🧚 How Charlemagne Sought Vengeance · page 2

Meanwhile the envoys of the Emir returned to him. "114 We have seen King Charles," they said. "115 He is brave, and brave are they that follow him, nor will they fail the King.116 You will have to do battle with them.117 Therefore arm yourself." "118 That is good news for all that are of a good courage," said the Emir. "119 Sound the trumpets, that my people may make themselves ready."120 A mighty warrior was he, with deep chest and broad shoulders, over which his hair fell in curls, with fair face and shining eyes; of his courage he had given proofs without number.121 What a gallant knight he had been, were he but a Christian man!122 He had a sword of renown, which he called Precious, and a great bear-spear, Matté by name.123 A gallant knight also was the Prince Malprime, his son. "124 Forward, Sire," said the Prince to his father. "125 Shall we see King Charles to-day?" "126 Yes," answered the Emir, "for he is a brave man, and all speak of him with honour.127 Nevertheless, now that he has lost the Count Roland his nephew, he can scarcely hold his ground before us.128 Yet we shall have a great battle to fight." "129 Be it so," said the Prince. "130 I ask from you the honour of striking the first blow." "131 It shall be yours," said the Emir.132

Then the Emir set his battle in array, so that the two hosts stood over against each other.133 There was neither hill nor valley nor forest between them; each was in full sight of the other.134 Splendid and terrible they were to view, so brightly shone the helmets and bucklers and shields and spears.135 And bright and clear was the sound of the trumpets; but the brightest and clearest of all was the horn of Charles the great King.136 And first the Emir rode forth in front of his army. "137 Follow me!" he cried to his army, "I will show you the way."138 And he brandished his spear, turning the point towards the King of France.139 And King Charles, on his part, when he saw the Emir, and his standard, the Dragon, borne after him, cried with a loud voice, "Lords of France, you have fought many battles, and now there is yet one more for you to fight.140 See, then, this host of heathens.141 Many they are in number.142 But what matters the multitude of them?143 Follow me!"144 Thereupon he spurred his charger.145 The good steed bounded forward, and all the men of France cried out, "A brave man is our King; not one of us will fail him."146 The first that dealt a blow to the enemy was the Count Rabel.147 Spurring his horse, he charged Torlen, the King of Persia, and struck his shield fairly with his spear.148 The good steel pierced shield and corslet, and the King fell dead upon the field. "149 Strike! strike for Charles and the Right!" cried all the men of France when they saw the Persian fall.150

On the other side the Prince Malprime, son to the Emir, rode forward on his white horse, charging into the midst of the army of France, and striking down warrior after warrior. "151 See!" cried the Emir, "see, my son, how he is seeking for the King of the French!152 There is no better soldier than he.153 Follow him and the victory shall be yours, and all the prizes of victory, lands, and castles, and gold and fair women."154 Nor did the chiefs of the heathen delay to charge.155 Fiercely did they ride forward, and the battle raged over the plain.156 When the Duke Naymes saw how the Prince Malprime was breaking the ranks of France, dealing death at every blow, he charged him, spear in rest.157 He drave the point through the upper rim of his shield and through his corslet, deep into his side, and laid him dead on the field.158 But when King Canaben, who was uncle to the Prince, saw what had befallen his nephew, he rode at the Duke, and, drawing his sword, dealt him a great blow on the helmet.159 Half of the helmet and laces wherewith it was laced were shorn off by the stroke, and the edge of the sword touched the flesh itself.160 The Duke yet clung with one arm to the neck of his horse; if the heathen deal him another such blow he is lost.161 But, thanks to God, King Charles came to his help.162 He struck King Canaben through the vizor of his helmet with his boar-spear, and with the one blow laid him dead to the ground.163

Elsewhere in the field the Emir wrought great havoc in the ranks of France, slaying chief after chief, among them the old man Richard, Duke of the Normans.164 Behind him followed many heathen knights.165 Many valorous deeds they did.166 Where the Emir led the ranks of the heathen there the men of France suffered grievous loss, and now there came one who brought him tidings of ill. "167 The Prince Malprime, your son, is slain," said the man; "also King Canaben, your brother, is slain."168 The Emir had well-nigh died of grief to hear such evil news; but he called to him one of his wisest counsellors. "169 Come near," said he; "you are loyal and wise, and I have ever followed your counsel.170 Tell me now, will the day go for the Arabs or for the men of France?" "171 Sire," the sage replied, "you are in evil case.172 As for your gods, look not to them for help.173 Call now your Turks and Arabs, and, above all, your Giants to the front.174 With them you may yet win the day."175

