Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race

land L

the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope as the head of the Holy Catholic Church equally dominated the imagination of the medi?val world. Yet in romance Charlemagne's fame has

last of tha

abian ech

ng Charles

d brave, a

y paladi

esvalle

ot

e had taken Pampeluna, but had been checked before Saragossa, and had not ventured beyond the Ebro; he was now making his way home through the Pyrenees. When the main army had safely traversed the passes, the rear was suddenly attacked by an overwhelming body of m

rle

a Lan

storic

imple words in a contemporary chronicle, "In which battle

s numbers are as countless as the sands of the sea, its movement as resistless as the waves which roll those sands on the shore. Awe fills the bosoms of the mountain tribesmen, but their leader is undaunted. "Let us unite our strong arms!" he cries aloud. "Let us tear our rocks from their beds and hurl them upon the enemy! Let us cr

nish

and was in reality slain by Basques, not by Spaniards; but Spain, eager to share the honour, has glorified a na

alian

Orlando Furioso, Orlando Innamorato, has made him into a fa

French L

e find the rearguard skirmish magnified into a great battle, which manifestly contains recollections of later Saracen invasions and Gascon revolts. As befits the hero of an epic, Roland is now of royal blood, the nephew of the great emperor, who has himself increased in age and splendour; this heroic Roland can obviously only be overcome by the treachery of one of the Franks themselves, so there appears the traitor Ganelon (a Romance version of a certain Danil

anson d

rman poem, made by a certain Turoldus or Thorold; and it must bear a close resembl

r, the no

horse swift

re the No

word in air

d the death

rs who peri

ass of R

n de

ent of European thought, and the hero is doubly worth our study

St

sea, except Saragossa, which, among its lofty mountains, and ruled by its brave king Marsile, had defied his power. Marsile still h

racen

he reclined on a seat of blue marble in the shade o

h he, 'you know o

es, great lord o

hosts in ruin

ve I to resi

ve I to dest

, what counse

and realm from d

ndrin'

he only man who replied. He was wise in couns

iege,' he answer

harles the prou

ealty and s

ons, bears, and

amels, falcons,

ifty chariot

ugh to pay hi

f will take the

im to Aix to

ds thy host

ellows give ou

es to France, as

ollow him, thou

d, and so our

th than life i

r bright Spain

pagans all; b

d yet at last

sy to Ch

My lords, go to Cordova, where Charles is at this time. Bear olive-branches in your hands, in token of peace, and reconcile me with him. Great shall be your reward i

ndrin, "you shall h

n white mules, with reins of gold and saddles of silver, and came to Charles

n by Cha

wandered over groups of wise nobles playing at chess, and groups of gay youths fencing, till at last it rested on a throne of solid gold, set under a pine-tree and overshadowed with eglantine. Ther

s Charles

agne with all honour, and Blanc

lvation, and is willing to be baptized; but you have been too long in our bright Spain, and should return to Aix. There will he follow you and become

Perp

for he was a man of prudent mind, cautious and far-seeing, and never spoke on impulse. At last he

wn son will be among them. King Marsile will follow you to the wondrous springs of

asted in a pavilion raised in the orchard, and

ts his Tw

uncil. There came the twelve heroes, chief of them Roland and his loyal brother-in-arms Oliver; there came Archbishop Turp

reat gifts and offers, but on condition that I leave Spain and return to Aix. Thither will

re," cried a

nd S

cities have I won for you, but Marsile has ever been treacherous. Once before when he sent messengers with olive-branches you and the French foolishly believed him,

on Ob

ache and pulled his long white beard, but said nothing, and all the Franks remai

ecome your vassal, to hold Spain at your hand and to take your faith, any man who urges you to reject suc

f wisely followed. Marsile lies at your mercy; he has lost all, and only begs for pity. It would be a sin to press this cru

assembly, and a murmur was hea

l Go to S

d peers, whom

ossa to

go,' replied

glove and wa

the king, 'm

not leave m

ain; I bid

d peers, whom

ossa to

go,' quoth

thou not,'

s far too ho

thee. But

please my l

he king, 'ye

this white

ll undertak

peers, whom s

Turpin rose

, let me b

ll have playe

glove and w

show this h

ch how a true

ully the k

e beard, thou

raise thy vo

Suggest

e now one of your number to do my errand to Marsi

lon, my stepfather; for whether he goes

y cried: "Ganelon will acquit himself right manfull

oned to Ganelon. "Come hither, Ganelon," he said, "and receive thi

on is

d, and I will never forgive him, nor his friends, Oliver and

aid Charlemagne; "you will g

that your sister is my wife, and that Baldwin, my son, will be a valiant champion if he li

