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..........................................
For he it seighe with sight.
Now bigin ichil of him,
Of Charls that was stout and grim,
And tel you al that right.
An hundred winter it was and thre
Sethen God dyed opon the tre,
That Charls the king
Hadde al Fraunce in his hond —
Danmark and Inglond,
Withouten ani lesing,
Lorein and Lombardye,
Gascoun, Bayoun, and Pikardye
Was til his bidding.
And emperour he was of Rome,
And lord of al Cristendome.
Than was he an heighe lording.
* * *
In that time was an emperour
In Costentin, of gret honour,
Constansious he hight.
God he loved and alle His,
And hated hem that dede amis
With al his might.
In Speyn tho, ther was a king —
A stern man, withouten lesing —
That werred ogain the right.
Ebrahim was his name,
Wide sprong his riche fame;
He was a douhti knight.
Alle that leved in Godes lawe,
He lete hem bothe hong and drawe,
Tho that he might oftake.
And the patriark of Jerusalem
Out of lond he dede him flem,
Al for Godes sake.
The patriarke was ful wiis,
And to th’emperour he went, ywis,
His mone for to make:
Hou the King Ebrahim
Out of lond exiled him,
With michel wer and wrake.
King Costance th’emperour
Made swithe gret dolour
For this tidinges.
Jhesu Crist bisought he,
Almighti God in Trinité,
King of al kinges,
He sende him grace him to slo
That had ywrought so michel wo
And slawe Godes ginges.
And sone so he had the bon ybede,
An angel light doun in that stede
And this bode him bringes.
The angel seyd to th’emperour,
“Wele thee greteth thi Saveour,
Jhesu ful of might,
And bit thee sende with michel anour
After Charls the conquerour;
He is a douhti knight.
He schal thee help in batayl
And sle the Sarrazin, withouten fail,
That doth ogain the right.”
Th’emperour was glad and blithe
And thonked God fele sithe;
His hert nas never so light.
Four the best, he sent of hem,
That on hight David of Jerusalem,
And Samuel also,
Jon of Naples was another,
Ysac hight the ferth brother.
Thider he gan go,
He went to the palais of Rome
And bifor Sir Charls come
And told him of her wo.
Thai toke him the letter and kist his hand,
Swiche was the lawe of the land
And schal ben evermo.
Charls wepe for that dede
When he herd the letter rede,
And hete an heigheing:
Al that might armes bere,
Kniif or scheld, swerd or spere,
Men schuld bifor him bring.
Thai busked hem and made hem yare
To Costentin for to fare,
Withouten ani lesing.
Th’emperour was glad, ywis,
And underfenge with miche blis
Sir Charls the king.
Riche juels withouten lesing,
Sir Costance the king
Bifor Sir Charls he brought.
Savage bestes for the nones,
Gold and silver and riche stones,
Ac therof nold he nought.
He bisought him of more honour
Of Jhesu Our Saveour
That al this warld hath wrought:
That He on suffred passioun —
Of the croice and of the croun,
Therof he him bisought.
Th’emperour his wil dede,
And ladde him to the holy stede
There the relikes ware.
Ther com swiche a swete odour
That never yete so swete savour
No feld thai never are.
Of the smal that was so swote,
Thre hundred sike hadde her bote
And cast were out of care.
Than brought thai forth the holy croun
And the arme of Seyn Simoun
Biforn hem alle thare.
And a parti of the holy crosse
That in a cristal was don in clos,
And Godes clotheing,
Our Levedi smok that hye had on,
And the yerd of Araon,
Forth thai gun bring.
And a spere long and smert
That Longys put to Godes hert
He yaf Charls the king,
And a nail, long and gret,
That was ydrive thurth Godes fet,
Withouten ani lesing.
When Charls had reseived that thing,
He bisought Jhesu, heven King,
To sende him might and space
For to wite the sothe there,
Yif the relikes verray were,
Er he thennes pase.
Than decended a lightnesse
Dounrightes fram the heven blis
In that ich place,
That thai wenden alle, ywis,
Thai hadde ben in paradys,
So ful it was of grace.
Thai tok leve at th’emperour
And thonked him of gret honour,
And to Aise in Gascoyn went,
Ther he duelled, siker aplight.
So he biheld opon a night
Up to the firmament;
A way of sterres he seighe, ywis,
Out of Spaine into Galis,
As red as brond that brent.
He bisought God in Trinité
To sende him grace wite wat it be
With wel gode entent.
