LXXXI
Over the mountain ridges Olivier climbed on high.
And down a grassy valley on the right he cast his eye,
And saw the Paynim army how hard on them it hied.
Then to his comrade Roland with a loud voice he cried:
There cometh a great press of men out of the land of Spain —
A host of the white hauberks. The helmets flash again.
They shall stir up in our Frenchmen a great wrath fierce and fell.
Count Ganelon the traitor hath wrought his treason well,
He who before the Emperor this judgment did decide. "
" Peace, Olivier, " unto him Roland the Count replied.
" 'Tis my stepfather. I like not that thou speak of him so. "
LXXXII
Over the peak Lord Olivier now hasted him to go
Out and across the realm of Spain an eager look he threw,
And he beheld the Paynim host that there together drew.
And from their gold-wrought helmets a blazing light did dance
On shield and broidered hauberk, on pennant and on lance.
Not even might he number the battalions of the foe.
There were so many of them their strength he could not know
Within him was he troubled. He hastened as he might
From the hill and told the Frenchmen all the terror of that sight
LXXXIII
" I have looked upon the Paynims, " Lord Olivier said he
" There is no man upon the earth that a greater host shall see
Under shield an hundred thousand in the van alone do fare
That are clad in milk-white hauberks, and well-laced helms that wear
Straight are the spear-shafts, glittering are the brown spear of war
Ye are like to have such a battle as was never fought before
Lord Franks of God take courage that we be not beaten this day
Said the Franks:
" God's shame upon him that runneth hence away
For fear of death not one of us shall fail thee or betray. "
LXXXIV
Said Olivier:
" The Paynims a mighty army lead
But our good Franks meseemeth are few in very deed.
Oh my good comrade Roland, blow on thy horn amain.
And Charlemagne shall hear it and come with the host again. "
And Roland gave his answer:
" I should be as a fool forlorn;
In France should I lose mine honor, if I blew upon my horn
For the Paynims; but with Durendal the great strokes will I deal.
Up to the golden sword-hilt the blood shall stain the steel.
To the rock-defiles, fell Paynims, ye come in evil hour.
Now unto death, I swear it, is given all your power. "
LXXXV
" Oh my Companion Roland, blow on thy horn amain.
King Charles the Great will hear it and come with the host again.
And the King shall bear us succor, and with him many a knight. "
And Roland answered:
" Never were it pleasing in God's sight
That ever men my parents because of me should blame,
Or ever the sweet realm of France should come on bitter shame.
I will do enow with Durendal the sword at my side so good.
Ye shall see the brand within my hand made ruddy with the blood.
Fell Paynims in an evil hour are ye gathered. On my faith
The whole of your great battle shall be given unto death. "
LXXXVI
" Oh my good comrade Roland, but blow thy horn the while,
King Charlemagne shall hear it on his march in the defile. "
" It were not pleasing unto God, " did Roland answer give,
" That such a thing should e'er be said of any that doth live.
That because of any Paynim the war-horn I have blown.
Never upon my parents shall such a smirch be thrown.
And when at last I gallop in the gigantic fight,
A thousand and seven hundred of the great strokes will I smite
Of Durendal hereafter shall ye see the bloody steel.
The Franks, an it be God's pleasure, shall fight like vassals leal
The Paynims bring no warrant against the slaughter here. "
LXXXVII
" Herein is found no shame at all, " gave answer Olivier
" Nay but the Saracens of Spain. I have seen their battle clear
And the valley and the mountain and the moorland and the plain
With the great host of the stranger are covered up amain.
And all of us together but a little host are we. "
And Roland made him answer:
" The fiercer will I be.
God and the Holy Angels would deem it an ill day,
If France should lose her honor when Roland feared the fray.
Better it were to perish than that shame on us should light.
King Charles will hold us dearer the stronglier that we smite.
LXXXVIII
Proud is the Marquis Roland and Olivier is wise on,
The twain of them, moreover, are men of gallant guise.
When they are mounted on the steed and have got their harne
Then never though they perish the battle will they shun.
Both of the Counts are gallant, and their words high and free.
In mighty anger marches the host of heathenry.
" Roland, look for a little, " Lord Olivier did say.
" Behold they are hard upon us and Charles is far away.
A blast upon the war-horn thou wouldst not deign to blow.
Were the King here among us we were not perilled so.
Look up unto the mountain where the Aspre gates appear;
There mayst thou see the sorrow of the army of the rear.
