"O wise barons," said the king, "consider how best for us to answer Marsli's message. As you heard, he is promising many gifts. And he is urging us to go back to France; and he promises us that he will bring his people there, after me, for the sake of Christ; and he promises to accept baptism at that time, to accept his kingship from me and hold it under my lordship. But do you think that we can believe his promises when he gives us hostages for that?"
When the king had finished his speech, Rolant arose to answer him, according to his understanding. "Whoever," he said, "deceives once, will deceive again, and he who trusts again a deceiver merits to be deceived again. Wise king, exalted king, do not believe Marsli whom you have found before this to be revealed as a deceiver. Has it left your memory already how much he deceived you when you first came to Spain? You had destroyed much of his might, and you had subjugated much of Spain under yourself. These same words and message... he sent you then, this selfsame thing the infidel promised to do for you then. And then you sent him Basin and Basil as messengers to accept confirmation of his promises. And those the wicked king caused to be beheaded before him. Therefore, what is as justifiable for us [than] to avenge upon him that treachery and the slaughter of our barons? And we can but turn our armed host against Saragossa to attack it and to spend our lives until we take it. It is not fitting for us to leave without avenging the faithless thing he did to us. Nor is it credible that he, whose faithlessness is pagan, shall be after this a faithful Catholic."
And when Rolant finished his speech, Chiarlymaen did not answer him at all but turned his head upon his shoulder and fondled his gray beared which was over his chest. Nor was there any one of the Franks who would say anything for Rolant or against him except Gwenlwyd, who rose before Chiarlymaen to urge opposition to Rolant thus: "The counsel is worthless," he said, "which is from pride, and especially which is intended to hinder benefit and courtesy. It is neither a benefit nor is it courtesy to repulse anyone who makes a request humbly in peace and accord. Neither our blood nor our protection against death is of great worth to anyone who urges that King Marsli be repelled from the Christian faith - and he, on his part, seeking our accord. He is warding off from himself the slander of betrayal when he promises to give us hostages; for it is not to be believed that parents, even though they be pagans, would end the lives of their offspring and children. Why does Rolant admonish and oppress anyone for his act, who is repentant and who does penance and does not receive reproach from God, and any sinner who is ready to do penance?"
