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The song of Roland, done into English, in the original measure
The song of Roland done into English in the original measure Author:Charles Kenneth Scott-Moncrieff Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 520 '. Then says Marsile : " Guenes, the truth to ken, Minded I am to love you very well. Of Charlemagne I wish to hear you tell, He's very old, his time i... more »s nearly spent, 'Two hundred years he's lived now, as 'tis said. Through many lands his armies he has led, So many blows his buckled shield has shed, And so rich kings he's brought to beg their bread ; What tune from war will he draw back instead ?" And answers Guenes : " Not so was Charles bred. There is no man that sees and knows him well But will proclaim the Emperour's hardihead. Praise him as best I may, when all is said, Remain untold, honour and goodness yet. His great valour how can it be counted ? Him with such grace hath God illumined, Better to die than leave his banneret. The pagan says : " You make me marvel sore At Charlemagne, who is so old and hoar ; f. Two hundred years, they say, he's lived and more. 540 So many lands he's led his armies o'er, So many blows from spears and lances borne, And so rich kings brought down to beg and sorn, When will time come that he draws back from war ? " " Never," says Guenes, " so long as lives his nephew; 545 No such vassal goes neath the dome of heaven ; And proof also is Oliver his henchman ; The dozen peers, whom Charles holds so precious, These are his guards, with other thousands twenty. Charles is secure, he holds no man in terror." 550 Says Sarrazin : " My wonder yet is grand 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, 555 Vanquished and slain of kings so rich a band, When will time come that he from war draws back ? " " Never," says Guene," so long as lives Rollanz, From hence to t...« less