Charlemagne hears it and turns back in an agony of sorrow and haste. But long before he reaches Roncevaux Roland has died last of his host, and alone, for all the Pagans have fallen or fled before him. The arrival of Charlemagne, his grief, and his vengeance on the Pagans, should perhaps conclude the poem. There is however a sort of afterpiece, in which the traitor Ganelon is tried, his fate being decided by a single combat between his kinsman Pinabel and a champion named Thierry, and is ruthlessly put to death with all his clansmen who have stood surety for him. Episodes properly so called the poem has none, though the character of Oliver is finely brought out as contrasted with Roland's somewhat unreasoning valour, and there is one touching incident when the poet tells how the Lady Aude, Oliver's sister and Roland's betrothed, falls dead without a word when the king tells her of the fatal fight at Roncevaux. The following passage will give an idea of the style of this famous poem. It may be noticed that the curious refrain _Aoi_ has puzzled all commentators, though in calling it a refrain we have given the most probable explanation:-- Rollanz s'en turnet, par le camp vait tut suls cercet les vals e si cercet les munz; iloec truvat Ivorie et Ivun, truvat Gerin, Gerer sun cumpaignun, iloec truvat Engeler le Gascun e si truvat Berenger e Orun, iloec truvat Anseis e Sansun, truvat Gerard le veill de Russillun: par un e un les ad pris le barun, al arcevesque en est venuz atut, sis mist en reng dedevant ses genuilz. li arcevesque ne poet muer n'en plurt; lievet sa main, fait sa beneicun; apres ad dit 'mare fustes, seignurs! tutes voz anmes ait deus li glorius! en pareis les mete en seintes flurs! la meie mort me rent si anguissus, ja ne verrai le riche empereur.' Rollanz s'en turnet, le camp vait recercer; desoz un pin e folut e ramer sun cumpaignun ad truved Oliver, cuntre sun piz estreit l'ad enbracet. si cum il poet al arcevesque en vent, sur un escut l'ad as altres culchet; e l'arcevesque l'ad asols e seignet. idonc agreget le doel e la pitet. co dit Rollanz 'bels cumpainz Oliver, vos fustes filz al bon cunte Reiner, ki tint la marche de Genes desur mer; pur hanste freindre e pur escuz pecier e pur osberc e rompre e desmailler, [pur orgoillos veintre e esmaier] e pur prozdomes tenir e conseiller e pur glutuns e veintre e esmaier en nule terre n'ot meillor chevaler.' Li quens Rollanz, quant il veit morz ses pers e Oliver, qu'il tant poeit amer, tendrur en out, cumencet a plurer, en sun visage fut mult desculurez. si grant doel out que mais ne pout ester, voeillet o nun, a terre chet pasmet. dist l'arcevesques 'tant mare fustes, ber.' Li arcevesques quant vit pasmer Rollant, dunc out tel doel, unkes mais n'out si grant; tendit sa main, si ad pris l'olifan.