Tammy’s Reviews > The Song of Roland > Status Update

154-156 His horse is killed right out from under him. In spite of that, he leaps to his feet and stands. He tells R he will fight as long as life is in him. He wants to impress Charlemagne that he spared noone. I’m scratching my head at the reference to St. Giles here (looked it up--nada). Roland is the last man standing -- it’s what I thought would happen. It had to! He fights in spite of grievous pain.

152-154 W is dying and R comes to him in haste, full of grief and anger. The three fight on, because W has enough in him to take down more pagans. This is like the Spartans at Thermopylae, grossly outnumbered and fighting to the death. Walter dies first, but he was dead man walking anyway. The archbishop’s helmet and shield split, His head is wounded and his hauberk and mail are pierced, too. Four spears stick him.

150-152 Roland weeps at the sight of his best friend, lying on the ground face down. He grieves to be alive. Then he swoons while in the saddle a second time. Swooning, is that a figurative death? He revives and three remain: R, the archbishop, and a guy named Walter Hum are left. W is grieved that all his men have been mowed down. He calls on R because his spear is shattered and his shield, split. He’s been pierced.

149-150 O’s eyes are covered in blood; he’s blind. His head wasn’t cut so it’s is from other parts of his body. R tells him how he’s loved him as a brother. O says he can’t see R but recognizes his voice. They bow to one another and part with great love (that of comrades in arms). O feels the pangs of death. O gets off his horse and kneels. He makes his confession, clasps his hands, and prays for rest in Paradise.

145-146 Why is Oliver’s back turned? Was this while speaking to his men? Also are Roland, Oliver, and Turpin the tripartite soul (body, mind, and hear)? Anyway, O is pierced from back to front. The pagan says that his death alone pays for all their loss. O has enough left in him to kill the pagan who got him! WOW! Then he tells the pagan he will never be able to go back home and brag. O cries out to R for help.

144-14 R looks at the Africans and says that death shall betide the French and Oliver adds that the devil should take them. The French respond and resume fighting. It sounds like the fighting comes in waves as the next batch shows up to fight when the previous batch dies. The pagans puff up with pride at the small numbers of French. The leader spurs on his sorrel colt. Then he gets Oliver in the back.

142-143 The pagans hesitate and wonder if they should flee. Then they see Marsile flee and they follow! I didn’t expect that. However, we know it’s false hope. His uncle leads African tribes, 50,000. They ride with the pagan battle cry. R fires up those who are left. They are going to kill us all so let’s make them pay dearly: 15 of them per one of us. When Charlemagne arrives, he will see their valor by body count.

142 Marsilion kills one French after another effortlessly. Roland curses him. I’m glad I’m reading this and not watching. I could not watch all the bloodshed. MA or X-rated for sure! The way they speak during battle reminds me of LotR. R kills a M’s son after his speech. The pagans call on Mohommed and their gods. They fear they will never get rid of the French. Well, y’all don’t belong in Spain. So, there’s that!

140-142 R knows he messed up and he shows grace to O. He calls him brother and vows to fight by his side unto the end. He returns to the fight and kills 24. His aim is now revenge. The archbishop commends him and says that, if a warrior can’t fight with ferocity, he should become a monk and pray. All are spurred to action, but losses are steep. They fight hard because no prisoners will be taken.

137-140 If I’m ever in a bar fight, I want the cooks on my side! They sound the trumpets and march with grief and anger in their eyes. All they want is to fight by Roland’s side, but they fear it will be too late. Charlemagne fears for R. Sixty men are left so this all happened quickly. R looks around and prays that his men will enter Paradise and have bright flowers on their grave. He calls them brave and true.