The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-13
The Death of Roland.
BY T. H. HOOD.

maSne ana his brave Franks were light
ing with the savage Saxon, the faithless
Lombard and the willy Saracen, those
battles which were to bring peace, order,
and the germs Of civilization to barbar-
ian Europe. Stormy and dangerous days
were those, but such are times that bring
forth heroes, and the minstrels and
troubadours of the Middle Ages have
chanted the praises of many a valiant
knight and his daring deeds.
Foremost in the Turkish literature of
that age stands the name of the gallant
chevaier, Roland, the nephew and fa-
vorite general of Charlemagne. They
tell us of his pure and upright life; Of
his courtesy and gentleness of his valor,
unsurpassed even amongst the dauntless
Franks; of his fierce indignation against
injustice and oppression; how he raised
his war-cry and swung his ponderous
battle-ax in behalf of the church, the
widow and the orphan, the weak and
helpless, when oppressed by strong and
unprincipled men and last of all they
tell us of his death, sad and tragic, yet
mlghtier and reaching farther in its in
tiuence than all his noble life had done.
Spain at that time formed portion
of the great Moslem Empire Dissension,
however had sprung up among its Sara
cen rulers and the disconnected ones
had crossed into France and invoked the
aid of Charlemagne. Tempted by their
offers Charlemagne let strong army in
to Spain. But when the Saracens be-
held the long columns of stalwart Franks
come winding down from the passes of
the Pyrenees, fear banished discord, and
they united their ranks against a com
mon enemy. Disappointed in his expec-
tations, Charlemagne after some trifing
successes deemed it policy to return to
France
Now in a retreat, you know, the most
dangerous post is the rear guard. To
whom then did Charlemagne entrust
this most perilous position? To none
else save his tried and trusty general
the chevalier Roland. Charlemagne
then with the main body of his army
crossed the Pyrenees through the pass
Of Roncesvalles and descended into the
plains of France. Roland still fingered
in Spain, slowly and sullenly retreating
before the advancing host of Saracens,
disputing every inch of the way with his
active and eager pursuers, until he ar
rived at the foot of the Pyrenees, and
here all at once the enemy seemed to
abandon the pursuit.
With sigh of relief the little column,
following in the path of their emperor,
began the ascent of the rugged mountain
side up to the pass of Roncesvalles. And
there in that narrow pass amid the
mountainous, and near the sky, with
the tossing pines above his head and
where his eye could catch a glimpse Of
the distant spires and hamlets of his be-
loved France, gilded by the evening sun
shlne-there the brave knight and his
faithful followers were to die.
But they knew it not. With slow and
weary step they entered that narrow de-
file, where towering cliffs on either hand
shut out the golden light of day. AS
they entered the narrowest part of the
defle, where only two or there could
pass abreast, the calm Of the evening air
was broken by the whizzing fight of a
shower of arrows, the crashing of great
trunks Of trees, and the rolling thunders
of an avalanche of rocks pTecipitated
from the cliffs above, followed by the
shrieks and groans of wounded and dy-
ing men.
With shudder Of horror Roland gazed
upon the bleeding and mangled forms of
his companions and friends, and looking
upward he could perceive outlined against
the blue sky the swarthy faces of his foes
peering down upon him from the cliffs
above. Yes that cowardly enemy, out
numbering him far yet dreading him
still, had scaled the rocks and ensnared
the brave knight there.
With an eager bound he sought to
scale the cliffs, but it was impossible, and
drawing his trusty sword he brandished
it in the face Of his foes and defed them
even unto death But the sound of his
voice was lost in the rolling thunders Of
a second avalanche Of arrows, huge
blocks of stone, and crashing trunks of
trees; the rocks around rang and re-
echoed, and the earth shook with the
horrid din Of that awful tempest
When the noise and dust had subsidized, !
the enemy peering down once more per-
celved Roland and few Of his friends
still standing safe and untouched. With |
loud voice they called upon him to sur