And in the thought that he was in,
Ther com a voice and spac to him
With a milde steven,
“James the apostel, bi Crist,
Jones brother th’Ewangelist,
Godes deciple of heven,
That God bad prechy on the se,
Forthi Herodes lete me sle,
Therof Y thee neven.
Mi body lith in Galis,
Biyond Speyne, forsothe ywis,
Jurnays mo than seven.
Forthi me wondreth, withouten fail,
That thou comest nought to do batayl
That lond for to winne,
And yif thou winnes that lond, ywis,
Y schal thee bring into that blis
Ther ich woni inne.
Al that me seketh, more and lesse,
Schal have forgevenes
Of her dedeli sinne.
Now wende and do as Y thee sede,
And in batayl thou schalt spede
When thou it wil biginne.
The way of sterres bitokneth, ywis,
That of Spaine and of Galis
Thou schalt be conquerer.
Lorain and Lombardye,
Gascoyne, Bayoun, and Pikardye
Schal be in thi pouwer.”
Thus com the apostel Jamis
Thries to Charls and seyd this,
That was so stoute and fer.
Now wendeth Charls with his ost
Into Speyne, with michel bost,
As ye may forward here.
The first cité was Pampiloun,
That was a swithe noble toun,
That Charls gan asayl.
And sex monethes he it bilay, aplight,
That no thing winne he it no might
For alle his batayle.
For the walles so strong were
He no might have non entré there,
Withouten ani fayl.
Ther were mani strong gines,
And fele thousand of Sarazines,
Swithe heyghe of parail.
Than praid Charls to God of heven.
“Lord,” he seyd, “Here mi steven!
As Tow art ful of might,
Sende me grace this cité to winne
And sle the Sarrazins herinne,
That don ogain the right.”
Tho felle the walles of the cité;
Charls entred with his meyné
Als a douhti knight.
And thurth the miracle that was there,
Ten thousand Sarrazins cristned were
In that ich night.
And tho that nold nought cristned be,
He lete hem hong opon a tre
Er he thennes pase.
Thus Charls thurth Spayn gan gon,
And wan the cités, everichon,
Al thurth Godes grace.
Where he com in ani erd,
Ich man was of him aferd
That loked on his face.
The names of everi cité
That he wan, Y schal tel ye
Er ich hennes pase.
Visim, Lameche, and Sumy,
Colomuber, Luche, and Urry,
Brakare and Vimaraile,
Conpostel, a cité grete,
Aurilian and Tullet,
That strong is to asayl,
Golddelfagar and Salamencha,
Uline, Canayls, Madris alswa,
Calatorie and Lestoyl,
Medinacel, an heighe cité,
Segovus the grete and Salamenche,
Gramie and Sturgel,
Godian and Emerite,
Bourg in Spaine that nis nought lite,
A swithe noble toun,
Nasers and Mathed,
Carion and Urpaled,
And Oche of gret renoun,
Burbagalle, a castel also,
Costant, Petros, and other mo,
Bayet and Pampiloun,
Ventos in the grene vale,
Caparre, Eustorge, and Entale,
Gascoine and Bayoun,
Toutor, a strong castel,
Landulif and Portingal,
Burnam and Saragouns,
Granad and Satyne,
Costaunce and Deine,
Teragon and Valouns,
Leride, Acoun, and Sivile,
Charls wan in a while,
Agabie and Urens,
Quara, Melide, Gibalderie,
Barbaster, Vice, and Almarie,
Agabie and Sisens.
Acoun, that Y spak of ere,
Seyn James deciple lith there
That hat Seyn Torquas.
A swithe fair oliif tre
Biside his toumbe men may se,
That springeth thurth Godes grace.
Opon his fest in mid May,
Theron is frout of gret noblay,
Bothe more and lasse;
And who that seketh hem, verrament,
At the Day of Juggement
Schal se Godes face.
* * *
Alle the londes that were in Spayne,
With dint of swerd, wan Charlmain.
Portingale and Lavers,
Landuluf and Chastel,
Bigairs, Bastles, and londes fele,
Moys and Navers —
Alle the londes he wan yern,
Til he com to Lucern.
So stout he was and fers,
And tuelmoneth he it bilay, aplight,
And no thing win he it might,
For al his dussepers.
Tho preyd Charls to God a bone
That he him sent grace sone
The cité forto winne;
Tho fel the walles adounrightes,
King Charls entred with his knightes
Thurth that ich ginne.
Charls acurssed that cité,
And Ventos and Caparre and Deneye,
For her dedeli sinne.
