THE PILGRIMAGE OF CHARLEMAGNE

(PÉLERINAGE DE CHARLEMAGNE)

OR THE VOYAGE TO JERUSALEM

12th Century Old French Chanson De Geste

Modern English Translation by Nol Drek

Part 1: Charlemagne's Wife Speaks of King Hugo


Here begins the book of the voyage of Charles of France
to Jerusalem and, because of certain words of his wife,
to Constantinople to see King Hugo.
One day Charlemagne went to the church of Saint-Denis.
He had taken his crown, he makes the sign of the cross over his head,
He girded his sword, the hilt of which was of pure gold.
There were lords, barons, and knights there.
The Emperor looked at the queen his wife,
She was well crowned, with the most beautiful and finest lace.
He leads her by the hand under an olive tree.
In his full voice he began to speak to her:
"Lady, have you ever seen any man under heaven
Who wears the sword and crown so well on his head?
I will still conquer cities with my sword!"
The queen was not wise; madly she replied:
"Emperor, you prize yourself too much.
I know a man who looks nicer
When he wears a crown among his knights.
When he puts it on his head more beautifully than you, it becomes him."
When Charles hears it, he is very angry,
Because of the Franks listening he is greatly irritated.
"Hey! Lady, where is this king? Tell me
And we will wear the leader's crown together.
Before us will sit your advisers and your friends.
I will summon the court of my good knights.
If the French are of your opinion, I will agree,
If you lied to me, you will pay dearly.
I will cut off your head with my steel sword."
"Emperor," she said, "don't be upset.
He is richer in assets, in gold and in denarii.
But he is not so valiant nor so good a knight
To strike in battle, or to pursue."
When the queen sees how angry Charles is
She repents strongly and wants to throw herself at his feet.
"Emperor," she said, "thank you for the love of God!
I am your wife and I wanted to play.
I'll apologize if you order it from me,
I will swear by oath, by judgment I will testify.
From the tallest tower in the city of Paris
Down I'll drop to testify
That to shame you 'these words' were neither said nor thought."
"You won't," said Charles, "but tell me the name of the king."
"Emperor," she said. "I cannot recall it."
"By my Lord," said Charles, "you will tell me right away
Or I'll have your head cut off."
Now the queen sees that she cannot hide.
She would gladly have stopped there, but she didn't.
"Emperor," she said, "don't think I'm crazy.
I've heard a lot about King Hugo the Strong.
He is Emperor of Greece and Constantinople,
He holds all of Persia, as far as Cappadocia.
There isn't such a handsome knight from here to Antioch
And without yours, there would be no barony like his."
"By my Lord," said Charles, "I'll know it
If you lied to me, by my faith, you are dead.
By my faith, said the king, you have irritated me greatly.
You have lost all my friendship and my gratitude.
You can still believe that you will lose your head on the chopping block.
Lady, you were never to think of my power,
You'll never believe it until you see it."

