Quotes from The Song of Roland
15 notable lines from Unknown · c. 1100
The count Rollanz, though blood his mouth doth stain, / And burst are both the temples of his brain, / His olifant he sounds with grief and pain.
Quotations follow the Glyn Burgess translation (Penguin Classics, 1990) — our recommended edition.
Roland is brave, and Oliver is wise; both are marvelous vassals.
The Song of Roland Comrade Rollanz, your horn I pray you sound! / If Charles hear, he'll turn his armies round.
Oliver to Roland, laisse LXXXIII · trans. Scott-Moncrieff Christians are right and pagans are wrong.
The Song of Roland Pagans are wrong: Christians are right indeed.
Roland, laisse LXXIX · trans. Scott-Moncrieff Charles the King, our Lord and Sovereign, / Full seven years hath sojourned in Spain.
Opening lines, laisse I · trans. Scott-Moncrieff Ah! Durendal, white art thou, clear of stain!
Roland to his sword, laisse CLXXII · trans. Scott-Moncrieff His right-hand glove, to God he offers it; / Saint Gabriel from's hand hath taken it.
Roland's death, laisse CLXXVI · trans. Scott-Moncrieff God, how bitter is the pain of parting.
The Song of Roland Pride hath Rollanz, wisdom Olivier hath; / And both of them shew marvellous courage.
On the two heroes, laisse LXXXVII · trans. Scott-Moncrieff Rollant regards the barren mountain-sides; / Dead men of France, he sees so many lie, / And weeps for them as fits a gentle knight.
Roland over the slain, laisse CXL · trans. Scott-Moncrieff So ends the tale which Turold hath conceived.
Closing line, laisse CCXCI · trans. Scott-Moncrieff Man for his lord should suffer great disease, / Most bitter cold endure, and burning heat.
Roland on a vassal's duty, laisse LXXXVIII · trans. Scott-Moncrieff Vassalage comes by sense, and not folly; / Prudence more worth is than stupidity.
Oliver rebukes Roland, laisse CLXXXI · trans. Scott-Moncrieff High were the peaks and shadowy and grand, / The valleys deep, the rivers swiftly ran.
The pass at Roncesvalles, laisse CLXXXVIII · trans. Scott-Moncrieff