fol. 268ra 5 10 15 20 25 30 fol. 268rb 36 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 fol. 268va 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 fol. 268vb 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 fol. 269ra 166 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 fol. 269rb 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 fol. 269va 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 fol. 269vb 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 fol. 270ra 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 fol. 270rb 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 fol. 270va 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 fol. 270vb 476 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 fol. 271ra 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 fol. 271rb 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 600 605 fol. 271va 610 615 620 625 630 635 640 645 650 fol. 271vb 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 fol. 272ra 696 700 705 710 715 720 725 730 735 fol. 272rb 740 745 750 755 760 765 770 775 780 fol. 272va 785 790 795 800 805 810 815 820 825 fol. 272vb 830 835 840 845 850 855 860 865 870 fol. 273ra 875 880 885 890 895 900 905 910 fol. 273rb 916 920 925 930 935 940 945 950 955 fol. 273va 960 965 970 975 980 985 990 995 1000 fol. 273vb 1005 1010 1015 1020 1025 1030 1035 1040 1045 fol. 274ra 1050 1055 1060 1065 1070 1075 1080 1085 1090 fol. 274rb 1095 1100 1105 1110 1115 1120 1125 1130 fol. 274va 1136 1140 1145 1150 1155 1160 1165 1170 1175 fol. 274vb 1180 1185 1190 1195 1200 1205 1210 1215 1220 fol. 275ra 1225 1230 1235 1240 1245 1250 1255 1260 1265 fol. 275rb 1270 1275 1280 1285 1290 1295 1300 1305 1310 fol. 275va 1315 1320 1325 1330 1335 1340 1345 1350 fol. 275rb 1356 1360 1365 1370 1375 1380 1385 1390 1395 fol. 276ra 1400 1405 1410 1415 1420 1425 1430 1435 1440 fol. 276rb 1445 1450 1455 1460 1465 1470 1475 1480 1485 fol. 276va 1490 1495 1500 1505 1510 1515 1520 1525 1530 fol. 276vb 1535 1540 1545 1550 1555 1560 1565 1570 fol. 277ra 1576 1580 1585 1590 1595 1600 1605 1610 1615 fol. 277rb 1620 1625 1630 1635 1640 1645 1650 1655 fol. 277va 1660 1665 1670 1675 1680 1685 1690 1695 1700 fol. 277vb 1705 1710 1715 1720 1725 1730 1735 1740 1745

Herkneth, bothe yinge and olde That willen heren of batailles bolde; And ye wolle a while duelle, Of bolde batailles ich wole you telle That was sumtime bitwene Cristine men and Sarazins kene.        There was sumtime a king in France, A doughty man with spere and launce, And made Sarazins ful tame — King Charles was his name, And was born in Seint-Denys Nought bote a litel fram Parys, And was a wol treu knight And meintenede Cristendom aright.        In his time, a king ther was, An hethene that uncristned was, That was king of Lumbardie, And was yhoten King Garsie. Marsile was his also, And manie other londes mo. A swithe gret lord he was; In his time non suych ther nas. On Jhesu Crist ne levede he nought That him hadde so dere abought. He levede al in maumettrie And forsok God and Seinte Marie. In alle londes there he wente He slough al that evere he hente That wolde on Jhesu Crist bileve, And tok the lond to his byheve. Night and day it was his thout To bringe Cristendom to nout.        In hethenesse ther nas no king That ne hel of him sum thing Or dude him omage or feuté. Suich a mighty king was he, Alle thei scholden to him bouwe. He was lord of londes ynowe, And yit he thoughte wit maistrie Habben al Cristendom to gye. Al Cristendom, more and lasse, He thoughte to maken hethennesse.        Whan he wolde haven a parlement, There com to his comaundement To helpen hym wit alle thinges Fiftene hethene kinges, And alle thei were togidere sworn That Cristendom scholde be lorn, And maden alle here ordenaunce To werren uppon the king of Fraunce, For thei herden alle tidinges That he was chef of Cristene gynges, And the king wiste it wel. Nou schulle ye here hou it bifel.        Hit was on Childermasse Day, Soth to segge withouten nay, That King Charles of Sein-Denys Wente him toward Parys; Hise duzzeperes with him he nam, And muche poeple to him kam. And token alle here consail thare That thei wolden withalle fare Into Marsile riden and gon And werren there with Godes foon, And hadden set a certein day To wenden thider withouten delay. Bote ar thei thiderward ferden, Suiche tydinges thei herden Of a Sarasin, doughti and good, That amoevede al here blod.        There com a Sarazin ful of rage Fram King Garsie in message; Into Paris the wei he nam And to the kinges paleis he kam. Otuwel his name was, Of no man afered he nas. Into the paleis tho he cam, A skwier be the hon he nam, And seide, “Ich am comen her, Kyng Garsies messager, To speke with Charles, king of this lond, And with a knight that heet Roulond, And another hatte Oliver, Knightes holden withouten peer. Those thre, ich biseche thee, That thou telle me whiche thei be.”        The skwier thoughte wel by sight That Otuwel was a doughti knight, And for he was in message come, Bi the hond he haveth him nome And ladde him into the halle Among the grete lordes alle. And there thei stoden oppon her feet, He schewede him where the king seet, And taughte him hou he scholde knowe, There thei seten oppon a rowe, Roulond and Olyver And the gode knight Ogger.        Anon as Otuwel hadde a sight Of Charles that was king and knight, For eye of no man he ne leet, Bote wente to him there he seet. Hit was the boldeste Sarazin That evere thorte drinke win, And that was sene, withoute lesing, Tho he spak with Charles the king. He seide to him amydde his halle, “Sire King, foule mote thee falle! Thou art aboute for to greve Mahoun that we onne byleve. Therefore, have thou maugré! So thee greteth Garsie, bi me, That me haveth in message sent To seggen his comaundement. And thou, Roulond, that art his knight, Nou ich knowe thee be sight, May ich mete thee in the feeld With thi spere and with thi scheld, Ich wole wyte, so mote ich thee, Right bytwene me and te, ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................        ........................................ ........................................ “That thou makest off this bost, Tel me nou, yef thou wost.” Quath Otuwel, “So mote ich thee, Inelle nought hele for eie of thee. It was oppon a Weddenesdai In Averil, before the May, King Garsie the weie nam, To the cité of Rome he cam; Twenti thousende was the sawe That were thare of Sarazin lawe. Corsouse, mi swerde, ful harde fel And bot there Freinche flechs fol wel.”        Estught of Leggers, a Freinshe knight, He sterte op anonright And kypte anon in his hond A gret muche fir-brond, And to Otuwel a strok hadde ment, And Roulond bynam him the dent.        Thanne seide Charles the king, “Ich forbede, oppen alle thing, That no man be so wood For to don hym other than good! A kinges messager for he is, He ne schal habbe non harm, iwis.”        “Sire King,” quath Otuwel, “be mi blod, And ani of hem be so wod To drawe to me swerd or knif, Certes, he schal lesen his lif!”        The kinges knightes hadden tene Of Otuwel wordes kene. With that word, anonright Op starte a Freinsche knight. Bihinden Otuwel he cam, And be the hod Otuwel nam And braid with so gret might, And braid adon that hethene knight, And anon out with a knif, And wolde have reved him his lif. And that Sarazin Otuwel Was iarmed swithe wel That he ne dede him nought bote good, Ne drough of his bodi no blood.        He starte op and was wroth, To ligge longe him was loth, And Corsouze his brond he drough And the kinges knight he slough, And amang hem alle he stood And lokede as he were wood. The kinges knightes were agramed, And summe of hem were asschamed That Otuwel in the halle Slough a knight among hem alle, And bigunnen op to stonden And thoughte to leggen on him honden.        Otuwel therof was war And in his herte it him bar That thei nere aboute no good, And seide to hem, there he stod, “Bi the louerd, Sire Mahoun, Knightes I rede ye sitten a doun! For yef ani of you so hardi be That any strok munteth to me, Mahoun mi God ich here forsake Yef he sschal evere ordres take Of ani other bisschopes hond Bot of Corsouze, mi gode brond.”        Thei behelden Otuwel alle, Knightes and skwieres in the halle; Ther nas non that there stood That ne wende Otuel were wod. And evere he held his swerd ydrawe And gaf nought of hem alle an hawe.        King Charles stood upright And comaundede anonright That no man sscholde be so wod To do the messager nought bote good.        Knightes and sweines in the halle Were wol glade therof alle That the king so bad, For mani of hem was sore adrad, And thei withdrowen hem echone. And evere stod Otuwel alone And biheld hem as thei yede Yef ani him wolde strok dede.        Thanne seide Charles the king, “Bi God that made alle thing, Sarasin, nere thou messager, Wrother hele come thou her. I rede thou yeld op thi brond And take’t out of thin hond.”        