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Roland and Vernagu
{stub 262ra}
 {stub 262vb}
For he it seiȝe wiþ siȝt. {f.263ra}
Now bigin ichil of him,
Of Charls þat was stout & grim
& tel ȝou al þat riȝt.
5000 ¶ An hundred winter it was & þre 
Seþen God dyed opon þe tre
Þat Charls þe king
Hadde al Fraunce in his hond,
Danmark & Jnglond,
1000 Wiþouten ani lesing,
Lorein & Lombardye,
Gascoun, Bayoun & Pikardye
Was til his bidding,
& emperour he was of Rome
1500 & lord of al Cristendome;
Þan was he an heiȝe lording.
In þat time was an emperour
In Costentin of gret honour,
Constansious he hiȝt,
2000 God he loued & alle his
& hated hem þat dede amis
Wiþ al his miȝt.
In Speyn þo þer was a king,
A stern man wiþouten lesing,
2500 Þat werred oȝain þe riȝt;
Ebrahim was his name,
Wide sprong his riche fame -
He was a douhti kniȝt.
¶ Alle þat leued in Godes lawe,
3000 He lete hem boþe hong & drawe,
Þo þat he miȝt oftake;
& þe patriark of Ierusalem
Out of lond he dede him flem,
Al for Godes sake.
3500 Þe patriarke was ful wiis
& to þemperour he went, ywis,
His mone for to make,
Hou þe king Ebrahim
Out of lond exiled him
4000 Wiþ michel wer & wrake.
¶ King Costance þemperour
Made swiþe gret dolour
For þis tidinges,
Ihesu Crist bisouȝt he,
4500 Almiȝti God in trinite,
{f.263rb}
King of al kinges,
He sende him grace him to slo
Þat had ywrouȝt so michel wo
& slawe Godes ginges;
5000 & sone so he had þe bon ybede
An angel liȝt doun in þat stede,
& þis bode him bringes.
¶ Þe angel seyd to þemperour
'Wele þe greteþ þi saueour,
5500 Ihesu ful of miȝt,
& bit þe sende wiþ michel anour
After Charls þe conquerour -
He is a douhti kniȝt.
He schal þe help in batayl
6000 & sle þe Sarraȝin wiþouten fail
Þat doþ oȝain þe riȝt.
Þemperour was glad & bliþe,
& þonked God fele siþe,
His hert nas neuer so liȝt.
6500 ¶ Four þe best he sent of hem:
Þat on hiȝt Dauid of Ierusalem
& Samuel also,
Jon of Naples was anoþer,
Ysac hiȝt þe ferþ broþer,
7000 Þider he gan go.
He went to þe palais of Rome,
& bifor sir Charls come
& told him of her wo;
Þai toke him þe letter & kist his hand,
7500 Swiche was þe lawe of þe land
& schal ben euer mo.
¶ Charls wepe for þat dede
When he herd þe letter rede
& hete an heiȝeing
8000 Al þat miȝt armes bere
Kniif or scheld, swerd or spere,
Men schuld bifor him bring.
Þai busked hem & made hem ȝare,
To Costentin for to fare,
8500 Wiþouten ani lesing.
Þemperour was glad, ywis,
& vnderfenge wiþ miche blis,
Sir Charls þe king.
¶ Riche iuels wiþouten lesing, {f.263va}
9000 Sir Costance þe king
Bifor sir Charls he brouȝt,
Sauage bestes for þe nones,
Gold & siluer & riche stones,
Ac þerof nold he nouȝt;
9500 He bisouȝt him of more honour,
Of Ihesu our saueour
Þat al þis warld haþ wrouȝt,
Þat he on suffred passioun
Of þe croice & of þe croun,
1000 Þerof he him bisouȝt.
¶ Þemperour his wil dede
& ladde him to þe holy stede
Þere þe relikes ware;
Þer com swiche a swete odour
1050 Þat neuer ȝete so swete sauour
No feld þai neuer are.
