THE SONG OF ROLAND Translatedby D. D. R. OWEN THE BOYDELLPRESS The Song of Roland - 50] 1977-101,41 The Song of Roland [1015 And Lrecan ltear a greater load in sport Pagansare wrong and Christians in the right; Than four p;rck mules when they are burdened No bad exampleshall be set by me.' AOI. down. ?o The land he comesfrom, so the people say, Oliver stands upon a lofty hill And to the right looks down a grassy vale, Has never seen the sun, and no grain Srows; No rain falls there, nor dew upon the earth, Spies there the infidels as they approach. And erverysiLngle stone is black as pitch, To Roland his companion he then calls: 'Coming Some folk declareit is the haunt of fiends. from Spain such gleam of arms I see, CherrLublesaid: 'l have my good sword girt, So many shining hauberks, blazing helms, Which l shall turn crimson at Roncevaux. That for our French they hold great grief in store. If I firrd gallant Roland on mY way This Ganelon the wicked traitor knew, And don't arltackhim, then my word is false. When he named us beforethe emperor' My srvord will win the match with Durendal, 'Be silent, Oliver,' Count Roland says. The French r,adlldie, and Francewill be bereft!' 'He is my stepfather;I'll hear no more!' At this the p,agsnpeers gather all twelve, gl With them a hundred thousandSaracens, Oliver has climbed up onto a hill, Who hasten eagerly to join the fraY, And now he clearly seesthe Spanish realm ' And the assembledhorde of Saracens. f-- And in a pine-wood go to don their arms. \i/ 'Tq Bright shine the golden helms studded with gems, The p,ag615put Saracenhauberks on, Bright too the shields and saffronedlzcoats of mail, Most of thern reinforced with triple mail; And bright the spearswith flying gonfalons. They lace the splendid Saragossanhelms, The simple tally of the squadronsthere Gird on their swords wrought of Viana steel, He cannot count, so vast their numbers are; Take their fine shields and their sPearsfrom Valence And even he is seized with great alarm. With gonfalons of crimson, blue and white. He lost no time, but hastenedfrom the hill, Then they lorsake their palfreys and their mules, Came to the French, and gave them full report. Mourrt on their steeds, and ride in close array. 8L Bright was the day and radiant the sun; Said Oliver: 'The pagansI have seen: A11thLeir equipment glitters in its rays. Never has any man on earth seenmore. A thousand bugles sound a flourish forth: The vanguard is a hundred thousand strong, Great is the clamour, and the Frenchmen hear. With shields and gleaming hauberks, helmets laced; Said ,Oliver: 'Sir comrade, I believe On shafts erect the polished spear-headsshine, We may do battlewith the Saracens.' You'll have such battle as has never been. Rolarrdreplies: 'And may God grant it sol French lords, may God now send His strength to you. Our <luty bids us stand firm for our king: Stand stalwartin the field, or tastedefeat!' 'A A man should suffer hardship for his lord, The Frenchmensay: curseon him who flees! Endure great heat and bear with bitter cold, For you we'll do our duty to the death.' AOL And be preparedto loseboth hair and skin' 83 'The Now let each man take careto deal greatblows, Said Oliver: paganshave vast strength, So that no siongof shamebe sung of us! And our Frenchmenbeside them seemso few. 70 71 [1051- 861 The Song of Roland The Sone of Roland 11087-11231 Friend Roland, I beseechyou, sound your horn! While we have but a puny company.' Then Charler;will hear; the army will turn back.' Roland replies:'l like it better so. Roland replies: 'Should I act like a fool May God Himself and His angels forbid And lose my fame and honour in fair France? That through me France'sworth should ever wane! No! I shall strike great blows with Durendal, I'd rather die than suffer such a shame. Stain it wiih gore up to its golden hilt. Stout blows endearus to the emDeror.' The pagan knaves shall rue their coming here, VI For this I plerdge:each one is doomed to die.' AOI. ' ' Rolund is valiant, Oliver is wise, R+ And both are matchlessin their chivalry. 