--- title: The Coming of Roland — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees description: The Coming of Roland, «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: Reynaud and his brothers, with Mawgis their cousin, came in their riding to Poictiers, where it was told them tha --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/6/) [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/) / The Coming of Roland # The Coming of Roland The Coming of Roland of «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole text, 83 sentences and 1658 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Reynaud and his brothers, with Mawgis their cousin, came in their riding to Poictiers, where it was told them that John, King of Gascony was hard pressed by the Saracens.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud said to his comrades, "Let us go to the help of the King."[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") To this they consented, and so coming to the city of Bordeaux were joyfully received by the King and his courtiers.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Not many days after, the King of the Saracens came to Bordeaux, and Reynaud and his comrades went forth from the city to attack him.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Then followed a great battle, and the Saracens fled, whom Reynaud pursued so hotly that all his friends counted him to have been slain.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Great, therefore, was their joy when Reynaud came back, not only safe and sound, but bringing with him the King of the Saracens, as prisoner, for he had taken him in single combat.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon, King John, holding that he could not honour too greatly so valiant a knight, yielded to him a fair hill whereon was a castle, and gave him also his sister in marriage.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") This castle Reynaud made very strong with towers and the like, and called it Montalban; and for a while the brothers had peace.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") It befell that King Charles, going on a pilgrimage, saw this same hill with the castle built upon it, and much admiring, would know who dwelt there.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") When he heard that it was the castle of the sons of Aymon, he was very wroth, and sent an embassy, of which Ogier the Dane was the leader, to King John, demanding that the brothers and their company should be delivered to him. "[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") I will do no such thing," said the King.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon King Charles said to his barons, "You see how this man defies us.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Come now, we will go to Paris, and hold a council of the whole realm, and consider how we shall deal with him."[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Council was assembled, the King stood up, and set the matter before them.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Duke Naymes spake in this fashion; "Sir, we are wrong in this war; let us have peace for five years; after that, if you are so minded, we will fight again."[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") This counsel angered the King greatly, but while he doubted what he should say, there came to the palace a young man, very fair, and well arrayed, with thirty squires following him, and did obeisance to the King. "[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell me your name," said Charles. "[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Sire," answered the stranger, "my name is Roland, and I am your nephew, being son of your sister that is married to the Duke of Milan." "[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") You are welcome," said the King. "[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") To-morrow I will make you a knight and you shall make war upon these traitors, the sons of Aymon." "[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") That I will do right willingly," answered Roland, "seeing that Reynaud slew my cousin, Berthelot."[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") On the morrow the King made Roland a knight.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") But while they sat at the feast, there came a messenger saying that the city of Cologne was beset of Saracens.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Said Roland to the King, "Let me go against these infidels," and the King answered, "You shall go."[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") So Roland went with twenty thousand men well armed and fell upon the Saracens, and took from them spoils and prisoners, and overcame their King in single combat, bringing him back to Paris and delivering him to the King.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The King said to Duke Naymes, "How did Roland, my nephew, bear himself in the battle?" "[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Never did knight bear himself better," answered the Duke, "only he needs a horse that should carry him well when he is fully armed.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") I counsel you, therefore, to make a proclamation that there shall be a race of all the best horses in your realm, and that you will give to the horse that shall prevail your crown of gold, and five hundred marks of fine silver, and a hundred rolls of silk." "[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") This is good counsel," said the King, and he caused proclamation to be made, and the lists to be set up.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Now it chanced that a yeoman of Gascony, being in Paris, heard the proclamation, and going back to his own country told the matter to Reynaud and Mawgis.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") When Reynaud heard it, he laughed and said: "Now shall the King see as good a race as ever was run in the world, for I will go to Paris with Bayard and win this prize." "[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") I will go with you," said Mawgis, "and your brethren also, and we will have with us some knights well armed."[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") So Reynaud and his company set out, and when any one would know who they were, they said that they were from Bearn, and that they were journeying to Paris to run their horses in the King's race.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") When they were now near to Paris, Mawgis, being a great magician, took a certain herb that he knew, and when he had pounded it with the pommel of his sword, and tempered it with water, he rubbed Bayard therewith, so that he became all white.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") And he took another herb that he knew and therewith caused Reynaud to look like a youth of twenty years.