Heroines of the French Epic

by Newth, Michael A. H. ;

  82. How the duel raged

  BOTH CHAMPIONS were wonderfully brave.

  3110 They didn’t prize each other’s rightful claim

  But plied their own with every might and main,

  Exchanging blows that pitted speed with weight.

  Their helms alone, of all their armour, saved

  The flesh below – the rest was ripped away.

  “Sweet Heaven’s Queen,” cried Ogier the Dane,

  “I can’t believe the valour of this knave!

  I’ve never felt the strength that he displays!

  This champion is wonderfully brave.”

  With this in mind he questioned him again:

  “My noble lord,” the worthy Dane exclaimed,

  3120 “Within the halls of him you serve, what name

  Is given you – I bid you, tell me straight!”

  The answer came: “My name is Varocher.

  I am a knight, but new to that estate.

  For I was born a villein and remained

  A villein long, in woodlands at my trade.

  But then I did a deed that was repaid

  Most handsomely by Clarien the great,

  Who raised me up to knighthood’s high estate.

  3130 But I must hide one matter, which, betrayed

  To fearsome Charles beforehand, would have changed

  His hate for me to love, and would have saved

  Your journey here to fight for France’s fate,

  And your resolve to send me to my grave!”

  “My noble lord,” at once said Ogier,

  “If you could tell me here and now, in faith,

  This fact you hide, and have to hide, you say,

  Then you and I could put our arms away

  And fight no more, without remorse or shame –

  3140 And this accord could seal our lords’ the same!”

  “If I reveal this fact,” said Varocher,

  “Then you must swear to keep its secret safe

  From anyone until its part is played.”

  “I swear to this,” replied at once the Dane.

  “That’s good enough for me!” said Varocher.

  “Attend, my friend, and you shall hear a tale

  From start to end, wherein the sting remains!

  Do you recall, some time ago, how brave

  Sir Aubri took King Charles’s wife away

  3150 From France’s court to exile, but was slain

  In woodland wild by lustful Lord Macaire?

  He paid the price; but she ran off, afraid,

  Till on a slope I met her face to face.

  She trusted me, and by my side escaped

  To Hungary, where for a while we stayed

  With loving hosts who treated her with grace:

  The very night, I tell you, that we came,

  She bore a son, whose baptism was made

  In royal arms: the king of that domain

  3160 Gave his own name, of Louis, to the babe.

  He met the Queen, and in esteem conveyed

  His envoys to her father’s court in haste.

  He, in his turn, sent envoys straightaway

  To bring her home, across the ocean’s wave,

  Where all these ranks for her revenge were raised.

  Right now, my lord, I swear to you, in faith,

  That Blancheflor, and her most royal waif,

  Are in the tent her father raised today!

  Whoever seeks will find her straightaway –

  3170 The wife of Charles is present, sound and safe!”

  When Ogier heard Varocher explain

  His part in all and how the matter lay,

  The joy he felt was brighter than the rays

  A world of gold in sunlight would have raised!

  He bowed at once before good Varocher,

  And to its sheath returned his shining blade:

  “Good Varocher,” he cried, “dear Varocher,

  By God above, in Whom all truth remains,

  I’ll joust with you no more, and ne’er again,

  3180 But think of us as brothers of the Faith!

  No wealth of mine, no groat of it or grain,

  Shall not be yours to share in equal gain!”

  The Dane’s largesse with equal thanks was paid!

  83. How Ogier hailed Varocher

  WHEN OGIER had heard the secret told,

  He felt a joy he never yet had known:

  His heart lit up and gladness filled his soul.

  He thanked the Lord and blessèd Mary both,

  Then Varocher, again, in tender tones:

  “My joy,” he said, “at what you have disclosed,

  3190 Is greater wealth to me than any gold!

  The hate I felt has melted like the snow!

  And so, to Charles, the lord of France, I’ll go,

  And tell him that your lance has laid me low!”

  84. How Ogier continued speaking

  THE DANE SPOKE ON: “I tell you, nothing loath,

  The joy I feel at what you have disclosed –

  That Blancheflor is present, hale and whole –

  Is greater wealth to me, I swear it’s so,

  Than if I’d been proclaimed the lord of Rome!

  And so, to Charles, the lord of France, I’ll go –

  3200 But not to tell this secret you have told.

  I have a plan, by means of which I hope

  To mend the breach between these monarchs both!”

  Said Varocher: “That truly would be gold!

  Delay no more! Go, do what you propose!”

  Count Ogier, the leave he sought bestowed,

  Turned round. to leave Sir Varocher alone

  And speed away towards the Frankish host.