Deserd thai were after than,
That never sethen no Cristen man
No durst com therinne.
For Charls curssed tho Lucern,
Also tite the toun Ganbern,
And schal don ever mo,
And of the smoc of that toun,
Mani taketh therof pusesoun
And dyeth in michel wo.
And ther the other thre cités stode,
Beth waters red of helle flode
And fisches therin al blo.
And who that wil nought leve me,
In Spaine men may the sothe yse,
Who that wil thider go.
And while Charls was in that stede,
A fair miracle God for him dede
Er he gan thennes wende:
Braunches of vines Charls sett
In Marche moneth, withouten lett,
As was the right kende;
And amorwe grapes thai bere,
Red and ripe to kerve there;
For paners thai gun sende.
And for “paners!” thai crid tho,
Yete men clepeth the cité so
And schal to the warldes ende.
Clodonius the first Cristen king,
And Clotayrs, withouten lesing,
King Dagabers, and Pipin
Won mani tounes in Spaine,
Ac the gode Charlmain
Wan it al with gin.
Alle the maumetes in Spaine were,
That were the Sarrazins leve and dere,
King Charls and Turpin
Thai destroyd thurth Godes might —
Sum thurth miracle and sum thurth fight,
So seyt the Latin.
And an image of gret pousté
Stode on a roche bi the se
In the gilden lond.
His name was Salanicodus,
As a man yschapen he wes,
And held a glaive an hond.
Mahoun maked him with gin
And dede mani fendes therin,
As ich understond,
For to susten the ymage
And sett him on heighe stage —
For no man nold he wond.
The face of him was turned southeright.
In her lay the Sarrazins founde, aplight,
Of Jubiter and Mahoun,
That when yborn were the king
That schuld Spaine to Cristen bring,
The ymage schuld falle adoun.
Charls dede that ymage falle
And wan in Spaine the cités alle,
Bothe tour and toun;
And with the tresour that he wan there,
Mani a chirche he lete arere
That was of gret renoun.
The first chirche, forsoth ywis,
Was Seyn James in Galis
That he lete arere,
With an hundred chanouns and her priour,
Of Seynt Ysador the confessour
For to servi there.
And in Aise a chapel
Of lim and ston, ywrought ful wel,
Of werk riche and dere;
And Seyn James at Burdewes,
And on at Tolous, another at Anevaus,
And mo as ye may here.
* * *
Charls duelled, siker aplight,
Thre mones and fourten night
In Bayoun with his ost.
Ther fel a miracle of a knight
Wiche that was to deth ydight,
Thurth the Holy Gost.
Sir Romain, forsothe, he hight;
Er he dyd he hadde his right,
Withouten ani bost.
On of his frendes he cleped him to,
“Y schal dye, it is so,
Ful wele thou it wost.
Mine clothes that ichave,
Therwith that Y be brought in grave,
With mete and drink and light;
And sel min hors on heigheing,
Pover clerkes sauters to sing;
Therto that it be dight.”
And when he hadde yseyd thus stille,
Al so it was Godes wille,
Than died the knight.
The hors was seld, withouten duelinges,
For to hundred schillinges,
And put it up, aplight.
And at the nende of thritti night,
To his seketour com the ded knight,
And seyd in this maner:
“Mi soule is in heven blis
For the love of min almis
That Y sett here;
And for thou hast athold min,
Thritti days ich ave ben in pin
That wel strong were.
Paradis is graunted me,
And in that pain, thou schalt be
That ich was in ere.”
The ded thus in his way went.
And he awaked, verrament,
And wonder hadde, aplight.
And amorwe his sweven he told
To erls and to barouns bold,
To squiers and to knight.
And amonges hem alle
As thai stoden in the halle,
Ther com a windes flight
And fele fendes that were swift,
And beren him up into the lift,
And held him there four night.
Serjaunce the bodi sought,
Ac thai no might it finde nought,
Four dayes, no more.
Fro Bayoun he went with his ost,
And thurth Navern with miche bost;
The bodi than founde thore
Ther the fendes had let him felle,
And bere his soule into helle,
To hard paines sore.
So schal everi sekatour
The dedes gode abigge wel sour
That hye binimeth the pore.
* * *
Now late we be of this thing,
And speke of Charles the king
That michel was of might.
Of his lengthe and his brede,
As the Latin ous sede,
Ichil you rede aright.
Tuenti fete he was o lengthe,
And also of gret strengthe,
And of a stern sight.
Blac of here and rede of face,
Whare he com in ani place
He was a douhti knight.
