The Song Of Roland (Zongo Classics)

By Dorothy L. Sayers

Presents the classical epic, glorifying the heroism of Charlemagne in the 778 battle between the Franks and the Moors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zongo
• Release date: Apr 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9780140440751

Dorothy L. Sayers

Simon Winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, The Men Who United the States, The Map That Changed the World, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa, all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006, Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen. He resides in western Massachusetts.

Book preview

Anonymous

I

Charles the King, our Lord and Sovereign,

Full seven years hath sojourned in Spain,

Conquered the land, and won the western main,

Now no fortress against him doth remain,

No city walls are left for him to gain,

Save Sarraguce, that sits on high mountain.

Marsile its King, who feareth not God's name,

Mahumet's man, he invokes Apollin's aid,

Nor wards off ills that shall to him attain.

II

  King Marsilies he lay at Sarraguce,

  Went he his way into an orchard cool;

  There on a throne he sate, of marble blue,

  Round him his men, full twenty thousand, stood.

  Called he forth then his counts, also his dukes:

  "My Lords, give ear to our impending doom:

  That Emperour, Charles of France the Douce,

  Into this land is come, us to confuse.

  I have no host in battle him to prove,

  Nor have I strength his forces to undo.

  Counsel me then, ye that are wise and true;

  Can ye ward off this present death and dule?"

  What word to say no pagan of them knew,

  Save Blancandrin, of th' Castle of Val Funde.

III

  Blancandrins was a pagan very wise,

  In vassalage he was a gallant knight,

  First in prowess, he stood his lord beside.

  And thus he spoke: "Do not yourself affright!

  Yield to Carlun, that is so big with pride,

  Faithful service, his friend and his ally;

  Lions and bears and hounds for him provide,

  Thousand mewed hawks, sev'n hundred camelry;

  Silver and gold, four hundred mules load high;

  Fifty wagons his wrights will need supply,

  Till with that wealth he pays his soldiery.

  War hath he waged in Spain too long a time,

  To Aix, in France, homeward he will him hie.

  Follow him there before Saint Michael's tide,

  You shall receive and hold the Christian rite;

  Stand honour bound, and do him fealty.

  Send hostages, should he demand surety,

  Ten or a score, our loyal oath to bind;

  Send him our sons, the first-born of our wives;—

  An he be slain, I'll surely furnish mine.

  Better by far they go, though doomed to die,

  Than that we lose honour and dignity,

  And be ourselves brought down to beggary."

IV

  Says Blancandrins: "By my right hand, I say,

  And by this beard, that in the wind doth sway,

  The Frankish host you'll see them all away;

  Franks will retire to France their own terrain.

  When they are gone, to each his fair domain,

  In his Chapelle at Aix will Charles stay,

  High festival will hold for Saint Michael.

  Time will go by, and pass the appointed day;

  Tidings of us no Frank will hear or say.

  Proud is that King, and cruel his courage;

  From th' hostage he'll slice their heads away.

  Better by far their heads be shorn away,

  Than that ourselves lose this clear land of Spain,

  Than that ourselves do suffer grief and pain."

  That is well said. So be it. the pagans say.

V

  The council ends, and that King Marsilie

  Calleth aside Clarun of Balaguee,

  Estramarin and Eudropin his peer,

  And Priamun and Guarlan of the beard,

  And Machiner and his uncle Mahee,

  With Jouner, Malbien from over sea,

  And Blancandrin, good reason to decree:

  Ten hath he called, were first in felony.

  "Gentle Barons, to Charlemagne go ye;

  He is in siege of Cordres the city.

  In your right hands bear olive-branches green

  Which signify Peace and Humility.

  If you by craft contrive to set me free,

  Silver and gold, you'll have your fill of me,

  Manors and fiefs, I'll give you all your need."

  We have enough, the pagans straight agree.

VI

  King Marsilies, his council finishing,

  Says to his men: "Go now, my lords, to him,

  Olive-branches in your right hands bearing;

  Bid ye for me that Charlemagne, the King,

  In his God's name to shew me his mercy;

  Ere this new moon wanes, I shall be with him;

  One thousand men shall be my following;

  I will receive the rite of christening,

  Will be his man, my love and faith swearing;

  Hostages too, he'll have, if so he will."

  Says Blancandrins: Much good will come of this.