Quath Otuwel that Sarazin, “Bi Mahoun that is louerd myn, I nelle take it out of min hond To no man of al thi lond That is therinne geten and bore! That wind thou havest ilore.”        “Sarasin,” quath Roulond, “Tak me thi swerd in myn hond, And iche wole save thee, bi mi blod — Sschal no man do thee nought bote good. And whan thou art redi to fare, Forsothe, thi swerd sschal be yare.”        Quath Otuwel the Sarazin, “Bi Mahoun that is louerd min, Thaugh ich hadde skwieres twelve, Ich wole bere myn swerd miselve! Holte o roum, ich wolde rede, And thanne dostou a god dede.”        “Sarazin,” quath Charles the King, “Let ben al thi thretning. Tel me nou, alle and some, In what message artou come.” Otuwel that noble knight Answerede anonright, “Hider me sente King Garsie. Spaine is his, an Lumbardie, And manye londes name couthe That I ne mai nought nemne with mouthe. Bi me he sente thee to segge, Thou sscholdest Cristendom alegge And maken thine men in eche toun For to leven on Sire Mahoun, And thou and alle thine barons bolde. Of him ye sschulle youre londes holde, Thanne mightou amenden, yif thou wilt, That thou havest Mahoun agult. And, certes, bote it so bifalle, Garsie wele give thine londes alle To Olecent of Esclavenye, The kinges sone of Ermenie, That haveth his o doughter to wif, That he loveth as his lif. Thous sschal al thi murthe adoun, Bote thou leve on Sire Mahoun.”        The duzzepieres answerede tho, “Certes, while we moun ride and go, Fraunse sschal he nevere give To no man while we moun live. Sire King, his wille nou thou wost, Let asemblen al thin ost, And let us oppon Garsie wenden, Alle hise londes for to sschenden, Of wordes that he haveth ispeke. Forsothe, we reden thou be awreke!”        “Certes, Sire King,” quath Otuwel, “Thine Freinsche knightes kune yelpe wel, And whan thei beth to werre ibrought, Thanne be thei right nought.        Thaugh thou bringe with sscheld and spere Al that evere may wepene bere To werren upon King Garsie, Certes, alle thei sscholden deie. And thou art king and old knight, And havest iloren al thi might, And in thi yiukthe, tak god hede, Thou nere nevere doughti of dede!”        Tho was the king agramed, And alle hise duzzeperes asschamed That Otuwel, that hethene knight, Tolde of hem alle so light.        Roulond bi the king stood And amevede al his blod, And seide in wrathe anonright To Otuwel that hethene knight, “To werren on Garsie, yef we fare In bataille, and I mete thee thare And I may mete thee aright, Bi Jhesu that is ful of might, Thou ne sschalt nevere after that day Despice Freinchsman, yef ich may.”        “Ough,” quath Otuwel, and lough, “Wherto makestou it so tough To threte me in another lond? Nam ich here at thin hond? Yef thou havest wille to fighte, Whanevere thou wolt let thee dighte, And thou sschalt finde me redi dight, In the feld to bide fight.”        “Bi God,” quath Roulond, “Ich wolde be yare, Whan ich wiste to finde thee thare, And evele mote he thrive and thee That ferst failleth of me and te.”        “Ye leve ya,” quath Otuwel tho, “Whether so failleth of us two, Ich wole finde Mahoun to borwe. Ich wile be redi erliche tomorwe.”        Quath Roulond thar he stod on grounde, “S’elpe me Gode, feere ifounde!” Right before the kinges eien, That alle the kinges knightes seien, Either other his trewthe plighte Uppon morwen for to fighte.        King Charles stod al stille And biheld his gode wille, And seide, “It is harm, iwis, That thou nost what follaut is. Yef thou woldes follaut take And thine false godes forsake, Ichc wolle maketh, so mote ihc thee — And tou wille bleve with me — A riche man in mi lond. That ich wille sikere thee on hond.”        Otuwel that hardi knight Answerede anonright, “Cristes cors uppon his heued That me radde such a red, To forsake mi god Mahun! Inelle nought leve thi false sarmon.”        Thaugh Otuwel speke outrage, For he was comen on message, King Charles, that was heende and god, Nolde soffre him habbe nought bote god, Bote seide to him anonright, “Be thou skwier? Be thou knight? Tel me, yef thi conseil is nome, Of what linage thou art come.”        Otuwel answerede this, “A kinges sone ich am, iwis, Soth to segge and nought to lye. Ich am the kinges cosin, Garsie. Fernagu myn eem was, That nevere overcomen nas. Sir Roulond, thi cosin, him slough. Therefore wole rise wo inough. Therefore ich desire so moche To fighte with Roulond sikerliche. Ich wille tomorewen, in the day, Awreken his deth yef ich may. Nou he haveth iseid his sawe, That he ne mai him nought withdrawe That we schule bothe fighten ifeere, Nou ich wille that thou it here: Min emes deth ich awreke, Or myn herte sschal tobreke!”        King Charle gan to meven his blod, Bot natheles he was hende and good, And nolde for hise wordes heghe Don Otuel no vileinie, Bote comaundede anon a swein Gon fechen him his chaumberlein, A ying knight ant nought old, That was wel norssched and bold, And seide to him, “Sire Reiner, Tak here this messeger And to his in saveliche him lede, That for no word ne for no dede That he haveth don and seid That non hond be on him leid; And loke that he be wel idight And onoured als a knight.”        The chamberlein anon dede Als the king him hadde ibede, And ladde him hom to his in. And whan he was icomen in, He tok his leve the chamberlein And wente to the king agein. Littel slep the king that night, For ferd of Roulant that gode knight Of the bataille he hadde inome Leste he were overcome. For the king hadde sein fol wel The kuntenaunse of Otuel, The king wiste wel afin Hit was a bold Sarazin, For he saugh hit wel by sight Tho he saugh him slen his knight.        On morwe tho the dai sprong, And the larke bigan hire song, King Charles wente to cherche Godes werkes for to werche. Roulond his cosin with him yede, Of Godes help that hadde nede. Thei wenten anon to here masse For here sinnen sscholde be the lasse.        Tho the masse was iseid And the vestement doun ileid, The king and Roulond ifere Wente forth, as ye moun here, Right to the paleis gate, And founde hovinge therate Otuel, armed and idight, Al redi to bide fight. Tho seide that Sarazin, “Sire King, where is thi cosin Roulond, that his truthe plighte That he wolde with me fighte? He was tho fol heie of mod, Is he nou ilete blod?”        Roulond stod al and herde Hou Otuel toward him ferde, And answerede anonright: “By Jhesu that is fol of might, Thin heued sschal fele under thin hood That I nam nought laten blood.”        “Welcome be thou,” quath Otuwel tho, And turnde his stede and made him go, And to the place tho rod he There the bataille sscholde be. Al aboute the water ran. Ther nas nother man ne wimman That mighte in riden no gon At no stede bote at on. And there Otuwel in rood, No lengere he ne abood.        Roulond that doughti knight Was fol hasteliche idight And his stede he bistrod, And no lengere he ne abood. Er the dai idon it were, Ther thei sschollen fighten ifere.        Anon als Roulond beheeld Otuwel hovede in the feel, Roulond was so egre to fighte That for al the world he ne mighte Abide to riden in at the gate There Otuwel rod in ate. He thoute the nekste weie to ride And no lengere he nolde abide. He smot his stede with spores brighte, And with help of Godes mighte, Over the water the stede swam, And to londe saf he cam.        Anonright, als Roulond Hadde ikaught the druye lond, Gret envye was ham betwene. Thei riden togidere with speres kene, That were sterne and nought longe, And the knightes were bothe stronge, And smyten either in otheres sscheld That bothe hors fellen in the feld, And risen agein op fram the grounde; And bothe knightes were hole and sounde.        Tho the stedes were risen bothe, The knightes woxen bothe fol wrothe And drowen swerdes ate laste, And either hugh on other faste. Roulond to Otuwel smot A strok that fol sore bot. He wolde have smiten Otuwel, And he blenkte swithe wel. And Roulond smot the stede broun And clef the heued al adoun, And the stede fel to grounde, Bote Otuwel was hol and sounde.        Roulond was hende and good of wille And hovede oppon his stede stille. To smiten made he semblant non Er Otuwel was risen and gon.        “Roulond,” quath Otuwel, “What was thee? Art tou blynd? Mightou nought se? Wil ich oppon mi stede sat, Whi sscholde mi stede habbe that? It hadde be more honour to thee, Forsothe, to habbe ismite me.”        “Ough,” quath Roulond, “Blame me nought! Bi Sen Geme, ich habbe isought, Otuwel, ich hadde yment That thou sscholdest have ifeled that dent. Ich hadde wel levere, so mote ich thee, Otuwel, habbe yoven it thee.”        Otuwel was wroth his stede was slawe, And with his swerd he bar idrawe, He smot to Roulond with good wille That ovede oppon his stede stille. That he hadde Roulond ment, And he failede of his dent And smot Roulondes gode stede, That nevere eft on erthe hene yede.        