## Roland and Vernagu

### Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

### Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as roland.html and the header file was located in heads/roland_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 1

12-line tail-rhyme stanzas, rhyming aabccbddbeeb. The final stanza provides a link to Otuel. 880 lines. Begins imperfect with 44 lines lacking. One line omitted after line 645.

Unique copy.

Edition:
S. J. H. Herrtage, The Taill of Rauf Coilyear ... with the Fragments of Roland and Vernagu and Otuel, The English Charlemagne Romances 6, EETS ES 39 (London: Trübner, 1882).

Another edition:
J. Maidment, Miscellany of the Abbotsford Club, Abbotsford Club (Edinburgh: Edinburgh Printing Company, 1837).

Manual I, 90; 263. Index 28. Suppl. 823.3.

### Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

### Roland and Vernagu

[stub 262ra] [Image]
[stub 262vb] [Image]
For he it seiȝe wiþ siȝt. [f.263ra] [Image]
Now bigin ichil of him,
Of Charls þat was stout & grim
& tel ȝou al þat riȝt.
¶ An hundred winter it was & þre [5] [ & is written superscript.]
Seþen God dyed opon þe tre
Þat Charls þe king
Hadde al Fraunce in his hond,
Danmark & Jnglond,
Wiþouten ani lesing,[10]
Lorein & Lombardye,
Gascoun, Bayoun & Pikardye
Was til his bidding,
& emperour he was of Rome
& lord of al Cristendome;[15]
Þan was he an heiȝe lording.
In þat time was an emperour
In Costentin of gret honour,
Constansious he hiȝt,
God he loued & alle his[20]
& hated hem þat dede amis
Wiþ al his miȝt.
In Speyn þo þer was a king,
A stern man wiþouten lesing,
Þat werred oȝain þe riȝt;[25]
Ebrahim was his name,
Wide sprong his riche fame -
He was a douhti kniȝt.
¶ Alle þat leued in Godes lawe,
He lete hem boþe hong & drawe,[30]
Þo þat he miȝt oftake;
& þe patriark of Ierusalem
Out of lond he dede him flem,
Al for Godes sake.
Þe patriarke was ful wiis[35]
& to þemperour he went, ywis,
His mone for to make,
Hou þe king Ebrahim
Out of lond exiled him
Wiþ michel wer & wrake.[40]
¶ King Costance þemperour
Made swiþe gret dolour
For þis tidinges,
Ihesu Crist bisouȝt he,
Almiȝti God in trinite, [f.263rb] [Image] [45]
King of al kinges,
He sende him grace him to slo
Þat had ywrouȝt so michel wo
& slawe Godes ginges;
& sone so he had þe bon ybede[50]
An angel liȝt doun in þat stede,
& þis bode him bringes.
¶ Þe angel seyd to þemperour
'Wele þe greteþ þi saueour,[']
Ihesu ful of miȝt,[55]
& bit þe sende wiþ michel anour
After Charls þe conquerour -
He is a douhti kniȝt.
He schal þe help in batayl
& sle þe Sarraȝin wiþouten fail[60]
Þat doþ oȝain þe riȝt.
Þemperour was glad & bliþe,
& þonked God fele siþe,
His hert nas neuer so liȝt.
¶ Four þe best he sent of hem: [65] [ of is written superscript.]
Þat on hiȝt Dauid of Ierusalem
& Samuel also,
Jon of Naples was anoþer,
Ysac hiȝt þe ferþ broþer,
Þider he gan go.[70]
He went to þe palais of Rome,
& bifor sir Charls come
& told him of her wo;
Þai toke him þe letter & kist his hand,
Swiche was þe lawe of þe land[75]
& schal ben euer mo.
¶ Charls wepe for þat dede
When he herd þe letter rede
& hete an heiȝeing
Al þat miȝt armes bere[80]
Kniif or scheld, swerd or spere,
Men schuld bifor him bring.
Þai busked hem & made hem ȝare,
To Costentin for to fare,
Wiþouten ani lesing.[85]
Þemperour was glad, ywis,
& vnderfenge wiþ miche blis,
Sir Charls þe king.
