Heroines of the French Epic
Page 30
“Fair brother,” grieved Sir Miles “I’ve failed our bond today!
However long I live, I’ll never smile again.”
BEYOND THE TOWN a little there grew a fir-tree grove,
Where stood a sturdy chapel, St Martin’s, so I’m told,
Whose ancient graves abutted the junction of three roads.
A lovely cross of marble was sited there below
A pine-tree that was shading a fountain’s gentle flow –
530 And Auboin and Girart, who lay as dead as stones,
The road before them ruddy, where mortal wounds had flowed.
A thousand men around them, their bodies bowed in woe,
Confessed with mea culpas their own imperilled souls.
DIRECTLY BY the chapel, in shade of tree and Cross,
Both Auboin and Girart were lying, dead as rocks.
Though Garnier was grieving, two others, further off,
Were bringing him some comfort to help redress the wrong:
Brave Garin of Ansyon and Hernaut of Gironde,
With five and twenty thousand in helm and hauberks strong!
540 Their men had just ascended the heights beyond Marsonne
And sighted in the city its mighty fort Fregonde.
The rebels in their hideout armed every man they’d got
And Miles their leader told them: “Unless these men are stopped,
Our clan will be dishonoured, our homelands will be lost!
Lord Sanson, let us fight them! We must, Lord Aumagon!”
COUNTS AUMAGON and Sanson ran swiftly from the walls
To face the force arriving with banners flying tall.
When good Sir Garin saw them, he greeted them with scorn:
“For shame, you wicked traitors: may Jesus curse your course!
550 Do you forget the prison of King Ganor the Moor?
No gold or any silver could prise you from its jaws,
But Garnier the gallant not only led you forth
But wed you to his sisters so fair of face and form.
You ought to serve him gladly in any case or cause!”
The villains were embarrassed and couldn’t speak at all.
THE VILLAINS WERE ashamed and neither of them spoke.
They simply lowered spear and sped to barter blows.
They jousted man to man with Garin and Hernaut,
Who spun them on their backs one lance’s length below.
560 The knights of Garnier came rushing up to both,
A thousand men or more, and took the pair in hold
To Garnier’s head guard, – called Belin, as you know!
The villains were disarmed within a shady grove
Then taken to the cells, built well of marble stone,
Where Do, the white of beard, had shackled long ago
The Saracen Magan, whose ransom cart of gold
Had been the cause of war between the King and Do.
On seeing what occurred, both Miles and Otto groaned:
“My lords, we cannot win – turn, everyone, and go!”
570 And so they did, at once, their helmets low with woe.
AND SO THE FIGHTING ended as evening advanced.
The strongest men were weary, for all had battled hard.
“Sir Garnier’s been lucky,” the rebels said at last:
“He’s won a thousand horses so strong of limb and heart
The worst one, in Pavia, would fetch a hundred marks.
The saying is as valid today as in the past:
The penny gripped is better than four within your grasp!”
THEY BLEW A THOUSAND horns and angrily turned tail.
Count Miles of the Ardennes lamented in his rage:
580 “Fair brother Auboin, I failed our bond today.
However long I live I’ll never smile again.”
Duke Garnier sought out his dead till none remained,
Then took the slaughtered counts inside St Simon’s nave,
Where more than fifty clerks recited psalms and prayed
With laymen fifty score for blessings on the slain.
The bodies of Girart and Auboin were laid
In marble biers of white with porphyry engrained.
Upon the palace steps, beneath an olive’s shade,
The barons of Nanteuil surrounded Garnier.
590 Sanson and Aumagon were both disarmed and placed
In Belin’s sturdy hands and taken to his jail.
Their disappointed sons harangued them on the way.
The gallant Guischard said: “My lord, if you had stayed
In Graillemont your fief, you could have watched the bay
And seen the boats bring in a well-begotten wage –
Much better than the one you’ll get from Garnier:
Your eyes won’t see your feet for thirty days, I’d say!”
Said Alori: “Dear God, they’ve more than that to face!
Duke Garnier intends to send them in exchange
600 For Gui, his son detained by King Ganor in Spain.”
At this their fathers cried: “Enough of this, you knaves!
He wouldn’t dare do that for any gold or gain!
Once Charlemagne comes, he’ll hang you renegades!”
When Garnier heard this he almost went insane.
He only spared their lives for both their children’s sake,
And for their lovely wives, his sisters, whom he’d made
To wed the wretched pair, and both of whom now came
To sue their brother’s heart for mercy on their fate.
THE SISTERS CAME at once, together, to the court.
610 They came on ambling mules with thirty knights in all.
Their brother Garnier embraced the pair with warmth:
“In raging shame we come, my lord,” said Aganor,
“To ask you to forgive our foolish husbands’ fault.
Some devil in their hearts began this wicked war.
You gave them Graillemont – now take it back, my lord.”
