--- title: How Roland Sounded His Horn — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees description: How Roland Sounded His Horn, «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Count Roland saw how grievously his people had suffered and spake thus to Oliver his comrade: "Dear comrad --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/32/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/) / How Roland Sounded His Horn # How Roland Sounded His Horn How Roland Sounded His Horn of «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole text, 60 sentences and 984 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Count Roland saw how grievously his people had suffered and spake thus to Oliver his comrade: "Dear comrade, you see how many brave men lie dead upon the ground.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Well may we mourn for Fair France, widowed as she is of so many valiant champions.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") But why is our King not here?[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") O Oliver, my brother, what shall we do to send him tidings of our state?" "[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") I know not," answered Oliver. "[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Only this I know--that death is to be chosen rather than dishonour."[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") After a while Roland said again, "I shall blow my horn; King Charles will hear it, where he has encamped beyond the passes, and he and his host will come back." "[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") That would be ill done," answered Oliver, "and shame both you and your race.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") When I gave you this counsel you would have none of it.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Now I like it not. '[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Tis not for a brave man to sound the horn and cry for help now that we are in such case." "[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") The battle is too hard for us," said Roland again, "and I shall sound my horn, that the King may hear."[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") And Oliver answered again, "When I gave you this counsel, you scorned it.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Now I myself like it not. '[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Tis true that had the King been here, we had not suffered this loss.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") But the blame is not his. '[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Tis your folly, Count Roland, that has done to death all these men of France.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") But for that we should have conquered in this battle, and have taken and slain King Marsilas.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") But now we can do nothing for France and the King.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") We can but die.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Woe is me for our country, aye, and for our friendship, which will come to a grievous end this day."[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The Archbishop had perceived that the two were at variance, and spurred his horse till he came where they stood. "[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Listen to me," he said, "Sir Roland and Sir Oliver.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") I implore you not to fall out with each other in this fashion.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") We, sons of France, that are in this place, are of a truth condemned to death, neither will the sounding of your horn save us, for the King is far away, and cannot come in time.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless, I hold it to be well that you should sound it.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") When the King and his army shall come, they will find us dead--that I know full well.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") But they will avenge us, so that our enemies shall not go away rejoicing.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") And they will also recover our bodies, and will carry them away for burial in holy places, so that the dogs and wolves shall not devour them."[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") "You say well," cried Roland, and he put his horn to his lips, and gave so mighty a blast upon it, that the sound was heard thirty leagues away.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") King Charles and his men heard it, and the King said, "Our countrymen are fighting with the enemy."[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") But Ganelon answered, "Sire, had any but you so spoken, I had said that he spoke falsely."[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Roland blew his horn a second time; with great pain and anguish of body he blew it, and the red blood gushed from his lips; but the sound was heard yet further than at first.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The King heard it, and all his nobles, and all his men. "[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") That," said he, "is Roland's horn; he never had sounded it were he not in battle with the enemy."[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") But Ganelon answered again: "Believe me, Sire, there is no battle.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") You are an old man, and you have the fancies of a child.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") You know what a mighty man of valour is this Roland.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Think you that any one would dare to attack him?[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") No one, of a truth.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Ride on, Sire, why halt you here?[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The fair land of France is yet far away."[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Roland blew his horn a third time, and when the King heard it he said, "He that blew that horn drew a deep breath."[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") And Duke Naymes cried out, "Roland is in trouble; on my conscience he is fighting with the enemy.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Some one has betrayed him; 'tis he, I doubt not, that would deceive you now.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") To arms, Sire! utter your war-cry, and help your own house and your country.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") You have heard the cry of the noble Roland."[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Then King Charles bade all the trumpets sound, and forthwith all the men of France armed themselves, with helmets, and hauberks, and swords with pummels of gold.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Mighty were their shields, and their lances strong, and the flags that they carried were white and red and blue.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") And when they made an end of their arming they rode back with all haste.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") There was not one of them but said to his comrade, "If we find Roland yet alive, what mighty strokes will we strike for him!"[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") But Ganelon the King handed over to the knaves of his kitchen. "[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Take this traitor," said he, "who has sold his country."[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Ill did Ganelon fare among them.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") They pulled out his hair and his beard and smote him with their staves; then they put a great chain, such as that with which a bear is bound, about his neck, and made him fast to a pack-horse.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") This done, the King and his army hastened with all speed to the help of Roland.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") In the van and the rear sounded the trumpets as though they would answer Roland's horn.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Full of wrath was King Charles as he rode; full of wrath were all the men of France.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") There was not one among them but wept and sobbed; there was not one but prayed, "Now, may God keep Roland alive till we come to the battlefield, so that we may strike a blow for him."[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas! it was all in vain; they could not come in time for all their speed.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Battle](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/31/) - next →: [How Oliver Was Slain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/33/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)