CCLXXXI
When Thierry well had seen it that the fight he soon must wage,
He gave unto the Emperor his right-hand glove for gage.
And pledges for his warrant the Emperor gave o'er.
And at the word of Charlemagne they brought in benches four;
And thereon did they seat them who were to fight the fight.
In the eyes of all men present is the trial meet and right —
Ogier it was of Denmark that for all this took heed.
And now each champion shouted for his armor and his steed.
CCLXXXII
When at last unto the battle within the lists they came,
Well they confessed and were absolved and blessed in God His name,
And Mass they heard, and also Communion did receive,
And to the monasteries great offerings did they leave.
Forth went the twain to Charlemagne. On the heel was set the spur.
They wore the milk-white hauberks, so light and strong that were.
Their helmets shut and shining their faces did enfold.
Their swords were girded on them with hilts of the pure gold.
About their necks the champions their quartered bucklers wore,
And likewise in their good right hands the sharpened lances bore.
And thereupon they mounted on the chargers swift and proud.
An hundred thousand cavaliers began to weep aloud,
Who because of the Count Roland were sad for Thierry's sake.
God knoweth thereof certainly what end the fight will take.
CCLXXXIII
Hard under Aix the city there is a mighty lea,
And there of the two barons the battle was to be.
Gallant were both the heroes, and fleet the chargers twain.
And either champion spurred his steed, and dropped his bridle-rein.
In valor and great courage, each against the other dashed.
Right through the rival bucklers the rushing lances crashed.
And broken were the hauberks, and broken either girth.
The cantels of the saddles fell down unto the earth,
There were an hundred thousand wept loudly at this sight.
CCLXXXIV
Now unto earth hath fallen from his charger either knight.
And forthwith very swiftly they got them to their feet.
A stalwart man was Pinabel, and a very light and fleet.
And the one sought out the other; no chargers needed they.
With the blades with hilts of the pure gold they smote and hacked away,
On the steel helms. And the great strokes the helms were like to cleave.
And loud the Frankish cavaliers because of it did grieve.
" Ah God, " said the King Charlemagne, " The right now make it known. "
CCLXXXV
Said Pinabel:
" Ho, Thierry, thine error do thou own.
In true love and in honor thy liegeman will I be.
I will give my whole possession at thy pleasure unto thee.
But the peace of the Count Ganelon with the Emperor do thou make. "
And Thierry answered:
" Never such a counsel will I take.
If I did it, for a villain would I evermore be ta'en.
But God shall make His judgment this day between us twain. "
CCLXXXVI
Said Thierry:
" A good baron art thou, O Pinabel.
Thy strength is great exceeding, and thy body fashioned well.
And all thy peers have known thee for a very valiant knight.
But do thou now give over from fighting out the fight.
With the King will I accord thee. On Ganelon shall they wreak
Such vengeance, not a day shall pass but men thereof shall speak. "
And Pinabel gave answer:
" God's will is not therein.
I will not cease to comfort and to sustain my kin.
And surely I will never to mortal man give place.
Better it were to perish than to suffer such disgrace. "
With the good swords they began to beat on the helmets wrought with gold.
Unto the sky went flashing the bright sparks manifold.
Now was there none could part them in the madness of the fray.
Now it will not be over till one the other slay.
CCLXXXVII
Now Pinabel of Sorence was of excelling might.
On the Provençal helmet of Thierry did he smite.
The flame leaped from the helmet and set fire unto the sward.
He struck against his foeman with the sharp point of the sword.
And away from Thierry's forehead all of the helm he clave.
And right before his visage descended the sharp glaive.
All his right cheek was bleeding, and his hauberk slashed in twain.
To the waist. But God protected him, and Thierry was not slain.
CCLXXXVIII
And Thierry knew that sorely was he smitten in the face,
And that his blood was falling on the green grass in the place,
And upon the brown steel helmet he smote Lord Pinabel.
Through the nasal of the helmet the cleaving sword-blade fell.
And therewith the brain of Pinabel went gushing from his head.
High, Thierry shook his sword aloft, and smote the champion dead.
Therewithal the bitter battle in that hour had he won.
Cried all the Franks:
" A miracle the Lord our God hath done!
It is meet and right that Ganelon should now be hanged on high;
And likewise all his kinsmen that pled for him shall die. "
CCLXXXIX
Now when the champion Thierry had conquered in the fray,
With barons four to Charlemagne the King he made his way.
Ogier the Dane and Neimes brought him the King unto,
And likewise William, Lord of Blaye, and Geoffrey of Anjou.
Then did the Emperor Charlemagne Thierry the knight embrace.
With his robe of marten-fur he wiped the blood from off his face.
He doffed the robe. Another they cast his shoulders o'er.
Gently from the brave champion they took the gear of war.
And then they set the hero on a mule of Araby.
And back they rode unto the town in chivalry and glee.
They came to Aix the city, and descended there each one.
And the slaughter of the others thereafter was begun.
