The Song of Roland Part 4

Said Marsilie--but now what more said they?-- "No faith in words by oath unbound I lay; Swear me the death of Rollant on that day."

Then answered Guene: "So be it, as you say."

On the relics, are in his sword Murgles, Treason he's sworn, forsworn his faith away.

AOI.

XLVII

Was a fald-stool there, made of olifant.

A book thereon Marsilies bade them plant, In it their laws, Mahum's and Tervagant's.

He's sworn thereby, the Spanish Sarazand, In the rereward if he shall find Rollant, Battle to himself and all his band, And verily he'll slay him if he can.

And answered Guenes: "So be it, as you command!"

AOI.

XLVIII

In haste there came a pagan Valdabrun, Warden had been to King Marsiliun, Smiling and clear, he's said to Guenelun, "Take now this sword, and better sword has none; Into the hilt a thousand coins are run.

To you, fair sir, I offer it in love; Give us your aid from Rollant the barun, That in rereward against him we may come."

Guenes the count answers: "It shall-be done."

Then, cheek and chin, kissed each the other one.

XLIX

After there came a pagan, Climorins, Smiling and clear to Guenelun begins: "Take now my helm, better is none than this; But give us aid, on Rollant the marquis, By what device we may dishonour bring."

"It shall be done." Count Guenes answered him; On mouth and cheek then each the other kissed.

AOI.

L

In haste there came the Queen forth, Bramimound; "I love you well, sir," said she to the count, "For prize you dear my lord and all around; Here for your wife I have two brooches found, Amethysts and jacynths in golden mount; More worth are they than all the wealth of Roum; Your Emperour has none such, I'll be bound."

He's taken them, and in his hosen pouched.

AOI.

LI

The King now calls Malduiz, that guards his treasure.

"Tribute for Charles, say, is it now made ready?"

He answers him: "Ay, Sire, for here is plenty Silver and gold on hundred camels seven, And twenty men, the gentlest under heaven."

AOI.

LII

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 pa.s.s, 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 Ma.s.s he's heard, and made his prayer; On the green gra.s.s 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: "G.o.d 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 compa.s.sed, 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 pa.s.s 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 G.o.d 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.

G.o.d! what a grief. Franks know not what is fated.

AOI.

LVI

Pa.s.ses the day, the darkness is grown deep.

That Emperour, rich Charles, lies asleep; Dreams that he stands in the great pa.s.s 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 a.s.sault; 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