On my behalf, to suffer much already.
2800 When first I met him in the woods, this fellow
Was dressed in rags and had no noble weapon –
He was indeed a working-man, a peasant
Who spent his days along the forest-edges
Collecting wood to earn his daily pennies.”
Bérart replied: “He doesn’t look a beggar!
I’ve never seen a knight in finer fettle!
Good Blancheflor, if Charlemagne the Frenchman
Could just be told that you were well and present,
He would rejoice, at once, and more than any!
2810 Please God above, let someone go and tell him!”
The Queen replied: “He cannot know my presence!
He must a while endure this public penance
For judging me so meanly and in error,
Then sending me so meagrely defended –
Alone, except for one young knight’s protection –
Away from home to face a world of peril!
Yes, I am sad – most gladly I confess it –
To see our men endure this bitter melee:
My father’s pride, no other’s, cries for vengeance!
2820 He seeks redress for the disgrace extended
To all of us by Charles’s indiscretion!”
When this was said Sir Varocher directly
Returned to join the battle’s bitter frenzy
And leave Bérart and Blancheflor together.
77. How the battle raged on
THE BATTLE RAGED with ever-growing spite,
Each monarch bent on proving he was right!
This angered Naimon much, whose heart alike
Was filled with grief to hear of Bérart’s plight.
King Charlemagne approached in little time
2830 The Eastern king surrounded by his knights.
With Naimon and Isōré by his side,
Sir Morant too, and one called Salatri,
He raised his blade, whose surface was incised,
And struck his foe with every show of pride.
The Eastern king might well have lost the fight,
When all the force of Hungary arrived,
Ten thousand men in fearsome mood of mind,
And Varocher himself not far behind!
The battle raged with such unheard of spite
2840 No page of words could tell its rage aright!
Both parties stoked the battle’s heat so high
It never waned till night itself was nigh.
Then Charles’s voice resounded with a cry
That urged the king who ruled the Eastern clime
To meet him, with his guards, that very night.
And so they did; Charles drew him to one side
And wisely said: “True Emperor and fine,
I am amazed at your abrupt desire
To undergo the suffering required
2850 To travel here besieging me and mine!
I too lament your daughter’s sorry plight,
And, if she’s dead, I have avenged her life:
I’ve slain the wretch who lied about her crime.
If more’s required to pay your honour’s price,
Then you shall have as much as you desire,
In silver, gold, or wealth of any kind.”
“You were the wretch,” the Eastern king replied,
“Who was prepared to punish her with fire!
Had you not had some abbot who was wise
2860 Enough to know the truth amid the lies,
When she confessed that she was great with child,
You would have burnt fair Blancheflor alive!
And then, what grace did you allow your wife?
You threw her out of France itself, consigned
To face the world, the ward of one young knight,
Whom vile Macaire tracked down and robbed of life!
Charles, you and I cannot be reconciled
Till honour’s breach is mended by a trial
Of champions in combat, yours with mine!”
2870 “Then so be it!” King Charlemagne replied.
“Stay here, and I shall have my men retire.
And then, at dawn, as soon as day is light,
Prepare your man, your champion, and I
Shall choose alike a champion of mine.
And this I pledge: if mine should yield or die,
The right is yours – in all I will comply:
You may command whatever prize or price
Your honour seeks for Blancheflor’s demise.
But if your man should yield the field or die,
2880 Then you must leave with willing heart and plight
Your word to be our friend in Christ allied.”
“I well agree!” the Eastern king replied.
Charles bowed at this, as deeply as he sighed.
Each honoured much his counterpart in Christ,
Before they turned and both their hosts retired.
Then Charlemagne called Naimon to his side,
Count Ogier and many other knights.
He told them all about the compromise
The pair had reached to end their bitter strife.
2890 Each man of Charles agreed that this was wise,
And straightaway Count Ogier applied
To fight for Charles –a right that none denied
Was his to claim, but theirs to ratify –
Which soon they did, and Charles’s glove assigned.
Across the field the king who ruled by right
The town and realm of ancient Constantine,
Told all his men that they were to abide
By what he’d pledged, to put an end to strife:
Two champions would meet in single fight.
2900 “Who shall be ours?” with ringing voice he cried.
“Strong Varocher!” they answered in a trice.
“I well agree!” Sir Varocher replied.
So did the king, to everyone’s delight.
But Blancheflor, when she had been apprised
Of what had passed – how Varocher would fight
With Ogier, the mighty Danish knight,
To end the war – her mind was filled with fright.