'Companion Roland,sound your oliphant! When they are armed and mounted on their steeds, The king will hear and turn ihe army back; For fear of death neither will shun the fray. Charlesand his baronswill come to our aid.' Excellentare the counts, Iofty their speech. Roland replies: 'May it never pleaseGod The wicked pagans wrathfully ride on. That blame should fall on my kinsfolk through me, Oliver said: 'Roland, just see them all! Or fair France ever lapse in infamy! How close they are, with Charles so far away! Rather I'll strike amain with Durendal / You did not deign to sound your oliphant, My trusty sword that hangs here at my side; Yet if the king were here, we'd have no harm. 4nd rr,ouwill see its blade all stained with gore, Look up towards the passesinto Spainl Thoserpagan knaves shall rue their gathering. Now you can see what plight the rearguard's in: I pledge you this: they are all marked for Its men will never form another one.' death.' AOL Roland replies: 'Tell no such tale to me! B' Cursed be the heart that quakes within the breast! 'Companion Roland, sound your oliphant, We shall stand fast and firm to hold our ground, And Charler;will hear as he goes th.roughthe pass; Hewing and hacking there as best we may.' AOI. And then, I pledge,the Frankswill turn about.' 'May God not please',Roland replies to him, ET 'That any man alive should urge me so When Roland seesthe battle will be joined, Or have rne sound my horn for infidels! Lions and leopards show less pride than he. Never shall my kinsmen bearthat reproach. He callsthe Frenchmen,summons Oliver: When I am fighting in the great affray, 'Companion, friend, I pray you say not sol I'll strike se'venhundred and a thousandblows. The emperor who left his French with us, Durendal's steel you shall see stained with gore. Allotting to us twenty thousand men, Stout are the French, valiantly they will strike: Thought not to find a single coward here, Never shall those from Spain escapetheir deathl' A man should suffer great ills for his lord, BC Endure the bitter cold and bear great heat, Said Oliver: 'l see no blamein it; And be prepared to lose both flesh and blood. For I have seenthe Saracensfrom Spain: Strike with your lance, and I with Durendal They cover both the mountains and the vales, My trusty sword, given me by the king! Swarming on hillsidesand throughout the plains. If I die here, the man who takes it up Huge are the armies of the foreign folk, Can say: "A noble vassalwielded this!" ' 72 IJ The liong of Roland t('1o I ArchbishopTurpin is not far away. Spurring his horse, he gallops up a hill, Summonsthe French,and speaksthese solemn words: 'My lords and barons,Charles has left us here, o And for our king r,r,eshould in duty die. co Lend aid now to rnaintain the Christian faith! N You'Il join in battle, as you know full well: 5 si Beforeyour eyes you seethe Saracens. :- Say your confessions,for God's mercy pray! oc I will absolvieyou to secureyour souls. If you die, blessedmartyrs you will be g And have your plar:eon high in Paradise.' E The French dismount and to the ground they fall For the archlbishop'sblessing in God's name. 3 As penancehe commandsthat they strike hard. I 1o' The French rfoseup again upon their feet, Truly absolvedand pardoned for their sins o q? : And signedby the archbishopwith Cod's cross. o At this, they mounted on their speedysteeds r* s In arrns and armour fitting for true knights, .*{ (t And with their battle-gearall well equipped. GTF {d o Count Rolandthen calledupon Oliver: rq 'Companion, sir, asyou are well aware, k sJ We have all been betrayedby Ganelon, € \ai ;l Who has been paid in money, wealth and gold: ih! The emperorshould take vengeancefor us. !h. Marsile the }<inghas barteredwith our lives; € \ But with our sword-strokeshe shall have his -S pricel'AOI. .f+ F 9r *r " Rolu.,dhas ridden to the Spanishpass i On Veillantilf,his good swift battle-steed, {$ qi rt'o OO And bearingarms ils fine as was his due. His spearthe noblerknight goesbrandishing, s Turning the tip upwards towards the sky; (-) And there a pure vrhite gonfalon is tied, rj With golden streamershanging to his hand. Handsomehe is, with laughterin his eyes. 74 The Song of Roland 1t1.60-e4l He rides with his companion at his heels, Hailed as protector by the men of France. Proudly he gazesat the Saracens, But on the French with mild humility; Them he addresseswith hue courtesy: 'My noble lords, go gently, do not hastel On savageslaughter these pagans are bent. Today our booty will be rich and rare, More preciousthan Frenchking has ever won.' He spoke these words, and then the armies clash, AOI. q,l t* Said Oliver: 'l have no time for words. You did not deign to sound your oliphant, And so of noble Charles there is no trace, For he knows nothing, and no guilt is his; And those men with him are not to be blamed.