Of þe smal þat was so swote
Þre hundred sike hadde her bote
& cast were out of care.
1100 Þan brouȝt þai forþ þe holy croun
& þe arme of seyn Simoun
Biforn hem alle þare,
¶ & a parti of þe holy crosse
Þat in a cristal was don in clos,
1150 & Godes cloþeing,
Our leuedi smok þat hye had on,
& þe ȝerd of Araon,
Forþ þai gun bring,
& a spere long & smert
1200 Þat Longys put to Godes hert,
He ȝaf Charls þe king,
& a nail long & gret
Þat was ydriue þurth Godes fet,
Wiþouten ani lesing.
1250 ¶ When Charls had reseiued þat þing He bisouȝt Ihesu heuen-king
To sende him miȝt & space
For to wite þe soþe þere,
ȝif þe relikes verray were,
1300 Er he þennes pase.
Þan decended a liȝtnesse
Doun riȝtes fram þe heuen-blis,
In þat ich place, {f.263vb}
Þat þai wenden alle, ywis,
1350 Þai hadde ben in paradys,
So ful it was of grace.
¶ Þai tok leue at þemperour
& þonked him of gret honour
& to Aise in Gascoyn went,
1400 Þer he duelled, siker apliȝt.
So he biheld opon a niȝt
Vp to þe firmament,
A way of sterres he seiȝe, ywis,
Out of Spaine into Galis,
1450 As red as brond þat brent.
He bisouȝt God in trinite
To sende him grace wite wat it be
Wiþ wel gode entent.
¶ & in þe þouȝt þat he was in
1500 Þer com a voice & spac to him,
Wiþ a milde steuen
'Iames þe apostel bi Crist,
Iones broþer þe wangelist,
Godes deciple of heuen
1550 Þat God bad prechy on þe se,
Forþi Herodes lete me sle,
Þerof y þe neuen;
Mi body liþ in Galis,
Biȝond Speyne, for soþe ywis,
1600 Jurnays mo þan seuen.
¶ Forþi me wondreþ wiþouten fail
Þat þou comest nouȝt to do batayl
Þat lond for to winne,
& ȝif þou winnes þat lond, ywis,
1650 Y schal þe bring into þat blis,
Þer ich woni inne.
Al þat me sekeþ, more & lesse,
Schal haue forȝeuenes
Of her dedeli sinne.
1700 Now wende & do as y þe sede
& in batayl þou schalt spede
When þou it wil biginne.
¶ Þe way of sterres bitokneþ, ywis,
Þat of Spaine & of Galis
1750 Þou schalt be conquerer;
Lorain & Lombardye,
Gascoyne, Bayoun & Pikardye {f.264ra}
Schal be in þi pouwer.'
Þus com þe apostel Jamis
1800 Þries to Charls & seyd þis,
Þat was so stoute & fer.
Now wendeþ Charls wiþ his ost
Into Speyne wiþ michel bost
As ȝe may forward here.
1850 ¶ Þe first cite was Pampiloun Þat was a swiþe noble toun
Þat Charls gan asayl
& sex moneþes he it bilay, apliȝt,
Þat noþing winne he it no miȝt
1900 For alle his batayle;
For þe walles so strong were
He no miȝt haue non entre þere
Wiþouten ani fayl,
Þer were mani strong gines
1950 & fele þousand of saraȝines
Swiþe heyȝe of parail.
¶ Þan praid Charls to God of heuen
'Lord,' he seyd 'here mi steuen.
Astow art ful of miȝt,
2000 Sende me grace þis cite to winne
& sle þe Sarraȝins herinne
Þat don oȝain þe riȝt.'
Þo felle þe walles of þe cite,
Charls entred wiþ his meyne
2050 Als a douhti kniȝt
& þurth þe miracle þat was þere
Ten þousand Sarraȝins cristned were
In þat ich niȝt.
