The Song of Roland [39]
AOI.
CCLII
Who then had seen those Arrabit chevaliers, From Occiant, from Argoille and from Bascle! And well they strike and slaughter with their lances; But Franks, to escape they think it no great matter; On either side dead men to the earth fall crashing. Till even-tide 'tis very strong, that battle; Barons of France do suffer much great damage, Grief shall be there ere the two hosts be scattered. AOI.
CCLIII
Right well they strike, both Franks and Arrabies, Breaking the shafts of all their burnished spears. Whoso had seen that shattering of shields, Whoso had heard those shining hauberks creak, And heard those shields on iron helmets beat, Whoso had seen fall down those chevaliers, And heard men groan, dying upon that field, Some memory of bitter pains might keep. That battle is most hard to endure, indeed. And the admiral calls upon Apollin And Tervagan and Mahum, prays and speaks: "My lords and gods, I've done you much service; Your images, in gold I'll fashion each; Against Carlun give me your warranty!" Comes before him his dear friend Gemalfin, Evil the news he brings to him and speaks: "Sir Baliganz, this day in shame you're steeped; For you have lost your son, even Malprime; And Canabeus, your brother, slain is he. Fairly two Franks have got the victory; That Emperour was one, as I have seen; Great limbs he has, he's every way Marquis, White is his beard as flowers in April." That admiral has bent his head down deep, And thereafter lowers his face and weeps, Fain would he die at once, so great his grief; He calls to him Jangleu from over sea. AOI.
CCLIV
Says the admiral, "Jangleu, beside me stand! For you are proof, and greatly understand, Counsel from you I've ever sought to have. How seems it you, of Arrabits and Franks, Shall we from hence victorious go back?" He answers him: "Slain are you, Baligant! For from your gods you'll never have warrant. So proud is Charles, his men so valiant, Never saw I a race so combatant. But call upon barons of Occiant, Turks and Enfruns, Arrabits and Giants. No more delay: what must be, take in hand."
CCLV
That admiral has shaken out his beard That ev'n so white as thorn in blossom seems; He'll no way hide, whateer his fate may be, Then to his mouth he sets a trumpet clear, And clearly sounds, so all the pagans hear. Throughout the field rally his companies. From Occiant, those men who bray and bleat, And from Argoille, who, like dogs barking, speak; Seek out the Franks with such a high folly, Break through their line, the thickest press they meet Dead from that shock they've seven thousand heaped.
CCLVI
The count Oger no cowardice e'er knew, Better vassal hath not his sark indued. He sees the Franks, their columns broken through, So calls to him Duke Tierris, of Argune, Count Jozeran, and Gefreid, of Anjou; And to Carlun most proud his reason proves: "Behold pagans, and how your men they slew! Now from your head please God the crown remove Unless you strike, and vengeance on them do!" And not one word to answer him he knew; They spurred in haste, their horses let run loose, And, wheresoeer they met the pagans, strook. AOI.
CCLVII
Now very well strikes the King Charlemagne, Naimes the Duke, also Oger the Dane, Geifreid d'Anjou, who that ensign displays. Exceeding proof is Don Oger, the Dane; He spurs his horse, and lets him run in haste, So strikes that man who the dragon displays. Both in the field before his feet he breaks That king's ensign and dragon, both abased. Baligant sees his gonfalon disgraced, And Mahumet's standard thrown from its place; That admiral at once perceives it plain, That he is wrong, and right is Charlemain. Pagan Arabs coyly themselves contain; That Emperour calls on his Franks again: "Say, barons, come, support me, in God's Name!" Answer the Franks, "Question you make in vain; All felon he that dares not exploits brave!" AOI.
CCLVIII
Passes that day, turns into vesper-tide. Franks and pagans still with their swords
CCLII
Who then had seen those Arrabit chevaliers, From Occiant, from Argoille and from Bascle! And well they strike and slaughter with their lances; But Franks, to escape they think it no great matter; On either side dead men to the earth fall crashing. Till even-tide 'tis very strong, that battle; Barons of France do suffer much great damage, Grief shall be there ere the two hosts be scattered. AOI.
CCLIII
Right well they strike, both Franks and Arrabies, Breaking the shafts of all their burnished spears. Whoso had seen that shattering of shields, Whoso had heard those shining hauberks creak, And heard those shields on iron helmets beat, Whoso had seen fall down those chevaliers, And heard men groan, dying upon that field, Some memory of bitter pains might keep. That battle is most hard to endure, indeed. And the admiral calls upon Apollin And Tervagan and Mahum, prays and speaks: "My lords and gods, I've done you much service; Your images, in gold I'll fashion each; Against Carlun give me your warranty!" Comes before him his dear friend Gemalfin, Evil the news he brings to him and speaks: "Sir Baliganz, this day in shame you're steeped; For you have lost your son, even Malprime; And Canabeus, your brother, slain is he. Fairly two Franks have got the victory; That Emperour was one, as I have seen; Great limbs he has, he's every way Marquis, White is his beard as flowers in April." That admiral has bent his head down deep, And thereafter lowers his face and weeps, Fain would he die at once, so great his grief; He calls to him Jangleu from over sea. AOI.
CCLIV
Says the admiral, "Jangleu, beside me stand! For you are proof, and greatly understand, Counsel from you I've ever sought to have. How seems it you, of Arrabits and Franks, Shall we from hence victorious go back?" He answers him: "Slain are you, Baligant! For from your gods you'll never have warrant. So proud is Charles, his men so valiant, Never saw I a race so combatant. But call upon barons of Occiant, Turks and Enfruns, Arrabits and Giants. No more delay: what must be, take in hand."
CCLV
That admiral has shaken out his beard That ev'n so white as thorn in blossom seems; He'll no way hide, whateer his fate may be, Then to his mouth he sets a trumpet clear, And clearly sounds, so all the pagans hear. Throughout the field rally his companies. From Occiant, those men who bray and bleat, And from Argoille, who, like dogs barking, speak; Seek out the Franks with such a high folly, Break through their line, the thickest press they meet Dead from that shock they've seven thousand heaped.
CCLVI
The count Oger no cowardice e'er knew, Better vassal hath not his sark indued. He sees the Franks, their columns broken through, So calls to him Duke Tierris, of Argune, Count Jozeran, and Gefreid, of Anjou; And to Carlun most proud his reason proves: "Behold pagans, and how your men they slew! Now from your head please God the crown remove Unless you strike, and vengeance on them do!" And not one word to answer him he knew; They spurred in haste, their horses let run loose, And, wheresoeer they met the pagans, strook. AOI.
CCLVII
Now very well strikes the King Charlemagne, Naimes the Duke, also Oger the Dane, Geifreid d'Anjou, who that ensign displays. Exceeding proof is Don Oger, the Dane; He spurs his horse, and lets him run in haste, So strikes that man who the dragon displays. Both in the field before his feet he breaks That king's ensign and dragon, both abased. Baligant sees his gonfalon disgraced, And Mahumet's standard thrown from its place; That admiral at once perceives it plain, That he is wrong, and right is Charlemain. Pagan Arabs coyly themselves contain; That Emperour calls on his Franks again: "Say, barons, come, support me, in God's Name!" Answer the Franks, "Question you make in vain; All felon he that dares not exploits brave!" AOI.
CCLVIII
Passes that day, turns into vesper-tide. Franks and pagans still with their swords