The Song of Roland Part 18

"Rollant, my friend, fair youth that bar'st the bell, When I arrive at Aix, in my Chapelle, Men coming there will ask what news I tell; I'll say to them: 'Marvellous news and fell.

My nephew's dead, who won for me such realms!'

Against me then the Saxon will rebel, Hungar, Bulgar, and many hostile men, Romain, Puillain, all those are in Palerne, And in Affrike, and those in Califerne; Afresh then will my pain and suffrance swell.

For who will lead my armies with such strength, When he is slain, that all our days us led?

Ah! France the Douce, now art thou deserted!

Such grief I have that I would fain be dead."

All his white beard he hath begun to rend, Tore with both hands the hair out of his head.

Five score thousand Franks swooned on the earth and fell.

CCX

"Rollant, my friend, G.o.d shew thee His mercy!

In Paradise repose the soul of thee!

Who hath thee slain, exile for France decreed.

I'ld live no more, so bitter is my grief For my household, who have been slain for me.

G.o.d grant me this, the Son of Saint Mary, Ere I am come to th' master-pa.s.s of Size, From my body my soul at length go free!

Among their souls let mine in glory be, And let my flesh upon their flesh be heaped."

Still his white beard he tears, and his eyes weep.

Duke Naimes says: "His wrath is great indeed."

AOI.

CCXI

"Sire, Emperour," Gefrei d'Anjou implored, "Let not your grief to such excess be wrought; Bid that our men through all this field be sought, Whom those of Spain have in the battle caught; In a charnel command that they be borne."

Answered the King: "Sound then upon your horn."

AOI.

CCXII

Gefreid d'Anjou upon his trumpet sounds; As Charles bade them, all the Franks dismount.

All of their friends, whose bodies they have found To a charnel speedily the bring down.

Bishops there are, and abbots there enow, Canons and monks, vicars with shaven crowns; Absolution in G.o.d's name they've p.r.o.nounced; Incense and myrrh with precious gums they've ground, And l.u.s.tily they've swung the censers round; With honour great they've laid them in the ground.

They've left them there; what else might they do now?

AOI.

CCXIII

That Emperour sets Rollant on one side And Oliver, and the Archbishop Turpine; Their bodies bids open before his eyes.

And all their hearts in silken veils to wind, And set them in coffers of marble white; After, they take the bodies of those knights, Each of the three is wrapped in a deer's hide; They're washen well in allspice and in wine.

The King commands Tedbalt and Gebuin, Marquis Otun, Milun the count besides: Along the road in three wagons to drive.

They're covered well with carpets Galazine.

AOI.

CCXIV

Now to be off would that Emperour Charles, When pagans, lo! comes surging the vanguard; Two messengers come from their ranks forward, From the admiral bring challenge to combat: "'Tis not yet time, proud King, that thou de-part.

Lo, Baligant comes cantering afterward, Great are the hosts he leads from Arab parts; This day we'll see if thou hast va.s.salage."

Charles the King his snowy beard has clasped, Remembering his sorrow and damage, Haughtily then his people all regards, In a loud voice he cries with all his heart: "Barons and Franks, to horse, I say, to arms!"

AOI.

CCXC

First before all was armed that Emperour, Nimbly enough his iron sark indued, Laced up his helm, girt on his sword Joiuse, Outshone the sun that dazzling light it threw, Hung from his neck a shield, was of Girunde, And took his spear, was fashioned at Blandune.

On his good horse then mounted, Tencendur, Which he had won at th'ford below Marsune When he flung dead Malpalin of Nerbune, Let go the reins, spurred him with either foot; Five score thousand behind him as he flew, Calling on G.o.d and the Apostle of Roum.

AOI.

CCXVI

Through all the field dismount the Frankish men, Five-score thousand and more, they arm themselves; The gear they have enhances much their strength, Their horses swift, their arms are fashioned well; Mounted they are, and fight with great science.

Find they that host, battle they'll render them.

Their gonfalons flutter above their helms.

When Charles sees the fair aspect of them, He calls to him Jozeran of Provence, Naimon the Duke, with Antelme of Maience: "In such va.s.sals should man have confidence, Whom not to trust were surely want of sense; Unless the Arabs of coming here repent, Then Rollant's life, I think, we'll dearly sell."

Answers Duke Neimes: "G.o.d grant us his consent!"

AOI.

CCXVII

Charles hath called Rabel and Guineman; Thus said the King: "My lords, you I command To take their place, Olivier and Rollant, One bear the sword and the other the olifant; So canter forth ahead, before the van, And in your train take fifteen thousand Franks, Young bachelors, that are most valiant.

As many more shall after them advance, Whom Gebuins shall lead, also Lorains."

Naimes the Duke and the count Jozerans Go to adjust these columns in their ranks.

Find they that host, they'll make a grand attack.

AOI.

CCXVIII

Of Franks the first columns made ready there, After those two a third they next prepare; In it are set the va.s.sals of Baiviere, Some thousand score high-prized chevaliers; Never was lost the battle, where they were: Charles for no race neath heaven hath more care, Save those of France, who realms for him conquered.

The Danish chief, the warrior count Oger, Shall lead that troop, for haughty is their air.

AOI.

CCXIX

Three columns now, he has, the Emperour Charles.

Naimes the Duke a fourth next sets apart Of good barons, endowed with va.s.salage; Germans they are, come from the German March, A thousand score, as all said afterward; They're well equipped with horses and with arms, Rather they'll die than from the battle pa.s.s; They shall be led by Hermans, Duke of Trace, Who'll die before he's any way coward.

AOI.

CCXX

Naimes the Duke and the count Jozerans The fifth column have mustered, of Normans, A thousand score, or so say all the Franks; Well armed are they, their horses charge and prance; Rather they'ld die, than eer be recreant; No race neath heav'n can more in th'field compa.s.s.

Richard the old, lead them in th'field he shall, He'll strike hard there with his good trenchant lance.

AOI.

CCXXI

The sixth column is mustered of Bretons; Thirty thousand chevaliers therein come; These canter in the manner of barons, Upright their spears, their ensigns fastened on.

The overlord of them is named Oedon, Who doth command the county Nevelon, Tedbald of Reims and the marquis Oton: "Lead ye my men, by my commission."

AOI.

CCXXII

That Emperour hath now six columns yare Naimes the Duke the seventh next prepares Of Peitevins and barons from Alverne; Forty thousand chevaliers might be there; Their horses good, their arms are all most fair.