¶ & þo þat nold nouȝt cristned be
2100 He lete hem hong opon a tre
Er he þennes pase.
Þus Charls þurth Spayn gan gon
& wan þe cites eurichon,
Al þurth Godes grace.
2150 Where he com in ani erd
Ich man was of him aferd
Þat loked on his face.
Þe names of eueri cite
Þat he wan, y schal tel ȝe
2200 Er ich hennes pase:
¶ Visim, Lameche & Sumy, {f.264rb}
Colomuber, Luche & Vrry,
Brakare & Vimaraile,
Compostel, a cite grete,
2250 Aurilian & Tullet
Þat strong is to asayl;
Golddelfagar & Salamencha,
Vline, Canayls, Madris, al swa
Calatorie & Lestoyl,
2300 Medinacel, an heiȝe cite,
Segouus þe grete & Salamenche,
Gramie & Sturgel,
¶ Godian & Emerite,
Bourg in Spaine, þat nis nouȝt lite,
2350 A swiþe noble toun;
Nasers & Mathed,
Carion & Vrpaled,
& Oche of gret renoun;
Burbagalle, a castel also,
2400 Costant, Petros & oþer mo,
Bayet & Pampiloun,
Ventos in þe grene vale,
Caparre, Eustorge & Entale,
Gascoine & Bayoun,
2450 ¶ Toutor, a strong castel, Landulif & Portingal,
Burnam & Saragouns,
Granad & Satyne,
Costaunce & Deine,
2500 Teragon & Valouns,
Leride, Acoun & Siuile
Charls wan in a while,
Agabie & Vrens,
Quaramelide, Gibalderie,
2550 Barbaster, Vice and Almarie,
Agabie & Sisens.
¶ Acoun, þat y spak of ere,
Seyn James deciple liþ þere
Þat hat seyn Torquas;
2600 A swiþe fair oliif tre
Biside his toumbe men may se
Þat springeþ þurth Godes grace;
Opon his fest in mid May,
Þeron is frout of gret noblay,
2650 Boþe more & lasse;
{f.264va}
& who þat sekeþ hem verrament,
At þe day of iuggement
Schal se Godes face.
Alle þe londes þat were in Spayne
2700 Wiþ dint of swerd wan Charlmain:
Portingale & Lauers,
Landuluf & Chastel,
Bigairs, Bastles & londes fele,
Moys & Nauers.
2750 Alle þe londes he wan ȝern,
Til he com to Lucern -
So stout he was & fers -
& tvelmoneþ he it bilay, apliȝt,
& noþing win he it miȝt,
2800 For al his dussepers.
¶ Þo preyd Charls to God abone,
Þat he h[i]m sent grace sone,
Þe cite for to winne.
Þo fel þe walles adoun riȝtes,
2850 King Charls entred wiþ his kniȝtes
Þurth þat ich ginne;
Charls acurssed þat cite
& Ventos, & Caparre & Deneye
For her dedeli sinne;
2900 Deserd þai were after þan
Þat neuer seþþen no Cristen man,
No durst com þerinne.
¶ For Charls curssed þo Lucern,
Also tite þe toun Ganbern,
2950 & schal don euer mo;
& of þe smoc of þat toun
Mani takeþ þerof pusesoun
& dyeþ in michel wo;
& þer þe oþer þre cites stode
3000 Beþ waters red of helle flode
& fisches þerin al blo;
& who þat wil nouȝt leue me
In Spaine men may þe soþe yse
Who þat wil þider go.
3050 ¶ & while Charls was in þat stede A fair miracle God for him dede
Er he gan þennes wende;
Braunches of vines Charls sett
In Marche moneþ wiþouten lett, {f.264vb}
3100 As was þe riȝt kende,
& amorwe grapes þai bere,
Red & ripe to kerue þere,
For paners þai gun sende;
& for 'Paners' þai crid þo
3150 ȝete men clepeþ þe cite so,
& schal to þe warldes ende.