Part 2: The Pilgrimage to Jerusalem


When the Emperor of France was crowned
And he had made his offering at the high altar,
He returned to his room in Paris.
He called Roland to him with Oliver
And William of Orange, and Naimon the Terrible
Ogier of Denmark, Berin, and Berenger,
Archbishop Turpin, Ernald, Amier,
And Bernard de Brusband, and Bertrand the Terrible
And a thousand knights who were born in France.
"Lords," said the Emperor, "listen to me a little.
To a distant kingdom, please God, you will go.
You will visit Jerusalem and the land of Our Lord.
I want to go and adore the Cross and the Sepulcher.
I had a dream three times that told me to go
And I will seek out the king that I have heard of.
You will take seven hundred camels laden with gold and silver
To stay and remain seven years in the earth.
I won't go back until I have found the king."
The Emperor of France had his followers equipped,
And those who went with him were very well equipped.
He gave them plenty of fine gold as well as money,
But neither shields, nor spears, nor sharp swords,
Nothing but wooden chests and duffel bags.
They have steeds shoed at the hind and fore feet.
Squires load mules and beasts of burden
And fill the chests with fine gold and silver,
Crockery, money, and other luggage.
They carry folding chairs of gold and tents of white silk.
The king takes the burden to the church of Saint-Denis in France.
Archbishop Turpin gently gives him the blessing
And follows him as well as the French.
They mounted their vigorous mules and departed.
They left the city and went away very quickly.
Having Charles at their head, they set out for the land of Our Lord God.
The queen remained in pain and in tears.
The king rode so long that he came to a great plain.
There someone turns around and says to Bertrand,
"Watch the beautiful troop of pilgrims walk.
They are eighty thousand and their highest king walks in front.
He who leads and governs them must be very powerful!"
So went the Emperor with his great troop.
Behind the great king there were eighty thousand.
They left France, left Burgundy,
Crossed Lorraine, Bavaria, Hungary,
The country of the Turks, Persians, and Hunnic nations,
And passed the great waters of a river to Laodicea.
The Emperor rode through the Christian lands,
Woods and forests, and they had entered Greece.
They saw rocks and mountains in Romania
And rode in haste to the land where God received martyrdom.
They see Jerusalem, an ancient city.
The light was beautiful and clear there, they took their lodgings.
They go to the cathedral and bring offerings there
Then the proud troop returns to its inns.
Many people come to offer presents to Charles.
He entered a monastery whose vaults were painted.
There was an altar of St Paternôtre,
Jesus sang the mass there as well as the apostles
And the twelve pulpits are all still there.
The thirteenth is well sealed and closed.
Charles entered it and felt a great joy in his heart.
When he saw the pulpit, he walked straight to it.
The Emperor sat there and rested there.
And the twelve peers around him in the pulpits of the apostles.
Never did a man do it before, and never again after.
Charles enjoyed many of these great beauties.
He looked at the cathedral painted in bright colors.
The Martyrs, Virgins, and Great Majesties
And the courses of the moon and the feasts of the year,
Running water and fish from the sea.
Charles looked proud when he looked up.
A Jew entered who looked at him for a long time,
When he saw Charles, he began to tremble.
Charles looked so proud that the man didn't dare look at him.
He almost fell over backwards and fled,
And quickly climbing all the marble steps
He came to the patriarch and began to speak to him.
"Go, sire, to the cathedral to bring the fonts there,
Because immediately I want to be baptized and purified.
I saw twelve counts enter this cathedral,
With them a thirteenth, never have I seen so beautiful!
By my faith, it is God himself,
He and the twelve apostles come to visit you."
When the patriarch heard it, he got ready.
He summoned his clerks at dawn,
He makes them dress and put on their priestly garb
And in great procession they go where the king is.
The Emperor saw him and went to meet him,
He takes his hat off to him and bows deeply to him.
They kiss and ask each other their news,
And the patriarch said, "Sire, where were you born?
No man ever dared to enter this place.
That I did not command and order it from him."
“Sire, my name is Charles and I was born in France;
I defeated twelve kings by my strength and that of my barons.
I'm looking for the thirteenth one I heard about.
I came to Jerusalem for the love of God.
I have come to adore the Cross and the Sepulcher."
And said the patriarch: "Sire, you are a great baron.
Since you sat in the pulpit where God himself sat,
You will have the name of Charles the Great over all crowned kings.
And the Emperor said five hundred thanks to God.
"Give me, please, of your Holy Relics.
I will take them to France and in front of them I will burn lights."
"You will have plenty," replies the patriarch.
"You will have the arms of Saint Siméon,
I'll have the leader of the Order of St Lazarus bring it to you
From the blood of St Stephen who was a martyr for God."
Charlemagne says thank you to him and gives him thanks.
And the patriarch said to him, "You have done well.
When you came to seek God, you did the best.
I'll give you relics like there's none better.
A piece of the Shroud of Jesus that he had on his head under the sky,
When he was placed and laid in the sepulcher,
When the Jews guarded it with steel swords,
And on the third day he rose, as he had predicted,
And he came to the apostles to gladden them.
You will have a nail that God had in his foot
And the holy Crown of Thorns that God had on his head.
You will also have the chalice that he blesses,
I will also gladly give you his silver bowl,
It is adorned with gold and precious stones,
And you will have the knife that God used to eat,
And the beard of Saint Peter and the hair of his head."
Charlemagne says thank you to him and gives him thanks.
His whole body trembles with joy and piety
When the patriarch said to him, "Good has happened to you,
By my faith, God has led you here!
I will give you such relics that will work great miracles,
From the milk of Saint Mary, with which she nursed Jesus
When for the first time he descended among us on earth,
To the holy shirt she has put on."
Charlemagne says thank you to him and gives him gratitude.
The relics were brought to him and the king received them.
They are powerful, God gave them great powers.
There lies a paralytic, he hasn't moved for seven years,
All his bones were breaking and his nerves were strained.
Now, behold, he jumps to his feet, never was anyone more healthy.
The patriarch thus saw that God had performed a great miracle.
He makes the city ring the bell several times.
The king had a reliquary casket made, never was one more beautiful.
A thousand marks of the finest Arabian gold were melted for this purpose.
He had it closed carefully
And encircled with many silver bands.
Archbishop Turpin is in charge of carrying it.
Charlemagne was joyful, as were all those who were with him.
The king sojourned four months in the city of Jerusalem,
He and his twelve peers, the illustrious troop.
They lead a sumptuous train, because the emperor is rich.
They start a church which is that of Saint Mary,
The men of the country call it the Latin.
Those who speak foreign languages come from all over the town,
They sell there their precious fabrics, their linens, their silks,
Roots, cinnamon, pepper, and other good spices,
And many good herbs that I cannot name.
God is in heaven who will do justice.
The Emperor of France having made a long stay
Summoned the Patriarch to him.
"Good sir, please give me my leave.
I'm going back to my kingdom of France.
I haven't been there in a long time, and I stayed here a long time.
My barons don't know where I've been.
Give me a hundred mules laden with gold and silver."
And the patriarch said, "Yet, unfortunately, you are telling me about it.
I leave you all my great treasures,
Let the French take as much as they can carry,
But defend us against Saracens and pagans
Who want to destroy us Christians."
And said the patriarch, "Do you know what I beg of you?
It is to destroy the Saracens who hate us."
"Willingly," said Charles, and he gave him his confidence,
"I will summon my men when I can get some.
I will go to Spain, and the Saracens will not be able to stay there."
He did it afterwards and he kept his promise,
When Roland died and the twelve peers with him.