VII

  Ten snow-white mules then ordered Marsilie,

  Gifts of a King, the King of Suatilie.

  Bridled with gold, saddled in silver clear;

  Mounted them those that should the message speak,

  In their right hands were olive-branches green.

  Came they to Charle, that holds all France in fee,

  Yet cannot guard himself from treachery.

VIII

  Merry and bold is now that Emperour,

  Cordres he holds, the walls are tumbled down,

  His catapults have battered town and tow'r.

  Great good treasure his knights have placed in pound,

  Silver and gold and many a jewelled gown.

  In that city there is no pagan now

  But he been slain, or takes the Christian vow.

  The Emperour is in a great orchard ground

  Where Oliver and Rollant stand around,

  Sansun the Duke and Anseis the proud,

  Gefreid d'Anjou, that bears his gonfaloun;

  There too Gerin and Geriers are found.

  Where they are found, is seen a mighty crowd,

  Fifteen thousand, come out of France the Douce.

  On white carpets those knights have sate them down,

  At the game-boards to pass an idle hour;—

  Chequers the old, for wisdom most renowned,

  While fence the young and lusty bachelours.

  Beneath a pine, in eglantine embow'red,

  l Stands a fald-stool, fashioned of gold throughout;

  There sits the King, that holds Douce France in pow'r;

  White is his beard, and blossoming-white his crown,

  Shapely his limbs, his countenance is proud.

  Should any seek, no need to point him out.

  The messengers, on foot they get them down,

  And in salute full courteously they lout.

IX

  The foremost word of all Blancandrin spake,

  And to the King: "May God preserve you safe,

  The All Glorious, to Whom ye're bound to pray!

  Proud Marsilies this message bids me say:

  Much hath he sought to find salvation's way;

  Out of his wealth meet presents would he make,

  Lions and bears, and greyhounds leashed on chain,

  Thousand mewed hawks, sev'n hundred dromedrays,

  Four hundred mules his silver shall convey,

  Fifty wagons you'll need to bear away

  Golden besants, such store of proved assay,

  Wherewith full tale your soldiers you can pay.

  Now in this land you've been too long a day

  Hie you to France, return again to Aix;

  Thus saith my Lord, he'll follow too that way."

  That Emperour t'wards God his arms he raised

  Lowered his head, began to meditate.

X

  That Emperour inclined his head full low;

  Hasty in speech he never was, but slow:

  His custom was, at his leisure he spoke.

  When he looks up, his face is very bold,

  He says to them: "Good tidings have you told.

  King Marsilies hath ever been my foe.

  These very words you have before me told,

  In what measure of faith am I to hold?"

  That Sarrazin says, "Hostages he'll show;

  Ten shall you take, or fifteen or a score.

  Though he be slain, a son of mine shall go,

  Any there be you'll have more nobly born.

  To your palace seigneurial when you go,

  At Michael's Feast, called in periculo;

  My Lord hath said, thither will he follow

  Ev'n to your baths, that God for you hath wrought;

  There is he fain the Christian faith to know."

  Answers him Charles: Still may he heal his soul.

XI

  Clear shone the sun in a fair even-tide;

  Those ten men's mules in stall he bade them tie.

  Also a tent in the orchard raise on high,

  Those messengers had lodging for the night;

  Dozen serjeants served after them aright.

  Darkling they lie till comes the clear daylight.

  That Emperour does with the morning rise;

  Matins and Mass are said then in his sight.

  Forth goes that King, and stays beneath a pine;

  Barons he calls, good counsel to define,

  For with his Franks he's ever of a mind.

XII

  That Emperour, beneath a pine he sits,

  Calls his barons, his council to begin:

  Oger the Duke, that Archbishop Turpin,

  Richard the old, and his nephew Henry,

  From Gascony the proof Count Acolin,

  Tedbald of Reims and Milun his cousin:

  With him there were Gerers, also Gerin,

  And among them the Count Rollant came in,

  And Oliver, so proof and so gentil.

  Franks out of France, a thousand chivalry;

  Guenes came there, that wrought the treachery.

  The Council then began, which ended ill.

XIII

  My Lords Barons, says the Emperour then, Charles,

  "King Marsilies hath sent me his messages;

  Out of his wealth he'll give me weighty masses.

  Greyhounds on leash and bears and lions also,

  Thousand mewed hawks and seven hundred camels,

  Four hundred mules with gold Arabian charged,

  Fifty wagons, yea more than fifty drawing.

