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Updated: May 10, 2025
Then Marsile bade the trumpets sound, and his army gathered round the great standard with the Dragon, borne by a Saracen named Abimus. When Turpin the Archbishop caught sight of him, he dashed straight towards the banner, and with one blow of his mighty sword stretched the Unbeliever dead on the ground before the Dragon. 'Montjoie!
When he was not making war he ruled well and wisely at Aix-la-Chapelle, but at the time that this story begins he had been for seven years in Spain, fighting against the Saracens. The whole country had fallen before him, except only Saragossa, a famous town on the river Ebro, not far from the outskirts of the Pyrenees, which was held by the Moorish King Marsile, with a great host.
They must not tell tales of cowardice in the fair land of France. Then they spurred their horses and advanced in line, crying 'Montjoie! Montjoie! 'Count Roland is not as other men, said King Marsile, 'and as he is not content with two battles, we will give him a third.
O King! cried the Saracens, and Marsile heard, and answered, 'Better die than flee before these Franks. Let no one think of himself, but all press round Roland. If Roland dies, Charles is conquered. If Roland lives, all is over for us! But Roland, with Oliver at his side, swept a clear space with Durendal, and none might come near him; the Archbishop kept his enemies at bay with his lance.
King Marsile rose and went into his orchard, followed by his best councillors, Jorfalon his son, his uncle the Caliph, and others whom he most trusted. 'Summon the Frank also, Blancandrin whispered in his ear, 'for he has promised to throw in his lot with us. 'Bring him, answered the King, and Blancandrin brought him into the orchard, where the web of treason was woven.
It will be easy to manage that the two Counts shall meet their deaths, and Roland and Oliver once dead the King will have no more heart for war. 'Fair lord, replied Marsile, 'what shall I have to do in order to kill Roland? 'That I can easily tell you, answered Ganélon.
He sat down in his place, and then the Duke Naimes took up his words. 'You have heard, he said to Charles, 'the words of Ganélon. Wise counsel, if we only follow it! Marsile knows that he is conquered at last. You have won his towns, and vanquished him in battle, and he is reduced to beg for your pity.
The traitor Ganelon has enabled King Marsile to overtake with all his heathenness the rear-guard of Charlemagne between the granite walls of Roncevaux; the Franks have been massacred, but the Saracens have been routed; Roland has at last ceded to the prayers of Oliver and of Archbishop Turpin; three times has he put to his mouth his oliphant and blown a blast to call back Charlemagne to vengeance, till the blood has foamed round his lips and his temple has burst.
'Noble Ganélon, said Marsile, 'I acted foolishly towards you just now, when, in my anger, I sought to strike you. Let me offer you the mantle of marten fur in amends. It has just arrived from a far country, and is worth five hundred pounds in gold. 'I accept it gladly, replied Ganélon as the King hung the cloak round his neck, 'and may you be rewarded in as splendid a gift!
The twelve peers whom the Emperor so dearly loves, with twenty thousand picked men from the van of the army truly Charlemagne may rest in peace, and fear no man. 'Fair lord, answered Marsile, 'my subjects are the finest you can see, and at any moment I can summon four hundred thousand men to give battle to Charlemagne.
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