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mies, that men should plainly see he fell a conqueror. Beneath him he put the sword and horn. Then lifted he his weary hands to heaven and closed his eyes; and whilst he mused God sent his swift archangels, Gabriel 5 and Michael, to bear his soul to Paradise.

Gloom fell; the mists went up, and there was only death and silence in the valley. The low red sun was setting in the west.

Charles and his host rode hard, and drew not rein 10 until they reached the mountain top, and looked down on the Valley of Roncesvalles. They blew the trumpets, but there was no sound and there was no answer but the echoes on the mountain sides. Then down through the gloom and mist they rode, and saw the field; saw 15 Roland dead, and Oliver; saw the Archbishop and the twelve valiant peers, and every man of the twenty thousand chosen guard; saw how fiercely they had fought, how hard they died.

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There was not one in all the king's host but lifted up 20 his voice and wept for pity at the sight they saw. But Charles the king fell on his face on Roland's body, with a great and exceeding bitter cry. No word he spake, but only lay and moaned upon the dead that was so dear to him. Then the king left four good knights in Ronces25 valles to guard the dead from birds and beasts of prey, and set out in chase of the pagans.

In a vale the Franks overtook them, hard by a broad

and swift river. There being hemmed in, the river in front and the fierce Franks behind, the pagans were cut to pieces; not one escaped, save Marsilius and a little band who had taken another way and got safe to Saragossa. Thence Marsilius sent letters to the king of Baby- 5 lon, who ruled forty kingdoms, praying him to come over and help him. And he gathered a mighty army and put off to sea to come to Marsilius.

Now after this Marsilius and the king of Babylon came out to battle with King Charles before the walls of Sara-10 gossa. But Charles utterly destroyed the pagans there and slew the two kings, and broke down the gates of Saragossa and took the city. So he conquered Spain and avenged himself for Roland and his guard.

-G. W. Cox: Popular Romances of the Middle Ages.

1. Why is Roland's horn famous in story? 2. Tell of his effort to break his sword. 3. Describe the return of Charles and his army. 4. Where is Babylon? Find it on your maps. 5. How did Charles avenge Roland's death? 6. Though this story is based on history, what parts are evidently legend?

Oral Composition. Tell the story of Roland: 1. Who he was. 2. What the army was doing in Spain. 3. The departure of Charles. 4. The attack in the valley. 5. Roland's death.

This is a world-famous story. Try to make your account so interesting that your hearers will seem to see the dauntless Roland and his brave little band.

Written Composition. Finish the following story. Do not begin to write until you have thought out exactly what you mean to say. Make your part of the story as interesting as possible.

The Castle in the Wood

In the good old days, when wonderful things were more apt to happen than they are now, a king, in company with a body of knights, was once riding through a great forest. As they were making their way through the densest part of the woods, they came suddenly upon a castle with massive towers, rising in the midst of the green foliage.

There was no sign of life about the place. Dismounting, the king and his knights, with swords drawn, prepared to enter. Neither bolts nor bars hindered their progress. They went from hall to hall-all was silent and deserted. The echo of their own footsteps, the clanking of their spurs, and the cawing of the rooks, disturbed by the unwonted noise, were the only sounds that broke the stillness.

Finally they mounted the long, dim, winding stairs that led to the topmost chamber of the great turret. Here, at last, was a barred door. The king, who was in advance, threw himself with all his strength against the closed portal. The rusty bolt gave way, the door flew open, and there

Read the stories aloud in class, and see what a variety of good endings can be made. Take a vote as to which story is finished most in keeping with the way it is begun.

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I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he;

I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three ;

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Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gate bolts undrew;

Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through;

Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest,

And into the midnight we galloped abreast.

Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace

Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place;

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I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight,
Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right,
Rebuckled the cheek strap, chained slacker the bit,
Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.

5 'Twas moonset at starting; but, while we drew near
Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear;
At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see;
At Düffeld 'twas morning as plain as could be,

And from Mecheln church steeple we heard the half chime,

10 So, Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!"

At Aershot, up leaped of a sudden the sun,
And against him the cattle stood black every one,
To stare thro' the mist at us galloping past,
And I saw my stout galloper Roland, at last,
15 With resolute shoulders, each butting away
The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray:

And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back
For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track;
And one eye's black intelligence, -ever that glance
20 O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance !
And the thick heavy spume flakes which aye and anon
His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on.

By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris," Stay spur! Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her,

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