known as Cantilena Rolandi, and which Wace describes as the song of "Karlemaine, and of Rollant, of Oliver, and the vassals who died in Renchevals."[1] He then began a series of exploits, which Gaimar graphically enumerates:—[2]
"Forth from the French, with gallant haste.
The juggler Taillefer then pressed,
Armed and on a fiery horse,
And placed him 'fore the Norman force;
Where wonders in the English sight
He played with all a master's sleight;
First, to incite them to advance,
High in the air he hurled his lance,
And caught it by the point—and then
As nimbly threw it up again.
This daring feat he thrice did shew,
Then launched his weapon 'midst the foe,
A luckless wight of whom it struck,
So skilfully his aim he took;
Then drawing forth the sword he wore.
Thrice drew and caught it as before.
With an address so magical,
It seemed enchantment to them all.
These tricks performed, he urged his steed,
And galloping with utmost speed.
Forced through the foe an opening wide.
And dealt his blows on every side."
Thus began the battle of Hastings—"that battle whereof," to employ the words of Wace, "the fame is yet mighty! Loud and far resounded the bray of the horns, and the shocks of the lances, the mighty strokes of clubs, and the quick clashing of swords."[3] The Norman war-cry "Dieu aide" was answered by the Saxon-English "Out, out!" "Holy Cross!" "God Almighty!"[4] Taillefer was still conspicuous in the melee. The
- ↑ The song has not been recovered. It appears very probable that it was improvised for the occasion. Had it been a composition previously committed to writing, I think Gaimar and others would have given us at least the substance of it.
- ↑ In the passage:—
"Un des Franceis done se hasta
Devant les altres chevalcha, &c."Lines 5272, 5273.
The translation is by Andrews. Maister Geffrei Gaimar's History of the English is a very long Norman-French poem, which appears to have been written about the middle of the twelfth century. It has recently been edited by Thomas Wright, Esq., m.a., f.s.a.
- ↑ Rom. de Rou, p. 191.
- ↑ Spelt by Wace, "Ut!" "Oli-crosse!" "Godemité!"
"Olicrosse est en engleis
Ke Saint Croix est en franceis
E Godemité altretant
Com en frenceiz Dex tot poissant."
"Normans escrient; Dex aie;
La gent englesche; Ut s'escrie."
