Ten great columns they marshal thereafter;Of Canelious, right ugly, is the first, Who from Val-Fuit came across country there;The next's of Turks; of Persians is the third;The fourth is raised of desperate Pinceners, The fifth is raised from Soltras and Avers;The sixth is from Ormaleus and Eugez;
The seventh is the tribe of Samuel;
The eighth is from Bruise; the ninth from Esclavers;The tenth is from Occiant, the desert, That is a tribe, do not the Lord God serve, Of such felons you never else have heard;Hard is their hide, as though it iron were, Wherefore of helm or hauberk they've no care;In the battle they're felon murderers.
AOI.
CCXXXIV
That admiral ten columns more reviews;
The first is raised of Giants from Malpruse;The next of Huns; the third a Hungar crew;And from Baldise the Long the fourth have trooped;The fifth is raised of men from Val-Penuse;The sixth is raised of tribesmen from Maruse;The seventh is from Leus and Astrimunes;
The eighth from Argoilles; the ninth is from Clarbune;The tenth is raised of beardsmen from Val-Frunde, That is a tribe, no love of God e'er knew.
Gesta Francor' these thirty columns prove.
Great are the hosts, their horns come sounding through.
Pagans canter as men of valour should.
AOI.
CCXXXV
That admiral hath great possessions;
He makes them bear before him his dragon, And their standard, Tervagan's and Mahom's, And his image, Apollin the felon.
Ten Canelious canter in the environs, And very loud the cry out this sermon:
"Let who would from our gods have garrison, Serve them and pray with great affliction."Pagans awhile their heads and faces on Their breasts abase, their polished helmets doff.
And the Franks say: "Now shall you die, gluttons;This day shall bring you vile confusion!
Give warranty, our God, unto Carlon!
And in his name this victory be won!"
AOI.
CCXXXVI
That admiral hath wisdom great indeed;
His son to him and those two kings calls he:
My lords barons, beforehand canter ye, All my columns together shall you lead;But of the best I'll keep beside me three:
One is of Turks; the next of Ormaleis;
And the third is the Giants of Malpreis.
And Occiant's, they'll also stay with me, Until with Charles and with the Franks they meet.
That Emperour, if he combat with me, Must lose his head, cut from his shoulders clean;He may be sure naught else for him's decreed.
AOI.
CCXXXVII
Great are the hosts, and all the columns fair, No peak nor vale nor cliff between them there, Thicket nor wood, nor ambush anywhere;Across the plain they see each other well.
Says Baligant: "My pagan tribes adverse, Battle to seek, canter ye now ahead!"Carries the ensign Amboires of Oluferne;
Pagans cry out, by Preciuse they swear.
And the Franks say: "Great hurt this day you'll get!"And very loud "Monjoie!" they cry again.
That Emperour has bid them sound trumpets;And the olifant sounds over all its knell.
The pagans say: "Carlun's people are fair.
Battle we'll have, bitter and keenly set."AOI.
CCXXXVIII
Great is that plain, and wide is that country;Their helmets shine with golden jewellery, Also their sarks embroidered and their shields, And the ensigns fixed on all their burnished spears.
The trumpets sound, their voice is very clear, And the olifant its echoing music speaks.
Then the admiral, his brother calleth he, 'Tis Canabeus, the king of Floredee, Who holds the land unto the Vale Sevree;He's shewn to him Carlun's ten companies:
"The pride of France, renowned land, you see.
That Emperour canters right haughtily, His bearded men are with him in the rear;Over their sarks they have thrown out their beards Which are as white as driven snows that freeze.
Strike us they will with lances and with spears:
Battle with them we'll have, prolonged and keen;Never has man beheld such armies meet."
Further than one might cast a rod that's peeled Goes Baligant before his companies.
His reason then he's shewn to them, and speaks:
"Pagans, come on; for now I take the field."His spear in hand he brandishes and wields, Towards Carlun has turned the point of steel.
AOI.
CCXXXIX
Charles the Great, when he sees the admiral And the dragon, his ensign and standard; --(In such great strength are mustered those Arabs Of that country they've covered every part Save only that whereon the Emperour was.)The King of France in a loud voice has called:
"Barons and Franks, good vassals are ye all, Ye in the field have fought so great combats;See the pagans; they're felons and cowards, No pennyworth is there in all their laws.
Though they've great hosts, my lords, what matters that?
Let him go hence, who'ld fail me in the attack."Next with both spurs he's gored his horse's flanks, And Tencendor has made four bounds thereat.
Then say the Franks: "This King's a good vassal.
Canter, brave lord, for none of us holds back."
CCXL
Clear is the day, and the sun radiant;
The hosts are fair, the companies are grand.
The first columns are come now hand to hand.
The count Rabel and the count Guinemans Let fall the reins on their swift horses' backs, Spurring in haste; then on rush all the Franks, And go to strike, each with his trenchant lance.
AOI.
CCXLI
That count Rabel, he was a hardy knight, He pricked his horse with spurs of gold so fine, The Persian king, Torleu, he went to strike.
Nor shield nor sark could such a blow abide;The golden spear his carcass passed inside;Flung down upon a little bush, he died.
Then say the Franks: "Lord God, be Thou our Guide!
Charles we must not fail; his cause is right."AOI.
CCXLII
And Guineman tilts with the king Leutice;Has broken all the flowers on his shield, Next of his sark he has undone the seam, All his ensign thrust through the carcass clean, So flings him dead, let any laugh or weep.
Upon that blow, the Franks cry out with heat:
"Strike on, baron, nor slacken in your speed!
Charle's in the right against the pagan breed;God sent us here his justice to complete."AOI.
CCXLIII
