Section 5:
Laisses 133-160

CXXXIII

Rollant hath set the olifant to his mouth,

He grasps it well, and with great virtue sounds.

High are those peaks, afar it rings and loud,

Thirty great leagues they hear its echoes mount.

So Charles heard, and all his comrades round;

Then said that King: "Battle they do, our counts!"

And Guenelun answered, contrarious:

"That were a lie, in any other mouth."

AOI.

CXXIV

The Count Rollanz, with sorrow and with pangs,

And with great pain sounded his olifant:

Out of his mouth the clear blood leaped and ran,

About his brain the very temples cracked.

Loud is its voice, that horn he holds in hand;

Charles hath heard, where in the pass he stands,

And Neimes hears, and listen all the Franks.

Then says the King: "I hear his horn, Rollant's;

He'ld never sound, but he were in combat."

Answers him Guenes "It is no battle, that.

Now are you old, blossoming white and blanched,

Yet by such words you still appear infant.

You know full well the great pride of Rollant

Marvel it is, God stays so tolerant.

Noples he took, not waiting your command;

Thence issued forth the Sarrazins, a band

With vassalage had fought against Rollant;

A He slew them first, with Durendal his brand,

Then washed their blood with water from the land;

So what he'd done might not be seen of man.

He for a hare goes all day, horn in hand;

Before his peers in foolish jest he brags.

No race neath heav'n in field him dare attack.

So canter on! Nay, wherefore hold we back?

Terra Major is far away, our land."

AOI.

CXXXV

The count Rollanz, though blood his mouth doth stain,

And burst are both the temples of his brain,

His olifant he sounds with grief and pain;

Charles hath heard, listen the Franks again.

"That horn," the King says, "hath a mighty strain!"

Answers Duke Neimes: "A baron blows with pain!

Battle is there, indeed I see it plain,

He is betrayed, by one that still doth feign.

Equip you, sir, cry out your old refrain,

That noble band, go succour them amain!

Enough you've heard how Rollant doth complain."

CXXVI

That Emperour hath bid them sound their horns.

The Franks dismount, and dress themselves for war,

Put hauberks on, helmets and golden swords;

Fine shields they have, and spears of length and force

Scarlat and blue and white their ensigns float.

His charger mounts each baron of the host;

They spur with haste as through the pass they go.

Nor was there one but thus to 's neighbour spoke:

"Now, ere he die, may we see Rollant, so

Ranged by his side we'll give some goodly blows."

But what avail? They've stayed too long below.

CCXXXVII

That even-tide is light as was the day;

Their armour shines beneath the sun's clear ray,

Hauberks and helms throw off a dazzling flame,

And blazoned shields, flowered in bright array,

Also their spears, with golden ensigns gay.

That Emperour, he canters on with rage,

And all the Franks with wonder and dismay;

There is not one can bitter tears restrain,

And for Rollant they're very sore afraid.

The King has bid them seize that county Guene,

And charged with him the scullions of his train;

The master-cook he's called, Besgun by name:

"Guard me him well, his felony is plain,

Who in my house vile treachery has made."

He holds him, and a hundred others takes

From the kitchen, both good and evil knaves;

Then Guenes beard and both his cheeks they shaved,

And four blows each with their closed fists they gave,

They trounced him well with cudgels and with staves,

And on his neck they clasped an iron chain;

So like a bear enchained they held him safe,

On a pack-mule they set him in his shame:

Kept him till Charles should call for him again.

AOI.

CXXXVIII

High were the peaks and shadowy and grand,

The valleys deep, the rivers swiftly ran.

Trumpets they blew in rear and in the van,

Till all again answered that olifant.

That Emperour canters with fury mad,

And all the Franks dismay and wonder have;

There is not one but weeps and waxes sad

And all pray God that He will guard Rollant

Till in the field together they may stand;

There by his side they'll strike as well they can.

But what avail? No good there is in that;

They're not in time; too long have they held back.

AOI.

CXXXIX

In his great rage on canters Charlemagne;

Over his sark his beard is flowing plain.

Barons of France, in haste they spur and strain;

There is not one that can his wrath contain

That they are not with Rollant the Captain,

Whereas he fights the Sarrazins of Spain.

If he be struck, will not one soul remain.

—God! Sixty men are all now in his train!

Never a king had better Capitains.

AOI.

CXL

Rollant regards the barren mountain-sides;

Dead men of France, he sees so many lie,

And weeps for them as fits a gentle knight:

"Lords and barons, may God to you be kind!