¶ Riche iuels wiþouten lesing, [f.263va] [Image]
Sir Costance þe king[90]
Bifor sir Charls he brouȝt,
Sauage bestes for þe nones,
Gold & siluer & riche stones,
Ac þerof nold he nouȝt;
He bisouȝt him of more honour,[95]
Of Ihesu our saueour
Þat al þis warld haþ wrouȝt,
Þat he on suffred passioun
Of þe croice & of þe croun,
Þerof he him bisouȝt.[100]
¶ Þemperour his wil dede
& ladde him to þe holy stede
Þere þe relikes ware;
Þer com swiche a swete odour
Þat neuer ȝete so swete sauour[105]
No feld þai neuer are.
Of þe smal þat was so swote
Þre hundred sike hadde her bote
& cast were out of care.
Þan brouȝt þai forþ þe holy croun[110]
& þe arme of seyn Simoun
Biforn hem alle þare,
¶ & a parti of þe holy crosse
Þat in a cristal was don in clos,
& Godes cloþeing,[115]
Our leuedi smok þat hye had on,
& þe ȝerd of Araon,
Forþ þai gun bring,
& a spere long & smert
Þat Longys put to Godes hert,[120]
He ȝaf Charls þe king,
& a nail long & gret
Þat was ydriue þurth Godes fet,
Wiþouten ani lesing.
¶ When Charls had reseiued þat þing[125]
He bisouȝt Ihesu heuen-king
To sende him miȝt & space
For to wite þe soþe þere,
ȝif þe relikes verray were,
Er he þennes pase.[130]
Þan decended a liȝtnesse
Doun riȝtes fram þe heuen-blis,
In þat ich place, [f.263vb] [Image]
Þat þai wenden alle, ywis,
Þai hadde ben in paradys,[135]
So ful it was of grace.
¶ Þai tok leue at þemperour
& þonked him of gret honour
& to Aise in Gascoyn went,
Þer he duelled, siker apliȝt.[140]
So he biheld opon a niȝt
Vp to þe firmament,
A way of sterres he seiȝe, ywis,
Out of Spaine into Galis,
As red as brond þat brent.[145]
He bisouȝt God in trinite
To sende him grace wite wat it be
Wiþ wel gode entent.
¶ & in þe þouȝt þat he was in
Þer com a voice & spac to him,[150]
Wiþ a milde steuen
'Iames þe apostel bi Crist,[']
Iones broþer þe wangelist,
Godes deciple of heuen
Þat God bad prechy on þe se,[155]
Forþi Herodes lete me sle,
Þerof y þe neuen;
Mi body liþ in Galis,
Biȝond Speyne, for soþe ywis,
Jurnays mo þan seuen.[160]
¶ Forþi me wondreþ wiþouten fail
Þat þou comest nouȝt to do batayl [ nouȝt is written superscript.]
Þat lond for to winne,
& ȝif þou winnes þat lond, ywis,
Y schal þe bring into þat blis,[165]
Þer ich woni inne.
Al þat me sekeþ, more & lesse,
Schal haue forȝeuenes
Of her dedeli sinne.
Now wende & do as y þe sede[170]
& in batayl þou schalt spede
When þou it wil biginne.
¶ Þe way of sterres bitokneþ, ywis,
Þat of Spaine & of Galis
Þou schalt be conquerer;[175]
Lorain & Lombardye,
Gascoyne, Bayoun & Pikardye [f.264ra] [Image]
Schal be in þi pouwer.'
Þus com þe apostel Jamis [ Jamis: altered from James by underdotting e and replacing with superscript i ]
Þries to Charls & seyd þis,[180]
Þat was so stoute & fer.
Now wendeþ Charls wiþ his ost
Into Speyne wiþ michel bost
As ȝe may forward here.
¶ Þe first cite was Pampiloun[185]
Þat was a swiþe noble toun
Þat Charls gan asayl
& sex moneþes he it bilay, apliȝt,
Þat noþing winne he it no miȝt
For alle his batayle;[190]
For þe walles so strong were
He no miȝt haue non entre þere
Wiþouten ani fayl,
Þer were mani strong gines
& fele þousand of saraȝines[195]
Swiþe heyȝe of parail.
