And all their hearts in silken veils to wind, And set them in coffers of marble white;After, they take the bodies of those knights, Each of the three is wrapped in a deer's hide;They're washen well in allspice and in wine.
The King commands Tedbalt and Gebuin, Marquis Otun, Milun the count besides:
Along the road in three wagons to drive.
They're covered well with carpets Galazine.
AOI.
CCXIV
Now to be off would that Emperour Charles, When pagans, lo! comes surging the vanguard;Two messengers come from their ranks forward, From the admiral bring challenge to combat:
"'Tis not yet time, proud King, that thou de-part.
Lo, Baligant comes cantering afterward, Great are the hosts he leads from Arab parts;This day we'll see if thou hast vassalage."Charles the King his snowy beard has clasped, Remembering his sorrow and damage, Haughtily then his people all regards, In a loud voice he cries with all his heart:
"Barons and Franks, to horse, I say, to arms!"AOI.
CCXC
First before all was armed that Emperour, Nimbly enough his iron sark indued, Laced up his helm, girt on his sword Joiuse, Outshone the sun that dazzling light it threw, Hung from his neck a shield, was of Girunde, And took his spear, was fashioned at Blandune.
On his good horse then mounted, Tencendur, Which he had won at th'ford below Marsune When he flung dead Malpalin of Nerbune, Let go the reins, spurred him with either foot;Five score thousand behind him as he flew, Calling on God and the Apostle of Roum.
AOI.
CCXVI
Through all the field dismount the Frankish men, Five-score thousand and more, they arm themselves;The gear they have enhances much their strength, Their horses swift, their arms are fashioned well;Mounted they are, and fight with great science.
Find they that host, battle they'll render them.
Their gonfalons flutter above their helms.
When Charles sees the fair aspect of them, He calls to him Jozeran of Provence, Naimon the Duke, with Antelme of Maience:
"In such vassals should man have confidence, Whom not to trust were surely want of sense;Unless the Arabs of coming here repent, Then Rollant's life, I think, we'll dearly sell."Answers Duke Neimes: "God grant us his consent!"AOI.
CCXVII
Charles hath called Rabel and Guineman;
Thus said the King: "My lords, you I command To take their place, Olivier and Rollant, One bear the sword and the other the olifant;So canter forth ahead, before the van, And in your train take fifteen thousand Franks, Young bachelors, that are most valiant.
As many more shall after them advance, Whom Gebuins shall lead, also Lorains."Naimes the Duke and the count Jozerans Go to adjust these columns in their ranks.
Find they that host, they'll make a grand attack.
AOI.
CCXVIII
Of Franks the first columns made ready there, After those two a third they next prepare;In it are set the vassals of Baiviere, Some thousand score high-prized chevaliers;Never was lost the battle, where they were:
Charles for no race neath heaven hath more care, Save those of France, who realms for him conquered.
The Danish chief, the warrior count Oger, Shall lead that troop, for haughty is their air.
AOI.
CCXIX
Three columns now, he has, the Emperour Charles.
Naimes the Duke a fourth next sets apart Of good barons, endowed with vassalage;Germans they are, come from the German March, A thousand score, as all said afterward;They're well equipped with horses and with arms, Rather they'll die than from the battle pass;They shall be led by Hermans, Duke of Trace, Who'll die before he's any way coward.
AOI.
CCXX
Naimes the Duke and the count Jozerans The fifth column have mustered, of Normans, A thousand score, or so say all the Franks;Well armed are they, their horses charge and prance;Rather they'ld die, than eer be recreant;No race neath heav'n can more in th'field compass.
Richard the old, lead them in th'field he shall, He'll strike hard there with his good trenchant lance.
AOI.
CCXXI
The sixth column is mustered of Bretons;
Thirty thousand chevaliers therein come;
These canter in the manner of barons, Upright their spears, their ensigns fastened on.
The overlord of them is named Oedon, Who doth command the county Nevelon, Tedbald of Reims and the marquis Oton:
"Lead ye my men, by my commission."
AOI.
CCXXII
That Emperour hath now six columns yare Naimes the Duke the seventh next prepares Of Peitevins and barons from Alverne;Forty thousand chevaliers might be there;Their horses good, their arms are all most fair.
They're neath a cliff, in a vale by themselves;With his right hand King Charles hath them blessed, Them Jozerans shall lead, also Godselmes.
AOI.
CCXXIII
And the eighth column hath Naimes made ready;Tis of Flamengs, and barons out of Frise;Forty thousand and more good knights are these, Nor lost by them has any battle been.
And the King says: "These shall do my service."Between Rembalt and Hamon of Galice Shall they be led, for all their chivalry.
AOI.
CCXXIV
Between Naimon and Jozeran the count Are prudent men for the ninth column found, Of Lotherengs and those out of Borgoune;Fifty thousand good knights they are, by count;In helmets laced and sarks of iron brown, Strong are their spears, short are the shafts cut down;If the Arrabits demur not, but come out And trust themselves to these, they'll strike them down.
Tierris the Duke shall lead them, of Argoune.
AOI.
CCXXV
The tenth column is of barons of France, Five score thousand of our best capitans;Lusty of limb, and proud of countenance, Snowy their heads are, and their beards are blanched, In doubled sarks, and in hauberks they're clad, Girt on their sides Frankish and Spanish brands And noble shields of divers cognisance.
Soon as they mount, the battle they demand, "Monjoie" they cry. With them goes Charlemagne.
Gefreid d'Anjou carries that oriflamme;
Saint Peter's twas, and bare the name Roman, But on that day Monjoie, by change, it gat.
AOI.
CCXXVI
That Emperour down from his horse descends;To the green grass, kneeling, his face he bends.