For well she knew – by word as well as sight –
That all the world contained no finer knight
2910 Than Ogier, with whom no mortal vied
For strength of arm and courage of all kinds.
And you, my friends, must know by now alike
How dear she held the man who’d saved her life.
And so, at once she sent a youth to find
Sir Varocher, who willingly arrived.
78. How Blancheflor addressed Varocher
WHEN VAROCHER was summoned and appeared,
Fair Blancheflor at once began to speak:
“You’re not as wise as once you were, it seems!
You’ve volunteered, against my will, to meet
2920 A knight whose name you neither know or heed!
You couldn’t find, in all of France, I fear,
A stronger man of courage more esteemed,
A braver knight to fight with in the field,
A loyal man more cherished by his liege
Than Ogier the mighty Danish Peer!”
Said Varocher: “I’m not afraid. Indeed
I beg of you, if ever in the least
I’ve aided you and you have cared for me,
Allow me now to show what I can be!
2930 If Roland and Count Oliver were here
To fight for Charles, I st
ill would volunteer!”
With this Bérart, his prisoner, agreed:
“He’s strong enough, my lady, to succeed!
I’ve never felt a blow like those he deals!
But if he is to fight for you, then he
Must be well armed and strongly clad in steel,
For Ogier the Danish captain wields
Cortain, a sword that’s so well made and sleek
Its blade can part what nothing else can pierce!
2940 Through stone or steel it passes with more ease
Than any scythe cuts meadow-grass or wheat.”
The Queen replied: “Your counsel I shall heed.”
Said Varocher: “And quickly, I beseech,
For I am keen to fight immediately.”
At this, Bérart was moved again to speak:
“Sir Varocher, though laudable your zeal,
This saying too is true: ‘More haste, less speed.’
Too many men pay dearly when they seek
Too bold a price or hold another’s cheap!
2950 You do not know Count Ogier, it seems.
In all the world, in any land or fief
Of Pagandom or Christendom’s demesne,
No knight exists who fights as well as he.”
Said Varocher: “My lord, so I believe.
But still I fear him not one penny-piece!
I want you all to know one thing of me:
Since I was dubbed a knight by my good liege,
My self-esteem has climbed to such a peak
That when it sees below it all those trees
2960 I used to fell and carry with more ease
Than any horse of war, however fleet,
I will no more be burdened like a beast!
So help me God, I want the world to see
My working days in woodland ways have ceased!
I used to rove in peasant-clothes and wield
A staff of wood I’d cloven from a tree.
But now I’m clad in noble knighthood’s gear
And furnished with a sword of burnished steel.
When I see this, my heart takes such a leap
2970 It fears no man, so joyfully it beats!
I used to creep and tread with savage beasts,
But now I sleep in beds with silken sheets,
To which I’m led by servants, if I please!”
Said Blancheflor: “Your spirit is so keen
I’ve no desire to blunt it with my speech!
The thoughts you have and all the words you speak
Are so upright my apprehension yields!
I’ll pray for you, and hope my wishes reach
Lord Jesus Christ, Who judges all and each:
2980 May He defend your noble soul, and keep
Its mortal frame from death or injury!”
Said Varocher: “To help your prayers succeed,
Procure me arms sufficient to my need.”
The Queen replied: “I will, most willingly.”
79. How the Queen armed Varocher
QUEEN BLANCHEFLOR, whose face with beauty shone,
Was full of care for Varocher hereon,
And commandeered the finest arms they’d got!
She dressed him first in a well-padded cotte,
Then in a coat of mail so sleek it shone!
2990 She fixed his spurs, she girt his sword-blade on,
Then laced a helm that was King Faraon’s:
No weapon yet had damaged it a jot!
He mounted horse, a steed from Aragon,
And then the Queen, whose face with beauty shone,
Brought forth a shield, a round and sturdy one
He hung about his gallant neck at once.
He gripped a lance and held its gonfalon,
To show his foe the glowing blade on top.
“Fair Queen, I go in your good name, and God’s!”
3000 Said he, and she: “Our blessings keep you strong!”
When this was said he spurred his steed across
The camp to speak with good King Clarien:
“My noble lord, I go to right a wrong,
And, if I can, redeem your honour’s loss.”
“God bless you, sir!” replied King Clarien:
“If I return to my own realm, by God,
I swear you’ll have more golden coin and plots
Of lovely land with castles, tofts and crofts
And wooded streams, than you could ever want!”
