Carle orders all the trumpeters to sound

The march. The French alight. They arm themselves

With helmets, hauberks and gold hilted swords,

Bright bucklers, long sharp spears, with pennons white

And red and blue. The barons of the host

Leap on their steeds, all spurring on; while through

The pass they march, each to the other says:

"Could we but reach Rollánd before he dies,

What deadly blows, with his, our swords would strike!"

But what avails?—Too late they will arrive.

Aoi.