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La Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland)

Part VI: Ganelon's Fate

Death Of Ganelon from the Grandes Chroniques de France, Paris, BNF, Fr. 2813, fol. 124r.

Death of Ganelon from the Grandes Chroniques de France, Paris, BNF, Fr. 2813, fol. 124r
Picryl

Translated by A. S. Kline © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved.

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Contents

Verses 253-254: Baligant seeks counsel

The Franks and those from Araby fought well,

Breaking the shafts of their polished spears.

He that could have seen the lances shatter,

And heard the gleaming hauberks clash,

And heard the shields beat on iron helms,

And seen the knights falling to the ground,

And the men, dying, groaning on that field,

Would ne’er have forgot that day of sorrow,

For the fight was hard, in truth, to endure.

The admiral called upon the god Apollo;

Termagant and Mahound, he addressed:

‘My Lords divine, I have done you service;

Your images, in gold, I’ll see fashioned,

If you but aid me gainst this Charlemagne.’

His friend Gemalfin now came before him,

Bearing but evil news, for thus he spoke:

‘Lord Baligant, this day brings ill tidings,

For you have lost your son, Malprimis,

And Canabeus, your brother, he is slain.

They fell in fair fight to two brave Franks;

For the emperor, as I witnessed, was one.

Great is his form, for he is a lordly man.

White is his beard as hawthorns in May.’

The admiral bowed his helmeted head,

Lowering his gaze towards the ground,

Longing to die, so great was his sorrow;

He called to him Jangleu the Outlander.

Said the admiral: ‘Jangleu, come before me!

You are wise, and your knowledge great,

And thus your counsel I’ve ever sought.

How seems this battle with the Franks,

Shall we pagans win victory on this field?’

Jangleu replied: ‘Baligant, you must die!

You’ll win no protection from the gods.

Charlemagne is proud, his men valiant,

I’ve ne’er seen so combative a people.

But call now upon the lords of Occiant,

The Turks, Enfruns, Arabs and Giants;

Seek not to delay that which must be.’

Verses 255-257: He attacks, and battle rages

The admiral smoothed his flowing beard;

As white it was as is the hawthorn flower.

Whate’er might come, he sought not to hide.

He set to his mouth a clear-voiced trumpet,

And sounded it, so all his men might hear.

O’er all the battlefield his companies rallied.

Those of Occiant, who brayed and bleated,

Those of Arguille, who barked like hounds,

Sought out the Franks, with such wild folly

They broke and scattered all their echelons.

At that blow, seven thousand men fell dead.

Count Oger who knew naught of cowardice,

A more courageous man no hauberk knew,

Saw that the Frankish troops had broken,

And summoned Duke Tierri of Argonne,

Count Jozeran, and Gefrei of Anjou;

While addressing Charlemagne, proudly:

‘Behold how the pagans slay your men!

God remove the crown from your head

If you strike not and avenge our shame!’

Not a single word did any, there, reply,

But spurred hard, and let their horses run,

Striking fiercely at those they encountered.

Right well he fought, Charlemagne the king,

And Duke Neimes, and Oger the bold Dane,

And Gefrei d’Anjou, who bore the ensign.

Oger the Dane revealed his great prowess;

He spurred his horse, and let it gallop,

And struck the man who bore the dragon,

Trampling both beneath his horse’s feet,

Both the dragon and the king’s ensign.

Baligant saw his gonfalon brought low.

Saw the standard of Mahomet downed,

And thus at once the pagan admiral knew

That Charlemagne, not he, was in the right.

More than a hundred warriors turned about.

The emperor called out to his Franks again:

‘Say, my barons, will you aid me, by God?’

The Franks replied: ‘Ill, that you need ask!

He’s a villain that seeks not deeds of war!’

Verses 258-260: Baligant and Charlemagne fight man to man

The day passed, and evening was upon them,

Franks and pagans struck with their swords.

Brave were they, who led the mighty hosts,

Ne’er had they neglected their standards,

The admiral still called out ‘Precieuse!’,

Charlemagne ‘Montjoie!’, his famous cry.

Each knew the other’s commanding voice;

Midst the field, they met now in encounter.

They moved to strike, dealing mighty blows,

Driving their lances at each other’s shields,

Shattering them beneath the broad buckles;

Splitting their hauberks, and their doublets,

But failing as yet to pierce each other’s flesh.

The girths were broken, the saddles freed;

Both kings went tumbling to the ground.

And yet at once upon their feet they stood,

Boldly, unsheathing their gleaming swords.

Neither would turn aside from that duel,

Rather one king must die, ere it ended.