He who so wrought the matter in no other fray shall ride. "
And unto the Lord Olivier Roland the Count replied:
" So great a shame and folly I prithee speak not thou,
But let him be accursed who turneth coward now.
Within this place together we shall stand against the foes.
Here shall we deal together the buffets and the blows. "
LXXXIX
When well had Roland seen it that a battle soon would be,
Then lordlier than a leopard or a lion stark was he.
He shouted to the Frenchmen and to Olivier he cried:
" My lord and my companions! now say no more beside.
The Emperor who his Frenchmen hath given to our hand,
Hath left us twenty thousand that here with us shall stand.
That not a man among them is a coward he is sure.
And for his lord great evil a good man must endure,
And bear great heat, moreover, and likewise bitter cold.
And flesh and blood of his body to lose he must be bold.
Smite with the lance. With Durendal the battle will I try,
The good blade the King gave me. And if I hap to die,
He that shall have it hereafter, shall say about the sword.
That it was a good vassal's who was faithful to his lord. "
XC
There was Archbishop Turpin upon the other hand
He spurred his charger onwards. On a hill he took his stand
And unto all the Frenchmen he spoke a message clear.
" Lord barons, Charles the Emperor hath left us in the rear.
And for our King and Master behoveth us to die.
Quit you like men for Christendom, that it may stand thereby.
Ye may be sure and certain that your battle soon will be,
For with your eyes each man of you the Saracens may see.
Do ye forthwith confess your sins; for God his mercy pray.
To save your souls His healing upon you I will lay.
Ye will be holy martyrs, if in the fight ye fall.
In the fair land of Paradise ye shall sit one and all. "
And forthwith did the Frenchmen upon the ground alight,
And kneeled, and the Archbishop he blessed them by God's might,
And bade them for their penance upon the foe to smite.
XCI
Up rose thereon the Frenchmen. Upon their feet they got,
Absolved they were and pardoned of their sins upon the spot.
And the Archbishop Turpin hath blessed them by God's power
Upon the battle-chargers they mounted in that hour.
They armed them like good champions. They donned their war-array
And thereupon Count Roland to Olivier did say:
" Oh, my good lord and comrade, Surely thou saidest well
And I believe, we are betrayed by Ganelon the fell.
And gold and rich possession hath the man purchased thus.
The Emperor great vengeance must surely take for us.
To march on us, to Marsile hath Ganelon sent word.
They shall barter now that treason for the edges of the sword.
XCII
Through the Gates of Spain went Roland on Valiant the great steed,
With all his armor on him that became him well indeed.
He bore the good spear in his hand with the point unto the height.
Upon the summit of the spear was laced a pennant white.
About his hands went flashing the fringes of the gold.
His face was fair with laughter and within his heart was bold.
And hard upon his footsteps came his good company,
And the men of France proclaimed him their champion to be.
He cast upon the Saracen a fierce glance and a proud,
But a fair and gentle on the French, and he spake sweet words aloud:
" Ride slowly, my lord barons. To their slaughter do they come.
We shall carry from the Paynim a mighty booty home.
No king of France before us such treasure e'er has ta'en. "
Scarce had his words been spoken, when the armies met amain.
XCIII
Said Olivier to Roland:
" I will even speak my fill.
The mighty horn of battle to blow thou hadst no will.
Now unto us King Charlemagne no succour can afford;
He knows not of our peril and no blame is to our lord.
And the soldiers of the army we may blame them in no way.
But ride ye like good cavaliers, as fiercely as ye may.
To keep the field, lord barons, now firm your spirits make;
By God I pray you steel yourselves the blows to give and take.
The shout of war of Charlemagne we will remember aye. "
And as he finished speaking the French raised up the cry.
Well might he think on loyalty Mount joy that tide that heard.
Then they galloped in great glory. At utmost speed they spurred.
They will smite, (what can they other?) But the foe feared not the war
And full against each other the Franks and Paynims bore.
XCIV
Forth rode King Marsile's nephew, (Adelroth was his name)
And first of all the army before the host he came.
Concerning our good Frenchmen he spake evil on his way:
" What ho, ye Frankish villains, ye shall joust with us this day.
And he who should have saved you has betrayed you to your fate,
A fool is the King Charlemagne that left you at the gate.
Away from the sweet realm of France her glory shall be ta'en
And, moreover, from his body the right arm of Charlemagne. "
But God! when Roland heard it, he was filled with wrath untold
He pricked the battle charger with the great spurs of gold.