said Charlemagne. "You must

eatens

ound the council, and his face drew al

, and for this cause thou hast sent me to Marsile, that I

r me; but this embassy demands a prudent man not an angry

nd Charles, my lord, has given me his commands. I go to S

Ganelon to madness. "I hate you," he cried to Roland; "you have brought this unjust choice

is

his fief; the other half is for Count Roland. If Marsile does not accept these terms I will besiege Saragossa, capture the town, and lead Marsile

w, sire, dismiss me, for I have no time to lose." Very solemnly Charlemagne raised his hand and made the sign of the Cross over Ganelon, and gave him his blessing, saying, "Go, for the honour of Jesus Christ, and for your Emperor." So Ganelon took his leave, and returned to his lodging, where he prepared f

th Marsile'

had delayed their journey to accompany him, and the two envoys began a crafty conversation, for

wondrous ki

wide his con

ea is no b

to far Eng

s his unque

s he to win

s will,' qu

thstand his

t are the Fr

counsel wron

to this long

oth themsel

t them,' qu

swollen wit

onne he brou

imson streak

quoth he, "he

rowns of al

ead we shoul

ty must thi

ld conquer a

eserves due

rs has he f

of France,'

warriors 'n

lone they

gifts which

conquest of

on rod

tray

ainst the nephew of Charles? Wouldst thou have revenge on Roland? Deliver him to us, and King Marsile will share with thee all his treasures." Ganelon was at first horrified, and refused to hear more, but

with the

the Saracen king, and announced Charlemagne's peaceable reception of their m

ive the Holy Christian Faith, and Charles will graciously grant you one-half of Spain as a fief; the other half he intends for his nephew Roland

le's

prang to his feet, and would have slain Ganelon with his gold-ad

fair and br

orth and vi

can wiel

Emperor s

ie alone

Spain's n

hed to pay

racen

but, setting his back against a pine-tree, he prepared to defend himself to the last. Again the quarrel was stayed, and Marsile, taking his most trusted leaders, withdrew to a secret council, whither, soon, Blancandrin led Ganelon. Here Marsile excused his former rage, and, in reparation, offered Ganelon a superb robe of marten's fur, which was accepted; and then began the tempting of the traitor. First demanding a pledge of secrecy, Marsile pitied Charlemagne,

Plans

will you ov

folly, turn

peror so mu

anks will b

o, the promi

your noble

will Charles

s I will c

land in th

e bold and

him: slay t

rles will fa

anelon,' qu

entrap Cou

harles is in

ve behind h

iver and

t them half

the Peers w

ied with th

n your untir

lose this se

land dies,

hand for hi

the Frankis

n can Char

hty host f

have peace he

ed by

tween them, by Marsile on the book of the Law of Mahomet, by Ganelon on the sacred relics in the pommel of his sword. Then, repeating the compact between

Returns

sing the absence of the caliph. He had, so Marsile said, put to sea with three hundred thousand warriors who would not renounce their faith, and all had been drowned in a tempest, no

Camp. Cha

but the whole Saracen host had also marched and encamped in a wood not far from the Franks. Meanwhile, as Charlemagne slept he had dreams of evil omen. Ganelon, in his dreams, seized the imperial spear of tough ash-wood, and broke

ning

to march, the clarions of the host sounded gail

eers, ye see the

m the rearguard

land,' straigh

eers there is n

ie the safety

wrath, and spok

rage has prompt

go before me

rried not, but

ne will do th

man nor horse through my neglect." But when Ganelon replied sneeringly, "You speak the truth, as I know right well," Roland's gratitude turned to bitter anger, and he reproached the villain. "Ah, wretch! disloyal traitor! thou think

or the R

d hung round his neck his flower-painted shield; he mounted his good steed Veillantif, and took in hand his bright lance with the white pennon and golden fringe; then, looking like the Archangel St. Michael, he rode forward, and easy it was to see how all the Franks loved him and would follow where he led. Beside him rode the famous Peers of France, Oliver the bold and courteous, the saintly Archbis

dark masses of rocks, and to emerge on the other side of the Pyrenees. All wept, most for joy to set eyes on that dear land of fair France,

les

sire?" asked the wise Duke Naim

ent Roland to the rear. And now I have left Roland in a foreign land, and, O God! if I lose him I shall n

racen

they halted before the strife began, one by one the nobles of Saragossa, the champions of the Moors, advanced and claimed the right to measure themselves against the T

l bring the Emperor to your feet! You shall sleep at St. Denis! Down with fair France!" Such were th

