Literature, Medieval -- Translations into English; Tales
Argolander fled beyond the passes of the Pyrenees, and came to
Pampeluna, where he sent Charles word he would stay for him. Charles
then returned to France, and with the utmost diligence summoned his
troops from all parts to his assistance, proclaiming free pardon to all
banished persons, on condition they would join him against the Pagans.
What further? He liberated all the prisoners; made the poor rich;
clothed the naked; reconciled the disaffected; bestowed honours on the
disinherited; preferred the most experienced to the best commands;
making friends of enemies, and associating both the civilized and the
barbarian in the war of Spain, uniting them through the favour of God in
the bond of love. Then did I, Turpin, absolve them from their sins, and
give them my benediction.
These are the names of the warriors that attended the King:--Turpin,
Archbishop of Rheims, who by the precepts of Christ, and for his
faith's sake, brought the people to fight valiantly, fighting likewise
himself hand to hand with the Saracens. Orlando, General of the whole
army, Count of Mans and Lord of Guienne, the King's nephew, son of Milo
de Angleris and Bertha the King's sister. His soldiers were four
thousand. Another Orlando likewise, of whom we are silent. Oliver, a
General also, and a valiant soldier, renowned for strength and skill in
war, led three thousand troops. Aristagnus, King of Brittany, seven
thousand. Another King of Brittany, of whom little mention is made.
Angelerus, Duke of Aquitaine, brought four thousand valiant bowmen. At
this time likewise there was in the city of Poictiers another Duke of
Aquitaine, but Angelerus was the son of Gascon, Duke of the city of
Aquitaine, lying between Limorge, Bourges, and Poictiers, which city
Augustus Cæsar founded; and the rest of the cities, as well as Xaintonge
and Angoulême, with their provinces, were subject to it; the whole
country was also called Aquitaine. But after the death of its lord, who
perished with all his people in the fatal battle of Ronceval, it was
never fresh colonized, and fell utterly to ruin.
Gayfere, King of Bordeaux, led three thousand warriors. Galerus, Galinus
Solomon, Estolfo's friend and companion; Baldwin, Orlando's brother,
Galdebode, King of Friezeland, led seven thousand heroes; Ocellus, Count
of Nantes, two thousand, who achieved many memorable actions, celebrated
in songs to this day. Lambert, Count of Berry, led two thousand men.
Rinaldo of the White Thorn, Vulterinus Garinus, Duke of Lorraine, four
thousand. Hago, Albert of Burgundy, Berard de Miblis, Gumard, Esturinite,
Theodoric, Juonius, Beringaire, Hato, and Ganalon, who afterwards proved
the traitor, attended the King into Spain. The army of the King's own
territory was forty thousand horse and foot innumerable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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