Otuwel thoute, on errore deede, Tho he hadde slawe his stede, Hou Roulond hovede stille as ston Til he was risen and gon; And he stod al stille And leet Roulond risen at wille, And seide, “Roulond, so mote ich thee, That strok ich mente to thee, And nou it is on thi stede istunt. Let nou stonde, dunt for dunt!”        Tho thei sien non other bote, Thei wenten togidere al on fote And strokes yeden bitwene ham so kene That the fer sprong out bitwene.        King Charles with hise knightes bolde Was come the bataille to biholde, And bisoughte God, fol of might, He sscholde save Roulond his knight.        Bothe knightes were gode and stronge And foughten togidere swithe longe. Roulond was a hende knight, And feled that Otuwel smot aright And that myght was in his arm, And thoute to saven him fram harm, And seide, “Otuwel, let thi fight! And leve on Jhesu, ful of might, And ich wele ben at acent That thou sschalt wedde Belecent, The kinges doughter, mi nese, that is. I rede, Otuwel, that thou do this.”        Quath Otuwel to Roulond, “Whil my swerd is in min hond, Al thi preching is for nought; Hit ne cam nevere in my thout. Me ne stant nought of thee swich awe That thou sschalt make me reneie mi lawe For to wedde Belecent. So nis nought mi wille iwent.”        Tho thei ne mighte nought acente, Agein to bataille thei wente, And foughten harde togidere beie; Never on of other ne stod eie.        Roulond bigan to meven his blood That Otuwel so longe stood, And fortene up with the brond That he bar in his hond, And in the heued he thoute to redde Otuwel, bote nought he ne spedde. Otuwel starte o side And lette the swerd bi him glide. And Roulond with the swerdes ende Reighte Otuwel oppon the lende. Als he wolde the dent fle, Otuwel fel on kne.        Otuwel asschamed was That he knelede oppon the gras, And for anger his herte gan sswelle And thoughte Roulond for to quelle. In the heued he hadde him ment, Bote Roulond bleinte for the dent, As swete Jhesu Crist wolde That Roulond there deie ne sscholde. Biside the heued the dent wente, And the hauberk he torente Fram the hepebon an heigh, That alle the pece out fleigh.        King Charles saugh there he stood, And was fol dreri in his mood, And was swithe sore afright To lese Roulond his gode knight. For Otuwel smot so heterliche, The king wende sikerliche That Roulond sscholde been ylore, And was a sori man therefore.        As the king stod in doute, He spak to his folk aboute, And seide to alle that there were, “Lordinges, doth as ich you lere: Sitte eche man oppon his kne And biddeth to God in Trinité, For His grace and for Hise mightes, Sende seightnesse bitwene tho knightes, And give Otuwel wille today For to reneien his lay.        Everichone thei token here red, And deden as the king ham bed. To Jhesu Crist thei deden here bone, And swete Jhesu herde ham sone. A whit colvere ther cam fle That al the peple mighten se, On Otuweles heued he lighte, Thoru the vertu of Godes mighte. And Otuwel, that doughti knight, Withdrough him anoonright Fram Roulond, and stod al stille; To fighte more he ne hadde wille, And seide, “Roulond, thou smitest fol sore. Withdrau thin hond and smight namore. Yef thou wolt holden that thou me het, That I sschal wedde that maiden swet, The kinges doughter Belesent, Forsothe, than is mi wille went. Yef I sschal wedden that faire may, Ich wille bileven oppon thi lay, And alle myne godes forsake, And to youre God ich wille take.”        Roulond likede that word fol wel, And answerede Otuwel, “I thonke it Jhesu ful of might, Thorou wham that grace is in thee light!”        Otuel caste of his hond Corsouse, his gode brond, And Roulond his also, And togidere thei gune go. Eyther forgaf other his loth, Nas non of hem with other wroth, Bote clippe and kusse eyther other As either hedde been otheres brother.        King Charles rood thidere anon, And knightes with him many on. Anon as he thider cam Bi the hon Roulond he nam, And seide, “Roulond, for Godes erthe, Hou is thee and this man iwurthe? So harde strokes as ye habben give, Hit is wunder that ye live!”        “Sire,” quath Roulond, “We beth al sounde, Nother of us ne haveth wounde. Otuwel haveth his conseil nome That he wile Cristene bycome, And ich habbe granted, bi youre acent, That he sschal wedde Belecent.”        “Certes!” quath Charles tho, “Nou thou wolt that it be so, I grante wel that it so be. Forwhi that he wille dwelle with me, Thanne hadde ich thee and Oliver, Otuwel and gode Ogger; In al the world in lenkthe and brede Ther nis king that nolde me drede.”        The king took Otuwel anon And to his paleis made him gon, And makeden murthe and meloudie Of alle maner of menestrausie For the miracle that was wrought: That Otuwel hadde iturnd his thought.        On moruen tho the day was bright, Thei ladden to churche that noble knight. Bisschop Turpin was bisschop tho, He follede him that day, and nammo.        Tho Otuwel hadde follaught nome And to the kingges pees was come, The king beed him his doughter anon And feire londes mani on.        Otuwel to the king saide, “Sire, keep me wel that maide. Forsothe, ich nele hire nevere wedde, No nevere with hire goo to bedde, Er thi werre to the ende be brought And sumwhat of thi wille wrought. Whan King Garsie is slawe or take, Thanne is time mariage to make!”        Quath King Charles to Otuwel, “Nou I se thou lovest me wel, And yef I leve, so mote I thee, Thou ne sschalt nought lese thi love on me.”        Tho leet the king asemblen anon Alle hise duzzeperes, echon. “Lordinges,” he seide, “What is youre red? King Garsie seith I sschal be ded, And as ye habbeth iherd segge, He thenketh Cristendam to legge — Whether wole we wenden oppon him anon, Other abide til winter be gon?” The duzzeperes acentenden therto To bide til winter were ido. And alle winter the king of Fraunce Lette maken his purveianse. Al that winter at hom he bod, And in somer to werre he rod. *                   *                   * Lordinges, bothe yinge and olde, Herneth as we formest tolde, Hou the werre was fol hyghe Bitwene King Charles and King Garsie. Anon as winter was ygon, The king asemblede his host anon, And mochel peple cam to his bond Out of mani diverse lond. Averil was comen an winter gon, And Charles tok the weie anon And drough him toward Lumbardie To werren oppon King Garsie. There was set, withouten faille, Certein day of bataille.        Anoon as Charles was icome Nigh honde thar the bataille was nome, In a mede anonright The kinges pavilons were ipight Under an hul bisides a rivere; And bifel as ye moun here. Fol nygh the water the king lay Of bataille forto abide his day, And uppon that other side He mighte seen hise enemis ride, And there nas brugge ne forde non That man mighte over riden ne gon.        King Charles that gode knight Tok carpenters anonright And lette make a brugge anon That men mighten over gon.        Tho the brugge was al yare That men mighten over fare, Hit bitidde uppon a day Wil Charles in his bed lay, That Roulond an Oliver And the gode knight Oger Over the brugge thei wenten ifeere Auntres for to sen and here. And tho thei over passed were, Suche auntres thei funden there For al the good under sonne Thei nolde habben the gamen bigonne.        Of Garsies ost, foure hethene kinges Wenten forte here tidinges For alle cas that mighte bitide, Wel iarmed bataille to bide. Here foure names ye moun wite As we finden in romaunse write:        Curabeles hatte thet o king, A stout Sarazin withouten lesing;        That other Balsamun het, A werse man yede non on fet;        Astaward was the thriddes name, He lovede werre and hatede game;        The ferthe king highte Clarel, That nevere yite ne dede wel. As thei riden alle yfere, That on seide as ye moun here, “Mahoun, leeve ous yit abide Into Fraunce that we moun ride And ich mighte Roulond mete; Al with wrathe ich wolde him grete. That traitour he slough mi brother, Ne gete ich neve eft such another.”        Roulond herde, and Oliver And the gode knight Ogger, Hou thei speken hare wordes highe And thratten Roulond to die; And Roulond was so nygh That alle foure kinges he sygh.        “Felawes,” quath Roulond anon, “Yich am war of oure fon. Thei beth foure, and we bote thre. Datheit habbe that hem fle! Nou we habben founden game; Ga we to hem, a Godes name.”        Anon as Clarel ham sygh, He seide, “Oure enemys beth nygh. Ich se bi here cuntenaunse Thei beth Cristene men of Fraunce. Charles ost lith here biside In pavilons, bataille to bide, And these beth of hise men, iwis; Therfore mi reed is tis — That we hasteliche to ham ride And loke whether thei wole abide.”        With that word the kinges anon Touchede here stedes and made hem gon, And toward the Cristene knightes thei riden, And thei doughtiliche abiden.        