The Song of Roland · Chapter 231CCXXXII

This chapter is not translated yet. You are reading the original.

That admiral canters among his hosts; After, his son with's great body follows, Torleus the king, and the king Dapamort; Thirty columns most speedily they form. They've chevaliers in marvellous great force; Fifty thousand the smallest column holds. The first is raised of men from Butenrot, The next, after, Micenes, whose heads are gross; Along their backs, above their spinal bones, As they were hogs, great bristles on them grow. The third is raised from Nubles and from Blos; The fourth is raised from Bruns and Esclavoz; The fifth is raised from Sorbres and from Sorz; The sixth is raised from Ermines and from Mors; The seventh is the men of Jericho; Negroes are the eighth; the ninth are men of Gros; The tenth is raised from Balide the stronghold, That is a tribe no goodwill ever shews. That admiral hath sworn, the way he knows, By Mahumet, his virtues and his bones: "Charles of France is mad to canter so; Battle he'll have, unless he take him home; No more he'll wear on's head that crown of gold."