And all your souls redeem for Paradise!

And let you there mid holy flowers lie!

Better vassals than you saw never I.

Ever you've served me, and so long a time,

By you Carlon hath conquered kingdoms wide;

That Emperour reared you for evil plight!

Douce land of France, o very precious clime,

Laid desolate by such a sour exile!

Barons of France, for me I've seen you die,

And no support, no warrant could I find;

God be your aid, Who never yet hath lied!

I must not fail now, brother, by your side;

Save I be slain, for sorrow shall I die.

Sir companion, let us again go strike!"

CXLI

The count Rollanz, back to the field then hieing

Holds Durendal, and like a vassal striking

Faldrun of Pui has through the middle sliced,

With twenty-four of all they rated highest;

Was never man, for vengeance shewed such liking.

Even as a stag before the hounds goes flying,

Before Rollanz the pagans scatter, frightened.

Says the Archbishop: "You deal now very wisely!

Such valour should he shew that is bred knightly,

And beareth arms, and a good charger rideth;

In battle should be strong and proud and sprightly;

Or otherwise he is not worth a shilling,

Should be a monk in one of those old minsters,

Where, day, by day, he'ld pray for us poor sinners."

Answers Rollant: "Strike on; no quarter give them!"

Upon these words Franks are again beginning;

Very great loss they suffer then, the Christians.

CXLII

The man who knows, for him there's no prison,

In such a fight with keen defence lays on;

Wherefore the Franks are fiercer than lions.

Marsile you'd seen go as a brave baron,

Sitting his horse, the which he calls Gaignon;

He spurs it well, going to strike Bevon,

That was the lord of Beaune and of Dijon,

His shield he breaks, his hauberk has undone,

So flings him dead, without condition;

Next he hath slain Yvoerie and Ivon,

Also with them Gerard of Russillon.

The count Rollanz, being not far him from,

To th'pagan says: "Confound thee our Lord God!

So wrongfully you've slain my companions,

A blow you'll take, ere we apart be gone,

And of my sword the name I'll bid you con."

He goes to strike him, as a brave baron,

And his right hand the count clean slices off;

Then takes the head of Jursaleu the blond;

That was the son of king Marsilion.

Pagans cry out "Assist us now, Mahom!

God of our race, avenge us on Carlon!

Into this land he's sent us such felons

That will not leave the fight before they drop."

Says each to each: "Nay let us fly!" Upon

That word, they're fled, an hundred thousand gone;

Call them who may, they'll never more come on.

AOI.

CXLIII

But what avail? Though fled be Marsilies,

He's left behind his uncle, the alcaliph

Who holds Alferne, Kartagene, Garmalie,

And Ethiope, a cursed land indeed;

The blackamoors from there are in his keep,

Broad in the nose they are and flat in the ear,

Fifty thousand and more in company.

These canter forth with arrogance and heat,

Then they cry out the pagans' rallying-cheer;

And Rollant says: "Martyrdom we'll receive;

Not long to live, I know it well, have we;

Felon he's named that sells his body cheap!

Strike on, my lords, with burnished swords and keen;

Contest each inch your life and death between,

That neer by us Douce France in shame be steeped.

When Charles my lord shall come into this field,

Such discipline of Sarrazins he'll see,

For one of ours he'll find them dead fifteen;

He will not fail, but bless us all in peace."

AOI.

CXLIV

When Rollant sees those misbegotten men,

Who are more black than ink is on the pen

With no part white, only their teeth except,

Then says that count: "I know now very well

That here to die we're bound, as I can tell.

Strike on, the Franks! For so I recommend."

Says Oliver: "Who holds back, is condemned!"

Upon those words, the Franks to strike again.

CXLV

Franks are but few; which, when the pagans know,

Among themselves comfort and pride they shew;

Says each to each: "Wrong was that Emperor."

Their alcaliph upon a sorrel rode,

And pricked it well with both his spurs of gold;

Struck Oliver, behind, on the back-bone,

His hauberk white into his body broke,

Clean through his breast the thrusting spear he drove;

After he said: "You've borne a mighty blow.

Charles the great should not have left you so;

He's done us wrong, small thanks to him we owe;

I've well avenged all ours on you alone."

CXLVI

Oliver feels that he to die is bound,

Holds Halteclere, whose steel is rough and brown,

Strikes the alcaliph on his helm's golden mount;

Flowers and stones fall clattering to the ground,

Slices his head, to th'small teeth in his mouth;

So brandishes his blade and flings him down;

After he says: "Pagan, accurst be thou!