The Count rode in to strike him as fiercely as he might,
He brake the shield; through the hauberk a great stroke did he smite
Right through the Paynim's body the weapon good he drave.
The bones he brake in pieces, the chest he cut and clave.
And the strong spine he severed in the back of the cavalier;
The spirit from the body he harried with the spear.
So well he smote that Paynim that he staggered there indeed.
With the swift lance did Roland beat the dead man from the steed
And with that stroke he shattered all the knight's neck a twain
Yet none the less Count Roland spake forth unto the slain:
" Get hence, thou slave! no villain is Charlemagne the King
As for the sin of treason he loveth not the thing.
When he left us in the passes he did as a brave man may.
And not a whit of glory sweet France shall lose to-day.
Strike now, my Franks! Unto us the first stroke doth belong.
We have the right of the battle. These villains have the wrong. "
XCV
A duke was there hight Falsaron. Marsile's brother was he.
Of Dathan and Abiram he held the land in fee.
Than he a feller villain was not beneath the skies.
Exceeding broad and mighty was his brow between the eyes —
A full half foot by measure a man might see it spread —
He had his fill of sorrow when he saw his nephew dead.
Through the press with the Paynim war-cry Duke Falsaron made way
And shouted in his fury: " France shall be shamed this day. "
Olivier heard. Within him did mighty anger stir.
He pricked the battle charger with the good golden spur.
Therewith the shield he shattered, and the hauberk all to-broke.
Through the side the pennant-fringes were driven at the stroke.
With the swift lance from the arçon he smote the Paynim dead,
And looked on the villain where he lay, and a proud word he said:
" Knave! never for your menace shall I have care again.
Strike Franks into the mellay, and the battle we will gain! "
And he gave " Mountjoy " the war-cry, the shout of Charlemagne.
XCVI
There was a king, one Corsablis, that thither came to hand.
And he was come from Barbary and dwelt in the strange land.
He called to the other Paynims:
" Well may we win the day.
The army of the Frenchmen but a little host are they
And those that stand before us we should hold in little dread.
Not one unto King Charlemagne shall carry hence his head.
Now is their time upon them, the hour that they shall die. "
But Turpin the Archbishop, full well he heard the cry.
Was no man under heaven that he did hate so sore.
He pricked the steed with the fair gold spurs, and gallantly he bore
Against the foe to smite him. The buckler there he clove,
And shivered the hauberk. Through the shield the splendid lance he drove.
He struck him that he staggered. He smote him dead in the way
With the lance, and then looked downward to where the villain lay.
Nor did he cease from bitter speech, but then aloud he cried:
" Get hence, thou slavish traitor! Full loudly hast thou lied.
My lord King Charles will aid us. Our Franks have no desire
To flee, but thy companions, we will teach them till they tire.
Another death hereafter must thou suffer yet again.
Strike in, strike in, ye Frenchmen! forget not ye are men.
The first stroke cometh on our side; to God the praises be. "
Thereon " Mountjoy! " he shouted for desire of victory.
XCVII
And on Malprimis of Brigal the good lord Gerin smote.
The great shield that he carried availed him not a groat.
And the fair crystal buckle in pieces small he brast.
The half of the fair buckle down on the ground was cast.
The hauberk he tore asunder, even unto the skin.
Deep, deep into the body he thrust the good lance in.
At the one stroke the heathen upon the ground did roll.
And in that hour Satan hath carried off his soul.
XCVIII
And Gerier his good comrade the Admiral o'erthrew.
He broke the shield. The hauberk, he rended it in two,
And his good lance, moreover, right through the heart he ran.
He smote so well he drove it through the body of the man.
Dead to the ground with the swift lance the enemy he bore.
Thereon said the Lord Olivier: " Most gallant is our war. "
XCIX
Duke Samson 'gainst the Almaçor rode out to strike a stroke.
The golden-flowered buckler in pieces there he broke.
His hauberk then that Saracen stood him in stead not well.
Through heart and lungs and liver the sword of Samson fell.
And, would ye not or would ye, he smote the fellow dead.
" Yon is a baron's sword-stroke, " Archbishop Turpin said.
C
And Anseis thereafter let his war-charger go.
Turgis of Tortelosa he rode to overthrow.
And the great shield he shattered 'neath the buckle of the gold.
Of the hauberk fair, moreover, he burst the double fold.
He struck him through the body with the sharp head of the spear
So well that on the other side all of the steel was clear.
With the swift lance dead on the field he hurled the heathen down.
