🧚 How Ganelon Went on an Errand to King Marsilas

For seven years King Charles the Great tarried in Spain.1 He conquered the whole land from the sea to the mountains, saving Saragossa only, of which Marsilas, a heathen, was King.2 Marsilas called together his nobles, and said to them, "This King Charles will be our destruction, for we have no longer an army wherewith to meet him.3 Give me counsel, as wise men should, so that I may be saved from death or disgrace."4

Now the wisest of the heathens was a certain Blancandrin, a man valiant in war and good at counsel. "5 Fear not," said he, "fear not, O King.6 Send a message to King Charles promising him faithful service and friendship.7 Send also a present to him.8 Let there be lions and bears, and dogs, seven hundred camels, and a thousand falcons.9 Send also four hundred mules laden with gold and silver, that King Charles may have wherewithal to pay his soldiers.10 And tell him that if he will return to France, you will follow him, and there, on the Feast of St. Michael, will be converted to the Christian Faith, and will be his vassal in all honour.11 If he ask for hostages, let him have them, ten or twenty, as he may desire.12 See, I offer my own son to be one of them, whatever may befall him.13 Better that they should lose their heads than that we should lose our lordship and our lands, and be brought to beg our bread."14 And all the chiefs of heathenry said: "It is well; we will willingly give the hostages."15

Blancandrin spake again: "By this right hand and by this beard I swear that the end of the matter will be this: You will see the French raise their camp in all haste and go back to their own land.16 On the Feast of St. Michael King Charles will make a great entertainment.17 But when he neither sees you nor hears any tidings of you, he will fall into a great rage, and will smite off the heads of the hostages.18 If it be so, it is better that they should lose their heads than that we should lose this fair land of Spain."19 And all the chiefs of heathenry said: "It is well said; so let it be."20

Then said King Marsilas to certain of his lords--ten they were in number, and these the most villainous of the whole company--"Take olive-branches in your hands, and go and say to King Charles, 'King Marsilas prays you to have pity upon him.21 He promises that, before a month is past he will come with a thousand loyal followers, and will receive the faith of Christ, and will become your vassal in all honour.22 Also he says, that if you seek for hostages you shall have them.'"23 Then the King gave the ten lords ten white mules, whereon to ride.24 They had reins of gold and saddles of silver.25 So the ten lords departed from Saragossa, and came to King Charles at the city of Cordova.26

They found King Charles in great mirth and joyfulness.27 He had newly taken the fair city of Cordova, having broken down the walls and towers with his engines of war, and with the city he had taken a great spoil of gold and silver.28 Of the people, too, there was not one but had to make his choice between Christian baptism and death.29 Now he was sitting with his barons in a great orchard.30 Some played at cards, and some of the graver sort at chess, and the young men fenced with each other.31 As for the King himself, he was sitting under a thorn on a great chair of gold, a right noble man to see, with his long, white beard.32 When the heathen ambassadors saw him they lighted down from their mules, and paid him homage.33 Then said their leader, Blancandrin, "Glory to the name of God!34 Our master, King Marsilas, bids us say that, being persuaded that the law by which you live is the law of salvation, he would fain win your favour even by the half of his treasures.35 He sends therefore lions and bears, camels and falcons, four hundred mules laden with gold and silver, wherewith you can pay all your soldiers.36 Moreover, he says that when you shall have returned to your own country he will follow you thither, and will be obedient to your law, and do you homage for his kingdom of Spain."37

When King Charles heard these words he bent his head as one deep in thought.38 So he tarried awhile, for his speech was never hasty.39 At last he spoke: "You have said well.40 But your King has long been my enemy.41 How can I trust these promises?"42 Blancandrin made answer, "You shall have hostages, Sire--ten, fifteen, twenty, as you will.43 My own son shall be one of them, and the others shall be of the noblest of the land.44 So you may rest assured that at the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing my master shall come to you at your palace at Aachen, and shall there consent to become a Christian."45

"He will do well," said King Charles; "'tis thus only that he shall save his soul."46 Then he commanded that the white mules should be put into stalls, and that a tent should be pitched in the orchard, and the ambassadors have such entertainment as was meet.47

The day following King Charles rose early, and having heard mass sent for his nobles, for he would do nothing without the counsel of the wise men of France.48 So the nobles came, Ogier the Dane among them, and Turpin the Archbishop, and Count Roland, and with him Oliver, his closest friend, and Ganelon, the same that was the traitor.49

Then said the King, "My lords, King Marsilas has sent an embassy to me with many and rich gifts, lions and bears, and camels, and abundance of gold and silver.50 Only he makes this condition--that I go back to France; and he promises that he himself will come thither, even to Aachen, and will there profess himself a Christian and also do homage for his kingdom.51 But whether he speaks the truth, that I know not.52 What think you, my lords?"53

Then stood up the Count Roland, and said, "'Twere madness to trust this King Marsilas.54 Have we not been in this land of Spain for now seven years, and has not this King Marsilas always borne himself as a traitor?55 Did he not send fifteen of his heathens each with an olive-branch in his hand, and did they not make this same profession for him?56 You took counsel of your nobles, and you sent him--so ill-advised were you--two envoys.57 What did King Marsilas?58 He took their heads from them.59 What I counsel, Sire, is, that as you have begun this war, so you carry it to an end.60 Lead your army to Saragossa, lay siege to it, spend, if need be, the rest of your days before it, but take vengeance for the brave men whom King Marsilas did to death."61

King Charles sat with his head bowed, and spake no word good or bad.62 Then rose up Ganelon, and said, "Sire, I would have you take no advice, except it be to your own advantage.63 King Marsilas has sent to you, saying that he is ready to profess our faith and to hold the kingdom of Spain as your vassal.64 He who would have you refuse such an offer knows nothing of business affairs.65 Counsels of pride are not for mortal men.66 Have done with folly, and listen to the words of the wise."67