¶ Þan praid Charls to God of heuen
'Lord,' he seyd 'here mi steuen.[']
Astow art ful of miȝt,
Sende me grace þis cite to winne[200]
& sle þe Sarraȝins herinne
Þat don oȝain þe riȝt.'
Þo felle þe walles of þe cite,
Charls entred wiþ his meyne
Als a douhti kniȝt[205]
& þurth þe miracle þat was þere
Ten þousand Sarraȝins cristned were
In þat ich niȝt.
¶ & þo þat nold nouȝt cristned be
He lete hem hong opon a tre[210]
Er he þennes pase.
Þus Charls þurth Spayn gan gon
& wan þe cites eurichon,
Al þurth Godes grace.
Where he com in ani erd[215]
Ich man was of him aferd
Þat loked on his face.
Þe names of eueri cite
Þat he wan, y schal tel ȝe
Er ich hennes pase:[220]
¶ Visim, Lameche & Sumy, [f.264rb] [Image]
Colomuber, Luche & Vrry,
Brakare & Vimaraile,
Compostel, a cite grete,
Aurilian & Tullet[225]
Þat strong is to asayl;
Golddelfagar & Salamencha,
Vline, Canayls, Madris, al swa
Calatorie & Lestoyl,
Medinacel, an heiȝe cite,[230]
Segouus þe grete & Salamenche,
Gramie & Sturgel,
¶ Godian & Emerite,
Bourg in Spaine, þat nis nouȝt lite,
A swiþe noble toun;[235]
Nasers & Mathed,
Carion & Vrpaled,
& Oche of gret renoun;
Burbagalle, a castel also,
Costant, Petros & oþer mo,[240]
Bayet & Pampiloun,
Ventos in þe grene vale,
Caparre, Eustorge & Entale,
Gascoine & Bayoun,
¶ Toutor, a strong castel,[245]
Landulif & Portingal,
Burnam & Saragouns,
Granad & Satyne,
Costaunce & Deine,
Teragon & Valouns,[250]
Leride, Acoun & Siuile
Charls wan in a while,
Agabie & Vrens,
Quaramelide, Gibalderie,
Barbaster, Vice and Almarie,[255]
Agabie & Sisens.
¶ Acoun, þat y spak of ere,
Seyn James deciple liþ þere
Þat hat seyn Torquas;
A swiþe fair oliif tre[260]
Biside his toumbe men may se
Þat springeþ þurth Godes grace;
Opon his fest in mid May,
Þeron is frout of gret noblay,
Boþe more & lasse; [f.264va] [Image] [265]
& who þat sekeþ hem verrament,
At þe day of iuggement
Schal se Godes face.
Alle þe londes þat were in Spayne
Wiþ dint of swerd wan Charlmain:[270]
Portingale & Lauers,
Landuluf & Chastel,
Bigairs, Bastles & londes fele,
Moys & Nauers.
Alle þe londes he wan ȝern,[275]
Til he com to Lucern -
So stout he was & fers -
& tvelmoneþ he it bilay, apliȝt,
& noþing win he it miȝt,
For al his dussepers.[280]
¶ Þo preyd Charls to God abone,
Þat he h[i]m sent grace sone,
Þe cite for to winne.
Þo fel þe walles adoun riȝtes,
King Charls entred wiþ his kniȝtes[285]
Þurth þat ich ginne;
Charls acurssed þat cite
& Ventos, & Caparre & Deneye
For her dedeli sinne;
Deserd þai were after þan[290]
Þat neuer seþ þen no Cristen man,
No durst com þerinne.
¶ For Charls curssed þo Lucern,
Also tite þe toun Ganbern,
& schal don euer mo;[295]
& of þe smoc of þat toun [ smoc: MS reads smot.]
Mani takeþ þerof pusesoun
& dyeþ in michel wo;
& þer þe oþer þre cites stode
Beþ waters red of helle flode[300]
& fisches þerin al blo;
& who þat wil nouȝt leue me
In Spaine men may þe soþe yse
Who þat wil þider go.
