On discovering that Marsile has meantime died of his wound,
Charlemagne orders his widow to France, where he proposes to convert
her through the power of love. The remainder of the pagans are
compelled to receive baptism, and, when Charlemagne again wends his
way through the Pyrenees, all Spain bows beneath his sceptre.

At Bordeaux, Charlemagne deposits upon the altar of St. Severin,
Roland's Olifant, filled with gold pieces, before personally escorting
the three august corpses to Blaye, where he sees them interred, ere he
hurries on to Aix-la-Chapelle to judge Ganelon.

_The Chastisement of Ganelon._ On arriving in his palace, Charlemagne
is confronted by Alda or Aude, a sister of Oliver, who frantically
questions: "Where is Roland who has sworn to take me to wife?" Weeping
bitterly, Charlemagne informs her his nephew is no more, adding that
she can marry his son, but Aude rejoins that, since her beloved is
gone, she no longer wishes to live. These words uttered, she falls
lifeless at the emperor's feet.[11]

From Spain the emperor made retreat,
To Aix in France, his kingly seat;
And thither, to his halls, there came,
Alda, the fair-and gentle dame.
"Where is my Roland, sire," she cried,
"Who vowed to take me for his bride?"
O'er Karl the flood of sorrow swept;
He tore his beard, and loudly wept.
"Dear sister, gentle friend," he said,
"Thou seekest one who lieth dead:
I plight to thee my son instead,--