r to Roland, "methinks we shal

for his lord grief and pain, heat and cold, torment and death; and a knight's duty is to strike mig

scries th

a gleaming sea, with shining hauberks and helms flashing in the sun. "Alas! we are betrayed! This treason is plotted

nd he was appalled by the countless multitudes of the hea

ll not Bl

land, sound

Olifant, fa

hear it and

ere that,' q

ce my fame we

agans all s

andish Du

land, sound

hear it and

it,' Rolan

er be sung

ing help

g against t

er do such

smen and

eathen all

andish Du

land, sound

hear it and

ntless are

l our Franki

it,' answe

ir France be

or by my

ose, but not

as well as valour, and his advice was that of a g

s To

and we should not perish! Now look to the heights and to the mountain passe

"Friend and comrade, say no more. The emperor has entrusted to us twenty thousand Frenchmen, and not a coward among them. La

lesses t

ing his horse, he rode, a gallant figure, to the summit o

barons, Charles

or at need t

ome the foes

ight for God

ft, and make your

you and will

e as martyrs,

t the flowers

rpin, who blessed and absolved them all, bidding t

brother, I know now that Ganelon has betrayed us for reward and Marsile has bought us;

ie! Mon

les cannot help us; he is not to blame. Barons and lords, ride on and yield not. In God's name fight and slay, and remember the war-cry of our

e

s of arms. Roland himself slew the nephew of King Marsile, who had promised to bring Roland's head to his uncle's feet, and bitter were the words that Roland hurled at the lifeless body of his foe, who had but just before boasted that Charlemagne should lose his right hand. Oliver slew the heathen king's brother, and one by one the Twelve Peers prove

and, red wit

elet, red hi

, and red h

battle; and as he went he met Oliver, wi

hast thou there

me 'tis not

of steel t

Hauteclaire,

ed, crystal

id Oliver;

not time t

th Roland, 'm

orth than a

racens

their gay banners and pennons, and many, many of their brave comrades lay lifeless. Sadly they looked round on the heaps of corpses, and their minds were filled with grief as they thought of their companions, of fair France which they should see no more, and of their emperor who even now awaited them while they fought

d Sarac

caped had urged Marsile to attack again at once, while the Franks were still weary. The advice seemed good to Marsile, and he advanced at the head of a hundred thou

f the Lord,'

liant and

shall crown

flowers of

e of God o

dismayed n

u be shame

the tongue

t us die

ve shall see

no room f

nobly fight

sit ami

ssed field

ends of God,

st the small handful of French, who knew they were

y Por

to Cologne, from Besan?on to Wissant, not one town could show its walls uninjured, not one village its houses unshaken. A terrible darkness spread over all the land, only broken when the heavens split

nch Knig

of that Saracen who swore brotherhood to Ganelon; next Samson, and the noble Duke Anseis. These three were well avenged by Roland and Oliver and Turpin. Then in quick succession died Gerin and Gerier and o

nd Army

ome and succour them; but now of the victorious French there were but sixty vali

rd Ap

dauntless little band, and in the short breathing-space before

and Comrade, s

riors, lyin

n for our f

t widowed o

ing, why art

e, how shal

dings of ou

not,' said

h than vile

ling to Bl

I will blow

l hear it i

with all

h: ''Twere

men all thei

it, then yo

d your horn

r will app

jects. Th

battle goes

hall sound m

eplied:

it, then yo

nce again s

never wed

rd of mine

tter and so

rned: ''Tis

not kin

knows nau

led these no

in the Emper

bed us of ou

lour, Count

lose his do

ague with m

ay in bitte

n Med

e gallant dead, but it will be better to sound it, that Charles, our lord and emperor, may return, may avenge our death and weep over our corpses, ma

orn i

so loudly that the sound echoed thirty leagues away. "Hark! our men are in combat!" crie

oland's horn; he would not sound it were there no battle." But Ganelon said mockingly: "There is no battle, for Roland is too proud to sound his horn in danger. Besides, who would dare to attack Roland, the strong, the va

gne heard

the sound! There is death in that feeble blast!" said the emperor; and Duke Naimes interrupted eagerly: "Sire, Roland is in peril; som

on Ar

nd the kitchen folk seized the felon knight, chained him by the neck, and beat him; then, binding him hand and

es Re

faces to Spain, and saying: "Ah, if we could find Roland alive wha

ift the rushing torrents! Yet with headlong speed the Frankish army hastens back, with trumpets sounding in token of app

eps for h

ey, and saw his noble vassals and comrades lie d

may God have mer

eive you i

st on banks of h

nown such migh

t art the best o

widowed of th

e, dear comrade

h me no help n

n His keeping!

