At earliest morn, just as the dawn appeared,

From sleep awakes the Emp'ror Carlemagne;

Saint-Gabriel, his guardian, sent by God,

With hands uplifted signed him with the cross.

The King arises, takes his armor off,

And all the host disarm.—The mounted knights

Then ran at speed back o'er the trampled ways,

The weary roads, to view the woeful loss

Once more, on Ronceval's bloody battle-field.

Aoi.