s: "Nay, grieve not that ye can no honour give


s: To these poor bones that presently must be


s: But carrion; since I have sought to live


s: I shall not lack!  Where would ye have me lie?


s: High heaven is higher than cathedral nave:


s: Do men paint chancels fairer than the sky?"


s: Beside the darkened lake they made his grave,


s: Swung incense clouds of mist in creeping lines


s: That twisted through the tree-trunks, where the light


s: Groped through the arches of the silent pines:


s: Lay, tombed in splendour, in the House of God.


s: The land grows dim 'mid the shadows grey,


s: And hearts are glad, for the dark brings peace


s: As he homeward turns, with the long day done,


s: Looks out to the west, with the light on his face


s: Yet some see not (with their sin-dimmed eyes)


s: The promise of rest in the fading light;


s: But the clouds loom dark in the angry skies


s: Where the elms their welcoming arms stretch wide


s: To the calling rooks, as they homeward fly


s: It speaks of peace that comes after strife,


s: Of the rest He sends to the hearts He tried,


s: Of the calm that follows the stormiest life --


s: But yesterday the tourney, all the eager joy of life,


s: The waving of the banners, and the rattle of the spears,


s: The clash of sword and harness, and the madness of the strife;


s: To-night begin the silence and the peace of endless years.


s: To find my guerdon in her speaking eyes:


s: I grudge them not, -- they pass, albeit sweet.


s: The ring of spears, the winning of the fight,


s: The careless song, the cup, the love of friends,


s: The earth in spring -- to live, to feel the light --


s: 'Twas good the while it lasted:  here it ends.


s: Remain the well-wrought deed in honour done,


s: The dole for Christ's dear sake, the words that fall


s: They seemed so little:  now they are my All.


s: Thro' May time blossoms, with whisper low,


s: "Think not with regret on the Springtime's song


s: And the task ye left while your hands were strong.


s: The song would have ceased when the Spring was past,


s: And the task that was joyous be weary at last."


s: To the winter sky when the nights were long


s: The tree-tops tossed with a ceaseless song:


s: "Do ye think with regret on the sunny days


s: And the path ye left, with its untrod ways?


s: The sun might sink in a storm cloud's frown


s: And the path grow rough when the night came down."


s: In the grey twilight of the autumn eves,


s: It sighed as it sang through the dying leaves:


s: "Ye think with regret that the world was bright,


s: That your path was short and your task was light;


s: The path, though short, was perhaps the best


s: And the toil was sweet, that it led to rest."


s: An uphill path, sun-gleams between the showers,


s: Where every beam that broke the leaden sky


s: Lit other hills with fairer ways than ours;


s: Some clustered graves where half our memories lie;


s: The hand we gave the weary and the weak,


s: The miles we lightened one another's load,


s: When, faint to falling, onward yet we strode:


s: The mists fell back upon the road below;


s: Broke on our tired eyes the western light;


s: The very graves were for a moment bright:


s: At the drowsy dusk when the shadows creep


s: From the golden west, where the sunbeams sleep,


s: In the mad world's heart, since on Calvary's hill


s: 'Round the cross a mid-day twilight fell


s: That darkened earth and o'ershadowed hell?"


s: Through the streets of a city the angel sped;


s: Like an open scroll men's hearts he read.


s: Men's hate waxed hot, and their hearts grew cold,


s: As they haggled and fought for the lust of gold.


s: Despairing, he cried, "After all these years


s: Is there naught but hatred and strife and tears?"


s: -- A single crust was their meagre fare --


s: And the love-light dawned in her famished eyes


s: As she kissed the child with a motherly air:


s: "I don't need mine, you can have my share."


s: Then the angel knew that the earthly cross


s: And the sorrow and shame were not wholly loss.


s: At dawn, when hushed was earth's busy hum


s: And men looked not for their Christ to come,


s: From the attic poor to the palace grand,


s: The King and the beggar went hand in hand.


s: If night should come and find me at my toil,


s: When all Life's day I had, tho' faintly, wrought,


s: And shallow furrows, cleft in stony soil


s: Were all my labour:  Shall I count it naught


s: Shall pick a scanty sheaf where I have sown?


s: "Nay, for of thee the Master doth demand


s: Thy work:  the harvest rests with Him alone."


s: From this convent of women which was the headquarters of the 6th


s: Canadian Field Ambulance, I wrote to John McCrae, who was then at


s: He was not of those who might say,--take it or leave it; but


s: The volume of verse as here printed is small. The volume might be


s: This night they shelled us again heavily for some hours--the same


s: May day! Heavy bombardment at intervals through the day. Another


s: Here ends the account of his part in this memorable battle,


s: And here follow some general observations upon the experience:


s: During all this time, we have been behind French troops, and only


s: I am glad you had your mind at rest by the rumour that we were in


s: Warmer this morning and sunny, a quiet morning, as far as we were


s: A few strokes will complete the picture:


s: And here is one last note to his mother:


s: This phase of the war lasted two months precisely,


s: There are men who pass through such scenes unmoved. If they have


s: "A fine river,"--That was a safe remark.


s: "Pharpar and Abana?" I put the stranger to the test.


s: "I have a son in France, myself," he said. "His name is McCrae."


s: You have no idea of the WORK. Section commanders live with their


s: The next letter is from the Lines of Communication:


s: With Ian Hamilton's column near Balmoral.


s: As we passed we saw the Connaughts looking at the graves of their


s: At nine took the Presbyterian parade to the lines, the first


s: General Buller pushed up the hill as the guns were at work, and


s: You ask if the wee fellow has a name--Mike, mostly, as a term of


s: I lost poor old Windy. He was the regimental dog of the 1st Batt.


s: I was glad to get back; Bonfire and Bonneau greeted me very


s: In the 'Clutha' also came as passengers James and Mary Gow; their


s: To one who knows the early days in Canada there is nothing new in


s: At length a grave was dug on a knoll in the bush


s: along the shovelled path.  The mother close behind was followed


s: by the two families.  The snow was falling heavily.  At the grave


s: studying the table the catechism is learned surreptitiously, and


s: When he writes to his mother, that, as he was coming out of the


s: Through the place in a deep ravine runs an innocent stream which


s: In January, 1918, minutes begin to appear upon his official file


s: correspondence which I am permitted to extract from the files:


s: There is a probability of the command of No. 1 General Hospital


s: becoming vacant.  It is requested, please, that you obtain


s: of this unit, he is quite willing to comply with your desire,


s: being appointed Consulting Physician to British Armies in France.


s: the evening he was worse, but had no increase of temperature, no


s: Dr. A. D. Blackader, acting Dean of the Medical Faculty of McGill


s: There is yet a deeper aspect of this character with which we are


s: On February 14th, 1918, a Memorial Service was held in the Royal


s: Victoria College. Principal Sir William Peterson presided. John


s: But O the heavy change, now thou art gone,


s: Now thou art gone, and never must return!


s: Being Selections from the Classical Poets of China


s: The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one.


s: They desire above all things that, in their humble way,


s: may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity


s: A little under three hundred years, from A.D. 618 to 906,


s: in which the unhappy woman compares her heart to a dying moon,


s: My brothers, although they support me not,


s: Yes, the conscience is clear and the song is clear, and so these


s: Cold from its source the stream meanders


s: Following on the Odes, we have much written in the same style,


s: It is necessary to mention in passing the celebrated Ch`u Yuan


s: Soon a great national dynasty arrives whose Emperors are often


s: whose people of to-day still call themselves "Sons of Han".


s: The third century A.D. saw the birth of what was probably


s: who possessed many talents in common, being poets and musicians,


s: alchemists, philosophers, and mostly hard drinkers as well.


s: the name of T`ao Ch`ien (A.D. 365-427), whose exquisite allegory


s: "The Peach Blossom Fountain" is quoted by Professor Giles


s: in his `Chinese Literature'.  The philosophy of this ancient poet


s: I want not power:  heaven is beyond my hopes.  Then let me stroll


s: beside the limpid brook.  Thus will I work out my allotted span,


s: At last the golden age of Chinese poetry is at hand.


s: Call the roll of these three hundred eventful years,


s: It is one of the accomplishments which no man of education


s: song rose naturally from the lips.  Subtly connecting the arts,


s: they were at once painters and poets, musicians and singers.


s: You will find no tedium of repetition in all their poetry,


s: "To make a good poem, the subject must be interesting,


s: "One must begin with grandeur, paint everything expressed,


s: soften the shades of those which are of least importance,


s: collect all into one point of view, and carry the reader thither


s: Yet when due respect has been paid to this critic of old time,


s: the fact still remains that concentration and suggestion


s: With this nation of artists in emotion, the taste of the tea


s: A deep simplicity touching many hidden springs, a profound regard


s: Complete surrender to a particular mood until the mood itself


s: surrenders to the artist, and afterwards silent ceaseless toil


s: until a form worthy of its expression has been achieved --


s: this is the method of Li Po and his fellows.  And as for leisure,


s: The artist is ever saying, "Stay a little while!  See,


s: **  See <Po Chu-i> and <The Never-ending Wrong>.


s: "All that nature yields was there, vying with the rarest hues.


s: "Before the chariot flashed the bright escort of maidens


s: Blot out the garden?  She shall still recline


s: With spring that thrills her warm blood into wine.


s: when the mutinous soldiers were thronging about the royal tent


s: and clamouring for the blood of the favourite, it was the Emperor


s: Policy, the bane of artists demanded it, and so, for the sake


s: of a thousand issues and a common front to the common foe,


s: His return to the place of tragedy, and on to the capital


s: where the deserted palace awaits him with its memories,


s: his endless seeking for the soul of his beloved, her discovery


s: by the priest of Tao in that island of P`eng Lai where --


s: Rise up like rainbow clouds, and many gentle


s: And beautiful Immortals pass their days in peace,


s: And to all poets coming after, these two lovers have been types


s: of romantic and mystic love between man and woman.  Through them


s: the symbols of the mandarin duck and drake, the one-winged birds,


s: They are the earthly counterparts of the heavenly lovers,


s: and at least two of its greatest singers, Tu Fu and Li Po.


s: from our European ideas of technique, has considerable interest


s: for the student of verse form and construction.


s: The favourite metres of the T`ang poets were in lines


s: of five or seven syllables.  There is no fixed rule as regards


s: which in five-syllable verses falls after the second syllable


s: then the fourth is oblique, and the sixth even.  Furthermore,


s: To Confucius, as has been already stated, is due that groundwork


s: the poets have drawn.  Buddhism and Taoism are sisters.


s: there is the same deep sadness, the haunting sorrow of doom.


s: To look on beautiful things is only to feel more poignantly


s: should you suspect her studied, amorous beauty! when she displays


s: With green leaves the peach-trees are loaded,


s: The breeze blows gently along the stream,


s: beyond our mortal reach.  It is in this power of suggestion


s: that the Chinese poets excel.  Asked to differentiate between


s: and the cult of the ancestral spirit.  To the Western world,


s: For the red-lit eaves of my father's home,


s: For the garden roof where my brother stood,


s: But my brother is wise, and may yet return,


s: A loyal minister to the feudal Prince of Ch`u, towards the close


s: High o'er the hill the moon barque steers.


s: Famous for writing that kind of impromptu descriptive verse


s: Whatever his outward demeanour may have been, his poetry gives us


s: almost impossible to reproduce in the English language.


