The Song of Roland. Unknown

        Passes the day, the darkness is grown deep.

        That Emperour, rich Charles, lies asleep;

        Dreams that he stands in the great pass 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.

        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 assault;

        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.

        Passes the night and opens the clear day;

        That Emperour canters in brave array,

        Looks through the host often and everyway;

        "My lords barons," at length doth Charles say,

        "Ye see the pass along these valleys strait,

        Judge for me now, who shall in rereward wait."

        "There's my good-son, Rollanz," then answers Guenes,

        "You've no baron whose valour is as great."

        When the King hears, he looks upon him straight,

        And says to him: "You devil incarnate;

        Into your heart is come a mortal hate.

        And who shall go before me in the gate?"

        "Oger is here, of Denmark;" answers Guenes,

        "You've no baron were better in that place."

                            AOI.

        The count Rollanz hath heard himself decreed;

        Speaks then to Guenes by rule of courtesy:

        "Good-father, Sir, I ought to hold you dear,

        Since the rereward you have for me decreed.

        Charles the King will never lose by me,

        As I know well, nor charger nor palfrey,

        Jennet nor mule that canter can with speed,

        Nor sumpter-horse will lose, nor any steed;

        But my sword's point shall first exact their meed."

        Answers him Guenes: "I know; 'tis true in-deed."

                            AOI.

        When Rollant heard that he should be rerewarden

        Furiously he spoke to his good-father:

        "Aha! culvert; begotten of a bastard.

        Thinkest the glove will slip from me hereafter,

        As then from thee the wand fell before Charles?"

                            AOI.

        "Right Emperour," says the baron Rollanz,

        "Give me the bow you carry in your hand;

        Neer in reproach, I know, will any man

        Say that it fell and lay upon the land,

        As Guenes let fall, when he received the wand."

        That Emperour with lowered front doth stand,

        He tugs his beard, his chin is in his hand

        Tears fill his eyes, he cannot them command.

        And after that is come duke Neimes furth,

        (Better vassal there was not upon earth)

        Says to the King: "Right well now have you heard

        The count Rollanz to bitter wrath is stirred,

        For that on him the rereward is conferred;

        No baron else have you, would do that work.

        Give him the bow your hands have bent, at first;

        Then find him men, his company are worth."

        Gives it, the King, and Rollant bears it furth.

        That Emperour, Rollanz then calleth he:

        "Fair nephew mine, know this in verity;

        Half of my host I leave you presently;

        Retain you them; your safeguard this shall be."

        Then says the count: "I will not have them, me I

        Confound me God, if I fail in the deed!

        Good valiant Franks, a thousand score I'll keep.

        Go through the pass in all security,

        While I'm alive there's no man you need fear."

                            AOI.

        The count Rollanz has mounted his charger.

        Beside him came his comrade Oliver,

        Also Gerins and the proud count Geriers,

        And Otes came, and also Berengiers,

        Old Anseis, and Sansun too came there;

        Gerart also of Rossillon the fierce,

        And there is come the Gascon Engeliers.

        "Now by my head I'll go!" the Archbishop swears.

        "And I'm with you," says then the count Gualtiers,

        "I'm Rollant's man, I may not leave him there."

        A thousand score they choose of chevaliers.

                            AOI.

        Gualter