Part 3: Charlemagne Travels to Constantinople

The Emperor of France stayed there for so long,
He remembers what his wife had said,
But he will seek out the king she has told him of.
He won't rest until he finds him.
He had it announced at night to the French in their homes.
When they find out, they come running with jubilant hearts.
At dawn in the morning, when day breaks,
Mules and beasts of burden are harnessed and loaded.
The barons mount their saddles and set off.
They go to Jericho and take a quantity of palm fronds there.
"Forward, O God!" they shouted loud and clear.
The patriarch rode a strong mule,
As long as the day lasted he led them and accompanied them.
At night all the barons were lodged together
And they were not refused anything they asked for.
In the morning at dawn when day breaks,
The barons remount and resume their voyage.
The patriarch addresses then to Charlemagne,
"I take my leave of you," he said, "if you please.”
And the Emperor said, "Let it be done according to the will of God."
They kiss and are all in tears.
The Emperor goes riding with his high barons.
The Holy Relics are powerful, God gave them great virtues.
When they arrive at a river's edge, the waters separate to form a ford.
They do not meet blind people who do not recover their sight.
The deformed are straightened out and the mute recover their speech.
The Emperor rode with his large company.
They passed the mountains and the countries of Abilene,
The rock of Guitume, and the plains beyond.
They saw Constantinople, a marvelous city,
Its bells, eagles and domes shone brightly.
Far from the city, at least half a league,
They saw orchards planted with pines and giant laurels.
The rose blooms there, the lilac and the dog-rose.
They find in this place twenty thousand knights assembled,
They are dressed in silk, in white ermine,
And large marten skins dragging to the ground.
They are entertaining themselves with games of chess and backgammon.
They have with them their falcons and some of their goshawks.
There are also thirteen thousand maidens there with brilliant embroidered fabrics
They are clothed in silk and their bodies are as attractive as gold,
And they have fun with their friends who hold them in their arms.
But Charlemagne goes riding on his mule.
He turns around and calls Roland,
"I do not know where the king is, but here is his great baronage."
He calls a knight and says to him smiling,
"Friend, where is the king? I have been looking for him for a long time."
"He is here," he said, "ride further,
You will see the king near that sumptuous canopy over there."
Without hesitation the Emperor rode.
He finds King Hugo plowing with his plough,
The tip is made of fine shining gold,
The boards, the wheels and the ploughshare are of steel.
He doesn't go on foot, goad in hand,
But one on each side are two strong mules
That carry suspended a chair of gold.
The king is seated there on a sumptuous cushion,
It is filled with thrush feathers, and its pillowcase is painted in a checkerboard pattern.
At his feet is a stepladder of white silver,
He has a hat on his head, and his gloves are very beautiful.
Four pillars surround him.
Over him was stretched a beautiful gray fabric.
The king holds in his hand a rod of gold.
Very skillfully he directs the plowing
And so he makes the furrow as straight as a stretched line.
Meanwhile he sees Charles riding his mule,
The king holds his plow to finish his work,
And Charlemagne arrives by a marked path.
He saw the taut fabric and the blazing gold.
King Hugo the Strong saluted him politely.
The king looks at Charles and sees his proud countenance,
His big, muscular arms, his lean, slender body,
"Sire, God save you! who are you?"
And the Emperor replied, "I am a native of France,
My name is Charles and this is Roland my nephew,
I come from Jerusalem, and will go home.
You and your barons I will gladly see."
And says Hugo the Strong, "Seven years ago and more
That I haven't heard of foreign soldiers
And of a baronage so great that no king has such under heaven.
I will give you as much gold, silver, and goods as you will desire.
I will keep you for a year if you wish.
The French will take as much as they can carry.
Now I will unhitch my oxen for love of you."
The king unhitched his oxen and left his plough.
They pass through the meadows and cross the farms,
The kings on their mules head for the tents.
"Sire," said King Charles, "on your plow
There's so much fine gold that I can't tell how much there is,
If the plow remains unguarded, I fear it will be lost."
"Hey," said King Hugo, "I don't care about all that.
