Heroines of the French Epic

by Newth, Michael A. H. ;

  He strode towards the King and greeted Pepin sweetly.

  As soon as Pepin looked, he knew the warden’s features

  And took him to one side to talk with him discretely.

  Good Simon said: “My lord, is Blancheflor the queen here?”

  “Indeed,” the King replied, “but she is so uneasy

  She cannot eat or drink, or think of rest or sleeping.

  3050 Until she sees her child this mood will not release her.

  However, if this maid, whom you have cherished dearly,

  Is Blancheflor’s, and mine, your honour will be feasted!”

  “I wish I were as sure of my own soul’s redeeming

  As I am that the maid inside my house is really

  The Bertha that you wed!” the worthy man repeated.

  “Since you were here before I’ve questioned her and queried

  The things she told you then – and every time she freezes:

  She shivers and she shakes and seems to be so fearful

  Her colour drains away and she refrains from speaking.

  3060 As truly as I trust in Jesus to redeem me

  Upon my death, I swear her virtue is unequalled.”

  On hearing this, the King rejoiced with all his being.

  “Whatever is the truth, this moment will reveal it,”

  He said, “for we shall take, at once, the road that leads us

  Through leafy Mansel wood to your abode beneath it.

  The shining goal we seek will bring us joy exceeding

  Our longest cherished hopes, God willing, when we reach it!”

  KING PEPIN WAS a monarch of wise, incisive thought:

  Without delay he summoned both Flor and Blancheflor,

  3070 Who came to him directly, prepared to journey forth.

  With very little escort they left the city hall,

  And Simon led them forward, his virtue like a torch!

  Until the truth of Bertha’s identity was sure,

  King Pepin didn’t tell them, or anyone at court,

  That Simon was the worthy of whom she was the ward.

  And so they rode together, through Mansel trees galore,

  Until they reached his dwelling, without a single pause:

  On Blancheflor’s insistence they never slowed at all.

  Together they dismounted and went inside the door.

  3080 Constanzia was waiting, and heard her husband’s call:

  “Good sister, where is Bertha, for she is much besought!

  King Pepin’s here beside me, and with him I have brought

  King Flor the Magyar monarch and good Queen Blancheflor!”

  At once his wife responded: “Good husband, thank the Lord!

  Fair Bertha’s in our bedroom. I know she is, my lord,

  Because she has been working with all her heart since dawn

  Upon our altar’s cover, which she discovered torn.”

  AS SOON AS THIS was heard by Simon, called The Warden,

  He called upon King Flor, whose flowing beard was hoary,

  3090 Queen Blancheflor his wife, and Pepin, to come forward.

  He led them to his room, where from the open doorway

  They saw their debonair, fair Bertha by the altar.

  When she herself saw them, she rose and ran towards them.

  She knew her mother first, and knelt at once before her,

  As Blancheflor, with joy, fell swooning, so to join her!

  “So help me God,” said Flor, “and She Whose body bore Him,

  We’ve surely found again our lovely Bertha Broad-Foot!

  The grace of God has shone upon us and restored her!”

  As he had long desired, King Flor embraced her warmly.

  3100 He hugged and held her tight. He kissed her face and forehead.

  Queen Blancheflor, revived, deprived him of his daughter

  With kisses that could not, for happiness, be halted.

  When people living near could hear the great rejoicing,

  And learned the reason why, they hurried forth to join it!

  The wood began to ring and sing with merry voices

  That none had ever heard before in Mansel forest.

  Cried Pepin: “Mighty Lord, Who brings the Light of morning,

  We praise You for the joy this day of Yours has brought us!

  For love of You, my Lord, I bore with my misfortune,

  3110 And through Your loving grace my pain has been rewarded –

  For You have turned my loss to profit so enormous

  I never held a coin of happiness beforehand

  That isn’t now a horde two hundred times as joyous!

  May She Whose blessed womb once carried You and bore You,

  Be praised above all Maids, upon this day and always!”

  The tidings reached Le Mans, and when they were reported

  The courtiers ran forth, like madmen, from their quarters

  To ring the city-bells in one resounding chorus!

  WHEN BERTHA SAW her father, and mother there as well,

  3120 Her joy was so astounding it took away her breath

  And she could scarcely utter a single word as yet.

  King Pepin went to Bertha without delay and said:

  “Please speak to me, I beg you, my dearest, sweetest friend,

  For I indeed am Pepin, the King who humbly begs

  Your pardon for the evil with which we both have met.”

  On hearing this, fair Bertha was filled with awe again,

  But answered him directly and with a sweet respect.

  “If truly you are Pepin, then may the Lord be blest,

  Who, of the Virgin Mary, was born in Bethlehem!”

  3130 Her parents rushed to greet her, their rapture more intense

  A hundred times than ever I’ll have the skill to tell –

  Though I’ve not heard another describe such joyfulness

  As reigned in Simon’s dwelling that day on Mansel edge!