Four times in the yere
On his heued he bere
The holy croun of thorn:
At Ester, at Wissontide,
And at Seyn James Day with pride,
And in Yole as God was born;
And atte the mete in the halle,
Among his knightes alle
A drawe swerd him biforn.
This was the maner ay
And schal be til Domesday
Of emperour ycorn.
And whare he slepe anight,
Wel wise he was and wight
And douted of tresoun;
An hundred knightes him kept
That non of hem no slept,
That were of gret renoun.
And everi dughti knight
Held a torche light
And a naked fauchoun.
Thus King Charls lay
With his ost, mani a dai
In the cité of Pampiloun.
And on a day com tiding
Unto Charls the king
Al of a douhti knight
Was comen to Nasers.
Stout he was and fers,
Vernagu he hight.
Of Babiloun the soudan
Thider him sende gan
With King Charls to fight.
So hard he was to fond
That no dint of brond
No greved him, aplight.
He hadde tuenti men strengthe,
And fourti fet of lengthe
Thilke panim hede,
And four fet in the face
Ymeten in the place,
And fiften in brede.
His nose was a fot and more,
His browe as brestles wore,
He that it seighe it sede.
He loked lotheliche
And was swart as piche —
Of him men might adrede!
* * *
Charls com to Nasers
With his dussepers
To se that painim.
He asked, withouten fayl,
Of King Charls batayl
To fight ogaines him.
Charls wonderd tho
When he seighe him go,
He biheld him ich a lim.
For seththen he was ybore,
He no hadde ysen bifore
Non that was so grim.
Sir Oger the Danais,
A knight ful curtays,
To him first was ysent.
And at his coming,
Vernagu an heygheing
Under his arm him hent.
Yarmed as he was,
He toke him in the plas
And to the castel he went.
Sir Oger schamed sore,
Him o thought that com thore
And held him foule yschent.
Reynald de Aubethpine
Was sent to that Sarrazin.
He served him al so,
And seyd to Charlmain,
“Sir, tho thou won Spain,
Hadestow non better tho?
So Mahoun me give rest,
Ogain ten swiche the best
To fight ich wold go!”
Sir Costentin of Rome
And th’erl of Nauntes come
To fight with bothe to.
And Vernagu bar bothe —
No were thai never so wrothe —
To Nassers castel.
Under aither arm on,
As stille as ani ston,
Might thai nought with him mele.
Tho Charls sent ten;
Al so he served his men;
Might no man with him dele!
Charls bithought tho,
Yif he sent mo,
It were him wrotherhele.
* * *
Roland the gode knight
Tho bad leve to fight
Ogain that painim.
King Charls seyd, “Nay!
Thou no schalt nought, bi this day!
He is to stout and grim.”
So long he him bad
That leve of him he hadde.
Rouland armed him
And com anonright
Into the feld to fight
Ogain that Sarrazin.
And at his coming thare
Sir Vernagu was ware,
And tok him under his hond.
Out of his sadel he gan him bere,
And on his hors swere
He set Roulond.
And Rouland smot him so
That Vernagu tho
Unto the grounde wond.
And when the Cristen seighe this,
That Vernau fallen is,
Thai thonked Godes sond.
Thai lopen opon her stede
And swerdes out thai brede
And fight thai gun tho.
Rouland, with Durindale,
Brewe him miche bale,
And carf his hors ato.
When Vernagu was o fot,
He no couthe no better bot,
To Rouland he gan go.
In the heued he smot his stede,
That ded to grounde he yede.
O fot than were thai bo.
A fot thai tok the fight,
And Vernagu anonright
His swerd he had ylore.
Rouland, with al his might,
He stired him as a knight
And yaf him dintes sore
Til it was ogain the none;
Thus thai layd opon
Ay til thai weri wore.
Douk Rouland sone he fond
That with no dint of brond
He slough him nevermore.
When it com to the neve,
Vernagu bad leve
To resten of that fight.
Rouland him trewthe yaf
So he most bring a staf
After his wil ydight.
Vernagu graunted wel,
And went to her hostel
When that was night.
Amorwe, withouten fail,
Thai com to the batayl,
Aither as douhti knight.
Sir Rouland brought a staf
That King Charls him yaf,
That was long and newe —
The bodi of a yong oke
To yif therwith a stroke.
He was tough and trewe,
And with that gode staf
Wel mani dintes he yaf
Vernagu the schrewe.
And at the non, aplight,
Thai gun another fight
And stones togider threwe.
