Status Updates From El cantar de Roldán

THESE men are funny as hell yes keep kissing each other. that’s chivalry. that’s honor.

CCXCII “With succor to King Vivien of Imphè shalt thou ride.
The city that the Paynims have besieged on every side,
Where the Christians call upon thee.” Little the King was fain.
“Ah God my life is weary,” said the Emperor Charlemagne.
He plucked the white beard hard. The tears down from his eyes they sprang,
And so the great song endeth of the deeds that Therould sang.

CCXVI “Proud King, it is not right nor meet that thou shouldst now go back. Behold the Emir Baligant, that rideth on thy track.
And mighty is that army that he leads from Araby.
This day shall we discover if there be strength in thee.”
King Charlemagne plucked at his beard. On the strange overthrow
He thought, that came upon him in the fight at Roncevaux.

CLII He gave his benediction to Charles and France the fair,
And to his comrade Roland over all the sons of men.
But his heart failed within him and his head he lowered then.
And therewith all his body along the ground it spread.
It was no skill to tarry. Count Olivier was dead.
Roland beheld and wept aloud, lamenting in his woe.
Never ye saw upon the earth a man that sorrowed so.

CXXIX In letters and in parchments is the matter written well.
The song saith more than thousands four of Saracens there fell.
Through four attacks the Franks bore up, but heaviness and pain
In the fifth fray overtook them. All the French knights were slain.
Of the host no more than sixty whom God hath spared are by;
But dearly will they sell their lives before they come to die.

XCIV Concerning our good Frenchmen he spake evil on his way:
“What ho, ye Frankish villains, ye shall joust with us this day.
And he who should have saved you has betrayed you to your fate.
A fool is the King Charlemagne that left you at the gate.
Away from the sweet realm of France her glory shall be ta’en.
And, moreover, from his body the right arm of Charlemagne.”

XLVI. “Who bringeth to pass that Roland in battle shall be slain,
The right arm of his body shall tear from Charlemagne.
Quiet shall be forever the marvellous hosts of war,
And he will never gather such mighty armies more.
The Greater Land, moreover, in peace and rest shall be.”
When Marsile heard, upon the neck he kissed him eagerly,
And forthwith unto Ganelon let ope his treasury.

CXXV

introduction over; it begins …