worthy man began to have misgivings,
And doubted much his power to fulfil it!
“I’ve never been or seen below a city!”
The queen herself replied: “I’ll guide you thither,
And God Himself will light each path and pitfall!
So fear for naught that’s mortal-wrought, Sir Gilbert!”
On saying this, she lifted up and shifted
A six-foot slab of stone beside a pillar,
Then said again: “This step is your beginning!
You’ll find below a pathway that continues
1450 Till, in arcade, three columns mark its limit.”
So Gilbert stepped and started on his mission
To go below, not knowing how or whither!
Along the path Count William went with him,
As did the queen and Gui his gallant kinsman.
They all set out until they reached the pillars,
Where Gilbert strode alone straight through the middle.
He reached the Rhône, then found the boat they’d ridden,
And, dipping oars, slipped quietly downriver.
Count William turned back, and, turning with him,
1460 Went Gui and she the fairest-faced of women,
To Gloriette, where once again she hid them.
My worthy friends, it would have been much quicker
To head instead directly back to prison –
For, ever since they’d left the cells, a witness
Had watched and heard each little word they’d whispered.
And now he turned to pay his Prince a visit!
6. How William and Orable were separated
THE PAGAN SPY was very spiteful-hearted.
He’d heard them well, so went to tell his master,
On meeting whom this message he imparted:
1470 “Prince Arragon, I’ve knowledge that will startle
Your loyal heart, concerning Queen Orable
And those you thought were well secured and guarded!
Your stepmother has sprung the bolt that barred them
And led them back to her part of the castle,
Where even now they share in food and laughter!”
“Can this be true?” the angry Prince demanded.
“I do not lie, my lord,” the villain answered.
“I saw them there, inside the queen’s apartments,
In private talk and warm embrace thereafter!
1480 She loves them all, my lord, and she would rather
Bed William than King Teebo your father!”
On hearing this, the Warden’s visage hardened,
And, calling forth his faithful Moors he asked them:
“Advise me now, with counsel wise and hardy,
How I should act regarding fair Orable,
M
y stepmother, whose wicked ways and harmful
Dishonour me and shame my noble father!”
SAID ARRAGON: “My strong and worthy kinsmen,
For Mahom’s sake, take arms and armour swiftly!
1490 Before we’ve done, these wicked, cunning Christians
Will come to grief – and anyone who’s with them!”
His men replied: “We’ll gladly do as bidden!”
And off they ran, some fifteen thousand villains.
Alas indeed for William, unwitting,
As was the queen, and Gui the gallant, sitting
In Gloriette and playing chess, and thinking
With high content that they were safely hidden!
They heard or saw no danger to their vigil
Till with a roar the Pagans stormed the building.
1500 SIR WILLIAM sat underneath the pine-tree,
With Orable and gallant Gui beside him.
They heard or saw no threat at all arriving
Till with a roar the Saracens surprised them,
And, seizing wrists, tied flailing fists behind them,
And swore at once a swift revenge and final!
One Pharaon, who thought himself the wisest,
Addressed the rest: “Prince Arragon, your Highness,
Your father dear, emir Teebo the mighty,
Who left you here to guard this town and guide it,
1510 With Gloriette, his richest fort and finest,
Will weep to hear how villains have defied you,
Outfought your men and slaughtered southern knighthood!
Your noble name will not be worth the slightest
Unless you tear them limb from limb, and likewise
Redeem the shame of such a queen’s devising,
By spurning her and burning her entirely!”
But Escanor, his hoary figure rising,
Said: “Pharaon! Your speech is not a wise one!”
SAID ESCANOR, his hoary head uncovered:
1520 “King Pharaon, your show a lack of judgement!
You shouldn’t start upon a course of justice
You cannot stop at will once you’ve begun it.
Prince Arragon, let me suggest another!
Your father dear, of noble birth and courage,
Has left you here to guard his town from trouble,
And Gloriette, the fort of his beloved.
If you should burn his wife before his coming,
His love for you will turn to hate abruptly!
So wait a while! Cast all inside your dungeon,
1530 Orable too, your traitorous stepmother!
Send further men across the sea to hurry
Your father home, with Haucebier your uncle,
But let them choose how each is to be punished.”
The Prince replied: “You’ve spoken well, old cousin,
And in reward I’ll see you lack for nothing.
I have, indeed, already sent a runner
To the emir, my father, and his brother.
Within a week I trust they’ll be among us.”
At this, his men took William and flung him
1540 Inside a cell with gallant Gui the youngster.
Orable too they threw inside to suffer.
God help them all, Whose Judgement day is coming!
SO WILLIAM was slung inside a cell
With gallant Gui and Teebo’s wife as well,
Who cried and sighed, then sighed and cried again:
“Dear God above, Whose love can conquer death,
Alas for me, of baptism bereft!
I wanted so to be baptised and blest!