Gode rappes for the nones
Thai gaven with the stones,
That sete swithe sore
That helme and heye targe
Thurth her strokes large
Therwith thai broken wore.
And Vernagu at that cas
So sore asleped was
He no might fight no more.
At Rouland leve he toke
That time, so seyt the boke,
For to slepe thore.
Roland yaf leve him
For to slepe wele afin,
And rest him in that stounde,
And seyd that he nold
For the cité ful of gold
Be therwith yfounde
Slepeand to slen a knight,
Thei that he had in fight
Yif him dethes wounde.
Tho Vernagu lay adoun,
To slepe he was boun
There opon the grounde.
And Vernagu rout thore
As a wild bore
Tho he on slepe was.
To him Rouland gan gon
And tok the gretest ston
That lay in that place;
He leyd under his heued, ywis,
For him thought it lay amis,
To lowe at that cas.
And Vernagu up stode,
He stard as he were wode
When he awaked was.
Vernagu asked anon,
“Who leyd this gret ston
Under min heued so?
It no might never be,
Bot yif he were a knight fre;
..................................
Wist ich who it were.
He schuld be me leve and dere,
Thei that he were mi fo.”
Quath Rouland sikerly,
“Certes, it was Y,
For that thou rot so.
And when tho me lovest miche,
Now tel me, sikerliche,
Whi thou art so hard
That no thing may thee dere,
Knif, no ax, no spere,
No no dint of sward?”
Quath Vernagu sikerly,
“No man is harder than Y
Fram the navel upward.
Forthi Y com hider, ywis,
To fight with King Charlis
With the hore bard.”
Vernagu to Rouland sede,
“Al so thi God thee spede,
Whare were thou yborn?”
“In Fraunce, bi Seynt Austin,
King Charls cosyn,
Our kinde lord ycorn.
We leveth opon Jhesu
That is ful of vertu,
That bare the croun of thorn.
And ye leveth in the fende,
Forthi withouten ende
Ye schul be forlorn.”
And when that Vernagu
Yherd speke of Jhesu,
He asked wat man he was.
Sir Rouland seyd, “He is
The King of paradys
And Lord ful of gras;
In a maiden He was bore
To bigge that was forlore
As sonne passeth thurth the glas,
And dyed opon the rode
For our alder gode
And nought for His gilt it nas.
And suffred woundes five
And ros fram ded to live
Than thridde day,
And fet out Adam and Eve,
And mo that were Him leve,
Fram helle, forsothe to say,
And sitt in Trinité,
O God in Persones Thre,
Swiche is our lay.”
Vernagu seyd tho,
“It no might never be so!
Therof Y sigge nay!
Hou might it ever be
That he were on and thre?
Tel me now thee skille.”
Rouland than sede,
“Al so God me spede,
Yis, with a gode wille.
As the harp has thre thinges,
Wode and soun and strenges,
And mirthe is thertille,
So is God Persones Thre
And holeliche on in unité,
Al thing to fulfille.
And as the sonne hath thinges thre,
Hete and white on to se,
And is ful of light,
So is God in Trinité,
Unité and magesté
And Lord ful of might.”
Quath Vernagu, “Now Y se
Hou He is God in Persones Thre.
Now ich wot that right,
Ac hou that He bicom man —
The Lord that this world wan —
Therof no have Y no sight.”
Quath Rouland, “He that ous bought
And al thing maked of nought,
Wele might He be so hende
That He wald sende His Sone
In a maiden for to wone,
Withouten mannes hende.”
Quath Vernagu, “Saun fayl,
Therof ichave gret mervail.
Hou might he fram hir wende?
Hou might he of hir be bore,
That was a maiden bifore?
Y no may nought have in mende.”
Rouland seyd to Vernagu,
“Mi Lordes Fader Jhesu
Is so michel of might
That He made sonne and se
And fisches in the flod to be,
Bothe day and night.
Wele may He than, as Y thee er seyd,
Ben ybore of a maide
Withouten wem, aplight.”
Quath Vernagu, “It may wele be.
Ac hou He dyed, Y no can nought se.
Tel me now that right,
For I nist never no man
That aros after than
When that he ded was.
And yif He Godes Sone were,
He no might nought dye there.
Tel me now that cas.”
Quath Rouland, “Y schal tel thee:
His bodi slepe opon the tre,
And the thridde day aras.
His Godhed waked ever and ay
And to helle tok the way,
And bond Satanas.
So schul we al arise
And of the dome agrise
Atte Day of Juggement,
And answerey for our dede,
The gode and the quede,
Hou we our liif have spent.”
