Page:The Song of Roland.djvu/132

 Torleus the king, and the king Dapamort; Thirty columns most speedily they form. They’ve chevaliers in marvellous great force; Fifty thousand the smallest column holds. The first is raised of men from Butenrot, The next, after, Micenes, whose heads are gross; Along their backs, above their spinal bones, As they were hogs, great bristles on them grow. The third is raised from Nubles and from Bios; The fourth is raised from Bruns and Esclavoz; The fifth is raised from Sorbres and from Sorz; The sixth is raised from Ermines and from Mors; The seventh is the men of Jericho; Negroes are the eighth; the ninth are men of Gros; The tenth is raised from Balide the stronghold, That is a tribe no goodwill ever shews. That admiral hath sworn, the way he knows, By Mahumet, his virtues and his bones: “Charlès of France is mad to canter so; Battle he’ll have, unless he take him home; No more he’ll wear on ’s head that crown of gold.”

Ten great columns they marshal thereafter: Of Canelious, right ugly, is the first, Who from Val-Fuit came across country there; The next’s of Turks; of Persians is the third; The fourth is raised of desperate Pinceners, The fifth is raised from Soltras and Avers; The sixth is from Ormaleus and Eugez; The seventh is the tribe of Samuel; The eighth is from Bruise; the ninth from Esclavers; The tenth is from Occiant, the desert, That is a tribe, do not the Lord God serve, Of such felons you never else have heard; Hard is their hide, as though it iron were, Wherefore of helm or hauberk they’ve no care; In the battle they’re felon murderers. AOI.