![]() ![]() Problem is, "declinet" is one of those slippery, fish-like words with a number of possible meanings. We do get a tantalizing authorial hint in the last line of the Oxford manuscript, the oldest (1140-1170 C.E.) and longest of the Roland manuscripts, and the one that's usually translated: "Ci falt la geste que Turoldus declinet" or in English, "Here ends the story that Turoldus tells" (291.4002).īingo? Not quite. You know that dude-he/she/they is/are also responsible for Beowulf, the Nibelungenlied, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It doesn't help that this poem survives in nine different manuscripts, each with its own set of frustrating variations. Like a lot of medieval bestsellers, the Song of Roland was written by Anonymous. When a traitorous Frank named Ganelon allies with Marsile to get Roland and his rearguard massacred, it's on. Charlemagne and his Frankish army (the good guys) have already conquered most of Spain and are now debating whether to capture one more city, Saragossa, ruled by King Marsile (the Big Bad of the bad guys) or just chuck it and head back to France for some bacon-and-egg croissants. ![]() The first stanza plonks us down right in the middle of it. France versus Spain in a fight to the death: the Song of Rolandis like the World Cup… but with swords. ![]()
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