Heroines of the French Epic

by Newth, Michael A. H. ;

  The charge is false. I totally deny it.

  In deed or thought I never dealt so vilely.

  If any man accuses me of lying,

  My sword and I are ready to defy him!”

  970 The villain spoke with confidence, relying

  Upon his skill and on his clan’s reprisals.

  Duke Naimon saw and heard his power silence

  The courtiers, and heartily despised him.

  He said to Charles: “Release him now, Your Highness,

  Then take advice from knights you can rely on!

  The fiend deserves at least to face a trial!

  If out of fear you do not even try him,

  You don’t deserve a monarch’s crown or title.”

  25. How Charlemagne took counsel

  THE EMPEROR did not delay at all,

  But brought to court his barons and his lords,

  980 The best he had, a hundred knights and more.

  Inside his hall, beneath its soaring vaults,

  He gathered them – regret it or rejoice!

  “My lords,” he cried, “I won’t conceal my thoughts:

  A plot’s been laid by one who’s played me false.

  In shame it’s claimed my wife Queen Blancheflor,

  And Aubri’s life – which fills me with remorse.

  Advise me now, and never fear the force

  Of any man’s revenge for speaking forth.”

  990 But when his men had heard the case and cause,

  Be damned if one would even raise his voice:

  They all deferred before Macaire in court –

  So much they feared his power and support.

  26. How Duke Naimon spoke

  DUKE NAIMON STOOD – the only one who did so:

  “My lord,” he said, “unlike the rest within here,

  I shall not keep my true opinion hidden.

  I know full well why none of them is willing

  To take the floor: they fear the wrath they’d kindle

  In Lord Macaire and his revengeful kindred:

  1000 I’ll tell you what each one of them is thinking:

  ‘The Mayence clan’s a powerful and big one:

  In Germany their allies have no limit.

  No man alive in any Christian kingdom

  Would fight by choice with such a host of villains!’

  But I believe injustice to be wicked,

  And stand prepared to give a firm opinion:

  None here or hence shall censure my commitment!

  Arrest Macaire, on treachery’s suspicion!

  Remove his furs and in his gown equip him

  1010 With just a rod, three feet in length; and bring him

  Inside the lists set up before this building.

  Bring there Macaire, and then let loose within it

  Young Aubri’s hound that saw its master’s killing,

  And by its hate for Lord Macaire has striven,

  It seems to me, to indicate who did it!

  If Lord Macaire defeats the dog, acquit him.

  But if the hound defeats him or submits him,

  He should at once be recognised as guilty,

  And put to death like any wicked brigand.”

  1020 When Charles’s men assembled there had listened

  To Naimon’s speech, they each approved its wisdom,

  And all agreed to back its imposition.

  He sought their word and no one failed to give it.

  The King himself was pleased with the decision,

  As were indeed the men Macaire had with him:

  They didn’t think, not even for a minute,

  That any hound could win against their kinsman.

  27. How Macaire fought against the hound

  THE MEN MACAIRE had with him of his house

  Rejoiced to hear Duke Naimon’s words announced.

  1030 They thought as one: they never had a doubt

  Their man would win against Sir Aubri’s hound.

  The Emperor, King Charlemagne, allowed

  No time to pass ere this was carried out.

  Before the keep, upon a square of ground,

  A palisade was raised upon a mound

  Of beaten earth, enclosing it all round.

  A ban was cried: if any man was found

  Inside the lists, he would be hung, without

  The least reprieve, like any thieving lout.

  1040 But all would watch – without a stir or sound.

  The King was keen to end the matter now.

  They seized Macaire and then they stripped him down

  Till he was dressed in just an under-gown.

  They placed a rod, three feet from base to crown,

  Within his hand, but that was all allowed

  For his defence, to parry with or pound.

  When this was done they led the villain out,

  And then the dog – whoever grins or growls!

  When both were in the judgement place the hound

  1050 Beheld Macaire and charged him with a bound!

  28. How the hound charged Macaire

  WHEN AUBRI’S HOUND beheld Macaire ahead,

  It bared its teeth and bit him as it leapt!

  It sank its fangs well in the wicked wretch,

  Who raised his pole and in his turn commenced

  To flay the beast’s whole body, right and left.

  The hound held on, to tear and pare more flesh.

  The fight was like no other witnessed yet,

  And everyone who lived in Paris went

  At once to watch the judgement God would send.

  1060 With one accord they roared aloud and said:

  “St Mary, lend the righteous one your help!

  Reveal the truth today of Aubri’s death.

  For Aubri’s sake, and ours, display your strength!”

  The fight was like no other seen of men,

  And fiercer far than any, now or then!

  When those Macaire had with him there beheld

  How close it was, they said: “We were misled!

