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

266-26 They smash idols and images. The bishops purify the water and baptize all but the queen. Those who flee or resist will be killed. They will take the queen captive back to France to win her to Christ by love. With the city taken, they leave in the morning and return with France with the queen in their train. They went to Bourdeaux and left Roland’s Olifant on the altar at the church of Saint Severinus.

264-265 In a mirror of Roland, he’s lying in bed. He turns around and faces the wall. He dies of grief and yields his soul to the infernal ones. Charlemagne makes it to Saragossa and levels the gate without resistance. The queen gives him her ten tall towers as well as the fifty lesser towers. The day is over, the moon shines, the night is clear. The soldiers search for synagogues and heathen shrines to destroy.

263-264 Charlemagne reminds them of their tears in the morning and encourages to do what they will with all their might now. The Franks promise that few will escape their steel. They kick up a cloud of dust chasing the pagans back to Saragossa. The queen and her clerks and canons climb the tower (seeking wisdom), but she calls for help in vain. She turns to Marsilion and tells him that the great emir is dead.

262-263 This is how you know supernatural aid is at work. Could someone really continue to fight in that condition? Fight he does and cracks the emir’s skull wide open so that his brains hit the ground. He cries, “Mountjoy!” and Naimon brings his trusty speed. Without a leader, the pagans fly. It’s a bit like LotR. I can’t decide if I hear a John Williams score or Howard Shore. LOL Bottomline: it’s God’s will.

260-262 The emir says his sermon is ill-preached. The fight renews. It reminds me of the conversation between Vader and Luke in their duel in Episode V. This is also like Prince Caspian with a duel between the two leaders. Oh, wow! Charlemagne’s helmet broke and they can see a patch of his skull. That’s gotta hurt! Saint Gabriel speaks to him. Ben Kenobi? Yoda? LOL His strenght is renewed, bared skull and all!

258-260 Even though darkness is falling, the combat continues without cease. Charles is a fighter and the emir has no fear. They now face each other in face-to-face combat. One will have to give, one way or another. The emir accuses Charlemagne of killing his son and accuses him of stealing his land. He invites him to join him and the emir will be his liege. AS IF! Then Charlemagne makes the same invitation.

257-258 The emir’s flag bearer falls. What imagery! The dragon hits the ground which causes the emir to ask the scary question. “What if I’m wrong?” That is an interesting set-up in light of what happens to his queen. Seeing this Charlemagne asks his men to fight and the Franks reply, “Why ask?” Anyone who does not respond is a coward. The pagans call their war cry and the French, “Mountjoy!”

255-256 The emir blows his horn and calls in his big dogs. They are described in animalistic terms. Under their ferocious shockwave, 7K French fall. Ogier the Dane is ticked off and he calls on Geoffrey of Anjou, his brother Thierry, and someone else and he tells Charlemagne that he deserves to have his head lopped off if he does nothing. Nobody rebukes him. They all fight bravely but Dane Ogier is the most fierce.

253-254 He tells the emir that his brother and son are dead. He describes Naimon and says he is next to Charlemagne. Both caused these deaths. The emir looks to where his informant points. His face darkens and his head drops. Broken, he asks for advice. His advisor says that the pagans may lose because the French are in top form. He says if they are going to win, he cannot delay in their attack.

252-253 It cannot be denied that the bravery of the pagans is on display. Heavy losses are sustained on both sides and the French refuse to give in. The rage continues, even at vesper time. Spears shattered. Shields split. Helmets cracked. Mail rings broken. The fighting is fierce. The emir prays and promises his unholy trinity that he will make golden images if he wins. His favorite baron comes bearing bad news.