THE SCENE: No one would ever accuse the medieval French hero Roland of being easy on his enemies.
THE TEXT: Count Roland, when he saw Sanson was dead, was bitterly chagrined, as you might guess. He spurs his horse to make him run all out. With Durendal, that’s worth its weight in gold, the baron goes and strikes with all his force upon the jewel-studded golden casque, cuts downward through the head, the trunk and byrnie, the well-made saddle set with gems and gold, and deep into the backbone of the horse, and to his shame or credit, kill them both. The pagans say: “That blow was hard on us!” “I cannot love your kind,” replies Count Roland. “Your way is that of heresy and pride.”
– The Song of Roland, 12th Century AD
