The Wayland-Dietrich Saga
PART 02. ---THE CRUSADE.
Page 1
The mist that hides the past from my dull eyes
Dissolves and I see clearly.........Once again
I sail with Richard of the Lion Heart,
Who, like a Northman of the olden days,
Brought out his fleet and steered our English ships
Unto the Holy Land beyond the seas.
Ah! What a battle-leader was our King!
Daring and reckless, generous, lusty, fierce.........
Yet wise in warfare, crafty, self-restrained,
Shewing endurance........Wonderful was he........
Cheerful and healthy, merry, light, and gay, (1)
When sailing the salt seas as on the land........
O, I can see him yet! I mind that day
Of June, in Cyprus on the flower-decked plain,
Between the sea and highway, as we came
From out the ancient town of Limasol
To meet the treacherous Emperor of that land.
King Richard rode a Spanish castelan, (2)
High-mettled, great of size, yet finely shaped;
Arched his long slender neck, short pointed ears,
Broad-chested was he, firm his well-made legs;
His shoulder high, faultless his swelling thighs,
His hooves wide-spread, fair marked his dappled skin........
Scarce might a painter hope such steed to limn......
Bounding he went as though prepared to charge,
Changing his feet and dancing o'er the plain,
Disdainful of his golden curb he seemed.
The glittering saddle golden spangles shewed
All interspersed with red; its hinder bow
Was formed of two small lions of solid gold,
That turned towards each other open-mouthed,
Paws raised defiant, threat'ning to devour........
My Lord the King to saddle swung with ease,
And bore himself with noble dignity,
A soldier plain displayed, that all men joyed
To see the bearing of that gallant knight.
This his apparel.......On that summer's day
He rode unarmed.......though I remember well
Furnished his heels were with gay golden spurs,
Rowelled in modern fashion, not the prick;
Though most of us found those our fathers used
Were sharp enough to gall our horses' sides......
His vest of some soft stuff of rose-colour,
His mantle decked with rows of silver stars......
Nay.......Solid silver crescents like to moons,
Shining in thick profusion.......Thus he rode,
Girded with his great sword of proven steel,
Gold-hilted, and a woven belt withal;
The scabbard's edge was all with silver scaled;
His noble head a scarlet bonnet graced
On which were broidered figures......men and beasts
With birds in orfray work that glittering shone........
A staff of state he carried in his hand.
So he rode forward Isaac to embrace,
The Emperor of Cyprus.........Kiss of peace
The old rogue gave our King, but the next day
Fled for his life.......I have not yet forgot
The day we caught his daughter, a sweet maid,
Whom Richard brought to his new-wedded Queen,
The Lady Berengaria of Navarre,
To comfort in her trouble. Then came there
The Emperor Isaac clad in sad attire
To sue for mercy........Much harm had he done
Unto our people........slyly seizing them
He many slew, or else did mutilate
In his fierce rage. Now pale enough his face,
Dreary his mien, his insolence all fled,
As 'fore our King he fell on humbled knees,
His head hung low, and pleaded for his life.
Naught had he left, he said, nor land nor burgh,
Naught asked he save of Richard's royal grace,
He should not be in iron fetters cast,
Though well he knew King Richard late had vowed
To chain him fast for his base treachery.
Then did our King raise up the prostrate man,
Moved with great pity, and made him sit down
Upon the dais next him for a time,
And gave him wine; then had brought to him there
His little daughter, who was marvellous fair;
Whom, when the Emperor saw, much overjoyed,
He kissed most fondly.........Tears sprang from his eyes,
Nor might he speak for mingled love and grief.
But Richard, choosing not to break his vow,
Had silver fetters forged wherein to bind
The Emperor's limbs......I know not if he found
Them easier to wear than iron chains.......
May be they served to salve his dignity!
I mind me (3) too how we took Akka (3a) town.....
From Famagusta sailed we, and our King
Impatient of dely forged on ahead
In his swift galley; Tranchemer she was called,
Because she cut her way through perilous seas.
The other vessels followed in her wake.
Then as we ploughed the waves our longing eyes
Descried for the first time the Holy Land........
The fortalice of Markab hove in view,
Then Tortuosa stretched along the shore,
Next Tripolis and Nephyn, Bocion,
And Gibelath's high watch-tower. Before long
We passed Beyrut and Sidon, sailing south
With a fair wind abeam......Gay were our hearts
And with good reason......Had we not just sunk
A mighty dromond (4) of the Saracens!
Ha! What a ship she was! Enormous hull,
Yet her lines neat enough.......Two banks of oars....
Three masts of a great height, her smooth wrought sides
Decked here and there with green and yellow hides......
'Twas north of Sidon that we sighted her,
Just off Beyrut......Ten days had we then sailed
With favouring winds, but on the eleventh eve
By tempest and rough weather were oppressed,
That night or day we had no sleep or rest;
Yet on the twelfth morn found the waves gone down,
Our trouble eased. Scarce rippled was the sea
By a faint breeze that blew from off the shore.
To landward of us the great dromond sailed,
So heavy fraught she laboured in the sea
As though sore battered by the late fierce storm.
At first we knew not whether friend or foe,
For she no standard flew.......Peter des Barres,
Commander of a galley of our King's,
Did at King Richard's order swiftly row
To ask who was her captain, and they said
It was the French King's ship, but ne'er a flag
Or Christian symbol shewed they, nor a man
Save the old steersman, who spake right queer French.
Then our King bade us draw abreast of her;
Our men agape stared up at her great sides,
More like Noah's ark she seemed than modern ship.
The King himself showed wonder at her size,
And sent yet other galleys to enquire.
"Go tell them," said he, "if they serve the King,
Philip of France, to tarry now for me
And lower sail, for I would speak with them."
Then Alan Trenchemer of the King's own ship
Rowed swiftly to them, with him men enough,
In a small skiff that quickly caught her up.
He asked again who were they, whither bound,
And what they had in chaffer? Whereupon
Stood up their latimer (4A) and answered him
Notes:
1. Rich. of Devizes, Sec. 59. [Back]
2. Geoffrey de Vinsauf. Itin. Rich. I. 1191, A.D. [Back]
3. Cf. Geoffrey de Vinsauf, Itin. Rich.----Rich. de Devizes.---Roger de Hoveden.----Richard
Coer de Lion, a Metrical Poem of the 13th cent.
[Back]
3A. Akka = Acre. [Back]
4. Large sailing vessel of merchant-ship type.
[Back]
4a. latimer = interpreter [Back]
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