Astaward with Roulond mette, Nought he ne spak, ne him ne grette, Bot smot him with his spere anon, Thorou the sscheld he made hit gon. And Roulondes spere, ywis, Was wel betere than was his; To Astawardes herte hit yede, And caste him doun off his stede. “Aris,” quath Roulond, “and tak thee bet; At this time thou art ilet.”        Curabeles no lengere ne abood; To god Ogger anon he rod. Ogger was a strong knight And rod to him with gret might, And bar adon hors and pak And the Sarazins nekke tobrak.        Balsamum and Oliver, Eyther neighede other ner. Tho Balsamun bigan to ride, Oliver nolde no lengere abide. He pingde his stede with spores kene, And smot a strok that was sene; He ne mighte tho no bette do, Bote gurde the nekke bon otwo.        Thus Roulond and Oliver And the gode knight Ogger Slouwen the hethene kinges thre, And yit nolde nought Clarel fle. To the Duk Roulond he rood, And Roulond his strok abod. For wrathe hise felaus were islein, He rood to Roulond with gret mayn, And bar a spere, greet and long. And the Sarazin was strong And in the sadel sat faste, And Roulond to grounde he kaste. With the fal the steede anoon, Tobarst that o sschanke bon. Roulond uppon his feet stood, And ne hadde nought bote good.        Ogger saugh fol wel tho That Roulondes hors was ago. Ogger that was doughti of dede Smot doun Clarel off his stede. Oliver tok the stede anon And to Roulond he gan gon. “Roulond, have this,” quath Oliver, “This thee sente good Ogger, And Clarel he haveth to grounde ithrowe For he broughte thee so lowe.”        Roulond that hadde his stede ilore Thonkede hem bothe therfore, And was the gladdeste man under sonne That he hadde an hors iwonne.        Clarel uppon his feet stood And faught as he were wood. On none maner he nolde fle, Bot faught agein hem alle thre.        The thre knightes were fol stronge; He ne mighte nought dure agein ham longe, And seide to hem alle thre, “Lordinges, let me olive be! To you it were lutel honour To sle me that nabbe no socour!” To fighte more he forsook, And Roulond his swerd tok. Roulond was hende and nought forsok, And of Clarel his swerd he tok.        “King Clarel,” quath Ogger, “Worth up bihinden me her.” Tho was King Clarel glad For to do that Ogger bad, And was staleworthe and light And lep up anonright. Tho wenten thei forth withouten targing, And thoute presente Charles the king With Clarel that thei hadden inome, And hopeden to ben welcome. And of here weie thei were let, And swithe harde thei were met. Thei sien of Garsies men afeerd, Bothe with spere and with swerd, Bitwen hem and the paviloun, There thei sscholden wenden adoun. Thei ne mighte skapen in nevere a side; Thoruout hem thei mosten ride.        “Felawes,” quath Ogger tho To Roulond and Oliver bo, “Ich wene er we hom come, Clarel ous worth bynome, Lordinges, what is nou youre red? Wole we smiten of his hed?”        Quath Roulond, “So mote ich thee, At that red nel ich nought be.” “No, ich nother,” quat Oliver, “Bi the Louerd Sein Richer, On live I rede we leten him go, And ne do we him nammore wo. Such cas may fallen in sum neede, He mai quiten us oure mede.”        “Bi God,” quath Ogger, “that is soth, And where he do or he ne doth, Hit were sschame to ous, iwis, To sslen a man that yolden him is. I rede we leten him gon his wey, For we mot entenden to another pley.”        Alle thre thei were at on, And leten Clarel on live gon. Clarel nolde no lengere abide, He ne askede non hors onne to ride, Bote on fote dede him go And levede hem thare in muchel wo.        “Nou, lordinges,” quath Ogger To Roulond and to Oliver, “Ich wole triste to my sswerd And fonde forto passe this ferd. Ich hope thoru help of Godes might To se mi lord Charles this night. Yef ani Sarazin with eie Cometh to lette me of mi weie, S’elp me God and this day, He sschal abugge, yef ich may!”        “Nou,” quath Roulond, that doughti knight, “And ich wille helpe thee, bi mi might! I nele today, bi Sein Martin, Yilde me to no Sarazin.”        Quath Oliver, “So mote ich thee, In mani peril ich habbe ibe, And yef ich faille at this nede, God ne lete me nevere eft spede. I nele, yef God halt me sound, Today yelde me to non hound!”        Thei markeden hem alle thre To Him that tho lede deth on tre, And no lengere thei ne abiden; Anon into the ferde thei riden.        A Sarazin with Roulond mette, And of his weie Roulond lette. He cam out of al the here, And bar to Roulond a gret spere. A bold knight that hatte Byoun, An Roulond bar him adoun.        Oliver that was his brother, He mette with another, A doughti knight, an hethene man, A strong thef that heet Bassan. Oliver was horsed wel And bar a spere, kene and fel, And smot him right under the sscheld, That there he lay amidde the feld.        And the gode knight Ogger Mette with on that heet Moter And wolde him habbe doun ibore; And Ogger was wroth tharfore, And smot the Sarazin so sore That he ne spak neveremore.        Oliver, Ogger, and Roulond Among the Sarazins stureden here hond Thoru help of God that is above, That ham hadde that grace iyove, Thorou the ferd as thei riden, Alle that here strokes abiden Thei were maimed foreveremore; The doughti knightes thei smiten so sore That withinne a litel stounde Thei felden mani on to grounde.        Tho cam a soudan, stout and firs, On of Garsies duzzepeers That hatte Karmel of Tabarie. Oppon the Sarasins he gan crie, “Recreiede knightes, whi nele ye fighte? Traitours, theves, where youre mighte? It is sschame, bi god Mahon, That oure folk goon thus adoun.”        With this word Carmel anon Pingde his stede and made him gon, And rood to Ogger in that hete And thoute he sscholde his lif forlete, And was strong and ful of tene And smot sore, and that was sene. He smot Ogger in the sscheld, That Ogger lay amidde the feld. Sore he fel oppon the grounde And hadde a fol luther wonde.        The Duk Roulond that seygh; For wrathe he was wod wel nygh, And for wrathe smot him so sore That he ne spak nevere eft more.        Tho cam Anwe of Nubie, On of kinges knightes Garsie, And felde Oliver to grounde, Bote he ne gaf him nevere a wounde.        Roulond was fol wroth withalle Tho he saugh Oliver falle, And Anawe of Nubie he smot That nevere eft crouste he ne bot.        Oliver ros op fram the grounde Al hol withouten wonde, And anon his stede he nam And to Roulond sone he cam.        Tho was Roulond fol fawe That Oliver nas nought isslauwe. Tho thei were togidere imet, Tho were thei harde biset Amang Sarasins that were kene, And thei smiten sore for tene.        Whil Roulond faught and Oliver, Hevere stod the gode Ogger, And hadde lorn his gode stede, And his wounde gan faste blede, And yit he faught there he stod, And leide on as he were wod.        Whil Ogger that doughti knight Agenes Sarazins stod in fight, Oppon a stede Clarel com drive, That Ogger halp to saven olive Thorou cunseil of Roulond and Oliver, And anon he knugh Ogger. “Ogger,” he seide, “hit is my red, Yilte come ore thou art ded; Thou holpe to save mi lif a day; Ich wole saven thin gef I may.”        Ogger saugh wel with his eye That he was in point to deye, And to Clarel he gan gon And tok him his swerd anon.        Clarel nas no wedded man; Clarel hadde a fair lemman That was hoten Aufanye And was born in Ermenie.        Clarel anonrightes Clepede to him two knightes, And seide to hem anon, “To mi lemman ye schulle gon, And segge that ich sente hire this knight, And that his wounde be heled aright, And god hede to him nome To saven him til mi tocome.”        The knightes deden as he hem bad. To his lemman he was lad, That was hoten Aufanye, That was kinges doughter Garsie, And yo was glad of that present, To do Clareles comaundement. Roulond and Oliver foughten That of here lives nought ne roughten. Thei hadden foughten overmyghte; Thei ne mighte no lengere dure to fighte, An anon turnden here steeden And flowen, for thei ne myghten nought speden.        To Otuwel it was told That Roulond, that was bold, Oliver and Ogger bo Were over the water go.        Otuwel anonrightes Leet armen him and alle hise knightes. Tho he was armed and wel idight, He wente to the king anonright, And seide, “Sire, I dwelle to longe! Roulond, Oliver, an Ogger the stronge, Ove the water alle thre Beth went for envie of me, To loke wher thei mighten spede To don any doughti deede Among the Sarazins bolde, And I sscholde be couward hoolde. Therfore I nele no lengere abide; To sechen hem ich wole ride. Thaugh thei habben envie to me, Ich wille for the love of thee Fonden whother I mighte comen Te helpen hem ar thei weren inomen, And yif hem any harm bytit, Let ham witen hare oune wit.”        Quath the king, “Par charité! Otuwel, ich biseche thee, For Godes love, highe thee blive, And fonde to saven hem olive Er thei be slawe or nome, And thee sschal sone socour come.”        