Said Roland: " That was the spear-stroke of a hero of renown. "
Over the mountain ridges Olivier climbed on high.
And down a grassy valley on the right he cast his eye,
And saw the Paynim army how hard on them it hied.
Then to his comrade Roland with a loud voice he cried:
There cometh a great press of men out of the land of Spain —
A host of the white hauberks. The helmets flash again.
They shall stir up in our Frenchmen a great wrath fierce and fell.
Count Ganelon the traitor hath wrought his treason well,
He who before the Emperor this judgment did decide. "
" Peace, Olivier, " unto him Roland the Count replied.
" 'Tis my stepfather. I like not that thou speak of him so. "
LXXXII
Over the peak Lord Olivier now hasted him to go
Out and across the realm of Spain an eager look he threw,
And he beheld the Paynim host that there together drew.
And from their gold-wrought helmets a blazing light did dance
On shield and broidered hauberk, on pennant and on lance.
Not even might he number the battalions of the foe.
There were so many of them their strength he could not know
Within him was he troubled. He hastened as he might
From the hill and told the Frenchmen all the terror of that sight
LXXXIII
" I have looked upon the Paynims, " Lord Olivier said he
" There is no man upon the earth that a greater host shall see
Under shield an hundred thousand in the van alone do fare
That are clad in milk-white hauberks, and well-laced helms that wear
Straight are the spear-shafts, glittering are the brown spear of war
Ye are like to have such a battle as was never fought before
Lord Franks of God take courage that we be not beaten this day
Said the Franks:
" God's shame upon him that runneth hence away
For fear of death not one of us shall fail thee or betray. "
LXXXIV
Said Olivier:
" The Paynims a mighty army lead
But our good Franks meseemeth are few in very deed.
Oh my good comrade Roland, blow on thy horn amain.
And Charlemagne shall hear it and come with the host again. "
And Roland gave his answer:
" I should be as a fool forlorn;
In France should I lose mine honor, if I blew upon my horn
For the Paynims; but with Durendal the great strokes will I deal.
Up to the golden sword-hilt the blood shall stain the steel.
To the rock-defiles, fell Paynims, ye come in evil hour.
Now unto death, I swear it, is given all your power. "
LXXXV
" Oh my Companion Roland, blow on thy horn amain.
King Charles the Great will hear it and come with the host again.
And the King shall bear us succor, and with him many a knight. "
And Roland answered:
" Never were it pleasing in God's sight
That ever men my parents because of me should blame,
Or ever the sweet realm of France should come on bitter shame.
I will do enow with Durendal the sword at my side so good.
Ye shall see the brand within my hand made ruddy with the blood.
Fell Paynims in an evil hour are ye gathered. On my faith
The whole of your great battle shall be given unto death. "
LXXXVI
" Oh my good comrade Roland, but blow thy horn the while,
King Charlemagne shall hear it on his march in the defile. "
" It were not pleasing unto God, " did Roland answer give,
" That such a thing should e'er be said of any that doth live.
That because of any Paynim the war-horn I have blown.
Never upon my parents shall such a smirch be thrown.
And when at last I gallop in the gigantic fight,
A thousand and seven hundred of the great strokes will I smite
Of Durendal hereafter shall ye see the bloody steel.
The Franks, an it be God's pleasure, shall fight like vassals leal
The Paynims bring no warrant against the slaughter here. "
LXXXVII
" Herein is found no shame at all, " gave answer Olivier
" Nay but the Saracens of Spain. I have seen their battle clear
And the valley and the mountain and the moorland and the plain
With the great host of the stranger are covered up amain.
And all of us together but a little host are we. "
And Roland made him answer:
" The fiercer will I be.
God and the Holy Angels would deem it an ill day,
If France should lose her honor when Roland feared the fray.
Better it were to perish than that shame on us should light.
King Charles will hold us dearer the stronglier that we smite.
LXXXVIII
Proud is the Marquis Roland and Olivier is wise on,
The twain of them, moreover, are men of gallant guise.
When they are mounted on the steed and have got their harne
Then never though they perish the battle will they shun.
Both of the Counts are gallant, and their words high and free.
In mighty anger marches the host of heathenry.
" Roland, look for a little, " Lord Olivier did say.
" Behold they are hard upon us and Charles is far away.
A blast upon the war-horn thou wouldst not deign to blow.
Were the King here among us we were not perilled so.
Look up unto the mountain where the Aspre gates appear;
There mayst thou see the sorrow of the army of the rear.