Brave was Charlemagne of France the Fair;

The admiral knew neither fear nor caution.

Drawing their naked blades from the sheath,

They dealt fierce blows against their shields;

Piercing the leather, and twin layers of wood.

Out came the nails, the buckles broke apart,

Still the naked blades struck the hauberks.

From their bright helms the red sparks flew.

Neither would break free from that battle,

Till one avowed he was in the wrong.

Said the admiral: ‘Charlemagne, take thought

Repent now of your actions towards me!

It was you, or so I think, who slew my son;

And, wrongly, you have attacked my realm;

Become my man, and render me homage;

Serve my will, from here to the Orient!’

Charlemagne replied: ‘That were but vile;

Peace nor love shall I grant to a pagan.

Receive the law that our God revealed,

The Christian creed, and I’ll love you ever;

Serve, and believe in, the Lord Almighty!’

Said Baligant: ‘An ill sermon you preach!’

They struck with their naked swords again.

Verses 261-262: Charlemagne slays Baligant; the enemy flee

The admiral proved himself full of valour;

He struck Charlemagne on his steel helm,

And broke and split it, close to the crown.

Through a mass of hair went the blade,

Sliced away a palm’s breadth or so of flesh,

And left the bone bare within the wound.

Charles swayed, and nigh fell to the ground,

Yet, by God’s will, was but stunned not slain.

Saint Gabriel it was, came down to seek him,

And asked: ‘Great monarch, what is this?’

Charlemagne, on hearing the angel’s voice,

Eschewed all fear, and thought not of death.

He regained both consciousness and vigour,

And struck the admiral with France’s blade,

Breaking the helm, upon which jewels shone,

Splitting the skull, and scattering the brains,

And next the face down to his white beard;

Such that to death he fell, beyond all saving.

‘Montjoie!’ cried Charlemagne for all to hear.

At that cry, Duke Neimes sped to his side,

Held Tencendur, and helped the king remount.

The pagans fled; God wished them not to stay;

And the Franks, now, had all they’d prayed for.

Verses 263-266: He takes Zaragoza; the death of Marsilius

The pagans fled, swiftly, as was God’s will.

The Franks chased after, led by Charlemagne.

Said the king: ‘My Lords, avenge our loss.

Discharge your hearts, release your spirits,

For this morn your eyes were of full of tears.’

The Franks answered: ‘Sire, indeed we will!’

Each struck such blows as he could muster,

Such that few foes that remained, escaped.

Great was the heat, clouds of dust arose;

The pagans fled, the Franks harried them.

The hunt was up, from there to Zaragoza.

Bramimunde climbed to a tower on high,

Around her stood all the clerks and priests

Of her false creed, whom God ne’er loved,

Of no Order, and with heads un-tonsured.

Gazing on the rout of those from Araby,

She cried aloud: ‘Aid us now, Mahomet!

Ah, my noble king, our side are vanquished,

And the admiral slain, to our great shame!’

Marsilius, hearing, turned towards the wall.

His eyes shedding tears, his visage veiled,

He died of grief, encumbered so with sin

That living devils came to snatch his soul.

Pagans lay dead; others were put to flight,

And Charlemagne conquered in the battle.

He then broke apart the gates of Zaragoza,

Knowing they could not now be defended;

He had taken the city; all his army entered,

And that night they occupied it in strength.

Fierce was that king with the white beard,

And Bramimunde abandoned the towers,

Ten massive, with fifty lesser about them.

Great are his exploits whom the Lord aids!

The day had passed, the sky grew darker,

The stars shed fire, the moon shone clear,

And Charlemagne had taken Zaragoza.

He had a thousand Franks search the city,

The synagogues, and the mosques, within.

With the iron clubs and axes that they bore,

They shattered all the images and idols,

Till naught false or fraudulent remained.

The God-fearing monarch did Him service;

The bishops blessed the water-cisterns,

And led forth the pagans to be baptised,

Threatening any that opposed his wishes

With being burned, beheaded, or hung.

They baptised a hundred thousand or so,

As true Christians, save the queen alone

Who’d be led prisoner to France the fair;

He would convert her to the love of God.

Verses 267-269: Charlemagne returns to Aix; the death of Alde

The night was past, and bright was the dawn.

The emperor garrisoned Zaragoza’s towers,

Placing a thousand warrior knights there,

To guard the site according to his orders.

The monarch mounted, his men followed.

Bramimunde was led forth, a prisoner,

Though he intended her naught but good.

Then they rode forth, in joy and triumph.

They entered Narbonne in full strength,

And journeyed on to renowned Bordeaux.