Quath Vernagu, “Now ichot wel
Hou He aros ichadel,
And have in min entent.
Ac hou He steyghe to heven,
Y no can nought neven
No wite, verrament.”
Than seyd Rouland,
“O Vernagu, understand,
Herken now to me.
That ich Lord that with His might
In a maiden alight,
Yborn for to be,
As the sonne aros in the est
And decended in the west,
As tow might now se,
Right so dede God Almight:
Mounted into heven light
And sit in Trinité.”
Quath Vernagu, “Now ich wot
Your Cristen lawe, everi grot.
Now we wil fight!
Whether lawe better be
Sone we schul yse,
Long ar it be night.”
Rouland a dint him yaf
With his gode staf
That he kneled, aplight,
And Vernagu to him smot
And carf his staf fothot,
Even ato aright.
Tho Rouland kneld adoun
And maked an orisoun
To God in heven light,
And seyd, “Lord, understond
Y no fight for no lond,
Bot for to save Thi right.
Sende me now might and grace
Here in this ich place
To sle that foule wight.”
An angel com ful sone,
And seyd, “Herd is thi bone;
Arise, Rouland, and fight!
And sched the schrewes blod,
For he nas never gode
Bi lond no bi se.
Thei alle prechours alive
To Cristen wald him schrive,
Gode nold he never be.”
When Rouland herd that steven,
He stirt him up ful even
And faught with hert fre.
Strokes bi sex and seven
Togider this knightes yeven
That mani man might yse.
Rouland, withouten dueling,
Thurth might of heven King,
Vernagu he smot,
That the left arm and the scheld
Fel forth into the feld
Fram that painim fothot.
His arm tho he had lore,
Swithe wo him was therfore,
And fast he faught, Y wot.
He smot Rouland on the croun
A strok with his fauchoun
That thurth the helme it bot.
No hadde ben the bacinet
That the strok withsett,
Rouland hadde ben aqueld.
The Sarrazin sayd aswithe,
“Smite ich eft on sithe,
Thi liif is bought and seld.”
Rouland answerd, “Nay!
Mine worth thee rather pay,
Bi God that al thing weld.”
With a strok ful large
He clef the Sarrazins targe
That half fel in the feld.
And at another venou
Roland smot Vernagu
That he fel doun to grounde;
And Rouland with Durindale
Yaf him strokes fal
And his dethes wounde.
The paynem crid, “Help, Mahoun!
And Jubiter, of gret renoun,
That beth so michel of mounde.
As ye beth mightful, helpeth me,
That ich might yvenged be
Of this Cristen hounde.”
Rouland lough for that cri,
And seyd, “Mahoun, sikerly,
No may thee help nought,
No Jubiter, no Apolin,
No is worth the brust of a swin,
In hert no in thought.”
His ventail he gan unlace
And smot off his heued in the place,
And to Charls it brought.
Tho thonked he God in heven,
And Mari, with milde steven,
That he so hadde ywrought.
And al the folk of the lond
For onour of Roulond
Thonked God, old and yong,
And yede a procesioun
With croice and goinfaynoun,
And “Salve” miri song.
Bothe widowe and wiif in place
Thus thonked Godes grace,
Alle tho that speke with tong.
To Otuel, al so yern,
That was a Sarrazin stern,
Ful sone this word sprong.