At this the duke was filled with anger and remorse.
“MY LADIES,” said their brother, “I saved this pair of traitors
From Aufalerne’s great prison, and what is more I gave them
To both of you in marriage with Graillemont’s entailment!
620 But now they have rewarded my services so basely
That Charlemagne witnessed their plighted word to slay me!
The time has come to pay them correctly for their labours,
And that is why I’ll send them to King Ganor the Pagan,
If he will but surrender to me the son he’s taken.”
Said Agenor: “Good brother, we cannot so forsake them.
Return to us our husbands – we ask no other favours.”
Duke Garnier responded: “By God, I’ll never waiver!”
But Aye his wife arrived there, that gentle, noble lady,
And, speaking thus, was able to change his mind and save them:
630 “MY LORD,” his wife implored him, “I would not like to see
These Frenchmen sent to Ganor to die because of me.
Their sons are strong and loyal, Guischard and Alori,
So spare their reckless fathers to show them chivalry!
If both can learn their lesson, your gain will not be mean –
And if they can’t, their evil, alive or dead, will reap
The punishment it merits from Him Who judges each.”
SAID GARNIER: “My lady, I know what we shall do:
I’ll take them to my liege lord King Charlemagne, who
Will love me as he used to on hearing of the truth.”
640 He brought the pair before him upon the steps and used
His sword to cleave their tethers and set the villains loose.
Said Aumagon: “How noble you truly are, sir duke,
In jousting and in justice, with felons and with fools.
&nbs
p; In truth, we swore to kill you, and Charlemagne knew,
But here and now we sever with those we swore it to,
And swear anew forever to serve you and be true.”
At once Alori added: “And we shall see they do!”
DUKE GARNIER assembled a portion of his forces –
Well over seven hundred – perhaps a thousand almost,
650 Who mounted rapid horses to make the journey northward.
Together with their husbands the three countesses also
Rode off in gallant fettle across the Burgund border.
But hardly had they ridden the valleys of Malortris
When they received a message that made them hold their horses!
An envoy, spurring hotly, came hurrying towards them
Upon a noble warhorse he’d won in Tarragona.
The horse he rode was gallant, the news he brought was galling–
But nothing was omitted or changed as he reported:
“My noble lord, in truth, I’ve tidings of misfortune:
660 Count Miles of the Ardennes and Otto, duke of Vaurin,
Came yesterday at noon to Auberive and stormed it!
They rounded up or killed your citizens who fought them,
Then swiftly left the town with booty so enormous
That if they take it home, they’ll never live as paupers.
They rode away in force – but have to pass before you!”
Said Garnier: “By God, Who never fails or falters,
I’d rather fight and die than let them by un-thwarted!
If I did that, I’d be a laughingstock henceforward!”
DUKE GARNIER dismounted beneath a shady tree.
670 He called his men about him and thus began to speak:
“My gallant lords and liegemen, attend a while to me!
A messenger has ridden the road from Auberive
To tell me that he’s witnessed the plunder of my fief!
I’d rather die in fighting than let the thieves go free!”
Both Aumagon and Sanson came spurring up with shields
Whose quarters were divided by golden bands on each.
“Duke Garnier,” they pleaded, “allow us both to lead!
We’ll ride until we sight them, then fight them till our shields
Are broken into splinters, till gonfalons and spears
680 Lie shattered or in tatters upon the battlefield.”
“ Dear God above, I wonder what lies behind this plea?”
Said Guischard: “Are our fathers still working with the thieves?”
‘There’s one, and one way only, to know!” said Alori.
His father cried:¨Dear Heaven, the world is lost indeed
When sons mistrust the pledges their fathers swear to keep!”
HE WHEELED AROUND his warhorse, and Sanson did alike.
Sir Savari rode with them, with Huon at his side.
They carried solid lances with gonfalons well tied,
As off they hied together for higher ground nearby,
690 Not stopping till they rested beneath a ring of pines.
The Duke remained below them upon the river’s right,
To form his ranks for battle and set his barons’ line.
Soon after, on his warhorse, the traitor Miles arrived
And saw at once the party of four beneath the pines.
Said Aleran, beside him: “My lord, who are those knights?”
“Indeed, we need to know them!” the fearsome Otto cried.
AND SO THEY RODE towards them, with long and lowered lances:
“Benighted knights, who are you?” the fearsome Otto asked them,
And Aumagon responded: “Duke Garnier’s our master,
700 The man whom you have plundered with your rapacious army!
You’ll never pass the river – for there he waits to charge you
For every captive taken, and every coin and casket!”
Sir Miles of the Ardennes, behind the German, answered:
“Alas for you, you traitors! You feckless, fickle partners!
You shame the race that bred you, your brethren and your fathers,
When you transfer your service to enemies who’ve harmed them:
In peacetime and in warfare they’ve slaughtered us regardless!”
