![]() The courage of the Franks begins to falter, and Turpin tries to encourage them. The archbishop is the first to dive into battle against the new force, and he kills the mighty pagan Abisme. The battle now begins to turn against the Christians. The disasters are signs of God's sadness for Roland.Īn even larger pagan force, led by Marsile, appears on the horizon. In France, as the battle in Spain continues, storms and earthquakes ravage the land. Midbattle, the poet breaks to remind us that all of this carnage was caused by Ganelon's treachery, but assures us that Ganelon will get his in the end: "In the trial at Aix he was condemned to hang / And thirty of his relatives with him" (ll. But the Franks, too, suffer heavy casualties: "How many lives of fine young Franks are lost!" (l. The battle goes on, with the Franks slaughtering the pagans even though the Christian force is vastly outnumbered. Oliver, too, wears his lance down to a stub, and then at Roland's suggestion unsheathes his sword, Halteclere. ![]() He fights with his sword, Durendal, and kills Chernubles. Meanwhile, Roland is fighting so fiercely that he wears his own lance to splinters. Only God's intervention protects Oliver from being seriously wounded. He smashes through Oliver's shield, penetrates his armor, and destroys his lance. ![]() ![]() Ten of the twelve Saracen peers are dead: only Chernubles and Count Margariz remain. Falsaron, Marsile's brother, is killed by Oliver. Marsile's nephew, Aelroth, insults the Franks, and an angry Roland immediately dispatches him for it. Oliver, protesting one last time, tells the men to fight bravely. Roland reminds them of the spoils they will win. Archbishop Turin tells the men to ask forgiveness for their sins, for which he will absolve them, and promises that all who die will be rewarded with martyrdom and a place in heaven. Roland, ready for battle, encourages his men to fight bravely.
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