¶ & while Charls was in þat stede[305]
A fair miracle God for him dede
Er he gan þennes wende;
Braunches of vines Charls sett
In Marche moneþ wiþouten lett, [f.264vb] [Image]
As was þe riȝt kende,[310]
& amorwe grapes þai bere,
Red & ripe to kerue þere,
For paners þai gun sende;
& for 'Paners' þai crid þo
ȝete men clepeþ þe cite so,[315]
& schal to þe warldes ende.
¶ Clodonius, þe first Cristen king,
& Clotayrs, wiþouten lesing,
King Dagabers & Pipin,
Won mani tounes in Spaine[320]
Ac þe gode Charlmain
Wan it al wiþ gin.
Alle þe maumetes in Spaine were
Þat were þe Sarraȝins leue & dere,
King Charls & Turpin,[325]
Þai destroyd þurth Godes miȝt,
Sum þurth miracle & sum þurth fiȝt,
So seyt þe Latin.
¶ & an image of gret pouste,
Stode on a roche bi þe se[330]
In þe gilden lond;
His name was Salanicodus,
As a man yschapen he wes
& held a glaiue an hond.
Mahoun maked him wiþ gin[335]
& dede mani fendes þerin,
As ich vnderstond,
For to susten þe ymage
& sett him on heiȝe stage,
For no man nold he wond.[340]
¶ Þe face of him was turned souþe riȝt,
In her lay þe Sarraȝins founde, apliȝt,
Of Iubiter & Mahoun,
Þat when yborn were þe king
Þat schuld Spaine to Cristen bring,[345]
Þe ymage schuld falle adoun;
Charls dede þat ymage falle
& wan in Spaine þe cites alle,
Boþe tour & toun;
& wiþ þe tresour þat he wan þere[350]
Mani a chirche he lete arere
Þat was of gret renoun.
¶ Þe first chirche, for soþ ywis, [f.265ra] [Image]
Was seyn James in Galis
Þat he lete arere,[355]
Wiþ an hundred chanouns & her priour,
Of seynt Ysador þe confessour
For to serui þere;
& in Aise a chapel
Of lim & ston ywrouȝt ful wel,[360]
Of werk riche & dere,
& seyn James at Burdewes,
& on at Tolous, anoþer at Anevaus,
& mo as ȝe may here.
Charls duelled, siker apliȝt,[365]
Þre mones & fourten niȝt
In Bayoun wiþ his ost,
Þer fel a miracle of a kniȝt
Wiche þat was to deþ ydiȝt,
Þurth þe holy gost;[370]
Sir Romain for soþe he hiȝt,
Er he dyd he hadde his riȝt
Wiþouten ani bost;
On of his frendes he cleped him to
'Y schal dye, it is so,[375]
Ful wele þou it wost.
¶ Mine cloþes þat ichaue,
Þerwiþ þat y be brouȝt in graue
Wiþ mete & drink & liȝt, [ drink: r is written superscript.]
& sel min hors on heiȝeing[380]
Pouer clerkes sauters to sing,
Þerto þat it be diȝt.'
& when he hadde yseyd þus stille,
Also it was Godes wille,
Þan died þe kniȝt;[385]
Þe hors was seld wiþouten duelinges, [ duelinges: superscript long s outside the rulings.]
For to hundred schillinges,
& put it vp, apliȝt.
¶ & at þe nende of þritti niȝt
To his seketour com þe ded kniȝt, [390] [ þe: e is written superscript.]
& seyd in þis maner
'Mi soule is in heuen-blis,[']
For þe loue of min almis
Þat y sett here
& for þou hast athold min,[395]
Þritti days ichaue ben in pin
Þat wel strong were; [f.265rb] [Image]
Paradis is graunted me
& in þat pain þou schalt be
Þat ich was in ere.'[400]
¶ Þe ded þus in his way went,
& he awaked verrament,
& wonder hadde, apliȝt,
& amorwe his sweuen he told
To erls & to barouns bold,[405]
To squiers & to kniȝt;
& amonges hem alle,
As þai stoden in þe halle,
Þer com a windes fliȝt
& fele fendes þat were swift[410]
& beren him vp into þe lift
& held him þere four niȝt.
