men that he and his troop
will follow them soon! This vanguard is led by Charlemagne and
Ganelon, and, as it passes on, the heavy tramp of the mailed steeds
causes the ground to shake, while the clash of the soldiers' arms is
heard for miles around. They have already travelled thirty miles and
are just nearing France, whose sunny fields the soldiers greet with
cries of joy, when Duke Naimes perceives tears flowing down the
emperor's cheeks, and learns that they are caused by apprehension for
Roland.

High were the peaks, and the valleys deep,
The mountains wondrous dark and steep;
Sadly the Franks through the passes wound,
Fully fifteen leagues did their tread resound.
To their own great land they are drawing nigh,
And they look on the fields of Gascony.
They think of their homes and their manors there,
Their gentle spouses and damsels fair.
Is none but for pity the tear lets fall;
But the anguish of Karl is beyond them all.
His sister's son at the gates of Spain
Smites on his heart, and he weeps amain.

The evident anxiety of Charlemagne fills the hearts of all Frenchmen
with nameless fear, and some of them whisper that Ganelon returned
from Saragossa with suspiciously rich gifts. Meantime Roland, who has
merely been waiting for the vanguard to gain some advance, sets out to
cross the mountains too; where, true to his agreement with Ganelon,
Marsile has concealed a force of one hundred thousand men, led by
twelve Saracen generals, who are considered fully equal to the French
peers, and who have vowed to slay Roland in the passes of Roncevaux.

PART II. PRELUDE TO THE GREAT BATTLE. It is only when the Saracen army
is beginning to close in upon the French, that the peers become aware
of their danger. Oliver, Roland's bosom friend, the first to descry
the enemy, calls out that this ambush is the result of Ganelon's
treachery, only to be silenced by Roland, who avers none shall accuse
his step-father without proof. Then, hearing of the large force
approaching, Roland exclaims, "Cursed be he who flees," and admonishes
all present to show their mettle and die fighting bravely.

_The Pride of Roland._ Because the enemies' force so greatly
outnumbers theirs, Oliver suggests that Roland sound his horn to
summon Charlemagne to his aid; but, unwilling to lose any glory, this
hero refuses, declaring he will strike one hundred thousand such
doughty blows with his mighty sword (Durendal), that all the