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This volume presents an English rendering of the medieval French epic La Chanson de Roland, based on the seventh edition of Léon Gautier’s scholarly text. The translator, prompted by an American poet’s encouragement, follows the Oxford manuscript as closely as possible, inserting Gautier’s explanatory notes in parentheses for the modern reader. The opening passages lay out the historical backdrop of Charlemagne’s retreat through the Pyrenees in 778, the disastrous ambush that kills Roland, and the ensuing legendary cycle that spread from France to Iceland and beyond. Detailed information on the poem’s manuscripts, its disputed authorship, and the mysterious refrain “Aoi” precede the first dramatic scenes of the Saracen king Marsile’s council and Charlemagne’s own deliberations, establishing the poem’s blend of historical record and mythic storytelling.
The translation retains the poem’s original French orthography and rhythmic accents, offering a faithful yet readable version of a work that predates the First Crusade. Its language is formal and archaic, echoing the chanson’s 12th‑century Norman diction while the extensive scholarly apparatus supplies the context needed for serious students of medieval literature, comparative mythology, or chivalric poetry. Readers who appreciate dense historical notes, the grandeur of epic verse, and the cultural exchange between medieval Europe and the wider world will find this edition a rewarding encounter with one of the oldest surviving French epics.
The opening · free to read
The translator has followed, as literally as possible, the text of the Oxford MS., as revised by Leon Gautier. The parts inclosed in parentheses are interpolations of the learned Professor. This revised text should be kept in hand by the English reader for comparison with the original, which is nine centuries old. The translator may thus be more likely to obtain the indulgence of the reader for the quaint representation, in a modern language, of the coloring of this most ancient poem.
The orthography of all the names, as well as their prosodic accent, has been preserved in their ancient form; and accordingly, an index has been appended to the work.
The seventh edition of Leon Gautier's "CHANSON DE ROLAND," contains a vast amount of explanatory notes, grammatical and historical, to which the reader is referred.
HISTORY OF THE POEM.
On the 15th of August, 778, in a little Pyrenean Valley, still known in our days by the name of Ronceval, a terrible event took place. Charlemagne, returning from his expedition to Spain, crossed that valley and the Pyrenees, leaving his rear-guard in command of Roland, Prefect of the Marches of Brittany. His main army had passed unmolested; but at the moment when the rear-guard advanced into the defiles of the mountain, thousands of Gascons rushed from their ambush, fell upon the French army and slaughtered the whole guard to the last man. So perished Roland.
Eginhard, the historian of Charlemagne, terminates his narrative with these words: "The House-intendant, (Regiae mensae praepositus), Eggihard, Anselm, Count of the Palace, Roland, Prefect of the Marches of Brittany (Hruolandus britannici limitis praefectus), with many more, perished in the fight. It was not possible to take revenge on the spot. The treacherous attempt once perpetrated, the enemy dispersed and left no trace." (Eginhard's Life of Charlemagne, Vol. I., p. 31; edition of the Societe de l'histoire de France.)
From the moment of the defeat of Ronceval, legend commenced its labor upon this truly epic event which, in its origin, is absolutely French, but has found its echoes throughout Europe, from Iceland to Eastern regions.
The commentators generally agree in dating the composition of the Poem before the first crusade in the year 1096. The author, it is ascertained, was Norman, the dialect used by him being Norman throughout. Whether this author was really Turoldus, named in the last line of the Poem, is a point which Leon Gautier refuses to affirm. We refer the reader to the very interesting preface of Genin, and to the learned introductions of Leon Gautier, for more complete information.
The word "_Aoi_," which is placed at the end of every stanza, and found in no other ancient French poems, is interpreted differently by the commentators. M. Francisque Michel assimilated it at first to the termination of an ecclesiastical chant--Preface, xxvii.--and later to the Saxon Abeg, or the English Away, as a sort of refrain which the "_jongleur_" repeated at the end of the couplets. M. Genin explains it by ad viam, a vei, avoie, away! it is done, let us go on!
M. Gautier, with his skeptical honesty, declares the word unexplained. See Note 9, p. 4, of his seventh edition.
MANUSCRIPTS.
The most complete and ancient is that of Oxford, in the Bodleian Library, marked "Digby, 23," a copy of the XIIth. century. All others are Rifaccimenti, Refashionings.
Two in Venice, in St. Mark Library, XIIIth. century; French MSS., No. 4 & 7.
In the National Library, Paris, No. 860, XIIIth. century.
The Versailles MS., now deposited in the Library of Chateauroux, a copy of which is in Paris Nat. Library; 15, 108; XIIIth. century.
In the Lyons Library, 964; XIVth. century.
In Cambridge, Trinity Collage, R. 3-32; XVIth. century.
One called the Lorrain, a fragment found near Metz.
The Karlomagnus Saga, an Icelandic copy of the Oxford MS.; XIIIth. century.
In M. Petit de Julleville's Introduction to his version can be found a chronological list of the works which concern the "CHANSON DE ROLAND," the translations of it, and dissertations on the subject in France and Germany.
Twelve in French, by Francisque Michel, Bourdillon, Delecluze, Genin, P. Paris, Vitet, Jonain, de Saint-Albin, d'Avril, Petit de Julleville, Lehugeur and Leon Gautier, of whose translation seven editions were issued.