CCXC
And then unto his counts and dukes the Emperor Charlemagne said:
" What judge ye of my prisoners for Ganelon that pled,
And their bodies for Lord Pinabel as hostages did give? "
And the Franks spake in answer: " Let not any of them live. "
Unto his sheriff Basbrun the Emperor did call:
" Go! unto that accursed tree see that thou hang them all.
And by this beard whereof the hair is all so hoar and white,
If one escape, on thee the thing with death I will requite. "
And Basbrun spake in answer:
" What other can I more? "
With an hundred sergeants by main force the men away he bore.
And there were thirty of them. He hanged them there and then.
He who betrayeth, aye he slayeth himself and other men.
CCXCI
Thereafter all the Germans and Bavarians withdrew,
The Bretons and the Normans, and the liegemen of Poitou.
But more than all the others the men of France were fain
That Ganelon should perish in exceeding grievous pain.
They brought four steeds, and unto them they bound his hands and feet.
Haughty were all the stallions, and very swift and fleet.
Before the steeds to guide them, four servitors did fare.
And straight into a meadow wherein there grazed a mare,
Unto horrible destruction Count Ganelon was sent.
The nerves of the man's body unutterably were rent.
And every limb and member from the trunk away was wrenched.
And the flood of his clear life-blood the fair green herbage drenched.
Thus Ganelon came to his death like to a traitor strong.
It is not meet that traitors should boast them in their wrong.
CCXCII
When Charlemagne the Emperor vengeance at last had ta'en,
The Bishops of Bavaria and France and Alamain
He summoned:
" In my palace a captive free doth dwell.
To sermons and fair parables the dame hath hearkened well.
For Christianity she prayeth. On our God she doth believe.
Baptize ye now that Lady that God her soul receive. "
" Then give unto her sponsors, " they answered and replied.
Enough there were of ladies of noble race and pride.
There came great press of people to the baths of Aix amain.
By the name of Juliana they baptized the Queen of Spain.
And she herself a Christian most truly did confess.
When the King had done his justice, appeased was his distress.
In the way of our Christianity Queen Bramimonde had gone.
But now the day passed over and calm the night came on.
And in his vaulted chamber the King lay down to rest,
When to him the Angel Gabriel appeared at God's behest:
" To the hosts of all thine empire, Lord Emperor give command.
Go forth with might and power into the Libyan land.
With succor to King Vivien of Imphe shalt thou ride.
The city that the Paynims have besieged on every side,
Where the Christians call upon thee. "
Little the King was fain.
" Ah God my life is weary, " said the Emperor Charlemagne.
He plucked the white beard hard. The tears down from his eyes they sprang,
And so the great song endeth of the deeds that Therould sang.
When Thierry well had seen it that the fight he soon must wage,
He gave unto the Emperor his right-hand glove for gage.
And pledges for his warrant the Emperor gave o'er.
And at the word of Charlemagne they brought in benches four;
And thereon did they seat them who were to fight the fight.
In the eyes of all men present is the trial meet and right —
Ogier it was of Denmark that for all this took heed.
And now each champion shouted for his armor and his steed.
CCLXXXII
When at last unto the battle within the lists they came,
Well they confessed and were absolved and blessed in God His name,
And Mass they heard, and also Communion did receive,
And to the monasteries great offerings did they leave.
Forth went the twain to Charlemagne. On the heel was set the spur.
They wore the milk-white hauberks, so light and strong that were.
Their helmets shut and shining their faces did enfold.
Their swords were girded on them with hilts of the pure gold.
About their necks the champions their quartered bucklers wore,
And likewise in their good right hands the sharpened lances bore.
And thereupon they mounted on the chargers swift and proud.
An hundred thousand cavaliers began to weep aloud,
Who because of the Count Roland were sad for Thierry's sake.
God knoweth thereof certainly what end the fight will take.
CCLXXXIII
Hard under Aix the city there is a mighty lea,
And there of the two barons the battle was to be.
Gallant were both the heroes, and fleet the chargers twain.
And either champion spurred his steed, and dropped his bridle-rein.
In valor and great courage, each against the other dashed.
Right through the rival bucklers the rushing lances crashed.
And broken were the hauberks, and broken either girth.
The cantels of the saddles fell down unto the earth,
There were an hundred thousand wept loudly at this sight.
CCLXXXIV
Now unto earth hath fallen from his charger either knight.
And forthwith very swiftly they got them to their feet.
A stalwart man was Pinabel, and a very light and fleet.
And the one sought out the other; no chargers needed they.
With the blades with hilts of the pure gold they smote and hacked away,
On the steel helms. And the great strokes the helms were like to cleave.
And loud the Frankish cavaliers because of it did grieve.
" Ah God, " said the King Charlemagne, " The right now make it known. "
CCLXXXV
Said Pinabel:
" Ho, Thierry, thine error do thou own.
In true love and in honor thy liegeman will I be.
I will give my whole possession at thy pleasure unto thee.
But the peace of the Count Ganelon with the Emperor do thou make. "
And Thierry answered:
" Never such a counsel will I take.
If I did it, for a villain would I evermore be ta'en.
But God shall make His judgment this day between us twain. "
CCLXXXVI
Said Thierry:
" A good baron art thou, O Pinabel.