Otuwel no lengere ne abood; Anon his stede he bistrood And alle hise knightes bi his side, And toward the ferd he gan to ride.        Anon as Otuwel was goon, The king leet dighte his host anon After Otuwel to wende, As a god king and hende.        As Otuwel bigan to ride, He lokede abouten in eche side And he saugh ate laste Where Roulond fleygh and Oliver faste. Otuwel touchede his stedes side An agein hem he gan ride, And seide, “Turneth agein anon, And helpeth to wreke you on youre fon! Thei sschulle abugge, so mote ich thee, That maketh you so faste fle!”        Tho thei herden Otuwel speken That thei sscholden ben awreken, Tho were thei ferchs to fighte, And tournden agein and were fol lighte.        “Lordinges,” quath Otuel tho, “Whuder is god Ogger go?” And thei answereden, sikinge sore, “Forsothe, we ne sien him nought yore, We ne witen where he is bycome, Whether he is islawe other nome.”        “Allas, allas!” quath Otuwel, “This tiding liketh me nout wel. Sire Charles, my lord the king, Wole be sori for this tiding. For Godes love, hie we blive, And loke we whother Ogger be alive.” *                    *                  * Otuwel and Oliver And Roulond, that doughti bacheler, With a feir compaignye Thei bigunnen for to hie Toward King Garsies host, For to abaten of hare bost.        There was a Sarazin strong, That bar a brod swerd and a long, And was hoten Encumbrer, And bigan to neighen hem ner Oppon a muche blak stede. And Otuwel took of him hede, And of his armes hadde a sight And knugh him anonright, And no lengere he ne abod. Otuwel to him rood And bar him doun, hors and man — Thus Otuwel gamen bigan!        Estught of Legers, a noble knight That with Otuwel cam to fight, Bar a spere of tre fol fin And smot a bold Sarazin Into the bodi, thoru the sscheld, And there he lay det in the feld. Oliver ho slough another, And the ferthe, Roulond, his brother.        Tho the Freinche knightes seien The Sarasins fallen with hare eien, Thei nolden tho no lengere abide. Thei smiten to in eche side And felden Sarazins faste, And thei flowen ate laste.        King Clarel made hem torne agein Oppon Cristene men to lein; And he leide on faste, And the thef ate laste Slou Dromer of Alemaine — That reu fol sore the King Charlemaine.        Erpater King of Ynde was; He cam with a mase of bras, And Otuwel on the helm he reighte So harde that al the heued toqueighte.        Quath Otuwel, “So mote Y thee, Ich ne thoute naught boruwe that strok of thee; 1 Bi min heued, under myn hat, I nele nought longe ouwe thee that.” Otuwel with a fauchoun Cleef him al the heued adoun, And he fil under his horse feet; Quath Otuwel, “That ich thee biheet!”        Tho was Otuwel fol of mood, And faught as he were wood. Al the kinges ost anon Foleuweden Otuwel echon, Roulond and Oliver, And maden a foul larder. The knightes leiden on so faste, The Sarazins flouwen ate laste.        Tho neighede it toward eve, Tho moste the ost bileve And dwellen there al that night, Til on morwe the dai was bright. Tho the ost was withdrawe, To resten hem as is the lawe, King Clarel kam in fourme of pees With tweie felawes, mo ne lees, Toward Charles ost the king For to wyten a tiding. And Otuwel agein him wente To wite who him thidere sente.        Thanne seide King Clarel To the doughti Otuwel, “Knight,” he seide, “so mote thou thee, Tel me what thi name be. Thou art so doughti man of dede, And mani a knight havest maked blede, Ich wolde fol fain, bi myn eye, Bringe thi name to the King Garsie.”        “Bi God, felawe,” quath Otuwel, “Er this, thou kneuwe my name fol wel, So God sschilde me fram sschame. Otuel is my Cristine name — Mahun ich habbe forsake, And to Jhesu ich habbe me take.”        “Allas,” quath Clarel, “whi destou so? So wrecheliche havestou do? Yit I rede thou turne thi mood, And leef on Mahoun ore thou art wod, And ich wole pese, yef thou wilt, That thou havest Garsie agult.”        “Figh!” quath Otuel tho, “On Mahoun and on Garsie bo! Bi Him that maude Adam and Eve, Y nele nevere oppon you leve; Bi Jhesu that is fol of might, And ich may mete him aright, There sschal no Sarazin skape olive That ich may hente, so mote ich thrive.”        “Otuwel,” quath Clarel tho, “Were we sumware bitwene us two, Bi Mahoun that ich onne bileve, Oppon thi bodi ich wolde preve That Mahoun may mo miracles make Than He that thou art to itake — He nis nought half, be mi croun, So mighty as is Sire Mahoun!”        Quath Otuwel, “Bi Godes mighte, Clarel, mi truthe ich thee plighte: Whanevere thou wolt hit schal be — Evele mote he thrive that fle.”        Quath Clarel anonright, “Bi Mahoun that is fol of might, Woltou sikere me on hond That no man of King Charles lond Schal do me no vileynie, By the deth that I sschal deye, Mi conseil is anon inome; Tomorue erliche ich wille come.”        Quath Otuwel, “Ne doute thee nought. Bi God that al the world haveth wrought And the deth that I schal deie, Thou ne sschalt hente no vileinie Of no man of King Charles lond, Bote right of myn oune hond. Bi Him that made leef and bough, Theroffe thee sschal thinken ynough.” Quath Clarel, “Tho do thi best; Tomorwe thou sschalt finde me prest.”        Thus the were there bothe at on. Er thei wolden otwinne gon, Eyther other his trewethe plighte Oppon morwen for to fighte.        On moruwen tho the day sprong, Clarel the king thoughte long To the paviloun til he cam To holde the day that he nam. Oppon a stede wel idight He cam fol redi to bide fight.        King Charles with hise knightes bolde Comen out Clarel to biholde, Hou becom al redi dight, Boldeliche to bide fight.        Clarel was bold on his hond, For Otuwel sikerede him on hond That no man of flechs and blood Ne sscholde doon him nought bote good, Bot hemselve tweien fighte, And habbe the maistrie who so mighte. Tho was Clarel for trist Forto segge what him lust.        King Charles was an old man, And Clarel hede theroffe nam, And seide, “Charles, thou art old, Who made thee nou so bold To werren oppon King Garsie, That is cheef of al painie? Al paynime he haved in wold; Thou dotest for thou art so hold.”        King Charles warythede anonright That Clarel tolde of him so light, And hadde iment tho fol wel To habben ifoughten with Clarel; And bad fetten his armure bright And wolde armen him anonright, And seide in wrathe, “By Godes mighte, Ich miself wole with him fighte!”        Roulond bi the king stood And bigan to meven his mood, And sede to the king anon, “Thou havest, Sire King, mani on Gode doughti knightes of deede; To fighte thiself thou ne havest no nede!”        “God sschilde, Sire,” quath Oliver, “Hit sscholde springe, fer or ner, To putte thin oune bodi to fight And havest so mani a doughti knight.”        King Charles swor his oth And bigan to wexe wroth, And seide, “For ought that man may speke, Miself ich wile ben on him wreke.”        “A, Sire,” quath Otuwel tho, “For Godes love, sei nought so! Ich and he beth truthe plighte That we sschole togidere fighte, And ich wole telle thee, withoute faille, Wherefore we habbe taken bataille.        He wolde habbe maked me yusterday To habbe reneied my lay, And seide that ich was ilore, And God nas nought of Marie bore, And seide algate he wolde preve That ich am in misbeleve. Therefore he profreth him to fight To wite whether is more of might: Jhesu that is Louerd min, Or Mahoun and Apolyn. Thous we habbeth the bataille inome, And bothe we beth iswore to come.”        Quath the King Charles tho, “Otuwel, whan it is so, Tak the bataille, a Godes name, And Jhesu schilde thee fram sschame.” Otuwel that noble knight Lette armen him anonright, And his gode stede bistrod, And no lengere he ne abood, Bote to the stede he rood fol right, There Clarel hovede to bide fight.        Anon as Otuwel was icome, Here conseil was anon inome. No lengere thei ne abiden; Anonright togidere thei riden. Noon other nas ham bitwene Bote gode stronge speres and kene; Nas never nother of other agast, And either sat in his sadel fast, That bothe stedes yeden to grounde, And the knightes weren al sounde; And bothe stedes wenten forth, That on south, that other north. The knighte on fote togidere yede, An drowen hare swerdes gode at nede; Ne sparede thei nought the swerdes egge; Eyther on other bigan to legge.        Thei were bothe swithe stronge And foughten togidere swithe longe. King Clarel was wel negh wood That Otuwel so longe stood. In gret wrathe Otuwel he smot, And his swerd felliche bot, And thau the swerd nevere so good, The gode helm it withstood, Bote Otuwel astoneied was There he stood up on the gras.        Quath Otuwel, “So mote ich go, He ne lovede me nought that smot me so! Ich warne thee wel, so mote ich thee, Thou sschalt habbe as good of me.”        Otuwel for wrathe anon Areighte him on the chekebon Al the fel of that was thare, And made his teth al bare.        