THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

518
© 2009 Max Wickert
Christians were killed before daybreak and before they could arm, for they were all drowsy after
eating too much during the previous evening.
Now day brightened and the Christians hurriedly armed as best they could. Malzaroth was riding
hither and thither, shouting: “Death! Death to Count Roland!” and adding: “Have you run away?”
Oliver, hearing his voice, said: “Ah, noble count, do you not hear the words of that pagan?” Roland
answered: “I have been hearing them all too clearly for some time.” Then Roland hurtled off in
Malzaroth’s direction, displaying his checkered red and white 95 pennant. When Malzaroth saw that
checkered flag, he indeed wished he had stayed at home. Now Roland put his lance in rest and
charged at Malzaroth, and Malzaroth at him. They struck each other with tremendous force, so that
Malzaroth’s lance flew in splinters. But Roland suffered no harm, and the blow he gave was so
strong that it overthrew his enemy, horse and all. Roland, seizing Durandel, leapt from Veliantin
and went up to Malzaroth. Malzaroth said: “Why should you kill me? It will be scant vengeance for
the treachery that Ganelon has set in motion against Charles.” Then Roland struck him a blow that
sent his head flying in the middle of the road. Roland instantly leapt upon Veliantin and rode off in
the direction of the loudest tumult.
Now Oliver whispered to his horse, “My good steed Brunel, if you do not overtake Roland, I shall
take my sword and cut your head off.” With this, Oliver sped off toward the great press of
Saracens. Oliver did this because Roland would not sound his horn, and because he had taunted
him with being afraid. Oliver at last arrived all by himself amidst the thickest press of Saracens. He
rode at a great count with his lance and stretched him and his horse dead in the grass. So far ahead
did Oliver speed, with sword in hand, that he advanced more than two bowshots’ lengths among the
95 [red and white]: My insertion. Roland’s colors are not mentioned in here, but the word ‘quartere’ clearly implies
his well-known device. See Reali VI.63 passim.