🧚 How Charlemagne Sought Vengeance

Not many hours after these things King Charles came to Roncesvalles.1 It was a grievous sight that he saw; there was not a foot of earth on which there lay not the body of some Frenchman or heathen.2 And the King cried aloud, calling the dead men by name. "3 Where are you, Roland?" he said; "and you, Oliver?"4 All the Twelve Peers whom he had left behind to guard the passes he called, but no man answered.5 Charles wept for sadness of heart, and his nobles wept with him; there was not one of all that company but had lost son or brother or comrade or friend.6 Then spake up the Duke Naymes, "Sire," said he, "see you that cloud of dust, two leagues away? '7 Tis the dust of a great multitude, even of the heathen army.8 Ride, Sire, and take vengeance for these warriors whom you have lost." "9 What!" answered the King, "are they already so far?10 Then must we make haste, for they have robbed me of the very flower of France."11 Then he turned to his nobles, and called four by name, and said to them, "Guard this field, these valleys and these hills.12 Let the dead lie as they are, but take good care that no beast of the field touch them, nor any follower of the camp.13 Make sure that no one lay a hand upon them till I come back."14 And the four answered, "So will we do, Sire;" and the King left with them a thousand horsemen for a guard.15

This done, he made haste to pursue the army of the heathen.16 The day was drawing to sunset, but yet he overtook the enemy before darkness fell.17 Some say that God wrought a great miracle for the King, staying the sun in the heaven, till he should have avenged him of his enemies.18 Be that as it may, this is certain, that he overtook the Saracens and slew them with a great slaughter.19 Many fell by the sword, and they who escaped the sword threw themselves into the river, the river Ebro, and thus perished by drowning.20 And the men of France cried, mocking them, "You have seen Roland; but it has not turned to your good."21

And now the night came on, and the King said, "We must think of our camp; 'tis over-late to return to Roncesvalles." "22 It is well," answered his nobles.23 So they unsaddled their horses, and laid themselves down on the green grass and slept.24 None kept watch that night.25 As for the King, he lay down to rest in a certain meadow, his spear by his pillow, for he would not be far from his arms.26 His good sword Joyous was on his side.27 It was a marvellous weapon, for it had in its hilt the iron of the spear with which the side of the Lord Christ was pierced as He hung upon the cross.28 For a time the King thought with tears about the good knights whom he had lost, Roland his nephew, and many another who had fallen on his field.29 But at last his weariness overcame him, and he slept.30 And as he slept he dreamed two dreams.31 In the first dream he saw how there gathered a great tempest in the heavens, with thunders and lightnings and hail and wind, and how this fell upon his army, and how the lances caught fire, and how the shields glowed with heat, and the corslets rattled with the stroke of the hail.32 After this he saw how a multitude of wild beasts, bears, and leopards, and snakes, and monsters such as griffins rushed upon the host as to devour them.33 And he heard the men cry, "Help us, King Charles, help us!"34 But when he would have gone to help them a great lion out of the forest flew on him.35 Then he and the great beast wrestled together.36 But who prevailed, he knew not.37 He did not wake from his sleep, but his dream was changed.38 And the second dream that he dreamed was this: He thought he was at his palace at Aachen, and that he sat upon steps, holding a bear that was bound with a double chain.39 And in his dream he saw how that there came out of the forest of Ardennes thirty other bears who spake each with the voice of a man. "40 Give him back to us, Sire," they said. "41 It is not right that you should keep him so long.42 He is our kinsman, and we must help him."43 And then--this was his dream--a fair greyhound came and attacked the greatest of these wild beasts.44 But who was the conqueror in this conflict also, he could not see.45 After this King Charles awoke from his sleep.46

Meanwhile King Marsilas came in his flight to Saragossa.47 He gave his sword and his armour to his servants, and laid himself down in sore distress upon the green grass under an olive-tree.48 He had lost his right hand, and was faint with the bleeding.49 Loudly did his Queen Branimonde lament over him.50 As for his servants they cursed King Charles and the land of France, and vehemently reproached their god Apollyon. "51 Villain of a god!" they cried, "why dost thou put us to such shame?52 Why dost thou so confound our King?53 This is an ill return to those who do thee honour."54 So saying they took from the god his sceptre and crown, and brake him to pieces with their staves.55 Never before was a god so ill-treated of his worshippers.56