Then the Emir put his horn to his mouth and blew a call, loud and clear.176 The Turks and the Arabs and the Giants answered thereto.177 Mighty warriors they were, and fierce was the charge they made; so fierce that they brake the army of France in twain.178 But when Ogier the Dane saw what had befallen the King's army he said to him, "See you how the heathen are breaking our ranks and slaying our men.179 If you would bear your crown where it should be borne you must strike with all your might."180

Then the King rode forward, and with him the Duke Naymes, and Ogier the Dane, and Geoffrey Count of Anjou.181 All quitted themselves as good knights, but there was none who bore himself so bravely as Ogier the Dane.182 Many he slew, among them the heathen knight who carried the Emir's standard.183 Sore discouraged was the Emir when he saw his standard in the dust, but the heart of King Charles was high with hope. "184 Sons of France, will you help me?" he cried. "'185 Tis a wrong even to ask us," said they; "cursed be he who shall not strike with his whole heart!"186 And now, as the day drew to the evening, these two met in combat, King Charles and the Emir.187 Fierce was the encounter between them, and many and sore were the blows they dealt the one to the other.188 At last it chanced that the bands of each man's saddle was cleft through, so that they fell both to the ground.189 Quickly did they rise to their feet, and drawing their swords, closed fiercely in fight.190 It was, indeed, a battle to the death.191 First the Emir spoke, saying, "King Charles, you have slain my son; you have wrongfully invaded my land.192 Yet if you will pay me homage I will grant it to you to hold in fief." "193 That were a foul disgrace," King Charles made answer; "never will I grant to a heathen either peace or life.194 Become a Christian, and you shall have all that I have to give." "195 These are but idle words," answered the Emir; "I had sooner die."196 And as he spake he dealt King Charles a mighty blow upon the helmet.197 The sword brake the iron, and shore away a palm's breadth of the scalp.198 The King reeled in his place, and had well-nigh fallen to the ground.199 But God willed otherwise, for the angel that guarded him whispered in his ear, "Charles, what doest thou?"200 And when he heard the angel's voice he thought no more of danger or death.201 Gathering all his strength into one mighty blow, he severed the enemy's head in twain.202 Down to the chin he cleft it, and the Emir fell dead upon the plain.203

So soon as the heathen saw that their leader was slain they fled in hot haste, and the men of France pursued them even to the walls of Saragossa.204 There stood Queen Branimonde, with her priests about her, waiting and watching for news of the war.205 But when the Queen saw the multitude of them that fled she hastened to King Marsilas, and said to him, "O Sire, our people are vanquished, and the Emir is dead."206 When King Marsilas heard these words he turned him to the wall, and covered his face and wept.207 So great was his grief that his heart was broken in his breast, and he died.208

As for the town, none of the heathen had any thought of defending it.209 They suffered the gates to be broken down without any hindrance, and the Queen surrendered to King Charles all the towers, great and small.210 Of a truth, he works well who works with God.211

As soon as it was day King Charles bade his men break down all the things that the heathen counted holy.212 As for the people, they were brought to the water of baptism.213 Such as were not willing to be baptized into the faith, these the King caused to be hanged, or slain with the sword, or burnt with the fire.214 But the greater part readily obeyed the King's command, and were made good Christians, one hundred thousand of them at the least.215

After these things the King departed from Saragossa, leaving a thousand men to keep the town for him.216 He took Queen Branimonde with him; also he took the bodies of Roland and Oliver and of Turpin the Archbishop, and caused them to be honourably buried at Blois.217

When King Charles was come back to the fair town of Aachen, it was told him that a fair lady desired to see him.218 So he commanded that she should be brought before him.219 When she came back she was Alda the Fair.220 She said, "Tell me, O King, where is the Earl Roland?221 He is promised to be my husband."222 The King was greatly troubled to hear these words.223 He wept and tore his white beard. "224 My sister," he said, when he found his speech, "my dear sister.225 You ask me news of a dead man.226 But comfort yourself.227 Roland we shall see no more, but you shall have my son Lewis, he that is to be Warden of the Marches, in his place." "228 These are strange words," said Alda the Fair; "God and His blessed saints forbid that I should live now that my Roland is dead," and as she spake she grew deadly pale, and fell at the King's feet, and when they took her up, lo! she was dead.229 When the King saw this he called to him four countesses and bade them carry her to a nunnery that was hard by.230 All that night these noble ladies watched by her dead body; the day following she was buried by the altar with great honour.231