Sections CV-CXXXII

King Corsablix claims the Franks are few and weak, lacking Charles's protection, and asserts that this day will bring their death.

Turpin kills Corsablix and publicly rebukes him, declaring that Charles is their warrant and the Franks will not flee but will slay all the pagans.

The text depicts a series of single combat victories by various Frankish knights including Gerins, Gerers, Sansun, Anseis, Engelers, Otes, and Berenger, each slaying pagan opponents in rapid succession.

The gallant pagan knight Margariz wounds Oliver's ribs but God protects Oliver, whose body is spared; Margariz then rallies his tribe to continue fighting.

After his spear breaks after fifteen blows, Roland draws his sword Durendal and slays the pagan Chemuble with a devastating blow that severs his body nearly in half.

Roland and Oliver press through the field with great damage, covered in blood, while the Archbishop and other Franks also strike with fierce intensity, and pagans fall in great numbers.

Oliver's spear splinters after slaying several pagans, and Roland reproaches him, pointing out that wood lacks strength in battle and urging him to draw his sword Halteclere.

Oliver draws his sword as Roland requested and kills Justin the Iron Valley's lord with a single blow, prompting Roland to praise him as a true brother.

Various Frankish warriors continue their deadly work, with Gerins and Gerers slaying Timozel together, Turpin killing the sorcerer Siglorel, and the battle intensifying with great losses.

The fighting becomes increasingly fierce, with many flags torn and many young Franks dying far from home and mother, while Charles weeps at Ganelon's evil betrayal.

Roland, Oliver, and the Archbishop strike down hundreds and thousands of pagans, yet the Franks lose their foremost warriors; simultaneously, France experiences storms and darkness, which the text attributes to mourning for Roland.

The Franks continue striking fiercely and kill thousands of pagans, reducing their force from five hundred to fewer than two thousand, while the Archbishop praises their vassalage.

King Marsilie leads a new host of twenty columns with gleaming armor and seven thousand trumpets, presenting an overwhelming new threat to the weary Franks.

Roland acknowledges Ganelon's treason and announces they will face a great and unprecedented battle, declaring they will use Durendal and Halteclere to ensure no shameful songs are sung of them.

Turpin addresses the Frankish knights, urging them not to flee but to stand firm, accepting that they will likely perish but assuring them of blessed Paradise.

Climborins, a Saracen who swore oath to Ganelon and kissed his mouth in agreement, kills Engelier of Gascony to fulfill his treacherous compact.

Roland calls to Oliver that they have lost the valiant Engelier, and Oliver vows to avenge him, killing multiple Saracens including Duke Alphaien.

Valdabron, a Jerusalem-desecrating lord who swore oath to Ganelon, kills the Duke Sansun, causing great grief among the Franks.

Roland pursues and kills Valdabron with a massive blow that cuts through helmet, body, saddle, and horse's spine, demonstrating his righteous anger.

An African warrior, Malquiant, kills the Count Anseis, prompting mourning from the Franks who witness the loss.

Turpin, who has never sung Mass after killing in such numbers, kills the pagan responsible for Anseis's death, proving the strength of his faith.

Grandones kills Gerin, Gerer, Berenger, and other Frankish lords, causing the Franks to lament their mounting losses.

Roland, grieving at his losses, pursues and kills Grandones with a blow that cracks his helmet and splits his body, causing the Spanish to cry out in sorrow.

The fighting becomes increasingly intense with Franks cutting through bones and flesh, blood streaming on grass, and pagans calling out for their king Marsilie's aid.

Despite heavy losses, the Franks with their brown spears drive back the Saracins through sheer force and superior fighting prowess.

Marsilie sounds his horns and brings forth Abisme, a pagan so evil and treacherous that he fears not God and delights in murder and treachery.

Turpin, riding the noble charger taken from Grossaille, strikes Abisme's magical shield and kills him, then flings his body dead to the ground.

Roland tells Oliver that the Archbishop is a valiant chevalier unsurpassed in Heaven, and Oliver pledges support from all the Franks.

The text summarizes that over four thousand Frankish chevaliers have fallen in five successive assaults, with only sixty survivors to hold out before their inevitable death.

Roland observes the great loss of men and, calling to Oliver, proposes sounding the horn to bring Charles and the Franks back to aid them.

Oliver strongly opposes sounding the horn, arguing that it would bring shame and reproach on Roland and his clan that would last forever, since Roland refused when Oliver earlier urged him.

Roland repeats his intention to sound the horn so King Charles will hear it, but Oliver rejects this, saying it would be a vassal's shame.

Roland asks why Oliver is wrathful, and Oliver explains that Roland's foolish pride and refusal to use prudence has caused the deaths of all these Franks; he blames Roland for the disaster.

Turpin separates the quarreling Roland and Oliver, urging them not to scold each other, and argues that sounding the horn may be good because the King will come with vengeance and the pagans will not escape.