  Are we to see a dog defeat our geste?”

  When this was said one clansman climbed the fence

  1070 And would have run to help his kinsman, when

  The cry went up to place him in arrest

  And hang him high where he had dared to tread!

  On hearing this, he turned to flee instead!

  29. How the duel claimed its first victim

  THE CLANSMAN FLED – in truth, he sped away!

  But when he did, King Charlemagne proclaimed

  That anyone who brought him back would gain

  A thousand pounds to pay him for his pains.

  When news of this was cried through every lane,

  A villager, who’d come to town that day

  1080 To buy some shoes, was quick to stake his claim:

  He saw the rogue run right across a square,

  And with his staff of apple-wood he chased

  Straight after him and bailed him up, like hay!

  He packed him back, like that, to Charlemagne,

  And never earned a better harvest’s wage:

  The King himself approved the crop and paid

  A thousand pounds without the least delay.

  At Charles’s word the rogue was bound and haled

  Right back to where he’d made his life’s mistake:

  1090 And there they strung and hung him straightaway,

  Then flung his corpse as fodder for the flames!

  His clansmen felt a sorrow mixed with hate,

  But didn’t dare to show it on their face.

  T
he duel went on, its cruelty too great

  For anyone to rightfully relate.

  It raged all day until the evening came,

  And then again upon the following day.

  30. How the duel was done and won

  THE FIGHT WAS FIERCE– as fierce as it was long!

  No man alive saw enmity so strong!

  1100 The greyhound leapt, its fangs securely locked

  Upon Macaire, who rained his heavy rod

  Upon its head that bled and battled on.

  The clan Maience lamented in its wrath:

  How willingly they would have brought a stop

  To what they saw with ransom-gold or -stock,

  But Charles, he swore by God and good St John,

  That all the gold they had, or ever was,

  Would never save Macaire, if there he lost,

  From death by fire or in the hangman’s knot,

  1110 Whichever fate his barons might allot.

  So, on they fought, in deadly combat locked.

  The hound attacked so fiercely and so long

  That in the end Macaire’e resistance dropped –

  His shoulders drooped, his strength of limb was gone.

  In vicious haste the greyhound leapt upon

  And bit his face so hard it carved right off

  The villain’s cheek and crunched the bone beyond.

  His jowl released a howl of pain aloft:

  “Where are you all, my clansmen fair and fond,

  1120 When now I need your help against a dog?”

  The King replied: “I’ve sent your kinsmen off!

  You will regret you ever saw or wronged

  My wife, and left young Aubri’s corpse to rot!”

  The dog, meanwhile, increased the gain he’d got:

  With all its rage it lunged again and knocked

  Its foe to ground – so firmly did it lock

  Its noble jaws he couldn’t move a jot!

  At this, Macaire cried mercy there and sobbed:

  “Ah, noble King, almighty Emperor,

  1130 Don’t let me die so awfully, by God!

  Bring forth a priest! Release me from this dog

  And I’ll confess to all my wicked plot.”

  The King rejoiced, on hearing this response,

  And summoned forth the worthy Abbot from

  Great Saint-Denis, who gladly came anon.

  31. How the Abbot spoke to Macaire

  THE EMPEROR did not delay or dither:

  From Saint-Denis he called the Abbot thither

  Who came anon, with rapid step and willing.

  Charles led him out between the line of pickets,

  1140 Where Lord Macaire was still restrained so grimly

  He couldn’t move a muscle, toe or finger.

  His voice was low – so wounded he and winded –

  The Abbot knelt beside him there to listen

  And ascertain if it was his decision

  To tell the truth, at last, with naught omitted.

  “Beware, Macaire! The Queen herself has given

  The truth to me, when she besought forgiveness!”

  “The fault is mine,” the swine Macaire admitted:

  “Attend my sins and help me seek remission,

  1150 For I know well my life on earth has finished –

  My wealthy clan, I know, can help me little.”

  “You speak the truth, at last, in my opinion,”

  The Abbot said: “You truly have been wicked.

  Yet I believe that if you show contrition

  And own to all, the King will show you pity,

  Because your rank is high within his kingdom,

  And I myself shall urge him not to kill you.

  But I insist that when you bear true witness

  To what’s occurred, the Monarch must be with us,

  1160 Duke Naimon too, with other Peers and bishops.

  If they are not, you will not be forgiven,

  Nor shall this hound release you for a instant –

  For God has wrought His wondrous purpose with it,

  By letting it survive you and submit you!

  He willed it so to show beyond suspicion,

  Before the world, the truth of who was guilty!”

  Macaire replied: “I’ll gladly do your bidding.”

