The Story of Roland.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 13, 28 September 1907, Page 48

The Story of Roland.

A HERO OF ROMANCE. Of all the knights at the court of the great emperor of the Franks, Charlemagne, there was none who surpassed in fame the Count Roland. Many are the romances and poems that have been written chronicling his most celebrated feats and adventures. He was a knight without fear and without reproach, like the Chevalier Bayard of later date, and it is to his prowess more than to that of any other that the name Paladin* has Come Io be a synonym for the highest kind of heroism.

* Paladin—the name given to those favoured knights who were inmates of the Emperor’s palace (palatinus).

Although he was born of noble parents, Roland’s early days were spent in poverty. His father was Duke Milo, who had secretly married Charlemagne’s sister, the Princess Bertha, for which offence the Emperor had sent him into exile. The Lady Bertha, defying her royal brother’s command, bravely followed her husband in his wanderings. So from country to country they went, misfortune ever dogging their steps, until at last in Italy they made a home for .themselves.

It was not much of a home, certainly; only a cavern in a hillside by the little Umbrian town of Sutri. But here the Lady Bertha was quite content to stay, happy in her husband's love and in her little son Roland. A year or two passed thus, and then the Duke, leaving his wife and boy to the compassion of some good friends who kn w his sad story, buckled On his sword, ami went off to seek his fortune qt the wars. But whether he ever succeeded in so doing, or was killed, I cannot say; the chronicles are silent on this point. 11 is the story of Roland that they now proceed to tell. Left alone thus to shift for himself, the boy Roland soon showed of what stuff he was made. As he grew up he easily excelled all the other lads of the town in strength and courage, becoming their leader in the games at which they played. His only rival was young Oliver, the son of the Count of Gennes, the governor of the district. lint though they ■were always striving to outdo eacli other •in feats of strength, this did not interfere with their friendship. As boys they vowed to be true and In, al to eaeli other despite what happened, and we shall see liow in later years th y were once more thrown together as brothers in arms. When the Duke Milo went away from Sutri. as I have- said, he made certain provision for his wife’s welfare, but the charity of others is an uncertain tiling. ■For a time the Lady Bertha and her little son were well supplied with food and clothing; then, as friends died or dropped off, these gifts became dess frequent, until eventually Hie tw,> were often hard put to it to find a meal. (In such occa-

sions Roland would bravely bid his mother keep up lier heart, and trudge off into the woods with a stout cudgel to see what he could get in the shape of a hare or bird witii which to fill the empty pot. One day. when their little stock of provisions was quite exhausted, he started out on an expedition of this nature. It Was a bitterly cold day in winter, and, search wlrere he might, he could coms Upon nothing that would serve for dinner. Coming out of the woods at last in despair of ever finding anything, Roland suddenly saw ast range sight. In a large square of the town, on long tables that seemed over-weighted with their -burden, was spread a splendid banquet. Those for whom it was intended had not yet 'sat down, butth y were evidently expected to arrive soon, >for a number Of servants in livery were bustling to and fro. putting the finishing touches to the repast. At the sight of all these viands laid out temptingly before him Roland’s eyes almost started out of his bead,' He had only one thought. His mother and he Were nearly starving; surely those who could afford «ueh a feast would spore him a few bits from the dishes that he could take home with him? Approaching f 'lhe attendants ho timidly asked them for some food, but met with a curt refusal.

“Be off. yon young beggar.” they cried. ’‘Ro off. or we will have you whipped!** “As to that, we will see.” said Rqland. “What you won’t give I must fnkef”

And will Hits bo darted forward to the table and seised hold of as much ti»

he could carry, beating off those who attempted to stay him with his stick. So lustily did he ply the latter that the lackeys were glad to let him go free, and Roland made iiis way back to the cavern with a joyous heart. Now the feast thus spread had been prepared for none other than Charlemagne himself, who was passing through Sutri, on his way to Rome. When the Emperor came on the scene some minutes later he was informed of what had taken place. Struck by the boy’s resolute bearing, and realising that he must be in dire straits to make such a bold raid, he sent off three of his knights to follow the fugitive and bring him back to his presence.