  But into France demands he my departure;

  He'll follow me to Aix, where is my Castle;

  There he'll receive the law of our Salvation:

  Christian he'll be, and hold from me his marches.

  But I know

Reviews for The Song Of Roland (Zongo Classics)

[bespen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Song of Roland is a classic of Western literature, part of the mythology surrounding Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire. Probably composed in this form sometime in the 11th century, the Song of Roland was hugely popular for a very long time, and it informed what it meant to be a Christian knight during the High Middle Ages.While the Song of Roland contains the fanciful embellishments common to all epic poetry [the superhero movie of medieval Europeans], the core of the story seems to have been transmitted substantially intact: the rearguard of Charlemagne's army, led by Hruodland, captain of the Breton Marches, was ambushed and killed to a man in Roncesvalles Pass in 778. The only things resembling a historical record of this come from a brief passage in a revised edition of the Life of Charles the Great, and a coin bearing the names "Carlus" and "Rodlan".However, something noteworthy seems to have happened in that mountain pass, given that the story appears to have been already popular by the time it was written down. With the evidence thin on the ground, barring the discovery of any heretofore unknown manuscripts, a heroic folk memory is likely to be all we have.My own interest in the Song of Roland has been developing slowly for fifteen years. I had heard of the book before then, but it was the game Halo that really sparked my interest. There is a tradition in science fiction and videogames of drawing upon the deep wells of classical literature and mythology. Probably because both are popular art forms that speak to our souls, and anything old enough to truly be classical usually has to also be popular, or to have been popular for a long enough time to survive accidents of history.Roland and the other paladins of Charlemagne carried named swords, weapons of unusual power granted as boons to worthy warriors. These swords, among them Durendal, Joyeuse, and Curtana, all featured in the epics that grew up around the character of Roland. Real swords that still exist are known by these names, usually used as part of the mythology of legitimacy that surrounds kings of ancient lineage. It is at least possible that some of these objects might actually date to the periods in question, although many of them lack the supernatural qualities the epics describe.The statue that appears in the sidebar of my own website, Ogier the Dane, or Holger Danske, came out this same milieu. It is conceivable that Ogier actually lived in the eighth century, and that he was a servant or vassal of Charlemagne, although it is also possible that he is simply a figment of our collective imagination. In the epics, Ogier carried Curtana, a sword with the tip broken off, to symbolize mercy. Since it is the tip of a European style sword that is truly dangerous, this random bit of chivalric legend has appealed to me for a long time.The more I learn about the myths and legends like the Song of Roland, the better I like them. Random bits of history, technology, and theology I learn tend to accrete to them in ways that make them more plausible as bits and pieces of real events passed down over many generations. Stories are never just stories.

[lindawwilson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A childhhood favorite, assuming this is the correct book and not some poem; the real story of Roland was a favorite of my father's and also my son, Jim.

[marcush_42 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Song of Roland is a medieval poem created in the 11th or 12th century that details three interconnected events. The first is a battle between Spanish pagans and Charlemange's rear guard, the second details Charlemange and his Frankish troops exacting revenge for the previous attack, and the third details the trial of Roland's stepfather, Ganelon, who committed treason when he provided the pagans with an opportunity to attack Charlemange's rear guard in an effort to exact revenge on Roland.The poem is definitely influence. One can see multiple courses of influence throughout literature (Shakespeare to name one). The poem (depending on the translation) can become repetitive and dry at times, but overall should always be read as a foundation block to modern creations in literature.It's also very easy to see how influential oral tradition was and is. As the introduction explains, this was passed down through generations by jongleurs/minstrels. There is definitely a play like quality to the progression of this poem.This should be read for it pure historical value, if not for any other reason.

[benjaminhahn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Once one gets past the clear religious bias of the poem, it really is a fun read simply for what the poem can tell us about the people of medieval Europe. From a history of war stand point, the code of chivalry depicted here is very interesting. The honor system in this poem gives the reader a glimpse back into the past. Well, not really a glimpse into historical accuracy, but perhaps into what medieval French Christians valued at the time. It also allows one to imagine how armies, leadership, and diplomacy were conducted. Roland timed his horn signal, not so that he could be reinforced and win, but so that the King would witness his death, and thus be enraged to reenter the entire Frankish army with the pagans. Sacrifice for honor. So many of the heroes in The Song of Roland, do not want to be insulted after they die. Above all, they want to die with honor. That is what was valued. This of course all requires a very strong belief in an afterlife which rewards self sacrifice. A very useful tool for leaders who need their soldiers to stand their ground. I really enjoyed this translation by Charles Kenneth Scott-Moncrieff. It's almost as fun reading aloud as Fagles' Illiad. There is also a very good introduction and great illustrations in this newly published Folio Society edition.