the heathen

slay me! Death

ts Desp

e deer. Turpin saw and applauded. "So should a good knight do, wearing good armour and riding a good steed. He must deal good st

Saragossa, while his main host, seized with panic, left the field to Roland. However, the caliph, Marsile's uncle, rallied the ranks, and,

ife or death! Sell yourselves dearly! Let not fair France be dishonoured in her sons.

er F

my, doing heroic deeds and shouting "Montjoie! Montjoie!" while the blood ran from his wound and stained the earth blood-red. At this woeful sight Roland swooned with grief, and Oliver, faint from loss of blood, and with eyes dimmed by fast-coming death, distinguished not the face of his de

rother, was tha

oland, him who

geance you woul

r you speak, b

eep you, friend

uck, unwitting

rt,' said Rol

the judgment-t

d

rlemagne and the fair land of France, and to keep above all men his comrade Roland, his best-loved brother-in-arms. This ended, he fell back, his heart failed, his head drooped low, and Oliver the brave and courteous knight lay dead on the blo

ally Wounded.

he first discharge of arrows which the Saracens shot. Taught by experience, the pagans kept their distance, and wounded Turpin with four lances, while they stood some yards away from the heroes. But when Turpin felt himself mortally wounded he

Answers

embled. "It is Charlemagne! Charles is coming!" they cried. "If Roland lives till he comes the war will begin again, and our bright Spain is lost." Thereupon four hundred banded together to slay Roland; but he rushed upon them, mounted on his good steed Veillantif, and the valiant pagans fled. But while Roland dismounted to te

Blesses

ore his own tunic to bind up his grievous wounds, and then gently raising the pre

rd,' said Rolan

our comrades

rly loved; the

will bring th

less them, and m

dying priest, '

victory is yo

d and brother, and Turpin blessed and absolved them all. Now Roland's grief was so deep and his weakness so great that he swooned where he stood, and the archbishop saw him fall and heard his cry of pain. Slowly and painfull

D

onfession, painfully he joined his hands in prayer, and as he prayed his spirit fled. Turpin, the faithful cham

nd, seeing Olifant, he guessed what the archbishop's aim had been, and wept

riest, fair lor

e to the great

hampion has H

eater to main

ightier to c

Apostles walked

oul escape the

eceive thee in

's Las

pain. There under two pine-trees he found four marble steps, and as he was about to climb them, fell swooning on the grass very near his end. A lurking Saracen, who had feigned death, stole from his covert, and, calling aloud, "Charles's nephew is vanquished! I will bear h

to Break

he weapon of a lesser man. Again Roland smote with Durendala, and clove the block of sardonyx, but the good steel only grated and did not break, and the hero bewailed himself aloud, saying, "Alas! my good Durendala, how bright and pure thou art! How thou flamest in the sunbeams, as when the angel brought thee! How many lands hast thou co

ast P

me that he died victorious. He made his confession, prayed for mercy, and offered to Heaven his glove, in token of submission for all his sins. "Mea culpa! O God! I pray for pardon for all my

her, who did

. Lazarus from

Daniel from t

oul and keep i

merited by a

D

with head bowed and hands clasped, the hero died, and the waiting cheru

d and the Pee

es Ar

ame galloping out of the mountains into the valley of Roncesval

art thou? Where is the archbishop? A

t terrible battle which he fought the next day against the Emir of Babylon, come from oversea to help his vassal Marsile, when the sun stood still in heaven that the Christians might be avenged on their enemies; in the capture of Saragossa and the death of Mars

ll, there found the little flowery meadow stained red with the blood of his barons, and there at the summit, under the trees, lay the body of Roland on the green

La

e mercy, Rolan

hall our fair

rthy, till Fra

e mercy, Rolan

st rest in flo

lorious Saints

w will lesse

nt in grief fo

er will vanish

nsman, to mai

e mercy, Rolan

place in Para

outh, thou mig

s our fair Fran

ealms that I h

taken from

e that fain w

valiant Peer

my weary limbs w

ead B

pt the bodies of Roland, Oliver, and Turpin, which were carried to Blaye, an

the

maiden met him, Aude the Fair, the sister of Olive

hty captain, who swore t

the

lyn

ng his long white beard, "thou askest tidings of the dead. But I wi

id that I should live when Roland my love is dead." Thereupon she lost her colour and fell

tor Put

r. Suffice it that he was torn asunder by wild horses, and his

TNO

egends of the Middle

ked out

otations are from th