XLII
Says Sarrazin: “My wonder yet is grand550
At Charlemagne, who hoary is and blanched.
Two hundred years and more, I understand,
He has gone forth and conquered many a land,
Such blows hath borne from many a trenchant lance,
Vanquished and slain of kings so rich a band,555
When will time come that he from war draws back?”
“Never,” says Guene, “so long as lives Rollanz,
From hence to the East there is no such vassal;
And proof also, Oliver his comrade;
The dozen peers he cherishes at hand,560
These are his guard, with twenty thousand Franks.
Charles is secure, he fears no living man.”
AOI.
XLIII
“Fair Master Guenes,” says Marsilies the King,
Such men are mine, fairer than tongue can sing,
Of knights I can four hundred thousand bring565
So I may fight with Franks and with their King.”
Answers him Guenes: “Not on this journeying!
Save of pagans a great loss suffering.
Leave you the fools, wise counsel following;
To the Emperour such wealth of treasure give570
That every Frank at once is marvelling.
For twenty men that you shall now send in
To France the Douce he will repair, that King;
In the rereward will follow after him
Both his nephew, count Rollant, as I think,575
And Oliver, that courteous paladin;
Dead are the counts, believe me if you will.
Charles will behold his great pride perishing,
For battle then he’ll have no more the skill.
AOI.
19
