"'How valiant are the Frankish lords But how their counsel wrongs their king To urge him to this long-drawn strife-- They ruin both themselves and him!' 'I blame not them,' quoth Ganelon, 'But Roland, swollen with fatal pride. Near Carcassonne he brought the King An apple, crimson streaked with gold: "Fair sire," quoth he, "here at your feet I lay the crowns of all the kings." If he were dead we should have peace!' "'How haughty must this Roland be Who fain would conquer all the earth! Such pride deserves due chastisement! What warriors has he for the task?' 'The Franks of France,' quoth Ganelon, 'The bravest warriors 'neath the sun! For love alone they follow him (Or lavish gifts which he bestows) To death, or conquest of the world!'" [Illustration: "Ganelon rode away"] To Betray Roland The bitterness in Ganelon's tone at once struck: Blancandrin, who cast a glance at him and saw the Frankish envoy trembling with rage. He suddenly addressed Ganelon in whispered tones: "Hast thou aught against the nephew of Charles? Wouldst thou have revenge on Roland? Deliver him to us, and King Marsile will share with thee all his treasures." Ganelon was at first horrified, and refused to hear more, but so well did Blancandrin argue and so skilfully did he lay his snare that before they reached Saragossa and came to the presence of King Marsile it was agreed that Roland should be destroyed by their means. Ganelon with the Saracens Blancandrin and his fellow ambassadors conducted Ganelon into the presence of the Saracen king, and announced Charlemagne's peaceable reception of their message and the coming of his envoy. "Let him speak: we listen," said Marsile. Ganelon then began artfully: "Peace be to you in the name of the Lord of Glory whom we adore! This is the message of King Charles: You shall receive the Holy Christian Faith, and Charles will graciously grant you one-half of Spain as a fief; the other half he intends for his nephew Roland (and a haughty partner you will find him!). If you refuse he will take Saragossa, lead you captive to Aix, and give you there to a shameful death." Marsile's Anger Marsile's anger was so great at this insulting message that he sprang to his feet, and would have slain Ganelon with his gold-adorned javelin; but he, seeing this, half drew his sword, saying: "'Sword, how fair and bright thou art! Come thou forth and view the light. Long as I can wield thee here Charles my Emperor shall not say That I die alone, unwept. Ere I fall Spain's noblest blood Shall be shed to pay my death.'" The Saracen Council