¶ Seriaunce þe bodi souȝt
Ac þai no miȝt it finde nouȝt
Four dayes no more.[415]
Fro Bayoun he went wiþ his ost
& þurth Nauern wiþ miche bost,
Þe bodi þai founde þore,
Þer þe fendes had let him felle
& bere his soule into helle,[420]
To hard paines sore.
So schal eueri sekatour
Þe dedes gode abigge wel sour
Þat hye binimeþ þe pore.
No[w] late we be of þis þing[425]
& speke of Charles þe king
Þat michel was of miȝt,
Of his lengþe & his brede,
As þe Latin ous sede,
Ichil ȝou rede ariȝt;[430]
Tventi fete he was o lengþe
& also of gret strengþe
& of a stern siȝt,
Blac of here & rede of face,
Whare he com in ani place[435]
He was a douhti kniȝt.
¶ Four times in þe ȝere
On his heued he bere
Þe holy croun of þorn,
At Ester, at Wissontide, [440] [ at: a has been altered from &.]
& at seyn James day wiþ pride, [f.265va] [Image]
& in ȝole as God was born.
& atte þe mete in þe halle
Among his kniȝtes alle
A drawe swerd him biforn,[445]
Þis was þe maner ay,
& schal be til domesday,
Of emperour ycorn.
¶ & whare he slepe aniȝt
Wel wise he was & wiȝt[450]
& douted of tresoun,
An hundred kniȝtes him kept
Þat non of hem no slept
Þat were of gret renoun,
& eueri duȝti kniȝt[455]
Held a torche liȝt
& a naked fauchoun.
Þus king Charls lay
Wiþ his ost mani a dai
In þe cite of Pampiloun.[460]
¶ & on a day com tiding
Vnto Charls þe king
Al of a douhti kniȝt
Was comen to Nasers.
Stout he was & fers,[465]
Vernagu he hiȝt;
Of Babiloun þe soudan
Þider him sende gan
Wiþ king Charls to fiȝt;
So hard he was to fond[470]
Þat no dint of brond
No greued him, apliȝt.
¶ He hadde tventi men strengþe,
& fourti fet of lengþe
Þilke panim hede,[475]
& four fet in þe face,
Ymeten in þe place,
& fiften in brede;
His nose was a fot & more,
His browe as brestles wore,[480]
He þat it seiȝe it sede
He loked loþeliche
& was swart as piche;
Of him men miȝt adrede.
Charls com to Nasers [f.265vb] [Image] [485]
Wiþ his dussepers,
To se þat painim.
He asked wiþouten fayl,
Of king Charls batayl,
To fiȝt oȝaines him.[490]
Charls wonderd þo
When he seiȝe him go,
He biheld him ich a lim
For seþ þen he was ybore
He no hadde ysen bifore[495]
Non þat was so grim.
¶ Sir Oger þe Danais,
A kniȝt ful curtays,
To him first was ysent,
& at his coming[500]
Vernagu an heyȝeing, [ Vernagu: r is written superscript.]
Vnder his arm him hent,
Yarmed as he was,
He toke him in þe plas,
& to þe castel he went.[505]
Sir Oger schamed sore,
Him oþouȝt þat com þore
& held him foule yschent.
¶ Reynald de Aubeþpine
Was sent to þat Sarraȝin,[510]
He serued him also;
& seyd to Charlmain
'Sir, þo þou won Spain,[']
Hadestow non better þo,
So Mahoun me ȝiue rest;[515]
Oȝain ten swiche þe best
To fiȝt ich wold go.'
Sir Costentin of Rome,
& þerl of Nauntes come,
To fiȝt wiþ boþe to,[520]
¶ & Vernagu bar boþe,
No were þai neuer so wroþe,
To Nassers castel,
Vnder aiþer arm on,
As stille as ani ston;[525]
Miȝt þai nouȝt wiþ him mele.
Þo Charls sent ten,
Also he serued his men,
Miȝt no man wiþ him dele. [f.266ra] [Image]
Charls biþouȝt þo[530]
ȝif he sent mo
It were him wroþerhele.