s: From silver lamps a thin blue smoke is streaming,


s: And golden vases 'mid the feast are gleaming;


s: When in tall trees the dying moonbeams quiver:


s: When floods of fire efface the Silver River,


s: by betraying his accomplices.  In the end he was banished,


s: One of the most fascinating of all the T`ang poets.  His life was


s: battling with adversity; then the lover of an actress,


s: There was a King of Liang* -- a king of wondrous might --


s: Who kept an open palace, where music charmed the night --


s: Since he was Lord of Liang a thousand years have flown,


s: And of the towers he builded yon ruin stands alone.


s: There reigns a heavy silence; gaunt weeds through windows pry,


s: And down the streets of Liang old echoes, wailing, die.


s: I have invariably made two syllables of them.


s: One of the few literary men of the day whose later life


s: recalling the quiet twilight upon the mountain-side,


s: I sat upon the mountain-side and watched


s: A tiny barque that skimmed across the lake,


s: A world of hidden peril; then she sailed


s: From out my ken, and mingled with the blue


s: Of skies unfathomed, while the great round sun


s: Glimmered and waned.  The last rays of the sun


s: Lit but the tops of trees and mountain-peaks


s: With tarnished glory; and the water's sheen,


s: Once blue and bright, grew lustreless, and soon


s: The passing of the sun.  The scattered isles


s: Uprose, black-looming o'er the tranquil deeps,


s: Where the reflected heavens wanly showed


s: A lingering gleam.  Already wood and hill


s: Seemed but a broken line to failing sight.


s: Night is at hand; the night winds fret afar,


s: The North winds moan.  The waterfowl are gone


s: To cover o'er the sand-dunes; dawn alone


s: Shall call them from the sedges.  Some bright star


s: Mirrors her charms upon the silver shoal;


s: And I have ta'en the lute, my only friend:


s: The vibrant chords beneath my fingers blend;


s: They sob awhile, then as they slip control


s: Immortal memories awake, and the dead years


s: Through deathless voices answer to my strings,


s: Till from the brink of Time's untarnished springs


s: The melting night recalls me with her tears.


s: Of his life we know little, save that he was the intimate friend


s: of the great poet Tu Fu, and came of a noble family.  He was,


s: moreover, Censor under the Emperor Su Tsung (A.D. 756-762),


s: and rose to be Governor of Chia-chou.  What remains of his verse


s: He was a master of metre, and contributed certain modifications


s: to the laws of Chinese prosody which exist to the present day.


s: A hundred moonlit miles away the Chiang crept to sea;


s: O keeper of my heart, I came by Chiang's ford to thee.


s: It lingered but a moment's space, that dream of Spring, and died;


s: Oh! Chiang Nan's a hundred miles, yet in a moment's space


s: I've flown away to Chiang Nan and touched a dreaming face.


s: He came of a literary family, and, as he says of himself,


s: from his seventh to his fortieth year study and letter occupied


s: of the province of Ssuch`uan, who applied on his behalf


s: for the post of Restorer of Ancient Monuments in the district,


s: half drowned and famishing, from the ruined shrine by the shore


s: for sunken gold.  In his poem called "The Little Rain",


s: which I have (perhaps somewhat rashly) attempted, there is


s: all the graciousness of fine rain falling upon sullen furrows,


s: which charms the world into spring.  "The Recruiting Sergeant"


s: there is an underlying sadness which appears continually,


s: sometimes in the vein that runs throughout the poem,


s: He is haunted from out the crumbled palaces of vanished kings,


s: where "in the form of blue flames one sees spirits moving through


s: of the old masters of his craft, and lastly, more than all,


s: by the dead women and men of his race, the ancestors that count


s: in the making of his composite soul and have their silent say


s: in every action, thought, and impulse of his life.


s: Oh! she is good, the little rain! and well she knows our need


s: Who cometh in the time of spring to aid the sun-drawn seed;


s: She wanders with a friendly wind through silent nights unseen,


s: The furrows feel her happy tears, and lo! the land is green.


s: Last night cloud-shadows gloomed the path that winds to my abode,


s: To-day fresh colours break the soil, and butterflies take wing


s: The wind scarce flutters through the leaves,


s: Now gallants tap their two-edged swords,


s: Like red stars flashing through the night


s: While lingering thoughts still look behind.


s: I sought for shelter; on my heels there trod


s: That seize their prey by night.  A poor old man


s: Saw -- scaled the wall, and vanished.  Through the gate


s: An old bent woman hobbled, and she marched


s: The grim recruiter stormed; and bitterly


s: She answered:  "Listen to the voice of her


s: Who drags before you.  Once I had three sons --


s: Three in the Emperor's camp.  A letter came


s: From one, and -- there was one; the others fell


s: In the same battle -- he alone was left,


s: Scarce able from the iron grasp of Death


s: Death holds them.  In our wretched hut remains


s: The last of all the men -- a little child,


s: Still at his mother's breast.  She cannot flee,


s: Since her few tatters scarce suffice to clothe


s: My strength is well-nigh spent; yet I will go


s: Readily to the camping-ground.  Perchance


s: To cook the rice or stir the morning meal."


s: Night slipped away.  The clamour and the cries


s: Died down; but there was weeping and the sound


s: *  All words ending in `ao' are pronounced `ow', as in English


s: The dry leaves, scattered, fall at last;


s: Tumultuous waves of the great river rise


s: While snow-bright peak and prairie mist combine,


s: And greyness softens the harsh mountain line.


s: From house to house warm winter robes are spread,


s: Floats up the sound of the washerman's bat who plies


s: His hurried task ere the brief noon wanes and dies.


s: The most famous name in Chinese literature.  Born in the province


s: before Ming Huang became his patron in the capital.


s: bade the masterful eunuch Kao Li-shih unlace the poet's boots,


s: he gave him a relentless enemy whose malice pursued him,


s: Troubadour-like, he wandered through the provinces,


s: a friend of former days, to whom he had attached himself,


s: unhappily involved him in the famous rebellion of An Lu-shan.


s: and at the age of sixty his wanderings came to an end.


s: with his saddle broidered with silver upon his white steed;


s: who when he passes, swift as the wind, may be said to resemble


s: who grow grey over their books behind a curtained window."


s: It is harder to write of Li Po than of any other Chinese poet.


s: Po Chu-i has his own distinctive feeling for romance,


s: and alternate depression, a kind of Chinese Paul Verlaine,


s: Thou that hast seen six kingdoms pass away,


s: Accept my song and these three cups I drain!


s: There may be fairer gardens light the plain;


s: Thine are the dim blue hills more fair than they.


s: Here Kings of Wu were crowned and overthrown,


s: Where peaceful grass along the ruin wins;


s: Here -- was it yesterday? -- the royal Tsins


s: Called down the dreams of sunset into stone.


s: Pride and despair shall find a common grave:


s: The Yang-tse-kiang renders wave and wave


s: The yellow dusk winds round the city wall;


s: They hasten home, and from the branches call.


s: A woman sits and weaves with fingers deft


s: Till like faint smoke it dies; and she, bereft,


s: And, like the rain, unheeded fall her tears.


s: In all the clouds he sees her light robes trail,


s: O'er scented balustrade the scented gale


s: Blows warm from Spring, and dew-drops form apace.


s: Her outline on the mountain he can trace,


s: Now leans she from the tower in moonlight pale.


s: A flower-girt branch grows sweeter from the dew.


s: A spirit of snow and rain unheeded calls.


s: Who wakes to memory in these palace walls?


s: Fei-yen!* -- but in the robes an Empress knew.


s: The most renowned of blossoms, most divine


s: Of those whose conquering glances overthrow


s: Cities and kingdoms, for his sake combine


s: From royal lips.  What matter if the snow


s: Blot out the garden?  She shall still recline


s: With spring that thrills her warm blood into wine.


s: *  A delicate compliment to the beautiful T`ai Chen,


s: so shall T`ai Chen become the Empress of Ming Huang.


s: Through silken sleeves the winds aspire,


s: By three, by five they prance with pride


s: Like hoar-frost on the margin of my dreams.


s: Of all things visible.  Darkness and day


s: The passing guests of Time.  Life slips away,


s: Ah! wise the old philosophers who sought


s: To lengthen their long sunsets among flowers,


s: By stealing the young night's unsullied hours


s: And the dim moments with sweet burdens fraught.


s: And now Spring beckons me with verdant hand,


s: And Nature's wealth of eloquence doth win


s: Forth to the fragrant-bowered nectarine,


s: Where my dear friends abide, a careless band.


s: There meet my gentle, matchless brothers, there


s: And in their golden presence cloud the air.


s: And while the thrill of meeting lingers, soon


s: As the first courtly words, the feast is spread,


s: While, couched on flowers 'mid wine-cups flashing red,


s: We drink deep draughts unto The Lady Moon.


s: Then as without the touch of verse divine


s: There is no outlet for the pent-up soul,


s: 'Twas ruled that he who quaffed no fancy's bowl


s: Should drain the "Golden Valley"* cups of wine.


s: among his boon companions (`Gems of Chinese Literature', p. 113).


s: But my heart has gone to the Tartar war,


s: To bleak Kansuh and the steppes of snow,


s: To-day's dun clouds we cannot roll away.


s: Now the long, wailing flight of geese brings autumn in its train,


s: And dream of the greatest singers of the past,


s: Their fadeless lines of fire and beauty cast.


s: I too have felt the wild-bird thrill of song behind the bars,


s: But these have brushed the world aside and walked amid the stars.


s: In vain we cleave the torrent's thread with steel,


s: In vain we drink to drown the grief we feel;


s: When man's desire with fate doth war this, this avails alone --


s: To hoist the sail and let the gale and the waters bear us on.


s: This poet came from the district of Chiang-ning to the capital,


s: where he obtained his doctor's degree and distinguished himself


s: as a man of letters.  For some time he filled a minor post,


s: but was eventually disgraced and exiled to the province of Hunan.


s: (See Hervey Saint-Denys, `Poe/sies des Thang', p. 224;


s: Leaves of the Nenuphars and silken skirts the same pale green,


s: On flower and laughing face alike the same rose-tints are seen;


s: Like some blurred tapestry they blend within the lake displayed:


s: You cannot part the leaves from silk, the lily from the maid.


s: Here long ago the girls of Sou, the darlings of the King,


s: At the first call of Spring the fair young bride,


s: Climbs the Kingfisher's Tower.  Suddenly


s: She sees the bloom of willows far and wide,


s: And grieves for him she lent to fame and war.


s: Like so many of the same philosophy, he became a lonely wanderer,


s: When heaven reveals her primal stainless blue,


s: The tiny torch of dusk.  What startled eyes


s: Uplifted from the restless stream first met


s: The full round glory of the moon!  Yon orb


s: That pales upon the flood of broad Kiang,


s: When did she first through twilight mists unveil


s: Of those that yield possession.  Still the moon


s: Fulfils her phases.  While the tides of time


s: Eat out the rocks of empire, and the stars


s: Go glittering to their doom, she changeless sweeps


s: Through all her times and destinies.  Alas!


s: The little lives that swarmed beneath the moon,


s: I cannot count them.  This alone I know --


s: That, wave on wave, the Kiang seeks the sea,


s: Threading the vasty vault of heaven recalls


s: Between two banks, where heavy boughs enlace,


s: Whose verdurous luxuriance wakes once more


s: Steering to strange adventure.  None may tell


s: If, steeped in the same moonlight, lies afar


s: Of me.  Ah, happy moon! low lingering moon!


s: That with soft touch now brightens into jade


s: Lintel and door, and when she lifts the blind


s: Floats through the darkened chamber of her sleep;


s: While leagues away my love-winged messages


s: Go flocking home; and though they mingle not,


s: Our thoughts seek one another.  In the lilt


s: Of winds I hear her whisper:  "Oh that I


s: Might melt into the moonbeams, and with them


s: Leap through the void, and shed myself with them


s: Upon my lover."  Slow the night creeps on.