“MY LORDS OF FRANCE,” replied both Aumagon and Sanson,
“Whatever pledge we made before the King in Paris,
710 We owe you nothing now, since it was made invalid
By Garnier, who caught, then freed us without ransom.
God bless him! You must know there’s no more worthy baron!
Prepare to flee, or fight the pair of us in battle!”
“SIR MILES,” cried Aleran, the count of Troiesine,
“Just listen to the pair! What sort of kin are these
Who love a stranger more than family or peers?
A loyal Turk or Moor is more to be esteemed!”
“Agreed,” old Sanson said.” “It’s time for talk to cease!”
At this, they came to blows with lowered, lunging spears,
720 While Garnier, below, blew every horn to lead
His seven hundred men against a thousand thieves!
If you had heard the pound of lances hitting shields
And swords of steel resound on smitten helms of green,
As knights were struck to ground and foundered on the field!
Duke Garnier attacked Sir Miles upon his steed:
The villain’s mail was strong, no link of it was breached,
But he was struck so well he teetered on his steed.
Duke Garnier rushed in, and would have felled the fiend,
When Aleran arrived, the count of Troiesine,
730 To shield him from the blow and wield his own between.
The clamour was immense, the clash of weapons fierce:
The wounded and the slain lay everywhere in heaps.
THE CLAMOUR was immense and fearsome was the clash:
The wounded and the slain lay heaped across the land.
Sir Huon raised his lance and galloped to attack
Duke Aleran upon his buckler’s golden bands.
The fragments, as he struck, went flying from his hands.
“Now that’s a gallant blow, my lord,” said Aleran,
“And I’ll not be a churl who’s chary with his thanks!”
740 On saying this, he rushed Sir Huon with his brand
And landed such a blow it shattered helm and cap
To split the head below, completely, front to back!
The rebels raised their cry on high to witness that!
THE CLAMOUR was immense, and very fierce the fighting.
Count Savari that day bestrode a Gascon strider
And bore a sturdy lance whose gonfalon was shining.
He sorrowed as he saw his cousin Huon lying
In death upon the sand where evil had consigned him.
In front of him he saw the Gascon knight Tareiffel,
750 Count Aleran’s own son, a cousin of Sir Miles’s,
And struck him on his shield emblazoned with a lion.
Beneath its golden boss he split it into slivers
And speared him front to rear – with flag as well as iron!
He didn’t spare his heart, his lungs or liver either,
But flung him to his death one lance’s length beside him.
Duke Garnier cried out: “Now that’s the way to strike them!
Whoever stands by you has someone to rely on!”
As soon as this was said, support began arriving
From Auberive itself: at Heaven’s own inspiring,
760 Three hundred gallant knights, their city banners flying,
Came hunting for Sir Miles, with firm intent to find him!
THE FORCES OF NANTEUIL were certainly in need
Of help from such a force as came with Anseis,
Who recognized the Du
ke, upon his rapid steed,
By Garnier’s white flag and lion-blazoned shield.
Assembled, they rejoiced, and so renewed their zeal
That Miles’s men were forced, in little time, to flee.
Pursued to the Dordogne, they couldn’t help but leave
The prisoners of war and treasures they had seized.
770 The men with Garnier were rescued too it seems,
For none of those who went and won with him would need
To suffer more from woes that riches could relieve!
THE FORCES OF MILON retreated in a rage
While, like a gallant knight, Duke Garnier gave chase.
The three countesses watched, beneath an olive’s shade,
The flight and the pursuit begun by Garnier.
With ringing voice, his wife, the fair duchess, exclaimed:
“God bless you, noble lord, and guard you well, I pray!”
God bless her too – alas, she couldn’t know the pain
780 In store for him and her before the end of day!
The villain Miles had raced his horse towards a lake,
And Garnier had chased upon his destrier,
His spear already raised against him to assuage
The mighty rage he’d felt for gallant Girart’s sake –
When he himself was charged by Hugh and Gautier,
Who struck with all the force of horses at full pace:
The shield around his neck was hit and split in twain.
The hauberk that he wore was riven of its chains
As spears, from front to rear, were driven through the mail.
790 They flung him from Fauvel, for so his horse was named,
And Miles himself returned to take it by the rein.
The three of them rode on – no longer in such haste.
Guischard and Alori were first to render aid,
Then Sanson, Aumagon and hundreds more, who raised
Their voices in lament to see their master maimed.
They wrung their hands, appalled, and tore their hair away.
HIS WARHORSE had been taken when Garnier had dropped.
Young Guischard and Alori were first to reach the spot,
And then their fathers followed, Sanson and Aumagon,
800 And then the three countesses, who cried aloud in shock.
Fair Aye the duchess fainted upon her husband, robbed
Of any speech or senses, until at last she sobbed: