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

275 Ganelon kisses his feet out of gratitude. The council is weak for they fear Ganelon. Roland is dead so what is the point of going after Ganelon. They should trust that he will serve Charlemagne loyally and faithfully for sparing him. How do they know Ganelon won’t betray them again? They are afraid of Pinabel’s power. There is only one who objects with this way of thinking: Thierry (Geoffrey’s brother).

274-275 He conspired with the enemy during a time of war by my account. However, I’m not sure Charlemagne knows that unless the queen speaks up. She would know. The Franks decide to debate. Ganelon is surrounded by 30 of his kin (ahem, like the 30 pieces of silver). His spokesman is Pinabel of Sorrence, who promises to get Ganelon out of this or they will swing together. Swing, baby, swing!

272-273 Ganelon the worm says he only did it to get back at Roland who wronged him in wealth and estate. He did not intend to commit treason. Ganelon looks fresh and lordly. He testifies that he went with Charlemagne to fight with the army. His intent was only against Roland because his stepson set him up to die against Marsilion. “Vengeance I took, treason I did not.” He’s never heard of unintended consequences.

270-272 Our buddy Ganelon is tied up with deer-hide thongs and he’s been beaten with cudgels. He awaits judgment. It’s hard to feel sorry for him when you think of all the dead bodies at the feet of his treachery. It happens to be the feast of Saint Sylvester, on December 31, the seventh day of Christmas! WOW! Charlemagne states that 20K French were slain plus Roland, Oliver, and the 12 peers (and Aude) for money.

268-269 When they arrive in Aix, Aude (Oliver’s sister) asks where the captain dread is. She is asking for Roland, her betrothed, and, when Charlemagne tells her what happened, he offers her Louis to soften the blow, but she drops dead anyway. At first, he thinks she swooned (it happened a lot in those days) and he holds her hand and calls her name. Then he realizes the truth. She is taken to a convent for burial.

267 They cross the Gironde Estuary to Bayle and they bury the three (Oliver, Turpin, Roland) there in white marble. Historically there is a spot where he was buried but a lot of the Saint Romanus church structure was removed to fortify other places in the 17th century. After their souls are commended to God, they return to Aix where Charlemagne sends out writs to require lords to come and deal with Ganelon.

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.

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!