His catapults have battered town and tow’r.
Great good treasure his knights have placed in pound,
Silver and gold and many a jewelled gown.100
In that city there is no pagan now
But he been slain, or takes the Christian vow.
The Emperour is in a great orchard ground
Where Oliver and Rollant stand around,
Sansun the Duke and Anséis the proud,105
Gefreid d’Anjou, that bears his gonfaloun;
There too Gerin and Geriers are found.
Where they are found, is seen a mighty crowd,
Fifteen thousand, come out of France the Douce.
On white carpets those knights have sate them down,110
At the game-boards to pass an idle hour;—
Chequers the old, for wisdom most renowned,
While fence the young and lusty bachelours.
Beneath a pine, in eglantine embow’red,
Stands a fald-stool, fashioned of gold throughout;115
There sits the King, that holds Douce France in pow’r;
White is his beard, and blossoming-white his crown,
Shapely his limbs, his countenance is proud.
Should any seek, no need to point him out.
The messengers, on foot they get them down,120
And in salute full courteously they lout.
IX
The foremost word of all Blancandrin spake,
And to the King: “May God preserve you safe,
The All Glorious, to Whom ye’re bound to pray!
Proud Marsilies this message bids me say:125
Much hath he sought to find salvation’s way;
Out of his wealth meet presents would he make,
Lions and bears, and greyhounds leashed on chain,
Thousand mewed hawks, sev’n hundred dromedrays,
4