Tho Otuwel saugh is chekebon, He gaf Clarel a skorn anon, And seide, “Clarel, so mote thou thee, Whi scheuwestou thi teth to me? I nam no toth-drawere! Thou ne sest me no cheine bere.”        Clarel felede him wounded sore And was maimed for everemore, An smot to Otuwel with al his might. And Otuwel that doughti knight With his swerd kepte the dent That Clarel him hadde iment, And yit the dent glood adoun And smot Otuwel oppon the croun.        Quath Otuwel, “Bi Godes ore, Sarazin, thou smitest fol sore! Suthen thi berd was ischave, Thou art woxen a strong knave.”        Otuwel smot Clarel tho O strok and nammo, That never eft word he ne spak, And so Otuwel his tene wrak.        Tho was Charles glad ynough That Otuwel King Clarel slough, And gaf Otuwel that doughti knight A god erldam that selve night. Al that in the ost was Maden murthe and solas That Otuwel hadde so bigunne, And hadde so the maistri wonne. Al that night over al the ost, Thei maden alther joye most.        Ther cam a messager and browghte tiding To Garsie that riche king That Otuwel, his cosin in lawe, Hadde King Clarel islawe.        Tho Garsie it undergat, He was swithe sori for that, And for wrathe there he stood, Corsede hise godes as he were wood, And seide, “Allas, and walawo! Nou is gode Clarel go! Certes, myn herte it wile tobreke Bote ich mowe Clarel awreke.”        Tho lette Garsie asemlen anon Alle hise Sarazins echon, And thoughte thoruout alle thing To ben awreken on Charles King, And on his cosin Otuwel, And on himself the wreche fel.        King Charles herde be a spye That Garsie thratte him to die, And he asemblede hise knightes echon And sede to hem alle anon, “Lordinges, Garsie thinketh to ride; Forsothe, I nele no lengere abide!” The king armede him anon And alle hise knightes echon. The king gurde him with his swerd And wente himself with his ferd.        The king cam stilleliche with his ost, And Garsie cam with gret bost. Tho the ostes neigheden niegh That either ost other siegh, Out of Garsies ost cam ride A Turkein that was ful of prude.        Roulond was good and hende, And agenes him gan wende. The Tourkein no lengere nabod; To Roulond anon he rood And gurde Roulond with a spere, That wel couthe a strok bere, And as doughti as he was, His o stirop he las.        Roulond was aschamed tharfore That he hadde his stirop lore, And with Dorendal that was good He smot the Tourkein oppon the hood, And he sey doun of his stede, So Rowlond quitte him his mede. Quath Roulond, “That ich thee biheet — Thou nult na more stonden on thi feet! Min o stirop thou madest me tine, Nou havestou lose bothe thine!”        Ther cam another stout Sarazin That was armed wel afin, That highte Myafle of Bagounde. And with a litel stounde He made his stede swithe to goon, And smot Oliver anoon; Thorouout al his armure bright, He woundede sore that gode knight.        Roulond saugh be contenaunse His brother was hurt with le launce; His warde-cors anon he fond And tok a spere out of his hond, And made his hors make a sturt To him that hadde his brother hurt, And touchede him with the speres ord That nevere eft he ne spak word, And tok Myafles stede anon And sette Oliver theron.        There was a noble Sarazin, A king that heet Galatyn, And cam with a compainie, And bigan faste to hie.        Otuwel was war of that, Oppon his stede there he sat, Hou King Galatin cam with wille Cristene men forto spille. With the spores the steede he nam, To Galatyn the king he kam; Thorou the bodi he him bar, And bad he scholde eft be war Of such a strok whan it kam. Non other hede of him he ne nam, Bote rood forth oppon his stede, And leet the Sarazin ligge and blede.        Tho smiten tho ostes togidere anon And foughten faste and good won, And todaschten many a scheld; Mani a bodi lay in the feld.        Tho cam over the donne ride An hethene king fol of prude, And browghte with him al ferche tho A thousende Sarazins and mo, And foughten faste a good stounde, And felden Cristene men to grounde.        A doughti bacheler cam ride Oppon King Charles side, A yong knight that sprong furst berd, Of no man he nas aferd. Five hundred men with him he broughte That of hare lif litel thei thoughte; Nas non twenti winter old, And echon was doughti man and bold; He hadde ichosen hem fol wide, Bolde men bataille to bide. Thei foughten faste withinne a stounde And broughten Sarazins to grounde. Thei were bolde and foughten faste; The Sarazins flouwen ate laste. Roulond and Oliver hulpen wel, And the doughty Otuwel.        Coursabex the king cam tho And mette fleinde a thousend and mo; “Traitours!” quath Coursabex the king, “Certes, this is a foul thing That ye schule fle for ferd! Traitours, tourneth agein the berd! Tourneth agein, alle with me, And we wole make the Freinche fle!” Thous Coursabex himself allone Made tourne hem agein echone.        The yinge knight that was so bold, Right nou that ich of habbe told, With Coursabex wel sone he mette, And with his swerd anon he sette Such a strok oppon his croun That of his stede he fel adoun. The yinge knight to him cam, And Coursabex olive nam, And sente him Charles the king — Tho was he glad of that tiding.        Tho the Tourkeins seien alle That Coursabex was falle, And Cristene men smite sore, Thei flouwen and nolde fighte namore; And the gode yinge knight Suwede and leid on doun right. There ne halp nough Sire Mahoun, The Tourkeins yeden faste adoun.        Tho kam Poidras of Barbarin, And with him mani a Sarazin. Poidras oppon the yunge knight Leid on with al his might, And here men togidere huwen, And hethene hornes faste blewen. Poidras and the yinge knight, Bitwene hem was strong fight; Poidras hadde the more mayn And hadde wel neigh the knight slain.        Otuwel that doughti knight Was war of that anonright; Otuwel no lengere na bood, To Poidras anoon he rood, And smot Poidras of Barbarin That there he lay as a stiked swin.        Otuwel rood into the feerd, And leide on faste mid his swerd. Roulond and Oliver Negheden Otuwel ner And the berdles knight, And slowen Sarazins adounright.        King Garsie herde withinne a stounde Hou hise men yeden to grounde. King Garsie hadde a conseiler, And anon he took him neer, And seide to him, “Sire Arperaunt, Agenes Otuwel myn herte stant, That thous haveth reneied his lay And sleth mine men, night and day. Sire Arperant, what is thi reed That the thef traitour nere ded? Certes, Fraunce hadde be wonnen Ne hadde his tresoun be bigunnen!”        “King Garsie,” quath Arperaunt, “Bi Mahoun that yonder stant, Al the while that Roulond Mai bere Durendal in his hond, And Oliver rit by his side, For no thing that may betide, Thou ne schalt nevere Otuwel winne For nought that evere thou kans biginne.” Tho was Garsie wel nygh wood For wrathe on molde there he stood.        There was an Affrikan gent That hatte Baldolf of Aquilent. King Garsie seide to him anoon, “Certes, Baldoff, thou most goon, And take with thee knight an swein, And tourne the Cristene men agein; And ich miself wole after come And helpe that Otuwel were nome.”        Quath Baldolf, “Bi Sire Mahun, Louerd, we wole don what we moun, And com thou after and tak hede Wuche maner that we spede And yef thou sest that nede be, Com and help us er we fle, For whan an ost to flight is went, Bote socour come, it is schent.”        Baldolf took his compainie And to the bataille he gan heye, And withinne a litel stounde, Hard bataille thei habben ifounde.        Otuwel doughti of dede, Where thei comen he took hede, And no lengere he ne bood, Bote hasteliche to ham he rood. Roulond and Oliver Neigheden Otuwel ner And the gode yinge knight That was so doughti man in fight. Tho thei foure weren ifere, Tho mighte men seen and here Harde strokes dele and dighte, And with Sarazins boldeliche fighte.        Ther cam out of Garsies ost A man that made muche bost, A king that hatte Karnifees, And muchel onour there he les.        Ther kam a knight of Agineis, A bold man and a courteis, And with Carnifees he mette, And wende Carnifees to lette; King Karnifees him haveth istunt And slough him ate forme dunt. Tho Karnifees hadde thous do, He wende to serven ham alle so.        Otuwel no lengere na bood, To Karnifees anon he rood; Karnifees knugh Otuwel By hise armes swithe wel, And seide to the gode gome, “Forsworne, thef, artou come! Bi Mahoun,” quath Karnifees, Thou schalt hoppen heuedles!”        Otuwel, withoute targing, Answerede Karnifees the king: “Bi Sein Geme, ich ne habbe nought munt Tha thou schalt give me that dunt!” Thei nolden no lengere abide Anon togidere thei gunde ride. Karnifees smot Otuwel; Biside the heued the strok fel. A corner of Otuweles scheld He gurde out amidde the feld.        Quath Otuwel, “Good it wite, That strok was wel ismite! Nou thou schalt, bi Seint Martyn, Preven a strok of myn!” Otuwel Karnifees smot With Corsouse that wel boot That Karnifees soughte the ground; Ros he nevere eft hol ne sound.        