| French
Oxford Text
VERSE 1
Carles li reis, nostre emperere magnes,
Set anz tuz pleins ad estet en Espaigne.
Trequ'en la mer cunquist la tere altaigne,
N'i ad castel ki devant lui remaigne.
Mur ne citet n'i est remes a fraindre,
Fors Sarraguce, ki est en une muntaigne.
Li reis Marsilie la tient, ki Deu nen
aimet,
Mahument sert e Apollin recleimet:
Nes poet guarder que mals ne l'i ateignet.
VERSE 2
Li reis esteit en Sarraguce,
Alez en est en un verger suz l'umbre
Sur un perrun de marbre bloi se culched,
Envirun lui plus de vint milie humes.
Il en apelet e ses dux e ses cuntes:
"Oez, seignurs, quel pecchet nus encumbret:
Li empereres Carles de France dulce
En cest pais nos est venuz cunfundre.
Jo nen ai ost qui bataille li dunne,
Ne n'ai tel gent ki la sue derumpet.
Cunseilez mei cume mi saive hume,
Si me guarisez e de mort e de hunte!"
N'i ad paien ki un sul mot respundet,
Fors Blancandrins de Castel de Valfunde.
VERSE 3
Blancandrins fut des plus saives paiens,
De vasselage fut asez chevaler:
Prozdom i out pur sun seignur aider
E dist al rei: "Ore ne vus esmaiez!
Mandez Carlun, a l'orguillus e al fier,
Fedeilz servises e mult granz amistez.
Vos li sivrez a la fest seint Michel,
Set cenz camelz e mil hosturs muers,
D'or e d'argent .IIII.C. mules cargez,
Cinquante carre qu'en ferat carier:
Ben en purrat luer ses soldeiers.
En ceste tere ad asez osteiet,
En France, ad Ais, s'en deit ben repairer.
Vos le sivrez a la fest seint Michel,
Si recevrez la lei de chrestiens,
Serez ses hom par honur e par ben.
S'en volt ostages, e vos l'en enveiez,
U dis u vint pur lui a fiancer.
Enveiuns i les filz de noz muillers:
Par num d'ocire i enveierai le men.
Asez est melz qu'il i perdent le chefs
Que nus perduns l'onur ne la deintet,
Ne nus seiuns cunduiz a mendeier." |
Brault
VERSE 1
King Charles, our great Emperor,
Has been in Spain for seven long years.
He has conquered that haughty land right
to the sea,
No fortress can resist him.
No wall, no city, remains to be smashed,
Except Saragossa, which is on a mountaintop.
King Marsile, who does not love God, defends
it,
He serves Mohammed and prays to Apollo:
He cannot prevent misfortune from befalling
him there.
VERSE 2
King Marsile was in Saragossa,
He went into a garden, into the shade.
He lies down on a blue marble slab
With more than twenty thousand men around
him.
He calls his dukes and his counts:
"Now hear, my lords, what misfortune befalls
us:
Emperor Charles of fair France
Has come to our land to destroy us.
I have no army capable of giving him battle,
I have no force that can break his.
Give me the counsel you own me as my cunning
vassals
And save me from death and shame!"
No pagan utters a single word,
Except Blancadrin of Castel de Valfonde.
VERSE 3
Blancadrin was one of the most cunning
pagans,
By his courage he was very much a knight:
He had all the required qualities to help
his lord.
And he said to the King: "Don't be alarmed!"
Offer wicked and fierce Charles
Loyal service and great friendship.
Send him bears, lions, dogs,
Seven hundred camels, a thousand moulted
hawks,
Four hundred mules laden with gold and
silver,
And fifty carts for a wagon train:
With this he will be able to pay his soldiers
well.
Say that he has campaigned long enough
in this country,
That he ought to go back home to France,
to Aix.
Tell him you will follow him there at
Michaelmas,
Become a convert to Christianity,
And be his vassal in good faith and without
deception.
