The Song of Roland. Anonymous

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СКАЧАТЬ my floating beard by the free wind fanned,

      Ye shall see the host of the Franks disband

      And hie them back into France their land;

      Each to his home as beseemeth well, And

      Karl unto Aix—to his own Chapelle.

      He will hold high feast on Saint Michael's day

      And the time of your tryst shall pass away.

      Tale nor tidings of us shall be;

      Fiery and sudden, I know, is he:

      He will smite off the heads of our hostages all:

      Better, I say, that their heads should fall

      Than we the fair land of Spain forego,

      And our lives be laden with shame and woe."

      "Yea," said the heathens, "it may be so."

      V

      King Marsil's council is over that day,

      And he called to him Clarin of Balaguet,

      Estramarin, and Eudropin his peer,

      Bade Garlon and Priamon both draw near,

      Machiner and his uncle Maheu—with these

      Joïmer and Malbien from overseas,

      Blancandrin for spokesman,—of all his men

      He hath summoned there the most felon ten.

      "Go ye to Carlemaine," spake their liege,—

      "At Cordres city he sits in siege,—

      While olive branches in hand ye press,

      Token of peace and of lowliness.

      Win him to make fair treaty with me,

      Silver and gold shall your guerdon be,

      Land and lordship in ample fee."

      "Nay," said the heathens, "enough have we."

      VI

      So did King Marsil his council end.

      "Lords," he said, "on my errand wend;

      While olive branches in hand ye bring,

      Say from me unto Karl the king,

      For sake of his God let him pity show;

      And ere ever a month shall come and go,

      With a thousand faithful of my race,

      I will follow swiftly upon his trace,

      Freely receive his Christian law,

      And his liegemen be in love and awe.

      Hostages asks he? it shall be done."

      Blancandrin answered, "Your peace is won."

      VII

      Then King Marsil bade be dight

      Ten fair mules of snowy white,

      Erst from the King of Sicily brought

      Their trappings with silver and gold inwrought

      Gold the bridle, and silver the selle.

      On these are the messengers mounted well;

      And they ride with olive boughs in hand,

      To seek the Lord of the Frankish land.

      Well let him watch; he shall be trepanned.

      At Cordres. Carlemaine's Council

      VIII

      King Karl is jocund and gay of mood,

      He hath Cordres city at last subdued;

      Its shattered walls and turrets fell

      By Catapult and mangonel;

      Not a heathen did there remain

      But confessed him Christian or else was slain.

      The Emperor sits in an orchard wide,

      Roland and Olivier by his side:

      Samson the duke, and Anseis proud;

      Geoffrey of Anjou, whose arm was vowed

      The royal gonfalon to rear;

      Gerein, and his fellow in arms, Gerier;

      With them many a gallant lance,

      Full fifteen thousand of gentle France.

      The cavaliers sit upon carpets white,

      Playing at tables for their delight:

      The older and sager sit at the chess,

      The bachelors fence with a light address.

      Seated underneath a pine,

      Close beside an eglantine,

      Upon a throne of beaten gold,

      The lord of ample France behold;

      White his hair and beard were seen,

      Fair of body, and proud of mien,

      Who sought him needed not ask, I ween

      The ten alight before his feet,

      And him in all observance greet.

      IX

      Blancandrin first his errand gave,

      And he said to the king, "May God you save,

      The God of glory, to whom you bend!

      Marsil, our king, doth his greeting send.

      Much hath he mused on the law of grace.

      Much of his wealth at your feet will place—

      Bears and lions, and dogs of chase,

      Seven hundred camels that bend the knee,

      A thousand hawks СКАЧАТЬ