Thou'lt never say that Charles forsakes me now;

Nor to thy wife, nor any dame thou'st found,

Thou'lt never boast, in lands where thou wast crowned,

One pennyworth from me thou'st taken out,

Nor damage wrought on me nor any around."

After, for aid, "Rollant!" he cries aloud.

AOI.

CXLVII

Oliver feels that death is drawing nigh;

To avenge himself he hath no longer time;

Through the great press most gallantly he strikes,

He breaks their spears, their buckled shields doth slice,

Their feet, their fists, their shoulders and their sides,

Dismembers them: whoso had seen that sigh,

Dead in the field one on another piled,

Remember well a vassal brave he might.

Charles ensign he'll not forget it quite;

Aloud and clear "Monjoie" again he cries.

To call Rollanz, his friend and peer, he tries:

"My companion, come hither to my side.

With bitter grief we must us now divide."

AOI.

CXLVIII

Then Rollant looked upon Olivier's face;

Which was all wan and colourless and pale,

While the clear blood, out of his body sprayed,

Upon the ground gushed forth and ran away.

"God!" said that count, "What shall I do or say?

My companion, gallant for such ill fate!

Neer shall man be, against thee could prevail.

Ah! France the Douce, henceforth art thou made waste

Of vassals brave, confounded and disgraced!

Our Emperour shall suffer damage great."

And with these words upon his horse he faints.

AOI.

CXLIX

You'd seen Rollant aswoon there in his seat,

And Oliver, who unto death doth bleed,

So much he's bled, his eyes are dim and weak;

Nor clear enough his vision, far or near,

To recognise whatever man he sees;

His companion, when each the other meets,

Above the helm jewelled with gold he beats,

Slicing it down from there to the nose-piece,

But not his head; he's touched not brow nor cheek.

At such a blow Rollant regards him keen,

And asks of him, in gentle tones and sweet:

"To do this thing, my comrade, did you mean?

This is Rollanz, who ever held you dear;

And no mistrust was ever us between."

Says Oliver: "Now can I hear you speak;

I see you not: may the Lord God you keep!

I struck you now: and for your pardon plead."

Answers Rollanz: "I am not hurt, indeed;

I pardon you, before God's Throne and here."

Upon these words, each to the other leans;

And in such love you had their parting seen.

CL

Oliver feels death's anguish on him now;

And in his head his two eyes swimming round;

Nothing he sees; he hears not any sound;

Dismounting then, he kneels upon the ground,

Proclaims his sins both firmly and aloud,

Clasps his two hands, heavenwards holds them out,

Prays God himself in Paradise to allow;

Blessings on Charles, and on Douce France he vows,

And his comrade, Rollanz, to whom he's bound.

Then his heart fails; his helmet nods and bows;

Upon the earth he lays his whole length out:

And he is dead, may stay no more, that count.

Rollanz the brave mourns him with grief profound;

Nowhere on earth so sad a man you'd found.

CLI

So Rollant's friend is dead whom when he sees

Face to the ground, and biting it with's teeth,

Begins to mourn in language very sweet:

"Unlucky, friend, your courage was indeed!

Together we have spent such days and years;

No harmful thing twixt thee and me has been.

Now thou art dead, and all my life a grief."

And with these words again he swoons, that chief,

Upon his horse, which he calls Veillantif;

Stirrups of gold support him underneath;

He cannot fall, whichever way he lean.

CLII

Soon as Rollant his senses won and knew,

Recovering and turning from that swoon.

Bitter great loss appeared there in his view:

Dead are the Franks; he'd all of them to lose,

Save the Archbishop, and save Gualter del Hum;

He is come down out of the mountains, who

Gainst Spanish men made there a great ado;

Dead are his men, for those the pagans slew;

Will he or nill, along the vales he flew,

And called Rollant, to bring him succour soon:

"Ah! Gentle count, brave soldier, where are you?

For By thy side no fear I ever knew.

Gualter it is, who conquered Maelgut,

And nephew was to hoary old Drouin;

My vassalage thou ever thoughtest good.

Broken my spear, and split my shield in two;

Gone is the mail that on my hauberk grew;

This body of mine eight lances have gone through;

I'm dying. Yet full price for life I took."

Rollant has heard these words and understood,

Has spurred his horse, and on towards him drew.

AOI.

CLIII

Grief gives Rollanz intolerance and pride;

Through the great press he goes again to strike;

To slay a score of Spaniards he contrives,

Gualter has six, the Archbishop other five.