He who so wrought the matter in no other fray shall ride. "
And unto the Lord Olivier Roland the Count replied:
" So great a shame and folly I prithee speak not thou,
But let him be accursed who turneth coward now.
Within this place together we shall stand against the foes.
Here shall we deal together the buffets and the blows. "
LXXXIX
When well had Roland seen it that a battle soon would be,
Then lordlier than a leopard or a lion stark was he.
He shouted to the Frenchmen and to Olivier he cried:
" My lord and my companions! now say no more beside.
The Emperor who his Frenchmen hath given to our hand,
Hath left us twenty thousand that here with us shall stand.
That not a man among them is a coward he is sure.
And for his lord great evil a good man must endure,
And bear great heat, moreover, and likewise bitter cold.
And flesh and blood of his body to lose he must be bold.
Smite with the lance. With Durendal the battle will I try,
The good blade the King gave me. And if I hap to die,
He that shall have it hereafter, shall say about the sword.
That it was a good vassal's who was faithful to his lord. "
XC
There was Archbishop Turpin upon the other hand
He spurred his charger onwards. On a hill he took his stand
And unto all the Frenchmen he spoke a message clear.
" Lord barons, Charles the Emperor hath left us in the rear.
And for our King and Master behoveth us to die.
Quit you like men for Christendom, that it may stand thereby.
Ye may be sure and certain that your battle soon will be,
For with your eyes each man of you the Saracens may see.
Do ye forthwith confess your sins; for God his mercy pray.
To save your souls His healing upon you I will lay.
Ye will be holy martyrs, if in the fight ye fall.
In the fair land of Paradise ye shall sit one and all. "
And forthwith did the Frenchmen upon the ground alight,
And kneeled, and the Archbishop he blessed them by God's might,
And bade them for their penance upon the foe to smite.
XCI
Up rose thereon the Frenchmen. Upon their feet they got,
Absolved they were and pardoned of their sins upon the spot.
And the Archbishop Turpin hath blessed them by God's power
Upon the battle-chargers they mounted in that hour.
They armed them like good champions. They donned their war-array
And thereupon Count Roland to Olivier did say:
" Oh, my good lord and comrade, Surely thou saidest well
And I believe, we are betrayed by Ganelon the fell.
And gold and rich possession hath the man purchased thus.
The Emperor great vengeance must surely take for us.
To march on us, to Marsile hath Ganelon sent word.
They shall barter now that treason for the edges of the sword.
XCII
Through the Gates of Spain went Roland on Valiant the great steed,
With all his armor on him that became him well indeed.
He bore the good spear in his hand with the point unto the height.
Upon the summit of the spear was laced a pennant white.
About his hands went flashing the fringes of the gold.
His face was fair with laughter and within his heart was bold.
And hard upon his footsteps came his good company,
And the men of France proclaimed him their champion to be.
He cast upon the Saracen a fierce glance and a proud,
But a fair and gentle on the French, and he spake sweet words aloud:
" Ride slowly, my lord barons. To their slaughter do they come.
We shall carry from the Paynim a mighty booty home.
No king of France before us such treasure e'er has ta'en. "
Scarce had his words been spoken, when the armies met amain.
XCIII
Said Olivier to Roland:
" I will even speak my fill.
The mighty horn of battle to blow thou hadst no will.
Now unto us King Charlemagne no succour can afford;
He knows not of our peril and no blame is to our lord.
And the soldiers of the army we may blame them in no way.
But ride ye like good cavaliers, as fiercely as ye may.
To keep the field, lord barons, now firm your spirits make;
By God I pray you steel yourselves the blows to give and take.
The shout of war of Charlemagne we will remember aye. "
And as he finished speaking the French raised up the cry.
Well might he think on loyalty Mount joy that tide that heard.
Then they galloped in great glory. At utmost speed they spurred.
They will smite, (what can they other?) But the foe feared not the war
And full against each other the Franks and Paynims bore.
XCIV
Forth rode King Marsile's nephew, (Adelroth was his name)
And first of all the army before the host he came.
Concerning our good Frenchmen he spake evil on his way:
" What ho, ye Frankish villains, ye shall joust with us this day.
And he who should have saved you has betrayed you to your fate,
A fool is the King Charlemagne that left you at the gate.
Away from the sweet realm of France her glory shall be ta'en
And, moreover, from his body the right arm of Charlemagne. "
But God! when Roland heard it, he was filled with wrath untold
He pricked the battle charger with the great spurs of gold.