s: Sleep harbours in the little room.  She dreams --


s: Dreams of a fall o' flowers.  Alas! young Spring


s: And still he comes not.  Still the flowing stream


s: Sweeps on, but the swift torrents of green hours


s: Are licked into the brazen skies between


s: Their widening banks.  The great deliberate moon


s: Now leans toward the last resort of night,


s: Gloom of the western waves.  She dips her rim,


s: She sinks, she founders in the mist; and still


s: The stream flows on, and to the insatiate sea


s: Hurries her white-wave flocks innumerable


s: The happy goal of their desire!  So dreams


s: My lady till the moon goes down, and lo!


s: A rush of troubled waters floods her soul,


s: While black forebodings rise from deeps unknown


s: And the cold trail of fear creeps round her heart.


s: Has for a thousand autumns borne the name


s: Of the Celestial Weaver.  Like that star


s: At her pale loveliness.  Unnumbered waves


s: Have broidered with green moss the marble folds


s: They knock the stone, like tireless shuttles plied


s: Resemble snow-coils on the mountain top;


s: Her eyebrows arch -- the crescent moon.  A smile


s: And, since she breathes not, being stone, the birds


s: Light on her shoulders, flutter without fear


s: At her still breast.  Immovable she stands


s: And, gazing on their beauty, lets the years


s: suggestive of many-coloured moods, with an undertone of sadness,


s: Po Chu-i is almost nearer to the Western idea of a poet


s: amid his forest dreams with his fishing and the chase.


s: Yet solitude and the picturesque cannot hold him for long,


s: nor even the ardours of the chase.  Po Chu-i is above all


s: the poet of human love and sorrow, and beyond all the consoler.


s: Those who profess to find pessimism in the Chinese character


s: must leave him alone.  At the end of the great tragedy


s: of "The Never-ending Wrong" a whispered message of hope is borne


s: It is the doctrine of eternal constancy, so dimly understood


s: in the Western world, which bids the young wife immolate herself


s: The following is Po Chu-i's own preface to his poem: --


s: of the gongs in the Palace of the Capital.  On asking an old man,


s: and followed her fate by becoming a merchant's wife.


s: The wine ran out and the songs ceased.  My grief was such


s: that I made a few short poems to set to music for singing.


s: But now perturbed, engulfed, distressed, worn out, I move about


s: the river and lake at my leisure.  I have been out of office


s: The flower-like maple leaves that bloom alone


s: We said farewell.  The host, dismounting, sped


s: The parting guest whose boat rocked under him,


s: And when the circling stirrup-cup went round,


s: No light guitar, no lute, was heard again;


s: But on the heart aglow with wine there fell


s: Beneath the cold bright moon the cold adieu


s: Of fading friends -- when suddenly beyond


s: Of some faint lute; then host forgot to go,


s: Guest lingered on:  all, wondering at the spell,


s: Her presence; but the music died and gave


s: No answer, dying.  Then a boat shot forth


s: Cups were refilled and lanterns trimmed again,


s: Slow yielding to their prayers, the stranger came,


s: Hiding her burning face behind her lute;


s: And twice her hand essayed the strings, and twice


s: She faltered in her task; then tenderly,


s: As for an old sad tale of hopeless years,


s: With drooping head and fingers deft she poured


s: The plectrum led to prayer the cloistered chords,


s: Now loudly with the crash of falling rain,


s: Now soft as the leaf whispering of words,


s: Patter of pearls and seed-pearls on a dish


s: Now as the streamlet seawards; voiceless now


s: As the wild torrent in the strangling arms


s: Lulled in a passion far too deep for sound.


s: The slash of rending, so upon the strings


s: No sound broke the charmed air.  The autumn moon


s: Swam silver o'er the tide, as with a sigh


s: Was near the hills.  A girl of twelve, I learnt


s: Blending of lute and voice that drew the souls


s: Bowed at the shrine in secret.  The young lords


s: Vied for a look's approval.  One brief song


s: Brought many costly bales.  Gold ornaments


s: And silver pins were smashed and trodden down,


s: And blood-red silken skirts were stained with wine


s: I laughed my life away from year to year


s: While the spring breezes and the autumn moon


s: Caressed my careless head.  Then on a day


s: My brother sought the battles in Kansuh;


s: My mother died:  nights passed and mornings came,


s: And with them waned my beauty.  Now no more


s: My doors were thronged; few were the cavaliers


s: Whose lord was gold, who, parting, little recked


s: Since the tenth moon was full my husband went


s: To where the tea-fields ripen.  I remained,


s: Over the cold bright wave o' nights, and dream


s: Of the dead days, the haze of happy days,


s: And see them set again in dreams and tears."


s: Had moved my soul to pity; now these words


s: Pierced me the heart.  "O lady fair," I cried,


s: "We are the vagrants of the world, and need


s: To this plague-stricken spot, where desolation


s: Broods on from year to heavy year, nor lute


s: Nor love's guitar is heard.  By marshy bank


s: Girt with tall yellow reeds and dwarf bamboos


s: I dwell.  Night long and day no stir, no sound,


s: Only the lurking cuckoo's blood-stained note,


s: The gibbon's mournful wail.  Hill songs I have,


s: And village pipes with their discordant twang.


s: The gods were parents to thy music.  Sit


s: (For long she had been standing) the lute girl


s: Sad and so soft, a dream, unlike the song


s: Upon my darkened robe were starred with dew.


s: As the Emperor was followed by a numerous suite, and because


s: time was lacking, the arrangements for so long a journey


s: were found to be insufficient.  On their arrival at Ma-wei


s: both officers and men murmured loudly against Yang Kuo-chung*,


s: accusing him of having brought all the present evils upon them.


s: which they exposed on a stake to the public gaze.  The Emperor,


s: as she was the sister of the supposed rebel, Yang.  The Emperor,


s: urged him that it was politic, after the events he had witnessed,


s: from the dangers of (another) revolution.  The Emperor,


s: *  Minister of State, brother to T`ai Chen.


s: Tired of pale languors and the painted smile,


s: His Majesty the Son of Heaven, long time


s: The glance that brings an Empire's overthrow.


s: Lost to the world, resistless to the heart;


s: For beauty such as hers was hard to hide,


s: And so, when summoned to the monarch's side,


s: Her flashing eye and merry laugh had power


s: To charm into pure gold the leaden hour;


s: And through the paint and powder of the court


s: All gathered to the sunshine that she brought.


s: The pool of Hua`ch`ing beheld her stand,


s: Whose dimpled fount a warmth perennial gave.


s: Then when, her girls attending, forth she came,


s: And with her eyes she won a monarch's soul.


s: She lingers through the soft spring nights --


s: On, on, to the south-west, a living wall,


s: Ten thousand battle-chariots on the wing.


s: Onwards, and then an halt.  The legions wait


s: The great walls loom behind them wrapt in cloud.


s: Naught but the last dread office can avail,


s: Till she of the dark moth-eyebrows, lily pale,


s: Shines through tall avenues of spears to die.


s: One with the dust, and none to gather them,


s: Hair-pins of jade and many a costly gem,


s: Kingfishers' wings and golden birds scarce cold.


s: The king has sought the darkness of his hands,


s: Veiling the eyes that looked for help in vain,


s: His tears, her blood, are mingled on the sands.


s: And the bright gleam of their standard grows


s: And a sound of a bell in the evening rain


s: Statesman's and monarch's eyes have met,


s: There is the pool, the flowers as of old,


s: There the hibiscus at the gates of gold,


s: And there the willows round the palace rise.


s: In the hibiscus flower he sees her face,


s: Her eyebrows in the willow he can trace,


s: And silken pansies thrill him with her eyes.


s: How in this presence should his tears not come,


s: In spring amid the bloom of peach and plum,


s: In autumn rains when the wut`ung leaves must fall?


s: Shower their dead leaves upon the terraces,


s: And not a hand to stir their crimson pall.


s: Ye minstrels of the Garden of the Pear,*


s: Grief with the touch of age has blanched your hair.


s: Ye guardians of the Pepper Chamber,** now


s: No longer young to him, the firefly flits


s: Through the black hall where, lost to love, he sits,


s: Folding the veil of sorrows round his brow,


s: Sleep with the lily hands has passed him by,


s: Slowly the watches of the night are gone,


s: For now, alas! the nights are all too long,


s: And shine the stars, a silver, mocking throng,


s: As though the dawn were dead or slumbered on.


s: Cold settles on the painted duck and drake,


s: Chill the kingfisher's quilt with none to share.


s: Parted by life and death; the ebb and flow


s: He hunts her face in dreams, and finds despair.


s: *  The Pear Garden was a college of music founded by Ming Huang


s: for the purpose of training the youth of both sexes.


s: A priest of Tao, one of the Hung-tu school,


s: Receives an urgent summons.  Borne aloft


s: He flies with speed of lightning.  High to heaven,


s: Low down to earth, he, seeking everywhere,


s: The yellow springs; but nowhere in great space


s: Can he find aught of her.  At length he hears


s: An old-world tale:  an Island of the Blest* --


s: To be described; there gaily coloured towers


s: Rise up like rainbow clouds, and many gentle


s: In peace.  Among them there is one whose name


s: Sounds upon lips as Eternal.  By the bloom


s: Of her white skin and flower-like face he knows


s: That this is she.  Knocking at the jade door


s: At the western gate of the golden house, he bids


s: A fair maid breathe his name to one more fair


s: Sent by the Son of Heaven, starts from her dreams


s: Her robes around her, letting the pillow fall,


s: She, risen in haste, begins to deck herself


s: With pearls and gems.  Her cloud-like hair, dishevelled,


s: Betrays the nearness of her sleep.  And with the droop


s: Of her flowery plumes in disarray, she floats


s: Light through the hall.  The sleeves of her divine


s: Raiment the breezes fill.  As once again


s: She seems to dance, her face is fixed and calm,


s: Though many tear-drops on an almond bough


s: Fall, and recall the rains of spring.  Subdued


s: Her wild emotions and restrained her grief,


s: Saying how since they parted she has missed


s: His form and voice; how, though their love had reached


s: Remain ungathered.  Turning now, she leans


s: Toward the land of the living, and in vain


s: Would find the Imperial city, lost in the dust


s: And haze.  Then raising from their lacquered gloom


s: She bids him bear them to her lord.  One-half


s: The hair-pin still she keeps, one-half the brooch,


s: Breaking with her dim hands the yellow gold,


s: She murmured, "to be firm of heart as this


s: Gold and enamel; then, in heaven or earth,


s: Below, we twain may meet once more."  At parting


s: Among the rest recalled a mutual pledge,


s: How on the seventh day of the seventh moon,


s: At midnight, whispering, when none were near,


s: Low in her ear, he breathed, "I swear that we,


s: Like to the one-winged birds, will ever fly,


s: Are interwoven.  Heaven and earth shall fall,


s: Long lasting as they are.  But this great wrong


s: Shall stretch from end to end the universe,


s: And shine beyond the ruin of the stars."


s: Into the night the sounds of luting flow;


s: The west wind stirs amid the root-crop blue;


s: While envious fireflies spoil the twinkling dew,


s: And early wild-geese stem the dark Kin-ho.


s: Now great trees tell their secrets to the sky,


s: And hill on hill looms in the moon-clear night.


s: And in a dream go drifting down the Hwai.