¶ Clodonius, þe first Cristen king,
& Clotayrs, wiþouten lesing,
King Dagabers & Pipin,
3200 Won mani tounes in Spaine
Ac þe gode Charlmain
Wan it al wiþ gin.
Alle þe maumetes in Spaine were
Þat were þe Sarraȝins leue & dere,
3250 King Charls & Turpin,
Þai destroyd þurth Godes miȝt,
Sum þurth miracle & sum þurth fiȝt,
So seyt þe Latin.
¶ & an image of gret pouste,
3300 Stode on a roche bi þe se
In þe gilden lond;
His name was Salanicodus,
As a man yschapen he wes
& held a glaiue an hond.
3350 Mahoun maked him wiþ gin
& dede mani fendes þerin,
As ich vnderstond,
For to susten þe ymage
& sett him on heiȝe stage,
3400 For no man nold he wond.
¶ Þe face of him was turned souþe riȝt,
In her lay þe Sarraȝins founde, apliȝt,
Of Iubiter & Mahoun,
Þat when yborn were þe king
3450 Þat schuld Spaine to Cristen bring,
Þe ymage schuld falle adoun;
Charls dede þat ymage falle
& wan in Spaine þe cites alle,
Boþe tour & toun;
3500 & wiþ þe tresour þat he wan þere
Mani a chirche he lete arere
Þat was of gret renoun.
¶ Þe first chirche, for soþ ywis, {f.265ra}
Was seyn James in Galis
3550 Þat he lete arere,
Wiþ an hundred chanouns & her priour,
Of seynt Ysador þe confessour
For to serui þere;
& in Aise a chapel
3600 Of lim & ston ywrouȝt ful wel,
Of werk riche & dere,
& seyn James at Burdewes,
& on at Tolous, anoþer at Anevaus,
& mo as ȝe may here.
3650 Charls duelled, siker apliȝt, Þre mones & fourten niȝt
In Bayoun wiþ his ost,
Þer fel a miracle of a kniȝt
Wiche þat was to deþ ydiȝt,
3700 Þurth þe holy gost;
Sir Romain for soþe he hiȝt,
Er he dyd he hadde his riȝt
Wiþouten ani bost;
On of his frendes he cleped him to
3750 'Y schal dye, it is so,
Ful wele þou it wost.
¶ Mine cloþes þat ichaue,
Þerwiþ þat y be brouȝt in graue
Wiþ mete & drink & liȝt,
3800 & sel min hors on heiȝeing
Pouer clerkes sauters to sing,
Þerto þat it be diȝt.'
& when he hadde yseyd þus stille,
Also it was Godes wille,
3850 Þan died þe kniȝt;
Þe hors was seld wiþouten duelinges,
For to hundred schillinges,
& put it vp, apliȝt.
¶ & at þe nende of þritti niȝt
3900 To his seketour com þe
ded kniȝt,
& seyd in þis maner
'Mi soule is in heuen-blis,
For þe loue of min almis
Þat y sett here
3950 & for þou hast athold min,
Þritti days ichaue ben in pin
Þat wel strong were; {f.265rb}
Paradis is graunted me
& in þat pain þou schalt be
4000 Þat ich was in ere.'
¶ Þe ded þus in his way went,
& he awaked verrament,
& wonder hadde, apliȝt,
& amorwe his sweuen he told
4050 To erls & to barouns bold,
To squiers & to kniȝt;
& amonges hem alle,
As þai stoden in þe halle,
Þer com a windes fliȝt
4100 & fele fendes þat were swift
& beren him vp into þe lift
& held him þere four niȝt.
¶ Seriaunce þe bodi souȝt
Ac þai no miȝt it finde nouȝt
4150 Four dayes no more.
Fro Bayoun he went wiþ his ost
& þurth Nauern wiþ miche bost,
Þe bodi þai founde þore,
Þer þe fendes had let him felle
4200 & bere his soule into helle,
To hard paines sore.