If he wants hostages, send him some,
Ten or twenty, to gain his confidence.
Let us send him the sons our wives have
given us:
I will send him my own son, even though
it means certain death for him.
Far better that they should lose their
heads
Than that we should lose our lands and
offices,
And be reduced to begging." |
Burgess
VERSE 1
Charles the king, our great emperor,
Has been in Spain for seven long years,
And conquered that proud land as far as
the sea.
There is no castle which can resist him,
No wall or city left to be destroyed,
Except for Saragossa, which stands upon
a mountain.
It is held by King Marsile, who does not
love God;
He serves Muhammad and calls upon Apollo.
He cannot prevent disaster from overtaking
him.
VERSE 2
King Marsile was in Saragossa;
He went into a garden, beneath the shade,
And reclines upon a slab of bluish marble
With more than twenty thousand men around
him.
He summons both his dukes and his counts:
"Hear, lords what misfortune weighs upon
us;
The emperor Charles from the fair land
of France
Has come to this country to destroy us.
I have no army to match his in battle,
Nor sufficient men to break his army down.
Give me counsel as my wise men,
And protect me from both death and shame."
There is no pagan who utters a single
word in reply,
Except for Blancandrin from Castel de
Valfunde.
VERSE 3
Blancandrin was one of the wisest of the
pagans,
A most valiant and worthy knight.
He was a man of great worth, helpful to
his lord,
And he said to the king: "Now do not be
dismayed;
Offer Charles, the arrogant and cruel,
Faithful service and very great friendship.
Promise him bears and lions and dogs,
Seven hundred camels and a thousand moulted
hawks,
Four hundred mules laden with gold and
silver,
Fifty carts to carry it all away.
With this he will be able to pay his mercenaries
well;
He has waged war long enough in this land,
The time is ripe for his return to Aix
in France.
Tell him you will follow him there at
Michaelmas
And receive the Christian faith;
You will be his vassal in honour and in
all your goods.
If he asks for hostages, send him some,
Either ten or twenty, as a mark of good
faith.
Let us send him the sons of our wives;
even if it means his death, I shall send
him mine.
Far better for them to lose their heads
there
Than for us to lose our honour and our
jurisdiction
And be reduced to begging." |
| Hayer
VERSE 1
CHARLES the king, our great emperor, has
been all full seven years in Spain. He has taken the high land as far as
the sea. There is no castle which still stands before him, there is no
wall nor city left for him to break, except Saragossa which is on a mountain.
King Marsiliun holds it, who does not love God; he serves Mahomet and confesses
Apollin. There he cannot guard himself from the reach of trouble.
VERSE 2
King Marsiliun was at Saragossa. He has
gone into an orchard, under the shade. He lies on a bench of blue marble,
around him more than twenty thousand men. He calls his dukes and his counts.
"Hear, lords, what a
trouble burdens us. The emperor Charles
of sweet France is come into this land to confound us. I have no army which
can give him battle, nor have I such people as can break his people. Counsel
me as my wise men, and save me from death and from shame." There is no
pagan who answers him a word, save Blancandrin of the castle of Valfunde.
VERSE 3
Blancadrin was of the wisest of the pagans.
By his worth he was a mighty good soldier. There was a brave man to help
his lord. And he said to the king, "Now let you not be dismayed. Send to
Charles, the haughty and the proud, your true service and very geat friednshp.
You will give him bears and lions and hounds, seven hundred camels and
a thousand hawks which have passed their moulting, four hundred mules loaded
with gold and with silver, fifty carts of which he will make atrain. With
this he will be able to pay his fighters well. He has fought long enough
in this country. He should go back to France, to Aix. you will follow him
on the feast of St. Michael, and you will receive the law of the christians,
you will be his man in honour and good will. If he wishes to have hostages,
then do
you send him some, ten or twenty, to give
him trust in you. Let us send him the sons of our wives. Though he should
be killed, I will send my own. It is much better that they should lose
their heads there, than that
we should lose our hold and lordship,
than that we should be brought to beg."
|
Moncrieff
VERSE 1
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.