s: Oh! she is like a picture in the spring,


s: This lake of Shang, with the wild hills gathering


s: Of stormless waters; pines, deep blue, enlace


s: The lessening slopes, and broken moonlight gleams


s: Across the waves like pearls we thread in dreams.


s: Like a woof of jasper strands the corn unfolds,


s: Field upon field beyond the quiet wolds;


s: The late-blown rush flaunts in the dusk serene


s: Her netted sash and slender skirt of green.


s: The dream behind me and the world before.


s: O Lake of Shang, his feet may wander far


s: Whose soul thou holdest mirrored as a star.


s: Who was the far-off founder of the house,


s: With its red gates abutting to the road? --


s: A palace, though its outer wings are shorn,


s: And domes of glittering tiles.  The wall without


s: The straggling fragments of some seven courts,


s: The wreck of seven fortunes:  roof and eaves


s: Still hang together.  From this chamber cool


s: The dense blue smoke arose.  Nor heat nor cold


s: Now dwells therein.  A tall pavilion stands


s: The pine-browed southern hills.  Long purple vines


s: Of the red, joyous threshold, and shake down


s: The peach and cherry branches.  Yonder group


s: Of his official rank.  The taint of meat


s: Of vanished hoards the treasury retains.


s: Who can lay hold upon my words?  Give heed


s: And commune with thyself!  How poor and mean


s: Is the last state of wretchedness, when cold


s: And famine thunder at the gates, and none


s: But pale endurance on the threshold stands


s: That would protect the land a thousand years,


s: Behold they are not that herein once bloomed


s: And perished; but the garden breathes of them,


s: And all the flowers are fragrant for their sakes.


s: Salute the garden that salutes the dead!


s: A network handkerchief contains no tear.


s: 'Tis dawn at court ere wine and music sate.


s: Rest on a screen, and you will fall, I fear.


s: Chuang Tzu said:  "Tao* gives me this toil in manhood,


s: this repose in old age, this rest in death."


s: Swiftly and soon the golden sun goes down,


s: Tao is the changeful world's environment;


s: Happy are they that in its laws delight.


s: Tao gives me toil, youth's passion to achieve,


s: I follow Tao -- the seasons are my friends;


s: I feel the great world's spirit through me thrill,


s: Or with the random swallow take my will.


s: As underneath the mulberry-tree I dream,


s: The water-clock drips on, and dawn appears:


s: A new day shines on wrinkles and white hair,


s: Still wed to life, I still am free from care.


s: Since life and death in cycles come and go,


s: Of little moments are the days to spare.


s: Thus strong in faith I wait, and long to be


s: I cannot rest when the cool is gone from June,


s: But haunt the dim verandah till the moon


s: The stirrup-fires beneath the terrace flare;


s: Over the star-domed court a low, sad air


s: This endless heat doth urge me to extremes;


s: Yet cool of autumn waits till the wild goose screams


s: How beautiful and fresh the grass returns!


s: When golden days decline, the meadow burns;


s: Yet autumn suns no hidden root have slain,


s: The spring winds blow, and there is grass again.


s: The blue sky storms the ruined city walls;


s: When the grass blooms both joy and fear I know.


s: The last red leaves droop sadly o'er the slain;


s: In the long tower my cup of wine I drain,


s: Watching the mist-flocks driven through the hills,


s: And great blown roses ravished by the rain.


s: The beach tints linger down the frontier line,


s: And sounding waters shimmer to the brine;


s: Yet dreams, and woodlands, and the chase are mine.


s: The clamour of carts goes down the street:


s: In the sight of the flowers are laid aside.


s: Bright, oh! bright are a thousand shades,


s: Lovers are parted, and friends go single.


s: The crimson and gold of the Flower Fair.


s: Three score and ten!  A slave to office yet!


s: In the Li Chi these luminous words befall:


s: "The lust for honours honours not at all,"


s: Alas! how these long years afflict a man!


s: When teeth are gone, and failing eyes grow dim.


s: The morning dews brought dreams of fame to him


s: Who bears in dusk the burdens of his clan.


s: His eyes still linger on the tassel blue,


s: And still the red sedan of rank appeals,


s: But his shrunk belly scarce the girdle feels


s: As, bowed, he crawls the Prince's Gateway through.


s: Where is the man that would not wealth acclaim?


s: Who would not truckle for his sovereign's grace?


s: Yet years of high renown their furrows trace,


s: And greatness overwhelms the weary frame.


s: The springs of laughter flow not from his heart,


s: Where bide the dust and glamour of old days.


s: Who walks alone in contemplation's ways?


s: Pale, through the lotus-girdled isle of pines,


s: And twilight listens to the drip of oars --


s: The coming of dark boats with scented stores


s: Of orange seed; the mist leans from the hill,


s: While palm leaves sway 'twixt wind and water chill,


s: And waves of smoke like phantoms rise and fade


s: I dream strange dreams within my tower room,


s: Dreams from the glimmering realms of even gloom;


s: Until each princely guest doth, landing, raise


s: His eyes, upon the full-orbed moon to gaze --


s: The old moon-palace that in ocean stands


s: See yonder, where the white horse gleams


s: The peach blooms open on the eastern wall --


s: I breathe their fragrance, laughing in the glow


s: Of golden noontide.  Suddenly there comes


s: Flooding my soul with glory; till I feel


s: One with the brightness of the first far dawn,


s: One with the many-coloured spring; and all


s: The secrets of the scented hearts of flowers


s: Are whispered through me; till I cry aloud.


s: Alas! how grey and scentless is the bloom


s: Of mortal life!  This -- this alone I fear,


s: That from yon twinkling mirror of delight


s: The unreal flowers may fade; that with the breath


s: Of the fiery flying Dragon they will fall


s: Into the world's green sepulchre.  Alas!


s: My little friends, my lovers, we must part,


s: And, like some uncompanioned pine that stands,


s: Last of the legions on the southern slopes,


s: I too shall stand alone, and hungry winds


s: Shall gnaw the lute-strings of my desolate heart.


s: Vast, vast -- an endless wilderness of sand;


s: A stream crawls through its tawny banks; the hills


s: Moan the last sighs of sunset.  Shrubs are gone,


s: Withered the grass; all chill as the white rime


s: Of early morn.  The birds go soaring past,


s: The beasts avoid it; for the legend runs --


s: Told by the crook'd custodian of the place --


s: Of some old battle-field.  "Here many a time,"


s: He quavered, "armies have been overwhelmed,


s: And the faint voices of the unresting dead


s: Ye empires of the dust! for I have heard


s: How, when the Ch`is and Weis embattled rose


s: Along the frontier, when the Chings and Hans


s: Gathered their multitudes, a myriad leagues


s: Grazing their jaded steeds, by night they ford


s: The hostile stream.  The endless earth below,


s: The boundless sky above, they know no day


s: Of their return.  Their breasts are ever bared


s: To the pitiless steel and all the wounds of war


s: Our leader scorns the foe.  He would give battle


s: Upon the threshold of the camp.  The stream


s: Though many hearts may beat, where discipline


s: Now works its iron will, the startled sand


s: In the death-grip; while hill and vale and stream


s: Glow with the flash and crash of arms.  Then cold


s: The shades of night o'erwhelm them; to the knee


s: In snow, beards stiff with ice.  The carrion bird


s: Hath sought its nest.  The war-horse in its strength


s: Is broken.  Clothes avail not.  Hands are dead,


s: Flesh to the frost succumbs.  Nature herself


s: Following the wild onslaught.  Wagons block


s: The way.  Our men, beset with flank attacks,


s: Surrender with their officers.  Their chief


s: Is slain.  The river to its topmost banks


s: Brimming with blood.  Nation and rank are lost


s: And fainter beats the drum; for strength is shorn,


s: And arrows spent, and bow-strings snapped, and swords


s: Shattered.  The legions fall on one another


s: In the last surge of life and death.  To yield


s: .    .    .    .    .    .    .   No sound


s: Of bird now flutters from the hushed hillside;


s: All, all is still, save for the wind that wails


s: And whistles through the long night where the ghosts


s: Under the ominous clouds.  The sunlight pales


s: Athwart the trampled grass; the fading moon


s: Still twinkles on the frost-flakes scattered round.


s: Little is known of his life, except that he was Secretary


s: to the Board of Rites and retired from this position to lead


s: the contemplative life.  His introduction to the European world


s: is entirely due to Professor Giles.  No mention is made of him


s: He is perhaps the most Chinese of the poets dealt with,


s: aimless wanderings, no need for Mahomet to go to the Mountain,


s: With such a philosophy there are infinite possibilities.


s: The poet is an occultist in the truest sense of the word.


s: For him, Time and Space no longer exist, and by "concentration"


s: he is able to communicate with the beloved, and


s: Ssu-K`ung T`u, more than any poet, teaches how unreal


s: and after the lapse of a thousand years these glowing pages


s: The stranger from the night-steeped hills,


s: Where spring sang clear from star to star;


s: I am 'stablished in might and dominion and power,


s: Fair is the pine grove and the mountain stream


s: The black-winged junks on the dim sea reach, adream,


s: The pale blue firmament o'er banks of snow.


s: And her, more fair, more supple smooth than jade,


s: Gleaming among the dark red woods I follow:


s: Of pirate wings she seeks the haven hollow.


s: Vague, and beyond the daylight of recall,


s: Into the cloudland past my spirit flies,


s: As though before the gold of autumn's fall,


s: Before the glow of the moon-flooded skies.


s: As the wind-drawn note of the bamboo flute


s: And wandering wings through depths of trees,


s: My thoughts are bitter -- black as death --


s: The soldier, dauntless, draws his sword,


s: And through the old thatch drips the rain.


s: If rank and wealth within the mind abide,


s: Then gilded dust is all your yellow gold.


s: Kings in their fretted palaces grow old;


s: Youth dwells for ever at Contentment's side.


s: A mist cloud hanging at the river's brim,


s: Pink almond flowers along the purple bough,


s: A hut rose-girdled under moon-swept skies,


s: A painted bridge half-seen in shadows dim, --


s: These are the splendours of the poor, and thou,


s: O wine of spring, the vintage of the wise.


s: While some far thrush the silence stirs.


s: The clouds scarce dim the water's sheen,


s: With the completion of the T`ang dynasty, it was my design


s: in Chinese literature.  His career was as varied as his talents.


s: One night, when dreaming over ancient books,


s: From the south-west.  I listened, wondering,


s: As on it crept:  at first a gentle sigh,


s: Like as a spirit passing; then it swelled


s: Into the roaring of great waves that smite


s: The broken vanguard of the cliff:  the rage


s: Of storm-black tigers in the startled night


s: The silver pendants chattering.  It seemed


s: Sped to the night attack with muffled mouths,


s: When no command is heard, only the tramp


s: Of men and horses onward.  "Boy," said I,


s: "What sound is that?  Go forth and see."  My boy,


s: Returning, answered, "Lord! the moon and all


s: Her stars shine fair; the silver river spans


s: The sky.  No sound of man is heard without;


s: 'Tis but a whisper of the trees."  "Alas!"