The Count rode in to strike him as fiercely as he might,
He brake the shield; through the hauberk a great stroke did he smite
Right through the Paynim's body the weapon good he drave.
The bones he brake in pieces, the chest he cut and clave.
And the strong spine he severed in the back of the cavalier;
The spirit from the body he harried with the spear.
So well he smote that Paynim that he staggered there indeed.
With the swift lance did Roland beat the dead man from the steed
And with that stroke he shattered all the knight's neck a twain
Yet none the less Count Roland spake forth unto the slain:
" Get hence, thou slave! no villain is Charlemagne the King
As for the sin of treason he loveth not the thing.
When he left us in the passes he did as a brave man may.
And not a whit of glory sweet France shall lose to-day.
Strike now, my Franks! Unto us the first stroke doth belong.
We have the right of the battle. These villains have the wrong. "
XCV
A duke was there hight Falsaron. Marsile's brother was he.
Of Dathan and Abiram he held the land in fee.
Than he a feller villain was not beneath the skies.
Exceeding broad and mighty was his brow between the eyes —
A full half foot by measure a man might see it spread —
He had his fill of sorrow when he saw his nephew dead.
Through the press with the Paynim war-cry Duke Falsaron made way
And shouted in his fury: " France shall be shamed this day. "
Olivier heard. Within him did mighty anger stir.
He pricked the battle charger with the good golden spur.
Therewith the shield he shattered, and the hauberk all to-broke.
Through the side the pennant-fringes were driven at the stroke.
With the swift lance from the arçon he smote the Paynim dead,
And looked on the villain where he lay, and a proud word he said:
" Knave! never for your menace shall I have care again.
Strike Franks into the mellay, and the battle we will gain! "
And he gave " Mountjoy " the war-cry, the shout of Charlemagne.
XCVI
There was a king, one Corsablis, that thither came to hand.
And he was come from Barbary and dwelt in the strange land.
He called to the other Paynims:
" Well may we win the day.
The army of the Frenchmen but a little host are they
And those that stand before us we should hold in little dread.
Not one unto King Charlemagne shall carry hence his head.
Now is their time upon them, the hour that they shall die. "
But Turpin the Archbishop, full well he heard the cry.
Was no man under heaven that he did hate so sore.
He pricked the steed with the fair gold spurs, and gallantly he bore
Against the foe to smite him. The buckler there he clove,
And shivered the hauberk. Through the shield the splendid lance he drove.
He struck him that he staggered. He smote him dead in the way
With the lance, and then looked downward to where the villain lay.
Nor did he cease from bitter speech, but then aloud he cried:
" Get hence, thou slavish traitor! Full loudly hast thou lied.
My lord King Charles will aid us. Our Franks have no desire
To flee, but thy companions, we will teach them till they tire.
Another death hereafter must thou suffer yet again.
Strike in, strike in, ye Frenchmen! forget not ye are men.
The first stroke cometh on our side; to God the praises be. "
Thereon " Mountjoy! " he shouted for desire of victory.
XCVII
And on Malprimis of Brigal the good lord Gerin smote.
The great shield that he carried availed him not a groat.
And the fair crystal buckle in pieces small he brast.
The half of the fair buckle down on the ground was cast.
The hauberk he tore asunder, even unto the skin.
Deep, deep into the body he thrust the good lance in.
At the one stroke the heathen upon the ground did roll.
And in that hour Satan hath carried off his soul.
XCVIII
And Gerier his good comrade the Admiral o'erthrew.
He broke the shield. The hauberk, he rended it in two,
And his good lance, moreover, right through the heart he ran.
He smote so well he drove it through the body of the man.
Dead to the ground with the swift lance the enemy he bore.
Thereon said the Lord Olivier: " Most gallant is our war. "
XCIX
Duke Samson 'gainst the Almaçor rode out to strike a stroke.
The golden-flowered buckler in pieces there he broke.
His hauberk then that Saracen stood him in stead not well.
Through heart and lungs and liver the sword of Samson fell.
And, would ye not or would ye, he smote the fellow dead.
" Yon is a baron's sword-stroke, " Archbishop Turpin said.
C
And Anseis thereafter let his war-charger go.
Turgis of Tortelosa he rode to overthrow.
And the great shield he shattered 'neath the buckle of the gold.
Of the hauberk fair, moreover, he burst the double fold.
He struck him through the body with the sharp head of the spear
So well that on the other side all of the steel was clear.
With the swift lance dead on the field he hurled the heathen down.
Said Roland: " That was the spear-stroke of a hero of renown. "