The Emp'ror Carle gives order that a watch Be kept around Rolland, Count Olivier And the Archbishop Turpin; bade their breasts Be oped before him, and their hearts enwrapped In silken cloths--in tombs of marble white Inurned; the bodies of the Barons then Perfumed with wine and fragrant herbs; the three Seigneurs in wrappings of stag's hide were cased; By Carle's decree Tedbald and Gebuin, _Marchis_ Othon and Count Milon escort Them on their way, upon three chariots borne, And covered well with palls of glazed silk. Aoi. CCXVI. King Carle about to start, sees suddenly Emerge the Pagan van. From Baligant, The battle to declare, two messengers Advance:--"Proud king, from here thou must not go; Behold, the Emir to thine encounter comes And brings a mighty host from Araby. This day will prove if truly valiant knight Thou art." Carl'magne, the king, plucks his gray beard; So cruel is the memory of all His grief and wrong, proudly he casts a look Upon his knightly host, and with loud voice Exclaims:--"Seigneurs Barons! To horse! To arms!" Aoi. CCXVII. First of them all the Emperor is armed. Quick donned his hauberk,--laced his helm--Joyeuse, Whose brightness vies with the sun's dazzling rays, Is girded on--a shield of Girunde hangs Upon his neck,--his lance, forged in Blandune He wields, and mounts his good steed Tencendur Which nigh the ford below Marsune he won, When he struck dead Malpalin de Nerbune. Quick to a gallop spurred, rein loosed, the steed Sped on, before one hundred thousand men. Carle calls on Rome's Apostle and on God. Aoi. CCXVIII. Spread o'er the field the men of France dismount. More than one hundred thousand arm themselves Together--Brilliant their array! Their steeds Are fleet, arms gleaming; bright the pennons float Above their helms: The foe once found, they give Them certain battle. Mounted thus, how brave Their show! When Carle beholds their faces bright, Joseran de Provence he calls, the brave Duke Naimes, also Anselme de Maience: "In knights so good behooves men to have faith, And mad indeed who doubts of the event. Should not the Arabs their approach repent, Rolland's death I to them will dearly sell." Responds Duke Naimes:--"May God vouchsafe your prayer." Aoi. CCXIX.