Sections LXIV-LXXXVIII

Roland gathers his trusted companions and leaders—Oliver, Gerins, Geriers, and others—along with a thousand chosen knights to form the rearguard.

Roland orders Gualter del Hum to position a thousand Franks in the ravines and crags so that the Emperor loses no men; the Franks prepare to hold the passes against attack.

As Charlemagne's army crosses the mountains and reaches France, the soldiers grieve for their lands and families, and Charlemagne especially laments leaving Roland behind in Spain, fearing for his safety.

Charlemagne confides to Duke Neimes that an angel has shown him a vision of his broken spear, and he greatly fears for Roland's fate, saying he cannot survive the shame if Roland is lost.

The passage reveals that the traitor Ganelon has received rich rewards from King Marsilie and the pagans in silver, gold, and precious goods, while Marsilie summons his forces—four hundred thousand strong in three days—to attack the rearguard.

Marsilie's nephew approaches the king and requests the privilege of killing Roland in exchange for service, promising that with God's help he will defeat the Franks and deliver Spain from Charlemagne's rule.

Marsilie's nephew selects eleven pagan nobles to join him in battle, with Falfarun, the king's brother, being the first to volunteer to attack the Frankish rearguard.

King Corsablis and Malprimis come forward, pledging to fight at Rencesvals and to slay Roland without fail.

The Admiral of Balaguel, a noble and well-mannered pagan warrior, vows to slay Roland and Oliver and all twelve peers, declaring that Spain will be theirs and Charlemagne is too old to wage war again.

An almacour from Moriane, a particularly vicious pagan, vows to bring a thousand warriors to Rencesvals and slay Roland, ensuring Charlemagne will weep.

Turgis, a count who would massacre Christians, pledges to meet Roland at Rencesvals and boasts that his sword will prove superior to Durendal, bringing death to the Franks and suffering to the aged Charlemagne.

Escremiz, a Saracen noble, swears to kill Roland and Oliver and the twelve peers at Rencesvals, declaring that Franks will be slain and France left deserted.

Two pagan felons, Esturganz and Estramariz, swear to Marsilie that they will assault Oliver and Roland, with their keen swords ensuring the death of the Franks and the conquest of France.

Margariz, a handsome pagan noble from Cadiz, vows that neither Roland nor Oliver can escape him at Rencesvals, and boasts that France will be conquered within a year and held until Paris itself.

Chemubles, from a cursed and desolate land, swears to stain his sword with blood at Rencesvals and to conquer Roland's Durendal, bringing death to the Franks; fifty thousand Saracens then prepare for battle.

The Saracens don their armor and prepare for battle as the sun shines brightly; Oliver observes the approaching forces and warns Roland that they must now meet the pagans in combat, to which Roland affirms his duty to the king.

Oliver, viewing the vast pagan host from a peak, points out to Roland that Ganelon the traitor chose them for the rearguard; Roland refuses to speak ill of his stepfather, ending the discussion.

From a high vantage point, Oliver sees an immense, incalculable Saracen force with golden-jeweled helmets and gleaming armor, and rushes down to report these numbers to the Franks.

Oliver tells the Franks they have never faced such numbers—a hundred thousand enemy shields—but urges them to hold their position; the Franks swear they will not flee, choosing to die together rather than retreat.

Oliver urges Roland to blow the olifant so that Charlemagne will hear and return with his armies; Roland refuses, saying it would bring shame to France and his own renown, vowing instead to fight to the death with his sword Durendal.

Oliver again begs Roland to sound the horn so the king and baronage will succor them, but Roland refuses again, swearing he will not bring shame to his kinsmen or France, and will instead fight with his sword.

Oliver makes a third desperate plea for Roland to blow the olifant, assuring him that if Charlemagne hears it in the pass, the Franks will turn back; Roland again refuses, declaring he will never sound the horn for pagans and will let his sword Durendal be bloodied instead.

Oliver, having observed the vast multitudes of Saracens across the mountains and plains, expresses his concern about their small numbers; Roland's anger is inflamed, and he swears by God's angels that Frankish valor will not fail and he will not accept shame.

The passage characterizes Roland as proud and Oliver as wise, noting that both display marvelous courage and would rather die than flee; Oliver urges Roland one final time to sound the horn, warning that this decision will have dire consequences.

Roland becomes fierce as a lion, rejects cowardice in thought, and exhorts his followers and Oliver to strike hard with lance and sword, declaring that if he dies, whoever bears his sword Durendal afterward will hold a noble vassal's weapon.