Two in English, one in England by J. O'Hagan, and one in America, the latest and present one.
Besides, a version from Vitet's French paraphrase, by Mrs. Marsh.
Carle our most noble Emperor and King, Hath tarried now full seven years in Spain, Conqu'ring the highland regions to the sea; No fortress stands before him unsubdued, Nor wall, nor city left, to be destroyed, Save Sarraguce, high on a mountain set. There rules the King Marsile who loves not God, Apollo worships and Mohammed serves; Nor can he from his evil doom escape. Aoi.
II.
The King Marsile abides in Sarraguce Where underneath an orchard's leafy shade, Upon a terrace with blue marble paved He rests. Around him twenty thousand men And more are ranked. His Dukes and Counts he calls: "Oyez, Seigneurs, what gath'ring ills are ours: Great Carle, the Emperor who rules Sweet France Comes to this land to 'whelm us with his might. To give him battle I no army have, Nor people to array against his host: Your counsel give me, Lords, as my wise men, And so defend your King from death and shame;" But answer none a single Pagan gave, Save Blancandrin del Castel Val-Fonde. Aoi.
III.
Blancandrin, 'midst the wisest Pagans wise, Who, in his vassalage a valiant knight, Most prudent counsels gave to help his lord, Said to the King:--"Be not by this dismayed! To Carle the proud, the fierce, send messengers With words of faith and love. Send to him gifts Of bears and lions, packs of dogs; present Seven hundred camels also, fifty score Of molted[1] falcons, and four hundred mules With heavy weight of gold and silver packed; Then fifty chariots with their burthens heaped: Well can this treasure all his soldiers pay. Within this land he long enough has camped. To France--to Aix let him at last return; There will you join him on Saint-Michael's feast, Accept the Christian law, and swear to be His man in faith and honor. Should he ask Hostages, ten or twenty grant, to lure His trust; let us send our wives' sons. Mine--although He die, I give. Far better that their heads Should fall than we lose honor and domain, Than we ourselves to beggary be brought." Aoi.
IV.
He further said:--"By this right hand of mine, And by the beard the air waves on my breast, Soon shall you see the host of Franks disperse; To France, their land, the Franks will take their way. When each has gained the shelter of his home, King Carle will in his chapel be at Aix, To celebrate Saint Michael's solemn feast. The day will come, the term allowed will pass, And from us shall he hear nor word nor news. The King is fierce, his soul is hard; and thus Each hostage head beneath his sword shall fall. 'Twere better far that these should lose their heads Than we for aye lose glorious Spain the Fair, And suffer so great ills and doleful woes." Then say the Pagans:--"This may be the truth." Aoi.
V.
Hereat the King Marsile the council closed. Then summon'd he Clarin de Balaguer, Estramarin and Eudropin his peer; With Priamon Guarlan the bearded knight, And Machiner together with Mahen His uncle, Joimer and Malbien born Beyond the sea, and Blancandrin, to hear His words. These ten, the fiercest, he addressed: "Seigneurs Barons, ye shall go toward Carl'magne; He to Cordres, the city, now lays siege. Bear in each hand a branch of olive-tree In token of humility and peace. If by your arts his favor you can gain, I give of gold and silver, lands and fiefs To each, whatever he may ask of me." The Pagans answer all:--["Well said our lord!"] Aoi.
VI.
Marsile his council closed:--"My Lords, ye shall Set forth;--an olive branch bear in each hand: And in my name adjure King Carlemagne That by his God he mercy have on me; And ere a month be past, he shall behold Me follow with a thousand faithful knights, There to submit myself to Christian law And be his man in love and faith; and if He hostages require, them shall he have." Quoth Blancandrin:--"Good treaty will be yours." Aoi.
VII.
Marsile then ordered forth the ten white mules The King of Sicily once sent to him;-- Golden their bits--their saddles silver-wrought-- And on them mounted his ambassadors. Thus holding each a branch of olive-tree, They rode away and came to Carle of France. Nor can he from the treacherous snare escape. Aoi.
COUNCIL OF CHARLEMAGNE AT CORDOBA.
VIII.
Cheerful and blithe the Emp'ror, for Cordres Has been subdued, its massy walls o'erthrown, Its towers by mighty catapults destroyed; And there his knights have found abundant spoils Of gold and silver, and rich garnitures. Nor was one Pagan in the city left Alive, who did not own the Christian Faith. Now is the Emperor within a wide And spreading orchard; there around him stand Rolland and Olivier, Samsun the Duke, And Anseis the bold, Gefrei d'Anjou, Gonfaloneer of Carle, and also there Gerin and Gerier. Where these were, came Of others many more. In all, from France Were gathered fully fifteen thousand knights. Upon white _pallies_[2] sit these chevaliers; They play at tables[3] to divert themselves; The wiser and the elder play at chess. In mimic sword-play strive the joyous youths. Under a pine-tree, near an eglantine, Is placed a faldstool of pure gold whereon Sits he, the King--great Ruler of Sweet France. White is his beard, his head all flowering white; Graceful his form and proud his countenance; None need to point him out to those who come The Pagan messengers, dismounting, stood Before him, proffering humble faith and love. Aoi.
IX.
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