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saw; (see note); (t-note)
I will
Charles (Charlemagne)
properly
Since
under his control
lying; (see note)
Lorraine; Lombardy
Gascony, Bayonne; Picardy; (see note)
Were at
(t-note)
Constantinople
Constantius; was called; (see note)
them; sinned
then
against
valiant; (t-note)
believed
had them
Those; capture
put him [the patriarch] in exile
indeed
complaint
much war and destruction
such; lamenting
[That] He would; slay
[He] who had caused
slain; people
As soon as; prayed the prayer
alit; place
message
Your Savior greets you favorably
bids; honor
For
Who acts against
joyful
many times
had never been
them; (t-note)
one was called
To that place they
They; palace
their
brought; kissed
Such
forever more
wept at that news
ordered at once
Knife; shield
prepared themselves; ready
Constantinople; go
received
jewels
Wild animals for the occasion
But he [Charles] would have none of them
He asked of him [Constantine] a greater honor
Regarding
Who
The things by which he had suffered the Passion
cross; crown
He asked him for those
did
place
Where
scent
Never had they sensed before
smell; sweet
sick people were healed
(see note)
piece
enclosed
Lady’s (Virgin Mary’s) smock; she
staff; (see note)
brought
sharp
Longinus; (see note)
gave to
driven; (t-note)
lying; (see note)
learn; truth
authentic; (see note)
Before he left from there
ray of light
Downward
same
So that; believed
departed from
Auch; Gascony; (see note)
very truly; (see note)
Until
the heavens
A path of stars
Galicia; (see note)
flame; burned
to know what it meant
spoke
gentle tone
[I am]
John the Evangelist’s brother
Whom; preach
Because; ordered me slain; (see note)
call upon you
More than a seven-day journey
Because of this I am puzzled
(t-note)
That I dwell in
of both high and low rank
their
go; told you
have success
(t-note)
betokens
Galicia
(t-note)
came; (t-note)
Three times
valiant; fierce
army
pride
further
Pamplona; (see note)
began to attack
besieged, truly
But he could win nothing of
Despite
any entry
engines of war
many
Of such high nobility
prayed
prayer
As Thou
act against
company
(t-note)
baptized
same; (see note)
those; would not
ordered
went
(t-note)
(t-note)
region
Each
Who
go further
Coimbra; Lucena
Compostela
Toledo
Font de la Figuera; Salamanca
Madrid also
Calahorra; Estella
Segovia
Burgos; little
Nazaré
Carrión de los Condes
Oca
Ventosa; (t-note)
Cáparra, Astorga
Villena [formerly Ad Turres]
Portugal
Bornos; Zaragoza
Granada
Denia
Terragona; Valencia
Lerida, Guadix [formerly Acci]; Seville
Ureuña
A Guarda, Melide, Gibralter
Barbastro, San Vicente; Almería
(see note)
mentioned before
A disciple of Saint James is buried there
Who is called Saint Torquatus
(t-note)
(t-note)
feast
fruit; goodness; (t-note)
those who seek [the olives], truly
(see note)
conquered
Castile
Bagá
Navarre
eagerly
strong
twelve months; besieged
Despite; twelve peers; (see note)
(t-note)
When
By means of; that very device; (see note)
their
Deserted; after that
afterwards
Ever dared
then
quickly
continued
because of the smoke
poison
where
Are waters as red as hell’s river
discolored
whoever does not believe
One may see the truth
Whoever
Before he left that place
Grape vine branches; set out
month of March; delay
proper custom
in the morning they bore grapes
harvest
baskets
because
Still; call
end of the world; (see note)
Clovis
Clotaire
Dagobert; Pepin; (see note)
But
great skill
idols; (see note)
dear and beloved to the Saracens
(see note)
through; (t-note)
(t-note)
says; (see note)
idol; power
rock by the sea
glorious
shaped
lance in his hand
trickery
put many demons inside
I
support; idol; (t-note)
he held back
southward
their teachings; indeed
According to; (see note)
the king was born
christianize Spain
caused
castle
treasure; won
built
canons; their
Isidore [of Seville]; (see note)
serve
(see note)
limestone, made
expensive
Bordeaux
one; Toulouse; (see note)
more
months
befell; to
Who was prepared to die
(t-note)
was named
Before; died; last rites
One; called to him
you know it
I have
With them [may] I be
sell; at once; (see note)
[So that] poor clerks may sing psalms
[See] that it be arranged
softly
Just as
sold; delay
two
[the friend] kept it
end of thirty nights
executor
charitable gifts
established
because; withheld [my gifts]
been in pains
terribly strong
before
dead one
[the executor]
dream vision
gust of wind
many demons
[they] bore him up into the sky
Soldiers
But
From; they; their
Navarre; (t-note)
[They] found there
Where; fall
bore his soul to hell
harsh, sorrowful pains
Thus shall every executor
Bitterly pay for the dead man’s wealth
That he steals from the poor; (see note)
set aside; (t-note)
breadth
tells us; (see note)
of height
imposing appearance
hair; red
Wherever
(see note)
per year
head; bore
Easter; Whitsuntide; (see note)
[25 July]
Christmas; (see note)
feast
drawn sword
always
divinely chosen
powerful
was anxious about
[about him]
brave
lighted torch
drawn falchion
(see note)
