Seeing so many warriors fall'n around,

Rollánd unto his comrade Olivier

Spoke thus: "Companion fair and dear, for God

Whose blessing rest on you, those vassals true

And brave lie corses on the battle-field:

Look! We must mourn for France so sweet and fair,

From henceforth widowed of such valiant knights.

Carle, 'would you were amongst us, King and friend!

What can we do, say, brother Olivier,

To bring him news of this sore strait of ours!"

Olivier answers:—"I know not; but this

I know; for us is better death than shame."

Aoi.