  The Abbot thus invited Charles to listen,

  Duke Naimon too, that paragon of wisdom,

  1170 And many more, of high and low condition,

  As Lord Macaire prepared to own his mischief.

  Attend, my lords, the way the traitor did it –

  Alas, I say, that some are born so wicked!

  The Abbot said: “Begin at the beginning,

  And speak the truth, with nothing false or hidden,

  For I know all about this sorry business.

  Queen Blancheflor, before my lord dismissed her,

  Revealed to me your part from start to finish.”

  Macaire replied: “I shall not try to trick you.

  1180 Call off this hound, I beg you, as a Christian!”

  The King replied: “It knows your sins committed,

  And will remain until their stain is lifted!”

  So Lord Macaire described in full, as bidden,

  The sorry path of treachery and killing

  His lust had laid, and he himself had ridden.

  32. How Macaire made confession

  AND SO MACAIRE revealed his course of crime:

  How first he’d gone to see the Queen inside

  The budding grove, and then how he had tried

  To woo her heart and speak of his desire –

  1190 Which she had spurned, to his offended pride.

  And then he told how with his gold he’d hired

  The cunning dwarf, at first, to take his side

  In speech with Blancheflor, but then to hide

  Inside her room, then later on to climb

  Inside her bed, for so they had designed

  To ruin her and be revenged alike.

  How then he’d tossed the midget in the fire

  To stop their plot from coming hence to light.

  He then confessed that when he saw her ride

  1200 Away from court with Aubri at her side,

  It angered him that he’d not seen her die,

  And so, well-armed and clad in iron to fight,

  He’d ridden forth in hot pursuit to find

  The Queen again and do what he desired.

  When Aubri’d tried to stop him he described

  How, with his sword, he’d taken Aubri’s life.

  He didn’t know, he said, what had transpired

  With Blancheflor, who’d fled when he arrived.

  “She wasn’t there to see or find,” he cried:

  1210 “She ran inside a forest deep and wide,

  And I returned, not caring to abide:

  The deed I’d done weighed sorely on my mind.

  God damn my soul if it was otherwise.”

  “You’ve stung me so, I swear,” the King replied,

  “By what you’ve done to my beloved wife,

  That I shall wear no more this crown of mine,

  Nor eat or drink a thing again till I

  Have seen you pay your treason’s proper price!

  Naimon!” he cried, “This traitor has defiled

  1220 My noble wife by his deceitful lies.

  He’s also slain a youth we all admired.

  Your wisdom’s truth shall be my only guide.”

  The duke replied: “Then this is my advice:

  First, drag the rogue through Paris, tied
behind

  The biggest steed and fastest you can find.

  Then burn what’s left upon a raging fire!

  If any man of Mayence clan decries

  This judgement made, then let him share the plight!”

  Each person cried: “These words are good and wise.”

  1230 The dog still gripped the villain’s throat so tight

  He couldn’t move a muscle, left or right.

  But when the King, for love of God on High,

  Besought the dog, in gentle tones and mild,

  To let him go, the dog at once complied.

  Like any man of understanding mind

  The dog obeyed and did as Charles required.

  Because the dog had done its task assigned,

  It let him go – and ere the priest retired,

  He shrove Macaire and prayed for him to Christ.

  33. How Macaire was punished

  1240 ATTEND, MY LORDS, what Charlemagne did next,

  On the advice that Naimon’s wisdom lent.

  Macaire was seized immediately and then

  Was dragged behind a steed of nimble strength

  Around the town and through it east to west.

  On foot and horse, behind the courser, swept

  The Paris crowd, small children, youths and men,

  Who hurled abuse upon all sides and said,

  Each one of them: “This villain’s due for death!

  He planned the shame of Blancheflor and left

  1250 Sir Aubri dead, who was indeed the best

  Young knight in town for honour and prowess!”

  They ragged him thus and dragged him all the length

  Of Paris, then upon the square again.

  And there they lit a mighty fire to spend

  What little wealth the villain’s health had left!

  His kinsmen there stood helpless to the end,

  And when that came, they buried what was left,

  Their hearts aglow with anger and distress.

  Now let us leave Macaire to burn in hell,

  1260 Where sinners reap the evil seed they spread!

  Brave Charlemagne remained in Paris, vexed

  Most sorely for the fate his wife had met,

  And for the lad he’d loved so long and well –

  And for Macaire: his man, when all was said.

  But let us turn to Blancheflor’s distress.

  When she had seen the blow Macaire had dealt

  To Aubri, which had thrown the youngster dead,

  The Queen had fled inside the forest’s depths.

  What misery she’d had to suffer then –

  1270 And she with child, a prince that Charles had bred.

  But on she’d gone, and struggled every step,