Heroines of the French Epic

by Newth, Michael A. H. ;

  Young Floovant said directly, but with the grace befitting:

  “My lord, I have to tell you, I cannot do your bidding,

  For there is here a Maiden, conceived in beauty’s image,

  Who freed me and my comrades when we were flung in prison

  And the Emir of Persia was just about to kill us.

  She saved us from his clutches and helped us flee the city,

  And I gave her my promise, which everybody witnessed,

  To love her and to wed her if God above were willing.

  I’ll die before reneging on any promise given.

  2230 My lord, I must acknowledge the truth of my position:

  I am the son of Clovis, the King of France, whose limits

  He’s banned me from completely, in anger unforgiving

  Against a petty insult my childishness committed:

  One day, while he was dozing, I shaved my tutor’s whiskers!

  For this much I was banished from France for seven winters!

  But time has passed a-plenty for vanished beards to thicken,

  And I shall travel homeward, together with these princes,

  To claim the right of kingship, and everything it brings me.

  If I could wed Floretta, I would do, in an instant,

  2240 But two I cannot marry, for Christian Law forbids it.

  Bestow her hand, your Highness, on Richier here with me,

  The son of this great fighter, Duke Jocerant, my kinsman.

  Good Richier will serve you with every breath that’s in him,

  And be to you henceforward the best son you could wish for!

  My lord, give him Floretta, for I can tell you this much:

  No Pagan force in future will raid you or evict you

  When forty thousand Frenchmen are allied to assist you!”

  “Upon my faith, I like it!” said Flores as he listened.

  “I too,” replied Floretta, “see good in this decision.

  2250 Since it cannot be other, I’ll gladly wed Sir Richier.”

  “Sir Richier,” said Floovant the valiant, “come hither

  “And gain from noble Flores the flower of his kingdom,

  The soil itself, its riches, and all things concomitant!”

  “My lord,” the lad responded, “your orders are my wishes!”

  He pledged upon his honour, as everybody witnessed,

  To cherish fair Floretta and be a faithful Christian

  To her and to her father while breath of life was in him.

  King Flores asked his barons for new and true commitments

  To Richier as liege lord, that willingly were given.

  2260 With everyone rejoicing, and when the moon had risen,

  Both Richier and Floovant were married to a princess!

  They feasted in the palace with Flores, who was blissful

  To have an heir so worthy, instead of two so wicked!

  And truly there was no one who proved to have more wisdom

  Or courage in a battle, or better arm, than Richier,

  Except for that great hero you know of now – Sir William,

  Who slaughtered Moors in thousands with hatred undiminished.

  As king of the Alsatians, and Austria, young Richier

  Went on to drive the Pagans from Papal lands and cities

  2270 That in his lengthy lifetime the heathens seized or pillaged.

  8. How Floovant returned to France

  THE MIGHTY HALL of Belfort was ringing out with cheers

  For gallant-hearted Floovant and lovely Maugalie,

  And Richier and Floretta, so worthy of esteem,

  When suddenly a Frenchman, a messenger, appeared.

  He brought with him a letter as, weary-limbed, he reached

  The mighty hall by leaping the marble steps beneath.

  He asked at once for Floovant and straightaway received

  Good Richier’s assistance, who pointed to his liege.

  Before the envoy started, the youngster intervened:

  2280 “My lord, I want to ask you, before this envoy speaks,

  If you have ever seen him before in France the sweet?”

  “Indeed I have,” said Floovant, “and hold him very dear!

  Guimar! God bless and keep you! Come over here, fine Peer.

  Lord chamberlain to Clovis, I loved you much indeed,

  And hear that, when I vanished, you also chose to leave.

  Be certain, friend, in future, that you can count on me.”

  “Much thanks, my lord,” he answered, “but now another needs!

  Your father, royal Clovis, requires you urgently!

  A mighty Pagan army, led by Emir Galeen,

  2290 Has trapped him in the castle at Laon with heavy siege.

  Your noble, loving mother sheds unremitting tears

  And through me she entreats you to speed to their relief.”

  On hearing this, young Floovant rejoiced as well as grieved:

  “Ah, God be praised,” he answered, “Whose wonders never cease!

  That he who sped me from him and counted me so cheap

  Should need me now so dearly and count upon my speed!”

  He called upon King Flores, not waiting in the least,

  And Richier his comrade, whose visage glowed with zeal:

  “My noble lords,” he asked them, “advise me if you please!

  2300 My father and my mother are trapped by the Emir

  At Laon inside their castle, and now they’ve sent for me!

  As soon as I am ready, they’re asking me to leave.”

  “My noble lord,” said Flores, “of course you must, indeed!

  You cannot fail your father in such an hour of need.

  Moreover, I’ll go with you with fighters I’ll convene.”

  “My hearty thanks,” said Floovant, “God bless you, noble liege!”

  Said Jocerant: “Prince Floovant, attend a while to me!

  Our lands are close, or will be, and we your loyal peers

  Will each attend them firstly to muster men that we

  2310 Can bring to you and meet you at castle Auvilly.”

  “My lords,” responded Floovant, “God’s blessing on you each!”

  When this was said they parted and went their ways to reach,

  Each man, his land, and order the muster of his fief,

  Then lead his force to Floovant at Castle Auvilly.

  King Flores the Alsatian proceeded to convene

  His men, whose number totalled a thousand score at least.

  At dawn of day, soon after, they rode from Belfort’s fields,

  And, passing through the middle of Burgundy, they neared

  A fortress, and, before it, a sad and evil scene:

  2320 The fortress had belonged to Duke Emelon the Peer,

  But recently the Pagans had overrun its keep

  And seized the duke outside it while he was hunting deer.

  As Floovant looked, they hauled him before his walls and jeered

  Their victim in a blindfold and handcuffed at the rear.

  They dragged him to a gallows they’d raised upon the green

  To wring his neck in hatred and swing him in the breeze.

  But, as you know, the will of our loving Lord decrees

  What does and doesn’t happen to mortals such as we!

  Young Richier was leading, whose heart with valour beat,

  2330 A vanguard of four thousand – and God resolved that he

  Should help the Pagans planting their shady gallows-tree!

  No sooner had he seen them than Richier agreed:

  “Mountjoy!” he cried, “Good barons, attack these evi
l fiends!”

  And with his spurs delivered the message to his steed.

  He raced off to the rescue and struck one Malatree,

  Who was indeed a nephew of Emperor Galeen:

  He ran his bannered lance-head right through him, front to rear,

  Then flung him dead a lance-length before him on the field.

  And then he slew another with his nielloed spear

  2340 Before he drew his sword out, his knighthood’s sword of steel,

  And hit a third so sweetly upon his helm of green

  He split his wits and waistband and everything between!

  The Pagans fled in panic and let their captive be,

  As Frenchmen sped to meet them with weapons keen and mean

  That spared the Pagans nothing and took their heads with ease.

  Of fifteen thousand Pagans, I tell you truthfully,

  There only were a hundred with luck enough to flee.

  Duke Emelon, in wonder, hailed Richier in speech:

  “You’ve saved my life and rescued my duchy’s wealth and weal.

  2350 I swear that from now onward I’ll serve you as my liege.”

  Young Richier moved forward on hearing this, and each

  Embraced the other warmly and kissed upon the cheek.

  The Frenchman reinvested the duke with all his fief

  And left to him, moreover, the Pagan booty reaped.

  Prince Floovant went with Flores and Richier to sleep

  The night inside the tower their valour had redeemed.

  With dawn the coming morning the army took its leave

  And rode until arriving at castle Auvilly.

  As promised, there he met with the twelve courageous Peers

  2360 Whom Maugalie’s own valour at Basum had released.

  The least of them had brought him a thousand men of liege:

  In all some thirty thousand were ready to proceed.

  And so they did, in columns of noble men and steeds,

  Until they saw the tower of noble Laon appear,

  A mighty banner flying above it in the breeze,

  And Pagan tents below it, established for a siege.

  “My noble lords,” said Floovant, “advise me, if you please!”

  Said Richier: “My captain, if you will give me leave,

  I’ll find a way to Clovis and tell him that you’re here

  2370 With thirty thousand soldiers to answer his appeal.

  You’ll know that I am with him as soon as you can see

  My flag beside your father’s above the castle-keep.

  As soon as you observe it, move forward with all speed

  And strike the Pagan campsite, its lodges and marquees.

  When we inside the castle have armed ourselves to leave,

  We’ll do so, bursting forward as you attack the rear.

  Behind them and before them, around them and between,

  They’ll hear so many war-cries they won’t believe their ears!

  They’ll turn in flight, not knowing or seeing where to flee!”

  2380 “Good Richier,” said Floovant, “well spoken, friend, indeed!”

  When this was said they parted to implement the scheme.

  TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN they left when this was said.

  Young Richier, well armed upon a courser, sped

  Towards the Moors, his face well hidden by his helm.

  He rounded rich marquees, pavilions and tents

  Till reaching King Galeen’s, whereat he halted step

  Beneath a leafy tree that shaded all its length.

  Upon the grass of green a silken rug was spread,

  On which sat an emir with King Galeen himself.

  2390 Both rulers were engaged upon a game of chess

  When Richier appeared, to help their game progress!

  He leaned upon his spear and as he did addressed

  The pair in Pagan speech, for he could speak it well:

  “Emir, take my advice and move your knights ahead

  Together with this king who hides behind his men!”