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") When the others saw Reynaud and his horse, how changed they were, they laughed aloud.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Reynaud and Mawgis parted from them, and went on alone to Paris with Bayard the horse.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile, the King had sent the Duke Naymes, and Ogier the Dane, and another, with a hundred knights to keep the road from Orleans, that none might pass without their knowledge.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") There they abode, not a few days, suffering much from hunger and thirst. "[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") What do we here?" said Duke Naymes. "[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Does the King hold us to be fools that he makes us tarry here for nothing?" "[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") You say well," said Ogier the Dane, "let us go back."[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") But even as he spake, they were aware of two men on horseback.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Duke, "That horse is Bayard, but that he is of another colour."[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") When the men were near, the Duke said to them, "Who are you?"[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Mawgis answered, "My name is Sousser, and I come from Peron, and this is my son, but he speaks no French."[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The Duke said to Reynaud, "Man, know you anything of Reynaud, the son of Aymon?"[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud answered him with strange words that no man could understand. "[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") What devil taught thee to speak such strange French?[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Maybe 'tis Latin, but thou art more like to a fool than to a bishop."[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") And he suffered the two to pass in peace.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") When they came to Paris some ill fellow saw them, and cried in a loud voice, "This is Reynaud, son of Aymon," at which saying many ran together.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon the villain, growing bold, caught Bayard by the bridle.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") But the horse smote the man on the breast with his fore foot, and killed him.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the two rode on, and took a lodging in an inn; where when they bedded their horses, Mawgis took a thread of silk and waxed it well and after bound the fore feet of Bayard.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the host, "Why do you this?[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") The horse can run but ill being so bound.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") But tell me who is the knight; had he more years he were like Reynaud the son of Aymon."[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Mawgis answered, "I bound the horse's feet because he is given to fighting.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") As for his rider he is my son."[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") But it chanced that, not long after, Mawgis named Reynaud by name, and the host heard it and said, "This beyond all doubt is Reynaud who slew the King's nephew.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly, before I sleep, I will tell the matter to the King."[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud heard the man speak and straightway slew him.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereat there was no small outcry, but the two knights mounted on their horses, and mingling with the crowd, so escaped.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") After mass the King and his lords went down to a certain meadow that is by the river Seine, where the race should be run.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") And the two knights went with him, but Bayard having his foot bound halted much.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said one knight, "See here the horse that will win the prize," and another said, "Verily, he will win, if God so favour him."[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") And they laughed him to scorn.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") When the trumpets sounded for the starting of the horses they all ran.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") When Mawgis saw this, he lighted from his horse and cut the thread of silk that was bound about Bayard's foot.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") And Reynaud spurred his horse, saying to him, "Bayard, we are far behind, now it is time for you to haste."[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") When Bayard heard his master so speak, he understood him as well as though he had been a man.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Straightway he held up his head, and stretched forth his neck, and ran so fast that he speedily passed all the other horses.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") When the King saw this he said to Richard of Normandy, "This white horse is marvellously swift, and he is like to Bayard, the horse of Reynaud, son of Aymon."[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud, having prevailed in the race, took the crown of gold, but the silver and the silk he disdained.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Then having the crown in his hand, he rode back to the palace where the King sat with his lords.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") The King said to him, "I will give you for your horse such treasure as will content you."[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud answered: "Sire, I have angered you many times, and slain your men, and now I carry away your crown.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Know that I am Reynaud, son of Aymon.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Seek elsewhere for a horse that you may give to Roland your nephew.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") But Bayard you shall not have."[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying he spurred his horse, and rode away, and when he had travelled certain miles, then came Mawgis on his black horse.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") So these two returned to the castle of Montalban, and were received with great joy.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [How It Fared With the Brethren](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/5/) - next →: [Of the Treachery of King John](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/7/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)