  King Pepin summoned Henry, a sergeant of his men,

  With Thierry and Walter, his highest officers:

  “Go to Le Mans directly, without delay or let,

  And bring here, for my pleasure, pavilions and tents.

  I want to spend some time here, by St Rémi I pledge,

  Where I have found the riches I thought forever spent!

  3140 So bring us worthy lodgings, a noble board and bed,

  And summon, at my order, Duke Naimon to attend.”

  With happy heart and willing the men appointed left

  To do as he had bidden. It was a Monday then.

  QUEEN BLANCHEFLOR once more was glowing with contentment.

  Upon that happy day she held her daughter gently,

  Fair Bertha, blond of hair, the debonair, the slender.

  She kissed her many times and hugged her as she held her.

  Good Simon and his wife came up to them, together

  With both their daughters too, whom Bertha greatly cherished.

  3150 When Bertha saw them thus, she hurried to present them:

  “Fine mother,” Bertha cried, “in God’s name, let me tell you

  That this sweet lady here has shown me great affection!

  And here is my dear lord the Warden, Jesus bless him,

  Who found me in the wood, abandoned and imperilled.

  I would have been devoured or met some other death there,

  If he and God above had not been there to help me.

  Without them, you must know, I surely would have perished.”

  On hearing this, the queen stood up and went directly

  Towards them, as did Flor, the ruler of an empire, />
  3160 To thank with all their heart this family of peasants

  For all that they had done in Christian love for Bertha.

  The cheerful group was joined by happy-hearted Pepin

  And all of them sat down inside the room together.

  So small a room before was never filled so merry!

  INSIDE THE LOVELY forest – it was, without a lie –

  The joy in Simon’s dwelling could hardly be described.

  The tents that Pepin wanted were soon in large supply

  Erected all around it and filled with joy inside.

  They stayed, or so I heard it, for three whole days and nights,

  3170 And Pepin lay with Bertha, his loyal, royal wife.

  She there conceived a daughter – this nobody denies –

  Called Gille, who was the mother of Roland in her time.

  King Charlemagne the mighty would be their second child.

  King Pepin gave to Simon and both his sons alike

  The armour and the weapons concomitant with knights:

  To each he gave a mantle of golden cloth, as fine

  And fitting and well sitting as any could desire.

  He gave Simon the title of ‘Counsellor Most High’.

  Duke Naimon placed their spurs on, while Pepin laced their sides

  3180 With noble swords; then drawing his own one from its hide

  He touched them on each shoulder and then he kissed them twice.

  To see himself so honoured, and both his sons alike,

  The Warden offered thanks to our Saviour Jesus Christ,

  Then knelt before King Pepin, his children left and right,

  To show their obligation in everybody’s sight.

  They kissed his feet and ankles, his lower leg and thigh,

  Then Pepin held his hands out, assisting all to rise.

  “Good Simon, by the blessed St Richier,” he cried,

  “I love you very dearly, and your beloved wife,

  3190 For by the grace of Heaven, and God Who rules the skies,

  You both have filled with gladness this empty heart of mine,

  By rescuing the life of my wife who would have died.”

  If only you had been there and seen the happy sight –

  Constanzia, her daughters, Queen Blancheflor the kind,

  Embracing and still weeping with pity and delight –

  You would have known, I’m certain, what proper joy was like!

  CONSTANZIA was wise and very noble-minded,

  A woman full of worth and charitable kindness.

  She saw the great delight of both her sons and Simon,

  3220 At wearing cloaks of fur so fairly and so finely,

  And thanked St Peter’s aid and God the Lord Almighty:

  “Dear God above,” she cried,” Whose loving word is final,

  The honour you bestow is more than we’ve the right to!

  I thank Our Lady too, true Shepherd of the righteous,

  Who from the lowest heath can lead us to the highland!

  My prayers for all who’ve helped, in this our hope’s revival,

  Will never be remiss while I have breath inside me!”

  YOU’VE heard me tell already how noble Pepin gave

  Good Simon, whom he cherished, a knighthood and a blade.

  3210 He and his sons were given that noble accolade.

  But then he gave them also another gift as great:

  To Simon he presented a thousand-pound estate,

  Then two more of five hundred to either son the same.

  He said he’d wed the daughters to men of highest praise,

  And every year give either five hundred pounds the same.

  The Warden, truly thankful, came forward straightaway,

  And with his sons beside him fell on his knees again.

  His wife and their two daughters showed also no delay

  In kneeling down beside them with gratitude and grace,

  3220 Then thanking him sincerely in our Redeemer’s name.

  They swore to be his liegemen, and kisses were exchanged.

  Then Pepin chose the emblems their coat of arms would take.