So schal eueri sekatour
Þe dedes gode abigge wel sour
Þat hye binimeþ þe pore.
4250 No[w] late we be of þis þing & speke of Charles þe king
Þat michel was of miȝt,
Of his lengþe & his brede,
As þe Latin ous sede,
4300 Ichil ȝou rede ariȝt;
Tventi fete he was o lengþe
& also of gret strengþe
& of a stern siȝt,
Blac of here & rede of face,
4350 Whare he com in ani place
He was a douhti kniȝt.
¶ Four times in þe ȝere
On his heued he bere
Þe holy croun of þorn,
4400 At Ester, at Wissontide,
& at seyn James day wiþ pride, {f.265va}
& in ȝole as God was born.
& atte þe mete in þe halle
Among his kniȝtes alle
4450 A drawe swerd him biforn,
Þis was þe maner ay,
& schal be til domesday,
Of emperour ycorn.
¶ & whare he slepe aniȝt
4500 Wel wise he was & wiȝt
& douted of tresoun,
An hundred kniȝtes him kept
Þat non of hem no slept
Þat were of gret renoun,
4550 & eueri duȝti kniȝt
Held a torche liȝt
& a naked fauchoun.
Þus king Charls lay
Wiþ his ost mani a dai
4600 In þe cite of Pampiloun.
¶ & on a day com tiding
Vnto Charls þe king
Al of a douhti kniȝt
Was comen to Nasers.
4650 Stout he was & fers,
Vernagu he hiȝt;
Of Babiloun þe soudan
Þider him sende gan
Wiþ king Charls to fiȝt;
4700 So hard he was to fond
Þat no dint of brond
No greued him, apliȝt.
¶ He hadde tventi men strengþe,
& fourti fet of lengþe
4750 Þilke panim hede,
& four fet in þe face,
Ymeten in þe place,
& fiften in brede;
His nose was a fot & more,
4800 His browe as brestles wore,
He þat it seiȝe it sede
He loked loþeliche
& was swart as piche;
Of him men miȝt adrede.
4850 Charls com to Nasers
{f.265vb} Wiþ his dussepers,
To se þat painim.
He asked wiþouten fayl,
Of king Charls batayl,
4900 To fiȝt oȝaines him.
Charls wonderd þo
When he seiȝe him go,
He biheld him ich a lim
For seþþen he was ybore
4950 He no hadde ysen bifore
Non þat was so grim.
¶ Sir Oger þe Danais,
A kniȝt ful curtays,
To him first was ysent,
5000 & at his coming
Vernagu an heyȝeing,
Vnder his arm him hent,
Yarmed as he was,
He toke him in þe plas,
5050 & to þe castel he went.
Sir Oger schamed sore,
Him oþouȝt þat com þore
& held him foule yschent.
¶ Reynald de Aubeþpine
5100 Was sent to þat Sarraȝin,
He serued him also;
& seyd to Charlmain
'Sir, þo þou won Spain,
Hadestow non better þo,
5150 So Mahoun me ȝiue rest;
Oȝain ten swiche þe best
To fiȝt ich wold go.'
Sir Costentin of Rome,
& þerl of Nauntes come,
5200 To fiȝt wiþ boþe to,
¶ & Vernagu bar boþe,
No were þai neuer so wroþe,
To Nassers castel,
Vnder aiþer arm on,
5250 As stille as ani ston;
Miȝt þai nouȝt wiþ him mele.
Þo Charls sent ten,
Also he serued his men,
Miȝt no man wiþ him dele. {f.266ra}
5300 Charls biþouȝt þo
ȝif he sent mo
It were him wroþerhele.
Roland þe gode kniȝt,
Þo bad leue to fiȝt,
5350 Oȝain þat painim,
King Charls seyd 'nay,
Þou no schalt nouȝt, bi þis day,
He is to stout & grim.'
