Page:The Song of Roland.djvu/43

 Proud Charlemagne this message bids me say: You must receive the holy Christian Faith, And yield in fee one half the lands of Spain. If to accord this tribute you disdain, Taken by force and bound in iron chain You will be brought before his throne at Aix; Judged and condemned you’ll be, and shortly slain, Yes, you will die in misery and shame.” King Marsilies was very sore afraid, Snatching a dart, with golden feathers gay, He made to strike: they turned aside his aim. AOI.

King Marsilies is turnèd white with rage, His feathered dart he brandishes and shakes. Guenes beholds: his sword in hand he takes, Two fingers’ width from scabbard bares the blade; And says to it: “O clear and fair and brave; Before this King in court we’ll so behave, That the Emperour of France shall never say In a strange land I’d thrown my life away Before these chiefs thy temper had essayed.” “Let us prevent this fight:” the pagans say.

Then Sarrazins implored him so, the chiefs, On the faldstoel Marsillies took his seat. “Greatly you harm our cause,” says the alcaliph: “When on this Frank your vengeance you would wreak; Rather you should listen to hear him speak.” “Sire,” Guenès says, “to suffer I am meek. I will not fail, for all the gold God keeps, Nay, should this land its treasure pile in heaps, But I will tell, so long as I be free, What Charlemagne, that Royal Majesty, Bids me inform his mortal enemy.”