came news
Entirely about
Nazaré
Large; ferocious
was called
From; sultan
challenge
blow of a sword
injured
twenty men’s strength
forty feet tall
This pagan had
Measured
fifteen feet across
longer than a foot
brows were like bristles
Anyone who saw it said
loathly
swarthy as pitch; (see note)
be afraid
came
For a battle with
saw him move
in every limb
ever since he was born
Anyone so terrifying
Ogier the Dane
exceedingly courteous
sent to [Vernagu] first
when he attacked
hurriedly
picked him up
Even though he was fully armed
place
was sorely ashamed
recalled what had happened there
felt himself foully disgraced
He treated him the same way
given that you
Have you no better knights then
As may Mahoun grant me peace
Against
Nantes
To fight with [him] together
carried
Never were they so angry
One under each arm
silent as any stone
engage
Then
fight
more
It would be his misfortune
Then asked permission to fight
Against
too large and fierce
[Roland]; pleaded
got his permission
himself
immediately
took him in his hand
bore him
neck
struck
then
fell to the ground
Christians saw
gift
leapt; their steeds
then they began to fight
(see note)
Caused him much harm
cut [Vernagu’s] horse in half
remedy
struck Roland’s steed on the head
fell down dead
both on foot
On foot
lost
sprang into action
gave; blows
nearly noon
continued fighting
became weary
quickly realized
sword stroke
Might he ever slay [Vernagu]
evening; (see note)
requested permission
cease fighting
gave him his promise
So long as he might bring
Prepared as he wishes; (see note)
agreed
their lodgings
Each
had given him
trunk of a young oak tree
give
many strokes he gave
[To]; wicked
threw stones at each other
Strong strokes for the occasion
struck so hard
helmet; shield
great buffets; (t-note)
were broken
moment
exhausted
could no longer fight
Of Roland he asked permission
To sleep there
gave him leave
sleep soundly at last
for a time
said that he would not
a city full of gold
Be ever caught
Having slain a sleeping knight
Even if
Given
Then
ready to sleep
snores
Like
While; asleep
went
largest
Too low in that state
stared in amazement
It could never be
Unless it were a noble knight
(t-note)
I’d like to know who
close and dear to me
Even if he were my foe
Truly; I
Because you snored so much
now that you love me; (t-note)
Why you are so hard
injure
Nor no
(see note)
This is why; to this place
white beard; (see note)
May your God help you
Augustine; (see note)
chosen
believe in
virtuous
believe in the devil
For which reason
lost
Heard mention
grace
From a virgin; born
redeem those who were lost
As the sun passes through glass; (see note); (t-note)
died upon the cross
the good of us all
not for His own guilt
death to life
on the third day
fetched out
more souls that were dear to Him
sits in Trinity
Such is our belief
then
cannot be so
I deny it
one
how it works
As
parts
wood and sound and strings
inheres in it
wholly one in unity
(see note)
sun
heat; brightness
understand that well
But how
who
I do not understand this
saved us
made all from nothing
courteous
To dwell in a virgin
involvement
without fail
astonishment
come from her
be born of her
virgin
cannot understand
My Lord Jesus’ Father
so powerful
sun and sea
(t-note)
before
blemish
But
have never known
arose
After he had died
God’s Son
could not die
Explain
died; cross; (t-note)
arose
Divinity awoke
traveled to hell
bound Satan; (see note)
tremble with fear of the doom
Upon the Day of Judgment
answer for our deeds
sinful
lives
I understand
in every way
understanding
ascended
explain
Listen to me now
same; who
alighted
Just as sun arose in the east
set
As you can see
Just so did
[He] arose
sits
understand
every part
Whichever; is better
We shall soon see
before
gave him a stroke
good staff
was forced to his knees
broke his staff suddenly; (see note)
Evenly in two
knelt down
uttered a prayer
I do not fight for land
preserve Your law
same
creature
came quickly
Your request was heard
shed the scoundrel’s blood
Even if all preachers alive
administer penance to him as a Christian; (see note)
He would never be good; (t-note)
message
started up straight
noble
continuously; (see note)
these; gave
any hesitation
(t-note)
So that
Fell severed on the ground
at once
when; lost
Such woe he felt
he fought hard, I say
head
through the helmet it bit; (t-note)
Had not the helmet
Withstood that stroke
would have been slain
quickly
If I could strike one more time
Your life is bought and sold
I’d rather that you pay
By God who wields all things
split; shield
So that half fell
by; attack
many
fatal wound
great on earth
avenged; (t-note)
On this Christian dog
laughed at that plea
(t-note)
Cannot help you
Nor Jupiter, nor Apollo
Neither; a swine’s bristle; (see note)
In heart or in thought
neck-covering chain mail
cut off his head
Then
honor
held a procession
cross and banner
sweetly sang; (see note)
those
just as eager
Soon word of this arrived; (see note); (t-note)
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