[karl6steel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Looked over a few of the other reviews. Look, folks, it's not a romance, and it has nothing to do with 'courtly love.' It's the chanson de geste. Not a romance. Nothing erotic going on here.

Given that the earliest ms is in Anglo-Norman, kept track this time round of Charlemagne's involvement in England.

I do wish, however, that I had assigned Burgess's trans. Curious to have a go with it. The use of 'race' in this one seems a bit off.

[dinadansfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Original Western European Romance. Probably penned around 1099 or so. The Hero is valiant, and the historical accuracy is very poor. But as an artefact, it shows the beginning of popular entertainment in the Crusading West. I prefer Sayers' translation to the more recent Penguin by Glyn Burgess when I'm reading for the fun of it.

[ottilieweber-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

read for school..blah quiz

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

No scholarly review here, I'm just a gal who likes to read epic poetry now and then. The version I read was translated by Leonard Bacon. It was perfectly readable, although repetitive. Probably had to be so, so that the reciter could go around to different groups during the meal and they wouldn't miss bits of the tale. That's how I imagine it anyway. Very descriptive and interesting, a battle told from the perspective of the losers trying to keep their pride, since the real battle apparently was very different.

[hamburgerclan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In need of something to read over lunch, I pulled this on off the shelf. The Song of Roland is an old French tale, recounting a highly romanticized version of Charlemagne's battle against the Moors at the pass of Roncesvals. It's an epic tale of bravery, betrayal and medieval justice. While there are many parts that are awkward to a 21st Century reader, I found the book to be overall entertaining.--J.

[sashame-485567 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Illustrative of the mechanism of blame, responsibility, tragedy, and agency of the divine in the Carolingian Empire.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had to read The Song of Roland for medieval lit, mostly because it's an epic of the period, while the other medieval texts are all romances -- I assume that later we'll have to make some comparisons and draw some contrasts. It's interesting to me because of my background with the classical epics -- it reminds me very strongly of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Obviously, they're all oral poems, designed to be memorised and performed, so in terms of language there's a lot of similarity, but there's also a similarity in the heroes -- the honour thing, for example, Roland shares with Achilles: it's better to die with honour than anything else.

I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it, really. It's very easy to read, in this translation at least, and though the tense shifts in a way that should be awkward, the flow is quite easy to go along with. The descriptions are very... colourful. Which is to say, I winced at certain parts -- like Roland's brains seeping out of his ears, and Ganelon being torn into pieces.

Another interesting thing for me is the portrayal of the pagans, and the way it's been twisted from real history. The "otherness" of the pagans has been highly emphasised -- although also some of them are shown to be good knights so that they're actually a worthy opponent for Charlemagne and Roland to face.

Very interested to know what more my lecturer has to say about this poem.

[veevoxvoom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Song of Roland is a medieval epic poem detailing the feats of Charlemagne. It is, according to Wikipedia, the oldest surviving example of French literature. In The Song, Charlemagne’s Franks go to battle against the Spanish Saracens, a battle precipitated by a traitor in Charlemagne’s midst.Really, this is an epic about Christians vs. Muslims. It was written around the time of the Crusades and serves as an excellent piece of propaganda about the glory of Christianity and defeating “the pagans.” Like every battle epic out there, the protagonists are pure and manly and valiant, their testosterone flying off the page. The Saracens, of course, are ignorant villains. This is medieval literature, remember, so one can’t expect too much in the way of cultural understanding. For example, the Muslims here worship three gods: Muhammad, Apollo, and Tervagant. Um, wrong.But with all that said, The Song of Roland is a pretty enjoyable read. The translation I have by Glyn Burgess is accessible and plain, which makes it a welcome sight knowing the headache it usually takes for me to read really old works. The language is simple but effective, and if you’re looking for dramatic, chivalric values on the battlefield, you can’t go wrong.Questionable politics. Decent battle epic.