Here for you wife I have two brooches found,
Amethysts and jacynths in golden mount;
More worth are they than all the wealth of Roum;
Your Emperour has none such, I’ll be bound.”640
He’s taken them, and in his hosen pouched.
AOI.
LI
The King now calls Malduiz, that guards his treasure.
“Tribute for Charles, say, is it now made ready?”
He answers him: “Ay, Sire, for here is plenty:
Silver and gold on hundred camels seven,645
And twenty men, the gentlest under heaven.”
AOI.
LII
Marsilie’s arm Guene’s shoulder doth enfold;
He’s said to him: “You are both wise and bold.
Now, by the law that you most sacred hold,
Let not your heart in our behalf grow cold!650
Out of my store I’ll give you wealth untold,
Charging ten mules with fine Arabian gold;
I’ll do the same for you, new year and old.
****
Take then the keys of this city so large,
This great tribute present you first to Charles,655
Then get me placed Rollanz in the rereward.
If him I find in valley or in pass,
Battle I’ll give him that shall be the last.”
Answers him Guenes: “My time is nearly past.”
His charger mounts, and on his journey starts.660
AOI.
LIII
That Emperour draws near to his domain,
He is come down unto the city Gailne.
The Count Rollanz had broken it and ta’en,
An hundred years its ruins shall remain.
22
