The Song of Roland. Unknown

that bears his gonfaloun;

        There too Gerin and Geriers are found.

        Where they are found, is seen a mighty crowd,

        Fifteen thousand, come out of France the Douce.

        On white carpets those knights have sate them down,

        At the game-boards to pass an idle hour;—

        Chequers the old, for wisdom most renowned,

        While fence the young and lusty bachelours.

        Beneath a pine, in eglantine embow'red,

        l Stands a fald-stool, fashioned of gold throughout;

        There sits the King, that holds Douce France in pow'r;

        White is his beard, and blossoming-white his crown,

        Shapely his limbs, his countenance is proud.

        Should any seek, no need to point him out.

        The messengers, on foot they get them down,

        And in salute full courteously they lout.

IX

        The foremost word of all Blancandrin spake,

        And to the King: "May God preserve you safe,

        The All Glorious, to Whom ye're bound to pray!

        Proud Marsilies this message bids me say:

        Much hath he sought to find salvation's way;

        Out of his wealth meet presents would he make,

        Lions and bears, and greyhounds leashed on chain,

        Thousand mewed hawks, sev'n hundred dromedrays,

        Four hundred mules his silver shall convey,

        Fifty wagons you'll need to bear away

        Golden besants, such store of proved assay,

        Wherewith full tale your soldiers you can pay.

        Now in this land you've been too long a day

        Hie you to France, return again to Aix;

        Thus saith my Lord, he'll follow too that way."

        That Emperour t'wards God his arms he raised

        Lowered his head, began to meditate.

                            AOI.

X

        That Emperour inclined his head full low;

        Hasty in speech he never was, but slow:

        His custom was, at his leisure he spoke.

        When he looks up, his face is very bold,

        He says to them: "Good tidings have you told.

        King Marsilies hath ever been my foe.

        These very words you have before me told,

        In what measure of faith am I to hold?"

        That Sarrazin says, "Hostages he'll show;

        Ten shall you take, or fifteen or a score.

        Though he be slain, a son of mine shall go,

        Any there be you'll have more nobly born.

        To your palace seigneurial when you go,

        At Michael's Feast, called in periculo;

        My Lord hath said, thither will he follow

        Ev'n to your baths, that God for you hath wrought;

        There is he fain the Christian faith to know."

        Answers him Charles: "Still may he heal his soul."

                            AOI.

XI

        Clear shone the sun in a fair even-tide;

        Those ten men's mules in stall he bade them tie.

        Also a tent in the orchard raise on high,

        Those messengers had lodging for the night;

        Dozen serjeants served after them aright.

        Darkling they lie till comes the clear daylight.

        That Emperour does with the morning rise;

        Matins and Mass are said then in his sight.

        Forth goes that King, and stays beneath a pine;

        Barons he calls, good counsel to define,

        For with his Franks he's ever of a mind.

                            AOI.

XII

        That Emperour, beneath a pine he sits,

        Calls his barons, his council to begin:

        Oger the Duke, that Archbishop Turpin,

        Richard the old, and his nephew Henry,

        From Gascony the proof Count Acolin,

        Tedbald of Reims and Milun his cousin:

        With him there were Gerers, also Gerin,

        And among them the Count Rollant came in,

        And Oliver, so proof and so gentil.

        Franks out of France, a thousand chivalry;

        Guenes came there, that wrought the treachery.

        The Council then began, which ended ill.

                            AOI.

XIII

        "My Lords Barons," says the Emperour then, Charles,

        "King Marsilies hath sent me his messages;

        Out of his wealth he'll give me weighty masses.

        Greyhounds on leash and bears and lions also,

        Thousand mewed hawks and seven hundred camels,

        Four hundred mules with gold Arabian charged,

        Fifty wagons, yea more than fifty drawing.

        But into France demands he my departure;

        He'll follow me to Aix, where is my Castle;

        There he'll receive the law of our Salvation:

        Christian he'll be, and hold from me his marches.

        But I know not what purpose in his heart is."

        Then say the Franks: "Beseems us act with caution!"

                            AOI.

XIV

        That Emperour hath ended now his speech.

        The Count Rollanz, he never will agree,

        Quick to reply, he springs upon his feet;

        And to the King, "Believe not Marsilie.

        Seven years since, when into Spain came we,

        I conquer'd you Noples also Commibles,

        And took Valterne, and all the land of Pine,

        And Balaguet, and Tuele, and Sezilie.

        Traitor in all his ways was Marsilies;

        Of his pagans he sent you then fifteen,

        Bearing in hand their olive-branches green:

        Who, ev'n as now, these very words did speak.

        You of your Franks a Council did decree,

        Praised