Stories of Charlemagne and the Twelve Peers of France by Alfred John Church

Now Roland felt that death was near at hand. In one hand he took his / horn, and in the other his good sword Durendal, and made his way the / distance of a furlong or so till he came to a plain, and in the midst / of the plain a little hill. On the top of the hill in the shade of / two fair trees were four marble steps. There Roland fell in a swoon / upon the grass. There a certain Saracen spied him. The fellow had / feigned death, and had laid himself down among the slain, having / covered his body and his face with blood. When he saw Roland, he / raised himself from where he was lying among the slain and ran to the / place, and, being full of pride and fury, seized the Count in his / arms, crying aloud, "He is conquered, he is conquered, the famous / nephew of King Charles! See, here is his sword; 'tis a noble spoil / that I shall carry back with me to Arabia. " Thereupon he took the / sword in one hand, with the other he laid hold of Roland's beard. / But as the man laid hold, Roland came to himself, and knew that some / one was taking his sword from him. He opened his eyes but not a word / did he speak save this only, "Fellow, you are none of ours," and he / smote him a mighty blow upon his helmet. The steel he brake through / and the head beneath, and laid the man dead at his feet. "Coward," / he said, "what made you so bold that you dared lay hands on Roland? / Whosoever knows him will think you a fool for your deed."

And now Roland knew that death was near at hand. He raised himself / and gathered all his strength together -- ah me! how pale his face / was! -- and took in his hand his good sword Durendal. Before him was a / great rock, and on this in his rage and pain he smote ten mighty / blows. Loud rang the steel upon the stone; but it neither brake nor / splintered. "Help me," he cried, "O Mary, our Lady. O my good / sword, my Durendal, what an evil lot is mine! In the day when I must / part with you, my power over you is lost. Many a battle I have won / with your help; and many a kingdom have I conquered, that my Lord / Charles possesses this day. Never has any one possessed you that / would fly before another. So long as I live, you shall not be taken / from me, so long have you been in the hands of a loyal knight."