The Song of Roland Part 6

LXXI

King Corsablis is come from the other part, Barbarian, and steeped in evil art.

He's spoken then as fits a good va.s.sal, For all G.o.d's gold he would not seem coward.

Hastes into view Malprimis of Brigal, Faster than a horse, upon his feet can dart, Before Marsile he cries with all his heart: "My body I will shew at Rencesvals; Find I Rollanz, I'll slay him without fault."

LXXII

An admiral is there of Balaguet; Clear face and proud, and body n.o.bly bred; Since first he was upon his horse mounted, His arms to bear has shewn great l.u.s.tihead; In va.s.salage he is well famoused; Christian were he, he'd shewn good baronhead.

Before Marsile aloud has he shouted: "To Rencesvals my body shall be led; Find I Rollanz, then is he surely dead, And Oliver, and all the other twelve; Franks shall be slain in grief and wretchedness.

Charles the great is old now and doted, Weary will be and make no war again; Spain shall be ours, in peace and quietness."

King Marsilies has heard and thanks him well.

AOI.

LXXIII

An almacour is there of Moriane, More felon none in all the land of Spain.

Before Marsile his vaunting boast hath made: "To Rencesvals my company I'll take, A thousand score, with shields and lances brave.

Find I Rollanz, with death I'll him acquaint; Day shall not dawn but Charles will make his plaint."

AOI.

LXXIV

From the other part, Turgis of Turtelose, He was a count, that city was his own; Christians he would them ma.s.sacre, every one.

Before Marsile among the rest is gone, Says to the King: "Let not dismay be shewn!

Mahum's more worth than Saint Peter of Rome; Serve we him well, then fame in field we'll own.

To Rencesvals, to meet Rollanz I'll go, From death he'll find his warranty in none.

See here my sword, that is both good and long With Durendal I'll lay it well across; Ye'll hear betimes to which the prize is gone.

Franks shall be slain, whom we descend upon, Charles the old will suffer grief and wrong, No more on earth his crown will he put on."

LXXV

From the other part, Escremiz of Valtrenne, A Sarrazin, that land was his as well.

Before Marsile he cries amid the press: "To Rencesvals I go, pride to make less; Find I Rollanz, he'll not bear thence his head, Nor Oliver that hath the others led, The dozen peers condemned are to death; Franks shall be slain, and France lie deserted.

Of good va.s.sals will Charles be richly bled."

AOI.

LXXVI

From the other part, a pagan Esturganz; Estramariz also, was his comrade; Felons were these, and traitors miscreant.

Then said Marsile: "My Lords, before me stand!

Into the pa.s.s ye'll go to Rencesvals, Give me your aid, and thither lead my band."

They answer him: "Sire, even as you command.

We will a.s.sault Olivier and Rollant, The dozen peers from death have no warrant, For these our swords are trusty and trenchant, In scalding blood we'll dye their blades scarlat.

Franks shall be slain, and Chares be right sad.

Terra Major we'll give into your hand; Come there, Sir King, truly you'll see all that Yea, the Emperour we'll give into your hand."

LXXVII

Running there came Margariz of Sibile, Who holds the land by Cadiz, to the sea.

For his beauty the ladies hold him dear; Who looks on him, with him her heart is pleased, When she beholds, she can but smile for glee.

Was no pagan of such high chivalry.

Comes through the press, above them all cries he, "Be not at all dismayed, King Marsilie!

To Rencesvals I go, and Rollanz, he Nor Oliver may scape alive from me; The dozen peers are doomed to martyry.

See here the sword, whose hilt is gold indeed, I got in gift from the admiral of Primes; In scarlat blood I pledge it shall be steeped.

Franks shall be slain, and France abased be.

To Charles the old, with his great blossoming beard, Day shall not dawn but brings him rage and grief, Ere a year pa.s.s, all France we shall have seized, Till we can lie in th' burgh of Saint Denise."

The pagan king has bowed his head down deep.

AOI.

LXXVIII From the other part, Chemubles of Muneigre.

Right to the ground his hair swept either way; He for a jest would bear a heavier weight Than four yoked mules, beneath their load that strain.

That land he had, G.o.d's curse on it was plain.

No sun shone there, nor grew there any grain, No dew fell there, nor any shower of rain, The very stones were black upon that plain; And many say that devils there remain.

Says Chemubles "My sword is in its place, At Rencesvals scarlat I will it stain; Find I Rollanz the proud upon my way, I'll fall on him, or trust me not again, And Durendal I'll conquer with this blade, Franks shall be slain, and France a desert made."

The dozen peers are, at this word, away, Five score thousand of Sarrazins they take; Who keenly press, and on to battle haste; In a fir-wood their gear they ready make.

LXXIX

Ready they make hauberks Sarrazinese, That folded are, the greater part, in three; And they lace on good helms Sarragucese; Gird on their swords of tried steel Viennese; Fine shields they have, and spears Valentinese, And white, blue, red, their ensigns take the breeze, They've left their mules behind, and their palfreys, Their chargers mount, and canter knee by knee.

Fair shines the sun, the day is bright and clear, Light b.u.ms again from all their polished gear.

A thousand horns they sound, more proud to seem; Great is the noise, the Franks its echo hear.

Says Oliver: "Companion, I believe, Sarrazins now in battle must we meet."

Answers Rollanz: "G.o.d grant us then the fee!

For our King's sake well must we quit us here; Man for his lord should suffer great disease, Most bitter cold endure, and burning heat, His hair and skin should offer up at need.

Now must we each lay on most hardily, So evil songs neer sung of us shall be.

Pagans are wrong: Christians are right indeed.

Evil example will never come of me."

AOI.

Lx.x.x

Oliver mounts upon a lofty peak, Looks to his right along the valley green, The pagan tribes approaching there appear; He calls Rollanz, his companion, to see: "What sound is this, come out of Spain, we hear, What hauberks bright, what helmets these that gleam?

They'll smite our Franks with fury past belief, He knew it, Guenes, the traitor and the thief, Who chose us out before the King our chief."

Answers the count Rollanz: "Olivier, cease.

That man is my good-father; hold thy peace."

Lx.x.xI

Upon a peak is Oliver mounted, Kingdom of Spain he sees before him spread, And Sarrazins, so many gathered.

Their helmets gleam, with gold are jewelled, Also their shields, their hauberks orfreyed, Also their swords, ensigns on spears fixed.

Rank beyond rank could not be numbered, So many there, no measure could he set.

In his own heart he's sore astonished, Fast as he could, down from the peak hath sped Comes to the Franks, to them his tale hath said.

Lx.x.xII

Says Oliver: "Pagans from there I saw; Never on earth did any man see more.

Gainst us their shields an hundred thousand bore, That laced helms and shining hauberks wore; And, bolt upright, their bright brown spearheads shone.

Battle we'll have as never was before.

Lords of the Franks, G.o.d keep you in valour!