Then said the Queen to herself, in the midst of her tears, "Now a curse upon these gods who have failed us in the day of battle.57 We have the Emir only who can help us.58 Surely he cannot be so base as not to fight against these men of France!"59 So King Marsilas sent an ambassador praying him for help. "60 Of a truth," he said, "if you fail me I will cast away my gods, and take upon me the faith of Christ, and make peace with King Charles."61

When the Emir heard this he gathered together the people of his four kingdoms, and put them on board a fleet of ships, and set forth to sea.62 Quickly did they come to the land of Spain; nor did they halt till they came to the city of Saragossa.63 Then the servants of the Emir spread on the grass a carpet of white silk, and on it they set an ivory chair.64 The Emir sat upon it, and his chiefs stood round about.65

"Listen!" said the Emir, "This Charles has troubled the land of Spain too long.66 I will attack him in his own country, even in France.67 Nothing shall hinder me from bringing him to my feet or slaying him."68 And as he spake he struck his knee with the gauntlet of his right hand.69 Then he called to him two of his chiefs and said, "Go now to King Marsilas and say to him: I come to help you against the men of France.70 Come and pay me homage, and I will make war upon King Charles, even in his own land of France.71 Verily if he do not fall at my feet and beg for pardon, and renounce the faith of Christ, I will tear his crown from his head.72 Take him also, for a token, this gauntlet and this staff of gold."73 And all his nobles cried, "It is well said."74

So the two envoys went, carrying, one the gauntlet and the other the staff.75 When they had passed through the gates of Saragossa, they saw a great multitude of men lamenting. "76 The gods have dealt ill with us," said they; "our King is wounded to the death, and his son is dead, and Spain will be the prey of the Christian dogs."77 When they were come to the palace they made their salutations, saying,78

"Now may Apollyon and Mahomet have King Marsilas and Queen Branimonde in their keeping!" "79 Nay," said the Queen, "what folly is this?80 Our gods have deserted us.81 See what they suffered to befall the King my husband."82 The envoy answered, "A truce to such words!83 The Emir our master bade us say, 'I will deliver King Marsilas; as for this Charles, I will attack him in his own land of France.84 This gauntlet and this staff he sends for a proof of his words.'"85 Queen Branimonde made answer, "You have no need to go to France.86 Here in this land of Spain you may meet King Charles, and of a truth you will find him a great warrior."87

Then said the King, "You see, my lords, that I am in evil case.88 I have none to come after me, neither son nor daughter.89 A son I had but yesterday, but the Count Roland slew him.90 Say to your master for me, I yield you this land of Spain; only guard it against the Christians!91 And bid him come to me; I will give him useful counsel about King Charles; and take him the keys of this city of Saragossa.92 As for Charles he is encamped by the river Ebro, seven leagues hence.93 There will the Emir find him, for of a truth the men of France will not refuse the battle."94

Then the envoys returned to the Emir, and told him all that happened--how King Charles had left Roland and the Peers to guard the passes, and how they had been slain, and what great loss King Marsilas had suffered, and how he yielded to him the whole land of Spain, and how King Charles and his men were in camp by the Ebro.95 Then the Emir commanded his men that they should make ready for the march. "96 Make haste," he said, "or these Frenchmen will escape us."97

Meanwhile King Charles had made search for the body of his nephew, the Count Roland, and for the others that had fallen with him.98 And when these had been found, he caused that the rest should be buried with great honour, but three of the bodies, Roland, to wit, and Oliver, and Turpin the Archbishop, he commanded to be set aside.99 The hearts of these three were taken out of their bodies and wrapped in silk, and then enclosed in coffins of white marble.100 But the bodies were wrapped in deer-skins, with store of spices, and set each in a carriage, that they might be taken to the town of Blois.101

When these things had been done, there came two envoys from the Emir, bearing this message. "102 The Emir brings against you a great army from the land of Arabia.103 Take heed, therefore, for he will make proof of you to-day, whether you are indeed a man of courage."104

The King made no answer to these words, save that he cried to his men, with a loud voice, "To arms!105 To arms!"106 Then without delay he armed himself, donning his corslet and lacing his helmet, and taking in his hand his good sword Joyous, and when he had mounted his good steed he rode forth in front of his army. "107 Never was more kingly man!" said all the army.108 And the King said, as he looked upon the army, "Who would not trust such men?109 If only these heathen stand their ground, surely they shall pay dearly for the death of Roland." "110 God grant it be so!" said the Duke Naymes.111 Then the King called to him two lords: "You shall take the place of Roland and Oliver; one of you shall carry the sword, and one the horn."112 And after this he set his whole army in array.113