So long he him bad
5400 Þat leue of him he hadde.
Rouland armed him
& com anonriȝt
Into þe feld to fiȝt
Oȝain þat Sarraȝin.
5450 ¶ & at his coming þare Sir Vernagu was ware
& tok him vnder his hond,
Out of his sadel he gan him bere
& on his hors swere
5500 He set Roulond;
& Rouland smot him so
Þat Vernagu þo
Vnto þe grounde wond.
& when þe Cristen seiȝe þis,
5550 Þat Vernagu fallen is,
Þai þonked Godes sond.
¶ Þai lopen opon her stede,
& swerdes out þai brede,
& fiȝt þai gun þo.
5600 Rouland wiþ Durindale
Brewe him miche bale
& carf his hors ato.
When Vernagu was o fot
He no couþe no better bot,
5650 To Rouland he gan go,
In þe heued he smot his stede
Þat ded to grounde he ȝede,
O fot þan were þai bo.
¶ A fot þai tok þe fiȝt
5700 & Vernagu anonriȝt
His swerd he had ylore.
Rouland wiþ al his miȝt
He stired him as a kniȝt {f.266rb}
& ȝaf him dintes sore.
5750 Til it was ogain þe none
Þus þai layd opon
Ay til þai weri wore.
Douk Rouland sone he fond
Þat wiþ no dint of brond
5800 He slouȝ him neuer more.
¶ When it com to þe neue
Vernagu bad leue
To resten of þat fiȝt,
Rouland him trewþe ȝaf,
5850 So he most bring a staf,
After his wil ydiȝt;
Vernagu graunted wel
& went to her hostel
When þat was niȝt.
5900 Amorwe wiþouten fail
Þai com to þe batayl
Aiþer as douhti kniȝt.
¶ Sir Rouland brouȝt a staf
Þat king Charls him ȝaf
5950 Þat was long & newe,
Þe bodi of a ȝong oke,
To ȝif þerwiþ a stroke,
He was touȝ & trewe.
& wiþ þat gode staf
6000 Wel mani dintes he ȝaf
Vernagu þe schrewe.
& at þe non, apliȝt,
Þai gun anoþer fiȝt
& stones togider þrewe.
6050 ¶ Gode rappes for þe nones Þai ȝauen wiþ þe stones
Þat sete swiþe sore;
Þat helme & heye targe
Þurth her strokes large
6100 Þerwiþ þai broken wore.
& Vernagu at þat cas
So sore asleped was
He no miȝt fiȝt no more;
At Rouland leue he toke
6150 Þat time, so seyt þe boke,
For to slepe þore.
¶ Roland ȝaf leue him {f.266va}
For to slepe wele afin
& rest him in þat stounde,
6200 & seyd þat he nold
For þe cite ful of gold
Be þerwiþ yfounde
Slepeand to slen a kniȝt,
Þei þat he had in fiȝt
6250 ȝif him deþes wounde.
Þo Vernagu lay adoun
To slepe he was boun
Þere opon þe grounde.
¶ & Vernagu rout þore
6300 As a wild bore
Þo he on slepe was.
To him Rouland gan gon
& tok þe gretest ston
Þat lay in þat place,
6350 He leyd vnder his heued, ywis,
For him þouȝt it lay amis,
To lowe at þat cas.
& Vernagu vp stode
He stard as he were wode
6400 When he awaked was.
¶ Vernagu asked anon
'Who leyd þis gret ston
Vnder min heued so?
It no miȝt neuer be,
6450 Bot ȝif he were a kniȝt fre.
.... .... ....
Wist ich who it were
He schuld be me leue & dere
Þei þat he were mi fo.'
6500 Quaþ Rouland sikerly
'Certes it was y,
For þat þou rot so.