Above the altar of Saint Séverin he set

The ivory war-horn, bound up with gold,

For all the pilgrims, crowding there, to see.

Taking ship, the king sailed past Gironde,

And brought his nephew’s body to Blaye,

With that of Oliver, the true companion,

And that of Turpin, the wise and brave.

In white coffers he had their corpses laid,

In Saint-Romain, where those barons lie,

Commending them to God and his angels.

Then Charlemagne rode on, by hill and vale,

Staying nowhere long, till he reached Aix.

As soon as he’d attained his lofty palace,

On the terrace, before it, he dismounted.

By messenger, he summoned his judges;

Bavarian, Saxon, Frisian, and German,

Lotharingian too, and those of Burgundy,

Of Normandy, of Brittany, and Poitou,

The wisest judges in the Frankish realm,

There to commence the trial of Ganelon.

The emperor, thus, journeying out of Spain,

Had returned to Aix, his capital in France.

Entering the palace, he attained the hall,

And there the lovely Alde welcomed him.

To him she said: ‘Where’s my Lord Roland,

Who swore that he’d take me for his bride?’

Then Charlemagne felt a weight of sorrow,

And, weeping freely, tore his beard again:

‘My sister, dear, you speak but of the dead.

I shall wed you, I swear, to a nobler still,

Louis, that is, and what could I say more,

For he’s my son, and heir to all my realm.’

Alde replied: ‘Your words are alien to me.

By the Lord, by His angels, and His saints,

If Roland lives no more, then, nor shall I!’

Pallid, she fell before Charlemagne’s feet,

Stone dead; God have mercy on her soul!

The Frankish barons wept and lamented.

Alde the Fair had, thus, quit this life,

Though he thought at first she’d fainted.

The emperor felt pity for her, and wept,

And went to raise her from the ground.

Her head but drooped upon her shoulder.

King Charlemagne, on seeing she had died,

Summoned at once, to him, four countesses.

To a nunnery they bore her body thence,

And kept vigil all night until the dawn.

She was nobly interred before the altar,

The monarch showing her every honour.

Verses 270-273: The trial of Ganelon commences

Charlemagne, having thus returned to Aix,

Had the vile Ganelon, still in iron chains,

Brought all through the city to the palace.

The guards then bound him fast to a stake,

His hands tied with strong deer-hide thongs,

And beat the man hard with whips and clubs.

For the villain had deserved no better a fate,

And so, in the depths of woe, awaited trial.

It is written, in the old tales of the Franks,

That Charlemagne summoned many a lord,

And from many a land, to Aix-la-Chapelle.

Then, upon a holy day, for it was the feast,

As many a man relates, of Saint Silvestre,

The trial began, with the pleas in defence

Of Ganelon, who had committed treason.

The emperor had him brought before him.

‘My lords’ declared Charlemagne the king,

‘Judge, now, the case of Ganelon for me!

He was among the host, with me, in Spain

And robbed me of twenty thousand Franks,

Of my nephew, whom we’ll see no more,

And Oliver, the valorous and courteous,

Betraying all the Twelve Peers for gain.’

Said Ganelon: ‘Vile were I, if I hid aught.

Roland took both gold and goods from me,

And so I sought his death and destruction;

Yet any thought of treason, I, here, deny.’

The Franks replied: ‘We must take counsel.’

Before the emperor, then, Ganelon stood,

Handsome of frame, and noble of aspect.

A fine lord he’d seemed were he but loyal.

He gazed upon the Franks, and the judges,

With thirty of his kin to plead his cause,

And cried aloud, in a great booming voice:

‘Hear me, my lords, for the love of God!

I was among the host, with our emperor.

With loyalty and love I did him service.

Roland, his nephew, full of hatred for me,

Swore he would bring me death and woe.

I played the messenger to King Marsilius,

And by my wit and wisdom, saved myself.

I defied Roland, and nigh came to blows,

With him, and Oliver, and their comrades.

Charlemagne and his barons witnessed it.

Vengeance I took; in that there’s no treason.

The Franks replied: ‘We must take counsel.’

Verses 274-276: Pinabel adopts Ganelon’s cause

Now, when Ganelon began to plead his case,

He had full thirty of his kinsmen by him.

One of them, to whom the others listened,

Was Pinabel, lord of the castle of Sorence.

He was eloquent and spoke good sense,

A brave man, strong in his own defence.

Ganelon said: ‘I set all my hopes on you.

Save me, this day from death and calumny!’

Said Pinabel: ‘You shall be saved, indeed.

There’s not a Frank thinks you ought to die.