  And when the men had gathered round to know

  How well he’d fared against their Eastern foe,

  3210 He told them all that he had been laid low!

  Dismounting then, and dropping from his hold

  The arms he’d borne and changing into robes,

  He went to Charles and knelt before his throne:

  “Fine King,” he cried, “ I cannot hide my woe!

  I fought my best, but I was overthrown

  By the best knight in Christendom! And so,

  My noble lord, to keep at least our troth,

  I bid you, treat for peace in the true hope

  That he whose kin you are by marriage-oath

  3220 And Christian faith, will honour what he owes.”

  “I’d do it now,” said Charles, “if I supposed

  He’d pity me enough I could atone

  For Blancheflor, his daughter I exposed

  To dole and death upon a road of woe!”

  The Dane replied: “We’re finished if you don’t!

  Send off at least a messenger who knows

  The way to speak and spark some pity’s glow!”

  “I’ve thought of this,” said Charlemagne and groaned:

  “But where’s the Peer that clear of speech and bold?”

  3230 The Dane replied: “Right here, my lord! Behold!

  Naimon the duke and I myself shall go!”

  The King replied: “My lord, it shall be so!

  No man could find a better pair, I own!”

  And so the duke went off to change his coat

  Of burnished mail for noble cloth and cloak.

  Count Ogier was playing still the role

  Of a contrite and beaten man, although

  He knew the truth that Varocher had told,

  And had to keep his happy heart controlled

  3240 As
both set off upon their common goal.

  They journeyed forth upon an empty road

  Until, guess who was there to join them both?

  Yes, Varocher! For he had planned it so

  With Ogier but little while ago!

  What courtesy and joy each other showed!

  Duke Naimon and Count Ogier enclosed

  His hand in theirs and, as a trio, rode

  Towards the tent of Clarien, who rose

  Upon his feet to welcome their approach.

  3250 Upon his right he sat Naimon the old.

  Upon his left Count Ogier the bold

  Was asked to sit, and did so, nothing loath.

  Good Varocher stood just before them both.

  The Eastern lords beheld their Western foes

  And, to a man, admired the mien they showed.

  85. How Duke Naimon spoke

  DUKE NAIMON WAS the first of them to speak:

  “True Emperor,” he said, “I do believe

  I speak the truth, and hope you will agree:

  Within this world there is no word or deed

  3260 That once it’s said or done can ever be

  Rethought or wrought or any way retrieved.

  Since this is so, in God’s name I entreat

  You to forgive with Christian love the grief

  That Charles your kin has caused your house to feel.

  If you agree, then he and France the sweet

  Will make amends whatever way you please.”

  Said Clarien: “Your words are wise indeed –

  And let me say, with equal honesty,

  That when I wed my daughter to your liege,

  3270 The love for him I felt, and the esteem,

  Were greater far than those for any Peer!

  But he has treated me most shamefully,

  And Blancheflor, my daughter, whom he deemed

  Should die in flames from lying claims that he,

  We know, believed at once, most wrongfully!

  We also know, which you do not, it seems,

  But now, I feel, it’s right that I reveal,

  The final fate of Blancheflor your Queen:

  So help me God, you’ll hear the truth from me:

  3280 Sweet Blancheflor, my daughter, lives and breathes

  In perfect health – which, if you don’t believe,

  Then she herself will verify in brief!”

  His face aglow, to Varocher he leaned

  And said: “You are both brave and wise indeed!

  Betake yourself to Blancheflor and lead

  My daughter forth so that she may be seen

  At once by those whom Charles has bidden here.”

  Said Varocher: “I will, most willingly,”

  And left before another breath was breathed!

  3290 Arriving soon inside a paved marquee

  Where she was with Bérart the detainee,

  Varocher said: “My lady, truthfully,

  I’m here to bring glad tidings to you each!

  The king has asked that both of you appear

  Before him now, and dressed as best can be,

  So nobody can say that, in his keep,

  You have been held in aught but high esteem!

  Your father wants two lords of yours to see

  With their own eyes that both of you are here.”

  3300 What joy this was for Blancheflor to hear!

  She dressed her best and in her hair she wreathed

  A thread of gold that made her tresses gleam.

  Then, with Bérart, she left her lodge to reach

  Her father’s tent as fast as foot can speed!

  Both barons there were full of words to speak –

  But, seeing her, their hearts gave such a leap

  With total shock their throats were blocked of speech!

  86. How Duke Naimon finally addressed the Queen

  IMAGINE, FRIENDS, the joy and the delight

  Both barons felt to see their Queen arrive!

  3310 They started up, at once, and, when outside,

  Knelt straightaway before her as they cried

  Aloud at last and greeted her with smiles.

  Said Naimon first: “My lady, if I might:

  Allow me now to speak my honest mind!