s: 'Tis thus, O boy, that Autumn comes, the cold


s: Autumn, the season of the cloudless sky,


s: Autumn, of biting blasts, the time of blight


s: Of green is changed.  All the proud foliage


s: Of the crested forests is shorn, and shrivels down


s: Beneath the blade of ice.  For this is Autumn,


s: The temper of proven steel.  Its symbol is


s: A sharpened sword.  The avenging fiend, it rides


s: Upon an atmosphere of death.  As Spring,


s: Mother of many-coloured birth, doth rear


s: The young light-hearted world, so Autumn drains


s: And sad the hour when all ripe things must pass,


s: For sweetness and decay are of one stem,


s: Still, what availeth it?  The trees will fall


s: In their due season.  Sorrow cannot keep


s: The plants from fading.  Stay! there yet is man --


s: Man, the divinest of all things, whose heart


s: Hath known the shipwreck of a thousand hopes,


s: Upon the parchment of his brow, whose soul


s: Strange cares have lined and interlined, until


s: Beneath the burden of life his inmost self


s: Bows down.  And swifter still he seeks decay


s: Then come the snows of time.  Are they not due?


s: Who is it that saps his strength save man alone?


s: Man doth accuse his Autumn blast?"  My boy


s: Slumbered and answered not.  The cricket gave


s: Years since we last foregathered, O Man-ch`ing!


s: And courage from thy glances challenging.


s: Ah! when thy tired limbs were fain to keep


s: From the corrupting earth, that sought to hold


s: Its beauty, to the essence of pure gold.


s: Or haply art thou some far-towering pine, --


s: Weaves her sweet tapestries above thy head,


s: Moist with the dew of heaven, the breezes chill:


s: Fire-fly, will-o'-the-wisp, and wandering star


s: Glow in thy gloom, and naught is heard but the far


s: Chanting of woodman and shepherd from the hill,


s: Or the hulk of the scampering beast that fears


s: Such is thy loneliness.  A thousand years,


s: Haply ten thousand, hence the fox shall make


s: His fastness in thy tomb, the weasel take


s: Her young to thy dim sanctuary.  Such is the lot


s: Man honours where the grave remembers not.


s: in the field of Chinese literature, notably Professor Giles


s: and the Marquis d'Hervey-Saint-Denys.  The copy of the latter's


s: `Poe/sies des Thang' which I possess has been at various times


s: the property of William Morris, York Powell, and John Payne,


s: is mainly responsible.  My thanks are due to Mr. Lionel Giles


s: for the translation of Po Chu-i's "Peaceful Old Age",


s: to pursue the subject further, I have appended a short list


s: (The best book available on the Odes of Confucius.


s: It contains a complete metrical translation.)


s: The Old Poetry Classic of the Chinese, a metrical translation


s: The Odes of Confucius, rendered by L. Cranmer-Byng.


s: (A free metrical rendering in The Wisdom of the East Series.)


s: Ch`u Yuan's Tsoo-Sze Elegies of Ch`u, in stanzas and lines,


s: edited by Wang Yi, 2nd Century.  In Chinese.  A reprint, 1885.


s: The Same -- Li Sao.  Poe\me traduit du Chinois


s: par le Marquis d'Hervey-Saint-Denys.  Paris, 1870.


s: (The standard book, containing a survey of Chinese Literature


s: Poe/sies de l'E/poque des Thang.  Paris, 1862.


s: (A valuable monograph on the poetry of the T`ang period,


s: (Contains translations of some of the old Chinese ballads


s: on the subject of the Emperor Ming Huang of the T`ang dynasty.


s: Poems of the T`ang Dynasty, in Chinese.  Two volumes.


s: (An interesting essay on Chinese poetry, together with


s: several examples rendered into English verse.  Owing, however,


s: to the researches of later sinologues, many of his conclusions,


s: especially as regards pronunciation, are out of date.)


s: La Poe/sie Chinoise, by C. de Harlez.  Bruxelles, 1892.


s: (The best treatise on Chinese poetry that has yet appeared.


s: (Contains a vast deal of interesting information on the subject


s: Anonymous Old French epic, dating perhaps as early as the middle


s: Full seven years hath sojourned in Spain,


s: Conquered the land, and won the western main,


s: Now no fortress against him doth remain,


s: Save Sarraguce, that sits on high mountain.


s: Marsile its King, who feareth not God's name,


s: Mahumet's man, he invokes Apollin's aid,


s: Nor wards off ills that shall to him attain.


s: There on a throne he sate, of marble blue,


s: Round him his men, full twenty thousand, stood.


s: Called he forth then his counts, also his dukes:


s: "My Lords, give ear to our impending doom:


s: Counsel me then, ye that are wise and true;


s: Can ye ward off this present death and dule?"


s: First in prowess, he stood his lord beside.


s: And thus he spoke: "Do not yourself affright!


s: Yield to Carlun, that is so big with pride,


s: Faithful service, his friend and his ally;


s: Lions and bears and hounds for him provide,


s: Thousand mewed hawks, sev'n hundred camelry;


s: Silver and gold, four hundred mules load high;


s: Fifty wagons his wrights will need supply,


s: Till with that wealth he pays his soldiery.


s: War hath he waged in Spain too long a time,


s: To Aix, in France, homeward he will him hie.


s: Follow him there before Saint Michael's tide,


s: You shall receive and hold the Christian rite;


s: Send him our sons, the first-born of our wives;--


s: An he be slain, I'll surely furnish mine.


s: Better by far they go, though doomed to die,


s: And be ourselves brought down to beggary."


s: Says Blancandrins: "By my right hand, I say,


s: And by this beard, that in the wind doth sway,


s: The Frankish host you'll see them all away;


s: Franks will retire to France their own terrain.


s: When they are gone, to each his fair domain,


s: In his Chapelle at Aix will Charles stay,


s: High festival will hold for Saint Michael.


s: Time will go by, and pass the appointed day;


s: Tidings of us no Frank will hear or say.


s: Proud is that King, and cruel his courage;


s: From th' hostage he'll slice their heads away.


s: Better by far their heads be shorn away,


s: Than that ourselves lose this clear land of Spain,


s: Than that ourselves do suffer grief and pain."


s: "That is well said.  So be it." the pagans say.


s: The council ends, and that King Marsilie


s: Ten hath he called, were first in felony.


s: In your right hands bear olive-branches green


s: If you by craft contrive to set me free,


s: Silver and gold, you'll have your fill of me,


s: Manors and fiefs, I'll give you all your need."


s: "We have enough," the pagans straight agree.


s: Says to his men: "Go now, my lords, to him,


s: Olive-branches in your right hands bearing;


s: Bid ye for me that Charlemagne, the King,


s: Ere this new moon wanes, I shall be with him;


s: Will be his man, my love and faith swearing;


s: Hostages too, he'll have, if so he will."


s: Says Blancandrins: "Much good will come of this."


s: Ten snow-white mules then ordered Marsilie,


s: Bridled with gold, saddled in silver clear;


s: Mounted them those that should the message speak,


s: In their right hands were olive-branches green.


s: Came they to Charle, that holds all France in fee,


s: Yet cannot guard himself from treachery.


s: Cordres he holds, the walls are tumbled down,


s: His catapults have battered town and tow'r.


s: Great good treasure his knights have placed in pound,


s: But he been slain, or takes the Christian vow.


s: The Emperour is in a great orchard ground


s: Gefreid d'Anjou, that bears his gonfaloun;


s: Where they are found, is seen a mighty crowd,


s: Fifteen thousand, come out of France the Douce.


s: On white carpets those knights have sate them down,


s: At the game-boards to pass an idle hour;--


s: Chequers the old, for wisdom most renowned,


s: While fence the young and lusty bachelours.


s: l    Stands a fald-stool, fashioned of gold throughout;


s: There sits the King, that holds Douce France in pow'r;


s: White is his beard, and blossoming-white his crown,


s: Shapely his limbs, his countenance is proud.


s: Should any seek, no need to point him out.


s: The messengers, on foot they get them down,


s: And in salute full courteously they lout.


s: The foremost word of all Blancandrin spake,


s: And to the King: "May God preserve you safe,


s: The All Glorious, to Whom ye're bound to pray!


s: Proud Marsilies this message bids me say:


s: Much hath he sought to find salvation's way;


s: Out of his wealth meet presents would he make,


s: Lions and bears, and greyhounds leashed on chain,


s: Thousand mewed hawks, sev'n hundred dromedrays,


s: Four hundred mules his silver shall convey,


s: Golden besants, such store of proved assay,


s: Wherewith full tale your soldiers you can pay.


s: Now in this land you've been too long a day


s: Thus saith my Lord, he'll follow too that way."


s: That Emperour t'wards God his arms he raised


s: That Emperour inclined his head full low;


s: His custom was, at his leisure he spoke.


s: When he looks up, his face is very bold,


s: He says to them: "Good tidings have you told.


s: These very words you have before me told,


s: That Sarrazin says, "Hostages he'll show;


s: Ten shall you take, or fifteen or a score.


s: Though he be slain, a son of mine shall go,


s: Any there be you'll have more nobly born.


s: My Lord hath said, thither will he follow


s: Ev'n to your baths, that God for you hath wrought;


s: There is he fain the Christian faith to know."


s: Answers him Charles: "Still may he heal his soul."


s: Clear shone the sun in a fair even-tide;


s: Those ten men's mules in stall he bade them tie.


s: Also a tent in the orchard raise on high,


s: Those messengers had lodging for the night;


s: Dozen serjeants served after them aright.


s: Darkling they lie till comes the clear daylight.


s: That Emperour does with the morning rise;


s: Matins and Mass are said then in his sight.


s: Forth goes that King, and stays beneath a pine;


s: Barons he calls, good counsel to define,


s: For with his Franks he's ever of a mind.


s: And among them the Count Rollant came in,


s: Franks out of France, a thousand chivalry;


s: Guenes came there, that wrought the treachery.


s: The Council then began, which ended ill.


s: "My Lords Barons," says the Emperour then, Charles,


s: "King Marsilies hath sent me his messages;


s: Out of his wealth he'll give me weighty masses.


s: Greyhounds on leash and bears and lions also,


s: Thousand mewed hawks and seven hundred camels,


s: Four hundred mules with gold Arabian charged,


s: Fifty wagons, yea more than fifty drawing.


s: But into France demands he my departure;


s: He'll follow me to Aix, where is my Castle;


s: There he'll receive the law of our Salvation:


s: Christian he'll be, and hold from me his marches.


s: But I know not what purpose in his heart is."


s: Then say the Franks: "Beseems us act with caution!"


s: That Emperour hath ended now his speech.


s: Quick to reply, he springs upon his feet;


s: Seven years since, when into Spain came we,


s: And took Valterne, and all the land of Pine,


s: Bearing in hand their olive-branches green:


s: Who, ev'n as now, these very words did speak.


s: You of your Franks a Council did decree,


s: Praised they your words that foolish were in deed.


s: Two of your Counts did to the pagan speed,


s: Their heads he took on th' hill by Haltilie.


s: War have you waged, so on to war proceed,


s: To Sarraguce lead forth your great army.


s: All your life long, if need be, lie in siege,


s: Vengeance for those the felon slew to wreak."


s: That Emperour he sits with lowering front,


s: He clasps his chin, his beard his fingers tug,


s: Franks hold their peace, but only Guenelun


s: Springs to his feet, and comes before Carlun;


s: My word nor theirs, save whence your good shall come.


s: Since he sends word, that King Marsiliun,


s: Homage he'll do, by finger and by thumb;


s: Throughout all Spain your writ alone shall run


s: Next he'll receive our rule of Christendom


s: Who shall advise, this bidding be not done,


s: Deserves not death, since all to death must come.


s: Counsel of pride is wrong: we've fought enough.


s: Leave we the fools, and with the wise be one."


s: And after him came Neimes out, the third,


s: Better vassal there was not in the world;


s: And to the King: "Now rightly have you heard


s: Guenes the Count, what answer he returned.


s: Wisdom was there, but let it well be heard.


