help them to outwit Charlemagne by depriving him of his
most efficient general. Hearing this, Marsile's anger is disarmed; and
he not only agrees to their plan to surprise Roland while crossing the
Pyrenees, but sends Ganelon back laden with gifts.

On rejoining his master at the foot of the mountains, Ganelon delivers
the keys of Saragossa, and reports that the caliph has sailed for the
East, with one hundred thousand men, none of whom care to dwell in a
Christian land. Hearing this, Charlemagne, imagining his task
finished, returns thanks to God, and prepares to wend his way back to
France, where he expects Marsile to follow him and do homage for
Spain.

Karl the Great hath wasted Spain,
Her cities sacked, her castles ta'en;
But now "My wars are done," he cried,
"And home to gentle France we ride."

_The Rear-guard and Roland Condemned to Death._ On the eve of his
return to "sweet France," Charlemagne's rest is disturbed by horrible
dreams, in one of which Ganelon breaks his lance, while in the other
wild animals are about to attack him. On awaking from this nightmare,
Charlemagne divides his army so as to thread his way safely through
the narrow passes of the mountains, arranging that a force shall
remain twenty miles in his rear to make sure he shall not be surprised
by the foe. When he inquires to whom this important command shall be
entrusted, Ganelon eagerly suggests that, as Roland is the most
valiant of the peers, the task be allotted to him. Anxious to keep his
nephew by him, Charlemagne resents this suggestion, but, when he
prepares to award the post to some one else, Roland eagerly claims it,
promising France shall lose nothing through him.

"God be my judge," was the count's reply,
"If ever I thus my race belie.
But twenty thousand with me shall rest,
Bravest of all your Franks and best;
The mountain passes in safety tread,
While I breathe in life you have nought to dread."

Because it is patent to all that his step-father proposed his name
through spite, Roland meaningly remarks that he at least will not drop
the insignia of his rank, and in proof thereof proudly clutches the
bow Charlemagne hands him, and boastfully declares twelve peers and
twenty thousand men will prove equal to any emergency.

Fully armed and mounted on his steed (Veillantif), Roland, from an
eminence, watches the vanguard of the French army disappear in the
mountain gorges, calling out to the last