_Introduction._ The earliest and greatest of the French epics, or
chansons de geste, is the song of Roland, of which the oldest copy now
extant is preserved in the Bodleian Library and dates back to the
twelfth century. Whether the Turoldus (Théroulde) mentioned at the end
of the poem is poet, copyist, or mere reciter remains a matter of
conjecture.

The poem is evidently based on popular songs which no longer exist. It
consists of 4002 verses, written in langue d'oil, grouped in stanzas
or "laisses" of irregular length, in the heroic pentameter, having the
same assonant rhyme, and each ending with "aoi," a word no one has
succeeded in translating satisfactorily. It was so popular that it was
translated into Latin and German (1173-1177), and our version may be
the very song sung by Taillefer at the battle of Hastings in 1066.

It has inspired many poets, and Roland's death has been sung again by
Goethe, Schiller, Pulci, Boiardo, Ariosto, Berni, Bornier, etc.
History claims that French armies, once in the reign of Dagobert and
once in that of Charlemagne, were attacked and slaughtered in the
Pyrenees, but not by the Saracens. Besides, Charlemagne's secretary,
Eginhart, briefly mentions in his chronicles that in 778, Roland,
prefect of the Marches of Brittany, was slain there.[9] Although the
remainder of the story has no historical basis, the song of Roland is
a poetical asset we would not willingly relinquish.

PART I. A COUNCIL HELD BY KING MARSILE AT SARAGOSSA.--The Song of
Roland opens with the statement that, after spending seven years in
Spain, Charlemagne is master of all save the city of Saragossa.

The king, our Emperor Carlemaine,