Tho the Sarazins wisten alle That Karnifees was ifalle, And that he nolde namore arise, Tho bigan ham alle to agrise, For in al Garsies feerd Nas such a man to handle a swerd. Tho tournde thei to flight, The Sarazins, anonright.        Thous the gode Otuwel And Roulond that was good and snel, Thoru the help of Godes might, Maden the Sarazins tourne to flight, Thorou swete Jhesu Cristes grace; And thei suweden faste the chasse. The Sarazins were so adredde Into the water manye fledde; Summe swumme and summe sunke, And coold water ynough thei drunke. *                  *                  * Til Roulond and Oliver the gode In manie harde stoures stode, Godde Ogger in prisoun lay, Bothe bi night and eke be day. Herkneth what hede good to him nam And hou he out of prisoun kam.        Sevene hethene knightes bolde Ogger was bitaken to holde, And the foure Ogger slough, And yit he skapede wel inough.        There was a noble skuier That with queintize halp Ogger; Swithe priveliche and stille, He broughte Ogger, to his wille, His swerd and his armure bright, And Ogger armede him anonright. Tho he hadde on his gode wede, The squier broughte him a good stede. Ogger no lengere ne abood; The goodde stede he bistrood. The squier was armed and wel idight, And hadde a good hors and a light; And al so stille as a ston, The squier lep to horse anon, And to the porteres windou he kam, And in his hond his mase he nam, And oppon the windou he schof That the windou al todrof.        Hit was abouten midnight And the porter was afright, And askede anon who was thare, And who makede al that fare.        “Porter,” quath the squier tho, “Undo the gate, and let us go! We here tellen, bi Sire Mahoun, That Cristene men goon alle adoun, And ich and mi felawes, iwis, We wole witen hou it is, And yef we ani good winne, Forsothe, thou schalt parten therinne!” And he dude op the gate wide And lette ham bothe out ride, And steek agein the gate fast, And there thei sien Ogger last.        Ogger rood al that night, Til on the morewen the day was bright, That nevere his feet comen on grounde Er he hadde his felawes founde.        Tho Roulond and Oliver Weren war of gode Ogger, Thei were fol glad of that sight And thonkeden Jhesu fol of might.        Tho Roulond and Oliver Adden imet with gode Ogger, Thei were also fous to fight As evere was a foul to flight, And wenten into the bataile anon, And foughten faste and good won, And made the Sarazins agaste, And Otuwel nas nought the laste.        Tho alle foure weren ifere, Thar nere none strokes dere; Tho doughti knightes smiten so sore As thaugh thei ne hadden nought foughten yore, That withinne a litel stounde Sarazins yeden alle to grounde.        King Garsie took god hede Hou his folk to grounde yede, And no lengere he ne abood; Toward his pavilons he rood.        And Otuwel anoon byheld There he rod in the feld, And warende fore anon tho Roulond and Oliver bo, And Ogger that douhty knight That King Garsie was tornd to flight. Tho Roulond and Oliver And the gode knight Ogger Sien where King Garsie rood, Ther nas non that lengere abood; Hasteliche the wey thei nomen, And to King Garsie thei comen.        King Garsie was afered to deye And bigan mersi to crie, And seide, forsothe, that he wolde Of King Charles his lond holde, And ben at eche perlement, Redi at his comaundement.        King Garsie seide this, “For His love that youre Good is, Taketh me on live and sle me nought! Leet mi lif be forbought, And let me as a prisoun goon Bifore King Charles anoon, And don him omage with myn hon To holden of him al mi lond!”        Thanne seide Otuwel, That was doughti knight and snel, To Roulond and to Oliver And to the gode knight Ogger: “Nou he haveth this gift igive, I rede that we laten him live. Bifore the king he schal be brought, For Gode, we nulle slen him nought.” An thei acenteden therto, And seiden, “It wile be wel ido.” And withouten any targing, Thei ladden him bifore the king.        Thanne seide Otuwel that gode knight To King Charles anonright, “Sire,” he seide, “Her is Garsie, That sumtime thratte thee to die. He wile nou, yif thi wille be, Do thee omage and feauté And ben at thi comaundement, And at eche parlement Al redi at thin hond; And holden of thee al his lond, And for his lond rente give, With thee noue, he mote live.”

Who; wish to hear If; abide once fierce; (t-note) valiant Saint-Denis; (see note) Not far from well During [Charles’s] reign Lombardy; (see note) named Marseilles such there was none such as him did not believe idolatry where slew; captured benefit intent didn’t hold some property from him [Garcy]; (see note); (t-note) paid him tribute; fealty Such They all had to bow to him many yet; with force rule all Christendom those both high and low wanted to turn into heathen lands hold a council came at his command they all swore together conquered made their declaration make war on people understood (see note) True to say (see note) His twelve peers; took; (see note); (t-note) [they] decided together they would travel at once make war; foes go there But before they went that way Such news they heard From; (t-note) stirred their wrath; (see note) came; (t-note) as a messenger palace was not afraid of any man then; (t-note) He took a squire by the hand; (t-note) is called knew by looking He took him by the hand where; their showed; sat told Where Ogier; (t-note) awe; would he hesitate He dared drink wine; (see note) When may destruction fall upon you enrage shame Thus does Garcy greet you deliver know, as I may thrive; (see note) you; (see note) (t-note) [Roland is speaking]; What I will not hide it; fear April took the way (see note) number (see note); (t-note) pierced their French flesh picked up very large firebrand intended But Roland stopped the blow upon rash anything but because should not be harmed, certainly If; them were enraged Up stood came up behind seized Otuel by the hood jerked down taken his life [the French knight] didn’t harm [Otuel] To hesitate; unwilling sword among them furious; (see note) outraged ashamed; (t-note) lay hands [i.e., seize] it seemed to him where lord; (t-note) advise if; audacious raise a blow holy orders; (see note) Except; sword were none failed to understand held them in contempt; (see note) foolhardy men sorely afraid walked away In case any would strike him dead if you were not No good would come to you here give it up my lord will not That is begotten and born therein You have wasted your breath; (see note) Give me ready to depart In truth; ready Even if Stand back You’ll have done a good deed Stop (t-note) well renowned lands name denounce (t-note) believe in; (t-note) make amends wronged if you do not do this will Slovenia; (see note) Armenia own happiness decline; (t-note) Unless; believe then can ride and walk know army attack; (t-note) ruin [Because] of advise you to seek revenge; (t-note) can yelp are worthless Even if (t-note) Because youth; (t-note) You were never brave in battle outraged; (t-note) (t-note) Belittled all of them became enraged Disparage Frenchmen laughed Am I not here; (t-note) make ready prepared waiting for may he have bad luck between me and you As you say Whoever Mahoun will be my surety; (see note) So help me God, I’ve found a match eyes see swear an oath [Otuel’s] resolve truly a shame do not know; baptism (see note) false as I may thrive; (t-note) If you promise Christ’s curse upon his head Who advises me such a thing I will not spoke outrageously Because noble and good Would not allow him to be harmed Are you message is finished (t-note) truly True to say; it is no lie (see note) uncle; (see note); (see note) Who had never been overcome (t-note) Because of this, there will be woe Avenge [Fernagu’s] death has promised; (t-note) hear I will avenge my uncle’s death; (t-note) break grew enraged; (t-note) nonetheless would not because of; haughty attendant To fetch his attendant; (t-note) young nourished inn safely well cared for honored as bidden had come in The chamberlain left agreed to Because appearance (countenance) knew completely He When In the morning its church To do God’s work hear mass To lessen their sin Then together palace standing there Then very haughty feeling weak; (see note) acted toward him Your head will feel under your hood then Where; would The river flowed all around [it] woman; (t-note) ride in nor leave one [entry] hastily prepared mounted his steed each other mounted; field; (t-note) To where Otuel rode chose; closest path struck; spurs achieved; dry land; (t-note) enmity sharp sturdy; (t-note) (t-note) hit each other [So that] [When they had] uninjured When the steeds were both standing (t-note) cut each other bit hard But; dodged it well; (t-note) cut off its head (t-note) remained He made no move to strike Before; (t-note) What are