Sir William, alas the day I set
1550 My eyes on you and witnessed your prowess!
Because of you I’m hauled from Gloriette
And called a whore! God pity my distress!”
But Gui replied: “Your sighing makes no sense!
I should have thought so great a love would let
The pair of you find heaven in this hell!”
On hearing this, his uncle almost wept,
And swore with rage by good St James and said:
“If not for shame and other men’s contempt,
I’d knock the wind right out of you, you wretch!”
1560 But Gui replied: “That’s something you’d regret!
I couldn’t care who knows it now: I’ll tell
Each man I meet he’s not to call you hence
The ‘proud of arm’ but ‘prince of charm’ instead!
You hurried here upon a lover’s quest!”
On hearing this, our hero bowed his head.
SIR WILLIAM was angry and aggrieved
Inside the cell, held under lock and key
With Teebo’s wife as well as gallant Gui:
“Dear God above!” he sighed and cried, “How we
1570 Have been misled – and now we’re dead indeed!
How mad I was to carry out this scheme –
It’s brought us naught but lasting shame and grief!
God help us now, Who judges all and each!
The King, alas, knows nothing of our need,
Nor does Bernart, my brother white of beard,
Nor Lord Garin, the hero of Anseune,
Nor strong Bertrand, who stayed behind in Nîmes.
We need their help, or else our fate is sealed.”
“Good uncle,” cried young Guielin the fierce,
1580 “Don’t speak like that! You surely have no need?
Is Teebo’s wife, your ladylove, not here
For you to kiss and hug and snuggle near?
A fairer fate you couldn’t hope to meet!”
“You’ll drive me mad, by God!” his uncle screamed.
And when the Moors heard such a quarrel reach
Them from below, some forty rushed beneath
To throw the pair right out of there, and leave
Orable on her own, the courtly queen.
The pair was hauled before the Warden’s seat,
1590 Where Pharaon , with growing anger, screeched:
“Prince Arragon, you must attend to me!
Your father dear, our good and great emir,
Who left you here to govern and to keep
This lovely town, its fortress and its fief,
Will weep to hear how villains such as these
Could thumb their nose at your authority!
Your noble name will not be worth a bean
Unless you flay and slay them, to redeem
The shame and pain of his own wife’s deceit.”
1600 But when he heard these biting words, young Gui,
With rolling eyes, reared up and gnashed his teeth.
He bared his arms, and, rushing forth, he reached
His left hand round the Pagan’s head and heaved
His heavy right against the villain’s cheek!
He broke his jaw, and every bone beneath,
Then flung him dead before him at his feet.
On seeing this, the Count’s content was deep:
“Dear God,” he cried, “Who judges all and each,
We’ve had it now! Our death is guaranteed!”
1610 SIR WILLIAM beheld the Pagan’s fall:
“Dear God,” he cried, “Who judges each and all,
We’ve had it now! Our death has been assured!”
But Gui replied: “Don’t lose your heart, my lord!
You’re not without some allies in the fort!”
Said William: “In truth, their number’s small!”
The gallant Gui looked round him, and he saw
A migh
ty axe stood up against a wall.
He strode to it, and seizing it, employed
Its shining blade against a whining Moor.
1620 He split him through, like timber, to the floor!
On seeing this, this Prince’s anger boiled:
“Seize both these men – again!” the Pagan roared.
“I’ll splay their bones, I’ll flay them to the core,
Then in the Rhône we’ll fling them far from shore!”
But Gui replied: “Be gone from here, you fraud!
You gave the word that freed us from the vault
To lead us here and share your feasting-board!
By all the saints in Rome, I swear you’ve brought
A pair of guests whose fellowship will cause
1630 You more despair than ever you’ll afford!”
As this was said, two Saracens came forth,
Who by a pole were bringing wine galore
Inside a vat, that they were meant to pour.
But when they saw the flurry in the court,
They dropped the lot and scurried from the storm.
The Count, at once, retrieved the pole and launched
An avalanche of blows so cold and raw
Against the skin of those within its course
It froze the blood of everyone it caught!
1640 INSIDE THE HALL stood William the brave
And Guielin, whose courage was ablaze !
With swinging axe and slinging-pole they rained
Enormous blows on rows of Pagan knaves!
Fourteen or more they flattened straightaway,
And furnished scores with such alarm they chased
Them down the floors and out the palace-gates!
With bar and bolt they slammed those in their face,
Then raised the bridge upon its heavy chains!
The sight of this drove Arragon insane!
1650 He called upon his wisest men and wailed:
“Advise me now, for good Mahomet’s sake!
This William has robbed me like a knave,
And now he has my very hall of state!
I see no way of getting in again!”
7. How Orange was finally taken
LET’S LEAVE A WHILE the Warden as he raves,
And turn our thoughts to Gilbert once again,
Who, all alone, has crossed the Rhône and made
His way up hills and down again in haste
To get to Nîmes upon his quest for aid.
1660 Bertrand, within, arose at dawn of day