s: His castles all in ruin have you hurled,


s: With catapults his ramparts have you burst,


s: Vanquished his men, and all his cities burned;


s: Him who entreats your pity do not spurn,


s: Sinners were they that would to war return;


s: With hostages his faith he would secure;


s: Let this great war no longer now endure."


s: "Well said the Duke."  Franks utter in their turn.


s: "My lords barons, say whom shall we send up


s: Answers Duke Neimes: "I'll go there for your love;


s: Give me therefore the wand, also the glove."


s: Answers the King: "Old man of wisdom pruff;


s: By this white beard, and as these cheeks are rough,


s: You'll not this year so far from me remove;


s: Go sit you down, for none hath called you up."


s: "My lords barons, say whom now can we send


s: To th' Sarrazin that Sarraguce defends?"


s: Answers Rollanz: "I might go very well."


s: "Certes, you'll not," says Oliver his friend,


s: "For your courage is fierce unto the end,


s: If the King wills it I might go there well."


s: Answers the King: "Be silent both on bench;


s: Your feet nor his, I say, shall that way wend.


s: Nay, by this beard, that you have seen grow blench,


s: The dozen peers by that would stand condemned.


s: Franks hold their peace; you'd seen them all silent.


s: Turpins of Reins is risen from his rank,


s: Says to the King: "In peace now leave your Franks.


s: For seven years you've lingered in this land


s: They have endured much pain and sufferance.


s: Give, Sire, to me the clove, also the wand,


s: For I believe his thoughts I understand."


s: And speak no more, until that I command."


s: "Franks, chevaliers," says the Emperour then, Charles,


s: "Choose ye me out a baron from my marches,


s: To Marsilie shall carry back my answer."


s: Then says Rollanz: "There's Guenes, my goodfather."


s: Answer the Franks: "For he can wisely manage;


s: So let him go, there's none you should send rather."


s: And that count Guenes is very full of anguish;


s: Off from his neck he flings the pelts of marten,


s: And on his feet stands clear in silken garment.


s: Proud face he had, his eyes with colour, sparkled;


s: Fine limbs he had, his ribs were broadly arched


s: So fair he seemed that all the court regarded.


s: Says to Rollant: "Fool, wherefore art so wrathful?


s: All men know well that I am thy goodfather;


s: Thou hast decreed, to Marsiliun I travel.


s: Then if God grant that I return hereafter,


s: I'll follow thee with such a force of passion


s: That will endure so long as life may last thee."


s: Answers Rollanz: "Thou'rt full of pride and madness.


s: All men know well, I take no thought for slander;


s: But some wise man, surely, should bear the answer;


s: If the King will, I'm ready to go rather."


s: Answers him Guene: "Thou shalt not go for me.


s: Thou'rt not my man, nor am I lord of thee.


s: This mighty wrath of mine I'll thus let free."


s: When Rollanz heard, began to laugh for glee.


s: When Guenes sees that Rollant laughs at it,


s: Such grief he has, for rage he's like to split,


s: Says to that count: "I love you not a bit;


s: A false judgement you bore me when you chid.


s: Right Emperour, you see me where you sit,


s: I will your word accomplish, as you bid.


s: "To Sarraguce I must repair, 'tis plain;


s: Whence who goes there returns no more again.


s: Your sister's hand in marriage have I ta'en;


s: And I've a son, there is no prettier swain:


s: Baldwin, men say he shews the knightly strain.


s: Care well for him; he'll look for me in vain."


s: Answers him Charles: "Your heart is too humane.


s: When I command, time is to start amain."


s: Then says the King: "Guenes, before me stand;


s: And take from me the glove, also the wand.


s: For you have heard, you're chosen by the Franks,"


s: "Sire," answers Guenes, "all this is from Rollanz;


s: I'll not love him, so long as I'm a man,


s: The dozen peers, for they are of his band,


s: Basile had none nor his brother Basant."


s: His right hand glove that Emperour holds out;


s: But the count Guenes elsewhere would fain be found;


s: When he should take, it falls upon the ground.


s: Murmur the Franks: "God!  What may that mean now?


s: By this message great loss shall come about."


s: "Lordings," says Guene, "You'll soon have news enow."


s: "Now," Guenes said, "give me your orders, Sire;


s: Then said the King "In Jesu's Name and mine!"


s: With his right hand he has absolved and signed,


s: Then to his care the wand and brief confides.


s: Finds for the road his garments and his gear,


s: All of the best he takes that may appear:


s: Spurs of fine gold he fastens on his feet,


s: And to his side Murgles his sword of steel.


s: On Tachebrun, his charger, next he leaps,


s: Then you had seen so many knights to weep,


s: In the King's court these many years you've been,


s: Noble vassal, they say that have you seen.


s: He that for you this journey has decreed


s: King Charlemagne will never hold him dear.


s: The Count Rollant, he should not so have deemed,


s: Knowing you were born of very noble breed."


s: After they say: "Us too, Sire, shall he lead."


s: Then answers Guenes: "Not so, the Lord be pleased!


s: Far better one than many knights should bleed.


s: To France the Douce, my lords, you soon shall speed,


s: On my behalf my gentle wife you'll greet,


s: And Baldewin, my son, whom you have seen;


s: His rights accord and help him in his need."


s: --Rides down the road, and on his way goes he.


s: Guenes canters on, and halts beneath a tree;


s: With Blancandrins, who abides his company.


s: Cunning and keen they speak then, each to each,


s: Says Blancandrins: "Charles, what a man is he,


s: Who conquered Puille and th'whole of Calabrie;


s: To th' Holy Pope restored again his fee.


s: What seeks he now of us in our country?"


s: Then answers Guene  "So great courage hath he;


s: Never was man against him might succeed."


s: Says Blancandrins "Gentle the Franks are found;


s: Yet a great wrong these dukes do and these counts


s: Unto their lord, being in counsel proud;


s: Him and themselves they harry and confound."


s: Guenes replies: "There is none such, without


s: Only Rollanz, whom shame will yet find out.


s: Once in the shade the King had sate him down;


s: Spoils he had won, beyond by Carcasoune,


s: Held in his hand an apple red and round.


s: "Behold, fair Sire," said Rollanz as he bowed,


s: "Of all earth's kings I bring you here the crowns."


s: His cruel pride must shortly him confound,


s: Each day t'wards death he goes a little down,


s: When he be slain, shall peace once more abound."


s: Says Blancandrins: "A cruel man, Rollant,


s: That would bring down to bondage every man,


s: With what people takes he this task in hand?"


s: And answers Guene: "The people of the Franks;


s: They love him so, for men he'll never want.


s: Silver and gold he show'rs upon his band,


s: Chargers and mules, garments and silken mats.


s: The King himself holds all by his command;


s: From hence to the East he'll conquer sea and land."


s: Cantered so far then Blancandrins and Guene


s: And sought a plan, how Rollant might be slain.


s: There a fald-stool stood in a pine-tree's shade,


s: There was the King that held the whole of Espain,


s: Nor was there one but did his speech contain,


s: Eager for news, till they might hear the tale.


s: Haste into sight then Blancandrins and Guene.


s: Says to the King "Lord save you, Sire, Mahum


s: Both his two hands he raised against the sun,


s: Praising his God, but answer made he none.


s: He sends you here his noblest born barun,


s: Greatest in wealth, that out of France is come;


s: From him you'll hear if peace shall be, or none."


s: "Speak," said Marsile: "We'll hear him, every one."


s: But the count Guenes did deeply meditate;


s: Cunning and keen began at length, and spake


s: And to the King: "May God preserve you safe,


s: The All Glorious, to whom we're bound to pray


s: Proud Charlemagne this message bids me say:


s: You must receive the holy Christian Faith,


s: And yield in fee one half the lands of Spain.


s: You will be brought before his throne at Aix;


s: Judged and condemned you'll be, and shortly slain,


s: Snatching a dart, with golden feathers gay,


s: He made to strike: they turned aside his aim.


s: King Marsilies is turn'ed white with rage,


s: His feathered dart he brandishes and shakes.


s: Guenes beholds: his sword in hand he takes,


s: Two fingers' width from scabbard bares the blade;


s: And says to it: "O clear and fair and brave;


s: Before this King in court we'll so behave,


s: That the Emperour of France shall never say


s: In a strange land I'd thrown my life away


s: Before these chiefs thy temper had essayed."


s: "Let us prevent this fight:" the pagans say.


s: Then Sarrazins implored him so, the chiefs,


s: On the faldstoel Marsillies took his seat.


s: "Greatly you harm our cause," says the alcaliph:


s: "When on this Frank your vengeance you would wreak;


s: Rather you should listen to hear him speak."


s: "Sire," Guenes says, "to suffer I am meek.


s: I will not fail, for all the gold God keeps,


s: Nay, should this land its treasure pile in heaps,


s: These he throws down, they're held by Blancandrin;


s: But not his sword, he'll not leave hold of it,


s: In his right hand he grasps the golden hilt.


s: Before the King's face Guenes drawing near


s: Says to him "Sire, wherefore this rage and fear?


s: Seeing you are, by Charles, of Franks the chief,


s: Bidden to hold the Christians' right belief.


s: One half of Spain he'll render as your fief


s: The rest Rollanz, his nephew, shall receive,


s: Proud parcener in him you'll have indeed.


s: If you will not to Charles this tribute cede,


s: To you he'll come, and Sarraguce besiege;


s: Take you by force, and bind you hands and feet,


s: Bear you outright ev'n unto Aix his seat.


s: You will not then on palfrey nor on steed,


s: Jennet nor mule, come cantering in your speed;


s: Flung you will be on a vile sumpter-beast;


s: Tried there and judged, your head you will not keep.


s: Our Emperour has sent you here this brief."


s: Now Marsilies, is turn'ed white with ire,


s: He breaks the seal and casts the wax aside,


s: Looks in the brief, sees what the King did write:


s: "Charles commands, who holds all France by might,


s: I bear in mind his bitter grief and ire;


s: Whose heads I took on th' hill by Haltilye.


s: Charles will not love me ever otherwise."


s: After, there speaks his son to Marsilye,


s: Says to the King: "In madness spoke this wight.


s: So wrong he was, to spare him were not right;


s: Leave him to me, I will that wrong requite."


s: When Guenes hears, he draws his sword outright,


s: Against the trunk he stands, beneath that pine.


s: The King is gone into that orchard then;


s: With him he takes the best among his men;


s: And Blancandrins there shews his snowy hair,


s: And Jursalet, was the King's son and heir,


s: And the alcaliph, his uncle and his friend.


s: Says Blancandrins: "Summon the Frank again,


s: In our service his faith to me he's pledged."


s: Then says the King: "So let him now be fetched."


s: He's taken Guenes by his right finger-ends,


s: And through the orchard straight to the King they wend.


s: Of treason there make lawless parliament.


s: "Fair Master Guenes," says then King Marsilie,


s: Making to strike, I shewed my great fury.


s: These sable skins take as amends from me,


s: Five hundred pounds would not their worth redeem.


s: To-morrow night the gift shall ready be."


s: Guene answers him: "I'll not refuse it, me.


s: May God be pleased to shew you His mercy."


s: Then says Marsile "Guenes, the truth to ken,


s: He's very old, his time is nearly spent,


s: Two hundred years he's lived now, as 'tis said.


s: Through many lands his armies he has led,


s: So many blows his buckled shield has shed,


s: And so rich kings he's brought to beg their bread;


s: What time from war will he draw back instead?"


s: And answers Guenes: "Not so was Charles bred.


s: There is no man that sees and knows him well


s: But will proclaim the Emperour's hardihead.


