The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-24

ready for the fray and. putting him
self at their head, he at once advanced
against the Christian force
Roland and Oliver and the ~ peers
had dismounted to take rest after their
exertions. Turpin still sat upon his
horse untired and unconquered. lie
saw in the distance the approach of
King Marsilus and his fresh forces.
ITO arms, We brave peers of France"
cried the Archbishop. Men of God.
this is your hour of glory-a glory
of which men shall sing for many gen.
eratonsA Nothing is left us but to
fight, and to SO fight that the world
shall hear OF us. No one of us will
be alive tomorrow; that Is certain, But
this l can promise you with equal GER
tainty-tomorrow shall ye all be seat
ed with the saints in Paradise"
A great cry of "Mountioiew rang out
from the Christians as the knights
sprang to saddle and turned 10 meet
the Paynim forces. The two armies
close dagain and death rode from one
end of the field to the other. Wound
ed and dead, riders and steeds, lay
piled in great heaps. 1t was not so
much a battle as IL was a wild slaugh-
ter. Discovered arms and legs flew
right and left and skulls were cleft
from the helmet to the chin. In spite
of the fact that in the first encounter
the French had lost half their men, it
seemed likely that they would for the
second time rout the Saracens, so furf-
ously did they fight.
Turpin the Archbishop seemed to be in
all parts of the field at once. Never did
a man perform more prodigies of valor.
His sword sang In the air, and his armor
shone In the van. At last the Paynims
began to give way, and in their rear
flashed the sword of Roland the noble
Durendal, and the sword of Oliver But
the infidels rallied again. Then cried out
Roland to Oliver: Let us be together
in death as we have been in life," and
Turpin, hearing the words, rode up, and
the three never again during that terrible
day parted from each other, but fought
side by side. At last only sixty of the
10000 French were left alive, and these,
brought to bay, stood holding their own
upon a little eminence, where the Pay
MINIS astonished by their courage, hesi-
tated to attack them. "Ah," said Roland
as he looked over the stricken field ''is it
not a pitiful sight to see these dead
numbering the ground-these the flower
of fair France? But one thing I know
death is preferable to dishonor" Re-
piled Oliver: ~ see no other way" Il
will blow my horn said Roland; '.at last
= f-,:rpa
vised it you would not" retorted Oliver.
by heavens, if ever again l see my gen
tie sister, Aude, you shall not take her
to wife as you expected to do" "Why
not?" asked Roland. Because this is
your doing Bravery is one thing and
rashness is another. All Roland your
death will not save fair France from the
disgrace of this defeat"
Turpn, hearing the two Paladins thus
quarreling, came up and said sternly:
"Sir Roland, and you, too, Sir oliver.
quarrel not at such time. We are
doomed the Olifant cannot save u.s. But
sound your Olifant, say; perhaps
Charles will hear it. and, though orr
bodies broken and mangled. lie upon this
soil for time. they will be taken back
~ FRANCE ultimately, and the Emperor
shall avenge our deaths. Sound then
your Olifant, Sir oliver Roland, put
ting to his lips that great ivory horn,
blew forth a blast upon it which pierced
through the mountains and reached with
its ecoes the plains beyond them, where
the Emperor lay encamped.
Family the Emperor heard the call and
said to those about him. "Our men are
fighting" But Ganelon bruskly replied;
did any one bus your majesty say so, |
would say he was a liar. There is no
battle. Your locks sre white, You are old.
You speak the WORDS of a child. You
know well Roland's exceeding pride. For
a hare he will blow that horn of his all
day. He must be having sport with the
Peers. Ride on, say the road before VI