you While; sat upon my steed have this treatment James, that’s what I intended; (t-note) felt; blow I would rather, so I may thrive had it hit you (t-note) remained; (t-note) He had intended that for Roland But never after walked the earth upon his mistake When Until he [Otuel] And [therefore] it fell on your steed Then; no other option exchanged sparks flew (t-note) skilled felt; (t-note) strength himself halt believe in in assent niece (t-note) I do not fear you so much abandon my faith This is not what I want; (see note) Because; agree both had any fear thrust head; planned to strike did not succeed shifted to the side (t-note) Struck; hip Because he wished to avoid kill; (t-note) swerved away from chain mail coat; tore hip bone at once pieces flew apart from where apprehensive hotly thought certainly would be lost doubt do as I ask; (t-note) Kneel pray reconciliation; those; (see note) desire renounce his faith obeyed their command made their request them straightaway white dove; (see note) alighted to what you promised maiden accept (t-note) Through whom; entered out of hatred angry; (t-note) embraced; kissed many a one hand; took; (t-note) reconciled taken If I have; (t-note) length and breadth; (t-note) minstrelsy changed morning when then; (see note) baptized; no others When; taken baptism peace offered watch over for me (t-note) done deeds according to your will as I believe waste ordered to be assembled advice heard spoken conquer ought to Or; (t-note) agreed preparations Listen; first intense As soon as many; because of their pledge to him; (t-note) April; (t-note) went towards Near at hand; to be undertaken meadow pavilions; pitched hill; (t-note) [it] happened Close to; (t-note) To await the day of battle bridge; ford (see note) When; ready While (t-note) Adventures when (t-note) That they would not have begun the game (t-note) (t-note) what might be happening Their; know (see note) was called the first king; (t-note) was called walked never on foot third’s merriment (see note) had done a good deed let it happen to us If I’ll never have; (t-note) (t-note) proud threatened near saw Fellows; (t-note) aware; foes; (t-note) Curses (t-note) Let’s go saw them appearance host advice; (t-note) meet Spurred their greeted [Astaward’s] heart it went accept your defeat defeated packsaddle; (t-note) broke When; (t-note) pricked; sharp spurs could not have done better; (t-note) cut; in two [Clarel’s] force one leg bone was unharmed then gone lost; (t-note) (t-note) alive has no aid refused (t-note) did not refuse (see note) Mount up behind able-bodied; agile leapt up; (t-note) delay captured hoped to be But; hindered were afraid of Where they had to go escape by either side But had to ride through them then both before; home will cause us to be seized opinion Should we; off I would not be guilty of that; (see note) Saint Richerus; (see note) Alive no more woe It may occur repay; kindness true But whether he does or he does not (t-note) slay; has yielded himself must attend; matter; (t-note) in agreement left attempt; escape this danger; (see note) If; wrath stop me on my way So help me pay for it I will not; (see note) Yield; any never give me success again uninjured crossed themselves once suffered battle host was named (t-note) thief sharp and fierce; (t-note) So that one wielded their hands given received short time Then; sultan; fierce One Cowardly where [is]; (t-note) Pricked heat [of battle] [Ogger’s]; destroy anger grievous nearly insane [Carmel] Then King Garcy’s knights (t-note) indeed When So that he never again bit a crust; (see note) (t-note) whole; wounde; (t-note) took Then; glad slain; (t-note) When Then; (t-note) anger Still Against came riding; (t-note) helped recognized advice Come yield yourself before; (t-note) today if on the verge of death (see note) paramour Armenia Called say; her healed give good care to him protect him until I return she be ruined excessively; (see note) turned around; (t-note) fled; succeed both Had himself armed; (t-note) When waited (t-note) Over; (t-note) Have gone; spite considered a coward Discover whether before; captured; (t-note) has occurred It will be their own fault; (see note); (see note) go quickly try to; alive Before; taken aid shall soon come to you mounted battlefield ordered this army to prepare to ride each saw fled spurred towards; (t-note) avenge yourselves; foes pay (see note) When be avenged fierce light-hearted (t-note) Where sighing heavily recently let us go quickly young man In order to deflate their boast come near dark black was wary coat of arms the game (i.e., battle) fine wooden spear dead he slew When their eyes (see note) defeated [the Saracens] fled turn around destroy rued brass mace struck shook (see note) owe you sword Split fell [Here is] what I promised you full of courage carnage; (see note) fled evening was near the host must depart When custom appearance of peace two fellows, no more or less hear news towards; (t-note) am very eager Before now shield me from shame wretchedly advise; (t-note) believe in make peace For how you have wronged trust you If escape alive seize If we were just us two more have chosen I promise you Evil befall him who flees If you will promise me By the death I shall die; (t-note) oath; pledged early By Except You should see this is sufficient; (t-note) ready for battle; (t-note) they; in agreement; (t-note) go separately (see note) when It seemed a long time [to] (t-note) brave on his side; (t-note) had promised him; (t-note) Only the two of them would fight confident; (t-note) That he could say what he liked took heed thereof heathendom He has command of all pagans behave feeble-mindedly; old; (t-note) became enraged immediately had mocked wanted then very much To fight fetch many you have no need to fight God forbid That it should happen, far or near put your own body in a fight While you I will seek revenge myself swore an oath Why renounced my faith damned born definitively believe a false faith offered himself learn which [faith] Lord (see note) if in (see note) mounted place Where; stood waiting As soon as They quickly came to a decision afraid saddle steadily fell one went (t-note) edge strike quite amazed bit ruthlessly (t-note) helmet stunned He loves me not who hits me so You will have the same from me Struck directly flesh exposed When; saw his; (t-note) mocked as you may thrive Why do you show your teeth to me; (t-note) tooth-puller You don’t see me carrying a chain; (see note) felt himself to be (t-note) deflected glided on the head mercy Now that your beard has been shaved You have become; young man; (see note) One; no more again avenged his anger good earldom; same merriment and joy; (t-note) (t-note) exceeding joy When; realized so dismayed Cursed Unless; avenge ordered to be assembled; (t-note) above all achieve the vengeance himself from I will armed army silently When; came near Turkish knight; pride held back But lost one of his stirrups (see note) fell down off paid him his reward promise (t-note) lose completely short time quickly by his appearance (t-note) attendant advance Toward point aware kill goaded (applied); (t-note) next time be wary lie and bleed gained success broke apart hill riding; (t-note) fiercely growing his first beard Who cared little for their lives; (t-note) for a time fled fleeing flee in fear turn your faces around; (see note); (t-note) soon took alive [Coursabex to] When had fallen fled Pursued (t-note) fell Then came Attacked slashed strength very nearly stuck pig; (see note) (t-note) remains opposed thus; repudiated his faith; (t-note) advice is not dead would have been conquered Had not his treason begun stands there; (see note) Not for anything that may occur conquer (t-note) the ground nobleman knights and men; (t-note) turn around before Unless help comes, it will end in ruin hastened Appeared When lost Agen; (see note) intended to stop has stopped with the first blow When waited knew man go about headless delay James; don’t intend blow; (t-note) carved out God knows (see note) Test so well cut When shudder with fear army There was never valiant (t-note) made a quick pursuit swam; (t-note) While battles; (t-note) [who] in also Listen; good luck to him were assigned to guard Ogier then; escaped cunning secretly and quietly as he requested himself When; clothing good, swift horse just as quietly mace struck shattered noise have heard goods have a part of it opened closed they last saw Ogier When (see note) When Had met; (t-note) eager bird; (see note) (t-note) least [of them] When There were never any harsher strokes Then before (t-note) Where immediately warned in advance When took Under attend each council; (t-note) Obedient to Charles’s command ransomed prisoner hand; (t-note) brave (t-note) (t-note) delay once threatened homage and fealty so might he live; (see note)