There has never been a thief since my kingdom has lasted.
The plow can stay there for seven years without being touched."
William of Orange says: "Saint Peter help us!
If I was in France and Bertrand was with me,
With pickaxe and hammer I would smash it to pieces."
The kings spurred their mules which began to run.
They arrived at the palace and they saw Hugo's wife.
She was brought forward, she was richly adorned.
The palace and the hall are hung with precious fabrics.
So we see Charles arrive with his band.
The Emperor descends on a white marble pavement,
These steps lead from the hall to the palace.
Seven thousand knights are there gathered,
Dressed in ermine and bright fabrics with chessboard designs.
They distract themselves with games of chess and backgammon.
Most of them came running,
They receive the steeds and the beautiful mules pacing
And graciously they lead them to their homes.
Charles saw the palace and its great riches.
The tables, the chairs, and the benches are in fine gold.
The palace was painted with azure bands and made pleasant
By precious paintings of beasts and serpents,
Of all flying creatures and birds.
The palace was vaulted and the top closed.
The whole thing had been done with a compass and rendered with noble solidity.
The middle pillar is inlaid with white silver,
It is surrounded by one hundred pilasters made entirely of marble,
The face of which is plated with gold.
In front of each of them are two children of metal
Who hold in their mouths horns of white ivory.
If the north wind blows, the wind blows from the sea, or any other wind
Which smites the palace from the western side,
They make the room turn quickly and often
Like the wheel of a chariot rolling on the earth.
The horns bellow and sound in a common resonance,
Like drums, thunder, or a large hanging bell.
One child looks at the other as if laughing,
Which makes it seem like both are alive.
Charles sees the palace and its great wealth,
His wealth was barely worth a glove!
He remembers then his wife whom he had threatened so much.
"Lords," said Charlemagne, "there are many palaces here.
Alexander had none like him, nor Constantine the elder,
Nor Crisant of Rome who built so many sumptuous edifices."
And, as the Emperor had just spoken these words,
Here comes a wind from the side of the sea.
It comes bellowing on the palace,
It stirs it lightly and gently,
Then makes it turn like the shaft of a mill,
And the statues honk and smile at each other,
Which makes you think they're all alive.
One sounds high, the other clear, which is nice to hear.
Those who hear them believe they are in paradise
Where the angels sing with a soft and suave voice.
Then there was a great storm, snow and sleet,
A sharp and violent wind, which quivered and made a great noise.
The windows are of very pure crystal
Cut like gems from across the sea.
The interior is very quiet, very calm, very peaceful,
Like in May, in summer, when the sun is shining.
Very violent was the storm, hideous and strong.
Charles saw the palace turn and quiver,
He did not know what it was and was far from understanding it.
Unable to stand on his feet, he sat down on the marble floor,
The French are all overthrown and cannot stand.
They cover their heads, put their faces to the ground, or lay on their backs.
They say to each other: "We have fallen into a bad business,
The doors are open and we can't get out."
Charles sees the palace waver repeatedly,
The French cover their faces and dare not look.
King Hugo the Strong approached
And said to the French, "Don't be troubled."
"Sire," said Charlemagne, "will it never be otherwise?"
Strong Hugo says, "Wait for me a little while."
The evening approached, the storm stopped.
The French jump to their feet. The supper was ready,
Charles sat down and his rough barons sat down too.
King Hugo the Strong did the same, having at his side his wife
And his daughter with blond hair, whose face is beautiful and clear
And whose skin is as white as a flower in summer.
Oliver looked at her and fell in love with her.
"Praise to the King of Glory and Holy Majesty,
Whether I have her in France or in the town of Châteaudun,
Because then I would have all my wishes fulfilled!"
He said this between his teeth so that no one heard him.
Nothing was refused to the French of what they demanded.
They had plenty of deer and wild boar venison,
They received cranes, geese, peppered peacocks,
Wine and claret were poured out to them in abundance.
The bards sing and play the viol and the lyre.
The French entertain themselves in a very noble way.