3010 Said Varocher: “I’ll gladly have the lot,
In fealty to you and yours hereon.”
The Eastern king then blessed him with a cross,
And then he left: he spurred his courser off
More wroth of look than lion in its wrath!
He raced along, without a stay or stop,
To Charles’s tent, where, drawing rein, he rocked
Upon his mount and raised his voice aloft:
“Lord Emperor of royal France and Laon,
Where is, I pray, your chosen champion?
3020 Is he prepared to fight with me, or not?”
When Naimon heard, and Charles, the challenge tossed,
They said, as one: “It’s him, that ruffian!
No stranger clod has ever changed his cloth!”
Count Ogier was in the tent and shot
Like bolt from bow to go towards the spot.
And when he heard the insults being swapped,
His honour burned, and, running to his lodge,
He seized the arms his liegemen helped him don:
His coat of mail, his spurs and haubergeon.
3030 About his waist he placed Cortain the strong,
Then laced his helm, with heart and hands a-throb.
He mounted horse, a steed from Aragon,
And hung his shield, whose field was echeloned.
He seized a lance and held its point aloft,
As, saying naught– according to the song –
He spurred to meet Sir Varocher head-on.
King Charlemagne called out as he rode off:
“Behold the Dane! His zeal is burning hot!
We’ll see a fight whose like there never was!”
3040 Duke Naimon said: “Let right prevail – and God
Provide an end that mends this broken bond
Of love and peace among His Christian flock!”
80. How Ogier the Dane addressed Varocher
WHEN OGIER saw Varocher on horseback,
He loosed his tongue and vigorously called him:
“Most truly, sir, I’m sorry you’ve forestalled me
By riding here in battle-gear before me!
Are you so keen to prove yourself in warfare –
Or have you come to yield the field in forfeit?”
“You must be mad,” good Varocher retorted,
3050 “To think I’m here for you to merely sport with,
To sing a song or bring you some enjoyment!
I’m here to fight for justice with my sword-blade.
If you possess the courage fame accords you,
Then you alike are here for battle also.”
The Dane replied: “Of that I can assure you!”
They wheeled their mounts; one arrow’s range they walked them
Before they turned and spurred them hotly forward.
They lowered lance and gripped their handles staunchly:
If only you had seen how they employed them!
3060 The shields of each were shorn aside, like cornstalks
Before the scythe, as lances battered hauberks.
My worthy lords, their common stre
ngth was awesome,
And either’s spear a peerless wand of warfare –
Yet sturdy mail saved both of them from slaughter.
My worthy lords, if you had seen that tourney,
You would have felt its wonder, I assure you!
At such a speed their impact was enormous:
Their steeds were rocked and staggered, almost falling.
Their sturdy spears were splintered, and their horses
3070 Were on their knees – yet neither fighter faltered!
81. How both champions strove for victory
BOTH CHAMPIONS were valiant of temper –
Both horses too, who’d leapt aloft already
To save their lords, whose courage never lessened.
They came again, withdrew their swords and held them
Erect, like tusks upon a charging elephant!
Cortain was short, and with his longer weapon
Sir Varocher struck Ogier’s bright helmet.
The blow was strong, but didn’t even dent it,
As God was there to lift His hand against it
3080 And turn the blade to strike the buckler’s edges.
It severed those and everything it entered –
It even lopped the lapping on his leggings!
The Dane exclaimed: “Sweet Mary, Queen of Heaven,
How sleek an edge this sword of his possesses!
Its heritor must hate me with a vengeance!”
With all his rage he faced the man who held it
And struck his helm, a blow that, though tremendous,
Could neither dent nor damage it whatever:
So hard it was, with God to guard its metal,
3090 It made the blade to take a fierce deflection
That split his shield and clipped one hundred meshes
Right off his mail and flung them on the meadow –
Wherein the blade was straightaway embedded!
The blow itself had been so harsh and heavy
The saddle-bow in front alone prevented
Sir Varocher from falling off directly
Upon the ground as he was hurled against it.
He called aloud on all the powers of Heaven:
“Dear God above, and blessed Mary, help me!
3100 My cause is just! Allow me to defend it!”
The Dane replied: “Do you not know me, fellow?
You cannot win! I urge you to surrender!”
Said Varocher: “Your plea’s a wasted effort!
You haven’t won. I’ll never yield, I tell you!”
When this was said, again they came together
And bartered blows of terrible intention.
They didn’t prize each other’s right whatever,
But plied their own with every might and measure.
Heroines of the French Epic Page 45
