The Song of Roland Part 21

CCXLVI

That Emperour calls on his Franks and speaks: "I love you, lords, in whom I well believe; So many great battles you've fought for me, Kings overthrown, and kingdoms have redeemed!

Guerdon I owe, I know it well indeed; My lands, my wealth, my body are yours to keep.

For sons, for heirs, for brothers wreak Who in Rencesvals were slaughtered yester-eve!

Mine is the right, ye know, gainst pagan breeds."

Answer the Franks: "Sire, 'tis the truth you speak."

Twenty thousand beside him Charles leads, Who with one voice have sworn him fealty; In straits of death they never will him leave.

There is not one thenceforth employs his spear, But with their swords they strike in company.

The battle is straitened marvellously.

AOI.

CCXLVII

Across that field the bold Malprimes canters; Who of the Franks hath wrought there much great damage.

Naimes the Duke right haughtily regards him, And goes to strike him, like a man of valour, And of his shield breaks all the upper margin, Tears both the sides of his embroidered ha'berk, Through the carca.s.s thrusts all his yellow banner; So dead among sev'n hundred else he casts him.

CCXLVIII

King Canabeus, brother of the admiral, Has p.r.i.c.ked his horse with spurs in either flank; He's drawn his sword, whose hilt is of crystal, And strikes Naimun on's helmet princ.i.p.al; Away from it he's broken off one half, Five of the links his brand of steel hath knapped; No pennyworth the hood is after that; Right to the flesh he slices through the cap; One piece of it he's flung upon the land.

Great was the blow; the Duke, amazed thereat, Had fallen ev'n, but aid from G.o.d he had; His charger's neck he clasped with both his hands.

Had the pagan but once renewed the attack, Then was he slain, that n.o.ble old va.s.sal.

Came there to him, with succour, Charles of France.

AOI.

CCXLIX

Keen anguish then he suffers, that Duke Naimes, And the pagan, to strike him, hotly hastens.

"Culvert," says Charles, "You'll get now as you gave him!"

With va.s.salage he goes to strike that pagan, Shatters his shield, against his heart he breaks it, Tears the chin-guard above his hauberk mailed; So flings him dead: his saddle shall be wasted.

CCL

Bitter great grief has Charlemagne the King, Who Duke Naimun before him sees lying, On the green gra.s.s all his clear blood shedding.

Then the Emperour to him this counsel gives: "Fair master Naimes, canter with me to win!

The glutton's dead, that had you straitly pinned; Through his carca.s.s my spear I thrust once in."

Answers the Duke: "Sire, I believe it, this.

Great proof you'll have of valour, if I live."

They 'ngage them then, true love and faith swearing; A thousand score of Franks surround them still.

Nor is there one, but slaughters, strikes and kills.

AOI.

CCLI

Then through the field cantered that admiral, Going to strike the county Guineman; Against his heart his argent shield he cracked, The folds of his hauberk apart he slashed, Two of his ribs out of his side he hacked, So flung him dead, while still his charger ran.

After, he slew Gebuin and Lorain, Richard the old, the lord of those Normans.

"Preciuse," cry pagans, "is valiant!

Baron, strike on; here have we our warrant!"

AOI.

CCLII

Who then had seen those Arrabit chevaliers, From Occiant, from Argoille and from Bascle!

And well they strike and slaughter with their lances; But Franks, to escape they think it no great matter; On either side dead men to the earth fall crashing.

Till even-tide 'tis very strong, that battle; Barons of France do suffer much great damage, Grief shall be there ere the two hosts be scattered.

AOI.

CCLIII

Right well they strike, both Franks and Arrabies, Breaking the shafts of all their burnished spears.

Whoso had seen that shattering of shields, Whoso had heard those shining hauberks creak, And heard those shields on iron helmets beat, Whoso had seen fall down those chevaliers, And heard men groan, dying upon that field, Some memory of bitter pains might keep.

That battle is most hard to endure, indeed.

And the admiral calls upon Apollin And Tervagan and Mahum, prays and speaks: "My lords and G.o.ds, I've done you much service; Your images, in gold I'll fashion each; Against Carlun give me your warranty!"

Comes before him his dear friend Gemalfin, Evil the news he brings to him and speaks: "Sir Baliganz, this day in shame you're steeped; For you have lost your son, even Malprime; And Canabeus, your brother, slain is he.

Fairly two Franks have got the victory; That Emperour was one, as I have seen; Great limbs he has, he's every way Marquis, White is his beard as flowers in April."

That admiral has bent his head down deep, And thereafter lowers his face and weeps, Fain would he die at once, so great his grief; He calls to him Jangleu from over sea.

AOI.

CCLIV

Says the admiral, "Jangleu, beside me stand!

For you are proof, and greatly understand, Counsel from you I've ever sought to have.

How seems it you, of Arrabits and Franks, Shall we from hence victorious go back?"

He answers him: "Slain are you, Baligant!

For from your G.o.ds you'll never have warrant.

So proud is Charles, his men so valiant, Never saw I a race so combatant.

But call upon barons of Occiant, Turks and Enfruns, Arrabits and Giants.

No more delay: what must be, take in hand."

CCLV

That admiral has shaken out his beard That ev'n so white as thorn in blossom seems; He'll no way hide, whateer his fate may be, Then to his mouth he sets a trumpet clear, And clearly sounds, so all the pagans hear.

Throughout the field rally his companies.

From Occiant, those men who bray and bleat, And from Argoille, who, like dogs barking, speak; Seek out the Franks with such a high folly, Break through their line, the thickest press they meet Dead from that shock they've seven thousand heaped.

CCLVI

The count Oger no cowardice e'er knew, Better va.s.sal hath not his sark indued.

He sees the Franks, their columns broken through, So calls to him Duke Tierris, of Argune, Count Jozeran, and Gefreid, of Anjou; And to Carlun most proud his reason proves: "Behold pagans, and how your men they slew!

Now from your head please G.o.d the crown remove Unless you strike, and vengeance on them do!"

And not one word to answer him he knew; They spurred in haste, their horses let run loose, And, wheresoeer they met the pagans, strook.

AOI.

CCLVII

Now very well strikes the King Charlemagne, Naimes the Duke, also Oger the Dane, Geifreid d'Anjou, who that ensign displays.

Exceeding proof is Don Oger, the Dane; He spurs his horse, and lets him run in haste, So strikes that man who the dragon displays.

Both in the field before his feet he breaks That king's ensign and dragon, both abased.

Baligant sees his gonfalon disgraced, And Mahumet's standard thrown from its place; That admiral at once perceives it plain, That he is wrong, and right is Charlemain.