Those that are dead, men well may hold them dear.
In charters and in briefs is written clear, Four thousand fell, and more, the tales declare.
Gainst four assaults easily did they fare, But then the fifth brought heavy griefs to bear.
They all are slain, those Frankish chevaliers;Only three-score, whom God was pleased to spare, Before these die, they'll sell them very dear.
AOI.
CXXVIII
The count Rollant great loss of his men sees, His companion Olivier calls, and speaks:
"Sir and comrade, in God's Name, That you keeps, Such good vassals you see lie here in heaps;For France the Douce, fair country, may we weep, Of such barons long desolate she'll be.
Ah! King and friend, wherefore are you not here?
How, Oliver, brother, can we achieve?
And by what means our news to him repeat?"Says Oliver: "I know not how to seek;
Rather I'ld die than shame come of this feat."AOI.
CXXIX
Then says Rollanz: "I'll wind this olifant, If Charles hear, where in the pass he stands, I pledge you now they will return, the Franks."Says Oliver: "Great shame would come of that And a reproach on every one, your clan, That shall endure while each lives in the land, When I implored, you would not do this act;Doing it now, no raise from me you'll have:
So wind your horn but not by courage rash, Seeing that both your arms with blood are splashed."Answers that count: "Fine blows I've struck them back."AOI.
CXXX
Then says Rollant: "Strong it is now, our battle;I'll wind my horn, so the King hears it, Charles."Says Oliver: "That act were not a vassal's.
When I implored you, comrade, you were wrathful.
Were the King here, we had not borne such damage.
Nor should we blame those with him there, his army."Says Oliver: "Now by my beard, hereafter If I may see my gentle sister Alde, She in her arms, I swear, shall never clasp you."AOI.
CXXXI
Then says Rollanz: "Wherefore so wroth with me?"He answers him: "Comrade, it was your deed:
Vassalage comes by sense, and not folly;
Prudence more worth is than stupidity.
Here are Franks dead, all for your trickery;No more service to Carlun may we yield.
My lord were here now, had you trusted me, And fought and won this battle then had we, Taken or slain were the king Marsilie.
In your prowess, Rollanz, no good we've seen!
Charles the great in vain your aid will seek --None such as he till God His Judgement speak; --Here must you die, and France in shame be steeped;Here perishes our loyal company, Before this night great severance and grief."AOI.
CXXXII
That Archbishop has heard them, how they spoke, His horse he pricks with his fine spurs of gold, Coming to them he takes up his reproach:
"Sir Oliver, and you, Sir Rollant, both, For God I pray, do not each other scold!
No help it were to us, the horn to blow, But, none the less, it may be better so;The King will come, with vengeance that he owes;These Spanish men never away shall go.
Our Franks here, each descending from his horse, Will find us dead, and limb from body torn;They'll take us hence, on biers and litters borne;With pity and with grief for us they'll mourn;They'll bury each in some old minster-close;No wolf nor swine nor dog shall gnaw our bones."Answers Rollant: "Sir, very well you spoke."AOI.
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.
