Part 20

Then his barons, returning to Carlun, Say to their King: "Sire, we beseech of you That you cry quits with county Guenelun, So he may serve you still in love and truth; Nay let him live, so noble a man 's he proved. Rollant is dead, no longer in our view, Nor for no wealth may we his life renew." Then says the King: "You're felons all of you!" AOI.

CCLXXVII

When Charles saw that all of them did fail, Deep down he bowed his head and all his face For th' grief he had, caitiff himself proclaimed. One of his knights, Tierris, before him came, Gefrei's brother, that Duke of Anjou famed; Lean were his limbs, and lengthy and delicate, Black was his hair and somewhat brown his face; Was not too small, and yet was hardly great; And courteously to the Emperour he spake: "Fair' Lord and King, do not yourself dismay! You know that I have served you many ways: By my ancestors should I this cause maintain. And if Rollant was forfeited to Guenes Still your service to him full warrant gave. Felon is Guene, since th' hour that he betrayed, And, towards you, is perjured and ashamed: Wherefore I judge that he be hanged and slain, His carcass flung to th' dogs beside the way, As a felon who felony did make. But, has he a friend that would dispute my claim With this my sword which I have girt in place My judgement will I warrant every way." Answer the Franks: "Now very well you spake."

CCLXXVIII

Before the King is come now Pinabel; Great is he, strong, vassalous and nimble; Who bears his blow has no more time to dwell: Says to him: "Sire, on you this cause depends; Command therefore this noise be made an end. See Tierri here, who hath his judgment dealt; I cry him false, and will the cause contest." His deer-hide glove in the King's hand he's left. Says the Emperour: "Good pledges must I get." Thirty kinsmen offer their loyal pledge. "I'll do the same for you," the King has said; Until the right be shewn, bids guard them well. AOI.

CCLXXIX

When Tierri sees that battle shall come after, His right hand glove he offereth to Chares. That Emperour by way of hostage guards it; Four benches then upon the place he marshals Where sit them down champions of either party. They're chos'n aright, as the others' judgement cast them; Oger the Dane between them made the parley. Next they demand their horses and their armour. AOI.

CCLXXX

For battle, now, ready you might them see, They're well confessed, absolved, from sin set free; Masses they've heard, Communion received, Rich offerings to those minsters they leave. Before Carlun now both the two appear: They have their spurs, are fastened on their feet, And, light and strong, their hauberks brightly gleam; Upon their heads they've laced their helmets clear, And girt on swords, with pure gold hilted each; And from their necks hang down their quartered shields; In their right hands they grasp their trenchant spears. At last they mount on their swift coursing steeds. Five score thousand chevaliers therefor weep, For Rollant's sake pity for Tierri feel. God knows full well which way the end shall be.

CCLXXXI

Down under Aix there is a pasture large Which for the fight of th' two barons is marked. Proof men are these, and of great vassalage, And their horses, unwearied, gallop fast; They spur them well, the reins aside they cast, With virtue great, to strike each other, dart; All of their shields shatter and rend apart. Their hauberks tear; the girths asunder start, The saddles slip, and fall upon the grass. Five score thousand weep, who that sight regard. AOI.

CCLXXXII

Upon the ground are fallen both the knights; Nimbly enough upon their feet they rise. Nimble and strong is Pinabels, and light. Each the other seeks; horses are out of mind, But with those swords whose hilts with gold are lined Upon those helms of steel they beat and strike: Great are the blows, those helmets to divide. The chevaliers of France do much repine. "O God!" says Charles, "Make plain to us the right!"

CCLXXXIII

Says Pinabel "Tierri, I pray thee, yield: I'll be thy man, in love and fealty; For the pleasure my wealth I'll give to thee; But make the King with Guenelun agree." Answers Tierri: "Such counsel's not for me. Pure felon I, if e'er I that concede! God shall this day the right shew, us between!" AOI.

CCLXXXIV

Then said Tierri "Bold art thou, Pinabel, Thou'rt great and strong, with body finely bred; For vassalage thy peers esteem thee well: Of this battle let us now make an end! With Charlemagne I soon will have thee friends; To Guenelun such justice shall be dealt Day shall not dawn but men of it will tell." "Please the Lord God, not so!" said Pinabel. "I would sustain the cause of my kindred No mortal man is there from whom I've fled; Rather I'ld die than hear reproaches said." Then with their swords began to strike again Upon those helms that were with gold begemmed Into the sky the bright sparks rained and fell. It cannot be that they be sundered, Nor make an end, without one man be dead. AOI.

CCLXXXV

He's very proof, Pinabel of Sorence, Tierri he strikes, on 's helmet of Provence, Leaps such a spark, the grass is kindled thence; Of his steel brand the point he then presents, On Tierri's brow the helmet has he wrenched So down his face its broken halves descend; And his right cheek in flowing blood is drenched; And his hauberk, over his belly, rent. God's his warrant, Who death from him prevents. AOI.

CCLXXXVI

Sees Tierris then 'that in the face he's struck, On grassy field runs clear his flowing blood; Strikes Pinabel on 's helmet brown and rough, To the nose-piece he's broken it and cut, And from his head scatters his brains in th' dust; Brandishes him on th' sword, till dead he's flung. Upon that blow is all the battle won. Franks cry aloud: "God hath great virtue done. It is proved right that Guenelun be hung. And those his kin, that in his cause are come." AOI.

CCLXXXVII

Now that Tierris the battle fairly wins, That Emperour Charles is come to him; Forty barons are in his following. Naimes the Duke, Oger that Danish Prince, Geifrei d'Anjou, Willalme of Blaive therewith. Tierri, the King takes in his arms to kiss; And wipes his face with his great marten-skins; He lays them down, and others then they bring; The chevaliers most sweetly disarm him; An Arab mule they've brought, whereon he sits. With baronage and joy they bring him in. They come to Aix, halt and dismount therein. The punishment of the others then begins.

CCLXXXVIII

His counts and Dukes then calls to him Carlun: "With these I guard, advise what shall be done. Hither they came because of Guenelun; For Pinabel, as pledges gave them up." Answer the Franks: "Shall not of them live one." The King commands his provost then, Basbrun: "Go hang them all on th' tree of cursed wood! Nay, by this beard, whose hairs are white enough, If one escape, to death and shame thou'rt struck!" He answers him: "How could I act, save thus?" With an hundred serjeants by force they come; Thirty of them there are, that straight are hung. Who betrays man, himself and 's friends undoes. AOI.

CCLXXXIX

Then turned away the Baivers and Germans And Poitevins and Bretons and Normans. Fore all the rest, 'twas voted by the Franks That Guenes die with marvellous great pangs; So to lead forth four stallions they bade; After, they bound his feet and both his hands; Those steeds were swift, and of a temper mad; Which, by their heads, led forward four sejeants Towards a stream that flowed amid that land. Sones fell Gue into perdition black; All his sinews were strained until they snapped, And all the limbs were from his body dragged. On the green grass his clear blood gushed and ran. Guenes is dead, a felon recreant. Who betrays man, need make no boast of that.

CCXC