The Song of Roland (Laisses 66 - Laisses 176)

         Charlemagne admits to Naimon the Duke that he is worried about Roland and his men. He tells the Duke of his dreams and how he fears that Ganelon is going to betray the Franks (French). Meanwhile King Marsilion nephew gathers together warriors to ambush Roland and his troops. He finds many warriors who are willing to help lead the charge into battle. In addition to these leaders Marsilion's nephew gathers approximately a hundred thousand pagans who are driven towards battle.
        The pagans prepare for battle and begin to shout out battle-cries. Oliver hears this noise and begins to discuss the likelihood of a battle. Roland is not moved by this concern and focuses on the idea that their destiny is ordained by God. Oliver climbs a tree and sees the pagan army approaching quickly from the Spanish direction. He speaks out against Ganelon and calls him a traitor. Roland hushes these words because Ganelon is in fact his step-father. After seeing the massive amount of pagan troops approaching, Oliver races down to the French to warn them of the large numbers. He tries to get Roland to sound the horn in order to warn the rest of the French troops to return to the land. Roland's arrogance and pride outweighs the safety of his men. He refuses to blow on the horn because it would be bad for his reputation. Oliver continually tries to convince Roland to blow his horn and he responds with the same arrogance and pride. Even when Roland can start to see the pagan army that approaches he refuses to give in to Oliver's wishes.
         The Archbishop stands and speaks to the French army. He absolves them of their sins before the battle in order to give them peace if death meets them. Roland admits to Oliver that he was right about Ganelon. Roland rallies the men for the battle to come and Oliver rebukes him because he refused to sound his horn. The two armies meet and Aelroth, Marsilion's nephew, spits outs proud boast to the Franks. Roland charges him and kills the pagan splitting his soul from his body. Roland is now the one to have boastful words.

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Falsaron, Marsilion's brother, continues with the outcries and rebukes the statements made by Roland. In order to silence the pagan Oliver kills the leader. Many of the well-known warriors from the French army kill notable leaders of the pagan army. The souls of the pagans are said to be taken by Satan.
         Roland and Oliver continue to slaughter pagans while other French fighters continue to proudly kill pagans. The battle takes a turn and the fighting changes from boastful to bitter survival. How ever hard the French fight they are fated to lose in this battle with uneven numbers. King Marsilion comes on the scene with more men ready to attack the few French warriors. Roland finally understands the enormity of the situation and how unlikely it is any of the French will leave this land alive. He tells his men to still be brave and fight like the warriors they were born to be, as they have the privilege to fight for their faith. Roland and Oliver watch as the pagans kill one of their men, therefore Roland cries out to avenge the death of a comrade. This continues to occur many times until Count Roland is faced with the harsh reality of all these losses.
         Much carnage is created for both sides but it more detrimental for the French. Roland finally gives in and knows the only hope for the French is by using the oilfant (horn) to alert Charlemagne. Oliver tries to convince Roland not to sound the horn because of his prior words concerning the object. The disagreement
heightens until the Archbishop quiets the two men and explains that it is better their comrades know of the

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battle than be lost on the Spanish land. Roland blows on the horn with his whole body and soul. Charlemagne hears the cry for help and Ganelon tries to deflect his concerns, but the leader hears the sound again. The cry persists while Ganelon continues to use examples of Roland's success in past battles to change King Charles' mind. The French prepare for battle but they will be too late. They travel fast back to the battle and on the way King Charles orders Ganelon be chained up in the fashion of a typical traitor.
        Jump back to the battlefield. Roland looks around to see many of his comrades dead as he pushes on into the lost battle. Oliver is badly wounded but he continues to slaughter his enemy. Eventual he is forced to cry out to Roland for help. The Count rushes over to his friend's aid but there is nothing that can be done. As Oliver's sight dissipates he strikes his comrade not knowing the man. The last few moments of Oliver's life are spent asking for forgiveness because of the blow. After Oliver's death Roland retreats back to find that only a few men still live. One ends up dying while the other, after being wounded and unhorsed, continues to fight with vengeance. Roland sounds the horn once more with all the strength he can muster. The weak sound reaches Charles and he understands that Count Roland is on his last strength. The French push forward with greater power and sound their horns in order to respond to Roland's desperate need. The pagan's hear the massive amount of troops headed in their direction and they know of what is to come. In their fear they push to attack Roland and the Archbishop with one last hurrah. The Count sees the fierceness in the eyes of his opponent and becomes invigorated with a need to push on and fight with utmost strength. Because Charles' return to battle is destined, the two warriors pledge to fight continually until either they die or their enemy is dead.
        The pagans are afraid of Roland's power and stay at a distance while throwing weapons at the leader. They end up retreating back while Roland takes care of the Archbishop's wounds. The leader then goes and finds each of his comrades and lines them up by the Archbishop. The man of God prays for each of the warriors that died on the battlefield. Roland finds Oliver's body and lines it up with the rest. The Archbishop prays over the man while Roland weeps for all the losses he has suffered in a day. The leader ends up fainting and while trying to retrieve water for the blacked out man the Archbishop dies in the field because of his lack of blood. Roland wakes up and sees his final comrade dead in the grassy field. He prays for the mans soul and ask for it to be in Paradise.
        Roland can feel that death is near and picks up his horn and sword and heads toward Spain, fainting in the grass. Saracen, a pagan, had hid among the dead bodies and waited for the end of the battle. He gets up and rushes over to Roland and tries to take his prized sword. Roland comes around at this time and kills the cowardice, thief with his horn. He then tries to break his precious sword with his final strength in order to guarantee that no pagan uses the weapon. The leader then laments about all the battles the sword has been used in and sees that nothing can break the precious weapon. He feels death wrapping its arms around the himself. The Count prays for forgiveness of all his sins and God sends down Cherubin, Saint Michael, other angels from the sea's Peril, and Saint Gabriel to guide Roland soul to Paradise.