They’ll bury each in some old minster-close;1750
No wolf nor swine nor dog shall gnaw our bones.”
Answers Rollant: “Sir, very well you spoke.”
AOI.
CXXXIII
Rollant hath set the olifant to his mouth,
He grasps it well, and with great virtue sounds.
High are those peaks, afar it rings and loud,1755
Thirty great leagues they hear its echoes mount.
So Charlès heard, and all his comrades round;
Then said that King: “Battle they do, our counts!”
And Guenelun answered, contrarious:
“That were a lie, in any other mouth.”1760
AOI.
CXXXIV
The Count Rollanz, with sorrow and with pangs,
And with great pain sounded his olifant:
Out of his mouth the clear blood leaped and ran,
About his brain the very temples cracked.
Loud is its voice, that horn he holds in hand;1765
Charlès hath heard, where in the pass he stands,
And Neimès hears, and listen all the Franks.
Then says the King: “I hear his horn, Rollant’s;
He’ld never sound, but he were in combat.”
Answers him Guenes: “It is no battle, that.1770
Now are you old, blossoming white and blanched,
Yet by such words you still appear infant.
You know full well the great pride of Rollant;
Marvel it is, God stays so tolerant.
Noples he took, not waiting your command;1775
Thence issued forth the Sarrazins, a band
With vassalage had fought against Rollant;
He slew them first, with Durendal his brand,1777A
Then washed their blood with water from the land;
So what he’d done might not be seen of man.
He for a hare goes all day, horn in hand;1780
Before his peers in foolish jest he brags.
58