  On hearing this, the Peer reared up at him and said:

  “By Mahom, who are you, you interfering wretch?

  I swear by all the gods you’ll pay for your contempt.”

  But Richier replied: “You fool, you’re wrong again!

  2400 The next move is my sword’s, and you’ll be well in check!”

  On saying this, he smote the Peer across his neck

  And sent across the board his lopped and bearded head!

  He said to King Galeen, who sat there stunned with dread:

  “Don’t lose this piece, Galeen! I’m sure you’ll soon collect

  A matching set of these upon your board of death!”

  On saying this, he spurred his rapid steed and sped

  To reach the fort of Laon without delay or let.

  The gallant knight arrived before the fort and said:

  “Good porter, let me in! The King of France expects!”

  2410 “And who are you, sir knight?” the wary porter said.

  “My name is Richier,” he answered, “and I’m sent

  By Floovant, my liege lord, to see the King himself,

  Whom he has come to save with thirty thousand men.”

  On hearing this, at once the porter ran to wrench

  The smaller gate ajar, through which young Richier leapt.

  For him it truly was a choice of ‘quick or dead’,

  For some one thousand Moors in hot pursuit had left

  Their camp at once to seek the slain emir’s revenge.

  Dismounting on the blocks beneath a pine, he went

  2420 Directly to the hall up countless marble steps

  And found the King inside, dejected and distressed.

  His heart was filled with woe, with anger and regret

  That he, those years ago, had sent young Floovant thence.

  Two others of his sons had played him false since then –

  In anger they’d renounced their Christian faith and fled

  To serve the Pagan will of King Galeen instead.

  The Moor had paid them back with Saxon land and wealth,

  And Clovis, wracked with woe, was bitter and bereft.

  When Richier strode in, he hardly raised his head –

  2430 Until the youth began this fine and fair address:

  “May our Eternal Lord, Whose Glory knows no end,

  Save Clovis and all those who love him and defend!

  I’m sent here by your son – the one who loves you best,

  Prince Floovant, who has come with thirty thousand men!

  If you but raise this flag upon your tower’s crest,

  Your son, who is my lord, will know that we have met.

  Within a wood they bide, not far from here, and when

  They see my flag aloft, they’ll strike the Pagan tents.

  So arm your knights, my lord, and every man that’s left,

  2440 And with our cutting swords we’ll do our part as well.

  From front and rear the Moors will be so fiercely pressed

  They’ll buckle straightaway and pay their folly’s debt.”

  On hearing this, the King was swept from sorrow’s depths

  To heights of joy; alike, his wife beside him wept

  For Floovant’s sake, her son that soon she’d see again.

  With every haste they did as Richier had said:

  His flag of war was raised upon the parapet,

  As knights galore prepared their horses and themselves,

  Then, pouring forth in scores, and five and fifties, left

  2450 To join up with the force
they knew that Floovant led.

  The Moors had no idea of any roving threats

  Until from front and rear the French drove into them!

  THE MOORS HAD NO IDEA until their camp was stormed,

  But in a flash Galeen had armed himself for war.

  He donned the coat of mail and helm he’d always worn,

  Then seized his banded shield, his finely tempered sword

  And well-nielloed spear, then mounted on his horse.

  Soon all his men were armed and mounted like their lord

  To meet the French attack that came from aft and fore.

  2460 How fierce a fight ensued! How well the Christians fought:

  They lopped off heads and arms, they toppled tents galore.

  The French nielloed spears impaled each yelling Moor

  So well that each became a dumb and tumbling corpse!

  King Clovis fought the way that every monarch ought,

  And he and Floovant met amid the fierce assault,

  Not knowing who was who; soon they were crossing swords!

  They stormed each other’s shield with blows that cracked the boards,

  And lusty Floovant struck his father to the floor,

  Then stooped across his man! He would, of this I’m sure,

  2470 Have hewn his father’s head in ignorance of all,

  Had Richier not cried: “Young tiger, draw your claws!

  That’s Clovis, King of France, your father and your lord!”

  On hearing this, at once young Floovant left his horse

  And at his father’s feet most fervently implored:

  “Forgive me! In God’s name, forgive me, noble lord!

  For it is I, Floovant, your son – once more at fault!

  I swear I did not know that it was you I fought!”

  His father said: “Fine son, I pardon you with joy,

  And bless the happy hour your sturdy arm was born!”

  2480 When this was said, they kissed and, weeping with remorse

  For everything they’d missed, they laced their helms once more

  And mounted horse again, with mutual support,

  To carry on the fight against the harried Moors!

  The Germans and the French were like a vice’s jaws

  That held and pressed their foe till they were red and raw,

  Then either bled them dry or, bleeding, let them fall.

  GALEEN WAS FILLED with woe to see his men tormented.

  With silver spurs he drove his destrier to vengeance