  King Clarien, who gave and saved your life,

  Has proved himself the wisest of the wise,

  By bringing you and springing this surprise.

  But, if he would permit his wit and mine

  To work as one, it is my great desire

  3320 To see both kings conjoined again in Christ,

  And you, my Queen, if such is your desire,

  Returned to France and to your husband’s side.

  Bavarian and German lords alike

  Will serve your name with all their main and might!”

  “I am not sure,” fair Blancheflor replied:

  “I still recall the awful day and time

  Charles treated me so badly in his spite:

  With cruel haste he raised a blazing pyre

  To cast me in and watch me burn alive!

  3330 No wonder I was numb and dumb with fright.

  The Abbot was the one who saved my life,

  When told by Charles to speak my dying rites!

  And even then, Charles drove me out, assigned

  To Aubri’s care, a brave and gallant knight

  Who, saving me, was slain before my eyes

  By vile Macaire, who’d followed us and tried

  To do with me whatever he desired!

  I saw him come, and ran away to hide

  Inside a wood, a forest wild and wide.

  3340 He stalked me then for such a lengthy time,

  But having failed to find me, took to flight.

  And then I met this man, who saved my life!

  Sir Varocher deserves to be admired

  By all of you above all other knights!

  For me he left his wife and sons behind,

  And never once forsook me in my plight.

  He looked, then, what he was, a woodsman wild

  Who plied a trade he didn’t want to ply –

  And hasn’t, since my father dubbed him knight.

  3350 He shows each day a prowess hard and high!”

  “He has no peer in that!” the Dane replied.

  “I can confirm that you will never find

  A man who strikes a harder blow all right!”

  87. How peace was re-established

  “ATTEND TO ME,” said Blancheflor the Queen,

  “And rest assured that what I say I mean!

  My father’s will is all that matters here –

  And I shall do whatever he decrees.

  For it was he who took good care of me

  And for my child when I was forced to flee.

  3360 I will return, with joy, if he agrees.”

  Duke Naimon said: “Your words are wise indeed.”

  Then, with a bow that reached down to his knees,

  He said aloud: “Fine ruler of the East,

  In Jesu’s name, I beg of you, make peace

  With Charlemagne, and let your daughter be

  United with her husband and her liege,

  For none henceforth to cleave or come between.”

  The king replied: “There’s wisdom in your speech,

  But let me say – and you be very clear –

  3370 That I’m one breath from spurning what you seek,

  When I recall the shameful outrage wreaked

  On Blancheflor by Charles most wrongfully!

  You know full well I’m right – an
d so does he!

  Yet I’ll relent. My lords, you may proceed

  To end this feud whichever way you please.”

  On hearing this, that noble pair of Peers

  Bowed down before the Eastern monarch’s feet

  And rendered him most tender thanks and deep.

  You needn’t ask if Blancheflor was pleased:

  3380 She hailed the duke with laughter through her tears!

  “Naimon,” she cried, “as I do live and breathe,

  You shall receive much honour for this peace!

  Come, take my child, and bear him with all speed

  To Charles himself, whose eyes have yet to see

  This son and heir of ours and France the sweet!”

  Said Ogier: “A royal gift indeed!”

  Fair Blancheflor delayed not in the least,

  But took her son, Prince Louis, from his seat

  And handed him to Naimon tenderly.

  3390 From king and court both envoys took their leave,

  With Varocher, who kept the infant near:

  He wouldn’t let another lead or feed

  The child he’d led and fed since it was weaned!

  88. How the envoys returned to Charles

  THE ENVOYS LEFT, not tarrying at all.

  They took with them young Louis in the ward

  Of Varocher, who watched him like a hawk!

  And when they came towards the Frankish force

  A crowd of men came forth, on foot and horse,

  To hear from them if peace was near, or war.

  3400 They saw as well one big man with a boy

  Who looked more fair than Absalom of yore,

  With golden hair a peacock’s plume adorned!

  A finer youth was never seen, I’m sure!

  Approaching Charles, they heard the Monarch’s voice:

  “I see, my lords, that two have grown to four!

  “Where did you find this little lad, my lords,

  Upon the road or in the woods abroad?

  I’ve never seen a fairer one before!”

  Duke Naimon said: “And when I tell you all,

  3410 He’ll gladden you, I’m certain, even more!

  Attend, my lord, the wonder God’s performed.”

  Before he could, the boy himself ran forth

  To Charlemagne and caught his beard of hoar:

  “My lord,” he said, “since I could walk and talk

  I’ve learned of how my mother fled your court!

  I am your son, of this you can be sure –

  And if you think that what I say is false,

  Compare the mark my shoulder bears with yours:

  A cross of white upon the right, my lord.”

  3420 The King was stunned on hearing this and called