The pagans say: "Men, these, of felon kind!

Lordings, take care they go not hence alive!

Felon he's named that does not break their line,

Recreant, who lets them any safety find!"

And so once more begin the hue and cry,

From every part they come to break the line.

AOI.

CLI

Count Rollant is a noble and brave soldier,

Gualter del Hum's a right good chevalier,

That Archbishop hath shewn good prowess there;

None of them falls behind the other pair;

Through the great press, pagans they strike again.

Come on afoot a thousand Sarrazens,

And on horseback some forty thousand men.

But well I know, to approach they never dare;

Lances and spears they poise to hurl at them,

Arrows, barbs, darts and javelins in the air.

With the first flight they've slain our Gualtier;

Turpin of Reims has all his shield broken,

And cracked his helm; he's wounded in the head,

From his hauberk the woven mail they tear,

In his body four spear-wounds doth he bear;

Beneath him too his charger's fallen dead.

Great grief it was, when that Archbishop fell.

AOI.

CLV

Turpin of Reims hath felt himself undone,

Since that four spears have through his body come;

Nimble and bold upon his feet he jumps;

Looks for Rollant, and then towards him runs,

Saying this word: "I am not overcome.

While life remains, no good vassal gives up."

He's drawn Almace, whose steel was brown and rough,

Through the great press a thousand blows he's struck:

As Charles said, quarter he gave to none;

He found him there, four hundred else among,

Wounded the most, speared through the middle some,

Also there were from whom the heads he'd cut:

So tells the tale, he that was there says thus,

The brave Saint Giles, whom God made marvellous,

Who charters wrote for th' Minster at Loum;

Nothing he's heard that does not know this much.

CLVI

The count Rollanz has nobly fought and well,

But he is hot, and all his body sweats;

Great pain he has, and trouble in his head,

His temples burst when he the horn sounded;

But he would know if Charles will come to them,

Takes the olifant, and feebly sounds again.

That Emperour stood still and listened then:

"My lords," said he, "Right evilly we fare!

This day Rollanz, my nephew shall be dead:

I hear his horn, with scarcely any breath.

Nimbly canter, whoever would be there!

Your trumpets sound, as many as ye bear!"

Sixty thousand so loud together blare,

The mountains ring, the valleys answer them.

The pagans hear, they think it not a jest;

Says each to each: "Carlum doth us bestead."

AOI.

CLVII

The pagans say: "That Emperour's at hand,

We hear their sound, the trumpets of the Franks;

If Charles come, great loss we then shall stand,

And wars renewed, unless we slay Rollant;

All Spain we'll lose, our own clear father-land."

Four hundred men of them in helmets stand;

The best of them that might be in their ranks

Make on Rollanz a grim and fierce attack;

Gainst these the count had well enough in hand.

AOI.

CLVIII

The count Rollanz, when their approach he sees

Is grown so bold and manifest and fierce

So long as he's alive he will not yield.

He sits his horse, which men call Veillantif,

Pricking him well with golden spurs beneath,

Through the great press he goes, their line to meet,

And by his side is the Archbishop Turpin.

"Now, friend, begone!" say pagans, each to each;

"These Frankish men, their horns we plainly hear

Charle is at hand, that King in Majesty."

CLIX

The count Rollanz has never loved cowards,

Nor arrogant, nor men of evil heart,

Nor chevalier that was not good vassal.

That Archbishop, Turpins, he calls apart:

"Sir, you're afoot, and I my charger have;

For love of you, here will I take my stand,

Together we'll endure things good and bad;

I'll leave you not, for no incarnate man:

We'll give again these pagans their attack;

The better blows are those from Durendal."

Says the Archbishop: "Shame on him that holds back!

Charle is at hand, full vengeance he'll exact."

CLX

The pagans say: "Unlucky were we born!

An evil day for us did this day dawn!

For we have lost our peers and all our lords.

Charles his great host once more upon us draws,

Of Frankish men we plainly hear the horns,

"Monjoie " they cry, and great is their uproar.

The count Rollant is of such pride and force

He'll never yield to man of woman born;

Let's aim at him, then leave him on the spot!"

And aim they did: with arrows long and short,

Lances and spears and feathered javelots;

Count Rollant's shield they've broken through and bored,

The woven mail have from his hauberk torn,

But not himself, they've never touched his corse;

Veillantif is in thirty places gored,

Beneath the count he's fallen dead, that horse.

Pagans are fled, and leave him on the spot;

The count Rollant stands on his feet once more.

AOI.