Marsilie's arm Guene's shoulder doth enfold;He's said to him: "You are both wise and bold.
Now, by the law that you most sacred hold, Let not your heart in our behalf grow cold!
Out of my store I'll give you wealth untold, Charging ten mules with fine Arabian gold;I'll do the same for you, new year and old.
Take then the keys of this city so large, This great tribute present you first to Charles, Then get me placed Rollanz in the rereward.
If him I find in valley or in pass, Battle I'll give him that shall be the last."Answers him Guenes: "My time is nearly past."His charger mounts, and on his journey starts.
AOI.
LIII
That Emperour draws near to his domain, He is come down unto the city Gailne.
The Count Rollanz had broken it and ta'en, An hundred years its ruins shall remain.
Of Guenelun the King for news is fain, And for tribute from the great land of Spain.
At dawn of day, just as the light grows plain, Into their camp is come the county Guene.
AOI.
LIV
In morning time is risen the Emperere, Mattins and Mass he's heard, and made his prayer;On the green grass before the tent his chair, Where Rollant stood and that bold Oliver, Neimes the Duke, and many others there.
Guenes arrived, the felon perjurer, Begins to speak, with very cunning air, Says to the King: "God keep you, Sire, I swear!
Of Sarraguce the keys to you I bear, Tribute I bring you, very great and rare, And twenty men; look after them with care.
Proud Marsilies bade me this word declare That alcaliph, his uncle, you must spare.
My own eyes saw four hundred thousand there, In hauberks dressed, closed helms that gleamed in the air, And golden hilts upon their swords they bare.
They followed him, right to the sea they'll fare;Marsile they left, that would their faith forswear, For Christendom they've neither wish nor care.
But the fourth league they had not compassed, ere Brake from the North tempest and storm in the air;Then were they drowned, they will no more appear.
Were he alive, I should have brought him here.
The pagan king, in truth, Sire, bids you hear, Ere you have seen one month pass of this year He'll follow you to France, to your Empire, He will accept the laws you hold and fear;Joining his hands, will do you homage there, Kingdom of Spain will hold as you declare."Then says the King: "Now God be praised, I swear!
Well have you wrought, and rich reward shall wear."Bids through the host a thousand trumpets blare.
Franks leave their lines; the sumpter-beasts are yare T'wards France the Douce all on their way repair.
AOI.
LV
Charles the Great that land of Spain had wasted, Her castles ta'en, her cities violated.
Then said the King, his war was now abated.
Towards Douce France that Emperour has hasted.
Upon a lance Rollant his ensign raised, High on a cliff against the sky 'twas placed;The Franks in camp through all that country baited.
Cantered pagans, through those wide valleys raced, Hauberks they wore and sarks with iron plated, Swords to their sides were girt, their helms were laced, Lances made sharp, escutcheons newly painted:
There in the mists beyond the peaks remained The day of doom four hundred thousand waited.
God! what a grief. Franks know not what is fated.
AOI.
LVI
Passes the day, the darkness is grown deep.
That Emperour, rich Charles, lies asleep;Dreams that he stands in the great pass of Size, In his two hands his ashen spear he sees;Guenes the count that spear from him doth seize, Brandishes it and twists it with such ease, That flown into the sky the flinders seem.
Charles sleeps on nor wakens from his dream.
LVII
And after this another vision saw, In France, at Aix, in his Chapelle once more, That his right arm an evil bear did gnaw;Out of Ardennes he saw a leopard stalk, His body dear did savagely assault;But then there dashed a harrier from the hall, Leaping in the air he sped to Charles call, First the right ear of that grim bear he caught, And furiously the leopard next he fought.
Of battle great the Franks then seemed to talk, Yet which might win they knew not, in his thought.
Charles sleeps on, nor wakens he for aught.
AOI.
LVIII
Passes the night and opens the clear day;That Emperour canters in brave array, Looks through the host often and everyway;"My lords barons," at length doth Charles say, "Ye see the pass along these valleys strait, Judge for me now, who shall in rereward wait.""There's my good-son, Rollanz," then answers Guenes, "You've no baron whose valour is as great."When the King hears, he looks upon him straight, And says to him: "You devil incarnate;Into your heart is come a mortal hate.
And who shall go before me in the gate?"
"Oger is here, of Denmark;" answers Guenes, "You've no baron were better in that place."AOI.
LIX
The count Rollanz hath heard himself decreed;Speaks then to Guenes by rule of courtesy:
"Good-father, Sir, I ought to hold you dear, Since the rereward you have for me decreed.