Roland þe gode kniȝt,
Þo bad leue to fiȝt,
Oȝain þat painim,[535]
King Charls seyd 'nay,
Þou no schalt nouȝt, bi þis day,
He is to stout & grim.'
So long he him bad
Þat leue of him he hadde.[540]
Rouland armed him
& com anonriȝt
Into þe feld to fiȝt
Oȝain þat Sarraȝin.
¶ & at his coming þare[545]
Sir Vernagu was ware
& tok him vnder his hond,
Out of his sadel he gan him bere
& on his hors swere
He set Roulond;[550]
& Rouland smot him so
Þat Vernagu þo
Vnto þe grounde wond.
& when þe Cristen seiȝe þis,
Þat Vernagu fallen is,[555]
Þai þonked Godes sond.
¶ Þai lopen opon her stede,
& swerdes out þai brede,
& fiȝt þai gun þo.
Rouland wiþ Durindale[560]
Brewe him miche bale
& carf his hors ato.
When Vernagu was o fot
He no couþe no better bot,
To Rouland he gan go,[565]
In þe heued he smot his stede
Þat ded to grounde he ȝede,
O fot þan were þai bo.
¶ A fot þai tok þe fiȝt
& Vernagu anonriȝt[570]
His swerd he had ylore.
Rouland wiþ al his miȝt
He stired him as a kniȝt [f.266rb] [Image]
& ȝaf him dintes sore.
Til it was ogain þe none[575]
Þus þai layd opon
Ay til þai weri wore.
Douk Rouland sone he fond
Þat wiþ no dint of brond
He slouȝ him neuer more.[580]
¶ When it com to þe neue
Vernagu bad leue
To resten of þat fiȝt,
Rouland him trewþe ȝaf,
So he most bring a staf,[585]
After his wil ydiȝt;
Vernagu graunted wel
& went to her hostel
When þat was niȝt.
Amorwe wiþouten fail[590]
Þai com to þe batayl
Aiþer as douhti kniȝt.
¶ Sir Rouland brouȝt a staf
Þat king Charls him ȝaf
Þat was long & newe,[595]
Þe bodi of a ȝong oke,
To ȝif þerwiþ a stroke,
He was touȝ & trewe.
& wiþ þat gode staf
Wel mani dintes he ȝaf[600]
Vernagu þe schrewe.
& at þe non, apliȝt,
Þai gun anoþer fiȝt
& stones togider þrewe.
¶ Gode rappes for þe nones[605]
Þai ȝauen wiþ þe stones
Þat sete swiþe sore;
Þat helme & heye targe
Þurth her strokes large
Þerwiþ þai broken wore.[610]
& Vernagu at þat cas
So sore asleped was
He no miȝt fiȝt no more;
At Rouland leue he toke
Þat time, so seyt þe boke,[615]
For to slepe þore.
¶ Roland ȝaf leue him [f.266va] [Image]
For to slepe wele afin
& rest him in þat stounde,
& seyd þat he nold[620]
For þe cite ful of gold
Be þerwiþ yfounde [ þerwiþ: r is written superscript.]
Slepeand to slen a kniȝt,
Þei þat he had in fiȝt
ȝif him deþes wounde.[625]
Þo Vernagu lay adoun
To slepe he was boun
Þere opon þe grounde.
¶ & Vernagu rout þore
As a wild bore[630]
Þo he on slepe was.
To him Rouland gan gon
& tok þe gretest ston
Þat lay in þat place,
He leyd vnder his heued, ywis,[635]
For him þouȝt it lay amis,
To lowe at þat cas.
& Vernagu vp stode
He stard as he were wode
When he awaked was.[640]
¶ Vernagu asked anon
'Who leyd þis gret ston[']
Vnder min heued so?
It no miȝt neuer be,
Bot ȝif he were a kniȝt fre.[645]
.... .... ....
Wist ich who it were
He schuld be me leue & dere
Þei þat he were mi fo.'
Quaþ Rouland sikerly[650]
'Certes it was y,[']
For þat þou rot so.