VERSE 2
King Marsile 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 then knew,
Save Blancandrin of th'Castle of Val Funde.
VERSE 3
Blancadrins 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 your self 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,
Til 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 brough down to beggary." |
Owen
VERSE 1
Our sovereign Charles, the mighty emperor,
Seven long years has been on Spanish soil
And conquered that proud land right to
the sea:
It has no fortress that can still resist,
No wall unbreached, no city unsubdued
Save Saragossa on its mountain top.
The king Marsile rules there, the foe
of God,
Who serves Mahomet, to Apollyon prays.
Yet he too shall know grief, do what he
may.
VERSE 2
King Marsile, safe in Saragossa's walls.
Within a shady garden takes his ease,
Reclining on a blue-veined marble slab
And ringed by more than twenty thousand
men.
His dukes and counts he summons with these
words:
"Now hear, my lords, what bitter load
we bear:
Charles the great emperor has left fair
France
To wreak out ruin in this very land.
I have no host fit to contend with him,
No force of men able to shatter his.
So give me counsel, you my wisest men:
Say how I may escape both death and shame."
Bo pagan there replies a single word
But Blancadrin of Castel del Valfunde.
VERSE 3
Blancadrin was a valiant knight at arms,
As wise as any in the pagan realm:
Here was a man of worth to aid his lord.
And to the king he said:"Now fear no more!
Offer proud Charles in all his arrogance
Your faithful service as to a true friend.
Promise him lions, bears, dogs, camels
too-
Seven hundred, with a thousand moulted
hawks
Silver and gold borne by four hundred
mules,
And fifty laden carts to drive away
So he may pay his mercenaries well.
Say he has warred in our lands long enough
And should go back again to France and
Zix,
Where you will follow him at Michaelmas,
Pledge your acceptance of the Christian
faith
And in all honour take him as your lord.
If he want hostages, send them as well:
Ten or a score to guarantee our word.
Send him the sons our wives have borne
to us-
Mine too shall go, albeit to his death.
It is far better that they lose their
heads
Than we yield up our honour and our lands
And be reduced to begging for our bread."
|
| Piffard
VERSE 1
Charles the king, our great emperor,
Has been in Spain seven years quite full.
He conquered the high land right up to
the sea.
There is not a castle which remain before
him.
There has remained no wall or city to
break,
Save Saragossa, which is on a mountain.
King Marsile holds it, who does not love
God.
He serves Mogammed and he proclaims Apolin.
He cannot guard himself, for evil does
not attain him.
VERSE 2
King Marsile was in Saragossa.
He has gone off under the shade in an
orchard.
He lies down on a perron of blue marble,
More than twenty thousand men around him.
He calls both his dukes and his counts:
"Hear, lords, what sin encumbers us!
Emperor Charles of sweet France
Has come to confound us in this country.
I do not have such people who burst his.
Counsel me like my brave men,
And prootect me both from death and from
shame!"
There is no pagan who reply a single word,
Save Blancadrin of the castle of Valfunde.
VERSE 3
Blancadrin was among the wisest pagans.
He was knight enough in vassalage.
There was a brace man to help his lord.
And he said to the king:"Now be not dismayed!
Send to Charles, to the haughty and the
proud,
Faithful services and very great friendships.
You will give him bears and lions and
dogs,
Seven hundred camels and a thousand mewed
goshawks,
Four hundred mules loaded with gold and
silver,
Fifty carts so that he will make a charroi.
He will well be able to pay his soldiers,
He has warred plenty in this land.
He should indeed return to Aix in France.
You will follow him at the feast of saint
Michael,
And you will receive the law of the Christians.
You will be his man through honor and
through good.
