THE SCENE: When a mistrial is declared in the prosecution of the treasonous lord Ganelon, Charlemagne demands that God decide the outcome of the case via the ancient rite of trial by combat.
THE TEXT: They both are men of pride and of great courage, and their horses are high-spirited and fast. They spur them briskly, let the reins go slack; with all their force they go to strike each other. Their shields both break and shatter into pieces, their hauberks rip, their cinches separate, the bows slip loose, the saddles tumble down. The hundred thousand men who look on weep.
The chevaliers are both upon the ground, but instantly they leap back to their feet. Alert and quick and strong is Pinabel. Without their destriers, they charge each other, and with those swords, whose hilts are hammered gold, they beat and hack upon those casques of steel. Their blows are heavy, slicing through the casques. The chevaliers from France cry out in grief. “Oh God,” says Charles, “let justice shine forth here!”
Says Pinabel: “Thierry, take back your words! I’ll be your man in loyalty and love and give my wealth to you are your desire – just to reconcile the king to Ganelon!” Thierry replies: I needn’t think it over; I’m damned if I’ll agree to that at all! Today let God show which of us is right!”
Thierry says: “Pinabel, you’re very brave. You’re tall and strong, your body is well moulded; among your peers you’re known for vassalage – so why not bring this fighting to an end? I’ll settle things for you with Charlemagne. To Ganelon such justice shall be rendered that never a day shall pass without its mention.” Says Pinabel: “Almighty God forbid! I mean to stand up for my relatives. I won’t recant for any man alive – I’d much prefer to die that be reproved.” So once again they raise their swords and hack upon those jewel-studded golden casques, and blazing sparks fly up into the air. There’s nothing that can make them separate, nor can this end until a man is dead.
Pinabel hammers on Thierry’s Provence-made casque till sparks leap up and set the grass on fire. Presenting him the point of his steel blade, he splits his helmet open all its length and cuts him down the center of his face; his right cheek is completely drenched with blood, his hauberk ripped wide open to the waist. The Lord has saved him from the jaws of death!
Thierry sees he is wounded in the face – bright blood is falling on the grassy plain – hits Pinabel upon his smooth steel casque and cracks it, splits it open to the nasal, and busts his skull, so brains come spilling out, then wrenches free and lets him fall down dead. With this one blow the conflict has been won. The Franks shout: “God has worked a miracle! It’s only just that Ganelon be hanged, together with his kin who took his side.
– The Song of Roland, 12th Century AD
