Chapter VIII Paladins and Heroes
“Morz est Rollanz, Deus en ad l’anme es ciels.
Li Emperere en Rencesvals parvient…
Carles escriet: ‘U estes vus, bels niés?
U l’Arcevesques e li quens Oliviers?
U est Gerins e sis cumpainz Geriers?
Otes u est e Ii quens Berengiers?
Ives e Ivories que j’aveie tant chiers?
Qu’est devenuz li Guascuinz Engeliers,
Sansun li dux e Anseïs li fiers?
U est Gerarz de Russillun li vielz,
Li duze per que j’aveie laissiet?’”
(Chanson de Roland, 1. 2397.)
It is natural that many favourite names should be taken from those of heroes of romance whose exploits were sung all over Europe by wandering minstrels. Such names, including those taken from the Round Table legends, usually came to us through French, though a few names of the British heroes are Welsh, e.g. Cradock from Caradoc (Caractacus) and Maddox from Madoc.
Notes
1 “Dead is Roland, God has his soul in heaven. The Emperor arrives at Roncevaux… Charles cries: ‘Where are you, fair nephew? Where the archbishop (Turpin) and Count Oliver? Where is Gerin and his comrade Gerier? Where is Odo and count Berenger? Ivo and Ivory whom I held so dear? What has become of the Gascon Engelier? Samson the duke and Anseis the proud?
Where is Gerard of Roussillon the old, the twelve peers whom I had left?’ “