Held Halteclere, with blood its steel was red,
By virtue great to strike that pagan went,
Brandished his blade, the Sarrazin upset;
The Adversaries of God his soul bare thence.1510
Next he has slain the duke Alphaïen,
And sliced away Escababi his head,
And has unhorsed some seven Arabs else;
No good for those to go to war again.
Then said Rollanz: “My comrade shews anger,1515
So in my sight he makes me prize him well;
More dear by Charles for such blows are we held.”
Aloud he’s cried: “Strike on, the chevaliers!”
AOI.
CXVI
From the other part a pagan Valdabron.
Warden he’d been to king Marsilion,1520
And lord, by sea, of four hundred dromonds;
No sailor was but called his name upon;
Jerusalem he’d taken by treason,
Violated the Temple of Salomon,
The Partiarch had slain before the fonts.1525
He’d pledged his oath by county Guenelon,
Gave him his sword, a thousand coins thereon.
He sate his horse, which he called Gramimond,
Never so swift flew in the air falcon;
He’s pricked him well, with sharp spurs he had on,1530
Going to strike e’en that rich Duke, Sanson;
His shield has split, his hauberk has undone,
The ensign’s folds have through his body gone,
Dead from the hilt out of his seat he’s dropt:
“Pagans, strike on, for well we’ll overcome!”1535
“God!” say the Franks, “Grief for a brave baron!”
AOI.
CXVII
The count Rollanz, when Sansun dead he saw,
You may believe, great grief he had therefor.
50
