Then Archbishop Turpin--one of the peers--assures the soldiers that,
since they are about to die as martyrs, they will earn Paradise, and
pronounces the absolution, thus inspiring the French with such courage
that, on rising from their knees, they rush forward to earn a heavenly
crown.

Riding at their head, Roland now admits to Oliver that Ganelon must
have betrayed them, grimly adding that the Saracens will have cause to
rue their treachery before long. Then he leads his army down the
valley to a more open space, where, as soon as the signal is given,
both friends plunge into the fray, shouting their war-cry
("Montjoie").

_The Medley._ In the first ranks of the Saracens is a nephew of
Marsile, who loudly boasts Charlemagne is about to lose his right arm;
but, before he can repeat this taunt, Roland, spurring forward, runs
his lance through his body and hurls it to the ground with a turn of
his wrist. Then, calling out to his men that they have scored the
first triumph, Roland proceeds to do tremendous execution among the
foe. The poem describes many of the duels which take place,--for each
of the twelve peers specially distinguishes himself,--while the
Saracens, conscious of vastly superior numbers, return again and again
to the attack. Even the archbishop fights bravely, and Roland, after
dealing fifteen deadly strokes with his lance, resorts to his sword,
thus meeting the Saracens at such close quarters that every stroke of
his blade hews through armor, rider, and steed.

At the last it brake; then he grasped in hand
His Durindana, his naked brand.
He smote Chernubles' helm upon,