¶ & when þo[u] me louest miche,
Now tel me sikerliche
6550 Whi þou art so hard
Þat no þing may þe dere,
Knif, no ax, no spere,
No no dint of sward.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'sikerly,
6600 No man is harder þan y
Fram þe nauel vpward,
Forþi y com hider, ywis, {f.266vb}
To fiȝt wiþ king Charlis
Wiþ þe hore bard.'
6650 ¶ Vernagu to Rouland sede 'Also þi God þe spede,
Whare were þou yborn?'
'In Fraunce, bi seynt Austin,
King Charls cosyn,
6700 Our kinde lord ycorn.
We leueþ opon Ihesu,
Þat is ful of vertu,
Þat bare þe croun of þorn,
& ȝe leueþ in þe fende,
6750 Forþi wiþouten ende
ȝe schul be forlorn.'
¶ & when þat Vernagu
Yherd speke of Ihesu
He asked wat man he was.
6800 Sir Rouland seyd 'he is
Þe king of paradys
& lord ful of gras,
In a maiden he was bore
To bigge þat was forlore,
6850 As sonne passeþ þurth þe glas
& dyed opon þe rode
For our alder gode
& nouȝt for his gilt it nas,
¶ & suffred woundes fiue
6900 & ros fram ded to liue,
Þan þridde day,
& fet out Adam & Eue
& mo þat were him leue
Fram helle for soþe to say,
6950 & sitt in trinite,
O God in persones þre;
Swiche is our lay.'
¶ Vernagu seyd þo
'It no miȝt neuer be so,
7000 Þerof y sigge nay.
¶ Hou miȝt it euer be
Þat he were on & þre?
Tel me now þe skille.'
Rouland þan sede
7050 'Also God me spede,
ȝis, wiþ a gode wille. {f.267ra}
As þe harp has þre þinges,
Wode & soun & strenges,
& mirþe is þertille,
7100 So is God persones þre
& holeliche on in vnite
Al þing to fulfille.
¶ & as þe sonne haþ þinges þre,
Hete & white on to se
7150 & is ful of liȝt,
So is God in trinite,
Vnite & mageste,
& lord ful of miȝt.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'now y se
7200 Hou he is God in persones þre,
Now ich wot þat riȝt,
Ac hou þat he bicom man,
Þe lord þat þis world wan,
Þerof no haue y no siȝt.'
7250 ¶ Quaþ Rouland 'he þat ous bouȝt & al þing maked of nouȝt
Wele miȝt he be so hende
Þat he wald sende his sone
In a maiden for to wone
7300 Wiþouten mannes kende.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'saunfayl,
Þerof ichaue gret meruail
Hou miȝt he fram hir wende?
Hou miȝt he of hir be bore
7350 Þat was a maiden bifore?
Y no may nouȝt haue in mende.'
¶ Rouland seyd to Vernagu
'Mi lordes fader Ihesu
Is so michel of miȝt
7400 Þat he made sonne & se
& fisches in þe flod to be,
Boþe day & niȝt,
Wele may he þan, as y þe er seyd,
Ben ybore of a maide
7450 Wiþouten wem, apliȝt.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'it may wele be,
Ac hou he dyed y no can nouȝt se;
Tel me now þat riȝt.
¶ For I nist neuer no man
7500 Þat aros after þan
{f.267rb}
When þat he ded was,
& ȝif he Godes sone were
He no miȝt nouȝt dye þere;
Tel me now þat cas.'
7550 Quaþ Rouland 'y schal tel þe.
His bodi slepe vpon þe tre
& þe þridde day aras,
His Godhed waked euer & ay
& to helle tok þe way
7600 & bond Satanas.
¶ So schul we al arise
& of þe dome agrise
Atte day of iuggement,
& answerey for our dede,
7650 Þe gode & þe quede,
Hou we our liif haue spent.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'now ichot wel
Hou he aros ichadel
& haue in min entent,
7700 Ac hou he steyȝe to heuen
Y no can nouȝt neuen
No wite verrament.'
