Chapter CCIV

The King Marsile, on seeing Baligant,
Summoned two Spanish Saracens, and bade
His body to be raised that he might sit.
With his left hand he took a glove, and thus
He spoke:--"Sir King and Emir, all my lands
And kingdoms, Sarraguce, domains and fiefs
But wreck and ruin--Subjects, wealth--all lost."
Answered the Emir:--"I, so much the more,
Grieve for thy sorrow; but for longer speech
I can not stay; for Carle, I know, will not
Be still. But, nathless, I receive the glove."
O'erwhelmed with sorrow, weeping he departs;
The palace steps descending, mounts his horse
And spurs him towards the waiting hosts so fast,
That of the foremost ranks he takes the lead;
And cries aloud, going from man to man:
"Haste, Pagans! On!--Already flee the Franks."
Aoi.