Part 4: The Twelve Peers Boast


When they had eaten in the royal palace,
The master seneschal had the tablecloths removed.
The squires hastened in crowds from all sides,
They go into the houses to look for the horses.
King Hugo the Strong called Charlemagne,
He and the twelve peers retreat to one side.
The king takes him by the hand and leads them into a chamber
Vaulted, painted with flowers, and adorned with crystal stones.
A carbuncle shines there and throws a thousand fires,
Ensconced in a pilaster from the time of King Goliath.
There are twelve beds of copper and metal,
Velvet pillows and fine linen sheets,
They are so massive that to move them would require twenty oxen and
The thirteenth is in the middle, it took four chariots to build it.
The feet are of silver and the border of enamel,
The blankets that Maséus made are good,
A very gracious fairy presented it to the king.
The Emir's treasury is less rich.
They must have loved the king who was leaving them,
Who had served and provided for them so well.
The French entered the bedroom and saw the beds.
Each of the twelve peers has already taken his.
King Hugo the Strong makes them bring wine.
He was wise, cautious, and full of bad habits.
In the bedroom, on a marble pillar
Dug into its upper part he posted a spy
Who all night watched them through a little hole.
The carbuncle shone so bright a man could see
Like in May, in summer, when the sun is shining.
King Hugo the Strong and his wife left
And Charles and the French lay down comfortably.
Then counts and marquises began to boast.
The French were in the bedroom and drank claret.
They were saying to each other, "Look at these great beauties!
Look at this beautiful palace and these great riches!
Praise to the King of Glory and Holy Majesty
That Charlemagne, our lord, would have acquired
Or conquered by his arms in battle of war."
And said Charlemagne, "I am now going to boast.
If the best bachelor of King Hugo the Strong,
That is the strongest and most muscular in his court,
That has two hauberks on his body, and two closed helms,
That is mounted on a strong steed mounted at a gallop,
If the king lends me his gold-hilted sword,
I'll strike on the helm at the brightest part
I will cut off the two hauberks and the two helms
I will cut through the saddle of the running steed
And I will plant the sword in the ground. If I let it go,
No living man can take it away
That it is driven into the ground the height of a javelin."
"By God," said the listening spy, "you are very muscular.
How mad King Hugo was when he gave you a home!
I have never heard of such madness,
In the morning at dawn I will have you sent away."
And said the Emperor: "Boast, handsome nephew Roland."
"Gladly, Sire, entirely at your orders.
Tell King Hugo to lend me his olifant.
I will then go out into this plain,
I will strain my breath so much and make a wind so mighty
That in the whole city which is so vast and so great
No door or gate will remain on its hinges,
Whether copper or steel, strong or massive,
I will strike one and the other with the roaring wind.
If King Hugo goes out, if he puts himself forward,
He will lose in a torrent the hairs of his beard which will be burned.
He will also lose the great marten cloak he wears hanging from his shoulders,
And the ermine fur coat that he wears on his back."
"By God," said the listener, "it's a bad boast.
What madness did King Hugo by harboring such people!"
"Boast, Sir Oliver,” said the courteous Roland.
"Willingly," said the Count, “but let Charles allow me.
May the king lend me his daughter who has such blond hair,
Let him put us in a bed in his room.
If I don't have her testimony of having done it a hundred times,
That the next day I lose my head, I will grant it by convention."
"By God," said the listener, "you will cease before
You said a big insult, but the king must know it.
And all his life he will never love you."
"And you, sir Archbishop, are you also messing with us?"
"Yes," said Turpin, "I will do so by order of Charlemagne.
That three of the best destriers that are in his town
The king lets go tomorrow. If he makes a race
Out there on that plain, when they are in full gallop,
I will place myself on their right by the effort of my running,
I will climb on one of them and let go of the others.
And I'll hold four great big apples in my hands.
I will go like this juggling
By letting the steeds go at their speed.
If an apple slips from me or falls out of my hand,
Let Charlemagne, my lord, gouge out my eyes from my head."
"By God," said the listener, "this boast is fine and good.
There is no insult against the king my lord."
"Then," said William of Orange, "Lords, I will therefore boast.
Look at this big ball, we've never seen a bigger one.
Between fine gold and silver see how many came in.
You can repeatedly put thirty men there to try it,
They will not be able to move it, so heavy is the weight.
But I in one hand in the morning will take it,
Then I'll throw it at this palace
And I will cut down forty fathoms from its wall."
"By God," said the listener, "I won't believe it until I see it.
The king will be absolutely mad if he doesn't make you try it!
So tomorrow when you're dressed I'll tell him."
"And now," said the Emperor, "Ogier is going to boast,
The Duke of Denmark can work very well."
"Willingly," said the baron, "everything at your orders.
Do you see this pillar that supports the palace,
That this morning turned so fast?
Tomorrow you will see me embrace it with all my strength.
The pillar can hold as hard as it wants, I'll break it and then
You will see the palace pouring and stumbling towards the ground.
I guarantee that those who will be affected won't come out.
The king will be very mad if he doesn't hide."
"By God," said the listener, "this man is furious.
May God do me the favor not to see this boast begin!
What madness committed King Hugo to have lodged you!"
And said the Emperor, “Boast, Duke Naimon!
"Willingly," said the baron, all hoary.
"Tell King Hugo to lend me his burnished hauberk.
Tomorrow, when I have it and I put it on,
You will see me shake with all my strength and vigor.
And there is no hauberk of white or burnished steel, however strong,
That the links will not be broken like a straw."
