CLXXXIV
Clear was the night, the moon shone radiant.
Charles laid him down, but sorrow for Rollant
And Oliver, most heavy on him he had,
For ’s dozen peers, for all the Frankish band2515
He had left dead in bloody Rencesvals;
He could not help, but wept and waxèd mad,
And prayed to God to be their souls’ Warrant.
Weary that King, for grief he’s very sad;
He falls on sleep, he can no more withstand.2520
Through all those meads they slumber then, the Franks;
Is not a horse can any longer stand,
Who would eat grass, he takes it lying flat.
He has learned much, can understand their pangs.
CLXXXV
Charles, like a man worn out with labour, slept.2525
Saint Gabriel the Lord to him hath sent,
Whom as a guard o’er the Emperour he set;
Stood all night long that angel by his head.
In a vision announcèd he to him then
A battle, should be fought against him yet,2530
Significance of griefs demonstrated.
Charlès looked up towards the sky, and there
Thunders and winds and blowing gales beheld,
And hurricanes and marvellous tempests;
Lightnings and flames he saw in readiness,2535
That speedily on all his people fell;
Apple and ash, their spear-shafts all burnèd,
Also their shields, e’en the golden bosses,
Crumbled the shafts of their trenchant lances,
Crushed their hauberks and all their steel helmets.2540
His chevaliers he saw in great distress.
Bears and leopards would feed upon them next;
Adversaries, dragons, wyverns, serpents,
Griffins were there, thirty thousand, no less,
Nor was there one but on some Frank it set.2545
And the Franks cried: “Ah! Charlemagne, give help!”
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