¶ & when þo[u] me louest miche,
Now tel me sikerliche
Whi þou art so hard[655]
Þat no þing may þe dere,
Knif, no ax, no spere,
No no dint of sward.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'sikerly,
No man is harder þan y[660]
Fram þe nauel vpward,
Forþi y com hider, ywis, [f.266vb] [Image]
To fiȝt wiþ king Charlis
Wiþ þe hore bard.'
¶ Vernagu to Rouland sede[665]
'Also þi God þe spede,[']
Whare were þou yborn?'
'In Fraunce, bi seynt Austin,[']
King Charls cosyn,
Our kinde lord ycorn.[670]
We leueþ opon Ihesu,
Þat is ful of vertu,
Þat bare þe croun of þorn,
& ȝe leueþ in þe fende,
Forþi wiþouten ende[675]
ȝe schul be forlorn.'
¶ & when þat Vernagu
Yherd speke of Ihesu
He asked wat man he was.
Sir Rouland seyd 'he is[680]
Þe king of paradys
& lord ful of gras,
In a maiden he was bore
To bigge þat was forlore,
As sonne passeþ þurth þe glas[685]
& dyed opon þe rode
For our alder gode
& nouȝt for his gilt it nas,
¶ & suffred woundes fiue
& ros fram ded to liue,[690]
Þan þridde day,
& fet out Adam & Eue
& mo þat were him leue
Fram helle for soþe to say,
& sitt in trinite,[695]
O God in persones þre;
Swiche is our lay.'
¶ Vernagu seyd þo
'It no miȝt neuer be so,[']
Þerof y sigge nay.[700]
¶ Hou miȝt it euer be
Þat he were on & þre?
Tel me now þe skille.'
Rouland þan sede
'Also God me spede,[705]
ȝis, wiþ a gode wille. [f.267ra] [Image]
As þe harp has þre þinges,
Wode & soun & strenges,
& mirþe is þertille,
So is God persones þre[710]
& holeliche on in vnite
Al þing to fulfille.
¶ & as þe sonne haþ þinges þre,
Hete & white on to se
& is ful of liȝt,[715]
So is God in trinite,
Vnite & mageste,
& lord ful of miȝt.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'now y se
Hou he is God in persones þre,[720]
Now ich wot þat riȝt,
Ac hou þat he bicom man,
Þe lord þat þis world wan,
Þerof no haue y no siȝt.'
¶ Quaþ Rouland 'he þat ous bouȝt[725]
& al þing maked of nouȝt
Wele miȝt he be so hende
Þat he wald sende his sone
In a maiden for to wone
Wiþouten mannes kende.'[730]
Quaþ Vernagu 'saunfayl,
Þerof ichaue gret meruail
Hou miȝt he fram hir wende?
Hou miȝt he of hir be bore
Þat was a maiden bifore?[735]
Y no may nouȝt haue in mende.'
¶ Rouland seyd to Vernagu
'Mi lordes fader Ihesu[']
Is so michel of miȝt
Þat he made sonne & se[740]
& fisches in þe flod to be,
Boþe day & niȝt,
Wele may he þan, as y þe er seyd, [ þe: e is written superscript.]
Ben ybore of a maide
Wiþouten wem, apliȝt.'[745]
Quaþ Vernagu 'it may wele be,
Ac hou he dyed y no can nouȝt se;
Tel me now þat riȝt.
¶ For I nist neuer no man
Þat aros after þan [f.267rb] [Image] [750]
When þat he ded was,
& ȝif he Godes sone were
He no miȝt nouȝt dye þere;
Tel me now þat cas.'
Quaþ Rouland 'y schal tel þe.[755]
His bodi slepe vpon þe tre
& þe þridde day aras,
His Godhed waked euer & ay
& to helle tok þe way
& bond Satanas.[760]
¶ So schul we al arise
& of þe dome agrise
Atte day of iuggement,
& answerey for our dede,
Þe gode & þe quede,[765]
Hou we our liif haue spent.'
Quaþ Vernagu 'now ichot wel
Hou he aros ichadel
& haue in min entent,
Ac hou he steyȝe to heuen[770]
Y no can nouȝt neuen
No wite verrament.'