"By God," said the listener, "you are old and hoary,
You have white hair, but your nerves are strong."
And says the Emperor, "Boast, Lord Berenger."
"Willingly," said the count, "since you allow me.
Let the king take the swords of all his knights,
Let him bury them down to their golden hilts,
Let the points be turned towards the sky.
I will climb on foot to the highest tower,
And then I'll drop on the swords.
You will see the swords crack, then break,
One after another torn to pieces and parts.
You won't find any that have cut into my flesh,
Neither touched the leather, nor hurt deeply."
"By God," said the listener, "this man is mad.
If he executes his boast, he is made of iron or steel."
And said the Emperor, "Sir Bernard, boast."
"Willingly," said the Count, "since you order it from me.
Have you seen the great river that makes so much noise as it flows?
Tomorrow I'll get her all out of bed,
You will see it all spread in the fields
And all the cellars of the city will be filled with it,
Hugo's band and his wife will be splashing around in the water
And the King himself will ascend to the tallest tower.
He will only come down when I have ordered it."
"By God," said the listener, "this man is a madman.
How mad King Hugo was to receive you in his house!
In the morning at dawn you will all be sent away."
And said Count Bertrand, "It’s up to you, uncle, to boast now.”
"Willingly, by my faith," said Ernald de Gironde.
"Let the king take four loads of wood and lead,
Let him melt them together in a cauldron,
Let him take a basin that is wide and deep,
Let him have it filled to the brim.
I will sit in the basin until the ninth hour.
When the lead will be all hardened and the bubbling will have ceased,
When it is well solidified, you will see me shake myself,
The lead falling and breaking away from me.
It will not remain on me the weight of a shallot."
"That's a wonderful boast," said the listener.
"We never heard of a man with such hard flesh.
He is made of iron or steel if he accomplishes his boast."
"Now," said the Emperor, "boast, Sir Aimery."
"With pleasure," said the count, "since you command me to do so.
I still have a hat from Germany
Made of the skin of a large marine fish from the seaside.
When I have decked myself out with it and put it on my head,
Tomorrow when King Hugo is at his dinner,
I will eat his fish and drink his claret.
Then I'll come from behind and give him such a blow
That I will knock him in front on his table.
You will then see beards pulled and beautiful quarelling!"
"By God," said the listener, "this man is a madman,
What a madman was King Hugo who welcomed you into his house!"
"Boast, Sir Bertrand," said the Emperor.
"Gladly," said the Count, "everything at your service.
Borrow for me tomorrow morning two strong crowns.
I will then exit and climb to the top of an ancient pine.
There you will see me clashing the crowns against each other
And, by the noise that I will thus produce,
Over a space of four great leagues around
There will be no more living thing left in the woods, neither stags nor deer,
Not one wild doe, nor deer, nor fearful fox.
"By God," said the listener, "this is a bad boast.
When the king learns about it, he will be very angry and will be very sorry."
"Boast, Sir Gevin," said the Emperor Charles.
"Gladly," said the Count, "tomorrow in front of everyone
Bring me hither a strong and solid spear,
Which is so heavy and so cumbersome that a peasant cannot lift it.
Let the shaft be of apple wood and the point of steel.
On top of this tower, on this marble pillar,
You will place two coins on top of each other.
I will then retire half a league from here.
You will see me throw the spear, if you watch carefully,
At the tower and knock down one of the denarii
So gently and so calmly that the other will not budge.
Then I'll be so light and quick and dexterous
That you'll see me come running through the hall door
And I will catch the spear before it falls to the ground."
"By God," said the listener, "this boast is worth three of the others.
Against my lord the King he said nothing that would be blameworthy."
When the counts had boasted, they fell asleep.
The spy comes out of the room, he has heard everything.
He comes to the door of the room where King Hugo is lying.
He found it open and he went to his bed.
The Emperor saw him and said to him hastily:
"Say quickly, what are the French and proud-faced Charles doing?
Did you hear them say they'll stay friendly to me?"
"By God," said the spy, "no one remembers.
They've boasted enough and laughed at you enough."
He told him everything he had heard.
When the king listened to him, he was angry and sorry.
"By my faith," said the king, "Charles has done a folly
When he boasted about me with such a lightness of spirit.
I hosted them yesterday in my stone halls.
If they don't fulfill the boasts they said,
I will cut off their heads with my polished sword."
And he summoned more than a hundred thousand of his men,
He ordered them to put on their breastplates,
To put on their cloaks and take their shining swords.
They enter the palace and post themselves around it.
Charles returned from church when mass was done,
He and the proud company of his twelve peers.
In front walked the Emperor, for he is the richest,
He carried in his hand an olive branch.
King Hugo saw him and confronted him from afar.
"Charles, why did you boast about me and mock me?
I hosted you yesterday in my stone halls.
You shouldn't have acted so lightly.
If you don't accomplish the boasts you said,
I'll chop your head off with my burnished sword."
When the Emperor hears this, he fears for his life.
And looks at the fine company of the French.
"With wine and claret," he said, "yesterday we were all drunk,
I believe the king had a spy in our room."
"Sire," said Charlemagne, "yesterday evening you hosted us,
You gave us plenty of wine and claret,
It is a custom in France, in Paris and in Chartres,
That when the French go to bed, they boast and play.
And so they say both wise and foolish things.
Now, let me speak to my rough barons,
I answer to you for them and will give you surety."
"By my faith," said the king, "it is too great an affront."
"By my faith," said Hugo, "and by my white beard.
When you leave me, you won't boast anymore!"