s: Praise him as best I may, when all is said,


s: The pagan says: "You make me marvel sore


s: Two hundred years, they say, he's lived and more.


s: So many blows from spears and lances borne,


s: And so rich kings brought down to beg and sorn,


s: When will time come that he draws back from war?"


s: "Never," says Guenes, "so long as lives his nephew;


s: No such vassal goes neath the dome of heaven;


s: The dozen peers, whom Charl'es holds so precious,


s: These are his guards, with other thousands twenty.


s: Charles is secure, he holds no man in terror."


s: At Charlemagne, who hoary is and blanched.


s: Two hundred years and more, I understand,


s: He has gone forth and conquered many a land,


s: Such blows hath borne from many a trenchant lance,


s: Vanquished and slain of kings so rich a band,


s: When will time come that he from war draws back?"


s: "Never," says Guene, "so long as lives Rollanz,


s: From hence to the East there is no such vassal;


s: These are his guard, with twenty thousand Franks.


s: Charles is secure, he fears no living man."


s: "Fair Master Guenes," says Marsilies the King,


s: "Such men are mine, fairer than tongue can sing,


s: Of knights I can four hundred thousand bring


s: So I may fight with Franks and with their King."


s: Answers him Guenes: "Not on this journeying


s: Leave you the fools, wise counsel following;


s: To the Emperour such wealth of treasure give


s: For twenty men that you shall now send in


s: To France the Douce he will repair, that King;


s: Both his nephew, count Rollant, as I think,


s: Dead are the counts, believe me if you will.


s: Charles will behold his great pride perishing,


s: For battle then he'll have no more the skill.


s: Fair Master Guene," says then King Marsilie,


s: "Shew the device, how Rollant slain may be."


s: Answers him Guenes: "That will I soon make clear


s: The King will cross by the good pass of Size,


s: A guard he'll set behind him, in the rear;


s: His nephew there, count Rollant, that rich peer,


s: Five score thousand pagans upon them lead,


s: Franks unawares in battle you shall meet,


s: Bruised and bled white the race of Franks shall be;


s: I do not say, but yours shall also bleed.


s: So, first or last, from Rollant you'll be freed.


s: You will have wrought a high chivalrous deed,


s: Nor all your life know war again, but peace.


s: "Could one achieve that Rollant's life was lost,


s: Charle's right arm were from his body torn;


s: Though there remained his marvellous great host,


s: Marsile has heard, he's kissed him on the throat;


s: Next he begins to undo his treasure-store.


s: Said Marsilie--but now what more said they?--


s: "No faith in words by oath unbound I lay;


s: Swear me the death of Rollant on that day."


s: Then answered Guene: "So be it, as you say."


s: On the relics, are in his sword Murgles,


s: Treason he's sworn, forsworn his faith away.


s: Was a fald-stool there, made of olifant.


s: A book thereon Marsilies bade them plant,


s: In it their laws, Mahum's and Tervagant's.


s: He's sworn thereby, the Spanish Sarazand,


s: In the rereward if he shall find Rollant,


s: And answered Guenes: "So be it, as you command!"


s: Smiling and clear, he's said to Guenelun,


s: "Take now this sword, and better sword has none;


s: Give us your aid from Rollant the barun,


s: That in rereward against him we may come."


s: Guenes the count answers: "It shall-be done."


s: Then, cheek and chin, kissed each the other one.


s: "Take now my helm, better is none than this;


s: But give us aid, on Rollant the marquis,


s: "It shall be done." Count Guenes answered him;


s: On mouth and cheek then each the other kissed.


s: In haste there came the Queen forth, Bramimound;


s: "I love you well, sir," said she to the count,


s: "For prize you dear my lord and all around;


s: Here for your wife I have two brooches found,


s: More worth are they than all the wealth of Roum;


s: Your Emperour has none such, I'll be bound."


s: He's taken them, and in his hosen pouched.


s: The King now calls Malduiz, that guards his treasure.


s: "Tribute for Charles, say, is it now made ready?"


s: He answers him: "Ay, Sire, for here is plenty


s: Silver and gold on hundred camels seven,


s: And twenty men, the gentlest under heaven."


s: Marsilie's arm Guene's shoulder doth enfold;


s: He's said to him: "You are both wise and bold.


s: Now, by the law that you most sacred hold,


s: Let not your heart in our behalf grow cold!


s: Out of my store I'll give you wealth untold,


s: Charging ten mules with fine Arabian gold;


s: I'll do the same for you, new year and old.


s: Take then the keys of this city so large,


s: This great tribute present you first to Charles,


s: Then get me placed Rollanz in the rereward.


s: Battle I'll give him that shall be the last."


s: Answers him Guenes: "My time is nearly past."


s: His charger mounts, and on his journey starts.


s: The Count Rollanz had broken it and ta'en,


s: An hundred years its ruins shall remain.


s: And for tribute from the great land of Spain.


s: At dawn of day, just as the light grows plain,


s: Into their camp is come the county Guene.


s: Mattins and Mass he's heard, and made his prayer;


s: On the green grass before the tent his chair,


s: Where Rollant stood and that bold Oliver,


s: Says to the King: "God keep you, Sire, I swear!


s: Tribute I bring you, very great and rare,


s: And twenty men; look after them with care.


s: Proud Marsilies bade me this word declare


s: That alcaliph, his uncle, you must spare.


s: My own eyes saw four hundred thousand there,


s: In hauberks dressed, closed helms that gleamed in the air,


s: And golden hilts upon their swords they bare.


s: They followed him, right to the sea they'll fare;


s: Marsile they left, that would their faith forswear,


s: For Christendom they've neither wish nor care.


s: But the fourth league they had not compassed, ere


s: Brake from the North tempest and storm in the air;


s: Then were they drowned, they will no more appear.


s: Were he alive, I should have brought him here.


s: The pagan king, in truth, Sire, bids you hear,


s: Ere you have seen one month pass of this year


s: He'll follow you to France, to your Empire,


s: He will accept the laws you hold and fear;


s: Joining his hands, will do you homage there,


s: Kingdom of Spain will hold as you declare."


s: Then says the King: "Now God be praised, I swear!


s: Well have you wrought, and rich reward shall wear."


s: Bids through the host a thousand trumpets blare.


s: Franks leave their lines; the sumpter-beasts are yare


s: T'wards France the Douce all on their way repair.


s: Charles the Great that land of Spain had wasted,


s: Then said the King, his war was now abated.


s: Towards Douce France that Emperour has hasted.


s: High on a cliff against the sky 'twas placed;


s: The Franks in camp through all that country baited.


s: Cantered pagans, through those wide valleys raced,


s: Hauberks they wore and sarks with iron plated,


s: Swords to their sides were girt, their helms were laced,


s: Lances made sharp, escutcheons newly painted:


s: There in the mists beyond the peaks remained


s: The day of doom four hundred thousand waited.


s: God! what a grief.  Franks know not what is fated.


s: Passes the day, the darkness is grown deep.


s: That Emperour, rich Charles, lies asleep;


s: Dreams that he stands in the great pass of Size,


s: In his two hands his ashen spear he sees;


s: Guenes the count that spear from him doth seize,


s: Brandishes it and twists it with such ease,


s: That flown into the sky the flinders seem.


s: Charles sleeps on nor wakens from his dream.


s: In France, at Aix, in his Chapelle once more,


s: That his right arm an evil bear did gnaw;


s: But then there dashed a harrier from the hall,


s: Leaping in the air he sped to Charles call,


s: First the right ear of that grim bear he caught,


s: And furiously the leopard next he fought.


s: Of battle great the Franks then seemed to talk,


s: Yet which might win they knew not, in his thought.


s: Charles sleeps on, nor wakens he for aught.


s: Passes the night and opens the clear day;


s: Looks through the host often and everyway;


s: "My lords barons," at length doth Charles say,


s: "Ye see the pass along these valleys strait,


s: Judge for me now, who shall in rereward wait."


s: "There's my good-son, Rollanz," then answers Guenes,


s: "You've no baron whose valour is as great."


s: When the King hears, he looks upon him straight,


s: And who shall go before me in the gate?"


s: "Oger is here, of Denmark;" answers Guenes,


s: "You've no baron were better in that place."


s: The count Rollanz hath heard himself decreed;


s: Speaks then to Guenes by rule of courtesy:


s: "Good-father, Sir, I ought to hold you dear,


s: Since the rereward you have for me decreed.


s: As I know well, nor charger nor palfrey,


s: Jennet nor mule that canter can with speed,


s: Nor sumpter-horse will lose, nor any steed;


s: But my sword's point shall first exact their meed."


s: Answers him Guenes: "I know; 'tis true in-deed."


s: When Rollant heard that he should be rerewarden


s: Thinkest the glove will slip from me hereafter,


s: As then from thee the wand fell before Charles?"


s: "Right Emperour," says the baron Rollanz,


s: "Give me the bow you carry in your hand;


s: As Guenes let fall, when he received the wand."


s: That Emperour with lowered front doth stand,


s: He tugs his beard, his chin is in his hand


s: Tears fill his eyes, he cannot them command.


s: And after that is come duke Neimes furth,


s: (Better vassal there was not upon earth)


s: Says to the King: "Right well now have you heard


s: The count Rollanz to bitter wrath is stirred,


s: For that on him the rereward is conferred;


s: No baron else have you, would do that work.


s: Give him the bow your hands have bent, at first;


s: Then find him men, his company are worth."


s: Gives it, the King, and Rollant bears it furth.


s: Retain you them; your safeguard this shall be."


s: Then says the count: "I will not have them, me I


s: Good valiant Franks, a thousand score I'll keep.


s: While I'm alive there's no man you need fear."


s: The count Rollanz has mounted his charger.


s: Also Gerins and the proud count Geriers,


s: "Now by my head I'll go!" the Archbishop swears.


s: "And I'm with you," says then the count Gualtiers,


s: "I'm Rollant's man, I may not leave him there."


s: A thousand score they choose of chevaliers.


s: Gualter del Hum he calls, that Count Rollanz;


s: "A thousand Franks take, out of France our land;


s: Dispose them so, among ravines and crags,


s: That the Emperour lose not a single man."


s: Gualter replies: "I'll do as you command."


s: A thousand Franks, come out of France their land,


s: At Gualter's word they scour ravines and crags;


s: They'll not come down, howe'er the news be bad,


s: Ere from their sheaths swords seven hundred flash.


s: High are the peaks, the valleys shadowful,


s: Swarthy the rocks, the narrows wonderful.


s: Franks passed that day all very sorrowful,


s: Fifteen leagues round the rumour of them grew.


s: When they were come, and Terra Major knew,


s: Saw Gascony their land and their seigneur's,


s: Remembering their fiefs and their honours,


s: Their little maids, their gentle wives and true;


s: There was not one that shed not tears for rue.


s: Beyond the rest Charles was of anguish full,


s: In Spanish Pass he'd left his dear nephew;


s: Pity him seized; he could but weep for rue.


s: The dozen peers are left behind in Spain,


s: Franks in their band a thousand score remain,


s: No fear have these, death hold they in disdain.


s: Under his cloke he fain would hide his face.


s: Up to his side comes cantering Duke Neimes,


s: Says to the King: "What grief upon you weighs?"


s: Charles answers him: "He's wrong that question makes.


s: So great my grief I cannot but complain.


s: France is destroyed, by the device of Guene:


s: This night I saw, by an angel's vision plain,


s: Between my hands he brake my spear in twain;


s: Great fear I have, since Rollant must remain:


s: I've left him there, upon a border strange.


