Page:The Song of Roland.djvu/129

 In front, in rear, they sounded their trumpets, Above them all boomed the olifant again. Then all the Franks for pity of Rollant wept.

That Emperour canters in noble array, Over his sark all of his beard displays; For love of him, all others do the same, Five score thousand Franks are thereby made plain. They pass those peaks, those rocks and those mountains, Those terrible narrows, and those deep vales, Then issue from the passes and the wastes Till they are come into the March of Spain; A halt they’ve made, in th’ middle of a plain. To Baligant his vanguard comes again A Sulian hath told him his message: “We have seen Charles, that haughty sovereign; Fierce are his men, they have no mind to fail. Arm yourself then: Battle you’ll have to-day.” Says Baligant: “Mine is great vassalage; Let horns this news to my pagans proclaim.”

Through all the host they have their drums sounded, And their bugles, and very clear trumpets. Pagans dismount, that they may arm themselves. Their admiral will stay no longer then; Puts on a sark, embroidered in the hems, Laces his helm, that is with gold begemmed; After, his sword on his left side he’s set, Out of his pride a name for it he’s spelt Like to Carlun’s, as he has heard it said, So Preciuse he bad his own be clept; ’Twas their ensign when they to battle went, His chevaliers’; he gave that cry to them.