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

195-196 The queen says that the gods have abandoned them and allowed the French to destroy so many men. Roland maimed her husband. One envoy tells her to bridle her tongue. He explains their mission, the ships on the Erbo, and the emir’s vow to make Charlemagne pay. She says, “As far as France? Fie!” She warns them how fierce Charlemagne is and how he is not afraid of any man.

194-195 The pair mounts their horses and ride to Sargossa. They pass through gates and bridges and see the palace on the hill. The pagans are wailing because they “lost” their gods. Well, that’s on them. They smashed their idols. They are sad that their king has lost his right hand and his son. The envoys arrive and two Saracens hold the reins of their horses. They invoke the gods; the queen scoffs.

191-192 Ahhhh! Another reminder of LotR. A fleet of ships comes up the river, unbeknownst to the good guys. They are bound for Sargasso. The emir arrives with seventeen kings and a slew of dukes and kings. On a snow white cloth beneath the laurel tree they place a throne of ivory for the emir. He sits and announces that he plans to put an end to Charlemagne and he slaps his thigh with his right glove.

189-191 Marsilion was so frustrated that, in the letter, he said he would renounce his faith and become a Christian. The long distance is what caused the delay. Before long, a fleet sat in Alexandria, and in May, the ships set sail for Spain. The force is so vast that, with lanterns lit, the night is bright and gay. Marsilion gets word that help is on the way. They find the Ebro and head up river.

188-189 I see where this is going. The queen tears out her hair and says that their emir is a coward if he doesn’t go out and avenge what has happened to Saragossa. If the French greybeard can do this, then she expects the same from their emir. Seven years ago, Charlemagne began the Spanish campaign. Marsilion sent a request for help from the emir in Babylon who outlived Homer and Virgil (literally?)

187-188 The gore is NOT over as the dream portends. Twenty thousand of his men curse France and Charlemagne as well as Apollo at his grotto. There must be an altar because they grab the crown and scepter and thrash his image with cudgels. They throw Mahommed to the ground to be chewed by pigs and dogs. They do the same for the third of their vile trinity. Marsilion recovers and his men take him to his bed chamber.

186-187 The bears beg for him to give them their kinsman. A greyhound races toward the biggest bear and attacks it. They fight with ferocity and it is hard to tell who will win. The emperor does not wake up and sleeps until morning. I had forgotten about Marsilion who has fled to Saragossa. The coward escaped but Charlemagne doesn’t know it. He may be in charge but he has lost his right hand. He and the queen swoons.

185-186 The people cry out to Charlemagne. He grieves for his people and then a huge lion leaps on him and they grapple. The real emperor does not wake up! I guess since it is medieval there has to be some dreams. He has a second dream after the first. He is on his dais in Aix and there is a bear bound up with a double chain. Then thirty more bears arrive and talk to them. Now where have I heard about talking bears??

185 What are they going to do if the foe is dead? There’s quite a lot of the poem left. I’m glad we were spared of the gore. LOL In the dream, Charles looks up to heaven because every weather phenomenon is happening and the lightning causes spears and bosses on shields to catch fire. Then terrible creatures come on the scene to devour them, including dragons, worms, wyverns, devils, and 30,000 griffins! End times!

183-185 The French cry “Mountjoy!” in battle for this reason. Charlemagne lies awake weeping all night, thinking of his men, especially Roland, Oliver, and the peers. He prays for their soulds to be brought into Paradise. He finally falls asleep. Horses are so tired they crop while lying down. God sends the angel Gabriel to guard the Emperor. In the likeness of a dream, he shows him a new battle in the future.