Were the emperor himself to meet with me,

With my good steel blade, I shall refute it.’

Count Ganelon knelt down to kiss his feet.

Lords from Saxony and Bavaria were there,

With Normans, and Franks and Poitevins;

Many Germans attended, and Tiedeis.

Those of Auvergne showed him courtesy,

But most declined to face Lord Pinabel.

Saying each to each: ‘Best leave this alone,

Accept the plea, and request of the king

That he quits the action gainst Ganelon;

Who then may serve in love and loyalty.

Roland is dead, and we’ll see him no more,

No gold or treasure will being him back.

Most fool he who’d seek trial by combat.’

There was but one that opposed their plan;

He was Tierri, brother to Gefrei d’Anjou.

The barons returned, seeking Charlemagne.

They said to the king: ‘Sire, we beg of you,

To forgo your claim against Count Ganelon,

Who then may serve, with love and loyalty;

Let him live, for he is a most noble man.

Your nephew is dead; to be seen no more;

Naught is there will bring him back again.

Then cried the King: ‘Villains are you all!’

Verses 277-279: Tierri takes up the challenge

Once Charlemagne saw they would fail him,

He bowed his head, gazing at the ground,

Naming himself but a coward, in his grief.

But one of his knights, Tierri, stood forth,

That brother to Gefrei, Duke of Anjou.

Long and lean was he of limb, and wiry;

His hair was black, his complexion dark;

Not great in size was he, yet not too small.

He addressed the emperor, courteously:

‘My fair and royal Sire, be not concerned.

You know I have ever served you well.

By my ancestors, I’ll uphold your cause.

And if Roland took aught from Ganelon,

Your debt to him gave him full warrant!

Ganelon proved vile in betraying you so;

He perjured himself, wrought you harm;

So I judge that he be taken up, and slain,

His corpse thrown to the dogs and ravens,

As a villain who contrived pure villainy.

If any of his kindred would dispute it,

With this sword that’s sheathed at my side,

I will at any time defend that judgement.’

The Franks replied: ‘This is well-spoken.’

Pinabel now approached the emperor.

Large was he, strong, brave, and nimble;

And he whom he struck, oft saw his last.

He said: ‘Sire, all this is at your pleasure.

Command an end, now, to all this noise.

Behold Tierri here, who passes judgement;

I cry him false, and I accept his challenge.’

His left glove Pinabel handed to the king.

The emperor said: ‘Guarantors are needed.’

The thirty kinsmen gave him their pledges.

‘Likewise I grant as much to you,’ said he.

The left glove he held, till a right be shown.

Tierri, his challenge having been accepted,

Gave his right-hand glove to Charlemagne.

The emperor then took the offering hostage.

Four benches were brought and set in place,

On which the combatants and kin would sit.

In accord with the wise judgement of others,

Oger the Dane held parley between the two;

Then they asked for their steeds and armour.

Verses 280-285: The duel commences

And now the pair were readied for the duel.

Confessed, absolved, they crossed themselves.

Having heard the Mass, taken Communion,

Rich offerings they rendered Mother Church.

Before Charlemagne both then appeared:

Their spurs already strapped to their ankles,

Their hauberks bright, strong and yet light,

Their gleaming helms fastened on their heads,

Their swords girt on, all hilted in pure gold.

With quartered shields hung about their necks,

In their right hands, they grasped sharp lances.

Then they mounted their swift-running steeds.

And a hundred thousand knights shed a tear,

Who, for Roland’s sake, supported Tierri.

God alone knew how the fight would end.

Beneath the walls of Aix lay a meadow,

Marked out for the combatants’ battle.

The two were skilful and full of courage,

And their horses were steadfast yet swift.

They spurred hard, and loosened the reins,

And moved to strike each other forcefully;

Their shields were rent apart and shattered,

Their hauberks split; the girths were broken,

The straps slipped, the saddles fell to earth.

A hundred thousand watched on and wept.

Both the knights, now, were on the ground;

Yet both men leapt, at once, to their feet.

Pinabel was nimble, and strong yet light.

Each now, unhorsed, sought out the other.

With those swords, whose hilts were gold,

The beat on, and struck at, their steel helms:

Hard were the blows, their helmets split.

The knights of France were troubled then.

‘Lord,’ cried Charlemagne, ‘reveal the right!

Cried Pinabel: ‘Tierri, come, surrender!

I shall be your man, in love and loyalty,

And yield my wealth, for your pleasure,

If you’ll but have the king absolve Ganelon.

Tierri answered: ‘I’ll not take that offer.