Thy strength is great exceeding, and thy body fashioned well.
And all thy peers have known thee for a very valiant knight.
But do thou now give over from fighting out the fight.
With the King will I accord thee. On Ganelon shall they wreak
Such vengeance, not a day shall pass but men thereof shall speak. "
And Pinabel gave answer:
" God's will is not therein.
I will not cease to comfort and to sustain my kin.
And surely I will never to mortal man give place.
Better it were to perish than to suffer such disgrace. "
With the good swords they began to beat on the helmets wrought with gold.
Unto the sky went flashing the bright sparks manifold.
Now was there none could part them in the madness of the fray.
Now it will not be over till one the other slay.
CCLXXXVII
Now Pinabel of Sorence was of excelling might.
On the Provençal helmet of Thierry did he smite.
The flame leaped from the helmet and set fire unto the sward.
He struck against his foeman with the sharp point of the sword.
And away from Thierry's forehead all of the helm he clave.
And right before his visage descended the sharp glaive.
All his right cheek was bleeding, and his hauberk slashed in twain.
To the waist. But God protected him, and Thierry was not slain.
CCLXXXVIII
And Thierry knew that sorely was he smitten in the face,
And that his blood was falling on the green grass in the place,
And upon the brown steel helmet he smote Lord Pinabel.
Through the nasal of the helmet the cleaving sword-blade fell.
And therewith the brain of Pinabel went gushing from his head.
High, Thierry shook his sword aloft, and smote the champion dead.
Therewithal the bitter battle in that hour had he won.
Cried all the Franks:
" A miracle the Lord our God hath done!
It is meet and right that Ganelon should now be hanged on high;
And likewise all his kinsmen that pled for him shall die. "
CCLXXXIX
Now when the champion Thierry had conquered in the fray,
With barons four to Charlemagne the King he made his way.
Ogier the Dane and Neimes brought him the King unto,
And likewise William, Lord of Blaye, and Geoffrey of Anjou.
Then did the Emperor Charlemagne Thierry the knight embrace.
With his robe of marten-fur he wiped the blood from off his face.
He doffed the robe. Another they cast his shoulders o'er.
Gently from the brave champion they took the gear of war.
And then they set the hero on a mule of Araby.
And back they rode unto the town in chivalry and glee.
They came to Aix the city, and descended there each one.
And the slaughter of the others thereafter was begun.
CCXC
And then unto his counts and dukes the Emperor Charlemagne said:
" What judge ye of my prisoners for Ganelon that pled,
And their bodies for Lord Pinabel as hostages did give? "
And the Franks spake in answer: " Let not any of them live. "
Unto his sheriff Basbrun the Emperor did call:
" Go! unto that accursed tree see that thou hang them all.
And by this beard whereof the hair is all so hoar and white,
If one escape, on thee the thing with death I will requite. "
And Basbrun spake in answer:
" What other can I more? "
With an hundred sergeants by main force the men away he bore.
And there were thirty of them. He hanged them there and then.
He who betrayeth, aye he slayeth himself and other men.
CCXCI
Thereafter all the Germans and Bavarians withdrew,
The Bretons and the Normans, and the liegemen of Poitou.
But more than all the others the men of France were fain
That Ganelon should perish in exceeding grievous pain.
They brought four steeds, and unto them they bound his hands and feet.
Haughty were all the stallions, and very swift and fleet.
Before the steeds to guide them, four servitors did fare.
And straight into a meadow wherein there grazed a mare,
Unto horrible destruction Count Ganelon was sent.
The nerves of the man's body unutterably were rent.
And every limb and member from the trunk away was wrenched.
And the flood of his clear life-blood the fair green herbage drenched.
Thus Ganelon came to his death like to a traitor strong.
It is not meet that traitors should boast them in their wrong.
CCXCII
When Charlemagne the Emperor vengeance at last had ta'en,
The Bishops of Bavaria and France and Alamain
He summoned:
" In my palace a captive free doth dwell.
To sermons and fair parables the dame hath hearkened well.
For Christianity she prayeth. On our God she doth believe.
Baptize ye now that Lady that God her soul receive. "
" Then give unto her sponsors, " they answered and replied.
Enough there were of ladies of noble race and pride.
There came great press of people to the baths of Aix amain.
By the name of Juliana they baptized the Queen of Spain.
And she herself a Christian most truly did confess.
When the King had done his justice, appeased was his distress.
In the way of our Christianity Queen Bramimonde had gone.
But now the day passed over and calm the night came on.
And in his vaulted chamber the King lay down to rest,
When to him the Angel Gabriel appeared at God's behest:
" To the hosts of all thine empire, Lord Emperor give command.
Go forth with might and power into the Libyan land.
With succor to King Vivien of Imphe shalt thou ride.
The city that the Paynims have besieged on every side,
Where the Christians call upon thee. "
Little the King was fain.
" Ah God my life is weary, " said the Emperor Charlemagne.
He plucked the white beard hard. The tears down from his eyes they sprang,
And so the great song endeth of the deeds that Therould sang.