The hiding-place in the cavern was easily found, and here the Emperor’s messengers discovered young Roland, cudgel in hand, standing on guard at the entrance. No doubt he had reckoned on being followed. With his stout stick uplifted threateningly he would have challenged any of the three to enter were it not that the Lady Bertha now made her appearance and recognised one of the knights. “I am Bertha, sister to Charlemagne,” she said simply. “If the Emperor be in the neighbourhood, as I suppose from your presence here, I pray you take me to him that I may beg his clemency.” “That will I gladly, madam,” replied the knight to whom she addressed herself; “for I know the Emperor has been much distressed to hear of your whereabouts.”

With Roland by her side the Lady Bertha then accompanied the knights to the Square where Charlemagne and his suite were already seated at dinner. And if the Emperor was delighted to see his sister again after so long a parting, he was even more overjoyed to see in his new-found nephew such a fine, tall, strongly-built lad. with as noble a bearing as his own. Graciously assuring the Lady Bertha that he had long ago pardoned her for her secret marriage. Charlemagne restored her to her proper position, while Roland was given into the care of a knight Who could be relied upon to teach the youth all that befitted his rank.

And so Roland in due course returned with his uncle the Emperor to Paris, where in the atmosphere of the court he rapidly acquired the arts and graces of a young knight. Those who watched his progress as he grew into man’s stature were not slow in predicting that in him Charlemagne would have in time the foremost of his paladins. Nor were they disappointed. Many were the great feats that Rolands performed in the service of Charlemagne. One of his earliest triumphs was the slaying of the giant Ferraeut . According to the legend. Ferracute was over thirty feet high and as powerful as forty men, in addition to which lie was invulnerable save in one spot. After a long and vain eont.it. in which the giant strove, to get his opponent into his mighty arms that he might crush him to death. Roland discovered through the other’s boasting where his vulnerable point lay, and piercing him there with his sword brought him low. More famous, however, is his fight ■with liis old playmate, Oliver, and its strange sequel. At one time Charlemagne sought to bring the Lord of Vi-

enne into subjection, that noble, Guerin de Montglave by num.', having rebelled. 'The siege of the latter’s well-fortified city occupied some months, and the Emperor was well-nigh wearying of it when news came that Marsiglio, a Saracen king, had invaded France. If his country was to be saved it was imperative that he should raise the siege, so, to bring matters to a head, Charlemagne arranged with Duke Guerin to let their quarrel be decided by a single combat between two chosen knights.

To determine who should be the champions lots were drawn on either side, with the result that Count Roland was chosen to uphold the honour of the Franks, while Oliver, who was the Duke’s grandson, had the good fortune to be designated champion for his side. The encounter was arranged to take place on a little island in the River Rhone, close at hand, a spot that could be easily seen from both the camps. As was the custom at tournaments in olden time the combatants met first with lances, but the first onset gave neither the advantage. Their lances being broken the two knights now dismounted and fought on foot with their swords. Roland's weapon was the sword Durindana, which was reputed to have belonged to Hector of Troy, and had been presented to the young paladin by another of Charlemagne’s knights, Malagigi, known as the Enchanter. It was a sword of the finest temper, almost without a peer, and Roland deemed that with it victory would be his. Such, however, was his opponent’s prowess that the contest continued for several hours without any result being gained, Oliver proving as worthy a champion as did the paladin himself.

At length Roland’s sword stuck fast in the other’s shield, after a mighty blow, so fast that he could not witlixlraw it. And at the same time Oliver made himself weaponless by breaking his sword in attempting to pierce Roland's armour. In this extremity the two knights rushed furiously at each other, and a terrible hand-to-hand struggle followed which the spectators watched anxiously. As they rolled over and over together, their helmets came off, and for the first time each champion saw who his rival was. Then with a glad cry of recognition Roland flung hims.'lf into Oliver’s arms declaring that he yielded himself prisoner. Oliver, for his part, was not to be outdone. “Nay,” he said, “it is I who am conquered. My life and all I have is yours!” The amazement and consternation among the lookers-on in both camps when this strange scene was enacted may be imagined. But the truth was soon made known when Roland, leading his former adversary by the hand, presented him to Charlemagne, and related ■the « hole story of their youth. The result cf the combat was highly pleasing to Lath th Emperor and Duke Guerin, so much so indeed that the latter at one made amends to his royal master for his ill-behaviour, and promised to aid him in his expedition against Marsiglio. With Roland in this campaign went Oliver, now accepted by Charlemagne as one of his paladins, and great fame did he too win on the field of battle.