I’d be a villain forever to thus concede.

The Lord will judge whose cause is right!’

He spoke on: ‘Pinabel you are courageous,

Large and strong, your body well-formed.

Your peers think you a good man in a fight:

Why not make an end then of our battle?

I’ll see you friends with Charlemagne;

Such punishment will fall on Ganelon

That will be spoken of for many a day.’

Said Pinabel: ‘God would be displeased!

I seek to maintain my kinsman’s cause,

Nor have I ever fled from mortal man;

Rather I would die than be shamed so!’

The pair struck hard again with their blades,

Beating on those gold-studded helmets,

Showering bright sparks towards the sky.

The two combatants would not be parted,

Nor make an end, ere the other lay dead.

He was skilful, Lord Pinabel of Sorence,

He struck Tierri on his Provençal helm,

Raising such a spark the turf was scorched;

He presented, next, the point of his blade,

And sliced hard down on Tierri’s brow,

So shattering the visor, on which it fell;

The right cheek was drenched with blood;

And Tierri’s hauberk split to the belly;

Yet the Lord saved him from sudden death.

Verses 286-287: Tierri slays Pinabel, and so wins the fight

Tierri finding that his face was wounded,

A stream of bright blood falling to the turf,

Struck Pinabel on his helmet, now dulled,

Splitting the steel down to his nose-piece,

And scattering his brains o’er the ground.

He gripped his blade till the man fell dead,

And with that blow the contest was won.

The Franks cried: ‘God’s justice is shown!

Now tis right that Count Ganelon be hung,

And those of his kin adhering to his cause.’

Now that Tierri had won the victory,

The emperor Charlemagne approached;

With forty of his barons in his train.

Including Duke Neimes, Oger the Dane,

Gefrei d’Anjou, and Willalme of Blaye.

The king took Tierri in his close embrace,

Wiped his face with fistfuls of marten-skins,

Then dropped them, as others were brought.

Most gently then, the knights disarmed him;

Then, mounting him on an Arabian mule,

They led him forth in style, most joyously.

They entered Aix, and there dismounted.

Then punishment of the offenders began.

Verses 288-289: Ganelon and his thirty kindred are executed

Charlemagne called to his dukes and counts:

‘What shall be done with those held here?

For they came here in support of Ganelon;

Rendering themselves hostages in so doing,

The Franks replied: ‘Not one of them shall live!’

The King called to his executioner, Basbrun:

‘Hang them on the tree whose wood is cursed!

And by this beard of mine, and its white hairs,

Should one escape, death and shame are yours!’

Basbrun replied: ‘Who would do otherwise?’

A hundred sergeants now led the men away;

All those thirty kindred were swiftly hung.

So traitors condemn themselves and others.

The Germans and Bavarians now departed,

The Bretons, and Normans, and Poitevins.

Midst all who remained the Franks decided

That Ganelon should die in mortal anguish;

Men, leading forth four mighty chargers,

Bound his feet and hands, each to a steed.

The horses were wondrous fierce and strong;

Four sergeants led them by their bridles,

Towards a stream flowing through a field.

Ganelon was soon consigned to perdition.

His sinews stretched until they snapped,

And his limbs torn away from his body.

The crimson blood stained all the grass.

Ganelon died, as should the vilest villain.

None should live to boast of their treachery.

Verses 290-291: Bramimunde is baptised; Gabriel tasks Charlemagne

Once the emperor had extracted vengeance

He called to him all the bishops of France,

And all those of Bavaria, and Germany:

‘A free-born lady is now of my household,

Who has heard such sermons, with precedents,

She now believes in God, and baptism seeks.

Baptise her, that the Lord may have her soul!’

They answered: ‘The rite must be sponsored,

By noble ladies of well-established lineage.’

Such a company gathered to the baths at Aix,

And there the Saracen queen was baptised,

And was given the name then of Juliana,

Rendering her Christian, by true cognisance.

When the emperor had seen justice done,

And was free of his overwhelming anger,

And when Bramimunde had been christened,

The day was done, and the night upon him.

The king lay down in his vaulted chamber.

Saint Gabriel was sent by God, and spoke:

‘Rouse your imperial host, Charlemagne,

And go, in full force, to the land of Bire,

To bring help to King Vivien, at Imphe,

For that city the pagans have besieged.

The Christians, there, cry to you for aid.’

The emperor had scant wish so to journey.

‘Lord’, said the king: ‘My life is full of pain!’

His eyes shed tears; he tore at his white beard.

Here ends the tale that Turold has rehearsed.

The End of Part VI and of ‘La Chanson de Roland’