La Chanson de Roland, CCL–CCLX

King Canabeus, the Emir's brother, spurs His courser on; his crystal-hilted sword Unsheathes, and deals Naimes' princely helm a blow Which splits the crest in twain; the trenchant blade Severs the five strong bands which to his head Fast bound it; now not worth a denier was The steel-mailed hood; down to the flesh the casque Sheer cleft—a fragment falls upon the earth. The blow was great; the Duke, astounded, reeled, And would have fallen but for God's help. He clasps His courser's neck, and should the Pagan deal Another stroke, the noble Duke has breathed His last; but to his help comes Carle of France. Aoi.

In the Duke Naimes' brave heart what agony! Once more the Pagan raised his arm to strike, But now King Carle cries:—"Coward, wretch! This blow Brings thee ill luck!"—And valiantly the King Rushed on, crushed 'gainst his heart the buckler, rent The hauberk's top; dead-struck the heathen King Falls on the ground ... empty the saddle rests. Aoi.

Deep grief the Emperor felt when there he saw Duke Naimes sore-wounded and the verdant grass Streamed o'er by his clear blood, and thereupon This counsel spoke:—"Fair Naimes, ride close by me; The wretch who brought you to this cruel fight Has breathed his last, his body by my lance Transfixed."—The Duke:—"In you my trust, O sire! If e'er I live, with knightly service shall My arm requite this deed!"—Then side by side In faith and love, with twenty thousand knights They march. And none of these or flinch or yield. Aoi.

The Emir rides across the field, in haste To deal a blow against Count Guineman. Athwart his heart he breaks the buckler white And tears the hauberk's sides apart, disjoints Two ribs and hurls him from his courser, dead; Then takes the life of Gebain and Lorant, And of Richard the old, a Norman Lord. The Pagans cry: "Precieuse deserves its name! Barons! strike on, Precieuse will save us all!" Aoi.

A noble sight, those knights of Araby, Of Occiant, of Argoille and of Bascle! Spears intermix, death to repel or give. Nathless the French recoil not from the strife. On either side they fall heaped high. Till eve The storm of battle raged. Meanwhile the knights Of France upon that day bore rueful loss; Nor stayed the carnage till the day was done.

French and Arabian warriors emulate In valor each the other. Ashen shafts Break from their brazen heads. Whoso then saw Those shields defaced, who heard those hauberks white Resound with blows, this dinning clash of shields 'Gainst helmets grinding, saw those knights and men Fall and with dying shrieks roll on the earth, Of greatest anguish could the memory keep; So fierce this battle raged. The Emir calls Upon Apollo, Tervagan, upon Mahum: "Till now I served you well, O Gods! And I will have an image made for each, Molten of purest gold [if ye but help]!" Before him then his favorite Gemalfin Appears. He brings ill news. "Sire Baligant This day brings you mishap; Malprime, your son Has fall'n! Your brother Canabeus is dead. Two Franks the glory have of their defeat, One, Carle the Emperor, I deem, so vast His fame, his air as Marchis grand, his beard As white as April blossom!" At these words The Emir's helm declines, his visage sinks Low on his breast. Such is his grief, he thinks Death nears him. Calling Jangleu d'ultremer, Aoi.

The Emir said:—"Jangleu, step forth; most wise Art thou, thy knowledge great; thy counsel e'er I followed; what the chance of victory For Franks or Arabs deemest thou?" Jangleu Responds:—"Death, Baligant, hangs o'er your head. Ne'ermore your gods can save you; Carle is proud, And valiant are his men. Ne'er lived a race So strong in battle; yet call up your knights Of Occiant, Enfruns and Arabs, Turks And Giants. Do your duty with all speed." Aoi.

The Emir spreads out to the breeze his beard As hawthorn blossom white; betide what may, Escape he will not seek, puts to his lips A trumpet clear, whose blast the Pagans hark, And fast their cohorts rally on the field. They bray and neigh, the men of Occiant, While those of Arguile yelp as curs, and charge The Franks so rashly, they mow down and break Their thickest ranks, and by this blow Throw seven thousand dead upon the field. Aoi.

To Count Ogier is dastardy unknown; No better vassal buckled hauberk on. When the French legions broken thus he saw, He called Tierri Duke of Argonne, Geffrei D'Anjou and Jozeran the Count, and spoke These haughty words to Carle:—"Behold our men By Pagans slaughtered! May God ne'er permit Your brow to wear its crown if unrevenged Your shame remains!" None dared reply a word, But spurring hard their steeds, with loosened reins They rush in fury 'gainst the Pagan ranks And strike the foes where'er they can be met. Aoi.

Hard strikes Carlemagne the king, hard strikes Duke Naimes, Ogier de Dannemark, Geffrei d'Anjou, Who bears the royal pennon. But o'er all Ogier de Dannemark puts forth his might; He pricks his courser, drops the rein and falls Upon the Pagan who the Dragon holds, So fiercely, that both Dragon and the King's Own flag is crushed before him on the spot. When Baligant beholds his gonfalon fall And Mahum's flag defenseless, in his heart Springs quick the thought, wrong may be on his side And right on Carle's. The Pagans [waver now]. The Emperor Carle around him calls his (Franks): "Barons, in God's name, do you stand by me?" Respond the French:—"To ask is an offense. Accurst be he who deals not glorious strokes!" Aoi.

The day wears on and vesper draweth nigh. Christians and Pagans, sword in hand, engage; And valiant are their chiefs, nor mindless they Of battle cries:—"Precieuse!" the Emir shouts, And Carle:—"Montjoie!" the glorious sign. Each knows The other by the clear sonorous voice, And 'mid the field encountering, gives and takes Fierce blows. Each massy shield receives the shock, And each beneath the boss is cloven in twain By the strong lance; each hauberk's sides are rent, But the keen steel in neither reached the flesh; The horse-girths burst and let the saddles fall. Dropped to the earth both kings, both to their feet Quick springing, dauntlessly unsheathed their swords. And now the mortal combat will not cease Till Carle or Baligant has fallen in death. Aoi.