La Chanson de Roland : Translated from the Seventh Edition of Léon Gautier
General
La Chanson de Roland : Translated from the Seventh Edition of Léon Gautier
Epic poetry, French -- Translations into English; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Roland (Legendary character) -- Romances
Duke Sansun rushes on the Almazour;
He splits the shield with painted flowers and gold
Embossed. The strong-mailed hauberk shelters not,
As he is pierced through liver, heart and lungs.
For him may mourn who will--death-struck he falls:
"That is a Baron's stroke!" the Archbishop cries.
Aoi.
C.
Anseis gives his steed the rein, and charges
Fierce on Turgis de Turteluse; beneath
The golden boss asunder breaks the shield,
Rips up the hauberk double-linked; so true
The thrust, that all the steel passed through his breast.
With this one blow the shaft has struck him dead.
Rolland exclaimed: "The stroke is of a Knight!"
Aoi.
CI.
Then Engelier, the Gascuin of Burdele,
Spurs deep his horse, and casting loose the rein,
Rushes upon Escremiz de Valterne;
Breaks down the buckler fastened to his throat
And rends his gorget-mail; full in the breast
The lance strikes deep and passes in between
The collar bones; dead from the saddle struck
He falls.--And Turpin says: "Ye all are lost!"
Aoi.
CII.
Othon assails a Pagan, Estorgant,
His thrust hits hard the leather of the shield,
Effacing its bright colors red and white,
Breaks in his hauberk's sides, and plunges deep
Within his heart a strong and trenchant spear,
From off the flying steed striking him dead.
This done, he says:--"No hope for you remains!"
Aoi.
CIII.
And Berengier smites now Estramaris,
Splits down his shield, shivers his coat of mail
In shreds and through his bosom drives a lance.
Dead 'midst one thousand Saracens he drops.
Of their twelve Peers now ten have breathed their last:
Chernuble--Margariz, the Count, survive.
Aoi.
CIV.
Most valiant Knight is Margariz. 'Mid all
Beauteous, strong, slender, quick of hand. He spurs
His horse and charges Olivier; beneath
The boss of purest gold his shield breaks down,
Then at his side a pointed lance he aims;
But God protects him, for the blow ne'er reached
The flesh. The point grazed only, wounding not.
Then Margariz unhindered rides away
And sounds his horn to rally his own men.
Aoi.
CV.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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