Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1959, Blaðsíða 216
202
The following episode is much longer in V4 and the version rimée than
in O. In the latter version Roland praises the prowess of the archbishop,
and the fighting begins (vv. 1671-79); Roland, Oliver and Turpin kill
more than 4000 pagans, but only 60 of the French knights are left (vv.
1680-90); Roland is now beginning to see that his pride and obstinacy
have led to disaster,
1697: E reis, amis, que vos ici nen estes?
Oliver, frere, cum le purrum nus faire?
Cum faitement li manderum nuveles?”
But Oliver does not know what to do: mockingly, he repeats Roland’s
argument from the “trumpet scene”,
1701: Mielz voeill murir que hunte nus seit retraite”.
In V4 and the version rimée also the episode starts with Roland’s praise
of Turpin, but between O vv. 1679 and 1680, these MSS have inserted
four additional laisses (V4 vv. 1727-80, C vv. 2887-2950, etc.), describing
the battie in greater detail, using a number of stock phrases:
V4 1726: Molt gran dolor li e de cristien. = O 1679
V4 1727: Li Franchi de Franga a lor arme perdue, = C 2887-88
V4 1728: Ancora i e ben quatro cent spee nue; cp. C 2889 (no number)
These fight on bravely, thrusting and striking, piercing hauberks, etc., and
the pagans (or Marsilie himself) curse them:
V4 1733: Dis li pai'n: “Molt Frangois nu desfigure:
Chi no se defende de soa vita no a cure!
V4 1735: Tera Major, Machomet te destrue, = C 2893
La toa gent a la mia confundue! =: C 2894
Tante cité m’a frato et tolue,
V4 1738: Che (Jarlo tene a la barba ganue! = C 2895
Marsilie encourages his men to fight on,
V4 1743: Se Rollant more, Karlo perdra soa vie, = C 2900-01
E sel vive, la nostre avrem perdue”.
V4 1745: Fellon pain orge fer de lor lance = C 2903-04
In qil escuz, in li elme ke reflambe: cp. C 2907
Fer et acer li rend tel consonance;
V4 1749: Sangue et cervelle ki doncha vedes spander! cp. C 2909-11
V4 1750: Li cont Rollant si n’a dol e pesange, =; C 2913
Quand vid morir qui bon vasal gataine. = C 2914