It he wants hostages for it, and you send
him some,
Either ten or twenty to give him faith.
Let us send him the sons of our wives.
In the name of slaying him, I will send
him mine.
It is much better that he lose his head
there,
Than that we lose honor or dignity.
Let us not be led to begging. |
Sayer
VERSE 1
Carlon the King, our Emperor Charlemayn,
Full seven years long has been abroad
in Spain,
He's won the highlands as far as to the
main;
No castle nor wall is left for him to
break,
Save Saragossa in its high mountain place;
Marsilon holds it, the king who hate's
God's name,
Mahound he serves, and to Apollyon prays:
He'll not escape the ruin that awaits.
VERSE 2
Marsilion sat in Saragossa town,
He sought an orchard where shade was to
be found,
On a bright dais of marble he lies down;
By twenty thousand his vassals stand around.
He calls before him all his dukes and
his counts:
"Listen, my lords, what affliction is
ours!
The Emperor Charles that wears fair France's
crown
Invades our country our fortunes to confound.
I have no host but before him gives ground,
I find no force his forces for to flout;
Wise men of wit, give counsel to me now,
Save me from death and loss of my renown."
There's ne'er a paynim utters a single
sound,
Till Blancandrin, Valfonda's lord, speaks
out.
VERSE 3
Blancandrin's wise amid the paynim horde;
He was for valour a mighty knight withal,
and fit of wit for to counsel his lord.
He tells the king; "Be you afeared for
naught,
But send to Charles in his pride and his
wrath
Your faithful service and your friendship
henceforth.
Promise him lions and bears and hounds
galore,
Sev'n hundred camels and a thousand mewed
hawks,
Four hundred pack-mules with gold and
silver store,
And fifty wagons, a wagon-train to form,
Whence he may give his soldiers rich rewards.
Say, in this land he has made enough war;
To Aix in France let him go home once
more;
At Michaelmas you'll submit unto the Christian
law,
And be his man by faith and fealty sworn.
Hostages too, if for sureties he call,
You'll let him have, ten maybe or a score;
'Twere good we send the sons our wives
have borne:
I'll send mine own, though he should die
therefor.
Better by far the heads of them should
fall
than we should lose honour, estate and
all.
And be reduced to beggardy and scorn." |
Sisson
VERSE 1
THE King, our emperor Charlemagne
has been for seven years in Spain
And conquered it right to the sea.
Not a castle, wall or city
Is left left standing, except one
And this is Saragossa town,
Up a mountain. The misbelieving
Marsilie holds it, the pagan king.
A bad end come to those who follow,
Like him, Mahomet and Apollo.
VERSE 2
In Saragossa, King Marsilie
is in a shady orchard. He
lies upon blue marble and
has twenty thousand men at hand.
He calls his dukes and counts and says:
"My lords, are we not in distress?
The emperor from that sweet France
Has led our country such a dance.
My army can't stand up to him
No matter how courageous ours is.
You are supposed to give advice:
Can you say which way safety lies?"
No single pagan responds
Except Blancadrins from Val-Fonde.
VERSE 3
Blacandrins is the wisest man
The pagans have, and no one can
Outdo him in counsel or in fight.
He says: "No occasion for fright!
Charles is vain, you have only to send
Your submission and say you are his friend.
Give him bears and dogs and lions,
Seven hundred camels, a thousand falcons,
Four hundred mules with silver and gold
And fifty waggons with all they'll hold:
Then tell him it's time he went away.
Enough fighting, tell him; he'd as well
Go back now to Aix-la-Chapelle.
You will follow him, say, at Michaelmas
And become a Christian without fuss
And admit that all the honour is his:
If he wants, he can have hostages
-Ten or twenty thousand should reassure
him
We would send our sons, if that would
fools him.
They may be killed, but I'll send mine.
Better that they should have a rough time
Than that we should be dishonoured and
beg
At the end of our days for a bit of bread."
|