¶ Þan seyd Rouland
'O Vernagu, vnderstand,[']
Herken now to me.[775]
Þat ich lord þat wiþ his miȝt,
In a maiden aliȝt,
Yborn for to be,
As þe sonne aros in þe est,
& decended in þe west,[780]
Astow miȝt now se,
Riȝt so dede God almiȝt,
Mounted into heuen-liȝt,
& sit in trinite.'
¶ Quaþ Vernagu 'now ich wot[785]
ȝour Cristen lawe eueri grot,
Now we wil fiȝt;
Wheþer lawe better be
Sone we schul yse,
Long ar it be niȝt.[790]
Rouland a dint him ȝaf
Wiþ his gode staf
Þat he kneled, apliȝt,
& Vernagu to him smot [f.267va] [Image]
& carf his staf fot-hot,[795]
Euen ato ariȝt.
¶ Þo Rouland kneld adoun
& maked an orisoun
To God in heuen-liȝt
& seyd 'lord, vnderstond[800]
Y no fiȝt for no lond
Bot for to saue þi riȝt,
Sende me now miȝt & grace
Here in þis ich place
To sle þat foule wiȝt.'[805]
An angel com ful sone,
& seyd 'herd is þi bone,
Arise Rouland & fiȝt
¶ & sched þe schrewes blod
For he nas neuer gode[810]
Bi lond no bi se;
Þei alle prechours aliue
To Cristen wald him schriue
Gode nold he neuer be.'
When Rouland herd þat steuen[815]
He stirt him vp ful euen
& fauȝt wiþ hert fre;
Strokes bi sex & seuen
Togider þis kniȝtes ȝeuen
Þat mani man miȝt yse.[820]
¶ Rouland wiþouten dueling,
Þurth miȝt of heuen-king,
Vernagu he smot
Þat þe left arm & þe scheld
Fel forþ into þe feld[825]
Fram þat painim fot-hot;
His arm þo he had lore,
Swiþe wo him was þerfore
& fast he fauȝt y wot.
He smot Rouland on þe croun[830]
A strok wiþ his fauchoun
Þat þurth þe helme it bot.
¶ No hadde ben þe bacinet,
Þat þe strok wiþsett,
Rouland hadde ben aqueld.[835]
Þe Sarraȝin sayd aswiþe
'Smite ich eft on siþe,[']
Þi liif is bouȝt & seld.' [f.267vb] [Image]
Rouland answerd 'nay,
Mine worþ þe raþer pay,[840]
Bi God þat al þing weld.'
& wiþ a strok ful large
He clef þe Sarraȝins targe,
Þat half fel in þe feld.
¶ & at anoþer venov[845]
Roland smot Vernagu
Þat he fel doun to grounde,
& Rouland wiþ Durindale
ȝaf him strokes fale
& his deþes wounde.[850]
Þe paynem crid 'help, Mahoun,
& Jubiter of gret renoun
Þat beþ so michel of mounde,
As ȝe beþ miȝtful helpeþ me
Þat ich miȝt yvenged be [855] [ be: MS reads me.]
Of þis Cristen hounde.'
¶ Rouland louȝ for þat cri,
& s[e]yd 'Mahoun sikerly [ s[e]yd: syd is entered superscript.]
No may þe help nouȝt,
No Iubiter, no Apolin,[860]
No is worþ þe brust of a swin,
In hert no in þouȝt.'
His ventail he gan vnlace
& smot of his heued in þe place
& to Charls it brouȝt.[865]
Þo þonked he God in heuen
& Mari wiþ milde steuen
Þat he so hadde ywrouȝt.
¶ & al þe folk of þe lond
For onour of Roulond[870]
Þonked God, old & ȝong,
& ȝede a procesioun
Wiþ croice & gomfaynoun
& salue miri song,
Boþe widowe & wiif in place[875]
Þus þonked Godes grace,
Alle þo þat speke wiþ tong.
To Otuel also ȝern,
Þat was a Sarraȝin stern,
Ful sone þis word sprong. [880] [catchword: herkneþ boþe ȝing & old.]