The Song of Roland
Anon 12th century – from the olde
French
Charles the King, our great Emperor,
For Several years now he has been in Spain,
And from land to sea he has conquered.
Not a Castle that stands before him remains
Walls nor city, nothing is left for him to take
But Saragossa, which is on a mountain.
The King of Marseilles holds onto it, whom God
Not loves, Mahommed serves and Apollo invokes,
None apparently can prevent this disaster unfolding.
AOI !
The Emperor is happy and elated,
Cordres he has taken and the walls he has pierced,
With his catapults the towers abated.
Much booty have his Knights taken,
Gold and silver and precious stones.
In the city no pagan is left
Who has not been killed or become Christian!
The Emperor is in the orchard
Together with Olivier and Roland,
Sansun the Duke and Anseis the Proud,
Gefreid of Anjou, the Standard Bearer to the King,
And also Gerin and Gerers;
There where they were gathered, there were also
Many other; at least 15 000 from fair France.
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