Sections CLXIII-CLXXVI

Roland finds and cradles his dead companion Olivier, and delivers a formal eulogy praising his martial prowess, noble lineage, and exemplary conduct as a chevalier.

The sight of his dead peers, especially Olivier whom he loved dearly, causes Roland such profound grief that he loses consciousness and swoons on the field.

Archbishop Turpin attempts to fetch water from a nearby river to revive Roland but is too weakened by blood loss and dies in the attempt, his heart failing before he can cross even an acre of land.

Roland regains consciousness and spots the Archbishop's body; he recognizes Turpin as God's warrior and commends his soul to Paradise, noting his unique sanctity and opposition to pagans.

Roland grieves over Turpin's gruesome death and delivers a formal lament, commending the Archbishop's soul and declaring that no one has served God as well since the Apostles.

Roland recognizes that death is imminent as his brain drains from his ears; he prays for divine aid and, grasping his horn and sword, travels toward Spain to a cliff with marble terraces.

While Roland lies unconscious, a Saracen feigning death among the bodies seizes the opportunity to attack, seizing Durendal and boasting of taking the sword to Arabia.

Roland awakens to find his sword stolen, uses his horn to strike the pagan's head, killing him, but in doing so breaks the horn's crystal and gold.

Now blind, Roland strikes a great boulder with his sword ten times in grief and rage, trying to destroy Durendal so it will not fall into pagan hands, but the steel will not break.

Roland strikes a sardonyx terrace with Durendal, still unable to break it; he laments the sword's sacred history and all the great lands he conquered with it for Charlemagne.

Roland strikes a dark stone, breaking off pieces but unable to destroy the sword; he laments that the sword contains holy relics and must not fall to pagans.

Feeling death moving toward his heart, Roland places himself beneath a pine tree on the green grass, positioning his horn and sword beneath him and turning toward the pagan lands so Charlemagne will find him as a conqueror who died fighting.

Roland beats his breast in contrition and asks God to cleanse him from all his mortal and venial sins; angels descend from heaven in response.

Roland sits beneath a pine, reflecting on his life, his lands, his lineage, and Charlemagne; he makes a final confession, offers his glove to God, and dies as Saint Gabriel and Saint Michael carry his soul to Paradise.