¶ Þan seyd Rouland
'O Vernagu, vnderstand,
7750 Herken now to me.
Þat ich lord þat wiþ his miȝt,
In a maiden aliȝt,
Yborn for to be,
As þe sonne aros in þe est,
7800 & decended in þe west,
Astow miȝt now se,
Riȝt so dede God almiȝt,
Mounted into heuen-liȝt,
& sit in trinite.'
7850 ¶ Quaþ Vernagu 'now ich wot ȝour Cristen lawe eueri grot,
Now we wil fiȝt;
Wheþer lawe better be
Sone we schul yse,
7900 Long ar it be niȝt.
Rouland a dint him ȝaf
Wiþ his gode staf
Þat he kneled, apliȝt,
& Vernagu to him smot {f.267va}
7950 & carf his staf fot-hot,
Euen ato ariȝt.
¶ Þo Rouland kneld adoun
& maked an orisoun
To God in heuen-liȝt
8000 & seyd 'lord, vnderstond
Y no fiȝt for no lond
Bot for to saue þi riȝt,
Sende me now miȝt & grace
Here in þis ich place
8050 To sle þat foule wiȝt.'
An angel com ful sone,
& seyd 'herd is þi bone,
Arise Rouland & fiȝt
¶ & sched þe schrewes blod
8100 For he nas neuer gode
Bi lond no bi se;
Þei alle prechours aliue
To Cristen wald him schriue
Gode nold he neuer be.'
8150 When Rouland herd þat steuen
He stirt him vp ful euen
& fauȝt wiþ hert fre;
Strokes bi sex & seuen
Togider þis kniȝtes ȝeuen
8200 Þat mani man miȝt yse.
¶ Rouland wiþouten dueling,
Þurth miȝt of heuen-king,
Vernagu he smot
Þat þe left arm & þe scheld
8250 Fel forþ into þe feld
Fram þat painim fot-hot;
His arm þo he had lore,
Swiþe wo him was þerfore
& fast he fauȝt y wot.
8300 He smot Rouland on þe croun
A strok wiþ his fauchoun
Þat þurth þe helme it bot.
¶ No hadde ben þe bacinet,
Þat þe strok wiþsett,
8350 Rouland hadde ben aqueld.
Þe Sarraȝin sayd aswiþe
'Smite ich eft on siþe,
Þi liif is bouȝt & seld.' {f.267vb}
Rouland answerd 'nay,
8400 Mine worþ þe raþer pay,
Bi God þat al þing weld.'
& wiþ a strok ful large
He clef þe Sarraȝins targe,
Þat half fel in þe feld.
8450 ¶ & at anoþer venov Roland smot Vernagu
Þat he fel doun to grounde,
& Rouland wiþ Durindale
ȝaf him strokes fale
8500 & his deþes wounde.
Þe paynem crid 'help, Mahoun,
& Jubiter of gret renoun
Þat beþ so michel of mounde,
As ȝe beþ miȝtful helpeþ me
8550 Þat ich miȝt yvenged
be
Of þis Cristen hounde.'
¶ Rouland louȝ for þat cri,
& s[e]yd 'Mahoun sikerly
No may þe help nouȝt,
8600 No Iubiter, no Apolin,
No is worþ þe brust of a swin,
In hert no in þouȝt.'
His ventail he gan vnlace
& smot of his heued in þe place
8650 & to Charls it brouȝt.
Þo þonked he God in heuen
& Mari wiþ milde steuen
Þat he so hadde ywrouȝt.
¶ & al þe folk of þe lond
8700 For onour of Roulond
Þonked God, old & ȝong,
& ȝede a procesioun
Wiþ croice & gomfaynoun
& salue miri song,
8750 Boþe widowe & wiif in place
Þus þonked Godes grace,
Alle þo þat speke wiþ tong.
To Otuel also ȝern,
Þat was a Sarraȝin stern,
8800 Ful sone þis word
sprong.
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