s: God! If he's lost, I'll not outlive that shame."


s: Charles the great, he cannot but deplore.


s: And with him Franks an hundred thousand mourn,


s: Who for Rollanz have marvellous remorse.


s: The felon Guenes had treacherously wrought;


s: Silver and gold, and veils and silken cloths,


s: Camels, lions, with many a mule and horse.


s: Barons from Spain King Marsilies hath called,


s: Counts and viscounts and dukes and almacours,


s: And the admirals, and cadets nobly born;


s: Within three days come hundreds thousands four.


s: In Sarraguce they sound the drums of war;


s: Mahum they raise upon their highest tow'r,


s: Through Certeine land, valleys and mountains, on,


s: Till of the Franks they see the gonfalons,


s: Being in rereward those dozen companions;


s: Marsile's nephew is come before the band,


s: Smiling and clear, his uncle's ear demands:


s: "Fair Lord and King, since, in your service, glad,


s: Have fought in field, and victories have had.


s: Give me a fee: the right to smite Rollanz!


s: I'll slay him clean with my good trenchant lance,


s: Spain I'll set free, deliver all her land


s: Charles will grow faint, and recreant the Franks;


s: There'll be no war while you're a living man."


s: Marsile's nephew, holding in hand the glove,


s: His uncle calls, with reason proud enough:


s: "Fair Lord and King, great gift from you I've won.


s: First before all there answers Falfarun;


s: The rereward of the great host of Carlun,


s: It is decreed we deal them now their doom."


s: King Corsablis is come from the other part,


s: For all God's gold he would not seem coward.


s: Faster than a horse, upon his feet can dart,


s: Before Marsile he cries with all his heart:


s: Find I Rollanz, I'll slay him without fault."


s: Clear face and proud, and body nobly bred;


s: Since first he was upon his horse mounted,


s: His arms to bear has shewn great lustihead;


s: Christian were he, he'd shewn good baronhead.


s: Franks shall be slain in grief and wretchedness.


s: Spain shall be ours, in peace and quietness."


s: King Marsilies has heard and thanks him well.


s: More felon none in all the land of Spain.


s: Before Marsile his vaunting boast hath made:


s: A thousand score, with shields and lances brave.


s: Find I Rollanz, with death I'll him acquaint;


s: Day shall not dawn but Charles will make his plaint."


s: From the other part, Turgis of Turtelose,


s: Christians he would them massacre, every one.


s: Says to the King: "Let not dismay be shewn!


s: Mahum's more worth than Saint Peter of Rome;


s: Serve we him well, then fame in field we'll own.


s: From death he'll find his warranty in none.


s: See here my sword, that is both good and long


s: Ye'll hear betimes to which the prize is gone.


s: Franks shall be slain, whom we descend upon,


s: Charles the old will suffer grief and wrong,


s: No more on earth his crown will he put on."


s: From the other part, Escremiz of Valtrenne,


s: "To Rencesvals I go, pride to make less;


s: Find I Rollanz, he'll not bear thence his head,


s: Franks shall be slain, and France lie deserted.


s: Of good vassals will Charles be richly bled."


s: Felons were these, and traitors miscreant.


s: Then said Marsile: "My Lords, before me stand!


s: Give me your aid, and thither lead my band."


s: They answer him: "Sire, even as you command.


s: The dozen peers from death have no warrant,


s: For these our swords are trusty and trenchant,


s: In scalding blood we'll dye their blades scarlat.


s: Franks shall be slain, and Chares be right sad.


s: Come there, Sir King, truly you'll see all that


s: Yea, the Emperour we'll give into your hand."


s: Who holds the land by Cadiz, to the sea.


s: For his beauty the ladies hold him dear;


s: Who looks on him, with him her heart is pleased,


s: When she beholds, she can but smile for glee.


s: Comes through the press, above them all cries he,


s: See here the sword, whose hilt is gold indeed,


s: I got in gift from the admiral of Primes;


s: In scarlat blood I pledge it shall be steeped.


s: Franks shall be slain, and France abased be.


s: To Charles the old, with his great blossoming beard,


s: Day shall not dawn but brings him rage and grief,


s: Ere a year pass, all France we shall have seized,


s: Till we can lie in th' burgh of Saint Denise."


s: The pagan king has bowed his head down deep.


s: From the other part, Chemubles of Muneigre.


s: Right to the ground his hair swept either way;


s: He for a jest would bear a heavier weight


s: Than four yoked mules, beneath their load that strain.


s: That land he had, God's curse on it was plain.


s: No sun shone there, nor grew there any grain,


s: No dew fell there, nor any shower of rain,


s: The very stones were black upon that plain;


s: Says Chemubles "My sword is in its place,


s: I'll fall on him, or trust me not again,


s: And Durendal I'll conquer with this blade,


s: Franks shall be slain, and France a desert made."


s: The dozen peers are, at this word, away,


s: Five score thousand of Sarrazins they take;


s: Who keenly press, and on to battle haste;


s: In a fir-wood their gear they ready make.


s: That folded are, the greater part, in three;


s: And they lace on good helms Sarragucese;


s: Gird on their swords of tried steel Viennese;


s: Fine shields they have, and spears Valentinese,


s: And white, blue, red, their ensigns take the breeze,


s: They've left their mules behind, and their palfreys,


s: Their chargers mount, and canter knee by knee.


s: Fair shines the sun, the day is bright and clear,


s: Light bums again from all their polished gear.


s: A thousand horns they sound, more proud to seem;


s: Great is the noise, the Franks its echo hear.


s: Answers Rollanz: "God grant us then the fee!


s: For our King's sake well must we quit us here;


s: Man for his lord should suffer great disease,


s: Most bitter cold endure, and burning heat,


s: His hair and skin should offer up at need.


s: Pagans are wrong: Christians are right indeed.


s: Looks to his right along the valley green,


s: The pagan tribes approaching there appear;


s: He calls Rollanz, his companion, to see:


s: "What sound is this, come out of Spain, we hear,


s: What hauberks bright, what helmets these that gleam?


s: They'll smite our Franks with fury past belief,


s: He knew it, Guenes, the traitor and the thief,


s: Who chose us out before the King our chief."


s: Answers the count Rollanz: "Olivier, cease.


s: That man is my good-father; hold thy peace."


s: Kingdom of Spain he sees before him spread,


s: Also their shields, their hauberks orfreyed,


s: Also their swords, ensigns on spears fixed.


s: Fast as he could, down from the peak hath sped


s: Comes to the Franks, to them his tale hath said.


s: Gainst us their shields an hundred thousand bore,


s: That laced helms and shining hauberks wore;


s: And, bolt upright, their bright brown spearheads shone.


s: Lords of the Franks, God keep you in valour!


s: So hold your ground, we be not overborne!"


s: Then say the Franks "Shame take him that goes off:


s: If we must die, then perish one and all."


s: While of us Franks but very few I count;


s: Comrade Rollanz, your horn I pray you sound!


s: If Charles hear, he'll turn his armies round."


s: Answers Rollanz: "A fool I should be found;


s: In France the Douce would perish my renown.


s: With Durendal I'll lay on thick and stout,


s: In blood the blade, to its golden hilt, I'll drown.


s: Felon pagans to th' pass shall not come down;


s: I pledge you now, to death they all are bound.


s: "Comrade Rollanz, sound the olifant, I pray;


s: If Charles hear, the host he'll turn again;


s: For my misdeed shall kinsmen hear the blame,


s: Nor France the Douce fall into evil fame!


s: Rather stout blows with Durendal I'll lay,


s: With my good sword that by my side doth sway;


s: Till bloodied o'er you shall behold the blade.


s: Felon pagans are gathered to their shame;


s: I pledge you now, to death they're doomed to-day."


s: "Comrade Rollanz, once sound your olifant!


s: If Charles hear, where in the pass he stands,


s: I pledge you now, they'll turn again, the Franks."


s: "Never, by God," then answers him Rollanz,


s: And blows lay on, by hundred, by thousand,


s: Of Durendal bloodied you'll see the brand.


s: Franks are good men; like vassals brave they'll stand;


s: Nay, Spanish men from death have no warrant."


s: Covered with them, the mountains and the vales,


s: The wastes I saw, and all the farthest plains.


s: A muster great they've made, this people strange;


s: Never, please God His Angels and His Saints,


s: Rather I'll die than shame shall me attain.


s: Therefore strike on, the Emperour's love to gain."


s: Pride hath Rollanz, wisdom Olivier hath;


s: And both of them shew marvellous courage;


s: Once they are horsed, once they have donned their arms,


s: Rather they'd die than from the battle pass.


s: Good are the counts, and lofty their language.


s: Felon pagans come cantering in their wrath.


s: These are right near, but Charles is very far.


s: On the olifant deign now to sound a blast;


s: Were the King here, we should not fear damage.


s: In sorrow there you'll see the whole rereward.


s: Who does this deed, does no more afterward."


s: Answers Rollanz: "Utter not such outrage!


s: Evil his heart that is in thought coward!


s: We shall remain firm in our place installed;


s: From us the blows shall come, from us the assault."


s: When Rollant sees that now must be combat,


s: More fierce he's found than lion or leopard;


s: The Franks he calls, and Oliver commands:


s: "Now say no more, my friends, nor thou, comrade.


s: That Emperour, who left us Franks on guard,


s: A thousand score stout men he set apart,


s: And well he knows, not one will prove coward.


s: Man for his lord should suffer with good heart,


s: Of bitter cold and great heat bear the smart,


s: His blood let drain, and all his flesh be scarred.


s: Strike with thy lance, and I with Durendal,


s: With my good sword that was the King's reward.


s: From the other part is the Archbishop Turpin,


s: He pricks his horse and mounts upon a hill;


s: Calling the Franks, sermon to them begins:


s: "My lords barons, Charles left us here for this;


s: He is our King, well may we die for him:


s: Battle you'll have, you all are bound to it,


s: For with your eyes you see the Sarrazins.


s: Pray for God's grace, confessing Him your sins!


s: For your souls' health, I'll absolution give


s: So, though you die, blest martyrs shall you live,


s: Thrones you shall win in the great Paradis."


s: The Franks dismount, upon the ground are lit.


s: That Archbishop God's Benediction gives,


s: For their penance, good blows to strike he bids.


s: The Franks arise, and stand upon their feet,


s: They're well absolved, and from their sins made clean,


s: And the Archbishop has signed them with God's seal;


s: And next they mount upon their chargers keen;


s: By rule of knights they have put on their gear,


s: The count Rollant calls Oliver, and speaks


s: "Comrade and friend, now clearly have you seen


s: Gold hath he ta'en; much wealth is his to keep;


s: That Emperour vengeance for us must wreak.


s: King Marsilies hath bargained for us cheap;


s: At the sword's point he yet shall pay our meed."


s: On Veillantif, his good steed, galloping;


s: He is well armed, pride is in his bearing,


s: He goes, so brave, his spear in hand holding,


s: He goes, its point against the sky turning;


s: A gonfalon all white thereon he's pinned,


s: Down to his hand flutters the golden fringe:


s: Noble his limbs, his face clear and smiling.


s: The men of France their warrant find in him.


s: And to the Franks sweetly, himself humbling;


s: And courteously has said to them this thing:


s: "My lords barons, go now your pace holding!


s: Pagans are come great martyrdom seeking;


s: Noble and fair reward this day shall bring,


s: Upon these words the hosts are come touching.


s: Since from Carlun you'll never more have aid.


s: He has not heard; no fault of his, so brave.


s: Those with him there are never to be blamed.