The Song of RolandLeonard Bacon First and greatest French epic, this 11th-century tale of romance and heroism recounts the adventures of the warrior Roland, nephew to Charlemagne and prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Crystalline translation by Leonard Bacon of a patriotic and poetic story of valor, betrayal, and revenge. |
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Common terms and phrases
amain Amiral Archbishop Turpin army Baligant battle beard beheld Blanchandrin blood body bore Bramimonde buckler cavaliers charger Charlemagne the Emperor comrade Count Ganelon Count Roland cried dead dear doth Duke Neimes Durendal Emperor Charlemagne evil fair fair Lord fell fight forthwith France Franks fray Frenchmen gallant gave answer Geoffrey of Anjou God's gold gonfalon hand hast thou hath hauberk head helm helmet hero horn host hundred thousand King Charlemagne King Charles King Marsile knight lance land of France likewise Lord barons Lord Olivier magne Mahound Malprimis Marquis Roland mighty moreover Mountjoy nephew never o'er Ogier the Dane Paynims perish Pinabel ride rode Roncevaux Saracen Saragossa shalt thou shield slain slaughter slay smite smote Song of Roland sore sorrow spake spear spurred steed stroke sword ta'en thee Thierry thou shalt traitor Turpin the Archbishop twain twelve peers twenty thousand unto vassal war-horn wrought
Popular passages
Page 7 - But the all sufficient excuse for each new edition 1s summed up in the comment of Gaston Paris upon the great feudal romance : " At the entrance of the Sacred Way where are arrayed the monuments of our literature, the Song of Roland stands like an arch massively built and gigantic; it is narrow, perhaps, but great in conception, and we cannot pass beneath it without admiration, without respect, without pride.
Page 86 - O the way is long, But a full fifteen good leagues away they heard it echo strong. And Charlemagne hath heard it, and his every knave and knight. Said Charlemagne: "Our henchmen have fallen on some fight.
Page 173 - the derke valeye * * * * Ther never yet grew corn ne gras, Ne tre, ne no thyng that ought was.
Page 95 - No hurt I have thereby. Here I give thee my pardon, and before our God on high." And at the word each champion bowed his head before his peer. And thus it was they parted that each other held so dear.
Page 95 - I hear thee speak. I got no sight of thee. God keep thee ! If I smote thee thy pardon will I cry." And Roland spoke in answer: "No hurt I have thereby. Here I give thee my pardon, and before our God on high.
Page 8 - Iliad, we perceive greater unity of di '.íii and of colouring, and indications of a somewhat later time ; but not even here can we affirm that the poem, as we have it, is the work of one man.
Page 13 - From the upland to the sea-coast he had conquered all the land Nor was there any castle before him left to stand.
Page 171 - Adieu, barons ! Alez voir que vos amis font. Deo gracias ! Le livre des XII pairs est cy finé.
Page 5 - But the writer feels certain that a work like the Song of Roland is susceptible of many interpretations.