  The officer instructed was told that he should make

  The blazon field of azure, but mottled white a shade,

  And fleur-de-lys the emblem, in or. To differentiate,

  The elder son would carry five labels, gules, inlaid,

  The younger, labels, argent, with Bezants overlain.

  For love of them King Pepin allowed them this display.

  May God, the King of Heaven, reward him for his grace.

  3230 Sir Simon’s clan has sported that blazon to this day:

  They still display it proudly, and always will, I’d say.

  WHEN SIMON HAD been dubbed the way I have related,

  And given a domain that would maintain his status,

  He left his humble lodge, the one called ‘Flowerhaven’.

  How many sighs were heaved when final leave was taken

  By Bertha, Queen of France, who’d long enjoyed its safety:

  For nine years and a half, in truth, it was her haven.

  Since none of Simon’s clan were planning to remain there,

  Good Bertha showed her thanks in gifts to every neighbour

  3240 And worker young and old, familiar and stranger.

  King Flor and Blancheflor were also not ungrateful:

  Soon no one poor before would ever be so later!

  So Simon and his wife departed ‘Flowerhaven’,

  Their sons and daughters too – not one of them remained there.

  And rest assured the doors upon that last occasion

  Were closed with sobs galore from all of their acquaintance,

  Who wrung their hands and rent their hair in their dismaying:

  “Adieu!” they cried, “Adieu! Godspeed you, gentle Lady!

  God bless you ever more, Whose glory lights the ages,

  3250 And favour you in turn for all your loving favour!”

  Fair Bertha left in tears – God bless so dear a nature!

  Sir Simon’s wife and girls were by her side, delaying.

  “Constanzia,” she cried, “come home with me, I pray you,

  To noble France’s court, and nevermore forsake me!

  Your daughters there shall be my private maids-in-waiting:

  They’ll nevermore be poor while I have means to aid them!”

  Constanzia replied: “So let it be, my Lady.

  Your will be done – indeed, most gladly we’ll obey it!”

  OF THIS YOU CAN be certain: upon a Tuesday morn

  3260 A happy group of people left Mansel wood at dawn,

  For they had found their Lady so fair of face and form.

  To meet them many people came gladly from Le Mans

  And greeted Lady Bertha with courtesy and warmth.

  Upon her right Duke Naimon was riding with King Flor,

  While on the left her mother admired her more and more.

  How many spears that morning were split in joyful sports,

  How many city belfries rang out their happy noise!

  The clergy came to meet them, in fine procession all,

  Their orders in good order, and shining, as they walked,

  3270 With relic-chests and censers of gold and silver wrought.

  The countryside was gleaming with cloth of gold galore.

  The citizens were gathered, the wealthy with the poor,

  Together with the nobles, the ladies and the lords,

  In one desire to witness their proper Queen once more.

  The city-gates were opened, and in the people poured!
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br />   The streets were hung with bunting and banners by the score.

  The roads themselves were covered with newly-gathered straw,

  With tender grass and rushes at entrances and walks.

  The ladies at the windows were splendidly adorned

  3280 In jewellery and dresses that would have held you awed –

  But I’ve no time to dwell on the fashions that they wore!

  At last the Queen dismounted before the city-hall,

  Duke Naimon and the nobles escorting her with joy.

  Her hand was in her mother’s, the loving Blancheflor.

  A week of feasting followed within the town, as all

  Across the happy kingdom the tidings spread abroad

  Of Bertha’s restoration, and everyone rejoiced.

  They thanked the Lord, and Mary, and every saint of yore!

  King Pepin and his party, departing from Le Mans,

  3290 Rode joyfully for Paris, not wishing once to halt.

  NOT WISHING ONCE to halt, the happy kings rode forward,

  With happy Blancheflor and Bertha well escorted

  By good Constanzia and Simon and their daughters.

  With all their troubles past, the party’s mood was joyous

  Upon the Paris road, that city rich and royal.

  Aliste, the wretched maid who’d made their lives a torment,

  Was told that they were near, and clearly this annoyed her:

  Her greed was dealt a blow, and this aggrieved her sorely,

  Her grief a mix of fear and jealous disappointment!

  3300 She hated Bertha’s joy and Simon’s greater fortune:

  Her evil had no place for good to be rewarded –

  Base servant! Serve you right for trading yours so falsely!

  FROM ALL THE TOWNS and cities that Bertha’s party neared

  The folk poured out to meet her from every side and reach.

  In throngs and long precessions they honoured her as Queen.

  To God, Who from His Heaven sees everything beneath,

  They cursed Aliste the servant, wherever she might be,

  Together with the children her cunning had conceived,

  For Bertha’s disappearance and loss across the years.

  3310 Throughout the happy nation such rapture was released

  At Bertha’s restoration through God and Simon’s deeds

  That everyone came running or riding there to greet