Part 5: Divine Intervention


Charlemagne retired, the twelve peers with him,
They will hold council under a roof.
"Lords," said the Emperor, "misfortune has happened to us,
We drank too much wine and claret,
And we said things we shouldn't have."
He has the Holy Relics brought before him,
They put themselves in prayer and confess their guilt
And they pray to the God of heaven and his power
May he keep them today from King Hugo the Strong
Who is so strongly irritated against them.
Then we see an angel of God appear.
He comes to Charlemagne and relieves him,
"Charles, don't get upset, Jesus tells you.
The boasts you made yesterday were great madness.
Never boast again, it is Christ who tells you so.
Go ahead, if you start performing the boasts I will fault none of you."
The Emperor hears it and is happy and content.
Charles of France stands up
And having raised his hand he signed his head with the cross.
And he said to the French, "Don't move."
He returned to King Hugo at the palace.
"Sire," said Charlemagne, "I cannot help you.
Last night you lodged us in your halls of stone.
A few of us were drunk with wine and claret.
When you left us, you did us a great insult,
In the room with us you left your spy.
We know many lands where it is the custom
That an act such as yours would be qualified a felony.
We will comply, I cannot stop there,
Choose who should start first."
And says Hugo the Strong: “I will not choose poorly.
I choose Oliver who said such great madness
That in a single night he will possess my daughter a hundred times over.
I'll be a knave in all ways if I don't hand her over to him.
Let him not give up the game, because I will spare him nothing.
But if he takes once to do his boasting,
I will cut off his head with my gleaming sword.
He and the twelve peers will be delivered to martyrdom."
Charlemagne laughs at it, because he trusts in God.
He further said, "Woe to the girl!"
All day long they distract themselves, have fun and amuse themselves.
They are not denied anything they ask for
Until the night comes which is quite serene.
The king has his daughter taken to his room
Which is stretched all around with silks and curtains.
Her skin is as white as a flower in summer.
Oliver came in and started laughing.
When the virgin saw him, she was very frightened.
However, she was courteous and said kind words.
"Sire," she said, "have you come from France to kill us women?"
And Oliver replied, "Don't worry, beautiful friend.
If you choose to trust me, you will be saved."
Oliver lay down in the bed of the king's daughter.
He turned her against him and kissed her three times.
The girl was very welcoming and he said to her out of courtesy,
"Lady, you are very beautiful, you are the daughter of a king,
That's why you fear that I'm accomplishing my boast.
I ask you to submit to my desires."
"Sire," said the maiden, "have pity on me.
I will never be happy if you hate me."
"Beautiful," said Oliver, "let it be done according to your orders,
But let me have the assurance that vis-à-vis the king I will have acquitted myself.
I'll make you my friend, I don't ask for anything else."
The girl was very courteous and promised him.
The Count did it only thirty times during the night.
In the morning at dawn, the king came.
He called his daughter and asked her,
"Tell me, beautiful girl, has he done it to you a hundred times?"
She replied, "Yes, sir king."
The king was greatly irritated by this answer.
He went to Charles in the palace where he was.
"The first boast is done, he is using magic, I believe.
Now, I want to know of others whether they have told lies or the truth."
The king was disappointed by the accomplished boast.
And he said to Charlemagne, "The first is freed.
I want to see if the others will also free themselves."
"Whoever you choose will begin."
"It is this one, see, Guillaume, son of Count Aimery.
Let him take the ball that is in the room.
If he doesn't throw it away like he said last night,
I'll cut off his head with my steel sword,
He and the twelve peers will see their last day come."
Thus Count Guillaume saw that it was up to him to execute the boast.
So he strips off his brown beaver fur coat,
He threw down his clothes of sumptuous fabric.
He comes running to the room where the ball was,
He raises it vigorously with one hand,
He throws it where he wants
And he pulls down forty fathoms of wall.
It was not by his strength, but by the power of God,
Who, for the love of Charles, directed him.
King Hugo was painfully affected by his damaged palace.
He said to his men, "This one boasted badly.
By the event that he accomplished, in my view, he is neither handsome nor nice.
They are using magic, those who have entered here.
They want to hold my land and all my tenures.
But I want to know if the others will do the same.
But if any of them fail, by Almighty God,
Tomorrow at this pine I will hang them and they will sway in the wind,
It is a strong tree where they will have no help."
"Sire," said Charlemagne, "do you still want boasts?
The one you choose will start."
And said Hugo the Strong, "See here Bernard,
Son of Count Aimery, who boasted
That this great river that roars in this valley,
He would bring it entirely out of its bed,
Would make it enter the city, spread everywhere,
And make myself ascend to my highest palace
From which I could only descend when he ordered me to."
Now Count Bernard began to commence.
He said to Charlemagne, "Pray to our Lord God."
He runs to the river and he waves at the water.
God performed a great miracle, he the glory of heaven.
He brought the entire great river out of its bed,
Flooding the fields for all to see,
Entering the city, spreading through the cellars.
King Hugo's men, his guard, his wife,
And the king himself took refuge in the highest tower.
Charles with a proud face, climbed up in an ancient pine
And with him the twelve peers, the barons, and the knights.
All pray to the Lord God, may he have mercy on them.
On an ancient pine is King Charles,
He and his twelve peers and a very noble company.
We hear King Hugo lamenting from the top of his tower
"Promise him that I will give him his treasure, that he can take it to France.
That I will become his man, that I will hold his kingdom for him."
When the Emperor hears him, he takes great pity on him.
Man must bow down to humility,
And he prays to Jesus to make the water recede.
God performed this great miracle out of love for Charlemagne.
The water comes out of the city, goes over the plain,
Goes back to bed, the shores are restored.
He then gives the king the order to come down from his tower.
This one comes to find Charlemagne in the shade of a fruit tree.
"Faith, Righteous Emperor, I see that God loves you.
I want to become your man, for you I will hold my kingdom,
I will give you my treasure, you will have it taken to France."
"Would you like some more boasts, sire?" said Charlemagne.
And said Hugo the Strong, "If in this week
All were accomplished, I wouldn't have enough days to complain."
"Sire," said Charlemagne to King Hugo the Strong,
"So you have seen it, my men are worth all yours.
Today we must celebrate and assemble with great joy.
And we will wear our golden crowns together.
For love of you I am ready to wear mine."
"And I, sire, mine," said Hugo. In your honor
We will have a procession in this enclosure."

