The Song of Roland Part 24

CCLx.x.x

For battle, now, ready you might them see, They're well confessed, absolved, from sin set free; Ma.s.ses they've heard, Communion received, Rich offerings to those minsters they leave.

Before Carlun now both the two appear: They have their spurs, are fastened on their feet, And, light and strong, their hauberks brightly gleam; Upon their heads they've laced their helmets clear, And girt on swords, with pure gold hilted each; And from their necks hang down their quartered s.h.i.+elds; In their right hands they grasp their trenchant spears.

At last they mount on their swift coursing steeds.

Five score thousand chevaliers therefor weep, For Rollant's sake pity for Tierri feel.

G.o.d knows full well which way the end shall be.

CCLx.x.xI

Down under Aix there is a pasture large Which for the fight of th' two barons is marked.

Proof men are these, and of great va.s.salage, And their horses, unwearied, gallop fast; They spur them well, the reins aside they cast, With virtue great, to strike each other, dart; All of their s.h.i.+elds shatter and rend apart.

Their hauberks tear; the girths asunder start, The saddles slip, and fall upon the gra.s.s.

Five score thousand weep, who that sight regard.

AOI.

CCLx.x.xII

Upon the ground are fallen both the knights; Nimbly enough upon their feet they rise.

Nimble and strong is Pinabels, and light.

Each the other seeks; horses are out of mind, But with those swords whose hilts with gold are lined Upon those helms of steel they beat and strike: Great are the blows, those helmets to divide.

The chevaliers of France do much repine.

"O G.o.d!" says Charles, "Make plain to us the right!"

CCLx.x.xIII

Says Pinabel "Tierri, I pray thee, yield: I'll be thy man, in love and fealty; For the pleasure my wealth I'll give to thee; But make the King with Guenelun agree."

Answers Tierri: "Such counsel's not for me.

Pure felon I, if e'er I that concede!

G.o.d shall this day the right shew, us between!"

AOI.

CCLx.x.xIV

Then said Tierri "Bold art thou, Pinabel, Thou'rt great and strong, with body finely bred; For va.s.salage thy peers esteem thee well: Of this battle let us now make an end!

With Charlemagne I soon will have thee friends; To Guenelun such justice shall be dealt Day shall not dawn but men of it will tell."

"Please the Lord G.o.d, not so!" said Pinabel.

"I would sustain the cause of my kindred No mortal man is there from whom I've fled; Rather I'ld die than hear reproaches said."

Then with their swords began to strike again Upon those helms that were with gold begemmed Into the sky the bright sparks rained and fell.

It cannot be that they be sundered, Nor make an end, without one man be dead.

AOI.

CCLx.x.xV

He's very proof, Pinabel of Sorence, Tierri he strikes, on 's helmet of Provence, Leaps such a spark, the gra.s.s is kindled thence; Of his steel brand the point he then presents, On Tierri's brow the helmet has he wrenched So down his face its broken halves descend; And his right cheek in flowing blood is drenched; And his hauberk, over his belly, rent.

G.o.d's his warrant, Who death from him prevents.

AOI.

CCLx.x.xVI

Sees Tierris then 'that in the face he's struck, On gra.s.sy field runs clear his flowing blood; Strikes Pinabel on 's helmet brown and rough, To the nose-piece he's broken it and cut, And from his head scatters his brains in th' dust; Brandishes him on th' sword, till dead he's flung.

Upon that blow is all the battle won.

Franks cry aloud: "G.o.d hath great virtue done.

It is proved right that Guenelun be hung.

And those his kin, that in his cause are come."

AOI.

CCLx.x.xVII

Now that Tierris the battle fairly wins, That Emperour Charles is come to him; Forty barons are in his following.

Naimes the Duke, Oger that Danish Prince, Geifrei d'Anjou, Willalme of Blaive therewith.

Tierri, the King takes in his arms to kiss; And wipes his face with his great marten-skins; He lays them down, and others then they bring; The chevaliers most sweetly disarm him; An Arab mule they've brought, whereon he sits.

With baronage and joy they bring him in.

They come to Aix, halt and dismount therein.

The punishment of the others then begins.

CCLx.x.xVIII

His counts and Dukes then calls to him Carlun: "With these I guard, advise what shall be done.

Hither they came because of Guenelun; For Pinabel, as pledges gave them up."

Answer the Franks: "Shall not of them live one."

The King commands his provost then, Basbrun: "Go hang them all on th' tree of cursed wood!

Nay, by this beard, whose hairs are white enough, If one escape, to death and shame thou'rt struck!"

He answers him: "How could I act, save thus?"

With an hundred serjeants by force they come; Thirty of them there are, that straight are hung.

Who betrays man, himself and 's friends undoes.

AOI.

CCLx.x.xIX

Then turned away the Baivers and Germans And Poitevins and Bretons and Normans.

Fore all the rest, 'twas voted by the Franks That Guenes die with marvellous great pangs; So to lead forth four stallions they bade; After, they bound his feet and both his hands; Those steeds were swift, and of a temper mad; Which, by their heads, led forward four sejeants Towards a stream that flowed amid that land.

Sones fell Gue into perdition black; All his sinews were strained until they snapped, And all the limbs were from his body dragged.

On the green gra.s.s his clear blood gushed and ran.

Guenes is dead, a felon recreant.

Who betrays man, need make no boast of that.

CCXC

When the Emperour had made his whole vengeance, He called to him the Bishops out of France, Those of Baviere and also the Germans: "A dame free-born lies captive in my hands, So oft she's heard sermons and reprimands, She would fear G.o.d, and christening demands.

Baptise her then, so G.o.d her soul may have."

They answer him: "Sponsors the rite demands, Dames of estate and long inheritance."

The baths at Aix great companies attract; There they baptised the Queen of Sarazands, And found for her the name of Juliane.

Christian is she by very cognisance.

CCXCI

When the Emperour his justice hath achieved, His mighty wrath's abated from its heat, And Bramimunde has christening received; Pa.s.ses the day, the darkness is grown deep, And now that King in 's vaulted chamber sleeps.

Saint Gabriel is come from G.o.d, and speaks: "Summon the hosts, Charles, of thine Empire, Go thou by force into the land of Bire, King Vivien thou'lt succour there, at Imphe, In the city which pagans have besieged.