第69章 XCIX(1)

And Anseis has let his charger run;

He goes to strike Turgis of Turtelus, The shield he breaks, its golden boss above, The hauberk too, its doubled mail undoes, His good spear's point into the carcass runs, So well he's thrust, clean through the whole steel comes, And from the hilt he's thrown him dead in dust.

Then says Rollant: "Great prowess in that thrust."C

And Engelers the Gascoin of Burdele Spurs on his horse, lets fall the reins as well, He goes to strike Escremiz of Valtrene, The shield he breaks and shatters on his neck, The hauberk too, he has its chinguard rent, Between the arm-pits has pierced him through the breast, On his spear's hilt from saddle throws him dead;After he says "So are you turned to hell."AOI.

CI

And Otes strikes a pagan Estorgant Upon the shield, before its leathern band, Slices it through, the white with the scarlat;The hauberk too, has torn its folds apart, And his good spear thrusts clean through the carcass, And flings it dead, ev'n as the horse goes past;He says: "You have no warrant afterward."CII

And Berenger, he strikes Estramariz, The shield he breaks, the hauberk tears and splits, Thrusts his stout spear through's middle, and him flings Down dead among a thousand Sarrazins.

Of their dozen peers ten have now been killed, No more than two remain alive and quick, Being Chernuble, and the count Margariz.

CIII

Margariz is a very gallant knight, Both fair and strong, and swift he is and light;He spurs his horse, goes Oliver to strike, And breaks his shield, by th'golden buckle bright;Along his ribs the pagan's spear doth glide;God's his warrant, his body has respite, The shaft breaks off, Oliver stays upright;That other goes, naught stays him in his flight, His trumpet sounds, rallies his tribe to fight.

CIV

Common the fight is now and marvellous.

The count Rollanz no way himself secures, Strikes with his spear, long as the shaft endures, By fifteen blows it is clean broken through Then Durendal he bares, his sabre good Spurs on his horse, is gone to strike Chemuble, The helmet breaks, where bright carbuncles grew, Slices the cap and shears the locks in two, Slices also the eyes and the features, The hauberk white, whose mail was close of woof, Down to the groin cuts all his body through To the saddle; with beaten gold 'twas tooled.

Upon the horse that sword a moment stood, Then sliced its spine, no join there any knew, Dead in the field among thick grass them threw.

After he said "Culvert, false step you moved, From Mahumet your help will not come soon.

No victory for gluttons such as you."

CV

The count Rollanz, he canters through the field, Holds Durendal, he well can thrust and wield, Right great damage he's done the Sarrazines You'd seen them, one on other, dead in heaps, Through all that place their blood was flowing clear!

In blood his arms were and his hauberk steeped, And bloodied o'er, shoulders and neck, his steed.

And Oliver goes on to strike with speed;

No blame that way deserve the dozen peers, For all the Franks they strike and slay with heat, Pagans are slain, some swoon there in their seats, Says the Archbishop: "Good baronage indeed!""Monjoie" he cries, the call of Charles repeats.

AOI.

CVI

And Oliver has cantered through the crush;Broken his spear, the truncheon still he thrusts;Going to strike a pagan Malsarun;

Flowers and gold, are on the shield, he cuts, Out of the head both the two eyes have burst, And all the brains are fallen in the dust;He flings him dead, sev'n hundred else amongst.

Then has he slain Turgin and Esturgus;

Right to the hilt, his spear in flinders flew.

Then says Rollant: "Companion, what do you?

In such a fight, there's little strength in wood, Iron and steel should here their valour prove.

Where is your sword, that Halteclere I knew?

Golden its hilt, whereon a crystal grew."Says Oliver: "I had not, if I drew, Time left to strike enough good blows and true."AOI.

CVII

Then Oliver has drawn his mighty sword As his comrade had bidden and implored, In knightly wise the blade to him has shewed;Justin he strikes, that Iron Valley's lord, All of his head has down the middle shorn, The carcass sliced, the broidered sark has torn, The good saddle that was with old adorned, And through the spine has sliced that pagan's horse;Dead in the field before his feet they fall.

Says Rollant: "Now my brother I you call;He'll love us for such blows, our Emperor."On every side "Monjoie" you'ld hear them roar.

AOI.

CVIII

That count Gerins sate on his horse Sorel, On Passe-Cerf was Gerers there, his friend;They've loosed their reins, together spurred and sped, And go to strike a pagan Timozel;One on the shield, on hauberk the other fell;And their two spears went through the carcass well, A fallow field amidst they've thrown him dead.

I do not know, I never heard it said Which of the two was nimbler as they went.

Esperveris was there, son of Borel, And him there slew Engelers of Burdel.

And the Archbishop, he slew them Siglorel, The enchanter, who before had been in hell, Where Jupiter bore him by a magic spell.

Then Turpin says "To us he's forfeited."

Answers Rollanz: "The culvert is bested.

Such blows, brother Olivier, I like well."CIX

The battle grows more hard and harder yet, Franks and pagans, with marvellous onset, Each other strike and each himself defends.

So many shafts bloodstained and shattered, So many flags and ensigns tattered;So many Franks lose their young lustihead, Who'll see no more their mothers nor their friends, Nor hosts of France, that in the pass attend.

Charles the Great weeps therefor with regret.

What profits that? No succour shall they get.

Evil service, that day, Guenes rendered them, To Sarraguce going, his own to sell.

After he lost his members and his head, In court, at Aix, to gallows-tree condemned;And thirty more with him, of his kindred, Were hanged, a thing they never did expect.

AOI.

CX