Part 6: Charlemagne Victorious


Charlemagne wore a large golden crown;
King Hugo, a little lower, his.
Charlemagne was taller by a full foot, plus three inches.
The French looked at them and had only one word,
"Madam Queen has said great folly and error.
Charles has amply demonstrated his great power.
We can never go to a land where we do not acquire fame."
Charlemagne wore his crown in Constantinople,
King Hugon a little lower wore his.
The French looked at them and said to each other,
"Madame the Queen said more than madness
Saying that another Lord had more stature than ours."
So they make a procession in this enclosed cloister.
King Hugo's wife who wears her crown
Holds hands with her blonde-haired daughter.
When she saw Oliver, she would gladly have him speak.
She had an engaging and friendly attitude towards him.
She would gladly have fucked him, but because of her father she didn't dare.
They entered the church as they left the cloister.
Archbishop Turpin, who is the first of the ecclesiastical state,
Sang the mass to them and the barons made the offering.
Then they come to the palace and have a great time.
The French are at the palace, dinner was all ready.
The tables are set, they have gone to eat.
Nothing they asked for was denied them.
They had a great quantity of venison and wild boar,
They received cranes, geese, and peppered peacocks.
A great quantity of wine and claret was brought to them.
And the minstrels sing, play the viol and the lyre.
King Hugo the Strong said to Charles,
"All my great treasures are abandoned to you,
The French can take as much as they can carry."
The Emperor then said, "Leave all this,
I will not take the smallest penny of your property,
My men already have so much of mine that they can't carry it.
Give us our leave, because we want to go."
And said Hugo the Strong, "I don't hope to see you anymore."
The mules are held in hand by the strap by the men at the bottom of the steps.
And the Emperor said, "As you order. "
The two kings embrace each other and commend each other to God.
When the French have eaten, they will leave.
Their men hold the mules and beasts of burden at the bottom of the front porch.
The French are mounted in the saddle and they leave with joy.
King Hugo's daughter ran in haste,
She has seen Oliver and holds him back by the end of his shirt.
"I gave you my friendship and my love.
Take me to France, I will go with you."
"Beautiful," said Oliver, "I leave you my love,
I will go to France with my Lord Charles."
He was very happy and rejoiced, Charlemagne the Baron,
To defeat such a king without a pitched battle.
What more can I tell you?
They cross countries, foreign kingdoms,
They arrive in Paris, the good city,
And go to Saint-Denis, they entered the Cathedral.
Charlemagne, the baron, bows down to pray,
Once he had prayed to God, he got up,
The nails and the Crown of Thorns he put on the altar
And he shares the other Holy Relics to his kingdom.
The queen then arrived, she threw herself at his feet.
The king forgave her all her wickedness
For the love of the sepulcher which he adored.